[Hello everyone, don't worry I won't natter on. I'll let you get onto the story.]

Fear and panic in the air
I want to be free
From desolation and despair
And I feel Like everything I saw
Is being swept away
When I refuse to let you go

Muse - Map of the Problematique

Day 2

She couldn't breathe. The air was hot, and thick with smoke. Her eyes stung and her arms and legs felt almost numb. She stumbled to her feet and looked around. No one. Nothing. Pulling one leg after the other and using her hands to drag herself along Winter escaped the crater that had once been the Torchwood Hub. She let out a strangled sob and forced a hand over her mouth. Gwen was gone, Ianto was nowhere in sight and Jack and Pip. Oh Pip. Her best friend, at least he died reasonably happy. He couldn't have known about the bomb. He wouldn't have felt it.

Her hand touched metal and she looked down to the floor. The remains of part of the fountain. With a strong sniff she moved it out the way and stopped. Underneath it, her sword. She sobbed and smiled, grabbing the item but ducked to the floor when she heard shots.

Right, first things first, time to get out of here. Sword in hand she ran. She didn't see Ianto running parallel to her. He didn't see her either. They both disappeared into the city, completely unaware that they had been so close.

The sound of feet following her drove her to take the first route up she could find. More gunfire ricocheted off the building as she took a new fire escape onto the roof. So, someone really was trying to kill them. Not just Jack, they wanted the whole of Torchwood. Winter grimaced as her legs began to burn but she kept running. She had no choice. One wrong move and she'd be dead. The street came to a close and she slid down the drain pipe, speeding past the shopping centre, heading for the main city. No one knew the back ways as well as she did and she was planning to use that to her advantage.

The Arcades were shut but the metal grating used to block them off was perfect for her to climb and she made it onto the next roof. The wind whistling in her ears as she took a flying leap and landed on the gravel of another. She paused to look behind her. no one was following any more but she had no way of telling how long it would take for them to regroup and continue the pursuit. She needed to disappear but that meant finding somewhere they wouldn't think to look. Somewhere they didn't have on record. Her grin overtook her face as a thought hit her like lightning.

She climbed down from the roof and headed further into town taking a few lesser known alleys and cutting through a garden or two she found herself panting for breath in an alleyway standing by a door. Said door opened and a seventeen year old girl with light brown hair and a round face poked her head through. She smiled and turned her head. 'Hey everyone! We have a visitor.'

The girl dragged Winter inside and a group of kids appeared in night clothes. Their faces lit up and they rushed forward to greet her.'

'Nemo!'

Winter smiled and turned to the brunette that had opened the door. 'Lucy, I need help.'

Lucy looked her up and down and frowned before looking to the rest of the group. 'Aright everyone, back to your bedrooms. If we need you we'll call.'

The assortment of children groaned but eventually dragged themselves off to bed and Lucy turned back to her friend. 'What do you need?'

Winter smiled. 'Well, to start with. Shower and a change of clothes?'

Lucy nodded and showed her upstairs to one of the bathrooms. Winter thanked her and stripped off the gritty t-shirt and trousers. She let the water wash away the grime from the explosion but stopped when she saw red swirl away down the plug hole. Stepping out, she pulled the trousers into the light and gasped as she pulled a tiny slice of skin away from the back of her trouser calf. That wasn't hers which meant. She dropped the trousers and stumbled back into the shower, scrubbing herself all over. That was Jack's skin, burnt onto the back of her trousers. She felt sick and her hand fluttered up to her mouth to stop herself from vomiting.

What was going on? First the children, now this. And where was Gwen? Ianto, he'd disappeared. We're they looking for her? Were they dead? Had they been caught? She took in a few deep calming breaths and took some time to wash her hair. Whatever was happening she needed to work out how to get in touch with what was left of the team because she was useless on her own.

Stepping out of the shower she wrapped herself in a towel and opened the door of the bathroom. On the floor at her feet was a pair of black jeans and a comfy t-shirt even a new pair of underwear. She smiled and pulled the items on, strapping the sword to her side and running a hand through her hair. The mirror was misty so she wiped her hand over it and before it could mist up again she caught a glimpse of her face. She looked older. Sadder. Tired.

Tearing her face away from the mirror she left the bathroom and headed down the stairs. Lucy appeared at the bottom and smiled at her. 'This way.' She lead Winter into the living room and handed a cup of tea from the table. 'Now what's up?'

Winter explained the situation and Lucy listened attentively.

