Torchwood: In the beginning was Torchwood

by nemosangel

This is the first in the saga of Major Lilith Lethbridge-Stewart and her adventures with Torchwood. Time has been rewritten by The Shadow Proclamation. Jack is back on Earth and IANTO IS ALIVE! Torchwood is changing. Jack/Ianto/OC Gwen/Rhys.

38. Chapter 38

TITLE:-TORCHWOOD:-

IN THE BEGINNING WAS TORCHWOOD.

THE SAGA'S OF MAJOR LILITH LETHBRIDGE-STEWART.

(CHPT.38)

AUTHOR:- NEMOSANGEL

CHARACTERS:- CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS, IANTO JONES, MAJOR LILITH LETHBRIDGE-STEWART, GWEN WILLIAMS, MICKEY SMITH, PC. DAVIDSON, PC CRAVEN, SIR ALISTAIR LETHBRIDGE-STEWART

MENTIONED CHARACTERS:- DEKKER, RHYS, THE MASTER, CAPTAIN JAMES WREN, TOSH

PAIRINGS:- JACK/IANTO

WARNINGS:- INNUENDOS, MILD GWEN BASHING(but keeping within character and original brief).

RATING:- T WORD COUNT:- 9079

SUMMARY:- LILITH DELIVERS NERO'S ASHES TO HIS OWNER. JACK IS A LITTLE DEPRESSED AS HE REMEMBERS 'THE YEAR THAT NEVER WAS'. GWEN DOES NOT HELP HIS DEPRESSIVE MOOD OR PERHAPS SHE IS THE CAUSE OF IT. LILITH GETS TRAPPED BY THE SHINI. PC. DAVIDSON GETS ATTACKED BY A SHINI... SO HIS INFATUATION STEPS UP TO HERO WORSHIP. JACK WORRIES. IANTO AND MICKEY WORK ON GETTING INTO DEKKER'S COMPUTER. LILITH PLAYS WITH JACK. DEKKERS FLIGHT PLAN FROM LONDON AND HIS HOTEL RESERVATION IS FLAGGED. LILITH REMOVES IANTO'S STITCHES WITH JACK'S HELP/HINDRANCE... FUN AND GAMES.

AUTHORS NOTE:- THANKS FOR ALL THE FEED BACK AND PM'S. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK. SOME GREAT FEED BACK... BLUSH. MENTIONS SOUND OF THE DRUMS/LAST OF THE TIME LORDS .

DISCLAIMER:- I DON'T OWN TORCHWOOD OR DOCTOR WHO, IT BELONGS TO R.T.D. & BBC. THIS IS JUST FOR FUN AND I HAVE HAD FUN PLAYING IN TORCHWOODS WORLD.

YOU KNOW THE DRILL... READ AND REVIEW... AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT IT IF YOU LIKE IT.

CHAPTER 38.

Meanwhile Lilith drives out to Llandaff, she finds the road that Mr and Mrs Griggs lives on, finds a parking place.

Lilith stands in the middle of the Griggs' neat living room. Mrs. Griggs sits in an armchair holding the urn. Her eyes are red and puffy where she has been crying.

Mr. Griggs comes in from the kitchen with a small bunch of flowers. "This is just a little something to say thank you." He says holding the flowers out to Lilith.

Lilith looks a little shocked. "Thank you but you really didn't need to." Replies Lilith, taking them.

"We are very grateful for what you have done. We know to cremate a pet would cost a lot of money. You also spared us, my wife especially, the extra pain of seeing Nero..." Mr. Griggs own emotions beginning to bubble to the surface. "Well... Hmmm thank you."

"Thank you for the flowers." Says Lilith. "I best be off."

"Ok and thank you again." Says Mr. Griggs.

Back in the People Carrier Lilith lays the flowers on the front seat; she does not know what the policy is about gifts. She will have to check with Jack when she gets back. She glances at the flowers and smiles; she has not had flowers given to her since... The night before her wedding anniversary, the night before the battle at Canary Wharf, the night before... James had bought her a huge bouquet of mixed Lily's and Roses, two of her favourite flowers, hence their daughter's name... Lilith takes out her hand gel, four squirts in her hand, she rubs the gel in as she remembers the smell of the Lily's and Roses, the smile on James's face, it's the first time she has been able to remember him as he was before... before Canary Wharf. She then starts up the People Carrier and heads back towards The Hub.

Back at The Hub, Ianto is still working with Mickey at his workstation. Gwen is at her workstation. Jack walks in through the cogged door; he had been outside to calm down a bit. He knows he is on edge, trying to deal with two very dangerous situations at the same time. Both situations are a threat to his team. Then there is Gwen, in many ways she had always been a bad choice. God knows how she managed to keep the team alive while he was away, held by the Master on the Valiant... Well technically, she did not... The year that never was but he remembers... He remembers how she kept his team alive... Oh, no she did not. The Master made sure he knew, made him watch from The Valiant, as Gwen delivered two members of his team in exchange for Rhys. Rhys tried to warn her not to... The Master had killed the two team members in front of Gwen and then The Master had killed Rhys... So yes, he knows what Gwen is capable of. At this rate he is going to spiral down into his darkness. The three months that his team were actually aware of, it was more the fact that Ianto had kept most things running behind the scenes. The rest of the team seemed to deal with the each situation as they came up; they had muddled through more by luck than anything else. He takes a few deep breaths to calm himself again. Jack glance at Gwen's screen of her computer when he sees something that adds to his anger, his darkness. "Gwen!" He growls, trying not to disturb Ianto and Mickey. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"What you told me to do." Gwen replies, without looking up, not looking at Jack.

Jack moves closer to Gwen. "I did not tell you to do that." He snarls, again trying so hard not to raise his voice, he points at the top right hand corner of her screen. It is a small map of part of Cardiff with a small dot flashing on it. It is registering Lilith's tracker.

