Chapter three

Don't be the victim

Jack sat at his desk, for he knew he had to look with more detail at the photo. He'd uploaded it to his computer, and with the tech he was able to zoom into the photo focused more on the locket.

He didn't want to do it coming back from the pub, he made sure all his team got home safe; now in the early hours of the morning he was sitting at his desk waiting for a photo to zoom focus. Jack watched the photo blurring and changing until the necklace was in focus. He couldn't help but hold his breath, the first thing that jumped out to him was its inscription, and it was something he couldn't forget in a heartbeat.

For a moment Jack didn't know how to take it, but it wasn't something he would expect as he felt his hand going over the mouse, he was thinking alien spy, something sinister, but he wasn't expecting to see this.

Jack found himself getting lost in everything he could find on Torchwood data base, build of information Torchwood had found on The Doctor, plus his personal experience of The Doctor.

He didn't know how lost he was until he could hear the cogs of the entrance opening, he glanced from his tower over the pit seeing that as always Ianto was entering the hub to start his day. Normally Jack would make the most of the alone time, but he wasn't ready to let this new information go just yet.

"Coffee?" Ianto poked his head in; he could see Jack was deep in work on his computer, he gave that small smile, the one he knew Jack couldn't ignore.

With just a peek over the screen Jack grinned, "You know how I love it Ianto," He spoke his name breaking down Ianto's name the way that he knew would charm Ianto out of being nosy; he wasn't ready to share what he was doing.

"Dark and strong," He gave a grin, "Like you like your men," He gave a cheeky wink.

Jack smiled, "Well I do have a lot of types." He went back to his computer.

Ianto turned and walked back to the kitchen, he watched as Tosh headed to her computer, "Coffee? I'm making a fresh pot for Jack." He watched Tosh sitting by her computer looking over the information that had been coming in overnight.

Tosh went to open her mouth, but stopped. "I think Jack needs to see this." She glanced to where Jack's office was, she could see he was at his computer and sent what was on her screen to his.

Ianto felt lost, he quickly glanced behind Tosh to what was showing big rift activity, "What do you think?" He said while seeing police reports associated with the activity.

"It's that time of year again." Jack walked down the stairs; he placed a hand on Tosh's arm. "I was hoping they'd pick another planet by now." He added seeing police files of what looked like a young woman; she was reported to have attacked an office before rushing off.

"Well she seems a bit feistier than the other one," Jack felt the relief of his attention shift for one matter to another. Jack couldn't believe how fast the year comes back around.

Tosh sighed, "But we never seem to catch the person, they vanish." She looked up the file from last time, "Maybe we're missing something." She started to go through the CCTV footage.

Natalie walked behind them; she was watching the footage with them. "She looks as if she's running from something." Her eyes going over the whole scene, "The person she attacked, it's not a whole attack, she's pausing." Her finger pointed, "Can you freeze?"

Tosh felt shocked, but froze the video feed, "You see something?"

"I think she made a mistake," Natalie felt everyone's eyes on her. "Why was this never on the news," She couldn't help but feel nervous. "What?"

Jack turned to see Owen walking into the hub late. "Well I think we've got a team to check it out…"

Owen rolled his eyes, "Again?" He went to walk out of the hub.

Jack laughed, he could tell that Owen didn't like this, "Nice try Harper, but I think we are going to need someone to go with Natalie on this one."

"Me?" Natalie felt put on a spot. "I thought I was a computer person." She felt her hands holding onto herself.

Jack grinned, "Yes, but you wanted an adventure, and I think you have a good chance of solving this long mystery."

Owen wanted to roll his eyes. Tosh wanted to cry, and Ianto was completely confused.

Jack clapped his hands, "Well it's settled," He reached into his pockets, "Plus I want you to be on this," His eyes going to Owen. "Book a hotel on me."

Natalie felt her cheeks flush; she wasn't sure what to say to this assignment, "Why a hotel?"

"I want you to track this, and I'd rather you be there till the end." He took out the Torchwood account card, "Go nuts." He passed it over to Natalie. "Trust me; you can never max out that bad boy."

