Don't wanna hear your sad songs
I don't wanna feel your pain
When you swear it's all my fault
'Cause you know we're not the same
No, we're not the same, oh, we're not the same

Paramore - Ignorance

Random Shoes: part 1

'I don't care if you heard Jack say it, that doesn't make it a word!' Owen yelled at Winter.

She glared at him pouting her lips out and leaned over the scrabble board. 'Fine then, but that means you can't have 'zacartha' either because I've never heard of it.'

'I told you it's a medical instrument we dug up in Splot seven months before you arrived.'

'Go on then, show it to me,' she dared him.

'Well, we don't have it any more,' he replied, his voice a little higher and uncomfortable.

'Where is it then?'

'I ah, I blew it up.'

She stared blankly at him, 'You blew it up.'

'Yeah.'

'How?'

'In an explosion.'

'Yeah, I got that Captain obvious.'

'Hey, I thought I was the only Captain around here,' Jack said, leaning against his office door. The arguing friends looked up as he approached the board and glanced over the small tiles. 'You know the vast majority of these words don't exist.'

Both Winter and Owen looked away nervously, embarrassed at being caught out.

'Apart from this one.' He pointed to the board where Owen had (on his last go placed Welts), 'Weltschmerz: sadness over the evils of the world.'

Winter leapt up and hugged Jack tightly. 'Awesome, that's mine, see I told you Owen.'

He pushed away from the table in a huff. 'Oh, go where you're wanted Winter,' he grumbled.

She smiled and let out a small laugh. Jack smiled at her and left to fill in his weekly report. It was the third to last day of November. Since Suzie, things had been rather quiet around the Hub. Several weevil attacks, they were on the rise and Jack was getting worried, one alien who'd taken a wrong turning and ended up in Tiger bay. Other than that, nothing interesting.

She glanced over to the cog door as Gwen walked through a file in her hand and Ianto behind her with Pip trailed over his shoulders, playing with his tie.

'I've got something,' Gwen told them.

Tosh looked up from her computer and Owen popped his head out from the med bay.

'Eugene Jones.'

'What that kid who's been stalking you for the past month?' Winter asked moving to take the file.

Gwen hesitated and then handed it over, 'He may be dead. Police found a body at the side of the road this morning.'

'Anything alien?' Jack asked from his door.

'Doesn't appear to be,' Gwen told him uncomfortably.

'Anything interesting?' Winter asked, getting a little put out, what was the point if there were no aliens involved. He hadn't had anything then and now he's dead. No threat, no fuss.

'No.'

'Then what's it got to do with us?' Owen questioned.

'Well, we have nothing better to do, we can at least check it out a bit,' Gwen argued.

Jack shrugged and nodded, 'Alright. Ianto is the SUV tank full?'

'Just this morning Sir,' Ianto replied handing Pip off to Winter. 'Peregrine and I took care of it.'

'I was wondering where he was.' Winter tickled his tummy a little and then set off for the SUV.

Tosh turned around and walked straight into her knocking her back into Ianto.

'Oh Gosh, I'm sorry I didn't see you there,' Tosh said as she reached out for Winter's arm to steady her.

'It's alright. Happens to everyone I guess.'

Winter got into the back of the SUV that day. She squeezed in between Tosh and Gwen, who kept elbowing her in the side. When they pulled up at the scene Gwen even slammed the door in her face as she was trying to get out. Everyone set off across the police cordon and she sat in the car, mouth open in disbelief. With an angry set in her jaw she pushed the door open and stormed up to the tape but was stopped by a young police officer.

'Sorry sweetheart you and the monkey have to stay this side of the tape. If you want a show go home and watch Hollyoaks.'

'I'm with Torchwood.'

'Kid like you with that bunch, don't think so. Hey is that a legal pet?' he pointed at Pip and she shook her head in disbelief. 'Well, in that case.' He took out his cuffs. 'I'm arresting you for ownership of an illegal animal.' He grabbed her wrist and swung her around fastening the two together.

'What? No I was … no! get off me! Jack! Jack!'

'What the hell is going on here?' Owen had appeared at her side and rolled his eyes. 'What are you arresting her for?'

'Harbouring an illegal animal sir.'

'Yeah well it's not illegal, she's with us, and so is the damn monkey. Now uncuff her and let us get on with our jobs.' Owen walked off and the young officer offered her a sincere apology, which she brushed off, and let her through the tape.

'Thanks guys,' she sarcastically yelled as she neared them.

'Well if you insist on getting yourself arrested,' Owen muttered.

'Only because you left me in the car!'

'What are you twelve?'

