In the days following the nightmare box incident, I started to settle in at Torchwood and begin my new life. After Jack got me off the roof of the water tower, we all went to the meeting room so Toshiko could brief us on exactly what is was...

"It wasn't the box exactly, it was what was attached to the box, that's why it was able to transfer between objects. My scans indicated it was some kind of veil, so thin that we never could have seen it with our eyes. It was made out of a very low voltage, highly advanced electron field. Whoever made this not only would have had to had extensive knowledge of atomic fields, more than we have, but also of how to make it program in its surroundings. They weren't, luckily for us, an expert in the field because I was able to find a massive loop-hole in their system. My program neutralized the electron field. Sad to say, we won't have a copy to store and study."

"Any reason as to why it was blocking up the rift?" Jack asked.

"Although it looked small to our eyes, the amount of data that was stored in the electron field was massive. It's a bit hard to explain because it existed in more than three dimensions. Not only that, but all our instincts were telling us to stay away, so anything traveling around it in the rift was probably trying to stay as far away as possible from it. I'd expect rift activity to go back to normal in a few days. There may be a few larger than normal spikes when that happens, it's hard to say."

"Any clue as to what it could have been used for? Or why it was in the rift in the first place?" Gwen asked, continuing the interrogation.

"My guess is as good as yours. If I had to give a reason, I'd say someone was trying to get rid of that horrible thing."

I personally hoped that was the last of that thing. I was trying to forget my time on the spaceship, I really didn't need to relive my experience in hyper-realistic hallucinations.

When we were done with the debriefing, Jack let us all go back home to catch up on sleep and clean up. We were all covering in bruises, sea water, and other kinds of muck. I really just wanted to crash into my bed in the care room, but I knew as soon as I layed down, I'd feel spiders crawling all over me.

When I was finally able to crawl into my bed, my sleep was anything but restful. I was plagued with nightmares of floating Lorians and a blistered Jack. After my fourth time waking up in a cold sweat, I decided to forgo the nap and see if anyone was left in the Torchwood Hub.

I was specifically looking for Jack. If I was going to be part of this team, I couldn't live in the Hub. As I understood, everyone had their own apartments and cars, I didn't see why I should be any different. I would also need to get some clothes, preferably soon. I couldn't keep wearing what belonged to victims or past Torchwood members. Frankly, it kind of creeped me out.

"Jack?" I called out into the main Hub area. There was no answer, he must have left as well. I walked around. Owen had given me a small tour of the main area when he first started doing testing on me. I walked over to the autopsy room, no one there. The meeting room was empty as well. I wondered if I could find my way to the shooting range again.

I started walking down the hallway Owen had taken me down when we went there a couple days ago. I quickly realized finding it again would be fruitless. There were too many twists and turns down here. As I turned around to go back, I realized I was lost. Oh great, last thing I need is to get lost in these tunnels while everyone is gone for the weekend.

Images of me starving or getting attacked by some weird Torchwood mutant rat started to flash through my mind,

I eventually saw a ladder down the end of the hall with a door on the right. As I got to the ladder, I peered into the window pane of the door. The room appeared to contain holding cells, only there were no bars on the cells. Instead, they had some kind of plexi glass with holes. I couldn't see if there were anything in the cells and the door wouldn't open because it required swipe access.

"Curious?" Jack had somehow snuck up behind me. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest, I hadn't heard him at all.

When I turned around he was smiling. He passed his id in front of the scanner and the door beeped open. When I entered, the room was quiet except for some heavy breathing. The source of the noise was the middle cell on the left side. It was a Weevil. It started screaming and banging on the glass when I stood in front of it.

"I don't think she likes you very much. Probably something to do with you setting fire to her friends."

"She? Wait, how would she know about that?"

"We think they have a low-level psychic connection. She probably felt a bunch of her friends hurt or dying. As for she, well, we don't really know how to identify their gender, but I felt like the name Janet suited her. What do you think?"

I just looked at him dubiously. "Why is she down here?"

"Well, we caught her. They normally don't come above the surface, but this one developed a taste for human flesh. We don't want to kill her, so we just use her to gather Weevil data. Come on, you and I have some paper work to do." He jerked his head towards the door.

I followed him through some of the tunnels back to his office. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked while we were walking.

"No, too many nightmares," I shuddered.

"I bet Owen could give you something to help with that. It would also probably help if you weren't sleeping at work, which is what I wanted to talk to you about. We need to get you your own apartment and in order to get your own apartment, you're going to need identification. It's time for Lucy Schwart to go away. I figured I could at least let you help in crafting your new identity. First thing we need is a name. A common Welsh name, nothing that has anything significant to your past. I've printed out a list of the top common Welsh first names and surnames. Pick a set off that list."

