"Hello sweetheart, they didn't hurt you, did they?" Rhys asked, his voice gentle as he looked down at the girl. She was a little bit of a thing, barely coming up to his shoulder. "Go on, Tim. I'll give her a lift home." He suspected that home was a little bit farther than dropping her off across town, but Tim didn't have to know that.

The girl slowly came out of the hunched protective position she had been in up until now and raised her head to look at him wonderingly. He saw that her pupils had slits and her eyes were a lovely golden shade. He smiled at her and she looked down shyly.

"Can you understand me?" He asked. She looked back up and blinked at him. Apparently not. Rhys sighed. He held out a hand and she tilted her head to look at it before placing her own next to it, as if comparing the difference in color. She tilted her head in the other direction before looking up at him again.

"Come," he said, and gestured with his hand. She stared at him and he sighed. This was going to be tough, but he thought it would be a good idea to get her away from such a public location. He didn't want to touch her after what had just happened, so he stepped away and gestured with his hand for him to follow him. She hesitated, lifting her head and turning back towards the market, her nose flared.

"Is that it?" Are you hungry, love?" He asked softly. Tim was still lingering about, so he motioned him closer. Pulling out his wallet, he pulled a few bills out of it and handed them to the young man. "Can you go in and get her something to eat? I don't want to leave her by herself and obviously she can't go in there like that. Whatever it is that smells so good, get her some and a drink and bring it out, please." Tim nodded and went inside the market. The girl stared after him. When the young man came out a few moments later with a bag she watched eagerly, clearly smelling the food inside the sack he carried.

"Thanks, mate," Rhys said. "Best you head off. I'm going to see if I can get her to talk. Obviously she was scared out of her wits by that lot, but I have a feeling she's one of those exchange students or something. Best I handle this alone, where she might be more willing to talk."

Tim nodded reluctantly and handed the bag to Rhys. He was fascinated by the young woman, and wanted to know what she was doing out there in such a costume. It looked like something out of a science fiction show or something and he wondered if someone was filming nearby. Or maybe it was one of those shows where they film the reactions of the locals and put it on tv afterwards. If so, he didn't want any part of it.

"Okay boss, I'll head out then," he said. He made his way back to the office where his car was parked. Rhys watched him until he turned the corner before looking back at the girl in front of him. He opened the bag and peered into it. Good, the lad had gotten her chips. He reached into the bag and pulled one out and held it in the palm of his hand towards her. Her nose flared again as she took in the smell.

Eyes darting from the chip in his hand to his face and back again, she took a tentative step in his direction. When he didn't move, she took another one that brought her closer. Rhys waited patiently. He could see some women standing on the other side of the street, gossiping about the girl, no doubt. He ignored everything going around him and just concentrated on the girl in front of him.

Finally she was only a step away from him. She reached out a tiny hand and picked up the chip. Holding it close to her face she sniffed before nibbling on one end. Her eyes widened as she tasted the morsel. She became more bold, taking a bite and eating that. A moment later the rest of it disappeared and she chewed it, eyes closing with pleasure. He wondered how long she had been here and how long it had been since she had had something to eat. Her clothes looked a little worn.

When she was finished he took another one out and held it out to her. She grabbed it and ate that one faster than she had the first. He pulled out a bottle of water and opened it before he held it out to her. She cocked her head, eyes darting from the bottle to his face.

"Go on, I'm sure you're thirsty as well. Hopefully water will be okay for you," he said, his voice a low croon so that he didn't startle her. She tentative put out her hand and he put the bottle into it. Grasping instinctively, she held the bottle and gave him a tentative smile. She poured some of the liquid into her cupped palm and brought it up to her face. Her tongue darted out to taste the bit that hadn't dribbled through her fingers. Once she had tasted it she licked her palm, eager to get every last bit.

He mimed holding the bottle up to his mouth and she nodded. Carefully moving it closer to her mouth she sniffed cautiously. She then opened her mouth and let some of the liquid from the bottle drip down into it, swallowing eagerly. They were making progress.

Once she had drunk some of the water, she looked back wistfully towards the bag in his hand. Rhys pulled out another chip and held it out to her. She took that, her fingers barely touching his skin. He took another one out and held it out. When she reached for it, he took a step back in the direction of his office. She cocked her head to one side and looked at him. When he didn't move she took a step forward. He let her take that chip before backing off some more and holding out a couple of more chips for her. In this fashion he was able to lead her away from the busy street and into the car park behind the haulage company.

He wasn't sure how he was going to get her into his car, and where he was going to go once he did. The logical place was to bring her to Torchwood. Gwen would know how to help this poor little lost girl. He thought about calling her but didn't want to do anything to startle this shy little girl alien. This was the first one he had seen, other than the space whale who didn't seem to mean them any harm. And he sure as heck didn't want this poor girl to end up bullied or worse by being found by the wrong sorts. It wasn't right, and if he could prevent it, he was going to try his damndest to help her.