Homage to The Breakfast Club in this chapter, possibly my fave movie ever. Thanks for the reviews so far, hope you enjoy this chapter.

"It's been another scorching day down in Cardiff today. Scientists claim this is another consequence of global warming, and as the temperatures across the world increase, making this the hottest April on record, the impacts we've been warned about are making themselves evident. The second largest iceberg in Antarctica has begun melting rapidly, and flood experts are warning low lying countries to be on red-alert. In Cardiff, however, the hot weather has had some positive effects. David Jones is just outside Cardiff at the Blaidd Drwg Holiday Park, where business is booming..."

"You know, I hate it when they say that."

Owen almost jumped out of his skin, his feet slipping off of his desk, as Jack spoke from behind him. He hastily leaped to mute the television feed he'd been watching on his computer.

"I thought you'd gone out," he said sheepishly.

Jack seemed not to notice. "I mean, 'hottest April on record'. They should add 'yet' on the end. Because 2069… that April is a killer."

Owen and Toshiko both turned to look at their leader, frowning. They caught each other's eye. Did he just say what I think he said?

"Finished all your work, then, Owen?" Jack glossed over the silence.

Owen pulled a face. "Well, you know, I am quite a hard-worker-"

"Okay, cut the bullshit." Jack rolled his eyes. "You can go home then. Only remember to leave-"

"My phone on?" Owen suggested, as though it was a new idea. "Funny you should say that, I've never heard that before."

Jack grinned. "Alright, go on! Get gone."

Owen whooped and began piling his desk up again, shoving the paperclip chain he'd spent half the afternoon making back into a drawer. He liked days like today; when nothing had happened at work and they were able to go home, almost safe in the knowledge in that they wouldn't get dragged away from their evening's entertainment. And this evening was even better; he actually had a choice over what to do. An old university friend was in town and had given him a call to see if he fancied a quick catch up pint or two in a pub showing the European football game. Owen had almost said yes straight away, before realizing that he didn't really have a lot to contribute to a catch-up discussion. Mark had gone in pharmacology after his medical degree and had a pharmaceuticals job, trialing new drugs out. He had a swanky house in one of the best streets in London and an apartment in Spain. His wife had just had their second son. Compared with that, Owen didn't have much to say. No wife. No kids. Just the one (though rather large) apartment in Cardiff. A second-hand name of car . He couldn't even boast about the things he did in his job; though there was no written rule that employees didn't talk about Torchwood, the nature of the job sort of guaranteed that no one ever would. It was that sudden recognition that, as far as the general world went, Owen Harper had no life, nothing to show for the years that had passed between university and now, that made him dither and say that he'd try and make it down.

His other option tonight went by the name of Claire. They'd been on a few dates so far, nothing serious, just the occasional dinner or a drink, usually ending up back at Owen's place; he'd seen her poky flat which she said she shared with two other girls and he had no desire to spend more time than strictly necessary there. It had been over a week since they'd last seen each other, and she'd sent him a breezy text last night when he'd been a bit too tied up to reply immediately. Well, he assumed she was aiming for a breezy tone, though he always thought that girls that texted between dates were a bit desperate. She'd suggested they meet up "mayb. Its cool if ur busy, b gd 2 c u tho. Let me kno xxx". The xs were possibly a bit try hard too, and Owen had never really liked people who wrote texts like they were fourteen-year-old girls with their first mobile phones, but he was willing to forgive all that. She was good fun, was Claire. Pretty in a sort of unobtrusive way: she was never going to win any sort of beauty pageant, but she had a certain something about her. She liked football, or at least pretended to, and seemed to be as easy-going about this whole relationship as Owen was. Only problem was… well, Claire was a fat girl's name. Owen had nothing against fat people per se but he had no desire to date one. And whilst at the moment Claire was quite a long way from fat, he could see just from looking at her that she had definite potential for piling on the pounds. It wasn't like he was expecting to be with her for the long haul or anything, none of his relationships ever quite managed that. But it unnerved him that, if he did find himself with her for any length of time, that she would almost certainly begin gaining weight, and then it would be really awkward to extricate himself from the situation without being all un-PC.

On reflection, maybe a Torchwood emergency would be preferable to those options. He'd never be able to admit that though.