Feeling defeated Natalie let out a sigh, "Well I'll need to get something's from my place first."

Owen didn't like this, part of him wished he'd just phoned in a sickie that day, but he turned to Natalie, "So what do you need to pick up?"

"Well a change of clothes, something to sleep in," She carefully picked up her bag, "Plus I like to use my own toiletries." She smiled heading towards the exit, her eyes following Owen. "Don't worry, I am sure we will survive."


Owen sat in the car looking to the block of flats that Natalie went into, he kept going over everything that Jack had said to him. Partly because the last four years a woman would come through the rift, and every time a different woman, and then mysteriously disappear

The idea or going to find out what was happening wasn't a big concern to Owen, but it seemed that it was something Jack wanted to be solved.

The car was filled up, Owen glanced to the clock on the dashboard showing it was only twenty past eleven, so they had to be checked into their hotel by two.

Natalie glanced out her window to see that Owen was still waiting in the car. She knew they weren't the best of friends, but she thought he liked her a little.

It just turned out that Owen was very drastic in the way he's moods would chance very quickly.

Natalie picked up a bag, she'd finished packing quickly, but she couldn't help but find herself standing still in her living room. Part of her wanted an adventure, something deep in her wanted to go and solve the puzzle. Her eyes went to her wall looking over photos of her parents, she didn't have any siblings, and not any friends.

Natalie knew for a while she was meant to just live a calm life, but while she glanced around her flat she couldn't help but feel something was missing from her life.

Maybe working for Torchwood would help fill that void, but she couldn't help but feel like she was wrong to be trusting Torchwood for some reason.

A loud buzzing snapped Natalie out of her thoughts, she turned to the hallway, then out the window to see Owen was no longer in the car.

Taking her bag in one hand and her laptop case in another she left the flat not knowing what was going to happen on this adventure.

Owen didn't like waiting, while he was pressing the number of Natalie's flat, he stopped pressing seeing the door open. "What took you so bloody long?"

"Nothing I..." Natalie walked passed him to the car, it was unlocked so she placed her bags on the back seat.

Owen followed, he opened the door to the driver's side giving her a quick look over. She'd pulled her hair into a high ponytail, and she was still wearing the same clothes she came to work in. So he had no clue what took her over half an hour to do.

"We'll on the drive I can catch you up with the history of this. I personally don't give a shit, but since Jack thinks some reason you can solve the mystery..."

"I made a small comment." Natalie wanted to snap, but then didn't see the point in starting an argument with Owen. "I mean it has to mean something if it's a yearly occurrence," She reached into the back taking out her laptop, she started it up feeling shocked. "I'm just assuming that you would care more. Because you don't seem to have much compassion for a man who took the Hippocratic oath."

Owen glared at the road, he was doing his best to be calm, "I did, and I think it's do no harm..." He gave a smirk, "It doesn't say anything about my attitude."

"Well." Natalie straightened herself up, "Have you thought of maybe changing that?"

"Why do I?" Owen took a turning onto the motorway

Natalie played her hands over her jeans trying to keep herself from glancing to the glaring expression that was dead set on the road. "You seem like you're nice one second, then you're in a mood the next."

"Well it's who I am. Like it or lump it sweet cheeks." Owen side glanced to her, he gave a wink before focusing back on when he was going to make the next exit.

Natalie tried to not think too much on it, she went to take a breathe, but held it for a few moments.

The rest of the ride was in silence, and while Natalie knew most people would listen to the radio, Natalie didn't feel the need to have music on. The movements of cars would catch her eye for a few seconds, but then she'd find herself slowly turning to her laptop to study over everything Tosh had written about the yearly event.

The second the car stopped Owen could see Natalie focused on her laptop. "We're here..." Owen said softly, he didn't know why. Just watching her made him wish he wasn't so rude.

Natalie stopped, she closed the laptop putting it back into the case. "Cool..." She took her seatbelt off, and opened the door to get out. She didn't really have much to say. From what she read they only had a little window of time to solve the mystery.

