Author's note: Now, as I was working on this chapter, I realized that in order for my story to work, I had to put Jackie in the present time and not with Tosh with Jack. So, I re-edited my chapter to suit the way the story must go. You can go back and review the previous chapter to refresh your memory, but I didn't add anything new to the last one.

Chapter thirty-five: Journey to the past

Three days later, Jackie tiptoed gingerly into Torchwood, her eyes taking in every inch of the base warily. Her mother had sprained her ankle while organizing the house, removing unneeded stuff and she was determined to finish this cleaning project, so Jackie filled in for her until the house was completely taken care of.

Since Owen had been hurt and Jackie was needed at home, she and Jack barely had a chance to talk at night. Jackie had been tempted to block Ianto's number, but couldn't, in case of an emergency. She never responded to any of his texts, unless it was about some information he required, or help. If he attempted to turn the conversation personal, she ended all communication with him immediately. Jackie knew that she'd have to tell Jack about this soon, she just wasn't sure how she could do that now.

When she entered Torchwood, she was surprised to see that Ianto was waiting for her near Tosh's hub with a penetrating gaze. Owen was sound asleep on a nearby sofa. Tosh, Jack and Gwen were nowhere to be seen. She guessed that Gwen hadn't arrived yet and hopefully, Tosh and Jack were somewhere just around the corner.

She went straight to her computer station and turned it on. She made a point of deliberately avoiding eye contact with Ianto, but he noticed immediately. "So, you're going to ignore me all morning?" Ianto questioned her quietly.

She exhaled and turned towards him. "Actually, I was going to turn on my computer, finish that report, and then I was going to ask you where Jack is? He's usually here to greet me and according to my clock, I'm on time."

Her words worked and his expression sobered. "He and Tosh went out to check on the Ritz dance hall. People reported hearing music from the hall."

Jackie smirked. "That's Jack for you. The Ritz, part of his 1940's fetish."

"Have you thought about what I've said?" he demanded quietly.

She exhaled. "We're at work Ianto."

"You don't respond to my messages. You delete them instantly."

She glowered at him. "Don't you be minding my phone activity. That's an invasion of privacy, which, is rich, considering what we do here."

"Stop avoiding it Jackie, answer the question."

She stood up and crossed her arms. "For your information," she hissed at him. "the only time I think about what you said, is when I try to think about how to make you understand that any affection I might still have for you on my part, is purely fabricated by your imagination! If you don't stop it, I'm going to tell Jack."

Ianto smirked. "I don't care. I think…you always prefer to tell Jack, so you don't have to deal with the emotions that you're really feeling."

Jackie opened her mouth to object, but at that moment, an alarm went off ,causing both of them to jump. Owen, to her relief, actually woke up to the sound of alarm going off. "What the hell is that?"

"Tosh's Rift monitor program." Ianto said without turning a hair towards Owen. "She set it to alert me if there were any further movements. The Rift's been opening more and more recently."

"Yeah, well, I've noticed that." Owen said dryly. "Doesn't take a genius."

"Tosh reckons the equations are forming some sort of pattern. I should call her." Ianto said as he silenced the alarm. "She may have readings her end and this is over my head."

She snorted and rolled her eyes. Owen shot her a curious look before turning to Ianto. "Er, why wasn't I told about this?"

"Well, you've been off, haven't you?" Ianto pointed out blandly. "The line's dead."

Jackie exhaled and turned to Owen. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Yes Jacqs, thanks. No sugar."

"Alright."

"I'll give you a hand." Ianto offered her.

She glowered at him. "No thank you Ianto! Call Gwen and see where she is."

She turned and stalked away towards the kitchen, listening as Owen chuckled. "Whoa! What did you do to make her all upset this dreary day?"

She slammed the kitchen door on Ianto's reply. She pulled out her phone and dialed Jack, she needed to hear his voice. However, all she heard was a dial tone, telling her that the line was dead. She exhaled and tucked the phone away in her pocket. She prepared the coffee silently and methodically, making sure everything was perfectly in place so as to delay facing Owen and Ianto. However, after preparing a cup for her and Owen, she came out with the coffee.

Jackie came back to the hub to find Owen typing away at Tosh's computer. "Here you go."

"Thanks." He said without looking up. "Hey, I've got into Tosh's files, all her reports." She peered over his shoulder and frowned at the numbers. "See there, December 24th?" Owen's voice went soft and raspy for a moment. "That's when Diane flew through the Rift. I had to let her go."

"You were in love with her," Ianto's voice right behind her caused her to jump and turn around. She shot him a look and stepped away from him. "weren't you?"

Owen ignored that remark and focused on the screen. "If Tosh knows a way of opening the Rift, maybe we can get Diane back."

Jackie shook her head. "No way."

"Jack would never allow it." Ianto said firmly. "Opening the Rift could devastate the city."

Owen glowered at him and stalked away from the computer. Ianto stepped towards it to study the screen. Jackie then dialed Gwen. "Hello Gwen?"

Jackie, hello, I was just getting ready to report in. The SUV's here. They must be here somewhere.

Jackie chuckled. "You know Jack, he totally loves the 40's period. He's probably enjoying himself."

Gwen let out a short laugh. Well, you'd know! I'll let you know if I find anything.

"Alright. I'll dig up some information on the Ritz as well."

As if you don't know, all of that fancy stuff.

"I know of the Ritz, I don't know the history of the Ritz. I'll keep you posted."

Right.

"And I'll just save you the trouble of digging up all that information." Owen stated as he slapped a ton of papers down on the table. "Got them."

"So, what have we got?"

"The Ritz dance hall opened in 1932, shut down in 1989. Due to be demolished in one week."

Jackie gasped in horror. "No way! How could they?!"

"Jackie." Owen said. "Another time."

"But that's a historic landsite!"

Owen ignored her. "Now, the reported music is from the 1940s." Jackie looked up at where Ianto is going through photographs from the Ritz. "Why is a ghost job taking them this long?"

"All those young soldiers."

Jackie smiled sadly, she and everyone else on this earth should appreciate the sacrifice they'd made to make it safe for them to walk this world. Then, the photo changed to show Jack and Tosh, shaking hands with someone in the Ritz!

"Owen." Ianto gasped. "Look….there."

They all stood there staring at the screens in shock. "Oh, I am going to kill him." She hissed out. "How dare he go on a trip to the 1940's, to the Ritz, without me?"

"Jackie."

"He went to the 1940's without me!" She repeated as she stomped her foot and exhaled in irritation. "And now, we've got to figure out a way to get them back without destroying the world. The problem is…the brainiacs of the team are in 1940!"

TJ: My younger siblings often play 'Hard hearted Hannah' when I'm around. My name isn't Hannah, but they couldn't find a song to describe me when I'm 'torturing' them by leaving them wanting for the next Doctor Who or Robin Hood episode. I make them watch a BBC classic literature adaption in between episodes, so I drive them insane! Yes, the ending is terrible. But, as to how my story ends...well, that's another story!