Chapter two

First day

Walking on sunshine, one of them songs, you think would motivate someone out of bed. When all it did was make Natalie pull the blanket over her head and close her eyes in a daze trying to remember everything that had happened. She wasn't even quite sure what was going to be on the agenda, Natalie was a computer tech for Torchwood three, a base that saves earth from aliens and such, she wasn't even sure if she was taking the job serious.

Now as the song got into that warm fuzzy chorus line, Natalie's fist punched the alarm to turn it off. She was not in a walking on sunshine mood when she lived in Cardiff and it was mid-March, cold as fuck.

Slipping into a warm shower, Natalie liked the feeling of getting clean in the morning. She remembered getting to see her desk, spending a lot of time listening to Tosh going over her new work load. Every now and then Natalie would see Tosh pining for Owen who kept to himself.

The first night was hard to get out of a daze blur memory, but it was only the first night, and today was the first day for Natalie.

Getting dressed, Natalie found it weird, she didn't want to wear a suit, and she'd picked out her favourite band shirt, a pair of blue jeans and an old pair of sneakers that had been floating in the bottom of her wardrobe.

For the first time Natalie felt she was relaxed, no make-up, and just pulling her long blonde hair into a simple ponytail. No stress to look smart, or in this case, professional.

Natalie wrapped up warm getting from the flat to her car; she rubbed her hands together waiting for the engine to start.

Jack had given her a ride home, she could easily remember the way there from her flat, and the car park for the hub had its own entrance other than the tourist shack. It was the one of many entrances.

"Morning Natalie…" Jack was cheerful watching Natalie entering into the office; he was holding a mug of coffee.

Natalie glanced around, Tosh wasn't at her station, and Natalie could only assume she was here before her

Natalie moved towards her work space, she placed her bag beside her desk looking to her new boss. "Morning Jack," Pressing the buttons to start up her computer, it wasn't the main system so it can be turned off,

Jack didn't take long to walk from where he was, to Natalie. He placed the mug on her desk; he wasn't sure how to even start. His mind going back to when he first found out about Natalie Fisher, and while she didn't even know it. He was starting his own investigation on her.

"So First day, you seem to love being on time," Jack placed a hand on Natalie's shoulder, his fingers squeezed, before letting her go. Taking Tosh's desk chair, he spun it around; he sat down watching as Natalie set up her desk for the day. "You can come in whatever time you like, unless I send you a message via text, god I love simple technology…" the one thing about Jack, he talked in riddles, he'd speak in such a way, Natalie found herself trying to decode it hours later.

"Nice to know, but I just think the sooner I get my job done for the day, I can leave," Natalie didn't even know she could speak that way, but her eyes quickly switched from Jack to her computer screen.

"Well Natalie," he swirled her chair, "We've to change that." Jack laughed; he picked up his coffee mug. "But if you insist on being here early, next time you can join me for breakfast." He wiggled his eyebrows before walking back towards his office.

"Or I can do my work," Natalie shouted loudly, but only could listen to the sound of Jack laughing more. She moved her chair back to the keyboard, but her eyes went to the entrance.

Gwen walked in, for the first time remembering there was a new member to the team, "Morning Jack!" She called, her eyes going over to Natalie. "Natasha."

She added.

"Natalie," Natalie corrected her for the god knows how many times, but Gwen didn't seem to take in every single time it was corrected.

Tosh came to work only a few minutes later.

"Morning Natalie." Tosh smiled, she'd placed her bag beside her own desk, and the computer was humming as she quickly typed something into it. "You sleep well?" She asked placing her flash drive onto her desk, she was smiling warmly to Natalie. It was nice to have a welcoming face, the one thing Natalie liked most about Tosh is that she made her feel welcomed and even knew her name. "Can I get you a coffee, before we start getting the security up better?"

Natalie smiled back, but notice Tosh straightening her shirt as Owen walked in, he looked hung over walking to his station.

