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Owen and I loaded the dead Weevils into the SUV and then he was off, taking Gwen back to the Hub. He had been content with our rough and ready first aid and assured us she would be okay. Tosh was in the Hub now, liaising with the police about the calls concerning our gunfire and the dead factory worker. I made sure Gwen's car was secure – we'd have to come and collect it later – and joined Jack in my car. He was huddled in the front seat, legs drawn up.

I sat for some minutes, still recovering from the shock myself. That was the problem with Weevil hunts. They were straight forward so often that it was easy to forget they could go wrong. If Jack hadn't been with me Gwen would be dead now. I couldn't have helped her. And if she had gone down, I may well have followed her when the second Weevil, as he undoubtedly would have, had attacked me. "Thanks, Jack." I reached a hand and tousled his hair.

He smiled at me. "Hey, we're a team." He put his legs down and fastened his seat belt. "Let's go."

I started the engine, ready to get out of the place. "Tell me one thing. How did you get out of the car? And where did you hide the gun?"

"That's two things." I shot him a look and he half-smiled. "Wrist strap. Jacket pocket," he said, shrugging his shoulders. I should have known, maybe if I'd been more awake I would have anticipated it. Ah well. I revved the engine and drove to the Hub.

When we arrived, Owen was working on Gwen in the Medical Bay. Toshiko was standing at the top of the steps watching him and we joined her; it seemed a good place to be right then. Gwen looked much better than before, her colour was returning and she was smiling, albeit weakly. Owen had finished stitching the wound - a deep and jagged gash - and was now bandaging it.

"You'll need to rest the arm for a few days," he told her. "And take antibiotics. At least your tetanus shot is up to date." Weevil claws harboured all sorts of nasty bugs and Owen was relentless in making sure we all kept up with these basic preventative measures. He even makes Jack have a tetanus shot; I suspect just because he likes him to suffer too.

"You should go home, Gwen," said Jack, descending the steps. "Get some rest."

"I can't, not now. We've got to get you back to normal."

"That's not important right now. You are." He stroked her hair, which he could reach only because she was lying down. "Is Rhys home? You need someone with you."

She shook her head. "He's at work. I don't want to bother him, not in his new job." She struggled to sit up and managed it. "Let me stay, Jack. I promise I'll do nothing more that sit at a desk." She looked into his eyes, pleading to be allowed to remain. It was quite a change from yesterday when she'd been ordering him around. In fact it was clear that, once again, we were all treating Jack as our leader. He had earned our loyalty despite his changed size.

"All right but only because Owen can keep an eye on you here." He turned to Owen. "Take a look at Ianto. He's got a few gashes too."

I was surprised and looked down at myself. He was right. The claws of the Weevil I had fought had ripped through to my skin and there was some blood seeping from wounds on my arms. Owen beckoned me down and I swapped places with Gwen, who Jack and Toshiko helped to the work area. I stripped off my jacket and shirt and Owen bathed and dressed the gashes. They weren't deep and didn't need stitches but they stung like blazes.

"Thanks," I said, when he had finished.

"What happened out there? Gwen said something about Jack saving her," he sounded incredulous. Probably couldn't imagine how a boy could manage it.

"He did. And if he hadn't, I'd have been a goner too. Good job he had more than a water pistol." He had the grace to flush at that, I'm pleased to say. I gave him more of the details as he cleared up. I don't think there'll be any more stupid comments from him until Jack's back to normal.

I picked up my abandoned clothes and realised they were too torn and blood stained to be wearable. The shirt was a write-off but the suit jacket should be salvageable. I climbed up to the work area and saw Jack sitting with Gwen on the couch while Toshiko looked on from her desk. I noticed Gwen's and Jack's clothes were bloody and their jeans were filthy from where they had been sitting or kneeling in the alley.

"Gwen, Jack, you ought to change out of those dirty clothes."

Jack nodded and he and Toshiko helped Gwen to her feet. Toshiko took Gwen off while Jack followed me down to his quarters. I quickly changed into a spare shirt and suit I kept there and took the opportunity to shave. When I'd finished Jack was sitting on his bed. He was wearing different jeans with one of the dark blue shirts over a T-shirt; he was almost a miniature version of his normal self.

"You okay?" he asked as I came to stand by him.

"Yeah, just a few scratches. Let's go," I said and followed him up the ladder.

Owen had joined Toshiko and they were huddled round Gwen who was back on the couch. I've noticed that whenever one of us is hurt the others all crowd round. Giving support by our presence, I suppose. Or maybe a herd instinct, wanting to protect the weakest. Whatever starts it off, it does help as I had good cause to remember. Jack joined them and I stood just a pace or two away.

"Okay, people. We have work to do. Tosh, are the police squared away?" Jack brought us back to normal. There really was no doubting who was in charge now. His actions this morning had demonstrated that whatever his age or size he was a force to be reckoned with.

"Yes. The dead man, Clive Reynolds, was single with no immediate family. The police are treating it as a gang attack, the cover story's in place. Your gunfire was fireworks." She smiled at the last. We were going to have to come up with a better cover story soon but this one still seemed to work.

"Good job. Gwen's car is still at the scene. Ianto, take Tosh and go and collect it. Leave it outside Gwen's flat." He looked across at her and smiled, "She won't be driving today. Then, when you're back, we can discuss how to reverse whatever happened to me." He smiled and I thought, just for a moment, he looked anxious to return to normal but the feeling was gone as soon as I noticed it.

"Has anyone had breakfast?" I asked. There was a resounding 'no'. I smiled, "I'll pick up something on the way back."

"Bagels," requested Jack.

"Danish for me," put in Gwen. Her voice was strong and steady which was good to hear.

"Bacon, sausage and egg sandwich," said Owen., greedy as always.

"I'll see what I can do," I said and walked out with Toshiko to the SUV. When we got there we hauled the bodies of the Weevils out and stowed them away. Luckily the boot liner was in place so I didn't have lots of cleaning to do – for once. We climbed in and drove off on our errands.

Over breakfast we learn how to get Jack back to normal. Please review, I love to get your feedback.