He handed me two papers. Each had 50 names on it, one for first names, one for last. It felt like this process should be more important. I was essentially picking who I was supposed to be for the rest of my life. This was who I was going to be for the rest of my life. I looked over the list and read every name. Jack was doing something on his computer as I was deciding.

"Teegan. Teegan Cecil," I said finally.

"Alright Ms. Teegan Cecil. You're 22 years old, graduated from Goldsmith's University of London with a degree in Computer Science. I figured I'd keep your major the same in case you're questioned. You were born in Wales but grew up in America until high school, when you moved back to Wales after your parents died in a car crash, hence the American accent. Your grandparents home schooled you for high school because you lived out in the country. Your grandfather passed away shortly after your grandmother, so you decided to go to college in London and start a new life. I suggest getting a new haircut and I'll forward your first paycheck so you can find a flat. The team can help you out with anything you might need. If you need someone to take you shopping, I suggest asking either Ianto or Gwen. Any questions?"

Of course I did. I had a million questions and yet I couldn't seem to form them into words. I drew my brows together, wondering where to start. Jack just smiled.

"I know this is overwhelming, but just give it time. A month from now you won't know anything different. Everything will be routine." He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

How could Jack say that? I knew he was just trying to help, but how could he just ask me to give up everything I knew so easily?

"Can I at least call my parents one more time?" I asked, hopefully.

"No," he said firmly. I could tell his decision was set in stone, but I wasn't about to give up so easily. I wished I had Owen or Gwen here to back me up, they'd be on my side.

"But Jac-" I started, but he was ready for me.

"No and that's final. This is not up for discussion. In America, you have cops and FBI agents looking everywhere for you. If anything were to lead them here, there's too many things to cover up, too many lies that would have to be told. It's best if you just let Lucy Schwart fade away. Let your parents think you disappeared somewhere and are having a happy life." I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I vowed not to let them fall. I had come this far, I would not break now.

"How can you say that?" I practically yelled, jumping up from my chair. It tipped over in the process. "How can you be so heartless? I've given up literally everything to be here. I can't let my last conversation with my mother be about the hamburgers I ate last night. I can't just leave everything and everyone without saying goodbye." I could feel wetness on my clenched hands now. My tears had spilled over and were flowing freely now, dripping onto myself and the floor. "How would you stop me anyway? There are phones everywhere. And computer, television, cameras, so many methods of communication."

Jack just looked at me with sympathetic eyes and leaned forward on his desk. "Cameras, tv, pictures, those can all be chopped up to coincidence, someone who looks like you. As for phone and computers, well if you feel the need to use them and I find you have to contact any part of your old life, there's an empty cell next to the Weevil. Don't forget, no one knows where you are or that this place even exists. We are masters at covering things up and if you feel like you can't leave your old life from this point forward, I have this." He took a container from his desk and pushed it towards me. "This is Retcon. You can wake up tomorrow in Cardiff Square. You'll have never met us. You won't remember the Doctor, you won't know why you have a strange metal device on your back. The U.S. government will probably come collect you and you'll never see your family again regardless. Only instead of having the freedom of a new life in Cardiff with Torchwood, you'll be locked up in some testing facility." He leaned back again and crossed his arms again, a triumphant smile on his face.

I couldn't think of anything to say. I wasn't going to admit he won. Oh no, this wasn't over, but I couldn't think while being this upset. I just turned on my heel and left his office. I walked to the elevator and took it up to the hallway that led to the tourist office.

I stormed out into the tourist office, Ianto was sitting at the computer. He took one look at my face, probably all red and splotchy, I had no idea if I was still crying, and started to call out to me, but by that point, I was already out the door.

I had no idea where I was going, I just knew I needed to get out of that office. The sun was starting to set on Cardiff, the clouds were dyed a bright orange with pink tinge, a stark contrast to the ominous clouds that had hung over the previous night.

I looked around, people were milling about the shops, getting some last minute errands done for the night before the stores closed. Restaurants already had their lights on for their signs. The evening air was cold, so no one was sitting outside.

The chill in the air didn't affect me. I was too worked up. A police car drove past. It would be so easy to just flag him down, say I was a missing person. I could call my parents. And then what? How would I explain showing up in Cardiff to them? How would I hide this thing on my back?