Natalie and Tosh both watched as he walked by, he didn't even give either of them a second glance. He just walked straight to his pit and out of sight.

"Coffee would be lovely." Natalie finally replied.

Tosh nodded, "I'll be right back." She walked towards the kitchen area, and Natalie waiting until she couldn't see Tosh anymore.

Curiosity getting the best of her, Natalie slowly got up from her chair. This was pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone, but she glanced into the pit where Owen was starting his day.

Owen walked over pressing the on button for the computer, he reached over pulling his lab coat on, and for a few seconds he could tell he was being watched, but didn't take any notice.

"Bill fucking arse rape me GATES!" Owen kicked the desk, "Fuck!" he glared.

Natalie couldn't help but let a small giggle slip; she couldn't stop but hold onto the bars of the pit looking down into the view of Owen kicking the computer.

Owen stopped, he listen to the sound of Natalie laughing at him. "Got anything to say?" He glared up to her; he'd not really taken her in until seeing her loose fitting t shirt, her jeans looked snug, but not overly tight, and then her old shoes.

Natalie straightened herself up; she stopped laughing and finally looked semi-serious. "I can help," Her voice cool, her hand was playing with the handrail to the stairs, and she playfully rolled back and forth on her feet.

Owen waved a hand over his computer, and Natalie took it as an invitation to enter his work space.

She was slow at first, taking each step carefully. Natalie stopped on the last step taking quicker steps to his desk.

"Well work the magic then," Owen's voice was mocking.

Natalie could have said something, but she carefully pushed him back two feet, her grey eyes looking carefully into his dark brown.

Turning back Natalie slowly got down on her knees, going to under the desk; she glanced around seeing the plug sockets.

Owen kept watching her, his eyes studying her from behind, staring over her arse as it was poking out from under the desk, and for what he was looking at, it wasn't that bad either. "What's the problem?" he asked his voice was still mocking her.

Natalie rolled her eyes under the desk, she moved a hand picking the plug, pushing into the socket, and the hum of the computer made her smirk.

Moving out from under the computer Natalie brushed her hands down her knees, "Someone unplugged it," she glanced to the screens desktop photo being a half-naked woman, "Nice," She added walking away.

"Wait!" Owen called.

Natalie took her time to slowly spin around to face him again. "Can I help you plug your lamp in too?" Again Natalie wasn't good as sarcasm, but Owen seemed to laugh at the joke.

"I still need you to check over my hard drive, it's running slower than a virgin on orange juice." His voice joked, but then Natalie could tell it was just who he was, the office clown, plus a whore to boot, but she wasn't to judge. "Please, there'll be a drink involved if you like." He looked cheeky; but Natalie just rolled her eyes to this.

Walking back Natalie pulled the desk chair to the computer, it was too short, so she adjusted it to her own height, "Make it two drinks, and a game of pool, and I'll have this bad boy running porn at speeds you can only dream of…" Natalie didn't believe what just came out of her own mouth, but paused looking to his face. "I mean work," she finished feeling a blush come over her cheek.

Owen chuckled looking over Natalie's shoulder, "Porn," he started with his smirk.

Natalie didn't look back to him, her focus on the computer screen. "Never thought a girl like you would approve of pornography…" he brushed a hand against Natalie's shoulder.

"Well, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover Owen Harper," Natalie finally said, her eyes looking over his face, She couldn't believe she was wise cracking. "But I don't watch it either, I just know it makes a lot of money, and a lot of happy people," starting to click away, Natalie was going to try and get this done as quickly as she could glancing up to see that Tosh was standing holding two coffees, her eyes focused on Natalie intensely.

Owen's eyes going to Tosh also now, "Coffee, thanks Tosh," he rushed to the top of the stairs taking the coffee cups for her hands, "Sorry, stealing Natalie for a few, you'll understand," turning he walked back to into his pit.

Tosh couldn't believe it, the girl wasn't here ten seconds, and just like Gwen, Owen had taken to this women. She felt like her heart was slowly snapping in her chest.