For a moment Gwen hesitates, she is not sure what she has done wrong. "I thought as Ianto was busy with Mickey and you were away from your computer, someone should keep track of Lilith. That's why you switched her tracker on." Says Gwen, still judging by how she would deal with a situation.

"Wrong." Says Jack. "For one, it was Lilith who said keep the tracker active, not me. It was the only way to know where she was when we apprehended her shadow as there was no other form of communication. Secondly, I did not tell you to do it. And thirdly that program is not for you to use except when asked by me or my two seconds." Lilith had been right in her observation about security programs and security in general.

"But... But Jack..." Gwen stutters, unsure what she really had done wrong.

Jack looks at Ianto, who is looking at him. He looks into Ianto's blue eyes, there is just something there, without Ianto Jack does not know what he would do, he has lived long enough to know Ianto has a calming effect on him. Jack's tense shoulders drop slightly. "Please Gwen, close the program." Jack says.

Gwen smiles. "Yes Jack." She replies, Jack is just tired and on edge. She closes the program.

Jack starts to walk away as the rift alarm goes off on Gwen's computer. She jumps straight into action, bringing up the rift program.

Jack is there looking over Gwen's shoulder. "Where?" He asks.

"The main Llandaff road." Says Gwen. "One at this end and one about half way along." A beep comes from her computer. "Reports coming in of a build up of traffic, the traffic is coming to a stand still due to strange lights." Gwen looks at Jack. "Lilith is still on that road."

"Dam!" Jack swears. "See if there is a route she can use to by-pass the rift activity."

Gwen nods. She brings up a detailed map of the area.

On the Llandaff road, Lilith curses as the traffic comes to a stop ahead of her. Suddenly head headset beeps. She presses the receive button. "Hello."

"Lilith, I think you have a problem." Jack says to Lilith over her headset.

"What apart from the traffic stopping and Dekker?" Lilith says, dryly.

"The traffic is stopping due to rift activity both ahead and behind you." Jack replies.

"The Shini?" Lilith asks, as she leans over to the passenger side of the People Carrier and brings up the computer screen as the traffic has come to a halt. On the screen is the evidence of the rift activity. "Looks like I am stuck between the two, Jack. Is it possible I am their target?" She asks calmly, already knowing the answer.

"Quite probably." Jack replies.

Lilith quickly brings up a detailed map of the area. Trying to see if there is a way out of the area. If she can get out the area the rift activity should go out but she needs to move fast so no body gets hurt.

"We will come to you Major." Says Jack.

"No Captain. You need to keep working on Dekker plus sending anyone else out will give The Shini another target. I will be fine. I will work something out." Lilith says.

"I don't know Lilith." Comes Jack's worried voice from her headset. Her logic is sound though.

Back in The Hub Gwen's phone rings. She answers it. "Yes Andy... We are already on it." Says Gwen before Andy can speak.

"Oh ok." Comes Andy's voice.

"We have Lilith stuck in the traffic." Says Gwen.

"The Major is there on her own?"

"Yes." Replies Gwen.

"Will she need any assistance?" Andy asks.

Jack can just hear Andy's voice coming from Gwen's phone. "Gwen, ask Andy if he is at the scene?" He says.

Gwen nods. "Andy, are you at the scene?" She switches her phone to loudspeaker.

"Yes Gwen." Andy replies.

"Andy, Lilith is somewhere between the two sets of rift activity." Says Jack to Gwen's phone. "She is likely to try and come through the build up of traffic some how, either down the path or down the middle of the two lanes if she can, if there is room. So she might need assistance as she comes through."

"I will do anything to assist the Major, Captain." Replies Andy.

"Ok, I will let the Major know you are there." Says Jack.

"Ok, we will be watching for her. Is she in the SUV?" Andy asks.

"No she is in the People Carrier." Replies Gwen.

"Ok. Bye." Andy says, ending the call.

"Lilith?" Jack says into his headset. "PC. Davidson is on the scene. He has offered to assist you." Says Jack with a slight smirk. He is sure he hears Lilith groan.

"Not a word, Captain." Warns Lilith over her headset. That is all she needs.

"Hey, have I said anything... Yet!" Jack laughs, dangerous situation and they are joking.

"That is all I bloody need, an infatuated copper... Correction two infatuated coppers, I forgot his partner." Says Lilith, cringing.

"They could be useful." Says Jack.

"Yes they could or the could get in the way or get killed." Says Lilith.

"True Major." Says Jack more seriously. "Look they are at the end if you need help." He says.

"Ok." Says Lilith. "Look, ask if he can clear as many of the cars near the activity as he can without getting close to it or endangering his or his partners life. Tell him I shall be coming through..." Lilith stops as she looks either side of the queue of traffic. "Down the middle, as long as no idiot attempts the same." She says.

"Ok, so just Major Idiot going down the centre of the traffic jam." Says Jack.

"Ha! Ha! Funny man." Says Lilith. "Mind I don't become Major Pain."

"Oh Major I can't wait." Jack purrs.

"Anyway, this grown up needs to get back to work now." Says Lilith as if she is talking to a child.

"Yes Major. I will get back on to Andy." Says Jack.

"I shall contact you as soon as I am through." Says Lilith.

"Ok." Replies Jack. He ends the call, reluctantly... He reminds himself that Lilith is not a child, she is not an innocent, he winces slightly at this thought. She has faced and dealt with far worse but that does not mean she should be on her own to face yet another danger the universe has decided to throw at them. Jack can feel Ianto's eyes on him again... He always knows... He gives him a slight smile... Jack then finds Andy's number on his phone. It rings twice then is answered. "Andy, the Major has asked if you can see, without putting yourself in danger, if you can clear as many of the cars out of the way." Says Jack.

"Already on it, we are directing the ones we can down a small side road." Comes Andy's reply.

"Ok thank you Andy. Just be careful." Says Jack, then ends the call.

Back out on the Llandaff road Lilith drives down the centre of the traffic jam, with people hitting their horns as she passes. Lilith does not stop and for once luck is on her side.

