"Why didn't you tell us you had a brother?" Neal said, glancing at the camera footage from the vault. After realizing who it was Jack had given a sedative and they had stashed him in the vault while Martha treated the burns. Gwen, Jack, Rex, and himself were waiting for her to finish up with Violet and herself.
"It didn't seem important," Jack said, looking over in the same direction he was, a look of sadness and longing in his eyes, "I thought he was gone."
"He's like a cockroach," Gwen muttered bitterly, "You can't get rid of him."
The acid-filled comment officially left Neal confused. So did what she said next. "I'm sorry, Jack," Gwen said, running her hands through her hair, "I know he's your brother, but-"
"It's alright," Jack said, "They were my friends to." Now a look of feeling conflicted mingled with longing and sorrow.
"Can someone please tell me what the Hell is going on?" Neal demanded.
"My brother..." Jack began, but then his voice trailed off, "He's had unspeakable horrors inflicted on him, and he blames me for it. He decided to take it out on everything I care about. You know Owen and Toshiko, two members of the team who-who died."
Neal nodded. He had heard Gwen mention them before, and he knew they were killed in action, but that was really all he knew about what happened.
Things clicked together.
"Grey killed them," Neal guessed, more statement than question.
"He shot Tosh," Gwen said resentfully, "And Grey didn't actually lay a hand on Owen, but he died stopping a nuclear meltdown Grey caused by having Jack's ex blow I don't know how many strategic places, one of which supplied power to a nuclear facility so he's responsible."
"I knew I had to do something," Jack said, "So I drugged him and cryogenically froze him. But when the first Hub was blown up...everything was destroyed. After I got back everything had been picked over. If I hadn't come back for it or Gwen and Rhys hadn't retrieved it UNIT or someone else had got its hand on it. I assumed that Grey had died after life support had been cut off and someone had got his body. "
"So where had he been for the last three years?" Rex asked.
"That's what we need to find out," Jack said.
"And then what?" Gwen asked.
"Then we put him back into stasis," Jack replied.
"You still have the stasis chamber?" Neal asked.
"Yes, Neal!" Jack snapped, "I replicated everything!"
Neal shrunk back from Jack a little.
"I'm sorry, Neal," Jack said, "I didn't mean..."
"It's alright," Neal assured him, "I know how family issues get to you."
Just then Violet came down the stairs, running to Jack and throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh Jack," She said her voice dripping with empathy, "I'm so sorry."
After moment of confusion Jack realized what must have happened. "Martha told you," He said.
Jack felt Violet nod into his shoulder. Having a younger sibling for herself to a certain extent she empathized, but couldn't imagine going through what Jack was. Violet at last broke the embrace.
"Someone's been taking care of him," Martha said, putting a small rectangular lacquer box they had found on Gray and opening it up, revealing green tablets, "These are sedatives, meant to quell anxiety."
"Where'd he get those?" Violet asked.
"We need to find that out, too," Jack said.
"Are you going to be okay going in there, Jack?" Gwen asked.
"Someone's got to," Jack said, walking away followed by Gwen.
"Wait a second," Rex spoke up, "Are you sure it's a good idea for the two of you to interrogate him? Jack , he's literally your brother and you both just said he murdered two of your friends, and caused catastrophic damage to the city. Maybe it would be better if someone who wasn't so emotionally involved do this. At least one someone."
"Rex," Gwen said, a little too quick, "We have this."
"I think Rex is right, too," Neal added, "At the very least Gray already knows how to get under your skin. " Neal looked at the camera again where Gray was standing at the glass, as if waiting for something, "And whatever he's been up to we know he's got help. Maybe you should send someone in he doesn't know."
"Alright," Jack said, "Both me and Gwen are going in there, but Rex can come along in case he needs to pull us out."
"Fine by me," Rex said, and the three walked off to the vault.
When they walked into the vault Grey looked towards them. "What took you so long?" He asked coolly.
"We had to explain a few things," Jack said, "And you have to now. Let's start with those people helping you nab that alien. Who were they?"
Grey chuckled. "You'd really think I'm just gonna tell you?"
"No," Jack said, "But it was worth a try, right?"
Gray laughed a little harder. "I guess so. "
Gwen sick to her stomach. "Enough of this!" She shouted, banging the glass. "Look, whatever you're planning we stopped you before, and we'll stop you again, so you might as well just tell us!"
