[Cut to the chase, I've been busy and I'm sorry some of you had to resort to messaging me just to get this. (although I did enjoy getting those messages) But to make it up to you this chapter is extra long and includes a sneaky extra character who forced themselves in randomly, although it's a really sweet scene and gives a bit of a rest to the main plot… anyway enough rambling.]

Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you

Nickelback - Savin' me

Dead Man Walking: part 1

Eyes opened and surveyed the scene. Comfort said: sofa. Vision said: hub. Hearing said: trouble. It was silent.

Legs swung down to the floor and arms stretched up to massage underused muscles. Hands caressed the head that was pounding from hitting the ground and ears perked up at the sound of whispering from around the corner. Someone was in the med bay. Feet approached the door and collective eyes stared back. One word brought the whole situation home like no other.

'Owen'

TTT

Winter sat at Owen's side as she had with Jack. She held his hand and stroked his hair lightly. She disagreed with those idiots who wrote stories about death. He didn't look peaceful and he didn't look like he was sleeping. He looked…. God! He looked dead. He was dead, he was gone, never coming back. Tears trickled down her face as she gazed at his cold skin.

'Owen Harper! If your hand 'accidentally' touches my breasts one more time I'll garrotte you with your stethoscope!'

He simply didn't look like Owen any more. The Owen she remembered was a laugh,

'I torture people in happy relationships.'

They were always arguing, not meaningfully just a bit of fun. They sparred off each other.

'You're going to have awful teeth.'

'I do brush them Owen and don't you go getting all self-righteous on me, think of your poor liver.'

He complained about everything under the sun, if the real Owen was here he'd be complaining the slab was too cold.

'Look I've shared cars with Winter too long, I know what happens. There'll be an emergency, we're all raring to go, I jump in, what do I find? Seats in the wrong position, the rear view mirror's out of line and the steering wheels in my crotch. Time it takes to sort it all out, aliens will have taken Newport.'

He was always taking the mick, at first it had really pissed her off, but after a while she saw through it, it was affection, his way of showing he cared.

'I was drowned.' She answered and then when Jack nudged her she mumbled, 'And weevil sprayed.'

As expected Owen burst out laughing.

'Bloody marvellous you are.'

But when the time came he was always there to stand up for her, even though he'd gone crazy over his lost girlfriend, he still loved her. She'd known that really. Had she ever told him?

'Ethel baby!' her mother walked forward a few steps but the three men around Winter glared in distaste at her, Jack and Owen crossed their arms dangerously.

Somewhere deep down she got the feeling that if it had been her lying there, he would be just as bad as she was now.

'And if you ever get the urge to jump in front of a bullet again…don't.'

But something was bothering her more than seeing him here. More than the cold skin, the white sheen, the round hole in his chest, the… 'Oh!'

'That is a serious misjudgement of my character.'

She fell back from the body, knocking a tray of implements on the floor causing a resounding racket. Tosh, Gwen, Ianto and Martha appeared at the top of the steps, quickly joined by Jack. They watched warily as she stared at the body like it had moved.

'Oh my God!' She whispered.

Jack slowly rounded the stairs, approaching her like a startled pony.

'Oh…God!' Her voice cracked a little.

Silence took over and then without warning she looked up at Jack. 'Tell me I didn't!'

He looked at her, confused. She raced forward to Owen's side and took his face in her hands. 'I didn't! Please, Please tell me I didn't!' She looked up at the audience and gritted her teeth to lessen the scream that ripped through her. Jack put a hand on her shoulder and she spun around.

'He….he called me a bitch,' she whispered.

Jack realised what she was saying and looked down at the lifeless figure of his friend.

'That was the last thing he said to me… and I … I said he was a git.' With a broken sob she rounded on Owen. 'I didn't mean it! I didn't mean it! I didn't!'

Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and tried to pull her away from him.

'No, no! He can't leave! He has to forgive me! He can't!'

Jack grabbed her face in his hands and forced her to look at him.

'He's not coming back,' he told her, tearfully.

She grasped his shirt, shaking her head hysterically. Jack swung her up into his arms and carried her, squirming, from the room. The outburst had upset them all again. Tosh, who had only just returned from the ladies, ran off in the same direction. Ianto appeared to be cleaning the same cup he'd been scrubbing for the past half an hour, Gwen was staring blankly into space and Martha sat on the sofa her head in her hands.

There had to be a way, Jack thought as he held Winter tightly and rubbed her back, a way they could just say goodbye, a way for closure.

