Another chapter for you, whether you've been at work or at school I hope this serves to brighten your day for some short time :) It begins just after the trip to the hospital in ep1.

Rachy Babes: I have to admit I love getting daily e-mails from reviewers so it's nice to put chapters up for everyone. And I can remember just watching the first few eps and thinking, why is no one complaining? Why is there no sarcasm. It disappeared with the loss of the rest of the team so I just had to slip more in :)

Dwatlaskrhtcm: And I love that you love it :) hope you like this one as much.

'sSydney: At least this is a bit later so you won't have to wait as long to get home and read it :)

1945: there's another little domestic later in this chapter they are quite important actually so keep an eye on them ;) I know how badly I treat Nemo but every little problem she gets over makes her so much stronger, AND ever trial Nemo and Jack go through makes them a better, more believable couple. But don't panic. Everything will work out :) I love Nemo too much to run her life.

I wish you here tonight with me to see the northern lights
I wish you were here tonight with me
I wish I could have you by my side tonight when the sky is burning
I wish I could have you by my side

Burns like a thousand stars, though you are light years away
Burns like a thousand stars or more
You're up there, you're always with me
Smiling down on me

can't you stop the lies, falling from the skies
down on me, I'm still standing
can't you roll the dice, I might be surprised
conscience clear, I'm still standing here

The Rasmas – Still Standing

'Jack honey.'

'mmmhmmm?' He looked down at her as they walked through the hospital doors.

'Please never wear a tie again.' He chuckled.

'We just saw a bomb blasted corpse with its head cut off, open its eyes and blink and you're worried about how I look in a tie.' She shrugged and smoothed down the purple silk shirt and black skirt she had picked out, throwing her black jacket over his arm.

'Oh sure I'm worried about the whole not dying thing but we have to start somewhere and the first thing I plan on doing is stopping you from walking around looking like a banker.' He looked horrified.

'A banker? Really.' She nodded and he stripped the tie from his neck and tucked it into his pocket. She raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. 'Lots of non-fashion related things that you can use a tie for.' He gave her a cheeky wink and she laughed.

'Where to next then?'

'Back to the apartment.' She sniffed in distaste but he ignored her, 'Back to the apartment, check the systems and we'll go from there.'

'Joy.' She replied sarcastically.

'I'm sure I could find some way of entertaining you.' She snorted.

'Forget it. There's no way in hell I'm sleeping with you in that place. I'll wake up in the morning with a cockroaches bunking in my hair.'

TTT

'Have you got the tickets?'

'Yes.'

'And the passports.'

'Yes.'

'systems?'

'yes.'

'And are you sure you packed the…' Jack stopped right outside the plane and put his hands on her shoulders.

'Kitten, I have everything. Stop panicking. Besides if we forget it then we just come back for it.' She nervously glanced at the aircraft. 'This isn't about the stuff is it?' She chewed on her bottom lip and shook her head.

'I've never been on a plane before.' She whispered.

'You were on the valiant and the Dalek ship, and what about the TARDIS.'

'They were different, this is….rickety.' He chuckled and put his arm around her as he led her up the steps.

'Think of it as the primitive form of those space ships.'

'Exactly, primitive. That means there were problems that had to be overcome. I like my flying vessels with time travel capabilities. You know ones that make noises like…' she breathed in and out gratingly as they sat down and Jack looked at her like she was crazy, 'What?'

'You sounded…you sounded exactly like the TARDIS.' She glanced left and right and shrugged.

'I've had a lot of time to perfect it.' He took her hand and kissed it as a man sat on her other side. Dark skinned, suited, on the phone to a work colleague. They paid him no attention until he mentioned her name.

'Alright now concentrate, the life of Gwen Cooper what do we know?' Winter looked at Jack, his face had turned severe. She rolled her eyes at their luck and took a chance to glance at the man.

'CIA.' She mouthed to Jack.

'How do you know?' he mouthed back.

'Badge on his belt.'