Gray was quiet for a moment then his face softened as he said, "What if I told you I wasn't planning anything?"
Gwen pursed her lips. "I wouldn't believe you."
"Believe it," Gray said, then he looked contrite as he continued, " A lot can change in three years. I'll probably never be completely right both because of what happened to be and...because of what I did. The destruction and pain I caused. The lives I took. I know now that there's no justifying it. I wish there was a way to take it back, to bring that poor woman, back, but their isn't. "
That threw everyone for a moment. Of all the things they thought Gray might say, or do, they were not expecting that .
"You got that right," Gwen seethed, "So if you really feel remorse, you can start atoning for it right now by telling us why you took that alien today, and who helped you."
"If I do that," Grey said, "What will you do to them?"
"That depends on what you have to tell us," Rex cut in.
Grey thought for a minute. "The reason we were chasing the alien is," He said at last, "because it escaped for our base."
"What base?" Gwen asked balefully.
"You're not the only alien catchers in town anymore," Grey said.
Just then Martha walked into the vault. "Guys," She said, "There's something you need to see."
"He was about to tell us everything," Jack said, as they followed Martha back to the center of the Hub, "We could have never dreamed of something like that. What was so important it couldn't wait?"
"This," Martha said, standing in front of the monitors for the cameras outside of the Hub which Violet and Neal were staring at with disbelief. It didn't take long to figure out why. They could see three people standing right on top of the lift: the blonde that had help Grey subdue the creature, the red-headed boy who had helped her into the van, and another, new girl, this one with short ink-black hair that looked like she cut it herself wearing a pink jacket over a blue dress.
"They showed up a little bit after you left," Martha explained, "After a couple of minutes the one in the dress looked directly at the camera, said she knew we could see them and to let them in because we had much to discuss, her words. That's when I came and got you."
"You think they're here for Grey?" Gwen asked.
"Clearly," Jack said.
"So," Martha said, "What are we going to do about this?"
"She said they wanted in so," Jack said, walking over to the station that controlled the lift, "Let's let them in."
Jack activated the lift and it descended into the Hub. They stepped off, the girl in the dress first, who appeared to be the leader, followed by her two underlings. Now that they saw the group close up they could make out finer details. The blonde had an ugly scar on her lips, the young man still looked rather boyish, and his candle-wax white skin was peppered with fine freckles. But what was most shocking of all was that the leader of the group was swollen with pregnancy.
"Oh, my God," Violet gasped.
"Yeah," Neal said, focused on the baby bump, "You see that too, right? That's she pregnant?"
"Not that," Violet said, her voice suddenly sounding hollow, "It can't be. She's dead. They told me..."
Neal had no clue what she was talking about but was started to get concerned. He turned around. "Violet," He said, "Who do you know in there?"
"Captain Jack Harkness, I presume," The expectant leader said in an American accent, standing right in front of Jack authoritatively.
"You presumed correctly," Jack confirmed, "And you are?"
"Dr. Julia Romano, we've actually met before" She answered, then gesturing to the people standing behind her, added, "And these are my colleges, Nathaniel Weaver and Graceann Spelman."
Violet gazed intently at her.
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Vi," Gracie said, her voice contrite.
"Sorry?" Violet said, a slight edge in her voice now. Shock was giving into rage. "Three years. I thought my best friend was dead for three years, and all you have to say is I'm sorry?!" Violet then screamed and lunged at the girl. Gracie leapt back and Neal grabbed a whole of Violet before she made contact. "Get off of me!" Violet shouted, struggling against Neal's grip, "Get the Hell off of me!" Then, still struggling, trying to get at Gracie started shouting at her again, "I could barely function after they said they killed you! How could you just let me think you were dead?! How could you?!"
"I barely survived," Gracie said, her voice reserved, "It's a miracle I didn't bite it that night, I thought if I came back for you they would find out and finish the job."
"Do you have any idea what happened after that?!" Violet shrieked, "How bad it got? How low I sunk?!" After that Violet just started kicking and thrashing and Neal wasn't sure if he could hold her.
"Neal get her out of here!" Jack shouted.
Neal dragged a kicking and screaming Violet away as everyone got their bearings again. "Alright," Jack said intensely, starring Julia down, "You had a lot to explain before, but you have even more to explain now. Two people we thought were dead turned up alive in one day, and I want to know why."