Winter slowly fell asleep and he didn't blame her, she'd been up for hours, they all had.

TTT

The wall had a crack in it. Tiny, about three centimetres long. Maybe that was a sign she should redecorate. Or was that normal? A crack. It could be normal. There could be cracks in lot's of peoples walls, or they might paint over them. Maybe there was a special thing to cover it with. Or she could move the bed and cover the crack. Or move the bed and put shelves up there. But if there was a crack would the shelves fall down? That would make quite a bit of mess. The shelves falling down. She didn't want to move rooms. Maybe painting it was the answer after all. Or maybe it wasn't a crack. Maybe it was a pencil line from the pencil she had thrown across the room yesterday. In that case she could just rub it off with a rubber. But that might damage the paint. Cloth and water? Same problem. Owen painted that wall… 'Stop it!'

She had been attempting not to think about Owen but he was all she could think about. Whatever she looked at, or listened to, or read or thought about, her mind instantly flipped back to Owen, there was no way out of it. She had to go back up there. She needed to be with the team.

They were all sitting around when she got there. She walked straight over to Ianto and buried her face in his chest, taking in the scent of coffee and cologne. Eventually she turned around to face the rest of the team, Ianto's arms still around her, and waited. She hadn't a clue what they were waiting for, she didn't really care but if they were waiting, she would wait too.

They all started when the door opened and Jack flew into the room. She followed the crowd like an obedient labrador and stood back, not really hearing the conversation. But a ray of light seemed to surround the object in Jack's hand. The glove! She was by Owen's side before anyone else, itching to get it off her chest. To say good bye, to tell him she loved him and he was the best big brother she could ever have got after Andy. She had the speech written out in her mind. Gwen was shouting at Jack. Jack was putting his foot down. Winter was waiting diligently by Owen…how long would it take.

Suddenly Owen was screaming, Martha had cried out in shock. Jack was talking to Owen. Winter pushed Jack back from Owen and wiped the trickle of blood away from Owens face.

'I spoke to your mother,' she blurted out. Everyone seemed to stop and Owen looked up at her.

'What?'

This was nothing like she'd been planning to say but it came out anyway. 'I called in on her once, before Gwen joined. I went to see her.'

'Why?' he asked his face the picture of confusion.

She could feel the tears welling in her eyes and forced herself to keep his gaze. 'To tell her how amazing you were and how much we all loved you and that she was a moron for not treating you like you deserved.'

Owen nodded carefully. 'Thanks,' he murmured. 'I guess, I... well I…'

She cut him off, 'I know Owen.' Then she backed off and sat on the stairs, to let everyone else talk to him. All that time in her room wishing to hear him tell her he loved her like she loved him, like the siblings they were. But now it came to it, she found she didn't need to hear it. It didn't matter to her any more, she knew he did. She closed her mind and shut everything out. She didn't want to hear everyone's personal messages to Owen. They were exactly that. Personal.

A warmth filled her mind and she reached for it. Grasped it. Embraced it. Let it flood every nook and cranny of her body. Her eyes snapped open, and she was standing in the TARDIS. The Doctor was hidden underneath the grating but he popped his head out of the top and looked around.

'I know you're there,' he said.

She looked at him in shock. Was he talking about her?

'The heart of the TARDIS just pulsated. I'm guessing that means you.' He glanced around again. 'Nemo?'

She sighed. 'Can you hear me?'

He jumped in shock and dropped the screwdriver, cursing to himself and disappearing for a moment before returning to the surface and heaving himself onto the grating.

'Yes, hang on.' With a flick of a switch and a buzz from the screw driver he glanced up at his side. 'And now I can see you.'

'Really?'

'Yes, well, mostly. Well, you're a bit see-through.'

She smiled. He smiled back but it quickly became a frown. 'You shouldn't be here, it's not good for you.'

She glanced away from him.

'I just, needed some time…'

He watched her carefully as she padded around the console, running a hand an inch above it as if tracing the dials. She sighed and turned to the door, with no more than a thought from her the doors swung open and she sat down at the edge her back and feet pressed up against the open doors and her head turned to survey the swirling mist of stars that danced around the TARDIS. 'Where are we?' she asked.

He sauntered over and leant out, sniffed, then sat next to her. 'Some sort of condensed hyper-galaxy, in the far reaches of the…'

'You haven't got a clue have you?' She butted in.

He smiled and shook his head. 'Not the faintest idea. The TARDIS brought us here and I was trying to figure out why when you turned up. Now I think about it, that was probably the reason.' He smiled and she looked out at the magical view.