Walking to the entrance of hotel. Owen had his duffle bag in one hand, he would have offered to carry Natalie's bag, but she seemed to be keeping a distance from him, but then he knew she must of taken a hint from his cold nature.

"Reservation under Harper," Owen said to the woman at the reception desk, she seemed to quickly type, then glanced from him to Natalie.

She typed again, then for a second glance over the two of them standing next to each other and studying the expression on Natalie's face. "I have you right here, Harper, one night." She smiled, "It's our best room, just remember to use the do not disturb sign if you don't want the maid to interrupt anything..." She gave a bright smile.

"No, no... No." Owen waved his hand, "I made a reservation for a twin room." He pointed out. "I was sure of it."

"I'm sorry, it's down as a king room." She went back to her computer, he cheeks turning pink as she looked again.

Natalie felt bad for the girl, "Is there a chance we can change to a twin room?" She tried to relieve the tension that Owen had started to make. "I mean no expense is a problem."

"I'm so sorry, but all our twin rooms are taken..." She typed more, and her eyes seemed to be getting bigger, the more she tried to fix the problem. "I don't know what to say."

Natalie took a calming breathe, she placed her hand on the counter top, then she gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll take the king room." She nodded. "It's only a night."

Owen rolled his eyes taking a step away from the desk to study the lobby, he could see that had a nice size bar, and he ignored the conversation between Natalie and the receptionist.

Natalie took the keys walking up to Owen, "We should drop our stuff off at the room, and then we can make a quick plan." She felt her hand was a moment from touching him. "We've got a lot to cover in a little space of time..." She froze on the word time.

Owen felt his eyes studying her hand, "We'll lets get a move on."

"I get the bed..." Natalie said at the lift, she pressed the button with a grin on her face.


Gwen felt her hand in a fist against Jack's office door, and while she had a million things going through her mind. She didn't understand why Jack would have Natalie go off on a case the way he did. Part of her thought of Owen and Natalie together, and was Jack thinking straight.

"Come in Gwen..." Jack's voice was careful from his office.

Gwen opened the door to see Jack was still sitting at his desk staring over the computer. He'd left the office for a few seconds, but came back to sit at his desk. So all Gwen could do is walk towards the screen, she briefly looked at the zoom of the locket that Natalie worn.

Gwen felt her eyes drawn to the locket, "I'm guessing this means something to you?" She had been doing some research of her own, "It seems personal to you."

Jack's eyes shifted from the screen to Gwen, "I have seen something like this..." He went back to everything that happened. The things that Gwen would never remember. "But it's something I just can't understand it as I've only heard." He tried to push passed the torture of being kept by The Master, the knowing of what he did to The Doctor. "It's like I can't make stabs in the dark, but I'm scared to really shine a light on this."

"Do you think this is a danger for Earth?" Gwen placed a hand to his shoulder, she couldn't even imagine what was going through Jack's mind.

Jack shook his head, he felt his eyes going over the circles intertwining, the metal was old. "Earth..." He laughed, he knew that Torchwood had a lot of information, but it didn't hold much on Gallifrey, and The Doctor wasn't one to give up information of his own planet to a place he didn't trust.

"Jack, is Owen safe with her?" Gwen didn't like the feeling of not knowing, but she couldn't stop thinking back to Beth.

There was a moment, it wasn't something Jack expected to think, but it was a flash. "Owen has never been safer..." He knew it was going to be a long shot, but he couldn't help but feel he needed to make the jump. "What did you find?"

"Nothing, she's got no criminal record, no medical history. The girl hasn't even been to the GP for anything..." Gwen tried to not be scared, this girl's medical record was blank, aside from a place of birth. "I can say it's like she isn't even a person."

"So I am going to have to make some phone calls..." Jack's eyes going to the locket photo. "It's not going to be easy."

Gwen nodded, "Do I have a feeling you're going to need that special Doctor friend of yours?"

"He's not the easiest of men to get hold of, so I might have to get his attention..." Jack smirked to himself, part of him was happy for the reason to get hold of him.