Andy has his back to the rift activity as he diverts the traffic. His partner, Chris, is at the corner of the small side road keeping the traffic moving. Suddenly Andy gives a cry as he is grabbed by a Shini.

Andy struggles. The Shini tries pulling Andy towards the rift activity but he continues to struggle, to fight, making it harder for The Shini to move him. So The Shini tries taking a chunk out of his neck. Andy braces his hand on The Shini's forehead, forcing it away from his throat. He can feel his strength waning he is not going to be able to keep this up for long.

Then out of the two lanes of cars, a black People Carrier comes speeding through, horn blasting, heading straight for Andy and The Shini.

Lilith sees Andy struggling; she again aims a Torchwood vehicle at the Shini. Andy looks up petrified as the People Carrier bears down on them. He prepares himself for impact, trusting the Major knows what she is doing.

At the last moment, Lilith veers off slightly, just catching The Shini with the corner driver's side of the headlight casing and the wheel arch with the corner of the bumper catching The Shini's legs, knocking it away from Andy.

Andy stumbles backwards and lands with a bump on the floor. Lilith slams on the breaks and is out of the People Carrier. She is on The Shini before it can come to its senses, it is still conscious, just stunned. Lilith, without thought, just needing to defuse a dangerous situation, has her knee in the middle of The Shini's back; she grabs hold of The Shini's head. In one movement she pulls back against her knee and with a quick twist breaks The Shini's neck, not registering the crack of vertebra at the base of the skull then she calmly lets go, knowing it is dead. She gets up and goes over to PC. Davidson, who is still on the ground. She stands over him not offering a hand for him to get up.

Andy unsteadily gets to his feet, a little bruised, a lot in shock. He looks at the dead Shini and then at Lilith, who stands there relaxed, unfazed.

"Are you ok PC. Davidson?" Lilith asks.

Andy just nods for a moment, his brain still trying to process what just happened. He licks his lips nervously. "Hmm, yer. I... I think so." He stutters. "Thank... Thanks to you. Is... Is it dead?"

"Yes." Replies Lilith.

The rift activity blinks out.

Andy stares at Lilith. She had just saved his life... That thing was trying to bite him... All he could see were all those teeth in the aliens mouth coming towards him. He shivers at the thought or was it out of shock. Either way he knows he would be dead if it was not for this Torchwood member.

PC. Craven runs over. "Andy! Are you ok?" He asks.

"Yes, thanks to the Major." Replies Andy.

"Right gentlemen, you need to sort out this traffic and I need to take care of the body." Says Lilith, taking control of the situation as they are still in the middle of the road with a large traffic jam. "If anyone asks, just say that it was a filming crew at work on a new film."

"Yes Major." Says PC. Craven. He looks at Andy. "Are you ok to continue?"

"Yes... Yes." Says Andy, not wanting to seem weak in front of the Major... An alien wanted to eat him... well bite him.

Lilith gets a body bag out of the back of the People Carrier. She goes over to The Shini's body.

"Let... Let me help you Major." Says Andy as he stumbles after Lilith, his legs feeling like jelly, feeling bruised.

Lilith lets PC. Davidson help her with the body as she feels part of him probably needs to do this, to make sure it is dead, to face his fear.

As they lift the body Andy stares down at it, he had come so close to having his throat ripped out by it. The Shini's head flops back as they move it. Andy wants to throw up... No! He will not, not like some wet behind the ears rookie and definitely not in front of the Major!

Lilith zips the body bag up. They lift the bag up and place it the back of the People Carrier.

"Thank you PC. Davidson." Says Lilith. "Could you write me up a report from your P.O.V. so I can add it to my own report?"

"Yes Major." Replies Andy.

"Give Gwen a ring when it is done so we can arrange for it to be picked up." Says Lilith moving to the driver's door of the People Carrier.

"Ok Major. Thank you again for saving me." Says Andy. He replays the event in his head, how the Major had come in and rescued him... His hero!

Lilith gets into the People Carrier and drives off; leaving a very shaky police officer behind, watching her as she disappears along the road, suddenly the blaring of car horns brings him back to the traffic jam.

"Jack!" Gwen calls out across The Hub to a pacing Jack.

Jack had been pacing back and forth across the metal walkways, waiting for some contact from Lilith. He hates waiting, he would have distracted himself with Ianto but he is working with Mickey.

Mickey is working his way through the Torchwood computer system before attempting to gain access to Dekker's computer.

"Jack!" Gwen calls out again. "The rift activity has stopped."

"What!" Jack says running down the metal steps to her.

"The rift activity has stopped." Gwen repeats.

Jack's mind goes into over-drive... What if...?

Ianto grabs Jack's phone from him and presses Lilith's number. Ianto hands the phone back to Jack as it rings.

"Yes Jack?" Comes Lilith's voice, loud and clear; alive.

"You ok?" Asks Jack, relieved, he gives Ianto a smile of thanks.

"I'm good. I am on my way back. I have a body in the back. And PC. Davidson has gone from having a crush on me to a little hero worship, I think." Lilith says. "I will explain when I get back."

"Ok Major. I will be at the car park door to collect the body... Whose body?" He asks.

"A Shini." Replies Lilith. "I will see you when I get back." Lilith ends the call.

Jack puts his phone away, relieved.

"Is Lilith alright?" Gwen asks.

"Yes, she is coming back with another body." Jack replies. "A Shini. So we now have three dead Shini and one in the cells. Which reminds me, Gwen can you check on him but whatever you do, do not go in the cell. Ignore anything he says. He will try anything to get you to open that cell door." He warns.

"Ok Jack." Replies Gwen, then she heads off down to the holding cells.

"Ianto, I'm going to wait for Lilith to help her with the body." Jack says.

"Yes Sir." Ianto replies.

Jack heads down to the car park entrance.

"Right, I am ready." Says Mickey to Ianto. "Do you want to get me into MI5's system, then I will do my stuff?"

