Chapter 2

"Martha Jones!" Jack stepped out of the room to talk, gesturing for the group to continue without him. An awkward quiet seemed to settled amongst the Torchwood team; each of them were painfully aware of the new visitors and their cheery offers of help. Mistrust boiled amongst them, founded by their former experiences with Jack's old friends. Rose had attempted to start a cheery conversation with Gwen, while Owen looked thoroughly miserable and Tosh buried herself in the scan results.

Donna felt the almost instantaneous attitude change, and looked up from her pizza. Leaning back in her chair she watched the small team, her gaze falling to Owen, who was watching them with disdain. She turned to the Doctor.

"They're all so young." she whispered. She figured they couldn't have been much older than Rose; they were at their peak of knowledge and health. Yet already they carried themselves with a maturity beyond their years. In each of them she recognized the maturity and grief of those who had seen the worst of the world. The Doctor looked at her curiously. "They look like you do sometimes, old and weary."

"This kind of job allows you to see quite a bit of the Universe." His eyes roamed to Ianto. "That doesn't mean it doesn't come at a cost."

"Why - why would they choose this?" Tosh had looked up and was watching them. Donna smiled at her; Tosh smiled shyly in return, unsure of whether or not to speak. The Doctor leaned on the table and grinned.

"Why do you travel with me?" he cocked his head and waited for her answer.

"There's nothing like it. There's just so much to see and do..." she trailed off beginning to see his point.

"It isn't always safe or comforting, but it's always worthwhile. And that's why I keep going." he looked up as Jack stepped back inside. "How is Martha Jones?" he asked.

"Oh as beautiful as ever." Jack grinned back waving his phone. "She has a commission for us in New York."

"Looks like Martha is moving up in the world, she's giving you orders." Owen smirked at him. Jack glared at him and looked back to the Doctor.

"Seems the U.S. is having a similar alien invasion and they've asked UNIT for help. Of course, UNIT has insisted that they send their best, so they've commissioned you to help. " he said.

"Me? Why me?" the Doctor asked and held up his hands in indignation.

"Apparently you're still on payroll." Jack smirked sitting back down on the edge of the table. Rose's eyes widened in surprise.

"You worked for UNIT?" she asked. He rolled his eyes and leaned forward again.

"For a bit yeah. It was long before the Time War and the council had exiled me to earth. It kept me busy." Rose giggled, entertained by the thought of the Doctor being exiled to earth. She wondered if his past regeneration was as against domesticity as hers were.

"So you do do domestic! What, did you live in a little house, with carpets?" She asked, her tongue poking between her teeth.

"Doesn't mean I liked it." He pointed a finger at her, looking solemn. "It's not as much fun when there's no one to share the mortgage with." the humor had left his voice and Rose's smile softened.

"Yeah?" she'd leaned toward him on the table. He smiled back.

"Yeah."

"You two are so cute." Jack interrupted, obviously enjoying himself. The Doctor cleared his throat and leaned back.

"What do they want with us? The U.S. must have some extraterrestrial defense of their own kind, seems like we'd only be in the way." he said.

"According to Martha, they have the same theory we do. Something jhuge is drawing these creatures in, and they think they've found the source of all this somewhere in New York." Jack sifted through the sheets of readings in front of Tosh. "The U.S. has specifically asked for Torchwood to tag along, specifically Owen and I. Apparently they don't have any medics who are familiar with the species running around the city. They want us to start tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." Owen nodded. "So, we should have gotten on the plane, what - this morning?" he asked seriously. Jack sent him an amused glare, then looked at the Doctor.

"I think my friend here can take care of transportation." The Doctor grinned and nodded, looking excitedly to Rose and Donna.

"The original New York, with all the angry taxi drivers, hectic business people and the desperate actors looking for work." he said excitedly. Rose giggled.

"No cat people then?" she asked innocently. The Doctor shook his head, his grin ecstatic.

"None, or human trampolines either and the food is fabulous." he replied.

"Hang on, how long will we be gone?" Tosh asked hesitantly. "Who's going to take care of the hub?" Jack nodded, he thought that through already.

"Tosh, I need you here. You can keep an eye on the rift and keep us informed of what's going on." he put a hand on her arm. "I'll take you to New York myself when this is through." Tosh seemed relieved, nodding at him.

"I can stay as well, someone will need to keep an eye on the front." he said. Jack raised an eyebrow.

"And what about my coffee?" he asked. Ianto smirked.

"You're going to America, they have coffee on the way to get coffee." he replied, amused. Jack glared at him.

"Fine. But no accepting field missions unless you run them by me first, and keep your comms open, I want reports on the activity here." Tosh saluted. Jack looked to the Doctor and he stood.

"New York, here we come!"