Owen felt his eyes looking from the window of the room, he wasn't much help, but he was feeling that something was happening. While they had set up, he could hear the keyboard typing as Natalie was working something out.

The room was nice, but Natalie knew of the clock ticking away. She kept an idea of patterns that seemed to happen every time, but it wasn't something easy. Natalie didn't feel the need to have a conversation. All Owen did was not make any effort to start one with Natalie.

Owen stopped staring out the window, he could hear the tapping stop, but he could see that Natalie was getting to her feet, she reached for her jacket putting it on. "You got something?"

"I have something," She felt herself turning to watch Owen. "I know I'm not used to all this alien stuff, but I know history of earth." She tried to ignore the fear in her stomach.

"So what is your theory on this?" Owen asked grabbing his jacket on the way to the door.

Giving a small smile Natalie laughed, "Welcome to the games..." She knew it sounded strange, but from everything she read, from tiny detail to other tiny parts of a moving story.

"This is a game?" Owen didn't really think of it, but as he felt himself going over it, he couldn't really understand. "How did you come to that?" He asked watching Natalie walking out of the door with her bag in her hand. "Wait up!" Owen called rushing out of the room to keep up.

Natalie stopped at the lift pressing the call button, turning to see Owen's face. "I saw the face this morning, a face of thought, a face of fear. This girl as well as the other's had a mission. I don't know what the mission is, but it's life or death." Her eyes watched the lights of the lift showing it coming to their floor. "Have you ever watched reality TV?"

"Not much of a TV watcher..." Owen watched the doors open, and was happy that no one was inside. "But I have a feeling you're going to tell me."

"I don't watch much, but that was all the research was about." Natalie was standing beside Owen. "But I can't explain it, it's like something in my mind is opening." Her hands going into her jacket pockets.

"I don't get you..." Owen was keeping his side of the lift, it wasn't that he didn't want to get to know Natalie. He just couldn't bring himself to let himself be open again to get hurt.

Natalie laughed, "I don't even know either, it's like my eyes are opening for the first time, like my life is changed. I was drifting and now I am putting my feet on the ground." Natalie stopped talking.

Owen raised an eyebrow, he could feel himself watching Natalie before seeing the doors opening again. "You really are something strange..."

"I can't help it," Natalie stepped out, she then glanced to her watch. "We have only a few minutes to get to the shopping centre." She smiled again, "Hope you can run in those.." She took off out of the lobby into the outside world.

For a few moments Owen kept still, he then realised he was losing her. He took off in a sprint knowing his shoes were not that good for running in. "Why do they always have to run!"

Natalie didn't know why, but she felt like something was clicking. Like a moment she felt a flash of emotion. Adrenaline flowing through her gave her mind some clarity. "Keep up Owen!" She called seeing a bus they needed to catch a few feet behind her.

Owen felt his lungs were on fire, he kept a good pace behind her. "For a bird who's a computer nerd, you really know how to go fast." He felt himself pushing himself beyond his limits. "Do you do Pilates or something?"

"What?" Natalie hailed the bus as Owen stopped catching his breathe. "Venusian aikido..." She froze at the words and shook them off. "Bus." She pointed getting on paying the driver for herself and Owen.

Owen sat down trying to calm his heart, it was pounding, but he could only see Natalie standing as if she just took a leisurely walk. "What is the plan?"

"I know patterns, I know how..." She closed her eyes for a second, her hand went to her locket for a brief moment.

Owen could see something brush over her expression, he couldn't read minds, but he knew emotional cues on a face. If he'd known better he thought he saw sadness. "Nat..."

Natalie's eyes opened, she pursed her lips. "It's strategy."

"And you play war games?" He asked trying to work something out.

Natalie shook her thoughts away, "Research." She felt something was playing over her, "And we're close to our stop."

"For the love of god, are you going to help me with what the hell is going on?" Owen felt the bus stopping, he watched Natalie getting a head of him again to figure something was going on, and he wasn't going to be told any time soon.


Jack felt himself getting the feeling, he knew it was long shot, but as he stood in Natalie's flat, he was going to get answers. The place didn't have anything that seemed old.

