A/N. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, and also to those who added the story onto alert/favourites, i really appreciate it. This is the longest chapter so far and there are some more clues in this one. Enjoy and please review. Kat :)

Chapter 7.

Ianto led Lexie away from the main area of the Hub and down towards the archives. The lighting wasn't great down there during a lockdown, but he wasn't worried as he knew this area inside out. He was sure that the others must have been alerted to the lockdown initiating by now, so hopefully they were on their way back. He led them round a corner into a room filled with shelves of artefacts, carefully listening to hear if there was any movement coming their way, but it was silent. Keeping his voice down low Ianto said, 'I think we'll be alright here for a minute.'

Lexie nodded and let go of his hand, which she had been holding on to since they started moving, it had made her feel grounded. It also made her feel safer, almost like she did when she was with Jack. She could tell that Ianto was apprehensive about what was happening, but she could feel his determination to make sure that they both kept safe. She leant against the wall and sighed, 'To think today started out like any other day.'

Ianto moved so that he was standing in front of her, 'Listen to me, we are going to work this out okay. We will find out who they are and make them pay for what they have done to you and your family. We just have to hold our nerve a little longer until the others get back.'

Lexie nodded, 'I know I'm sorry.'

'You have nothing to apologise for.' They were silent for a moment until the sound of footsteps broke through the silence. 'Come on, we need to move again.'

They left the room and crept along the corridor, Ianto had his gun held out in front of him, something didn't feel right. He stopped and made sure Lexie was right behind him. She had picked up his sense of unease and asked, 'What's wrong?'

'I don't know but something doesn't feel right.'

'No one could have got by us yet though could they? We would have heard them.' Lexie was starting to get anxious now.

Before he could reply a moving shadow caught his eye and he spun around, still pointing his gun. Out from the shadows in front of them stepped a woman, who was also armed, although it was not any weapon Ianto had seen before.

'Drop the weapon,' Ianto said his voice full of steely determination.

'I could say the same to you sweetheart,' replied the woman, smiling dangerously at them.

'I don't know how you got in here, or how you managed to find us, but you are not going to hurt Lexie.'

'I'm not the one you should be worrying about,' said the woman and her eyes glanced over Ianto's shoulder and she smirked.

At that moment her partner stepped out from behind them and grabbed Lexie.

X

The SUV screeched to a halt on the Plass and Jack ran down to the tourist office where Owen was already waiting for him. Jack entered the code to get into the office and then practically leaped over the desk to find the console so that he could override the lockdown. An automated voice replied to the command with, 'The lockdown will cease in one minute.' Jack almost growled in frustration.

'Calm down Harkness,' said Owen, 'You're going to be no good to anyone in this state.'

Jack sighed and started pacing while waiting for the lockdown to cease. As he did Gwen and Tosh came running in through the door, arms full of the things they had picked up earlier. As the door concealing the entrance finally opened Jack turned to his team. 'First priority is to locate Ianto and Lexie. Be on high alert though because whoever broke into here is good. They got through our systems and I suspect they are the same people who killed the Sanders earlier, so we know what they are capable of.' This is the part that worried Jack the most, while he figured Lexie would still be alive because they needed her, Ianto was of no importance to them and if he stood in their way then… Jack let that thought trail off, he wasn't going to go there.

They went as stealthily and quickly as they could until they were in the main Hub. Tosh started to type on her computer, bringing up the layout of the Hub to try and locate Ianto and Lexie. She gasped and Jack came to look over her shoulder, 'I've got heat signatures in the archives, but Jack, there are four of them.' She turned and looked at him fearfully.

'It's going to be okay Tosh,' he replied trying to sound as sure as he could. 'Here's what we're going to do.'

X

Lexie screamed as she felt someone grab her from behind. One arm wrapped around her shoulders pinning her against the body behind her, with his free arm the man put his hand over her mouth. It was then she noticed that in the hand that was around her shoulders the man had a gun. 'Now there's no need for that,' the man said. 'Scream again and someone might get hurt.' He nodded to his partner who stepped up to Ianto and pressed her weapon against his back.

Ianto now had his gun pointing at the man holding Lexie, 'Let her go.'

The man laughed, 'I really don't think you are in any position to be making demands. Drop your weapon' the man pointed his gun at Lexie, and Ianto knew there was nothing he could do at that moment. He slowly put his gun on the ground, all the while praying the others weren't far away.

'Good. You're lucky we don't just shoot you. We don't like it when people get in our way, those two from this morning can attest to that.' At his words Lexie started to struggle against him again. 'Sorry did I say something to upset you,' he said mockingly. 'Tell you what I'll move my hand and you can have your say, but scream and your friend over there will get a bullet in him.' He let his hand drop and he spun her around so that she was facing him.

'Those people were my parents and you killed them in cold blood. What did they ever do to you?' She hissed, anger starting to override the fear she was feeling.

The man just smiled at her, 'Lexie, still with that fiery spirit you always had, ever since you were a child.'

Lexie just stared at him, stunned. 'What?' She looked around at Ianto who looked as confused as she felt. 'Who are you?'

'You don't remember me do you? Though I suppose for you it's a lifetime ago, for me no more than a few months since I last walked you to school.'

Lexie's eyes widened in recognition and she felt the colour drain from her face. She put her hand out to steady herself on the wall of the archives. Ianto looked on helplessly, as the man stood in between them; he still didn't risk making a move.

'You remember now.' The man said.

Lexie looked closely at the man's face, and the clothes he was wearing. She hadn't noticed it before, but it was a uniform and she recognised the crest on it immediately. 'Byron' she whispered.