'Give me a second,' she disappeared leaving Winter to sit in the living room alone. The tea was lovely, just what she needed, but there was a sinking feeling in her stomach. Life wasn't going to get easier any time soon. She looked up as Lucy lead several of the older teenagers through the doors. 'This is James, Neil, Rosemary, Alison and Lukas.' She introduced settling down on the sofa. And we'll help you as much as we can. 'Now explain. One more time.'

Winter took in a deep breath. 'I work for Torchwood.' She looked around and relaxed when she realized they recognized the name. 'There are four of us. My boss Captain Jack Harkness, his boyfriend and my friend, Ianto Jones and a woman, Gwen Cooper. It all started with the children.'

James broke in. 'They're saying on the news. They stopped right across the world.'

She nodded. 'I know, we worked out that they were all speaking English and with a bit more information made the inference that the message is targeted at Britain. But we didn't get far into the investigation because someone planted a bomb,' she paused wondering whether keeping Jack's secret was a priority right now. 'A bomb inside our base. The whole thing exploded about three hours ago. Maybe a bit less.'

They nodded. 'We felt it.' Neil told her.

'Right well. I escaped but I have no idea if the others did and now someone's after me to finish the job.'

'What do you need us for?' Rosie asked twirling a piece of blonde hair.

'I can't be seen yet. You lot are smart. You've been on the street longer than any of the other people in this place and you know how to get information. I can give you anything you need. Addresses of family, friends you name it. I just need you to do the leg work because if I go out there I'll get shot,' she said bluntly.

They nodded and Lucy turned to her. 'Right, we'll need the first address they'd go to any ideas?'

'Err, Gwen has a husband. Rhys, Rhys I can give you his address.' She jotted the address down on some paper, 'And Ianto has a sister, Rhiannon, on an estate.' She put that address underneath the last.

'What about the Captain?' she shook her head.

'I'm certain beyond all doubt he's been captured but I've no idea who by or where they've taken him.' Lucy nodded.

'Right, James and Alison take Gwen Cooper. Neil and Rosemary take Ianto Jones. Lukas, you and I are looking for Captain Harkness.'

'Find out if they're alright,' Winter told the two teams looking for Gwen and Ianto. 'If you can, talk to them, say I sent you, but be careful. Don't mention Andrew house or you'll put everyone here in danger. As for Jack, I need to know where he's being held. What the security is like and the chances of my getting past them.' Everyone nodded and set off but at the door Lucy turned to Winter.

'Oh I forgot. There's someone waiting for you in the kitchen.'

Winter closed the door and looked at the kitchen. Who would it be? One of the kids? A spy? She kept a hand on the hilt of her sword and peeked around the side.

'Pip!'

The monkey dropped the orange it had been chewing through and threw itself across the room. She caught him and pulled him up to her face taking in the smell of soap and fruit. She laughed and stroked his furry back. 'They gave you a bath.'

The monkey squeaked indignantly and she smiled. Pulling herself up onto a chair around the island in the centre of the kitchen and flicking on the TV.

TTT

She was still wide away when morning broke. The eight o'clock news floated across the kitchen as she finished off the bucket of ice cream.

'Latest headlines. Further reports are coming in about the explosion in Cardiff last night. No organization has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion, which went off in the Bay area of the city. So far casualties are said to be low.'

She snorted and chucked the spoon across the kitchen and into the sink.

'with only three people reported missing. Although seventeen people from… '

She heard the radio switch off and turned to see one of the youngest of the children from the house. She was Japanese in decent and Winter had seen her file when she first arrived. Her big sister was her guardian at eighteen but needed a place to stay so here she stood, in the kitchen of Andrew House clutching a white teddy bear to her chest as she stared wide eyed at Winter.

'Is he your monkey?' the child asked.

Winter glanced up at him and smiled. 'Yeah, sort of.'

The child frowned. 'He can't be 'sort of' your monkey.'

Winter smiled. 'He's my friend.'

The girl smiled and walked over to Winter holding her hands up to her. Winter lifted the little girl onto her lap and sighed.

'I helped give him a bath.' The girl informed her. 'My names Takara, it means treasure.'

Winter smiled. 'I'm Nemo and this is Peregrine.'

The little girl looked at her quizzically. 'What do they mean?'

'Well, Peregrine means Pilgrim and Nemo,' she sighed, 'means no one.'

Takara giggled and reached out to stroke Pip.