"Captain," Julia said calmly, professionally, "Perhaps we should take this in private."
"No," Jack said firmly, "We do this right here, right now. Let's start with who the Hell you are."
"Like I said earlier before the-unpleasantness," Julia began, "My name is Julia Romano, I was an scientist with Torchwood Four."
Rex cut in, "There's a Torchwood Four?"
"It was a mobile unit," Jack explained, "Went wherever it was needed, and when it wasn't needed anywhere, just moved around every once in a while to keep their team on its toes. You have to remember at the time Torchwood was founded the sun never set on the British empire. It's why we never made a big deal when they went missing. " Turning back Julia he continued, "I think I remember you now. That little child prodigy they scooped up out of Topeka."
"That's me," Julia confirmed.
"So where'd you guys get off to?" Jack asked.
Julia pursed her lips, and then her whole face contorted to look of anger and sorrow.
"That can't be good," Jack thought.
"We were in Northern Ireland," Julia began, after she had manage to compose herself, "We trailing this creature that a bunch idiots had smuggled over, God only knows why. Some monstrosity with seven heads. We tracked them to abandoned farmhouse in the country. Our plan was to steal it from the back room they were keeping it in and get out of Dodge. Things went south when the creature broke free and went on a rampage, trying to take a bite out of everyone. " She paused a minute before saying, "And I actually saw it kill Mike. " She paused for another moment before saying, "The idiots who had the thing got involved, and then as if it wasn't bad enough the house blows up. "
They had to admit, no one was expecting that.
"Apparently one of the geniuses had put a pot on the stove and hadn't noticed the funny smell of the gas leak," Julia explained, "The last thing I remember is Kathy trying to get over to me. Then I wake up and found out I've been in a coma for fourteen months, Torchwood is gone and everyone else who was at the farmhouse died. In the shock I let a couple of things I shouldn't slip out and wound up in the psyche ward. I managed to break out and I figure I need to get to Wales, the next outpost. I had no resources so that was easier said than done and when I finally get there I find a big steaming pile of rubble of where the Hub use to be and the only actually member of the team I could find has a bun in the oven."
Jack turned her head to Gwen with a questioning glare. She'd known about this the whole time?
"I never approached her," Julia said, knowing what he was thinking, "I figured in her state it wasn't a good idea. Plus she'd probably had a bunch of questions and I had my hands full with Gray."
That lead Jack to his next question. "How does Gray fit into all this?"
Julia paused for a minute, then said, "I started picking through the rubble, then out of nowhere I find this cryo-chamber with a guy in it. The life support was still working, but barely, I had to get him out of there, fast. I got him out and dragged still-unconscious body to a hotel and checked us in. He woke up two days later completely disoriented and confused, attacked me, but I was able to fight him off. Eventually we got everything straightened out. I told him everything he told me everything. I wasn't sure what to do after that, but eventually I decided to try to rebuild the institute."
"And how come we're just catching wind of this now?" Jack asked.
"After you came back and rebuilt Torchwood Three again, with more resources I might add, we decided it was best to keep under your radar," Julia explained, "Lately we've just been cleaning up the things you weren't getting to quick enough, and/or clearing out before you guys got there." Took a deep breath and exhaled, looking tired.
Gwen though she knew why. "Why don't you sit down?" Gwen asked, pulling out a chair. She knew what it was like being that far along. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world. "You shouldn't be on your feet anyway."
"Thank you," Julia said, sitting down.
"How far along are you?" Gwen asked.
"About six months," Julia answered, "It's why I wasn't out there today after the Old Sparky broke out. The baby's father was protective of me before but since I told him I was pregnant-he thinks I'm gonna break if someone looks at me wrong."
"The baby's father know what you do?" Gwen asked, just making conversation.
"Yes," Julia said, somewhat awkwardly, like there was something she wasn't telling them. She looked down, almost like she was ashamed.
"Julia," Jack began, walking up to her and crouching down, "What aren't you telling us?"
"Captain Harkness," Julia began in a low whisper so only he could hear, "I really think we should have this park of the conversation in private."
A thought came into Jack's mind as to why she would want to take this part in particular away from the rest of the group. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?" He asked, his voice now a low whisper too.
Julia nodded. "You're going to be an uncle."