'It's beautiful.'

He nodded in agreement.

'Owen's dead,' she stated.

His face fell and he made as if to reach out for her. 'Your friend…I'm sorry.'

She swallowed back the tears and nodded.

'But you can't escape it by coming here. You're needed there. Jack needs you, Your Mr Jones needs you.'

'He's not my Mr Jones.' She reminded him, blushing all the same.

'He still needs you.'

She looked up into the knowledgeable brown eyes and nodded.

He grinned. 'See you soon.' Then wiggled his fingers in a wave.

She smiled and with a deep breath let go of the warming light.

There was a light in her eyes. A bright light and it was moving. Someone was checking her pupil responses. She snatched the offending light away and yelped.

Owen grabbed her arms and sat her back down.

'Yes, I'm alive still, hello, now sit still you just spaced out.'

She shook him off her. 'I'm fine. Jack knows about it.'

Owen frowned. 'Does he know you stopped breathing?'

She ignored the question. 'you…you're.'

'We used the glove, something's gone wrong.' He explained.

Winter shook her head and touched Owen shoulder. 'Not wrong. Getting you back could never be wrong.' She pulled him closer and hugged him tightly. 'No heart beat.'

'Nope. No, blood flow needed. I'm dead, just walking around.'

Winter pulled back and snorted. 'At this moment in time if keeping you means having a zombie hanging around then I'm all for it. Just as long as you don't start decomposing. If that happens you can sod off to the nearest grave yard and terrify children.'

He laughed but her eyes widened in shock.

'Oh! Owen, I didn't mean that, please don't go away.'

He rolled his eyes and put a hand over her mouth.

'If you're going to apologise every time you say something to me I'll duct tape your mouth.'

TTT

She needed sleep, Jack told her. So did he, she replied. He won.

She had settled down for a rest but Pip, what about Pip. She hadn't seen him in ages. Slipping out of the bed again she set of in search of her companion. He hadn't really slept either. So he must be around somewhere. Finally she found herself in the armoury, Pip was curled up on the table. She smiled and picked him up, ready to carry him off to the bedroom again. He stirred in her arms, his little nose wrinkled as he sniffed the air. Then, as is shocked by ten thousand volts he leapt from her arms and scampered off as fast as he could. She frowned and chased after him, speeding around the tunnels following the shadow like form.

They came upon the conference room and he jumped though the door onto Jack's back. Jack started and Winter tumbled through the door out of breath. The monkey took one look at Owen and let out a squeal that sounded more like a scream. He hurled himself into the far corner and raced around the wall trying to find an escape. The whole room turned to look at Winter who shrugged.

'I don't know what got into him. I picked him up and he went berserk.' Toshiko walked over to the monkey and held out her hand timidly. The creature paused and sniffed her hand carefully before leaping onto her shoulder.

'It's Owen.' Tosh's voice was quiet. 'I'm the only one out of all of you that hasn't physically touched him since he's been dead. He's frightened of Owen.'

'Great, thanks for the vote of confidence Tosh,' Owen grumbled.

Winter sighed and looked at the monkey. 'I'm going to take a shower. Come on Pip. You need some sleep.' She turned on her heel and walked away. Glancing back she noted that the monkey was diligently following her at a slight distance and smiled. Today had been so… weird.

TTT

Well, this was a turn up. Winter thought as she stood outside the police station. She looked up at Pip who, after two showers and a hell of a lot of shampoo, had finally agreed to sit on her shoulder. He seemed to cock his head slightly, as if saying, what are you waiting for. Sighing she straightened her sword and pulled out her TORCHWOOD pass before strutting into the main office.

'What can I do for you love?' The man behind the counter asked.

She put the ID on the desk and looked up at him. 'I'm here to collect two men who were found brawling inside a club around an hour ago. They are, in fact, members of TORCHWOOD.'

He raised his eyebrows but the ID was real and she looked weird enough. Besides he was glad to see the back of them. 'Cell three,' He replied.

She followed him and he opened the door to see Jack and Owen staring sadly at each other from different sides of the room and a pile of vomit in the corner. 'Can't say I like what you've done with the place.' She stated.

Jack sprung up from the side to meet her. 'Oh thank god I thought I was going to die from the smell.'