'Why would you want to be no one?'

'Because right now it would come in very helpful,' Winter replied.

A voice muttering from the door pulled Winter out of the conversation and she turned around to see Lucy standing with a phone to her ear. 'Right, I'll tell her thanks.' She hung up and pulled Takara out of Winter's arms. 'Run along I need to talk with this one.'

Winter sat up her face solemn. 'Did you find anything?'

'We didn't manage to get any messages but both Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones are alive.'

Winter grinned and let out a rush of air, she didn't realize she'd been holding.

'Gwen and her husband are currently stow-aways in a red lorry on their way to London and Ianto has borrowed his sister's car and is heading in the same direction.'

'London? Why?'

'Haven't a clue but that's all we can get for you on them.'

'What about…'

'Captain Jack Harkness was taken from the scene of the crime in a body bag.'

Winter nodded. 'Where to?'

Lucy bit her lip and put a hand to Winter's arm. 'He's dead Nemo. There's nothing you can do.'

She shook her head. 'Yes I know but I need to get to him. Listen, I know it sounds… odd but I'll explain later I promise. Right now I need to be wherever he is.'

Lucy nodded carefully and sighed. 'In that case I'll see what I can do about getting us up to London.'

'Us?' Lucy smiled.

'After you left, I moved back to London with Gary, lived near south bank for a while. Only got back few months ago. Just after Ben went missing.'

Winter gulped at the name she had all but forgotten.

'They weren't too good by themselves so here I am but that doesn't really matter now. What matters is that I know the London streets almost as well as Cardiff and I have contacts. You need me.'

Winter watched the steely glint in Lucy's eyes and nodded. It was true. She hadn't been in London since she was nine, she needed someone with local knowledge. She nodded and Lucy smiled.

TTT

'Tell me you're joking.'

'Why.'

'Because I may have to kill you if you don't.' Winter stared at the hearse wide eyed while Lucy grinned ear to ear.

'You wanted us to go out and get jobs and that's exactly what Gary did. Only he's not so good with English and Maths so he took a driving test and became a driver for this place. Now get in, you're in safe hands.' Lucy gave her a reassuring push towards the coffin and Winter got in.

'You do know I'm not good in tight spaces right? And what if they open it up?'

'Relax. You look just like a corpse' Lucy told her as she closed the Lid. 'Dead similar actually.'

Laughing at her own joke she helped Gary load the coffin and slipped into the front passenger seat of the hearse. It was a three hour journey to London and she had a monkey to keep amused.

TTT

'Are you sure this is the place?'

Lucy gave Winter a withering look but nodded. The pair were high in the trees above the large red buildings below.

'It's a military compound. Top secret but unfortunately for them it also used to be my mate, Leo's school so he knew the exact placement and he drew out the floor plan. They've most likely redecorated but the building is of some historical significance. War base or something. Anyway there are certain parts of it they shouldn't have touched.'

'Shouldn't have?' Winter asked incredulously.

'Sorry but that's the best we could get.'

Winter smiled. They were only street kids and look how far they'd already got her. It was enough. It would have to be. She nodded and looked over at Pip. 'This is your time to shine Peregrine. I need you to find me a way in. Preferably without getting seen and most certainly without getting shot at.'

The monkey scampered down the tree and headed into the base camp.

'Now we wait.' Winter told Lucy.

'Well if we've got time to spare then you can start talking.' Lucy said. 'Why do you need to find Jack Harkness?'

'You promise you won't walk away.'

'No, but I promise I'll hear you out.'

Winter nodded and continued. 'My team, well, Jack's team. We fight aliens.'

Lucy laughed. 'Get out of here.'

'We do. Honest. Only two of our members died recently, a month or so before the planet moved.'

'I tried calling you when that happened.'

'Sorry, I was busy chasing Daleks.'

Lucy smiled.

'Anyway. The point is that if you don't believe I hunt aliens for a living then you won't believe what I tell you about my boss.'

'Try me.'

Winter stared at her, could she really take it? Or would she just bail? On the other hand if she refused to give the information over then Lucy would leave anyway so there was only one course of action to be taken.

'He can't die. He was affected by something, ages ago, Now he doesn't stay dead. You could shoot him, run him over, blow him up and he just keeps coming back to life.'

Lucy stared back, gazing deep into Winter's eyes and finding nothing but earnest truth. 'Alright. Say I believe you. So, you want to break your boss out of a military compound armed with nothing more than a sword and a monkey.'

