Title: Tears of the Weevil

Summary: With the hope of way to stop the weevil virus the team begin to think about what will happen next.

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Don't own Torchwood, the characters or anything related to the show.

A/N: No more exams or college I'm free until September so I can finally spend time on my writing…well in between work.

"So you finally got your cure then." Gwen looked apprehensive about starting the conversation. Owen put down his wine glass and contemplated her expression.

"You want to go back don't you?" His voice was unusually quiet. An odd vulnerability present in his voice.

"I don't know." She admitted. It was pointless talking about it, there was no way back. "I like it here, with you. I mean without all the weevil stuff then things would be great; but I can't help missing my old life." Owen pulled her in close so that they were curled up together on the sofa, like a normal couple enjoying a night in.

"What if after I make the cure we quit Torchwood?"

"We can't just abandon Jack and the others!" She protested, unable to imagine losing three of the few people who knew she was actually alive.

"I'm not talking about moving and never coming back. Just settling down here. Maybe swap the flat for a house?"

"That all sounds a little too cosy for you." She teased but fell silent as she saw how serious he was.

"We could raise Anne together. Be a proper family."

She weighed up her options in her head. Hold on to a life where she had little outside of Torchwood, a place she couldn't go back to anyway, or finally let go and raise her daughter with a mature Owen Harper. "I'd like that." She finally ended the heavy silence.

"Tosh?"

"Hmm?" The older woman stirred, turning to face Lacey. "What is it?"

"I love you." The blonde whispered even though they were the only two in the room. Toshiko smiled and kissed her softly before settling back down on her pillow to go back to sleep. "After this is all over we'll take a holiday somewhere. Maybe Japan or California? Or both?" Lacey was talking to herself; the older woman was already fast asleep. Sighing she draped her arm protectively over the older woman's stomach. "We'll go away and you can get better."

Jack stood on the roof of one of the high-rise buildings looking down over the bay. The city was asleep with only a few cars on the roads and the odd take away and nightclub still open. Somewhere down in the quiet city would be his new team. He'd served Torchwood for over a century and he'd had countless people working for him over the years.

He could tell when his staff were getting ready to leave. Something in the way the looked, they dragged themselves to work each day, it was no longer a privilege to work for Queen and country but a chore. Gwen and Owen were growing up and settling down. It wouldn't be long before they decided to leave and buy some cottage in the country. Laughing Jack shook his head. On second thoughts he doubted either of them were particularly fond of the country anymore.

Lacey was a different matter though. She wanted to stay, he knew that, she was still young and determined to make a difference in the world, but her loyalties lay with Toshiko. The fragile woman didn't deserve to be locked up in the Hub all day long. She needed some quiet cottage in the country where she could rest and maybe recuperate from the torture she'd endured under the government's orders.

"You'll catch your death of cold." Jack laughed, making a small cloud of cold air linger in front of his mouth.

"Not likely. Why aren't you in bed with your lovely lady?" The blonde shrugged, averting his gaze.

"Couldn't sleep. I just keep thinking about how much worse she's getting. I'm terrified that one day she'll forget me; and she won't ever remember how much we love each other." She wrapped her arms around herself protectively, the cold wind biting at her bare arms. Jack removed his thick long coat and draped it over her shoulders. Lacey cuddled in to him, feeling safe and secure with him.

"When things have calmed down I'm taking Tosh away. Maybe for a few months." Jack nodded his approval.

"Take as long as you want. You two deserve a break."

"Thanks uncle Jack." She grinned and kissed his cheek. Although he wasn't a blood relative Jack, and the rest of Torchwood, were like family to her. They'd taken her in over a year ago and made her feel welcome, part of the team.

"Lacey I want to go for a walk." Toshiko declared the next morning, putting her laptop aside. The blonde put down the weights she'd been training with and stretched her muscles as the older woman went for her jacket.

"Remember when we used to do this all the time?" Toshiko quizzed. "When things got too much back at the Hub we'd just get up and leave, walk around for hours."

"Yeah." Lacey's reply was barely above a whisper. "I remember." She was amazed Toshiko could remember their walks; although she doubted she could remember half of the things they would talk about such as their families and their childhoods, past relationships and eventually their own. Anything and everything for hours on end.

"You terrified me at first." Toshiko admitted, laughing softly. "I had this young, smart and attractive girl practically stalking me." Lacey giggled, pulling her in close to steal a kiss.

"Aren't you glad you didn't get a restraining order?"

"Oi, love birds." Owen called out as he and Gwen approached them walking hand in hand. "We're off to get breakfast, you want anything?" Lacey shook her head, mirroring Toshiko's reaction and the other couple understood they wanted their alone time.

Owen and Gwen froze mid-conversation as they were headed towards café. A van screeched to a halt after ploughing straight in to Lacey. Toshiko screamed as the blonde slammed off the bonnet and landed on the ground with one of her ribs letting out a loud crunching sound on impact.

Owen and Gwen were running towards them but the men inside the van were already out and advancing on Toshiko. They dragged her kicking and screaming in to the back of the unmarked van. Lacey struggled to get back to her feet, but the blow from the van had cracked at least one rib and left her slightly concuss. She gasped for air as she lay crumpled in a heap on the ground, watching the van drive off with her girlfriend in the back of it.

Owen dropped beside her, quickly checking her over. "Get off me!" She screamed, pushing herself to her feet. She groaned as pain shot through her entire left side. Ignoring her protests Owen scooped her up in to his arms, carrying her to the Hub. He was thankful it was early and few people had been around to witness the hit and run.

An hour later Lacey was lying sedated in the hospital wing while the others huddled around the bedroom table. "It had to be Emmerich." Owen growled. "They took Tosh to get Lacey to turn herself in-"

"Then that's what I'll do." Lacey stood slumped against the doorframe, clutching her side and scowling. She'd fought the sedative to stay awake.

"We can't let them get you!" Owen objected protectively. "We'll find a way to save Tosh, but it won't involve sacrificing you!"

Jack sat in silence, contemplating their options while Owen and Lacey continued to argue. "Lacey's right." He finally interjected, silencing the others. "Tosh isn't well. She's vulnerable and probably terrified. Lacey's a big girl, she can handle herself."

"She's barely out of her teens!" Gwen objected, her motherly instincts taking over. "We can't just hand her over to them."

Lacey slumped to the floor, still leaning against the doorframe. "It's the only way." She muttered, looking away from Owen's piercing gaze. "I'd do anything for Toshiko. Whatever it takes."