The man smiled, 'See you do remember.'

Lexie blinked back tears that were threatening to spill. 'You can't be here, it's not possible.'

'You came here.'

'That was an accident; I can't believe you ended up here by accident too. I don't believe in coincidences,' Lexie replied her voice getting stronger.

'We were sent here to find you and bring you home.'

'This is my home.'

'No it's not. We were sent here to take you back to where you belong. It's a shame so much time has passed for you, but you have grown up into such a beautiful young woman.' The man, Byron, said as he reached out his hand to stroke his fingers down her face.

Lexie flinched away from the touch, 'Go away and leave me alone. I'm going nowhere.'

'Yes you are and we are bringing your friend over there along as insurance so that you do as we say.'

At that moment Lexie became aware of another presence nearby. She looked over at Ianto and smiled slightly before fixing Byron with a hard stare. 'No.'

'It seems you need to be taught some manners,' said Byron and he raised his hand up. Lexie shut her eyes and instinctively tried to brace herself what was to come, but the blow didn't land, instead she heard.

'Now that's no way to treat a lady.' Lexie opened her eyes and saw Jack behind Byron holding on to his arm. He turned him around and punched him hard in the face sending Byron sprawling onto the floor, and knocking him out. As he did this Ianto turned and grabbed hold of the woman's arm that was holding the gun, he slammed it against the wall causing her to cry out and drop it. As she went to lash out at him, her face suddenly registered as one of shock and she fell to the ground, revealing Owen who was holding a stun gun.

'Thought you might need some help tea boy,' he said grinning.

Ianto rolled his eyes at the nickname, then said, 'Thanks.' He looked over to where the Jack and Lexie were. Lexie had slid down onto the floor looking shell shocked; tears were slowly making their way down her face. Jack was crouched down in front of her. He turned and looked at Ianto and Owen. He wanted nothing more than to go over and put his arms around Ianto, to make sure he was okay, but Lexie had to be his priority at that moment. 'Ianto, are you okay?' He asked turning to look at the man in question.

'I'm okay, he replied softly. He knew could tell what was on Jacks mind. 'We'll take care of getting these two to the cells, you take care of Lexie.'

'Make sure you get Tosh to scan them to find out what sort of equipment they have on them, they didn't just walk in here.' Ianto nodded and between him and Owen they set about taking the male intruder down to the cells.

Jack turned back to face Lexie. 'Lexie, come on look at me…its okay you're safe now.' He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, eventually he felt her arms wind around him taking comfort from the embrace. He saw from the corner of his eye Gwen and Tosh come down for the other intruder and was pleased that neither of them said anything and just got the job done.

'Why is this happening to me Jack?' came a small voice that was muffled by his shoulder.

'I don't know Lexie, I wish I did.' Jack took a deep breath, holding back his own emotions. 'Come on we can't stay down here, we need to go back up to the Hub.' Jack stood up, bringing Lexie with him. They walked back along the corridor and into the main area where Tosh was just bringing the lights back up to full power. Jack had got her to leave it on the emergency setting in the hopes that no one would realise they had shut off the lockdown until it was too late. He steered Lexie to the battered old sofa, and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. 'I'm just going to go and check that everything's alright and I'll be right back.' Lexie nodded bringing the blanket tighter around her like a protective cocoon.

Jack got up and walked over to a table near Tosh's workstation, noticing a various gadgets now littering the table. As he approached Tosh asked, 'How is she?'

'She'll be a lot better when we work out what's going on. What's all this?'

'This is what we took off the two intruders. I can also explain how they are getting around unnoticed.' Tosh typed in some instructions on her keyboard and bought up the CCTV. Jack watched as one second there was nothing on the camera and then suddenly two people materialized.

'Teleport?' Jack shook his head, 'I should have thought of that.'

'It's not that obvious,' replied Tosh. 'All their devices are here now, but I disabled their transport systems just in case.'

'Good work Tosh.' Jack then moved towards the kitchen where he could see Ianto.

Ianto, sensing that Jack was approaching, put down the mug he was holding. Jacks pace quickened and he as soon as he reached Ianto he reached out and pulled him close, their lips mere centimetres apart when Jack whispered, 'I was so worried.'

'It's okay, we were fine,' replied Ianto. He then closed the final gap and pressed his lips to Jacks, pouring everything into that one kiss to reassure Jack. Somewhat reluctantly they eventually pulled apart.

'I know we have those two in the cells now, but this isn't over is it.' stated Ianto.

Jack shook his head, 'No. I need to go through Michael's things, but it seems as though he knew someone would be coming for Lexie. It also looks as though someone has been here keeping an eye on her for quite a while.'

'Oh poor Lexie, how much more can she take?' Ianto paused for a moment then said, 'Jack about what happened in the archives, there's something you should know.'

'What's that?'

'Lexie knew the man, said his name was Byron. She didn't recognise him at first, but when she did; I thought she was going to pass out.'

'From the brief extracts of a journal that I read at the Sanders it seems that someone from her own time wants her back, and they aren't going to stop at anything to achieve that.' Jack thought for moment then said, 'Okay can you bring us some drinks, and then I think Lexie and I need a long chat.'

'You think she knows more than she's letting on?'

'Possibly, although I'm convinced she doesn't know it. It has something to do with her past before she got here. I've never pushed her on what her life was like before, but I'm going to have to now.'

'Do you want me with you? I can be support for you both.'

'Yeah, thanks.' Jack leant forward and pressed a chaste kiss to Iantos lips before standing up straight and saying, 'Let's get this over with.' He then left the kitchen and headed back over to Lexie.

X