Natalie didn't know what to do, her eyes going to Owen as he placed the mug down, "Just ignore her, her hearts in the right place, but she can be a right stick the mud." He took a sip of the coffee in his hand.

"Define stick in the mud?" Natalie didn't take her focus off of Owen's computer, coming to terms that she wasn't that bad of a multitasker. But then Owen's computer problems were pretty basic to the scale of things she was going to have to do with her day.

Owen pulled another chair up, he sat watching Natalie clicking away at things, and he smirked. "Just seems to play by the rules, never does or says anything interesting, and just pretty much." He stopped talking seeing Natalie had stopped typing. "She's just boring."

"I see," Natalie picked her coffee up, "But then I wouldn't know, since I've only really talked about work with Tosh, who knows, she might have a killer CD collection."

"That's been alphabetized and labelled." Owen added with a small smile, he playfully nudged Natalie. "Come off it darling, don't be that person."

Natalie let a giggle out, her eyes shifted over to his face, "I am not saying anything!"

"I see it," Owen playfully poked her side, "You know you want to say it."

Giggling, she tried to keep her voice down, "I'm not saying anything." Her voice kept in a low whisper, "Owen, I need to get this done." She tried to keep a calm tone.

Owen nodded, "Yes, you get work done." He grinned, "Well I want to be surfing all the porn before my lunch." He headed towards the table that had something on that Natalie really didn't want to know what it was.


Jack was looking down from his office; he didn't really know what to think. The day was mostly of him trying to work a big puzzle out. He'd known a lot of things when it came to a cover story, but the more he looked into it, the scarier it became to him.

He'd made a million fake identities up, Jack had pretty much mastered the art of the con; he'd learnt to make people believe the lie, and even when he mastered this art. He also mastered the art of spotting a liar.

While he watched as Natalie was wondering around the space of computers she was sharing with Tosh, Jack couldn't even work her out. On paper she was too neat, everything seemed too flawless, grew up in Wales, both her parents were happily married, her father a business man, mother a housewife. The hospital she was born in, down to the schools she averaged in. Jack just couldn't put his finger on the reason this bothered him.

"You okay in here?" Gwen stepped into the office, she didn't wait for Jack to respond to the knock, and she stepped in watched Jack watching Natalie. "I am thinking you didn't hire her for computer skills."

Jack stopped watched Natalie; his attention was now on Gwen. "You remember the sleeper agent?"

"How can I forget?" Gwen asked. She didn't want to think of Beth, or how she'd pretended to go violent to end her own life, "You thinking she's another one?"

"I don't know," Jack turned to look over Gwen, "But I think I am going to need your insight into who she really is."

Gwen glanced down to Natalie, she didn't really speak to her much, part of her felt bad for this notion, but pushed it aside knowing maybe she wasn't who she claimed to be, and Jack trusted her to find the truth.

"I can have a look into police files, anything that can open a gate to what we're dealing with." Gwen stepped beside Jack, she glanced down into the hub, and while the view from Jack's office was overlooking everything, she couldn't help but feel the lonely isolation of Jack's world.

Jack nodded, "I need you to keep this to yourself Gwen, the last thing I need is to trigger trouble, and I need to understand her."

Gwen nodded, "So are you briefing the other's on this?" Her eyes shot up to look at Jack's serious expression.

Jack shook his head, he had thought about this for weeks, and when he glanced back down to Natalie, he just couldn't risk it. "We keep this just between the two of us,"

"You think that's wise?" Gwen didn't want to push Jack, but when it came to secrets, she'd had the fear she wasn't the best one to keep them to herself. For a second her eyes went to Natalie now standing by Tosh looking over her work. Gwen could see they were talking, but what if Natalie wasn't some safe person, but secretly something else, a threat to everything she loved. "I'll do what I can." Gwen finally said turning away from the window. "But what will we do if she's not who she claim she is?"

