Chapter 3 – Questions Answered

"Welcome to Torchwood." He beamed a smile at me.

Ok I thought now's my chance.

"Right before you kill me I wanna ask a few questions?" I blurted out.

"Course you do? Although who says we're gonna kill you?" Jack said casually.

I took a depth breath and let rip

1."What the hell is Torchwood?

2. What do you want with me?

3. Who are you?

4. How do you know me?

5. Did you say that you weren't going to kill me?"

There I'd said it. Questions done and out of the way. Now time for some answers.

"Do you want me to answer them in that order?" the American replied.

"Yes"

"Okay then. Question 1. This is Torchwood, where not part of the government where separate from it. We fight aliens and save the world. Question 2. I have information about your parents, that's why I need you. I made them a promise a very long time ago. Question 3. I'm Captain Jack Harkness. Your godfather. Hence why you can call me Uncle Jack. I'm a friend of the family. So that answers question 4 and yes I did say I wasn't going to kill you. Any more questions?" Jack smiled again and then laughed at my expression. It was like he'd rehearsed the answers and was expecting it to happen.

I looked at him again. He said he knew my parents. No one had mentioned them. Not even the care workers at the home. They knew nothing about them apart from that one day they would be back for me. That was it. Although they never came. Social services where told that they were dead.

"You said you knew my parents? How?" I needed answers and desperately.

Jack looked over the hub and shouted, "Ianto, it's gonna be a long night, do you think you could make us some coffee, order in some pizzas and send the others home. I'll make it up to you. I promise." He gave him a puppy eyed look.

Ianto gave in and told Jack, "I know you will. Grace, you do like coffee don't you?" turning to me. To be honest I couldn't stand the stuff but I didn't want to hurt his feelings.

"Yeah sure." I replied. Ianto went over to Jack and kissed him then walked out of the room and smiled at me as he left. I looked back at 'uncle' Jack.

Jack sat down behind a desk and propped his feet up.

"It's a long story. Why don't you tell me what you know of your parents and I'll fill you in on the rest."

"My parents left on the steps of Hartlepool orphanage when I was 6 days old. When I was 3 they died, my mum was called Rose Tyler and I never knew my dad's name. That's it that's all I or social services know." I looked at Jack hoping he could give me the answers I so desperately needed.

Jack removed his feet from the desk and leant forward taking my hand in his. He looked me straight in the eyes and told me my parents weren't dead, at least my dad wasn't. With my mum it was complicated. Then I found out why I wasn't like anyone else.

"Okay then. You not like everyone else Grace. You're a time lord and before you ask, yes it's an alien. A time lord means that you can regenerate, change your appearance to cheat death. Although I'd have to do tests to make sure"

I looked at Jack; he had that glint in his eye. The one where you know something bad is going to happen. This is where he kills me, I thought. I knew he was a murderer! Unlike welsh Ianto.

"I mean blood tests and scans that kinda thing. Don't worry I'm not going to make you die. I saw you dad nearly regenerate, not a nice process."

I took a sigh of relief and Jack laughed. Jack knew my dad, perhaps I could meet him?

"Can I see my dad? What's his name? What's he like? Do you know why he left me?"

Jack looked at me seriously. I knew that something meaningful was going to be said, I could tell with most adults. Jack was a very easy person to read.

"Grace, your dad is one amazing, very special man. His name is the doctor. Just the doctor and only the doctor. I've tried to contact him but I need you to know that I promised your parents the day after they left you, that when you were old enough I would look after you here at Torchwood. I swore on my life that I would do so. They felt guilty enough in leaving you but it had to be done. That's all I know, you need to ask him why he left you when you see him. Although that may not be for a while. I know that if there was any reason why your dad couldn't come and get you he would wait till your 18th birthday. He didn't want to skip forwards in time. "

I looked at Jack confused, just as Ianto walked in carrying two cups of coffee and a pepperoni pizza. How could I guarantee that he was coming on my 18th? I mean there's been 16 birthdays already where he could have come and got me. 13 years where he could have told social services he was actually alive. I asked Jack.

"Why does he have to wait till I'm 18?" I asked.

"Blimey is that the time? It's been a long day, you should rest. Down the hatch there a bed, sleep for as long as you need. Tomorrow I'll introduce you to everyone and you can start work." Jack said over exaggerating the fact that the big hand had gone past 12.

I looked at Jack, best not to argue with him at the moment. Although I could tell he knew the answer to my question. A huge yawn made me realise just how tired I was. I thought of Maria back at the care home. Bugger. They'd probably be sending out a search party by now. Police and everything.

"Jack, you don't think you could tell the care home I'm with you. I mean I kinda left without telling them. Thing is-"

"Curiosity took over? You are so like your dad. I'll ring first thing. Now go to bed. I'll be up here if you need anything."

I cautiously looked at the hatch. There was a bed down there? I wasn't one for arguing, I just did as Jack said. I went down the ladder and within 5 minutes, I was fast asleep.

AN: it doesn't finish there. you know what to do you lovely people