Disclaimer: I own nothing, well I do own the DVDs and Mathew but I don't have the rights to Torchwood (although I do hope the ABC hurry's up and gets the rights because we in AUS are dying)
A/N: This took longer than expected to get up and the next chapter's going to be even longer because I'm in the middle of end of term exams at college. (Oh and sorry for any mistakes I wrote typed this after a full on day at college)
Summary: Mathew tells what's left of the Torchwood team how he found them and why. And the answer is not what is expected. ENJOY!

Business a usual

"So Mathew, how did you find us?"

"That isn't really what's important, what is important is why I came to find you." Mathew said, still a little nervous.

"Actually," said Jack "I think how you found us is extremely important. We will get to the why, when you tell us the how."

"It wasn't easy, believe me, it took almost three months."

"Three months?" said Ianto, he, Gwen and Jack exchanged uneasy looks somehow they knew where this was heading.

"Three months." Mathew said with a sad smile. "I started looking for you about a week after those so called terrorist attacks."

"What makes you say 'so called'?" said Jack, raising an eyebrow. He didn't know why but he couldn't help but to trust Mathew.

"You have got to be kidding me right? I am not an idiot and I know what I saw ... I know what I lost." Mathew said with sad eyes, he suddenly looked a lot older.

"What did you lose?" said Ianto

"It's beside the point the important thing is that I know it wasn't terrorists. Now it's a long story as to why I started looking for you, but the point is I did. It took me ages because you have the best technological defence system I have ever seen. Last night I finally found a weak spot and through that weak spot, I found the Torchwood employee database."

"But how did you get into it, they're password protected with a retina scan back up just in case someone forgets their passwords." Said Ianto, it shocked both Gwen and Jack to see how much security they had.

"Yes I saw that, and again, the best security I have ever seen, there is no way to side step the passwords." Mathew was gaining confidence; he seemed to be in his element.

"So how did you get around it?" said Ianto, curiosity as to how a teenage boy could get past the best security in the country and possibly the world was getting the better of him.

"Well as you know, when you first open the database you have to click on the name you want, then you enter three different passwords and you have three chances on each password before it demands a retina scan.

"I chose Ianto first, I goggled you and absolutely nothing came up. Well nothing about you, I kept getting links to some guy called Gareth David-something. Once I saw that, I knew I wasn't going to be able to get past your first password. Because well the internet has something about everyone if you look hard enough, but according to the internet Ianto Jones does not exist.

"I'm mysterious," said Ianto "it's what makes me so god damn adorable."

"Yes, indeed it does." Ianto was utterly surprised to see that Jack wasn't the one flirting with him, it was Mathew.

"Excuse me? You're like 12." Said Ianto

"I'm 19"

"Anyway," said Jack with a grin, obviously enjoying Mathew's flirting with Ianto. "So you didn't try the ever so adorable Ianto's passwords."

"Apparently inappropriate flirting is contagious." Ianto said to no one.

"No I did," said Mathew "I wasn't going to give up, I was on a mission, but I didn't get past the first password. I got Gwen's first two using information I found on Google."

"What did you find?" said Gwen

"You are married to Rhys Williams, you are a former police officer, your ex-partner is PC Davidson and you were recruited to Torchwood almost two years ago." Said Mathew simply. "I left Captain Harkness for last, because I thought his would be the hardest to figure out, but as it turns out he has three of the most common passwords in the world."

"Really?" said Ianto, glaring at Jack.

"I do not."

Mathew rolled his eyes and said; "thesex, sexmachine and sexmaster."

"Jack!" Gwen said, she was infuriated. "When I first joined you said that my password had to be unique with letters and numbers."

"Yes well," said Jack "we're getting side tracked here, back to Mathew."

"Um ... OK" said Mathew "Anyway, when Gwen and Ianto next try to access their page they will probably have to use a retina scan. Also I think I might have knocked down your main firewall."

"See I told you it wasn't me."

"No Jack it wasn't you, but it is still your fault." Said Ianto, giving Jack an exasperated look.

"Any way," said Mathew "Once I was on Jacks page I found his photo, a heap of medical stuff, who Ianto and Gwen were and where I could find you."

"OK Mathew, I'm going to completely by pass how many laws you have broken." Jack paused to let his point sink in. "Let's skip to the part where you tell us why."