"Ok Mickey." Says Ianto. He starts tapping away on the keyboard.

Mickey watches Ianto work. "Where did you learn about computers?" He asks.

"I did the usual through school and then university then when I joined... Joined Torchwood 1 I did all their training with extras as I had a flare then when I came here I was Tosh's back-up. She was a genius with computers, she taught me a lot." Ianto replies. "Many of the programs we use are Tosh's." Ianto taps away a moment longer. "There we are in."

"How are they not detecting us?" Mickey asks.

"This program fools their system into thinking we are an internal email being sent to all departments." Says Ianto.

"Great, because we can use that to get all the IP addresses in the building." Mickey takes over from Ianto on the keyboard. "This might take a while as we have to start pinging the IP's to start eliminating them. You say his office is in the basement of the building?"

"Yes." Replies Ianto, watching as Mickey works.

"Ok, I shall be able to cut down the time by isolating each area of the building with each group of IP's." Says Mickey.

Down in the holding cells The Shini throws itself at the clear panel as Gwen arrives, making her jump slightly.

"Have you come to collect me on your own, little pet?" The Shini hisses.

"No." Says Gwen, she glances around the cell, The Shini's food tray is still just inside the small tray flap that Ianto uses for putting food into the cells. The Shini has not touched his food.

"Where is the one called Captain Jack?" The Shini asks.

"He has just gone to help bring in a body." Says Gwen. "Another one of you."

The Shini looks at Gwen. He needs to feed. "This collar is tight, can't you loosen it for me, little pet?" He asks.

"No. It stays as it is." Says Gwen, remembering what Jack had said.

"But it is rubbing and I am finding it hard to breathe." Says The Shini.

"I shall let Jack know." Says Gwen.

"Oh can't the pet make the decision for herself." Says The Shini with a musical lilt. "I suppose the one called Captain Jack told you not to open the cell door... So the pet always does as he tells you?"

"No, but on this occasion I agree with him." Says Gwen walking away.

"Come back little pet, I want to play some more." The Shini calls out.

Gwen ignores him and leaves the cells heading back to the main part of The Hub.

In The Torchwood car park, Jack is pacing... Again! Lilith drives into the car park. Jack stops pacing and stands still, his arms folded. He watches as Lilith parks the People Carrier next to the SUV.

Lilith gets out and goes to the front of the People Carrier, checking the driver's side for any damage.

Jack comes up to her. "Have you been using Torchwood property to incapacitate our friends again?" He asks, as he watches Lilith inspect the wheel arch, headlight casing and bumper.

"Maybe." Lilith replies.

"You will upset my Ianto if you damage the vehicles, he will punish you." Says Jack, he needs to lighten his mood, relieve tension.

Lilith looks at Jack, she can see his agitated aura, he had been afraid for her. She smiles. "And I am sure I can find ways to distract Ianto or failing that, blame you." She says.

Jack's shoulders suddenly relax, he laughs. "I would so love to see how you distract him." He purrs.

Lilith is still high on adrenaline, she steps in close to Jack, she grabs him by his shirt and pulls him down to her level.

Jack gasps in shock, he blushes, their Major is a very physical creature, when she allows herself to be. He can feel her breath ghost across his skin by his ear and neck as she moves in closer and starts to speak.

"You want to know how I would distract him?" Lilith says softly.

Jack nods, eagerly.

"I would carefully remove jacket, folding it over a chair." Lilith starts in a very soft voice, her face close to Jack's as she holds him down to her level by the front of his shirt. "Next I would remove his silk tie from around his gorgeous throat, whipping it through the air to join his jacket, taking equal care with it."

Jack's heart rate increases, his mouth has gone dry, he wants to swallow. He leans in even closer, listening to Lilith's voice, which seems to have got even quieter.

"Then I will slowly undo each button on his immaculate shirt while looking deep into his blue eyes." Lilith says in a near whisper.

Jack's breathing hitches up a notch, as his imagination plays out the scene. He starts to heat up. The region south of his brain is beginning to react, to take on a life of its own, reacting to Lilith's words, to the images in his mind, to her closeness, to her breath on his warm skin.

"I would then slide his shirt off his beautiful sculptured shoulders, revealing his pale flesh beneath. My fingertips just brushing his pale skin, causing goose bumps and then... And then..." Lilith lets go of Jack's shirt. She steps back and moves to the passenger side of the People Carrier to get the flowers.

Jack looks shocked at the sudden loss of contact, the loss of closeness. "And then what?" He asks in a high-pitched whine, standing up straight, his face blushed and his trousers a little tighter, he really can imagine the scene, wanting that scene. He breathes heavily. "Lilith, pleeease, then what?" He says drawing out the please, almost begging.

Lilith grins at Jack, knowing the reaction she has caused. "And then I am going to remove Ianto's stitches from his arm, which is my next job." She says.

Jack pouts. "Major Lilith Lethbridge-Stewart you just built my hopes and imagination up then to only pull the proverbial rug from under my feet." He laughs. Oh, she is good. He reckons if she can over come what has happened to her, she could quite easily be a rival in the Art of Seduction, to distract a target, basic Time Agent training; procedure.

"Ianto might want you there to distract him while I remove the stitches and I did say, yesterday, if you behaved yourself, you could be in the medi-unit while I have him half stripped." Says Lilith.

Jack grins. "So you did Major." He says. "So have I behaved myself enough to join you?"

"Well as long as Mr. Jones agrees." Replies Lilith.

"Yay." Jack says happily. Then he notices the flowers in Lilith's hands. "Who are they from?"

"Mr and Mrs Griggs." Replies Lilith. "A thank you for seeing to Nero."

"Oh that is so nice of them." Says Jack, sometimes humans still manage to surprise him, in a sad moment they remember to say thank you.

"I do not know Torchwood's policy on accepting gifts but as they were flowers I accepted them with the intension of asking you." Says Lilith.