Moving around a bedroom he opened a few draws, he found himself trying to find something, anything that gave away something to prove him wrong. Maybe a photo album, a cuddly toy kept as a childhood link.

"Jack..." Ianto called.

A split second Jack was sure he came here alone, but he didn't know why Ianto would of followed him. He closed a draw turning to see Ianto standing in the doorway. "Jack what are you doing here?"

Jack kept still, he wasn't sure what to do. "I didn't think this mistrust in me was still going on."

"Not mistrust," Ianto played his hand on the doorway, he knew the look on Jack's face. The second that Gwen started to act weird, the moment he went over Jack's computer.

Jack felt his eyes drawn to Ianto, "And how long have you been keeping an eye on my business?" He was repressing his temper, the need to lash out. He couldn't believe he thought the past was behind him. The team were still not trusting him.

Ianto took a step into the room, he couldn't forget, as much as he loved Jack. He knew too much to let go. "You hired someone out of the blue, you've not figured out that it would ring a bell to the team."

"Not the team. You!" Jack held his arms across his chest. "Can I have something to myself?"

Ianto shook his head, "Not if it'll affects the team..."

"This isn't about the team, this is about me." Jack waved his hand, "But I can assure you this isn't like before."

"Not like before Jack," Ianto felt his eyes going around himself, "Why is this so important to you?"

Jack couldn't speak, he didn't want to speak. He wasn't used to having to explain himself, but for the sake of everything he wasn't going to lose it. "Ianto,"

"It's not something you can keep from me, you can trust me." Ianto kept his moments careful. "But this is something we should do together."

"I felt it," Jack started, "I spent so many years trying to get answers to why, and I thought if I knew why, I can move on." Jack notice the gap between himself and Ianto getting smaller. "I can't move on..."

"Jack, why are you doing this? Natalie is just a boring girl." Ianto stepped in front of Jack, he didn't pay much attention to the flat, but more on Jack's face.

"Ever hear of the time war?" Jack laughed, "No, you wouldn't know much of it..." He felt like he was in on a secret.

"Jack, what are you on about, a war..." He glanced around the bedroom. "Are we expecting a war? Does this Natalie bring it to earth?"

Jack shook his head, "She isn't bringing a war..." He froze, "But I know the moment I felt it."

"Felt it?" Ianto wasn't sure what was going on, but he was slowly getting the door open, and finally he knew that Jack was letting him in.

Jack placed a hand to Ianto's cheek. "I have my hands on some tech," He thought it over. "It's kind of a way of me keeping track of the TARDIS, and I wanted to keep track. I mean it wasn't hard for me to..."

"You love The Doctor?" Ianto felt nervous.

Jack tried to not laugh at the obvious jealousy, "I can't say I'm not infatuated with him." He see Ianto's eyes falling, "But hey, I am not looking to run off with him again, I just need to make sure if he needs my help, I am ready."

Ianto nodded, "So how does Natalie come into this?"

Jack felt himself studying the room again, "I don't know..." He could finally feel like he could be honest. "I am just scratching the surface of it all..."


Natalie felt her eyes going around the shopping centre, she kept looking around. Part of her was in her mind thinking over everything she read. "This is the place..." Her attention went to Owen, then back to her watch. "we couldn't have missed it..."

Owen felt his eyes looking around the people going about their business. "What are we looking for?"

"Just keep an eye out for the blonde." Natalie turned to Owen, it was easier to read his face, and now it was getting strange how she was getting better at reading people. "It'll be easy."

"Easy..." Owen wanted to laugh, "You don't know the meaning..." He stopped seeing the woman from the feed, she was rushing towards them, but it was hard to make out if she had even notice them. "Are you going to let me in on the plan now?"

Natalie kept herself focused, she watched as the woman ran passed, then she broke into a sprint, her hand reached out for the woman. Natalie didn't know what she was doing, but before she knew it the woman was out.

Owen stopped beside her, "What the fuck?"

Natalie could see people gathering around, "Don't worry, we're..." She didn't think far, but her eyes went to Owen hoping he was better at thinking on his feet.