'What were you doing looking at is belt.' He asked. She breathed out heavily and glared back at him playfully. A flight attendant asked the agent to turn his phone off but he showed her the badge and she scurried off.

'Gwen Cooper find out everything.' Winter leaned over and grabbed the phone from his hand.

'I'm not a good flyer so I'd appreciate it if you listened to the lady.' She growled. The man looked at her and met her stony glare but he listened to her. She threw his phone back to him and gripped Jack's hand in her own as the plane took off. Somewhere over the Atlantic she fell asleep on Jacks shoulder. He looked down at her feet as they began to pad gently. Her jeans had still been soaking because they had used the fan to dry Jack's coat, so she was still wearing the silk shirt and black suit set. The purple heels had fallen off when her feet began to move and Jack watched them lovingly. He felt eyes on him and looked up at the CIA agent. He too was looking down at Winter's feet in bewilderment.

'She always do that?' Jack smiled.

'Yeah.'

'Medical?'

'No, just Nemo.' His stroked her arm gently and she sighed, snuggling further over. Nothing more was said for the whole flight and once the passengers had disembarked Winter and Jack hopped straight on a train to Cardiff.

The old Torchwood lock up's were still untouched and they loaded a stolen jeep with weapons from number 42. Jack hopped into the driver's seat and Winter buckled up her belt.

'So do you actually know where you're going then?'

'Of course I do.'

Half an hour later they were lost. Winter leant her arm against the door of her side and let the wind blow in her face.

'I told you we should have asked for directions.'

'I know the way it's just around this corner.'

'Jack we've been to this corner already, you're making it up as you go along.'

'It always worked before.' He complained.

'Can I offer a new tactic?'

'Go ahead.' She looked up and pointed into the sky.

'Follow the sinister looking chopper.' He glanced up and swore quietly at the black helicopter overhead, speeding up to match its pace. 'And try not to get us killed before I see the baby.'

TTT

Jack swerved to a stop in front of the picturesque house on the sea front. Well picturesque if you didn't count the hole blown through the window by a rocket launcher. 'Machine gun!' he yelled. She threw him the gun and covered her ears as he let out a belt of fire on the retreating helicopter. When he was done she looked up to the side and spotted the man from the plane, Gwen, Rhys and a bundle of pink blankets in Rhys' arms. 'Can't leave you alone for a minute.' Jack yelled.

The CIA agent stepped forward staring at the pair.

'It's you.' Winter smirked.

'Never annoy me again.' She replied, 'Come on. Get in.' Winter opened the car door and helped everyone pile into the car. 'Drive Jack, drive!' He swung the car around as the chopper came over for another pass. Winter looked down at the gun in her hand and threw it back to the CIA agent. 'Oi!' he looked up, 'Do something useful.' She felt around by her feet and pulled her silver bow up from the floor. Jack glanced over.

'I didn't know I brought that?'

'You didn't.' she replied, 'You forgot it, a bit like the map. I had to pack it.' She switched it on and he yelled back over the noise.

'I didn't need a map.'

'We drove in a circle for fifteen minutes Jack!'

'I had a plan.' Rhys looked over frustrated.

'Are you too going to deal with that helicopter or you going to just sit there yapping!' Winter steadied her aim and let a bolt fly taking out the back propeller.

'There's a present for you in the back!' Jack yelled. Gwen dug around and pulled a large rocket launcher out of the fabric cover. She hoisted it onto her shoulder as the CIA agent yelled.

'Who the hell are you people?'

'Torchwood.' Gwen replied dramatically, and then she let the rocket fly. Jack threw himself over Winter as the chopper flew over their heads and crashed into the sand. They hopped out of the front seats to inspect the damage and Jack glanced over at Gwen.

'Ready to go home?' She nodded and they headed back over to the car. Winter snatched the keys from Jack and headed straight for Rhys.

'Is she alright.' He looked up at her startled.

'Err, yeah, yeah, seems ok.' The little girl looked up at Winter and reached out a hand Winter reached forward but was suddenly overcome by sadness. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and gave the child a painfully false smile. 'Her name's Anwen.'