She pushed him back into the cell, hard. 'Your mission was to collect him from the club and bring him back to TORCHWOOD. Not to get arrested with him and bring me out of the hub to bail you out!' She heard the desk sergeant muffle a laugh and rounded on Owen. 'And you. If you go running about, scaring us all to death again then I'll cover you in BBQ sauce and string you up like a piñata. You got that moron.'

He nodded shyly, which was probably a testament to how angry she looked and she lead them out of the cell and into the lobby. They shuffled their feet a little as she signed their release forms and collected their personal belongings which she flung at them. Then they headed out to the SUV which she'd parked right outside the doors. Jack made to get into the front passenger seat but she pulled him back.

'No way Harkness, both of you are getting in the back. Pip gets the front seat.'

'What? Why?'

'Because he's the only male here with half a brain, now get in the bloody car.'

They buckled up and Winter smirked at the scene in the back, both Owen and Jack looking rather put out, but schooled her face into a frown when Jack leaned forward.

'I, err, lost my Wembley in the scuffle, we should pop back and pick it up.'

She glared at him.

'If you don't mind.'

Sighing she pulled away from the station, driving them back to the scene of their fray. They all hopped out of the car and Jack started looking around the roadside. 'Should be around here somewhere,' he mumbled, scanning the floor for the gun.

'Well I don't see it,' Winter complained.

'Over 'ere.' Owen pulled the gun out from underneath a bin and chucked it to Jack who looked lovingly at it before fitting it back into the holster at his waist.

'Brilliant, now let's go home.' Winter ordered.

She turned to walk back to the SUV but out of nowhere a weevil appeared in front of her. She froze as it sniffed the air. Pip grasped her hair, tightly in his little fists. She felt a hand encircle her waist and moved gently back with its pressure. Owen let go and they turned to head the other way but the exit was blocked by more Weevils.

'There's too many of them,' Jack told them. 'They're after me, I stole the glove from them.' He pushed them both towards the opposite ally way. 'Go.'

Owen gave him a look.

'GO!' he ordered.

Winter made to stand her ground but Owen grabbed her hand and pulled her forwards. They ran through the twisting alleys, with her in the lead because she knew where they were going. She heard Jack come up behind them and ran straight into a weevil. Owen yanked her backwards.

'They must be really pissed off with you!' Owen commented.

Jack grabbed his coat, pulling him away and the three sprinted off to the side.

'Take the next left!' Winter yelled.

Jack careered off to the side and they followed, heading through a door way of a car park. Owen seemed to have unlimited energy as he raced past her, tugging her jacket to help her keep up. He pulled her up the levels until they came out near the top.

Jack stopped in the middle of the empty car park and turned to face them. Winter leant on her knees trying to regain her breath and Owen kept an eye on the door. Jack glanced around then looked down at Winter.

'Stay here,' he told them, before walking back over to the doorway.

The pair stood glancing around waiting for Jack to return. Winter looked up at Peregrine and then out of the car park window. She walked over to the side and pulled Pip off her shoulder.

'Get back to the hub Pip. We'll be okay but someone needs to bring the team here if we don't get out.'

He looked at her like she was crazy but she shook her head. 'If we aren't back in half an hour you have to bring them here okay. The little creature nodded and she set him on the side.

'Run!' Jack yelled from the other side of the car park.

Winter kissed Pip's forehead and ran after Owen, racing up onto the top floor of the building. They headed straight for the end of the parking bay but it came to a dead end. The floor was too far down, the weevils were on their tail. Jack pulled out the newly found gun and aimed at the oncoming horde. 'Get behind me.' He ordered.

'Yeah right, come on.' Owen murmured.

Winter pulled out her sword and stood next to Jack.

'We go down fighting yeah,' she asked Jack.

He looked down at her and nodded. She shot him a tiny smile and took a deep breath, she'd killed a weevil with her bare hands once. She could kill at least three now. Suddenly the weevils cowered before her. She frowned and turned to ask Jack what was going on but her question was lost when she noticed Owen. Jack glanced at Winter and followed her gaze to Owen's face. His eyes were pitch black and his face neutral. He looked…possessed. In a deep, rasping voice he spoke.

Winter's stomach turned, she dropped her sword, something about the voice, and the words made her feel queasy. It didn't help that she couldn't understand it which made no sense, she could understand any language, the Doctor had told her that. The TARDIS translated it for her. So why not now.

Owen snapped back to himself and looked at the pair of them quizzically.

'What?' he asked.

The weevils backed off and he made to put a hand on Winter's shoulder. She flinched back causing him to stiffen in confusion. Jack picked up the sword and handed it to her.

'We need to get back to the hub.'