Mathew took a deep breath and said "OK, well, like I told you I don't believe that what happened three months ago was the work of terrorists. I wanted answers, I wanted the truth, I was not going to let what happened be swept under the rug. So I did what I so best, I went to my computer and I went online.

"I found lots of articles supporting the terrorist bullshit but when I searched deeper I found restricted sites and encrypted links all leading to the same place."

"Torchwood." Said Jack with a nod.

"No."

"What?" said Ianto, Jack and Gwen together.

"No, not Torchwood, UNIT. I only came looking for Torchwood after I found UNIT. Well actually after UNIT found me. You see they were less inclined to let the laws I broke slide."

"What happened?"

"I was in my flat by myself and two men in red caps came knocking. They said that they were from UNIT and what I did was against Earth security."

"But all you did was look at a website." Said Gwen

"Well actually, while I was there I read some classified documents. But I got the impression that I would have received a visit from them even if I hadn't read them. They gave me two choices and six months to think about what they said.

I have the option of forgetting everything that happened by taking some drug that they said you created (which is how I heard of Torchwood). Or I am placed in UNITs custody for the rest of my life."

"I don't understand what you want us to do Mathew." Said Jack "If you take the drug and forget, they'll leave you alone. And believe me when I say the other option is far worse."

"I can't forget."

"Why not?"

"Because," tears were forming behind Mathews glasses. "I lost my entire family that night. They were killed by monsters, the monsters ripped their throats out with their bare teeth."

"Oh god." Said Gwen

"If they make me forget what I saw online, they will have to make me forget that night, because I will go looking again, because it changed me and I know how the people I love died and in some way, that gives me closure. And not only that, I remember what I was like before it happened, I would be dead in a week. So no matter what I choose, no matter what option I take, it's a death sentence. All because I wanted the truth."

There was a silence so thick after this it wasn't comfortable silence like what engulfed them mere hours before at Ianto's flat or even like the uncomfortable silence like the night before. This silence was full of unspoken truths and hard memories.

"How is this fair Captain? All I wanted was the truth, I just wanted to know why I lost everyone I loved. I went looking for answers and I got a death sentence. How is this fair?"

"Mathew, I don't know what I can do." Jack sounded truly helpless

"So I'm going to end up living in a concrete box for the rest of my life. Because I will NOT forget them, I was a little shit of a teenager and I put them through hell, but I love them. I won't forget them, they mean too much to me."

"Who did you lose?" said Gwen

"My mum, my dad, my sister, my brother, my lover, my best friend, my girlfriend. All of my family, everyone I have ever loved."

"I'm so sorry." Said Gwen

"Yeah"

"Fucking UNIT!" said Jack, punching the table. "Mathew, I am going to help you."

Mathews face lit up at Jacks words. "How?"

"No idea, but I am not letting UNIT condemn someone for their intelligence. Not again."

"Thank you Captain, thank you so much."

"Call me Jack. But while we're helping you, you have to stay in Torchwoods custody; it's for your own safety."

"So I can't go home? Are you going to lock me up?" Mathew sounded scared.

"No Mathew," said Ianto "No you can stay in my spare bedroom."

"Ok so I guess I'm going to call UNIT for the second time today." Said Jack

"Second?" said Gwen

"Yeah, I thought it was time to hire a new medic and tech-nerd. Gwen can you call John and ask him to be on rift watch tonight? Then go home and spend some time with Rhys because I think it's back to business as usual come tomorrow. And Ianto go with Mathew to his flat so he can get some of his stuff, and then get him settled at yours. I'll be around later to check on you."

"Yep"

"OK"

Gwen was first out of the door and Ianto and Mathew were about to follow when Jack said; "Ianto can I see you before you leave?"

"Ahh ... sure, Mathew do you want to wait outside? I won't be long?"

"Sure"

When Mathew left the room, Jack pulled Ianto in for yet another tight embrace. "So I'll be around at about seven? I might bring Chinese."

"That sounds fantastic, the perfect night."

"Perfect night? You call babysitting a wayward teenager and having dinner with a truly pissed off Captain perfect?"

"No, I call helping someone in need and having dinner with the man I love the perfect."

"You're so corny." Jack chuckled lightly but then proceeded to kiss Ianto tenderly.

"When you're finished with your severe case of sexual harassment, I'll be waiting." Said Mathew


What did you think? It will be about a week before I am able to pick up a pen again. Let me know what you think, because as everyone knows reviews make you strive for more and I will probably end up picking up a pen at 3 am. Let me know what you think please!