A/N: Hi there, well this was a much quicker update than last time! I would like to thank PCJanto and workingsomecoffeemagic for their reviews of the last chapter, it meant a lot :) I'm not one hundred per cent happy with this chapter, because i'm not sure i got all my ideas across how i wanted. This chapter is mainly conversations, but you start to get some answers and it is leading up to a big confrontation in the next chapter. There are only two chapters left after this one so the story is coming to the end. Please enjoy this chapter and it would be lovely if you could review. Thank you Kat :)

Chapter 10.

As soon as Lexie answered her phone and heard her father's voice for the first time in sixteen years, her eyes widened and her face looked startled. This caused the atmosphere in the hub to drop instantly as the other occupants sensed Lexies discomfort. Lexie's breathing started to get shallow as panic built up inside her as she tried to form a response. Jack stepped closer, a worried look on his face and he rested a hand on her arm. Lexie flinched as she was dragged back to the present and away from her thoughts.

"This isn't real, it can't be," she whispered. Jack looked at her puzzled and she mouthed 'father' at him. It took less than a minute for recognition to cross Jack's features over exactly who was on the phone. Jack gestured for her to hand the phone over, but Lexie shook her head. As much as she didn't want to talk to her birth father she knew she had to do this. She needed to be strong, plus Thomas would just make Jack angry and that wouldn't help matters. Instead of taking the phone, Jack went over to the others and informed them what was happening and Tosh set straight to work trying to trace the call.

"Believe me it is very real," replied the stern voice of Thomas Hopkins. "It's been too long Lexie."

"Not long enough" muttered Lexie. "What do you want? Surely I'm not worth the time and effort you must have put in to get here." Lexie could see Jack had moved into her line of sight again and this gave her some comfort. She caught his eye and he mouthed 'speaker'. With slightly shaky fingers Lexie moved the phone from her ear and pressed the speaker button on so that the others could hear both sides of the conversation.

"There are many things I want Lexie and you should know better than anyone that if I have a goal, nothing will stop me".

"That's because you're a ruthless, hard hearted bastard who steps on anyone he deems in his way, damn the consequences," replied Lexie.

"That is no way to speak to your father!" came the angry reply.

"You are not my father." The fear that Lexie had felt earlier when she answered her phone was now being replaced with anger. This was the man that made her childhood a nightmare, because of him her mother had taken a risk and ran away only to die in the process. Plus she was happy with her life here and Thomas Hopkins was not going to ruin it. "I think you should just gather your minions together and go home because you are not getting anything from me."

While the conversation was going on Jack was getting more and more agitated. He was concerned about how this would affect Lexie, but also about what Hopkins was planning. He had to admit though Lexie was holding her own. Ianto was standing with him, listening intently to what was going on, all the while holding on to Jacks hand, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on it. "Just keep calm," he whispered. "Lexie can handle herself and hopefully we can get some information." Jack nodded his agreement.

"I have sent you a link to a video that I think will convince you to change your mind."

"Nice try, but I'm not falling for it."

"Maybe it's not me you need to listen to." There was a rustling sound on the other end of the phone as it was passed over to someone else, before a timid female voice said, "Lexie, is that you?"

Lexie recognised the voice instantly. "Mel?"

"It's me Lex. I don't know what's going on, but please look at the link you've been sent."

Lexie was about to ask something else when the phone was snatched away from Mel and Thomas spoke again. "You have five minutes before I call you back." The line went dead.

As the call ended there was a flurry of activity in the hub. "Did you get anything Tosh?" Jack asked as he hurried over to her workstation.

"Sorry, but no. The signal is bouncing off every satellite you can think of, and there is some serious encryption of some of the servers. I can't break it fast enough before it moves again."

"Keep looking to see if anything comes up." Jack walked over to Lexie who was hooking her phone up to Ianto's workstation so they could all see the link. "How are you holding up?" He asked as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Lexie gave him a wry smile, "I think I'm just about holding it together. I can't believe he's really here and he has Mel with him."

"Who is Mel?" asked Ianto.

"Mel's been my best friend since I was 10. Whoever has been watching me has done a good job of informing Hopkins of what is important to me." Lexie clicked on the link and a video popped up on the screen, the whole team gathered around to watch it.

A man appeared on the screen and by the way Lexies eyes narrowed they guessed it was Thomas Hopkins. "Hello Lexie, I knew you would be difficult so I made sure I had a failsafe to get you to comply with my wishes." Here, the camera panned around to a room where there were four people, two guys and two girls, huddled together. "As you can see I have gathered together a few of your closest friends to keep me company while I wait. At the moment they seem to be in very good health, but should you prove to be difficult, that may change." He walked over to one of the guys and proceeded to kick him in the stomach. "I'll be in touch".

By now Lexie was struggling to hold back her tears. "This is my fault; my friends are in danger because of me."

Jack turned her to face him and said, "Stop that train of thought right now. This is not your fault, there is no way you could have known this was going to happen. If anything I should have known something wasn't right and protected you."

Before she could argue, Lexies phone rang again. "You saw my video."

"What do you want?" Lexie asked.

"It's quite simple really. When your mother ran away, she tampered with some very important systems that I have. What she tried to do was ruin me, but she did it in such a hurry it was not a complete success. While these systems were not of critical importance at the time, they will be soon and I need them back online."

"Okay, I don't see what that has to do with me, you need mom and she's dead."

"That's where you're wrong. The locks your mom set on my systems were keyed into her DNA, her family knew a lot about blood magic's and she channelled this into her plan. While her being dead maybe a problem, part of her still lives on through you."

"What if I refuse?"

"I think we both know you won't do that, not with your friend's lives at stake. You will meet me in one hour, warehouse 10 at the docks. Now I'm not naïve enough to say come alone because I know right now that Captain Harkness and his team are going to be listening in. I will say this though, don't underestimate how far my reach is, I have surveillance all over. See you soon." The phone was then abruptly hung up.

"I didn't think it was possible to hate him anymore than I already did, but it seems I was proven wrong," said Lexie. "So what are we going to do?"

"You aren't going to do anything," replied Jack. "I'm not having you anywhere near him."

"I don't think that's going to be an option and you know it. If I don't show my friends are dead."

Jack sighed he really didn't like this, but he knew she was right.

"I have a question," said Gwen breaking the silence that fallen over them. "What does he mean by the 'blood magic's?"

"Blood magic's use ancient rituals that have been passed down through the generations. In my time it was virtually unheard of to use them because everything is so technology driven. They are very powerful though. I had no idea that my mom knew how to use them. She told me stories of her ancestors who used them, she must have used a ritual to try and bring Hopkins down. Everything he does is on some sort of computer, all his plans for the colonies he runs and wants to take over. His finances too are all handled by technology. Without these systems, he would be ruined, no money, no power."

"There's something else that we need to factor in." Everyone turned to look at Owen who had until this point been quiet. "We still don't know who has been here following Lexie. They could be part of the surveillance or they could be with the hostages playing a part."

"Good point Owen," answered Jack. "We are going to have to be on high alert the whole time. Tosh can you bring up a plan of the docks and that warehouse?"

"Already on it Jack," replied Tosh, her fingers moving swiftly over the keyboard.

Jack walked over to Lexie and pulled her aside. "Do you think you'll be able to handle this?"

Lexie took a deep breath. "I have to. This needs to end, today. Thomas Hopkins has to learn that he cannot keep ruining lives."

"He will. We are going to teach him a lesson he won't forget in a hurry, and I will do anything it takes to protect you, my team and anyone else he tries to harm." As Jack made his pledge, a plan was forming in his mind. Before today was out Thomas Hopkins would no longer cause trouble to anyone.