Gwen moved toward the two men to intervene. "I thought you were going to make this right, not scare him to death!" Gwen shouted at Jack.

Jack again stopped her with his hand. "I said I can handle this!"

"Look at him! You call that handling it?" Gwen shot back.

"Gwen," Rhys said gently. "Come here and let them be."

Gwen opened her mouth to protest and thought better of it. She went back to Rhys' side. Jack looked over at Ianto for support and he gestured for Jack to proceed gently.

Jack sighed and crouched. "Clement, look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I'm not angry with you. I'm angry at myself. Please don't shut me out. You're right. What I did was very wrong and I'm so sorry I hurt you. I'm so sorry for what I did to your friends. I can't change the past, but if you let me, I'll do everything I can to help you now."

Clement's body relaxed some. He raised his eyes to Jack's face. He then smelled the immortal and a look of surprise crossed his face. "You're telling the truth."

Jack smiled. "Yes, I am."

"There's something different about you," Clement said in a whisper. "You care."

"Yes, I do. I do care, Clement."

"You didn't before, when you took us to them. I could smell it."

Jack closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "You're right. I didn't care back then. Do you know that's why they asked me to take the children? Because I didn't give a damn. But I've changed."

Clement smelled Jack again and nodded. Jack was telling him the truth.

"You've had a miserable life because of me. I know it's a lot to ask of you, Clement, and I know I don't deserve it, but do you think you can possibly find it in your heart to forgive me?" Jack asked.

Clement lowered his eyes to the floor again and didn't respond.

Jack pursed his lips and looked away. "I understand."

Clement raised his eyes to Jack once again. "They want to take the children."

"I know," Jack said. "But this time they're not taking any. We won't let them. You can trust me on that, Clement."

Clement smelled Jack and smiled. "Yes, I believe I can."

"I can't change what happened, but I can help to change your future, if you will just let me," Jack said.

Clement smiled thinly and agreed with a quick nod.

Jack's face lit up. "Does that mean you'll consider forgiving me?"

"Yes," Clement said softly.

Jack sat beside Clement and put his hand out to shake hands. Clement recoiled at the gesture.

"Sorry. I guess it's too soon," Jack said as he took his hand back. "Listen, can I ask you a big favor?"

Clement looked confused for a moment then nodded nervously.

"Will you help me? Will you help us fight them?"

"What can I do? I don't know how to do anything," Clement said sadly.

"But you do," Jack said. "You have a very special gift, a very special skill."

"I do?" Clement asked.

"You have a super-duper sense of smell…"

Clement grinned. "Super-duper?"

"That's right. You can tell things just by their smell. You'll be able to help us figure things out and tell us what's going on. You can do this just by using your nose," Jack said.

Clement looked toward Gwen. She smiled at him sweetly.

"So what do you say? Will you help? Will you help us fight those aliens?" Jack asked.

Clement closed his eyes and realized this was the first time anyone had asked him to do anything other than to take his medication. Maybe this was his chance to finally be someone and do something useful. Maybe this was his chance to have friends for the first time in his life and maybe this was his chance to be normal again.

"I would like to," Clement whispered so softly Jack strained to hear him.

"Was that a yes?"

Clement took a breath and nodded timidly.

"Thanks, Clement. I appreciate it. We all do."

"Can I stay here?"

"Of course you can. You'll be safe here with Gwen," Jack said. "And you can stay for as long as you want."

"I'd like that," Clement said smiling.

"Good. Okay, that settles it then. Well, I don't know about you but I'm starving. Are you hungry?" Jack asked.

"I didn't get to finish my hot dog," Clement said.

"I have some more right here," Rhys called out as he placed two hot dogs on a plate. "Want some beans with them?"

"No thank you," Clement said. "They make me, well, you know."

Jack chuckled and called out to Rhys. "I do! I want lots of beans with my dogs. They don't bother me."

Jack stood and put his hand out to help Clement up. The older man looked at Jack's hand with apprehension.

"It's okay. Come on, let's go eat some dogs," Jack said.

Clement smiled nervously and finally allowed Jack to help him to his feet.

Gwen and Jack exchanged looks. Gwen mouthed "Thank you."

Jack smiled and then guided Clement back to the couch to eat his hot dogs.