I walked down one of the docks on the water. I sat on the edge and let my feet dangle above the dark water. I could just jump in, let the hypothermia kill me. And what would that accomplish? I'd certainly never be able to talk to my parents again if I were dead.

Why couldn't Jack just be more understanding? I could feel more hot tears starting to build up in my eyes. I drew my knees up to my chest. This was it, I would cry now, let it out, but no more after today. I had to accept this, whether it was my choice or not. I let the sobs run through me. Letting all the feelings, all the goodbyes I would never get to say spill through and out of my body.

After an undertimed amount of time, I felt an arm go around my shoulder. I looked up, it was Jack, looking at me worriedly. I buried my face in his shoulder and let the rest of everything course through my veins. I felt the sorrow of leaving everything behind. I remembered the good times I had with my friends and family. I longed for the all nighters I had in college, the laughs I shared with classmates and professors. I let it go. I had to. Torchwood was my life now.

After the tears had passed and my voice was strong, I talked to Jack for what felt like hours, reminiscing about my past, talking about all my friends and family. At some point I found his jacket around my shoulders, I hadn't even realized I was shaking from the cold. Jack just sat and listened patiently, laughing with me, patting my back sympathetically when the tears spilled over again, occasionally interjecting his own story.

Long after the sun set Jack said, "Come on, let's go in and get Ianto to make us some of his famous coffee. Owen told me what pills to give you, so hopefully you can sleep tonight."

"Doesn't Ianto ever go home?"

"Sometimes, he practically lives at work though," he smiled as we walked into the tourist office and called out, "he just can't get enough of my good looks."

On cue, Ianto walked out and looked at Jack inquisitively, like he was expecting the answer to some unspoken question. I glanced up at Jack just in time for him to see him give a small shake of his head.

"Have I ever shown you our pterodactyl?"

That night, Jack gave me sleeping pills as per Owen's instructions and I slept through the night with no nightmares. My sleep was surprisingly deep and pictureless. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to deal with the things that I couldn't the day before.

I put on a set of hoodie and jeans and walked out to the main Torchwood Hub. Jack was sitting at his desk, Ianto looking over his shoulder behind him. He didn't look up at me when I walked, but waved me over. When I reached his desk, he handed me a heavy manilla folder, never taking his eyes off the paper he was filling out.

I opened the folder and in it were various legal documents. There was a birth certificate, bank account papers, British passport and other papers telling me that I was now Teegan Cecil. There was a sealed envelope with a window on the front. It was addressed to Teegan Cecil with an address I didn't recognize on it.

"I already went ahead and deposited the funds into your bank account, but that's a physical copy of your first check. I would go over those papers and make sure you know everything in case someone questions you. I doubt they will, but it never hurts to be safe. Ianto is going to take you out shopping today. We're all tired of looking at those god awful scrubs Owen gave you. He'll also help you look for an apartment later if you want. This," Jack said sliding a phone across the table, " is for work business. I trust you realize I can see every call that happens on this phone." He left the rest unsaid.

I took the phone without a word and shoved it into my hoodie pocket. I honestly didn't know what to feel about Jack at the moment. On one hand I was thankful for him giving me a shoulder to cry on. On the other hand, he was the cause of my tears in the first place. I just held his gaze for a moment before looking at Ianto expectantly.

"Right then, we'll be off," Ianto said, feeling the obvious tension in the air.

We took the tourist exit and left in the Torchwood suv. This was the first time I really had a chance to talk with Ianto one on one. I didn't know what to say to him. He was often just in the background and didn't say much, so I really hadn't given much thought about anything I might want to ask him.

"So..." Ianto started, his deep voice trailed off, "Where do you like to shop?"

"Uh... Honestly anywhere. I don't really know what stores you have over here. Or what the dress code for Torchwood is..."

"Well we don't really have a dress code. I would suggest getting a few pairs of jeans and shirts. You're going to need pajamas and undergarments. Maybe a pair of dress clothes. A coat and a few light jackets. Shoes, toiletries. Everything really. We'll go to the shopping centre. They have a lot of stores to choose from. I believe in America, you refer to them as malls."

I had a feeling this was going to be a long day. Ianto seemed like a very boring person to hang out with. I only ever saw him dress in a suit, he barely ever talked and he just served coffee to the other team members. Was he some kind of butler for Torchwood, like Alfred was for Batman?

About 15 minutes later, Ianto had found a parking spot and led me to the shops. "I figured we could start out with your normal clothes," he motioned me towards some automatic doors. The air was warm as I walked in, a relief from the cool winter air outside.