"This woman is a patient of mine..." Owen found his I.D, and showed it to the crowd. "She's been missing from the hospital." He then glanced to Natalie. "I'll get this sorted." He muttered picking her up on her feet, and he watched Natalie helping.

They walked away from the crowd, "Do you even know what you're doing?"

"I have a brief outlook, and now I am pretty sure we can get some inside information."

Owen rolled his eyes, "I really hope you know what you're doing."


Gwen watched as Ianto and Jack came back into the hub, she felt she did all she could to get as much information on Natalie. She felt like something she could try and wrap her head around, but froze seeing that Ianto wasn't going to leave Jack's side. "So, I finished that thing you asked."

"I know..." Ianto bluntly snuck in.

Gwen tilted her head to look Jack, "What happened to I don't want anyone to know yet!" Her eyes shifted to Ianto.

Jack inhaled, "He followed me to Natalie's place." He turned to Ianto, "And he was helpful in what I needed to find." He placed his hand into his pockets.

"And what was that?" Gwen turned to Ianto to see that they didn't bring anything back with them. "Jack?"

Ianto placed his hands in his pockets mimicking Jack, "Nothing... We found nothing."

"And that's what you was looking for?" Gwen felt lost, "You spent four hours looking for nothing?"

Ianto gave a smirk glancing to Jack, they didn't spend four hours looking. "We'll we had to be sure."

"I didn't find a photo album, no keeps sakes, nothing a normal person would have." Jack couldn't help but feel smug, "I mean it's natural for you people to keep something of nostalgic nature."

Gwen raised her eyebrow, "You assume everyone is a secret hoarder." She then folded her arms across her chest.

"You have a shoebox under your bed filled with old cinema tickets..." Ianto pointed out, "and a really questionable teddy on your closet floor." He then pointed to Jack, "And all the stuff this guy holds onto..."

Jack and Gwen both stared at Ianto, "How do you know this stuff?"

"I know things..." Ianto pointed to himself, "And I know I've kept hold of a few things too."

"And when I looked through Natalie's place, there wasn't anything old, just an Ikea showroom." Jack pointed to Gwen, "So yea, it's a little weird."

"So what are we thinking?" Gwen then felt her eyes going to Ianto, "I mean you've got to explain why you are worried one second then happy?"

Ianto then turned to Jack, "You didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?" Gwen looked confused.

Tosh walked up to them all, "You guys know I've been here the whole time, and you're talking about Natalie in a way that means she could be a danger... And she's with Owen!"

Jack, Ianto and Gwen all stood frozen, they didn't realise that Tosh was still in the hub, and now she was looking seriously scared. The air felt tense, and maybe it was time for Jack to come clean.

"I've discovered an unusually activity two months ago..." Jack pointed out, he felt everyone was staring at him. "The activity left a marker of alien origin." He could see Gwen looking confused.

"So this all lead you to Natalie?" Gwen asked trying to keep herself relevant in the conversation.

Jack nodded, "The moment I got a sign of it, I had to figure out the mystery." He then felt that with all the eyes on him, he loved being the centre of attention. "I was bored!"

"You was bored so you decided to track down a potential danger!" Tosh was quick to step out of the line, "A potential danger that is with Owen!"

Jack held a hand up, "She isn't a danger, I've worked out what I think she is..."

"So what is she then?" Gwen stepped forward, "You sure you ruled out sleeper agent?"

"She got a paper cut," Ianto pointed out, "Two days ago..."

Tosh raised her eyebrow, "The sleeper agents have impenetrable skin..." she said slowly trying to figure if she was correct.

Ianto nodded, "And also Jack has a theory around her necklace..."

"You mean the funny patterns on the locket." Gwen pointed out, "You know what it's about."

"It's from Gallifrey," Jack spoke, he knew that they had no clue what he was talking about. "The patterns are not a design, it's letters, and the letters are her name..."

"So she's Gallifranian?" Tosh spoke quietly.

Jack laughed, "She's a time lady." He grinned.