"Take a look at this, Jack." Toshiko beckoned him over, disturbing Owen's thoughts. She was pointing at her computer where she'd been typing away for the past hour or so that Owen had had his feet up watching the local news and weather. There was nothing quite like local news, Owen had always thought; it was amazing the things some people considered newsworthy. Only last week he'd watched a report about sheep-racing, two words he'd never thought he'd ever hear in a sentence together, let alone only being separated by a hyphen.

Jack leaned on the back of her chair as he looked at the screen. "What am I looking at?"

"I've been exploring the world-wide weather forecasting units." Toshiko brought a map up on screen. "Basically, I've compiled a database of local temperatures from all over the world-"

"Is this some sort of hobby of yours?" Owen interjected.

Toshiko carried on as if he hadn't spoken. "Not just the major cities but the smaller towns too. Then I've transfigured the data into a visual representation of the trends globally-"

"But what am I looking at?" Jack asked again.

Toshiko realised she'd begun explaining in increasingly complicated terms again. "Right, sorry. This is a map of the temperatures worldwide. And its interesting stuff."

Jack looked again at the screen. "I take it red means hot?"

Toshiko nodded. "You'd normally expect a band of red around the equator and maybe in a few other hotspots, then a steady decrease towards the two poles, with maybe a few anomalies around major cities or mountain ranges."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, I remember geography." He pointed at a few red spot scattered across the map. "So what are these then?"

"That's what I wanted to show you." Toshiko clicked on one of the spots, in north-eastern America. "It's April, spring in New England. And yet the temperatures are up in the nineties, it's like a particularly hot summer up there."

Jack frowned. "That's… strange."

Toshiko nodded. "Exactly. Even stranger, the temperature is concentrated in one area, it's one particular spot that's so hot, and then it all drops off gradually from there. No reason for the anomaly, it's out in the countryside."

Owen joined them at the computer. "Is it just there, or are there other spots?"

Toshiko drew them back out to the main map and double-clicked on the United Kingdom. "How about Cardiff?"

Owen stared at what she was showing them. "There's one of those hotspots in Cardiff?"

"Not exactly in Cardiff, but close by." Toshiko zoomed in. "Exactly the same gradient. The rest of the UK is hot, it's small enough to still be in the fallout from this hotspot. But Cardiff's the hottest bit. In fact, compared to normal average temperatures for this time of year, it's the top spot for the temperature difference."

Jack spoke up. "Any natural reason for it? Solar flares, a freak high pressure system?"

Toshiko shook her head. "No, that would be more widespread. This is localized."

Jack studied the screen intently. Eventually, he spoke. "Right. Well, it's nothing serious yet, is it? I mean, a bit of nice weather, god knows you Brits deserve some once in a while. Keep an eye on it, Tosh, thanks for pointing it out to us. Monitor it for a few days, see if anything changes." He stepped back from the computer and then realised that Owen was still there. "I thought you were going."

"Yeah, I was. I mean, I am. See you guys tomorrow." He'd made a decision; the last in the series of Lost was on, and even though, somehow, Jack had already managed to ruin the ending of season seven for him, it was still a marginally better option than the previous two. A night in by himself. Wonderful.

It was only the solution, but Gwen still knew that it wasn't ideal. Rhys had disappeared off to the sofa with one of her pillows and a spare duvet, giving her a brief peck on the cheek. For two nights in a row, they'd spent the night apart. If Gwen hadn't felt like she was about to crash right there and then, she'd have felt more regret that she wasn't able to feel his warm presence beside her in the night, an arm draped over her comfortingly, murmured goodnights into the pillow. Torchwood was starting to take over her life in more ways than one.

Rhys had cooked dinner, with the few things he could find in the cupboards. Yet another thing Gwen had let him down on; she'd said she'd bring home dinner. Mind you, she'd suggested in her note this morning that he could do some shopping and that hadn't materialized either. So she supposed, on the scoreboard of Rhys v. Gwen: Who's in the doghouse?, Rhys hadn't kept an entirely clean sheet.

At eight o'clock, having noted Tala's dazed expression, and having almost dislocated her own jaw in yawning, Gwen decided to call it a night. Rhys had taken the news well, hadn't complained once. He was a good man.

So now Gwen slid into bed alongside Tala. The little girl was watching her with those big eyes now, looking a little like those bushbabies on nature programmes.

"Aren't you tired?" Gwen asked, shifting uncomfortably, missing that extra pillow.

Tala nodded.