Winter nodded. 'And you,' she replied. 'If you're in?'

Lucy shook her head grinning and looked up at the sky. 'I love my life.'

TTT

'Twenty minutes Pip, you took your time.' The monkey squeaked in indignation as they followed him around the trees. He led them through a break in the hedging closing the campus off to the woods and over some wiring at the back. Then around the side of the buildings to a ventilation shaft. Winter groaned but shook her head when Lucy turned to ask why. They climbed in after Pip and followed him through the twisting tunnels. Suddenly an alarm set off.

'Pip! You said it was safe!' Lucy cried.

'I don't think it was us.' Winter yelled back and pushed the covering of the ventilation off the wall, diving down to the floor and rolled across, coming to a stand next to two people she hadn't seen in ages. 'Alright guys, how's the rescue going?'

Gwen and Rhys stared at her in shock as Lucy leapt out of the shaft and came to a stand next to her and Pip landed on her shoulder. Shots began flying from behind the open door.

'Ah! Not well then?'

Gwen laughed and smiled at her while Rhys was still staring at her like she was mad. He turned back to Gwen who was now backed tight up against a wall of concrete where the room should have been. 'We'll have to surrender.'

A woman appeared at the other end of the corridor and Gwen turned the gun on her but the mechanism clicked and no bullets flew out.

'I'd lay down your weapons, if I were you. You're as trapped and helpless as the man in the concrete cell,' the woman told them.

Gwen and Winter stepped forward, shielding the pair behind them and raised their weapons.

'You'll cover me right?' Winter asked Gwen.

Gwen nodded.

'Put the guns down!' The four men around her with large menacing looking guns held their aim and Gwen looked at Winter. There was no point. No way they could stand up to all of them.

Gwen stuck her hands in the air. 'OK.'

Winter looked at her sword lovingly and lowered it towards the ground. Suddenly the concrete wall began to shake and everyone turned to look. Winter shoved the sword into the scabbard and watched as the whole section of wall fell apart in front of her.

'Run!' Gwen yelled.

Winter pulled Lucy out into the open, Pip holding tightly to her hair, and followed Rhys and Gwen as they sprinted after the fork lift truck that had stolen the cell. Ianto sat in the driver's seat and grinned at her.

'Come on, get on.'

She didn't need telling twice. She leaped onto the truck behind the driver and hugged him around the neck, securing Lucy beside her, who was laughing her head off.

'Ah, Ianto. You took your time,' Gwen joked as she hopped onto the side with Rhys. He held onto her tightly as she fired at the remaining soldiers but there was a large problem standing in the way of escape. 'Rhys,' Gwen yelled. 'Get out and move that truck!'

He looked at her for a second then jumped from the side and headed for the truck.

'Hold on tight.' Ianto warned.

Winter tightened her grip on him as the forklift rattled across the cattle grid on the floor. Rhys got out of the truck and headed back towards them as Gwen aimed her gun and fired a single shot. The truck went up in flames and Rhys jumped back onto their vehicle as they headed for a nearby quarry.

'Where the hell are you taking us, Ianto?' Rhys yelled.

Ianto smiled and Gwen shouted over the racket. 'What are we doing?'

'You'll see in a moment. Get the car started! We've only got a few minutes. Come on!'

Gwen and Rhys hopped off the side and Winter grabbed Pip and Lucy by the scruffs of their respective necks and leaped from the back heading over to the car. They all piled in and watched as Ianto manipulated the fork lift truck to drop the concrete block down the cliff face. He turned from the machine and rushed over to the car, diving in so they could speed down into the pit.

Winter held her breath as they pulled up in front of the broken bits of concrete and flew out of the car. Jack stood up in all his glory…oh god…literally. Winter shoved a hand over Lucy's eyes. The teenager laughed and got back into the car, a steady blush rising in her cheeks

'Told you I'd be back,' Jack stated.

'With a little help from us,' Ianto replied.

Jack frowned as he looked at his dishevelled team. 'What the hell is going on?'

'Oh, people out to kill us and children transferring messages for alien life forms, you know the usual.' Winter commented.

Gwen took Rhys' coat and steadily walked towards Jack. 'To be honest we don't know yet, but the latest from the kids is that it's happening tomorrow.'

Jack grinned. 'I'm just in time, then.' He walked towards Gwen who smirked at him.

'Get in the car. Come on, we've got work to do.' She handed him the coat turning away quickly and heading back to the car.