"That's fine. I have amassed an Aladdin's cave of items from both humans and aliens as a thank you." Replies Jack going to the back of the People Carrier and opening the door. He starts to pull out the body.

"Mind you might find the head is a little floppy." Says Lilith. "I broke its neck."

"Ok. I shall read your report on the incident." Says Jack.

"PC. Davidson will also be doing a report to add to mine, from his point of view, as he was the victim of The Shini attack." Says Lilith.

"I have never though to get a report from Andy before... It makes sense. Good call." Says Jack. "Anyway back to the gift thing. Some aliens, if they offer you a gift and you refuse it, it could be seen as an insult, even an act of war. So if you are offered something as a gift it is fine, we cannot discriminate."

"Ok." Replies Lilith, closing the back of the People Carrier and locking it as Jack puts the body of The Shini over his shoulders.

The pair enter into their base and head down to the first level of the mortuary. Jack puts the body in to a cryo-unit; he opens the bag and inspects the neck. The neck is definitely broken without a mark being left on the skin. Lilith must have done it so quick. He closes the bag back up and pushes the body draw into the unit, closing the door. Lilith fills out the appropriate paperwork.

Jack watches Lilith as she fills out the paperwork; to him it is like watching Ianto. Then he realises Lilith is doing it exactly like Ianto, in the same sequence, even down to the double-checking... OCD. Ianto had shown Lilith his way and Lilith is replicating his methods even down to his movement when he works. Lilith even places everything back exactly how Ianto has the desk laid out, even down to the pens. Jack remembers Owen leaving the desk in a mess on many occasions but within a short time of Owen leaving the mortuary Ianto was there placing everything back how he had it, the clues to Ianto's OCD had been there all along and he had missed it. Having Lilith on the team is going to help Ianto as he will not have to waste time clearing up after others, Lilith will lead by example, all new Torchwood members will follow Lilith's and Ianto's example and not so much Gwen's example, eventually Gwen will learn to clear up after herself, hopefully.

"Right Major, before you do Ianto's arm lets see if we can find something to put your flowers in until you can take them home." Says Jack.

"Well if it is alright with you and we can find a suitable container I can put them in the boardroom, as I am going to be here a lot this week, with Lily-Rose away. That way everyone can benefit from them." Says Lilith. "I want to really spend the time sorting the security of this place out."

"That will be fine. I am sure Ianto can find something for them." Replies Jack.

The pair go to the main part of The Hub. Mickey and Ianto are still working together. Gwen is also back at her workstation.

"How is our guest, Gwen?" Jack asks as he and Lilith join the rest of the team.

"He says his collar is to tight, that it is rubbing and he is having trouble breathing." Gwen replies. "He was trying to get me to open the cell."

"Has he eaten the food I left him?" Ianto asks.

"No, it is on the floor by the hatch still." Replies Gwen.

"Ok." Says Ianto.

"Ianto, do we have anything to put these flowers in?" Jack asks.

Ianto looks at Lilith with an eyebrow raised. "An admirer?" He asks... No jealousy reaching his words.

"No, a thank you from Mr. and Mrs. Griggs." Replies Lilith.

"That is nice of them." Says Gwen. Her computer beeps. She looks at the screen. "Nineteen hundred hours tonight, there is private helicopter just been booked in for landing from London, leaving from the helipad at Battersea." She reports. "It is the only one booked in for this evening, destination Cardiff."

"Get into London helipad control; see if it is registered by name." Says Jack.

"Yes Jack." Gwen replies.

Ianto goes to the kitchen and comes back with a glass vase with water in. "Here you go Major." He says.

"Thank you Ianto." Says Lilith. "I am putting the in the boardroom, so we can all enjoy them."

"You are picking up the petals that drop from them." Says Ianto.

"Of course Mr. Jones." Says Lilith, carrying the vase and flowers in the direction of the metal steps.

Gwen works away on her computer keyboard while Jack hovers.

"Oh!" Gwen breathes. "Their flight plan/booking system has just gone down. I... I do not think it was me. I got as far as someone within Thames House booking it but not which department or person."

"Ianto can you come and see why their system went down?" Jack asks.

"Yes Sir." Ianto says, moving to Gwen's computer.

Gwen steps to one side. "I am sure it was not me." She says with a slight panic. What if they detected her? What if it alerts Dekker? What will he do?

Ianto types away on the keyboard, using a form of diagnostics program to trace the problem. "It is alright, it was not us. It seems someone from Thames House has disrupted the system to cover themselves but they were just not quick enough for our system." Says Ianto.

"That's good. I thought it was me." Says Gwen.

Lilith returns.

"Looks like Dekker is coming by helicopter early evening and he is trying to hide himself." Says Jack to Lilith.

Gwen's computer beeps again. Ianto steps back to allow Gwen to continue. Gwen taps away. "He has booked into The Hilton." She says. "He is using his own name."

"He is probably use to people just submitting to him." Says Jack. "And he does not know that Lilith is already a member of Torchwood with access to this sort of equipment. He is very confident, over confident."

"Wait..." Gwen watches her screen. "The Hilton booking system has just gone down plus four other hotel systems." She says.

"So he is trying to hide himself." Says Lilith. "But is it from me or Torchwood?"

"Either way our system is faster than whatever system he is using." Says Jack. "Gwen can you go over to The Hilton. Get some photos of the layout. Find out what room he is booked into; see if you can get access to it, plant a couple of surveillance devices." He says.

"Ok Jack." Replies Gwen. She heads to store to collect a couple of tiny cameras with inbuilt listening devices, so much smaller than normal standard surveillance equipment.

As Gwen comes back with the equipment, Lilith passes her the People Carrier keys.

"Thanks." Says Gwen.

"Watch out for any Shini." Says Jack.

"Yes Jack." Replies Gwen. "Oh do you want Rhys in tonight for the first of the deliveries of building materials as we are going to be busy with Dekker?" She asks.

"Yes, good idea Gwen." Says Jack.