"Close your eyes and go to sleep then," Gwen advised.

Tala just watched her, her eyes staying firmly and resolutely open.

Gwen thought back over everything she'd ever learnt about children. A four-times-yearly visit to Aberyswyth where her sister lived hadn't given her much experience, but it was better than nothing. Anyway, it was clear what Tala needed. She needed to talk, and to have someone talk back and tell her everything would be all right. Whatever Jack said about her, whatever status he'd elevated her to, she was still just a seven-year-old in a strange city with strange people.

Gwen ceased her wriggling and rested her head on her pillow, her face only inches from Tala's. "You should really get some sleep, Tala," she said softly. "You've had an exciting few days."

In a tiny voice, Tala suddenly said, "When can I go home?"

Gwen felt her stomach contract painfully as the little girl's chin wobbled and her dark eyes filled with tears.

"Oh sweetheart, soon!" Gwen insisted, pulling her into a hug. "We've just got to wait for your mummy and daddy to get back, then you can go straight home." And things could return to some sense of normality around here, or that was the theory.

"But when?"

"Soon."

"Tomorrow?"

Gwen stroked Tala's hair. "Probably not tomorrow."

"Friday?"

Gwen realised that Tala was going to keep asking until she gave her the right answer. She lifted her head up to look her in the eye. "I don't know exactly when." Tala's face fell. "But," Gwen continued, "I do know that they'll be here as soon as they can. I know that wherever they are, they'll be fighting to get back to you, because they love you." She rubbed Tala's back comfortingly. "I promise you, sweetheart, they'll be here as soon as they can. And in the meantime, you've got Uncle Jack to look after you. And me, and Owen and Toshiko and Ianto."

"What about Nana?"

Gwen had actually momentarily forgotten about Jackie. She couldn't explain why, but she'd almost all but forgotten that Tala had another home to go to until she'd asked just then. It was strange; it felt like Tala had always been there, like she had been a part of all their lives for so long. An inconvenient part in many ways, and one that was still causing trouble, but something that had been there as long as time itself. Rather like Torchwood. But, also like Torchwood, she just felt… right. Like she belonged there.

"Your nana's back in London, remember?"

Tala nodded. "She told me to be good."

"And you are being, so good." Almost unhealthily good. Gwen's niece was a bit of a tearaway; if she'd been thrown into a situation like Tala was in, Gwen had no doubt that Charlotte would have kicked off long ago, throwing things and screaming for her mummy. Tala had taken it all in her stride so far, accepting everything about Torchwood without question. Gwen supposed that it wasn't an entirely unusual situation for the child; being half-alien had to help with adapting to circumstances like these, but even so. Now that Tala was finally behaving a little more like a normal seven-year-old, Gwen couldn't help feeling relieved.

"Was I bad, is that why Nana sent me away?"

Gwen wondered if anyone had ever explained any of this to Tala. She'd seemed so comfortable with being taken somewhere by Jack, even though she'd never met him. Gwen had assumed that, at some stage in her short life, Tala had had this whole bizarre scenario explained to her, though she dreaded to think how Rose and the Doctor would have sat their only child down and talked about what might happen to her one day if they got abducted or whatever had happened. It wasn't exactly a cheerful night-time story.

"Of course not. She just thought that with your mummy and daddy gone, you'd be safer here with Uncle Jack." Though judging by Jack's efforts so far, whilst Tala might be safe from alien attacks whilst at Torchwood Three, Gwen doubted her general day-to-day welfare was much improved. Maybe Tala needed to at least speak to Jackie, just to let her realize that she'd done absolutely nothing wrong in this whole mess. "Tell you what, we can call your nana in the morning. Just to let her know you're alright. I'm sure she's missing you too." She was surprised Jack hadn't thought of it himself, actually, but then again, he'd never been exactly top of the class when it came to people-skills.

Tala looked up at her again. "Really?"

"Really." Gwen squeezed her tight.

Tala smiled and fell silent for a while. Gwen, having only got two hours sleep the previous night, was just dozing off when she spoke again. "Uncle Jack's nice."

"Mmm," Gwen agreed sleepily, her head resting on top of Tala's, breathing in the sweet apricot smell of her shampoo. "He is."

"So's Rhys," Tala decided, snuggling closer. "Night night."

"Night." Gwen was suddenly wide awake and wondering how a seven-year-old girl had managed to articulate the thoughts that ran through her own head every second of every day.

