Chapter 4 – Birthday Dreams and Wishes

I awoke the next day after 12 hours sleep, to find the hub empty. I walked up the ladder and went to open the hatch, finding an envelope and that same elegant slanted writing that came on my first letter. Ianto, I thought. I opened the hatch and sat on the edge and opened the letter. It read:

Grace,

Seeing as you didn't get much of a birthday yesterday, you'll be having a party today. So as you'll see the hub is empty. Jack's sent Gwen and Tosh on a mission to find you some clothes, seeing as your bag was half empty. We'll be back at 12. Don't touch anything and we'll see you soon.

Ianto

I was presuming Gwen and Tosh where the two woman I saw yesterday. Then there was the guy looking over the body, before I met Jack. The sound of the door opening snapped me out of my daydream. What time was it? 11:55. Great 5 minutes to get myself sorted. Washed, teeth done and bugger-

"Grace? Come on sleepyhead wake up! I've got presents" Jack's American accent rolled out over the silence of the hub. I certainly didn't want the rest of the Torchwood team's first meeting with me, to be me in my pjs.

"I'll be up in a minute." I wasn't telling Jack that I'd only woken up 5 minutes ago. Did he mention presents?

I got dressed quickly and rushed out into the main part of the hub. There stood right in the middle was Jack, party hat on his head and balloons in his hand. He looked such an idiot, but it was the thought that count. Jack smiled as I walked over to him and grabbed him into a hug. I'd only met this man yesterday and yet it was like I'd know him for years. Yeah there were still questions to be answered but all in good time I thought to myself. From the reaction I got of Jack the other night it seemed that he liked to bottle up a lot of stuff.

Jack gave me the balloons and the hat, then told me to close my eyes whilst the rest of my surprise was brought in. I was tempted to peek but Jack made sure of that. After the count of three, I opened my eyes to see, Ianto, the Asian and the other woman from yesterday and the young man who was looking at the body, all stood around a cake with 16 on it. Behind them on the table, was a huge pile of presents. I'd never had a pile that big. At the care home, you just got one or two of the care workers, a few cards of the kids which had usually been made at school. It was sweet, but it was almost regimental. It was the same thing every year, same decorations, same cake. It felt nice to be spoilt for once.

"Thank you, but I don't deserve half of this."

The woman who was looking at the papers spoke first.

"Grace, you came to us with nothing. You deserve it. I'm Gwen by the way." Another welsh accent great! You could tell that Jack recruited from good old Wales!

The other woman spoke up.

"We picked out a few things but if you don't like them we can always take them back" She looked really nervous. She must not have a lot of younger relatives. Then the man who was studying the body came forward.

"I'm sure it'll be fine Tosh, now then introductions. Dr Owen Harper. Second in command. The medical brains behind Torchwood." He gave me a cheeky smile and I couldn't help smiling back. A bit of a ladies man I guessed, better watch out.

I smiled back at all of them. They'd gone to all this trouble just for me.

I walked over to Jack and grabbed him into a hug. Even though I'd known this person for a day, it was like I'd known him all my life.

"Thank you! For everything! I feel like a princess!"

Jack beamed a smile at me "And a princess you shall be!" he laughed.

In all my life I had never felt as loved by anyone. At the care home, you just got used to the same procedures, year in year out. Christmas tree up by the 11th of December presents under it for Christmas Eve. Birthdays where the same, same cake, same decorations, same CD full of birthday party songs. It was so boring! But then there were the guys at Torchwood. They had gone to all this trouble just so that I could have a birthday that was different. They'd done all this for me even though they'd only known me for 1 day and that made me feel so special.

All of a sudden a claxon sounded and the hub burst into life, Jack, Gwen, Owen and Tosh ran to their work stations and Ianto smiled at me. "You're going to have to get used to this." And he ran off after Jack.

I followed Ianto and stopped at Tosh's work station, there were numbers flying across the screen at a thousand a minute, so fast I was surprised that I could read them. I point out that a sin should be a cos in an equation on the screen closest to me. Tosh looks at me as though I'd just poisoned her, then she went and double checked her equation and I was right. I was as stunned as she was. I knew I was good at science but since when was I good at maths?

I overhear Jack and Owen arguing in Jack's office. I zone out of the conversation Tosh was having with me and listen in to their argument.

"She should come with us! She's old enough and needs to see what she's working with."

I would be working for Torchwood?

"Not until she fully trained. She doesn't know how to handle a gun yet. It's too dangerous."

"Everything dangerous Jack, there's always some complication that would cause some form of injury, why do you think Torchwood has to fork out life insurance?"

So Jack wants me to work for Torchwood, although I could die at any minute. I was right about him being a murderer, although he does it slowly and painfully whilst on the job?

"You know why Grace is here. I promised him Owen and I'm one man who doesn't go down on a promise, especially him!"

"Fine!" and with that Owen stormed out of Jack's office. I watched him pass me and my eyes followed him. I looked back at Jack and he knows I heard every word although he doesn't let on. I zone back into Tosh's conversation.

"I'll be right back" I tell her. Then walk into the autopsy room to see Owen.

The room was white and the body that was on the table yesterday had gone. Owen was gathering up items into a bag.

"What you doing?" I ask casually. Owen must only be young, 20, 21 ish I thought to myself, I wonder if he's my type. WHAT? Did I like Owen?

"Grace!" I snap back into reality. "You ok? You zoned out on me." Owen was now stood in front of me.

"Yeah" I manage to croak "sorry."

Those eyes are gorgeous I thought. Snap out of it Grace!

Owen brushes past me sending sensations all the way up my left arm. I turn to face him. "Where are you going?"

"Weevil's on the loose, in the city centre, and needs catching, I would have invited you but Jack said no, sorry."

"Its okay, Tosh had asked me to look at some of her calculations anyway. See if I can make them work." I reply.

He disappears around a corner to collect something, then reappears just as I finish walking up the steps form the autopsy room.

"Ok then, oh and Grace, welcome to Torchwood."