"I don't know Gwen, but for now, it's best to keep this between us, and keep her close to home for safety reasons." Jack exhaled; he couldn't help but feel like he was being a villain, but when it came to the human race, someone needed to think of the horrible truth to keep everything together.


Natalie glanced over the clock on her desk; she wasn't sure how she'd survived the day. Nothing big seemed to be popping out, and as she shut everything down she could see that Tosh was still focused on her work. "So you're going to be here late?" Natalie asked getting to her feet.

"Yea, I have a mountain of translations to work out, plus I have three servers that aren't going to maintain themselves." Tosh gave a comforting smile to Natalie, even with the episode she had over her being with Owen that morning, she knew that Natalie wasn't going to do something to hurt her. Tosh just needed to get over her feelings for Owen and move on with life. "But you don't need to stay if you have plans."

"Not so much plans, but just going home, fill the void until here again." Natalie stopped talking, she never realised how empty her life was. "I can't believe I said that out loud." Her voice dropped looking behind her to Owen and Ianto talking in the small kitchen area. "You know, we should go out." Natalie turned back to Tosh, "I mean this work is still going to be here in the morning, and I want to really know my new team."

Tosh bit her lip, "I would love to, I would, but." Her eyes going to her computer screen.

Owen could hear the words of going out, he smirked glancing to Ianto, "What was you saying?" He could tell Ianto was going to roll his eyes, but he'd gotten used to Ianto's little ticks.

Ianto did in fact roll his eyes, "I was just saying maybe she was more of a practical person who wants to be nice, I didn't say she was going to be another Tosh in the team." He glanced over looking to Tosh sitting at her computer, and she wasn't even giving the idea of going out a chance.

Owen smirked more, "Well I am for one going to take our lovely new team mate up on the invitation of a night out." He clapped his hands together with a bigger grin than ever.

Ianto sighed, "Please tell me you're not going to try and shag her too?" he spoke softly, but it he wasn't sure if that was Owen's motives anymore, but he couldn't be one hundred present sure of Owen's motives with women.

"That is a very hurtful thing to say!" Owen put of a fake pain in his voice, "I am merely helping our new team mate feel welcome."

"So I guess this isn't a sex thing for you." Ianto glanced over to the girls again, but smiled to see that Jack and Gwen had joined them. "Maybe we should all go out for one drink. It's been a quiet week."

"See that is what I am talking about," Owen patted Ianto on the back as they both walked over to the computer area. "So a night on the booze, I am in."

Jack laughed, "I for one think that is a brilliant idea Natalie." He brushed his hand down her arm, his attention on Owen and knew this was something to be careful of. "So I am saying it's mandatory, everyone has to come." He winked to Ianto, and for that second he took in the small blush of the coffee boy's cheek.

Gwen smiled, "Plus gives us all the chance to get to know you Natalie," Her voice was kind, but then Gwen wasn't sure if she could get close to her.

"That sounds lovely; I will just need to leave my car here." Natalie glanced around the team, some of them seemed up for the night out, but then Tosh wasn't too impressed with having to leave her work load, and the thought that maybe Tosh was an overachiever made Natalie feel that Owen might be right about her.

"I'll call the cab," Ianto walked away, and he turned for a second wondering what was going on, for the past few days Jack had been distant from him, but now he was getting a little more back to his old self.


Natalie sat at the table; she wasn't sure what to say. The other's all had an established routine, and while she sat looking into the bottom of her wine glass she kept thinking of the past. She wasn't one to dwell on history; her eyes would shift to Owen laughing with Jack.

"And I said, not on this planet you don't." Jack let out a quick chuckle as the others laughed along with him. It seemed to Natalie that this was a normal thing, "So Natalie, so sad nothing exciting has happened yet."

"I would say my change of job is exciting enough," Her hand played with her wine glass, she was in the mist of something she still hadn't wrapped her head around fully.

Owen gave a hundred watt grin at Natalie, it was refreshing to see someone not tainted by Torchwood, but he didn't know how long that would last for. "Well I for one am happy for the boring, saves me having to fix you lot up." He drank from his beer bottle, he didn't mind being the doctor, but sometimes he missed being a normal medical physician.