Gwen stumbled out into the living room, her hair typically a mess and looking at the world through half-closed eyes. Yet again she'd had passed the night in fitful bursts of sleep, waking up with a sudden jolt and only narrowly avoiding waking Tala, who hadn't released her hold on Gwen all night. She felt awful, her stomach was churning and her head was pounding. The smell of Rhys's burnt toast as she entered the kitchen almost put her off the very idea of having even a cup of coffee.

"Morning." Rhys planted a kiss on the side of her head. "Sleep alright?"

Gwen raised her eyebrows at him. "Do I look like I slept well?"

Rhys pulled a face. "Didn't like to say it, but you look pretty rough. You feel okay?" He put a hand on her forehead experimentally.
Gwen batted it away, smiling wearily. "Since when did you become a doctor? I'm fine, just a bit tired." She flicked the kettle on and pulled the lid off the coffee pot. "We're out of coffee." She glanced at the already-half empty cup on the worktop.

Rhys winced. "Sorry, babe, I didn't think." He pushed it towards her. "You can have it if you like."

Gwen waved it away. "No, it's fine. I'll get one at work. We're really need to go shopping, you know, this is getting pathetic. We're living like students."

Rhys nodded as he tucked into his toast, spilling crumbs all down the grey t-shirt he'd slept in. "Sure. I'll go tonight after work." He jerked a thumb towards the bedroom. "Tala still asleep?"

Gwen nodded. "She's been out for the count all night."

"She looks sweet when she's asleep." Gwen tilted her head curiously, and Rhys hastily explained. "I came in to grab my phone when I got up, I suddenly remembered where I'd left it." He nudged Gwen playfully. "You looked very sweet too."

"I try." Gwen yawned widely. "I can't wait for this evening. A long bath and then bed."

"I might join you," Rhys joked.

Gwen smiled. "That would be nice."

Rhys turned his back as he put the plate and cup into the sink. "You know, I was thinking. It was nice last night, with Tala."

Gwen stifled another yawn as she leaned against the worktop, half-sleep again. Harsh as it seemed, she was already regretting telling Rhys he could join her with her evening's activities; all she wanted to do was sleep. This job was getting ridiculous.

"Yeah, it was," she agreed.

"I suppose Tala will be going home again today?"

Gwen nodded. "Yep. I told my boss just one night. Don't want him taking advantage." Why was it that whatever she ever said about Jack, it always sounded like a double-entendre?

Rhys nodded. "Right. Yeah, good, you look done in."

Gwen smiled. "The joys of parenthood. Even part-time semi-parenthood." She glanced at the clock on the wall. "I should probably get Tala some breakfast or I'll be late for work. You better get a move on too."

"Yeah, I will," Rhys said as Gwen turned to open the cupboards and pull out one of the many packets of Honey Nut Loops. He looked down at the floor, tracing the patterns on the tiles with his bare feet. "Only, I was thinking-"

"Careful!" Gwen flashed him a teasing grin. "You'll do some damage."

Rhys smiled. "Yeah, I know. The thing is though, I was thinking…" He tailed off.

Gwen turned to look at him. "Well? Spit it out, Rhys, it's too early for games like this."

Rhys took a deep breath. "I was thinking maybe it was time we started thinking about kids. I mean, having some. Our own, I mean, not like babysitting or anything, actually-"

Gwen interrupted him, finding her voice again after a moment's shock. "Yeah, Rhys, I get it."

Silence reigned over the kitchen.

Rhys stood up from where he'd been lounging and awkwardly made to move out of the kitchen. "Well, anyway, it was just a thought, don't worry about it. You obviously don't agree."

"No, it's not that," Gwen protested.

"It's fine. Silly time to bring it up, we don't need to talk about this right now." Rhys leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. "Forget I said anything, babe. I'll fix Tala's breakfast if you go and get her up. Then I'll need to jump into the shower and get going, okay?"

Gwen nodded and made her way back to the bedroom, far more awake now than when she'd left it. Tala was definitely going home tonight.

Next time: Proceed

"Question Three. In old Earth children's stories-"

"You might even get this, Rose." The Doctor nudged her excitedly.

"Alright, no need to sound quite so patronizing," Rose muttered.

"- which character, whose name consists of two alliterative adjectives and a noun, completes the following phrase: 'Who's afraid of the…?'"