Jack sat in his chair and looked at the blank screen in front of him. He was at a loss for what to write about Kip. He hated writing these things. Every time he had to make an entry he felt he was somehow at fault. That he should have been able to stop what happened. Prevent the death. He sighed and leaned his chin on his hand. A step on the doorway distracted him and he looked up to see Sherry entering with a cup of coffee in her hand. She placed it on the desk by his arm and he smiled into his hand. Definitely genetic, he thought with amusement.

"Thank you," he said softly as he glanced up at her. She looked wan and her face had a pinched look to it. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Yes," she nodded, making the gesture automatically. She went to go back to work and he reached out and wrapped his fingers around her wrist, stopping her.

"No you're not," he said. He pushed back in his chair and tugged on her, pulling her so that she sat in his lap. She sat with a sigh and rested her head against his shoulder. His hand went up to rub her shoulders. "Tell me what's bothering you." She shook her head mutely. "It's about Kip, isn't it?" He could feel her head nodding against his neck. He wrapped his other arm around her and hugged her.

"You couldn't have stopped it, you know," he said to her. He could feel her body shift as she shrugged. "Your gift can only do so much, Sherry. Without focus, you can't predict what is going to happen."

"Then why have it at all?" She sniffled. He felt the hot splash of her tears against his neck and he closed his eyes in response to her pain. "Why can't it be good enough so that it would be useful?"

"Because that's not how it works," Jack informed her gently. "Gifts aren't something we can command. They don't have an on or off switch. They just are. And sometimes, they can't give us what we need to act properly. That's why it isn't a science, but a gift."

"I'd rather give this one back," came her muffled reply. Jack chuckled ruefully and he felt her stiffen in response.

"I'm not laughing at you," he assured her. "I was just thinking that you are probably not the first person to say that." He rocked his chair back and forth, seeking to use the movement to comfort her. He let her cry, knowing that it was part of the healing process. As he reflected on it, he realized that this was the first death that Sherry had witnessed at Torchwood.

"Is it going to happen to all of us?" Sherry asked. Jack had to think about it for a moment before he answered her.

"Eventually, yes. Someday," he said. Well, everyone except himself, he reflected. Although, even for him, he had noticed the slight signs of the aging process. It was subtle, but when he looked closely in the mirror he saw it. Inwardly, he was pleased.

"Tomorrow?" She asked. He shook his head and continued to push against the floor with his foot to rock them both.

"Not if I can help it," he assured her. "I can't make promises, Sherry. What we do here is dangerous. Everyone knows that. And what happened today just brings it closer to home. If you're scared, I'll find you another job somewhere. Another place where you can be safe."

"You.. . you want me to leave?" She asked plaintively. "To leave here?"

Jack held her close. "I worry about you, sweetheart," he said softly. "You're family, and I don't want you to get hurt." She turned in his lap so that she was cuddled closer to his body and he hugged her tight. "I only want what's best for you, and right now I'm scared I can't keep you safe from these things."

"I thought you said that the Hub is the safest place at the moment," she said, her voice muffled under his chin.

"I hope," he amended. "These things are unpredictable. I'm scared for the whole team, frankly."

"And Ianto, too?" She asked. Jack sighed and nodded.

"Everyone," he replied. He moved his head and kissed her forehead. She was silent and he could almost hear the gears turning in her head as she thought. He waited to see what she would ask next.

"Uncle Jack?" She asked. There was a tentative note to her voice.

"Yes, hon?" Jack replied. He was still rubbing her back as they rocked back and forth, the chair squeaking in time to his movements.

"Why didn't you tell me that Ianto and I were related?" She finally answered. He blinked. As far as he knew, Ianto still hadn't told her himself, though Jack knew he was considering it.

"How did you figure that one out?" He finally asked. Her felt her giggle and a slow smile crept across his face. She did have a contagious laugh.

"It really wasn't hard," she said. He could feel her lips spread in a smile against the skin of his neck and his smile widened in response. "After all, if you look at younger photos of my father, and my granddad before his hair turned, there's a remarkable resemblance." Jack nodded. He could see what she meant.

"Are you going to let him know you know, or just wait for him to tell you?" Jack asked her. She shrugged.

"Maybe I'll wait. It would be fun to see him surprised that I already know," she said. Jack chuckled. There wasn't much that would surprise Ianto, but that would. She pulled back in his arms and looked at him. "Please don't send me away." Jack looked at her soberly.

"Even if it's for your own good?" He asked her. She nodded and he sighed. "Definitely inherited a few of the more stubborn Jones' genes, I see."

"Definitely," she nodded before tilting her head to one side in a gesture that was endearingly familiar. "We're not leaving you to do this by yourself, Uncle Jack, so don't even consider it."

A slow smile crept over Jack's face at the tone in her voice. "No, ma'am," he said to her. She nodded, satisfied. He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes tracing the lines of her face before meeting her eyes again. "We good?"

"Yeah, we're good," she replied. She leaned in and kissed him on the nose. "I need to go see Sian." She pulled back from his embrace and climbed off his lap.

"How is she doing?" Jack asked.

"Scared, but I think that having me there helps. We're close to the same age," Sherry said. "And so we can chat about just about anything. I think Julia intimidates her."

"Julia means well," Jack said and Sherry nodded.

"She does, but I think what Sian needs right now is a friend. I can do that," she said. She turned towards the door. "Should I think about ordering dinner in? No one has had anything to eat since breakfast."

"Please," Jack said. "It will probably take a while for Julia to finish the autopsy, so if you order something soon, pick something that will keep for her and Ianto." Sherry nodded and headed out the door.

"Oh," she said as she poked her head back in the doorway. "Drink your coffee before it grows cold." Jack chuckled at her admonishment.

"Ma'am, yes ma'am," he said with a salute. She giggled and he grinned at the empty doorway. He turned away from the doorway and focused on the empty log screen in front of him. Squaring his shoulders he pulled the keyboard towards him and began to type.