She glared at Owen and crossed her arms.

'Come on then, let's get back to the hub,' Jack told them.

'What! I only just got here, I don't even know what's going on.'

'I'll explain on the way back.' He turned and held the tape up, dropping it as soon as Winter got there. She growled under her breath and dropped under it, getting into the car and listening to Jack's very brief briefing as they swept through the inner city.

When she got back she was in a foul mood. She headed straight for the higher levels where they couldn't follow and sat with her arms around her knees. Pip stared questioningly from a meter or so away.

'Sometimes Pip.'

He cocked his head.

'Sometimes it's almost like they don't want me around. Like I'm just getting in the way. Sometimes I wonder what good I am to the team at all, I mean I can't exactly do much can I. I'm just…' she looked at him and shook her head, 'another monkey, a pet. Maybe I can be the mascot when the bloody pterodactyl dies.'

Pip hopped slowly over to her and gave her arm a hug. She pulled him close and whispered. 'I wish I had Andy. I wish I could talk to him. I just need some advice, that's all. Just a bit of advice, and maybe a hug. Is that too much, Pip? A hug?'

'No, you just have to ask.'

Her head shot around and she saw Ianto dusting himself off. 'How did you get up here?'

'Through the pterodactyl caves. She wasn't too pleased but I gave her a bit of chocolate, it'll keep her happy until I get down. Now about that hug.' He sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. 'What's up?'

'Nothing.'

'No, you don't get out of it that easily.'

'I just. I'm just, blowing things out of proportion. I miss you Ianto.'

He gave her a startled look and pulled his arms back. 'What on earth do you mean?'

'I just feel like we haven't been as close lately. We hardly ever talk and when we do it's only for a few seconds. I just, miss you.'

He smiled and kissed her cheek, 'Tell you what I'll take you out somewhere nice.'

'Tonight?'

A blush suddenly rose in his cheeks. 'Um…no not tonight. How about Friday, instead of movie night? Promise I won't blow it off this time.'

She smiled and nodded but still she was sad. She always wanted him to be happy, but suddenly having to work out a schedule with him rather than being able to call on him at any time was going to take some getting used to.

'Now then, let's see about getting down.'

'My way or yours?'

'Oh, mine for me I think, there's no way I'm swing from ropes at this height without a decent harness on.'

She grinned and just to rub it in, took a running leap from the side to the furthest pole she could reach. As she skimmed down it she heard his laughter echo through the rafters.

'Did you miss me?' She asked Jack when she got the floor.

He turned from his folder looking confused. 'Why? Where were you?'

She sighed and shook her head, the elation Ianto had brought suddenly dissipating. 'Nowhere.'

'Right well, I'd like you to go with Gwen, Owen and Ianto to see Eugene's mother, see if he really had any alien tech.'

'As if I'm going to be able to tell if it's alien of not.'

'Well, let's hope it's obvious for you. Few flashing lights, alien noises a sign saying "ALIEN" in big letters.'

She turned on her heel frustrated and swept over to the car slamming the door shut and then thinking to herself and opening it again before turning to her companion.

'I can't walk into her house with a monkey on my shoulder to tell her son's died Pip.'

The monkey looked almost saddened as he jumped from the SUV and handed her her sword. She smiled sadly and closed the door gently watching him scamper through into the hub as Owen opened the garage door.

TTT

Eugene's mother was lovely, when they came in she offered tea (they all refused) and even when she found out why they were there she was quiet and helpful. Winter couldn't bare to see the love and loss in her eyes so she stayed with Ianto and Owen in the bedroom. Owen knocked some star-trek magazines to the floor, swearing at them. He left them so, sighing she bent down and started to clean them up.

'What are we doing here?' Owen asked picking up some random leaflet.

'I've been asking that same question since we arrived,' Winter replied.

'Look at this.'

They both turned to peek at what Ianto was pointing out. A small collection of rocks and objects all labelled as alien. Well, Jack was right them.

'I'll tell Gwen.' Owen disappeared for a moment and reappeared followed by Gwen. She took a quick look at the objects picking one up.

'Are these roman coins?' she asked.

'Don't look like the ones I've seen,' Winter replied. 'And I've seen quite a few.'

'Hey look!' Owen exclaimed. 'Rice crispies.'

They glanced at the odd rock in his hands, 'Man there are some rogues out there.'

'Oh hang on,' Gwen picked up a small podium. 'There's something missing here.' She turned to Eugene's mum who had just entered the room. 'Mrs Jones, do you know what's missing from your son's collection?' the woman looked at them.

'Why didn't they stop?' she asked, ignoring the question. 'They killed my boy and just drove on.'

