Jack stood on top of the Millenium Center roof and stared out across the Plass. The sky was a vivid blue – one of those days when the temperature was just cold enough to create that crystal clear blue color that was only possible that time of year. The sun was sinking down below the horizon, clouds seeming to chase it as it dipped below the horizon. He stared out over the water, admiring the sky as the clouds took on that red tinge given by the setting sun.

He came up here to think. It got him away from the bustle of people and he could take a deep breath and let the events of the day wash over him. This week had been a difficult one – the rift had been active and they hadn't had a moment to themselves for several days running. He knew that he was running away by doing this, but it also helped him focus. He watched the people moving about below him. Couples were walking hand in hand, children skipping along in groups and businessmen running off somewhere with urgent strides to some unknown destination. Watching the people and seeing them going about their daily routines helped him to remember why he stuck it out. Why he worked so hard to protect them. While they went about their daily lives totally unaware of the universe around them, he was able to keep them blissfully ignorant of the dangers around them.

They were children, and not ready to recognize that the universe was a big place with nasty denizens that would chew them up and spit them out in a heartbeat. It had taken him many years to come to this conclusion, but it was in those hundred years of waiting for the Doctor that he had found himself getting attached to these people. To love the resiliency in which they survived, and lived their lives. He found a purpose in protecting these people that gave meaning to his life. It was now his mission to nurture them through the years and to prepare them for their eventual emergence into the galaxy around them.

The last couple of years had been hard. Previously, they were insular, living in their own microcosm of the galaxy around them. But events over the last few years had poked through that protective layer. Whether it was the Autons, Slitheens, Daleks or Cybermen, these people were now aware that life existed beyond their world, and that none of them were friendly. One would think that it would make them bitter that they were not the unique force in the universe in which everything revolved around them. But in true human fashion they pressed onwards, living their lives and meeting each challenge as they had to. With his help, and the help of his team they could forget these intrusions that disturbed their lives.

He sighed. It was his team that drove him up here today. What was left of it, anyhow. The stress of the last few days had really pushed them together as they dealt with the multitude of challenges that came through the rift. Tempers had flared, they had poked at one another and now that things had eased off there was this awkwardness as they then had a belated reaction to comments that had been said to one another. It was all said in the heat of the moment when things were flying at them, but in the aftermath, it made for some uncomfortable moments.

He heard the sound of a shoe scraping on the roof behind him. He made a bet with himself as to whether it would be Ianto or Gwen who had chased him up here. His money was on Gwen. Ianto knew when to let things lie and to just wait for Jack to work things out. Gwen was his terrier, worrying at the issue until it had been solved or chewed into submission. He had a feeling that this time it was going to be the latter, and that he was going to be the one feeling beat up in the process.

He crossed his arms and continued to stare out across the water. The footsteps behind him echoed on the roof as they approached him. A moment later he saw Gwen standing next to him out of the corner of his eye. He said nothing.

"Jack?" Gwen asked, a bit tentatively for her. He wondered what she was going to pick on him for this time. While he really adored her and her sense of justice, sometimes her ability to pick out the most uncomfortable of issues made him wish that she didn't turn that intuitive skill on him. It worked better when it was focused on the job, and not her boss or coworker. He didn't respond. He was going to make her work for disturbing his peace. "Jack? We have to talk."

"About what?" He asked, not turning to look at her. He could feel her moving restlessly next to him, but he didn't respond to that. The sky was a turning red as the sun retreated below the horizon, the color reflected in the clouds. He smiled slightly as he thought about the old saying Red sky at night, sailor's delight. An idle image of Ianto in an old sailing outfit flitted through his head.