The layout of the department store was essentially the same as the ones in America. You had your perfume counters, shoes, women's, mens, children's and junior clothing. I walked over to the women's section to pick out some jeans. As I quickly discovered, much to my embarrassment, when I tried the jeans on, the sizes were one smaller over here. Granted I had lost some weight while I was in my coma, but not enough to make me an American size 6.

I huffed out of the dressing room, red in the face as Ianto looked on. I just hoped he wasn't paying attention to the sizes I was getting. As soon as he saw me exchanging all the pairs I had, he pretended to be busy looking around the racks. Nice try, but you don't wear women's clothes.

After I picked out the jeans I wanted, I grabbed some shirts. I picked up some plain v-neck cotton shirts, a few plaid button downs, some camisoles and baby doll shirts. I got a nice knee length pea coat as well as a lighter weight dark khaki trench coat.

The good thing about all this was not having to worry about money. I was only one pay check in, but it was already a lot more money than I was used to. I could've lived a few months off this pay check in college without having to worry.

Next we went to an H&M. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to go in. It was like the ones in America, but so much larger. There was a whole floor just dedicated to bra's, underwear and pajamas. I gave a look to Ianto and then looked back at the lingerie section and raised an eyebrow. He cleared his throat audible and mumbled something about having to go look for a new necktie.

After I had picked up a reasonable amount of undergarments [as Ianto liked to refer to them as] and pajamas, I started looking at dress clothes. A lot of the clothing here was more suitable for a night out on the town, but I managed to find a few more professional dresses.

Ianto found me as I was picking up my last dress before going into the dressing room, "Find a suitable necktie?" I asked. He held up a bag that he hadn't been carrying before and smiled.

Suddenly I spied a blue sequence dress behind him, "I was thinking about wearing that into work tomorrow," I said, pointing to the dress.

"Only if I can wear the matching green one," he answered in his normal deep monotone. We looked at each other for a second before both cracking large grins. It was the first time I had seen him smile, which made me smile even more.

I went and tried on the rest of my clothing, feeling a little bit better about today. I couldn't believe how normal I felt. Here I was, trying on clothes, like nothing was wrong. It could be any other Saturday.

And then I was brought crashing down to reality as I turned in the mirror. The device was sticking out of the back of my dress. You could see its gleam through my hair. If I had my hair up or pushed away, you'd be able to see a good three inches sticking out the back of it. I guess I hadn't notice it with my hoodie because the bulge of the hood covered it up. This was something I was going to have to deal with with all my clothes.

I covered my face with my hands, grateful to be in the dressing room. I wouldn't even be able to dress normally from now on, not if I wanted to go out in public. How was I even supposed to get my hair cut?

I gathered up my clothes, furious. They could wait. I was done shopping for today, I'd had enough of this.

"Did they fit that badly?" Ianto asked when I stormed out of the dressing room.

"I'm going to be condemned to a life of wearing scarves and turtle necks."

"What?" he questioned, confused. I just pointed to my neck.

"It sticks out. Of everything." I went over to the accessory section and started angrily grabbing any scarf I mildly liked off the rack.

Ianto just looked down, at a loss of what to say. I took what was left of my shopping (scarves included) up to the counter to pay for them. I must have had a look of murder about my face because the cashier wouldn't make eye contact with me.

Ianto's cell phone rang as I was finishing paying. "Alright, got it. Do you want us to come pick you up? Ok, be careful. We'll head there with the SUV and keep an eye out. "

I raised an eyebrow quizzically while we walked out the door. "Apparently there was an attack last night of suspicious origins, as the police like to describe it. That's normally code for Weevil attack."

"Ah, so what do we do?"

"Well the police have cleared the area. It's in an alleyway in a not so nice part of town, the body apparently looks to have just been dumped there. Jack said he and Toshiko are going to meet us there."

Great, more Weevils. I couldn't help but think about our encounter a few days ago with the nest. If there was a Weevil roaming about out there, would it know who I was? Jack did say they might have a low level psychic connection. The team seemed pretty used to handling these things so I supposed I shouldn't be too worried.

When we got there the scene was taped off and there was a lone police car parked by the tape. Ianto wasn't lying when he said this part of town was run down. The area was all brick row homes with boarded up windows. The windows that weren't boarded up had the glass broken out of them.

Normally I would've been terrified even driving through this kind of neighborhood, but Torchwood had given me new found courage. We had impeccable timing. Jack and Toshiko pulled up the same time we did, presumably in Toshiko's car.

I exited the car, ready to start my first official Torchwood case.