"Ok, I will give him a ring." She says, then heads towards their car park, her phone to her ear.

"Mickey will you be ok for a while as I am taking Mr. Jones off to remove his stitches?" Says Lilith.

"We will only be in the medi-unit." Says Jack.

"It needs both of you to remove stitches?" Mickey asks a little surprised.

"Why yes." Says Jack. "I am Ianto's distraction while Lilith removes the stitches."

"Oh I see Jack. You are the hindrance..." Mickey starts.

Lilith laughs. "He knows you well." She says.

"I am definitely going to have to set up a punishment room for staff insubordination." Says Jack.

"I thought that is what the gym is for." Says Ianto innocently. The face of an angel but the mind of a...?

"The gym is not for Jack to use for dishing out punishment or for him to play out any of his fantasies." Says Lilith. She heads towards the tunnel that leads to the medi-unit. "The gym is my playground. When in the gym you play by my rules." She purrs.

"Well that could be fun Major." Says Ianto following Lilith.

Jack watches in amazement as Ianto calmly follows Lilith without a struggle, without dragging his feet. Jack knows that Ianto really hates anything medical.

Mickey watches with a grin on his face. He is amused... Boy, Captain Cheesecake has got IT bad.

"Are you coming Captain or shall we just start without you?" Lilith soft voice drifts back, as she disappears down the tunnel.

"I will be right there Major." Jack replies. He looks at Mickey. "Are you sure you will be ok for a while?"

"Yes Jack. This will take awhile. And it is good to see some of us mere mortals can keep you on your toes." Mickey says.

"Oh those pair can certainly do that." Breathes Jack.

"I have noticed." Laughs Mickey.

"I had better get after them or they could just start without me." Jack says but he is still torn, leaving Mickey on his own when he has only just arrived though at least Gwen will not be around to harass him.

"Go Jack. I am fine, as I said, this will take a while, disregard what you see in movies, this process takes time, I have to get through several firewalls." Says Mickey.

"Ok, we won't be long and you can just call us via your headset." Says Jack heading off after Ianto and Lilith.

In the medi-unit, Lilith collects what she needs from the storeroom. Ianto sits on the edge of the examination bed.

"Ianto, I am not going to inject you with a local anaesthetic because you need your arm but I what I will do is use the spray." Lilith says.

"Ok Major." Replies Ianto.

Jack walks in. "I expected the Major to have you out your clothes by now Ianto." He says with a grin.

"The Major has been patient and waited for you." Says Ianto.

"Now the Captain has joined us lets get you out of said clothes." Says Lilith to Ianto.

Ianto goes to remove his jacket but Jack gently touches his arm.

"No... The Major is going to remove your jacket for you." Jack says with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Jack?" Says Ianto. "I... I..."

Jack gently kisses Ianto. "Hush." He says. "I insist."

Ianto has gone bright red.

Lilith has a slight blush. Jack is challenging everything. She has to touch Ianto... The pair know what she has done, what her hands have done... Yet still they want her to touch them.

"Major, you said." Jack says, reminding her.

"You are a cruel man, Captain." Says Lilith. She knows why Jack is doing this but has she not done enough today... She has brought this on herself. She did say... Is she really ready to play Jack's games? What is she thinking? She is Lilith, hellcat... She can do this!

Ianto looks down at Lilith; he can see the struggle in her eyes. "Lilith..." He starts.

"No Ianto, its fine. If Captain Idiot wants to keep pushing my boundaries... Well he will have to deal with the consequences." Says Lilith.

Jack pouts. "But Major you did say." He says.

Lilith smiles. "I did, didn't I?" She says. "Well don't blame me if you get hot and uncomfortable." Lilith can use the same tactics as Jack to cover up her darkness. "Stand, Mr. Jones." She orders.

Ianto has gone bright red... Again! He looks at Jack with pleading eyes but Jack just grins back. He can see he is going to have to be dealing with Jack later for his deeds. He will think of something fitting. He slowly stands.

Lilith slowly eases Ianto's jacket from his shoulders, she gently pulls it down his arms. She turns it in the air like a cloak, placing it carefully and neatly on a chair.

Ianto goes to take his tie off but Lilith just touches his hand and gives a slight shake of her head. Ianto drops his hands down by his sides. Lilith loosens the knot, gradually pulling the end of the tie through.

Jack watches intently, as Lilith carefully removes Ianto's silk tie. She is so gentle with Ianto, was she as gentle with him as she is being with Ianto? Probably. She is so gentle with them but it was less than an hour ago she broke a Shini's neck with those same hands. That thought alone sends thrills and chills through him, a similar thrill he gets from a good chase, the thrill he gets from danger but then again it is more, with Lilith it goes beyond the normal sense of thrill. She can go from a killing machi... A proficient killer, he corrects himself, to a caring gentle creature. Lilith pulls Ianto's tie from under his shirt collar, she gives it a quick whip, making it crack in the air.

Jack can feel his face heat up, he managers to suppress a moan that is threatening to escape. The things he could do with a couple of silk ties and these pair. Jack watches with a dry mouth as Lilith carefully pulls Ianto's shirt free from his trousers. Jack can feel his trousers becoming a little tighter, Lilith and Ianto are definitely going to drive him crazy.

Ianto stands still, not so much rabbit in headlights but more Ianto in a stasis field... He can feel his heart beat faster, his face and whole body in fact, heat up, his trousers become a little snugger fitting... He watches Lilith's face so full of concentration.

Jack moves in closer, his pheromones washing over the pair of twenty first century human... Calming the pair with his familiarity, they are safe with him.

Lilith catches Jack's aura spreading out to Ianto, tendrils of golden energy, touching, caressing. She watches fascinated as some of the tendrils hesitantly caress her aura, testing her barrier. Her fingers slowly undo Ianto's top button on his shirt. She concentrates on her aura on another level of awareness, making it a little denser, making it harder for Jack's golden tendrils to get closer; she is giving him a challenge. She wonders if he will be able to sense her deliberately do this as his focus, his attention is on what she is doing to Ianto, distracting him.