Winter grinned as he threw it over one shoulder and sauntered forwards to meet her. She slammed the car door shut and approached him.

'I know you're not bothered about it Jack but I've got a seventeen year old in the car so if you don't mind...'

He raised an eyebrow and sighed, bringing the coat down to cover himself.

'Thank you,' she replied, leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek and he slipped an arm around her and hugged her. 'You scared me,' she whispered.

'Oi, you two. Maybe when we've not running for our lives,' Gwen yelled from the car.

Winter realised she had her hand on Jacks bare shoulder and remembered how undressed he was. She jumped back and slid into the car beside Lucy, Gwen and Rhys who were all cramped in the back seat.

Lucy leaned over and whispered in her ear. 'Okay now I believe you.'

Winter turned around and smirked, 'What, because we just chucked him off a cliff and he climbed out?'

Lucy shook her head. 'If the man looks like that, I'll believe he can do anything.'

Winter slapped Lucy's arm playfully.

'Right. Where are we going?' Rhys asked.

Lucy leaned forward. 'Hi! I'm Lucy and I'll be your tour guide today. On your right you'll find an old quarry disused in 1983, while on your left you'll find a military base armed to the teeth and with specialized concrete facilities.'

'Lucy,' Winter warned.

'Oh, alright then Mum. Take her through the back roads near Battersea, I'll guide you from there.'

Ianto nodded but Gwen leant forwards. 'I'm sorry, who are you?'

Winter sighed. 'Everyone this is Lucy. I knew her a long time ago. She helped me get into London.'

'Um, excuse me I did a lot more than that,' Lucy argued. 'I got the information on Gwen and Rhys and Ianto and his sister. I also found Jack. Gave you a place to hide and clean clothes and I followed you all the way to bloody London to infiltrate a top secret military base and break your boss out of a cell.' She thought for a moment before adding. 'And I fed your monkey.'

Winter looked at her blankly then the two girls just burst out laughing. 'Oh god this had been the worst few days,' Winter gasped.

'Your face when you had to get into that coffin.' Lucy giggle, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

'My face! What about yours when the alarm went off in the ventilation shaft.' Winter looked up to find Jack, Rhys and Gwen staring at her in confusion. 'What?'

'Coffin?' Jack asked.

Lucy sighed and looked over at Winter. 'You've got about thirty minutes or so, why don't you tell them about it?'

'Why don't you?' Winter shot back.

'Because I'm going to sit back and laugh along, that's why.'

I can't remember who I based Lucy on if I'm honest. But I do know I used family names for almost all the street kids which is amusing now. Please Review!

'Zaziness': Lately I've been in such a mood for Dr Who and Torchwood that I'm Happy to update everyday. It may slow down at some point but I really couldn't say. I think that a lot of this episode could be cut out without ruining the story line because it was all about the start of each other's personal dramas in the series, so making Winter stay at the hub was a good way of skipping through time so we got the important information. Note how I managed to get all of her things out of the hub before it blew up. I couldn't bare the thought of her losing any of her memories. I'm glad you want to read 'Wonderland' because it's so much fun! I'm really enjoying reading it and as I said I pretty much consider it as cannon between Gwen's wedding and adrift so far, I'll probably be writing a little more on it at some point. When the mood takes me. Moffat said in an interview that he thought Rose was too clingy and he congratulated the doctor for finding a way to get rid of her (pairing her off with his double) Personally I thought that was a bit much and considering I didn't like River Song (or Madame du pompadour to and extent) I think he needs to realise that it doesn't matter what he thinks, the fans loved her SO THERE!

'sonotalady': Obviously this story is written almost completely from her point of view, that just means that certain things won't make sense because she doesn't see them. If you can't watch the whole thing it may help to read a summery of the episodes of something, but if you're happy not to bother than that's absolutely fine.

'sashaxh': hmm I'm not sure if I like the thought of my readers being armed with weevils *runs and hides*

'The Small But Powerful One': No one wants any of these characters to die. I for one was in floods of tears when RTD killed Ianto off. But I understand why *kicks wall moodily*

'Rachy Babes': Well, I know who not to kill on your watch! Lol, no Winter's not too happy with a replacement for Owen, luckily for her she doesn't need to worry about that any more. I'm hoping that by putting chapters of this up everyday, I force you to come onto fanfic and therefore convince you to put chapters of 'Wonderland' up. It may be sneaky, but it's working like a charm so far