"Very beautiful." Winter translated, 'It's lovely.'

'Do you want to hold her?' Gwen asked. Jack flinched and watched worriedly as Winter fought with emotions that she couldn't even remember the cause of.

'I think we should get going.' He interrupted. 'They may have others around here, the quicker we get to Cardiff the better.' Gwen nodded and took Anwen from Rhys as they got into the back of the car. The CIA agent appeared to be resting and Winter could see a bloody bandage through his open shirt. She jumped a little as Jack's fingers brushed her own. 'You ok?' he whispered.

'I don't know what came over me.' She muttered. He shook his head and squeezed her hand.

'It was nothing. Just the stress getting to you. Come on, I'll even let you drive if you want.' She forced a smile and slid into the driver's seat, readjusting the mirrors. As she reached up to move the interior mirror down slightly Gwen gasped.

'What is that?' Winter and Jack turned to look around at her and at the same time said.

'What?' Gwen looked between them and pointed at Winter's hand.

'That.' Her ring glittered in the sun and Winter blushed.

'Erm, well.'

'Well it's an engagement ring obviously.' Rhys told her.

'Yes, thank you, I can see that Rhys but what's it doing on her hand.'

'Gwen you do remember getting married, don't you?'

'Oh Rhys don't be such a pain.' Gwen turned back to Winter, 'I didn't know you were getting married.' She grinned, 'Who's the lucky man?' and then backtracked, 'Or woman.' Winter flushed bright red and avoided everyone's eyes.

'I am.' Jack announced. Gwen's jaw hit the floor.

'You?' He grinned and Winter nodded, still a bright shade of pink. Rhys looked elated.

'Oh congratulations.' He nudged his wife, 'Right Gwen.' Gwen was still speechless.

'You…you and…what about…I mean…right…wow.' There was a moment of awkward silence broken only by Winter starting the engine and beginning the drive back to Cardiff. 'But…'

'Oh Gwen would you give it a rest?' Rhys interrupted, she ignored him.

'I thought you two were just friends.' Winter shrugged and turned onto the main road.

'And we're still best friends. We're just a bit more too.'

'How long has it been for you then?'

'At least a year,' Jack answered. 'Hard to tell, we've done a lot of time travel, maybe two.'

'But you didn't drop by once?'

'Safer that way.' Jack replied. Winter slapped his knee and he looked over to her. 'What was that for?'

'Lying your arse off.' She told him. 'We didn't come back because we never really got time too.' She glanced back at Gwen. 'Every time we told ourselves we'd visit the world ended, or the Doctor died or Jack disappeared.' she glared at him and his hands shot into the air.

'How many times do I have to apologise?'

'I could have easily held on for a little bit longer Jack.' Winter shot back, 'but no, Mr Macho Harkness has to be the hero and let himself fall out of the airlock twenty minutes after getting engaged.'

'It was me or Fawks.' He reminded her.

'And you both just assumed I was going to pick the other one. How do you think I felt having to try and show Fawks I still loved her at the same time as mourning you.'

'I'm sure she took your mind off it.' The occupants of the car yelped as Winter swerved and pulled up on the side.

'Don't you dare Jack bloody Harkness.' She growled. 'You have no idea. No bloody idea what it was like watching you fall out of that airlock and considering your history with Fawks you have no right to judge me on what I did.'

'I don't know what you're talking about.' Winter shook her head in disbelief and got out of the car.

'So…going well is it.' Rhys joked. Gwen elbowed him sharply and watched as Jack got out to catch up with Winter.

'Nemo!' he called, she kept walking away from him but he soon caught up. 'Nemo! Look I'm sorry.'

'Yeah?'

'Yeah.'

'And how many more times are you going to insult me and then hope it's all made better by 'I'm sorry.'

'I never wanted to insult you.'

'No you just wanted to point out how wonderful a girlfriend I was seeing as the night after you disappeared I slept with my girlfriend and her fiancé. Yeah well I know I did that, but even they'll tell you I wasn't in my right mind. Rachel pretty much refused to do it at first.'