Jack, on a subtle level can feel Lilith's resistance, her barrier, her aura become denser. Again, she is showing her psychic abilities.

Lilith slowly undoes each button, revealing more of Ianto's chest then his stomach as she goes. Lilith can feel the warmth coming off Ianto's body. She slows down even more as she undoes the last two buttons as they are below Ianto's belt level.

Ianto's breathing hitches up a notch, his trouser zip is so close to Lilith's fingers, she would not need much movement to... Ianto closes his eyes as his imagination takes over.

Jack grins, stepping in even closer. "Why Mr. Jones, is your imagination playing a little scenario there?" He asks softly.

Ianto's eyes snap open, his breathing heavy. "Yes Sir." He replies in a gasp. "You two are going to pay for this." He hisses.

"I hope so." Purrs Jack. He watches Lilith move behind Ianto and eases his shirt off his shoulders, watching as the tips of her fingers just brush his bare shoulders.

Ianto can feel Lilith's breath on his now bare back as she holds on to his shirt as she moves it down his arms.

Lilith carefully lays his shirt with his jacket. As she turns back to Ianto, she runs a finger across his shoulders, making Ianto gasp, his back arches slightly, moving into her touch, his skin reacts, creating Goosebumps. "Now if would like to sit." Lilith instructs.

Ianto complies, sitting on the examination table.

"Would Captain Harkness like to hold Mr. Jones' right hand and whisper sweet nothings to each other while I remove the stitches." Says Lilith to Jack, she sees his faraway look.

Jack had been imagining Lilith's fingers travelling even more over Ianto's body, causing even more response from his body. "I know what Captain Harkness and Mr. Jones would like." Breathes Jack with a grin, stepping in closer to Ianto and holding his right hand.

"You know the saying that goes on about Satan and a pair of ice skates?" Lilith says, trying not to blush.

Ianto nods while Jack looks a little confused.

"That's your answer." Says Lilith.

"I don't get it." Says Jack.

"I will explain later my love." Says Ianto, there are still some things on Earth that Jack does not understand.

Lilith puts on a pair of surgical gloves.

"So is that a maybe?" Jack asks hopefully. They are still not hearing a no.

Lilith just smiles at Jack then turns her attention to removing the bandage from Ianto's left arm. Then Lilith slowly removes the dressing.

"How is it doing?" Asks Ianto, not looking at the wound but looking at Jack.

Jack holds Ianto's hand; his thumb gently caresses the back of his hand. Jack looks at the wound. He is amazed at how well it has healed.

"It is looking good, Ianto." Replies Lilith. "Nice and dry. Scabbing nicely and sealed." She picks up the spray of anaesthetic, the same Jack used on their necks. "This is going to be cold and might sting a bit."

"OK." Says Ianto in a small soft voice, sounding so young, he faces Weevils and other aliens but he really, really hates anything remotely medical.

Jack leans into Ianto. "If you are really good I will let you have a suck of my..."

"If you finished that sentence in my presence I will use this spray on your tongue Captain." Warns Lilith, knowing exactly what Jack is going to say.

Jack pouts. "No fun, Major." He says.

Ianto laughs and blushes. "I shall hold you to that Sir." He says in a near whisper to Jack.

Lilith sprays the wound.

Ianto gasps. "A little warning." He hisses.

"I thought I did warn you... Oh my mistake, I must have been distracted by your dirty talk." Lilith says innocently. Oh, she knows how to play their games.

"That was evil Major... I like it!" Jack beams.

"I think it deserves a special punishment." Says Ianto.

Lilith picks up a small medical steel sharp tool for removing stitches. She eyes the instrument with an evil smile. "Really Mr. Jones." She says.

Ianto gulps noticeably and Jack laughs.

"Now... Now Major don't you be frightening my Ianto." Says Jack.

"You are here to distract him... So distract him!" Says Lilith. She should not use Ianto's fears when they are just playing, she does feel a little guilty, she should use that sort of thing when they are up against an enemy. She gently touches Ianto's shoulder. "I will let you get your own back at a later date." She says softly, as way of an apology.

Ianto nods. "Ok Major... I shall come up with something fitting." He says with a smile.

"Oo... Oo... Oo..." Jack starts, bouncing up and down.

"No Jack." Says Ianto. "Not naked Hide and Seek or Strip Poker or naked Twister."

Jack pouts. "But... But..."

"No Jack, I think we need something a little more adult, more intellectual even." Ianto says. He looks at Lilith, he can see, sense that she is feeling guilty, sad even. He leans forward closer to her. "I will go easy on you for this first time." He purrs.

"And I don't get naked." Says Lilith with just an edge to her voice.

Jack notices the slight edge to her voice, the slight movement of her body, just turning very slightly so her right is more away from them... He would think that Lilith would not be so bashful, shy about her body but just studying her, she must have a good body, why would she hide it away? Why would she deny herself contact? Why hold herself in a certain way? As a cadet at The Time Agency he was trained to observe body language, the subtle movements, things that are being hidden, unsaid. It is almost like she is ashamed of her body but from what he has seen, felt, she has a good body, a beautifully crafted body, muscular, defined. He will continue to observe... An internal grin... Oh yes, he will observe. "Right let's get on." Says Jack.

"Yes Jack." Replies Lilith.

Lilith carefully removes the stitches, one at a time. Ianto feels very little as Jack kisses him through the process, distracting him.

"There all done." Says Lilith after less than five minutes.

"Really?" Says Ianto, looking down at his arm. "I hardly felt anything."

"I shall just put a light dressing on it, Ianto." Lilith says. She opens the packet with the fresh dressing in it and tapes it in place with micro-pore.

"Ok, thank you Lilith." Ianto says softly. Lilith had saved him having to go to the hospital, she has done a great job of looking after his arm; him.

"It has been a pleasure." Lilith says with a smile.