Natalie gave a soft smile, while her idea was for them to go out; once she was here she felt out of place, her wine glass was down to the last dribble in the bottom. "Well I think it's my turn to get a second round in." She got to her feet, she walked over to the bar already knowing everyone's order, but couldn't help but feel someone behind her.

"I want to say sorry," Gwen caught Natalie off guard, she could see a lot of emotion deep behind the younger girl's eyes, but smiled lightly. "I haven't been the nicest person to you."

"I don't take it personally," Natalie brushed some of her hair behind her ear, she wasn't sure what was going on, but decided to go along with it. "Plus it's never easy being the new guy."

"Well that was me not so long ago," Gwen waved to catch a barman's attention. "But how long have you lived in Cardiff?"

Natalie felt put back, her hand stayed on the bar, but she was being careful with her words, "My family have lived here for generations, so my whole life." Her attention went to barman giving him the order. She turned to see that Gwen was still studying over her.

"I am nothing special," Natalie kept her voice calm; even if she couldn't quiet put her finger on it. "But then again I have no idea why Jack picked me."

Gwen shook her head, "Jack is very secretive on that." She knew that it was a lie coming out of her mouth. "But you have to be good, Jack only hires the best." She gave Natalie a reassuring nudge with her shoulder.

The barman placed the drinks on a tray. Natalie felt a little better picking it up and carrying it to the table. Everyone seemed to still be engrossed in their conversation and Natalie gave a smile at Gwen, "So Darts or Pool?"

For a second Gwen summed it up, "Pool," She took her drink from the tray that Natalie placed on the table. "But I warn you, I'm good."

"Well I'll have to see," Natalie grabbed her glass of wine finding an empty pool table; she placed her glass on a table. "I have a good eye." She smiled trying to push away her bad feelings about the other woman starting to set up the table for them.

Gwen took a sip of her larger; she picked up a pool cue looking smug, "Well want to make a wager?"

"I'm not one for betting," Natalie laughed, her wine glass in hand. "But then I can think of something to play for." She took a sip, and then placed it down.

Gwen thought about it, "What about if I pot a ball, I get to ask you a question." She placed the white ball on the table, "And if you pot one, you can ask me something." Her eyes scanned over Natalie.

She thought it over, but felt nothing serious about it, "I'm up for that." She took a coin out of her pocket. "Heads or tails?"

"Tails." Gwen watched the coin flip into the air and land gracefully in Natalie's open hand.

Natalie took her hand off the coin, "Tails it is," She placed the coin back into her pocket watching Gwen take the first shot, it was a hard hit at the pack of balls watching them scatter across the felt table top.

With the balls slowly coming to a stop Gwen could see the table looked set, but nothing went down, "Well your turn."

Natalie studied over the table, her eyes going to strips before colour, she smiled working out that the strips were better to her favour to win, and she lines the white hitting a strip into a pocket. "Well I have to ask what you love most about working for Torchwood?"

Gwen lifted her drink, she could think of so many reasons why her job was hard, but then she glanced over the table with Jack, Owen, Ianto and Tosh, and then smiled. "My team." She said simply, "We save the world."

With a side glance Natalie took in the people at the table, "I guess you do," She focused back on the table, she could see her next shot, and felt her hand guide the ball into another pocket. "So who would you date on the team?"

Gwen choked on her drink, she didn't like thinking of what she did in the past, and it wasn't something she remembered fondly. "Sadly I'm engaged." She held up her ring, and felt that Natalie would drop the subject.

"Seems like a lucky man," She reached for her wine, "I'll take my next shot." She Walked around the table to keep a good eye on her balls.

Gwen was hoping this wasn't going to be a one sided match, it seemed Natalie really was good at this game, and part of Gwen wished she picked darts.

Natalie missed the next ball, she straightened herself up, for a moment she didn't know why she was worried about Gwen asking her questions, but part didn't know why she wanted to know so much about her.

