Chapter 4:

Jack left the interrogation room with Ianto still inside to take the information he had gotten up too his team. He had decided against recording, uncomfortable about how much information about himself might be released to his team. They were brilliant but there were things in his life, things he had done and seen that he did not want them too know. All he knew about Ianto Jones was scribbled down in the file he currently held.

Quickly he reviewed it, taking in the perfectly normal information at odds with the clearly extraordinary man it was describing. Ianto had been open with him except for a few areas- when he had been born, relatives and how he knew Jack.

The man had indeed been raised in Cardiff but the closet he would specify time period was 21st century. The information that he was an archivist came with a small reminiscent smile which left Jack thinking of the mess down in the basement of Torchwood Two and wondering whether Ianto had memories of what they all called the rabbit warren. As they had talked he couldn't help but trust Ianto more and more despite all the wary theories circling around in his head. He could be an agent for Torchwood one? But they weren't generally bothered about the other branches as long as they didn't get in their way and left one to mess around with government funding and alien tech they had kidnapped.

Leaving the mystery for now he decided to send Ianto up to Owen for a medical check up.

The autopsy bay was silent of all the usual heckling as Ianto sat on the cold metal table impassively observing whilst the doctor ran all the tests he could think of. Gwen had gone to the archives to look for any clues and Jack had gone to Toshiko's desk to look at the unusual rift readings. The slight murmur of conversation coming from across the hub was the only indication that they were there at all.

"Well you're human at least" Owen stated after a look at his results.

"Always a plus" Ianto replied with a slight smirk.

"Oh and apparently Welsh. Brilliant." continued the doctor pretending to ignore the other man.

"Got a problem with the Welsh Owen? You do live here."

"Bloody sheep shaggers the lot of you."

Ianto snorted: "Trout pout."

"What did you just call me?" Owen shouted in indignation.

"Have you looked in a mirror lately? It's like someone stuck a coat hanger in there!"

Pausing before making a sharp retort Owen smirked slightly, he hadn't had a good argument since Suzie's death. Gwen just got too emotional and wound up, Tosh was too shy and there was no use even trying with Jack.

Soon the banter had turned into mutual laughter that only checked when they looked up to see the Captain gazing quizzically down at them.

With a self conscious cough Owen returned to work mode.

"So what's Tosh got? The rift seemed pretty good to me lately. Come to think of it there's hardly been a thing in ages!"

Toshiko, who had joined them above answered before Jack.

"Well, believe it or not Owen that's the problem. The rift has been giving no readings at all for the past week. At first I figured it must just be anomalous or the equipment malfunctioning but I have checked and rechecked. It's all rather worrying."

" You don't want to get too wound up love. Try not too look a gift horse in the mouth eh?"

"I'm with Tosh" Gwen put in, having emerged from the Archives with nothing to show for it. They should really get someone too tidy up in there she thought idly.

"What if something big is happening? The calm before the storm Owen"

"There's no record of anything similar happening before is there Jack? I checked but there's only so far back I could go." Tosh said

"There was a period of inactivity back in Victorian times. It hasn't happened since so I presumed that it was solved permanently then" Jack paused for a moment before answering the Team's unspoken question. "The inactivity lasted for about a week before the biggest surge that's ever been recorded. There were records of dead bodies coming to life and roaming the streets until it just stopped suddenly one night. The agents in charge at the time logged sightings of the Doctor and after further investigation and witness reports decided that the rift had been opening but a girl named Gwyneth had managed to close it somehow. Not completely of course but enough to stop the main flow of energy. Gwyneth Cooper actually. Might be a relation ." He smirked at Gwen who looked distinctly unimpressed.

"Yes well you can have the family reunion later Yeah?" Owen cut in. " Basically what you're saying is we have three or four days until everything goes to hell"

Ianto who had remained sitting quietly, trying not to interject swore heartfeltedly under his breath.

"Shit."

"My sentiments exactly mate" Owen said as the others stared, having forgotten Ianto was there in the first place.

"We can't just sit around and wait for it to happen Jack!" Gwen shouted. "There must be something we can do!"

"I don't know. Tosh can you get to work pinpointing the exact coordinates and strength of risk energy for the past month or so. It might give us a good idea of how much time we have."

"And the rest of us?" Gwen countered "What are we supposed to do?"

"If we could get an idea of exactly what happened back that would probably help."

"Shit Jack! Not the bloody archives! I spent all morning down there and I didn't find anything" she protested and Owen soon echoed her cries of dismay.

A small cough from Ianto stopped them for a second.

"I know my way around" he offered with a cautious smile. "It won't be precisely what I'm used to but I could probably help you get a general idea of the place."

"How do you-" Tosh started to ask but was cut off by a warning look from Jack

Gwen clapped he hands together ."Brilliant!" she said, preparing to lead the way back down with Owen following behind.

"Just- be careful ok?" Jack called to their backs.