Thanks for continuing to review, I welcome the feedback. In this chapter, we find out what happens when there's a Rift alert....

I left him at the Medical Bay after checking with Owen about the possible 1940s encounter with the alien. As expected, he hadn't done anything about it so I went to my desk and searched the computerised index. I found what I was looking for; the Zenotope had been here in 1943. I went to the archives and found the file and the associated medical samples. I was curious so stopped and scanned the file. The alien had come through the Rift on Barry Island and the Torchwood team of the day had happened to be very close investigating something else. It meant that they were on the scene in minutes and took an atmospheric sample, apparently standard procedure back then. It had been analysed but the conclusions were gobbledygook to me. I then found the paperwork for the 1964 encounter in case it might reveal something more than its computerised counterpart. I took the files and the sample up to Owen.

"Where's Jack?" I asked him. He was not in with Owen or in his office.

"Don't know. I finished with him about half an hour ago." Owen turned away from me and went back to the machine behind him, opening one of the files I'd given him at the same time. He looked round at me, "What's the problem? Missing your daily shag?" he smirked and went back to the file. There are times I wish I'd not aimed for his shoulder.

Back up the steps, Toshiko was working at her screens. She was concentrating hard and waved me to silence when I opened my mouth to speak. I waited, understanding she was at a critical point in whatever she was doing.

"Sorry, Ianto, I needed to finish that," she smiled. "What did you want?"

"Jack. Any idea where he is?"

"Yes, he and Gwen have gone out to get us some lunch. We're having fish and chips. Jack's choice." She smiled again. "They shouldn't be long."

"Fine," I said although I did not feel it. I just hoped he'd be okay.

I wondered about that reaction as I returned to the Tourist Office and the CVs. Was I being just a tad over protective? Maybe. Like I'd said to him myself, he was an adult and was probably better able to cope than anyone else I knew. I pushed thoughts of him to the back of my mind and scanned the CVs. The candidates looked promising on paper and I thought we had a good chance of finding a suitable person. I called Helen and confirmed arrangements for the afternoon. Jack and Gwen came through the door as I finished the call. They were laughing and carrying two big bags full of smelly food.

"Lunch!" cried Jack, holding up the bag he was carrying. "Come on down, don't want them to get cold." He went through the door to the Hub with Gwen following behind. She shot me a look and mouthed 'He's okay' before she disappeared into the tunnels. I hoped he was.

I went down a few minutes later and found them gathered round the workstations eating. They had not bothered with plates, just ate the food out of the paper. I noticed Jack had smothered his in tomato ketchup which was unusual. My lunch was on the side and I popped it in the microwave to warm up; it was delicious. I made a round of coffees and everyone drifted back to work with their drinks in hand. Jack grimaced at the latte I gave him but didn't say anything. I followed him into his office.

"Jack, have you remembered that I'm out this afternoon. Interviewing." I could see he hadn't a clue what I was talking about. "For care staff," I hinted, not wanting to say much more around the others. His face lit up as he remembered.

"Of course. No problem. See you when you get back."

"Will you be okay?" It was clear he was happier again. I suppose having his team supporting him and working to get him back to normal must be comforting. I searched his face and couldn't see anything to be concerned about and yet he seemed to be veering from a high to a low and back again. I'd have stayed and kept an eye on him but it was unfair to Helen to cancel the interviews.

"Ianto, stop worrying. I'll be fine. Though I will miss you," he smirked.

"I told you before, don't do that," I remonstrated, turning to leave. "I should be back around five."

"Have fun."

I left the team to their various tasks, retrieved the interview papers and went off to the hotel room we'd booked for the afternoon. Helen and I had a productive time. We both agreed that one candidate, Ann Hudson, was head and shoulders above the rest and I agreed that Helen would offer her the job. If Ann accepted, she'd be shown round Flat Holm to make sure she understood what she was taking on. I was therefore in a happy mood when I entered the Hub at close to 5.30pm, later than I'd expected. My mood changed immediately. It was very quiet and I didn't like it. The Hub was only this quiet when something was wrong, very wrong. Only Toshiko was in sight and she looked relieved to see me.

"Ianto! Where have you been?" Her tone was accusatory and I resented it. She made me feel as if I'd been playing hooky.

"Working. Where is everyone?"

"Owen and Gwen are responding to an alert by the stadium. Some sighting at the car park there."

"And Jack?" I dreaded her answer.

She sighed. "He got really mad when Gwen said he couldn't go with them. She said he'd be a liability. She was right but she could have been more diplomatic," Toshiko admitted. "And then Owen told him he was too young to have a gun, that he'd get him a water pistol while he was out." I groaned. "He went out not long after they'd left. I did try to stop him but I was busy trying to analyse the readings and access the CCTV as well as direct the others." Her voice trailed off. "I'm sorry, Ianto, I did try."

"I know, you couldn't do any more. Any idea where he went? Do you think he went after them?"

There was no point blaming her, what was done was done. I had feared that this might happen. While everything was quiet the others had happily gone along with Jack as team leader but with an alert everything changed. Jack must have felt pushed aside and ignored while Gwen considered she was being sensible. Which she was, I admit, but a bit of tact would have worked wonders. As for Owen – I'm going to strangle him with his own stethoscope.

"No, I don't. They've not seen him. They've found the creature that had been spotted, one of those rabbity things, and are on their way back. They're searching for him on the way." She hesitated then added, "He'll be all right, won't he?"

"Of course." What else could I say? Doesn't mean I believed it myself. "Can you track him now?"

"I tried. He ran off towards the city centre but he knows how to keep out of the way of CCTV. I thought you might have some ideas." She looked up at me hopefully but my brain was mush.

"Not off hand," I replied.

I spent the next half an hour wracking my brains, thinking of places Jack would have gone. Normally I'd have said a rooftop, but he was only allowed on those by showing his Torchwood ID or through his contacts among the security staff. Neither would be any good now he looked 10 years old. With those out of the reckoning, he could be anywhere. I checked some of the CCTV around the Bay, wondering if he'd just gone for a walk. I didn't spot him, which wasn't surprising. It was a dark, cold November evening, no one in their right mind would be out there if they didn't have to be.

Gwen and Owen returned with the rabbity creature we'd never given a name. They lived around Bute Park and the Castle and were usually harmless but at two foot high they startled people who saw them. I couldn't trust myself around Gwen and Owen so took the rabbity thing and bedded him down in a cell overnight and fed him. He'd be released back into the Park tomorrow. While I was down there, I thought back to the child who'd been affected by the Zenotope back in 60s. How horrid it must have been to be kept in one of these cells. With the brain of a four year old he wouldn't have understood what was happening. I was glad Jack had befriended him.

Where is Jack? Will he be all right? Next chapter up tomorrow ...

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