The ball sank into the pocket, and Gwen wanted to sum up her question, she fiddled with the pool cue before giving a small grin. "So how is your love life?"

For a second Natalie blushed, she couldn't really think of her ex-boyfriend. She hadn't really been in a serious relationship before him. "I don't have one of those, unless it's on sale somewhere." She joked, but part of her didn't want to go into too much detail.

"Pretty thing like you, think the lads would be falling themselves over you." She drank her drink trying to work out the best next move.

The next few moves didn't amount to anything being potted, even Owen popped over to refresh their drinks as Natalie was starting to feel the wine flushing over her face.

Gwen watched Natalie setting up her next shot, her eyes going to a locket hanging from her neck, she could see it clear enough from the other end of the table, but could see it was silver, but the metal seemed old and had no shine so came across almost grey. "Nice necklace, where you get it from?" Gwen watched as Natalie missed the pocket, so walked around the table to get a better look.

Natalie kept still as Gwen touched the necklace, her eyes on the other woman not knowing how to feel. "It's a family heirloom." She felt Gwen's hand close to her chest trying to calm her breathing.

For a moment Gwen felt nervous, at first what she thought were an elegant design seemed to be an arrangement of different size circles interlocking with each other.

"A very unique design," Gwen let the necklace fall back to Natalie's chest, and she notice the girl let out a sigh of relief. "I guess it's my shot…"

The rest of the game seemed to have dropped the questions; Natalie didn't know how to feel relieved with that. It didn't take the others long to join them at the pool table.

Jack notice the shift in mood when he over watched Gwen admiring a necklace, he stood beside Gwen, he could see that Ianto and Owen were now playing a game. "So help me get a round?" He asked Gwen seeing that she was looking in deep thought.

It took Gwen a while to snap out of it, "Yes." She followed Jack to the bar, but knew the drink wasn't the reason he brought them to the bar. She made sure everyone was still focused on Ianto and Owen's game.

"What you find out?" Jack was blunt, but watched Gwen's face.

Gwen took a deep breathe, "As far as I can tell she's normal…" Her voice trailed off.

"What?" Jack chased the changed of Gwen's face, and he knew that something was there.

Gwen brushed some of her hair behind her ear, "It had something to do with that locket she wears." She could tell that Jack had noticed. "She didn't seem to care about it, but when I touch it she."

"She looked nervous," Jack chimed in, and then turned to see that Natalie was more relaxed sitting on a chair laughing at something Owen had said. "That wasn't hard to miss."

Gwen then brushed her hand across the bar, "But it looks old." She didn't know where she was going with this, "Do you think it could be a clue?"

"I don't know," Jack placed his hand into his pocket, "But I'll need to see it for myself." He glanced behind him, he didn't have much of how. "Could you help?"

Gwen reached into her pocket taking out her phone, "I might have an idea…"

"I don't follow," Jack glanced from the phone to Gwen's face.

Gwen laughed, "Just follow my lead for once Captain." She started her walk towards the other, and then turned to Jack, "Get the drinks in." She winked going over to see Owen standing beside Natalie talking.

For a moment Owen looked over to Gwen holding her phone up, "What you doing?"

Gwen smiled, "Just taking a photo," She tried to be cool, but then it seemed Owen wasn't liking it. "Come on…"

Natalie laughed, "You're not that ugly," She smiled up to Owen.

"But why a photo?" Owen felt his eyes staring Gwen down.

Natalie tried not to laugh, but she placed her arm around Owen, "Hope he doesn't break the phone..."

"Oi!" Owen snapped his attention to Natalie.

Gwen rolled her eyes, "Just bloody smile the both of you." She held the phone up and felt grateful Natalie's necklace was outside of her shirt.

Jack came back to the table placing the drinks down, he felt better seeing that everyone was having a good time, he felt his phone vibrate inside he pocket seeing the photo of Owen and Natalie fill the screen, and he smiled putting his phone back into his pocket.