Winter hung her head and Gwen took Mrs Jones out of the room while they began to pack Eugene's things of interest into boxes. She sat surrounded by them on the way back. Holding them in place because Owen didn't think of putting them into the boot when he piled them all onto the back seats, forgetting that two people had to sit there. Gwen was perfectly happy to be squished at the side but it was all very well for her, she didn't have a hard-drive sticking in her back.

TTT

When they got back she helped Ianto put everything in the office so he could drive the SUV into the garage. Before he went out to complete the task he stopped. 'Oh by the way, I found this while I was sorting through the rubbish on the coffee table earlier. Thought you might want it back.' He handed her a book. It wasn't a special book, just a bit of poetry, Blake to be precise. However, there was something inside it. She flipped it over and it fell open on a page and there tucked in the crease was the number her mother had given her.

She slipped the number into her pocket and snapped the book shut making her way back down to the hub, still running her fingers over the spine. Owen and Gwen were sat at their desks. One doing reports that should have been completed at least a week ago and one sifting through Eugene's collection. 'Anything I can do?' she asked coming up behind Owen.

'Aww yeah, cheers.' He handed her his mug without looking at her. 'Black, tonne of sugar.'

'Oh could you do me one too? White please, no sugar,' Gwen asked.

Winter stood there for a second, Owen's mug in her hand but no one said anything, so she turned and made her way over to the kitchen reaching out to the coffee machine.

'Oh, I'll do that if you don't mind?' Ianto's hand pushed hers away gently and she backed off quietly. Maybe Jack would be able to talk to her. She approached his office but saw him through the glass. Pip was lounging on his desk getting his tummy tickled and Jack was on the phone looking greatly immersed in his discussion. What now? She went up to the conference room and sat staring at the wall. It was just one of those days. Those day where you feel like nothing was going your way. But maybe it wasn't any old day. Maybe this was a sign.

Time passed slowly as she stared out across the expanse of the hub. Eventually Owen wandered in and spread some sheets over the table to examine them together. Gwen sat next to him and fiddled with her jacket as she thought over whatever was happening in her mind and finally Jack and Tosh entered in a full blown discussion over a strange object that Winter had never seen before. During a lull in the conversation Gwen spoke out.

'Do you think Eugene committed suicide?'

'It was road accident and there was no alien involvement,' Tosh told her.

'See, I'm not so sure?'

'What you think someone purposefully ran over him,' Winter snapped, she was in a bad mood and just wanted everyone to go home so she could go and sleep it off.

'I don't know, what if he had some information?' Gwen replied

'You saw his house, there was nothing there?'

'But what if there was something on him? What if they took it from him?'

'Doesn't matter it's not our problem anymore,' Winter told her.

'Well it should be!' Gwen's voice rose.

'Alright you too! That's enough!' Jack told them.

'Why? Why should we be so bothered about this case?' Winter asked, her voice meeting Gwen's.

'Because we may be responsible!' Gwen shouted

'What? What could we possible have done to cause his death?' Winter shouted back.

Jack stood up and they followed suit. Ianto entered with a tray which he quickly placed on the side for fear of someone throwing something.

'We could have saved him? We could have listened to him if we had he wouldn't be dead!'

'Why are you making us out to be killers!' Winter yelled.

'Because we are!' Gwen yelled back. 'We find Alien threats and we think of ways to kill them, and if that means a few people die along the way then so be it.'

'Gwen.' Jack interrupted quietly but she continued, heatedly.

'I'm responsible for all those people Carys killed, Jack let Jasmine go with the fairies.'

'Gwen!' he repeated, much louder this time.

'I'm sure if we went back into your past there are people that died because of you.'

As soon as she said it Gwen knew she'd said the wrong thing. Winters defensive stance slumped as the full blow hit her. She actually felt her knees buckle a bit under the weight of those words. She felt sick and tired and they were all staring at her like they expected her to vault the table and launch herself at Gwen.

She took a different option, darting behind her chair and escaping the conference room, sliding down the nearest pole and escaping out of the cog door with Jack and Ianto yelling for her to stop.

TTT

Jack turned back to Gwen who look a little shocked at the response she'd gained. He stalked over to her and towered over her pointing angrily at her face. 'Never, ever,' he whispered dangerously, 'say anything like that again. You have no idea of what any of these people have been through.' He backed off leaving Gwen behind.

Gwen looked to Ianto who shook his head and exited the room quickly. Owen just threw the files on the desk and for the first time in at least a month said something she'd wished she'd never hear again. 'Nice one Newbie.'

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