"It certainly has." Purrs Jack.

All three laugh, relieving the last of the tension that hung in the air.

"Ok, Mr. Jones, if you would like to get dressed now while I clear up." Says Lilith.

"Yes Ma'am." Ianto replies.

"If you carry on I will have to book you in on the assault course for the day." Says Lilith.

"You have access to an assault course?" Jack says surprised.

"Yes... At Bran Manor. I might just get my grandfather to leave it. I can see it as something we can use for training new recruits and some old agents." Says Lilith looking at Ianto.

"I think that is a great idea." Says Jack. "But would you want Torchwood on your property?"

"Well, UNIT have been on it for the last thirty years. I will need to put the property to some use. I would like to implement a proper training program that will be on going. This way, if I get my grandfather to leave the assault course we will not have to borrow the army's or UNIT's training grounds."

"That would be a great idea if you are sure." Says Jack.

Lilith nods.

"We would do it properly, renting or paying you for the use of the assault course." Says Ianto. "A proper business arrangement."

"Ok." Says Lilith.

Ianto starts to get dress as Lilith clears up and wipes down. Jack goes to the medical computer and brings up Ianto's medical file. He adds the latest treatment.

As Jack looks at the computer screen it suddenly dawns on him what is missing... Lilith's medical records! Was it attached to her personal file they retrieved from UNIT? He gives Lilith a side-glance, her head is down as she wipes down the examination table, a slight blush on her face, her shoulders slightly tense. So he believes she knows he has just worked out about her missing medical file... Does he say something now? No, he will keep her dangling. He gives a slight internal grin. He puts Lilith's name at the bottom of the medical report. Then closes the computer down. As he turns back to his two devious employees, he gives Lilith a smile, a smile that says, I know.

Lilith looks at Jack, she knows he knows what is missing, he really could not make it plainer. What she finds disturbing is he is not saying anything. She knows he will asks about it when she least expects it, when her defences are down he will pounce. She can think of a few choice words to describe Jack and none of them very lady-like. She knows she will have to eventually have to give Torchwood her medical file but that will have to be between her and the medical officer, though maybe in the future, depending, Jack will have access... Just maybe. She will have to think about it as it opens her up, shows flaws, a weakness, a reason. Jack already knows how damaged she is emotionally and mentally, why not the physical, a solid reminder of that day. She keeps her face neutral, not showing a reaction, an emotion.

Out at Bran Manor Sir Alistair deliberates whose number he should call out of the numbers he was given by Captain Harkness. He has dealt with Captain Harkness and his granddaughter, technically this call should go through the administration side of Torchwood first plus he is a little curious about Mr. Jones, he has heard the rumour machine about him. He comes to a decision.

In the medi-unit at The Hub Ianto's is just putting his jacket on as his phone rings. Ianto takes his phone from his jacket and looks at the screen, he presses receive. "Mr. Ianto Jones speaking." He says clearly.

"This is Sir Alistair." Comes the reply.

"Good afternoon Sir Alistair." Says Ianto, professionally. "I was just about to phone you with a progress report. May I put you loud speaker as Captain Harkness and Major Lethbridge-Stewart are present?"

"Yes Mr. Jones." Replies Sir Alistair.

Ianto switches his phone to loudspeaker.

"Good afternoon Sir Alistair." Says Jack.

"Good afternoon." Replies Sir Alistair.

"Mr. Jones will you give the progress report?" Says Jack. He gives Ianto a slight nod to start.

"Yes Sir." Says Ianto. "Dekker phoned Major Lethbridge-Stewart at thirteen hundred hours, I will send you a transcript of the contents of that conversation via your personal email, Sir Alistair. The Major talked him into coming to Cardiff." He says, in his best professional phone voice. "We managed to retrieve his flight plan from London and the hotel he has booked for his visit before he brought the systems down. His ETA is nineteen hundred hours this evening at Cardiff airport. He will be phoning the Major with time and location of their meeting after his arrival."

"Thank you Mr. Jones." Says Sir Alistair. He can hear that Mr. Jones is young but he sounds very professional. "At Base 5 there is now an un-nice cell ready for Dekker. I have two passes, one named for Lilith and named just as a Torchwood agent. I can send a courier over with the passes."

"Grandfather in light that we are dealing with Dekker and we don't know who he has in his pocket, can you send them over in a secure messenger pouch, so whoever is sent with them, do not know they are Torchwood business?" Says Lilith.

"Well, how about I send the corporal who was your driver from the other night?" Asks Sir Alistair. "He is leaving here in a moment to return to Base 5 as he will be your contact point there. I deliberately chose someone you have already met." He says, knowing even under normal situations his granddaughter can and does distrust UNIT.

"Yes Corporal Stevens." Says Lilith. "That would be satisfactory."

"Where do you want him to deliver the pouch?" Asks Sir Alistair. "And what about CCTV?"

"The CCTV we already have covered." Says Jack. "That is how we found out Dekker had tried to hack into the system to spy on Lilith and take those photos of Lily-Rose."

"OK." Says Sir Alistair. "And delivery point?"

Jack looks at Lilith, as this will be her call.

"Tell Corporal Stevens to drive to the location where he dropped me off after our meal." Replies Lilith. "Give him my works number and tell him to call me when he is five minutes from that location, I will meet him there."

"Ok Lilith." Sir Alistair says, he wants to... "Please be careful dealing with Dekker, he has a very nasty reputation, even those that he works for fear him."

"I will grandfather." Replies Lilith with a slight smile. "Mr. Jones , Captain Harkness or I will keep you informed through out the duration of this operation."

"Thank you." Says Sir Alistair. "Corporal Stevens will be leaving in the next few minutes."

"Ok grandfather I will be expecting his call." Says Lilith.

"Good bye gentlemen, Lilith." Says Sir Alistair and ends the call.

Ianto puts his phone back in his pocket.

"I think we have left Mickey for long enough on his own." Says Jack.

The three leave the medi-unit.