"I can sit here all day Gwen."

"Then let's!"

"You have to face him at some point...!"

She couldn't do it, she couldn't get out of the car. The look her mother had given her was stuck on the inside of her eyelids. If her own mother wouldn't accept her, why would Rhys?

"Gwen, I can come with you..."

"No! Very bad idea! No!"

"Ok, but I'll be right here, I won't move. Just go, get it over with! Who knows, he might forgive you for not talking to him for two days!"

"Not the issue Jack!"

"Well, focus on that and the other thing might not be so bad...!"

She sighed. It might be worth it just to stop his nagging.

"I'll be right here. Go now."

She took a deep breath, tried not to think about what she was about to do and got out of the car.

She made it all the way up to Rhys's apartment door before she realised. No turning back now, Jack would probably drag her up the stairs if she didn't do it.

"Gwen! Oh my God where have you been I was sick with worry!"

He hugged her hard, squished the air from her lungs and she could tell he really had panicked. She let him hold her, who knows, it might be the last time, and just inhaled the smell that was him.

"Gwen? Where did you go? I called your house but your mum just hung up on me!"

"Torchwood..."

"What?"

"I was sent to Torchwood. I'm an irregular."

There, she'd said it. It was out of her hands and she hated it, not being in control of her own life any more.

"What...?"

"Remember that fire, the day before yesterday? That was me, I did that. I'm an irregular and I'v been enrolled at Torchwood."

He let go of her. His hands slided down her arms and hung by his sides. There was a look of pure shock and disbelief all over his face.

"You're an irregular...?"

She nodded, almost fanatically.

"And you didn't tell me..."

"I didn't know until that fire, I swear!"

He was backing away, grabbing the door.

"Rhys please! I'm still the same person! I'm still your Gwen! Please, please don't...!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry Gwen but I can't...! Go away, please, just leave!"

"No Rhys wait!"

But the door closed, right in her face and she could feel the fire rising.

I've lost him... I'll never see him again...!

She ran. If she stayed it would get ugly, real ugly. She ran down and almost threw herself into the car.

"Get me away! Somewhere with no people! Hurry!"

Jack didn't ask, just put in full gear and drove like a mad man through the neighbourhood until he pulled up by the burnt down warehouse. He went right though the broken fence and ran out the car, pulling her form her seat and into the already damaged building. Then he ducked away, as far as he could bring himself to.

She cried. The tear evaporated before they left her eyes but she did cry. The fire didn't take, it had been raining and most the burnable things where dust and ashes already.

It might have been hours, maybe five minutes. Eventually, Jack came over and put his hands on her smoking shoulders. He hissed a bit at the heat but didn't let go.

She leaned against his chest. Right now, he was the only thing in the world that kept her sane. That, on its own, told her how bad her life was right now.

Martha and Donna where in the teachers lounge when their phones went off at the exact same time. They glanced at each other before diving into their pockets and digging them out to read whatever text it might be. They didn't check who sent it, they knew.

At the same time, in the other end of the building, Lisa Hallet picked up her own phone, also knowing who it was without checking.

"Yes?"

"The new girl."

"Gwen Cooper, she's in the room next to mine. I don't think Jack has gotten to her yet. Apparently, her family has rejected her, so she might be easy to persuade."

"And Jones?"

She bit her lip.

"I will get him. I've taken him from Harkness once, I can do it again. I will not fail."

"No, You will not."

She hung up, and slowly a smile spread over her face.

There was a knock on Tosh's door and before she could more then turn around it opened and showed a smug looking Owen with a tray of snacks.

"Owen? What is this?"

"You missed lunch. Actually, everyone but me and Ianto missed lunch, Jack and Gwen ain't back yet."

"Oh! Is it that much already?"

"Figured you'd end up in one of your little work-comas so I picked this up for you. Make sure you eat before going back to work, or else you'll faint and then Martha will have to kiss you again... Actually, never mind I'll just eat this myself..!"

"Owen!"

"Oh shut up it was hot!"

They laughed and Tosh obediently bit into the chicken sandwich and sipped the tea. Sometimes, Owen could be such a gentleman and those times she really hoped it was his true self shining through.

"So what on earth is that? And make it stupid cause I just ate and my brain is slower then normal!"

"So it's not working at all?"

"Ha ha. Very funny, now tell me."

She put down what was left of the sandwich and picked up the device. It was about as long as a pen and thick as two of her fingers put together. She held it delicately, like it was an ancient treasure.

"It's something I'm working on for the Doctor. He gave me the plans, told me it wasn't really supposed to work but I've tackled that problem before. I think I can get it operable, just give me another week."

"Bloody hell Tosh! I thought you weren't gonna make any weapons!"

"It's for the Doctor, you think he'd ask a sixteen year old to make a weapon?"

"Mh, point... Bit it looks weird. What does it do? What is it called?"

She loved it when he asked. Most of the stuff she told him probably made no sense to him, but he asked anyway. She loved him for that.

"It does a lot of things. I can't make it work on wood though, he'll have to manage. It's called a sonic screwdriver."

She was waiting for him, leaning against the car like some gangster from a movie and he couldn't help but to smile as he got out from the plane and walked over.

"There you are! That took forever!"

"The trip or the mission?"

"Both!"

He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"Where you lonely?"

"Just a bit. I have a life too you know, I don't just sit around waiting for you to come back! I've been to Peru!"

"I heard! Did you bring back a llama?"

"No, but I got you a hat!"

He laughed and they got in the car, him in the passenger seat. He knew better then to argue over who was driving.

"You know, you should go see him."

"I have work..."

"You always have work, the world is never going to be safe. You have to face him at some point."

He sighed and looked out the window.

"I know."

"We faced the Dalek leader and won. You can face your own son!"

"I know Rose. Just... Give me a moment."

"I'll give you ten minutes. We're going to Torchwood first!"

"What?"

"Too late! I already told Donna and Martha, they know you are coming!"

"What?"

"And they will tell Jack! I have to get his number...!"

"What?"

"Stop that!"

"Oh please save me now...!"

"Sorry darling! Cracked up family, here we come!"

[AN; If I beg you guys for comments, will I get at least one?]