'I know. You know I don't think that about you.'

'Then why do you keep bringing her up Jack?' tears of grief filled Winter's eyes and she turned away from the car. 'Because she dead. She's dead Jack. She stood by me through thick and thin, she saved my life before she even knew me. Have you any idea how many times I closed my eyes and saw her hanging on that board with all her insides over the floor? But she did that for me. And now she's gone, and I'm never going to see her again. And she's never going to fight you for me again, and she won't be part of my life…' Winter collapsed back onto the grassy bank and scratched at the skin over her heart, 'and she won't be at my wedding.' Jack glanced back at the car where Gwen and Rhys were pretending not to watch but the CIA agent wasn't even bothering to hide it. He sighed and sat down at her side pulling onto his lap and wrapping his arms around her. 'Why does everyone I love die? What did I do wrong Jack? Please tell me because I need to make it better. I can't take this anymore.' He brought her chin around to face him and looked deep into her eyes.

'I don't ever, ever want to hear you say that again. This isn't you.' She looked down at his chest and sniffed. 'Andy was an accident, Owen, Tosh and Ianto all died in the line of duty, there was nothing anyone could have done given the situation. And Fawks… you read the letter. You heard Jack and the Doctor. She died saving the universe. You hear me. Your girlfriend single handed, saved the entire human race.' She smiled and he wiped away the tear tracks before kissing her softly. She sniffed and looked down at the floor.

'Sorry, I've got such a short fuse at the moment.' He shrugged.

'It's understandable. Just don't shut me out Kitten.' She nodded and pulled away, beginning the walk back to the car. 'Where do you think you're going?' He called. She got in and smiled slightly.

'Like you said Jack, my girlfriend died saving the entire human race. So I'd better get a move on because I'm sure as hell not going to let it go up in flames on my watch.' He laughed as she pulled up at his side and let him get in.

'You know your hormones are driving me crazy.'

TTT

'What are you doing?' Jack asked as Winter lay down on the steps of the plaza.

'What does it look like I'm doing? I'm sleeping.' He smiled at her impertinent tone and caught Gwen giggling at them both as she stood at the bottom of the steps. He could see the look in her eye. No matter how much they wanted to keep up this jovial tone, there was business to attend to. Winter stayed quiet throughout the conversation until she heard Jack make a comment about his arm. She shot into a seated position and frowned at him.

'I'm staying hurt.' He told them.

'Oh my God.' Gwen commented dryly.

'I know.'

'Seriously though.' Winter grabbed his arm silently and turned it over in her hands.

'It's only a cut.' Rhys reminded them.

'But it's Jack.' Gwen replied, 'Don't you see, the whole world becomes immortal.'

'And I'm mortal.' Jack finished. 'I don't mend. I'm normal again. I'm plain old human'

'You what?' The CIA agent asked.

'Doesn't concern you.' Jack snapped. Winter's mind was whirring inside her head. Gwen and Jack seemed to think this was almost good news, but how could it be? Jack was the one constant in her life. The only thing she could always be sure of. Maybe she didn't always know where he was but he was always going to be alive. She felt sick, physically sick at the thought of losing him so close to losing Fawks. Her insides turned to jelly and she hardly noticed when he pulled her up and across the plaza. The flashing police lights did nothing to awaken her from her trance. It wasn't until she was inside one of the cars, seated next to Jack and he gently kissed the corner of her mouth, that she finally snapped out of it. 'You Ok?' She smiled in a rather startled fashion.

'Yeah.' He nodded and looked out of the window. 'Jack,' he looked down at her, 'If I told you something, would you promise not to say the first thing that comes into your head.' He looked at her quizzically but replied in the affirmative. She took a deep breath and kissed him, 'I love you.' He smiled and held back from saying 'I love you too' instead he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers.

'I know Kitten, I know.'

Ohhh, there are some underlying issues there. Thoughts?