I took a bit of a break on Sunday but had I known how much I would struggle just to sleep last night I would have put one up and had the break today because I felt rubbish. On a good note though I got most of my uni stuff sorted so nothing to panic about there. I will however warn you before-hand that I leave on Friday. I don't know if you'll get an update. I hope so but you'll have to wait and see. What I will tell you is that due to Freshers week I may be very sporadic in posting but I'll try to keep it as normal as possible for you and also to ground me :)

1945: Jack is being very fluffy at the moment and to be fair to him mostly it's just his nature but I think somehow he's also trying to use the fluff to cover up the emotions he's feeling that he doesn't want everyone to know. Like it or not he is upset about Fawks' death, add to that his guilt for both the daisy incident and the ruining of Winter's little trip which has turned into this massive conspiracy. Overall I think he's feeling a bit crap and he's using anything to take his mind off it. But that's just my view.

Rachy Babes: I'd like to think that this won't end, more because I don't want to have to say goodbye to her so I'm certain I'll leave it open just in case. But I know I'll have to pull back at some point because Nemo isn't the only character in my head. As it is I had to give Alexandra to you to give her some air time. Nemo will always be the favourite but I know she'll understand when I finally move on to something new.

Dwatlaskrhtcm: Sorry :) didn't mean to confuse you, totally my fault. At the end Gwen and Jack are literally about to head off to pretend to be married then this chapter picks up when Jack and Gwen are inside the building undercover. I know I'm jumping around but I don't want to just copy the whole of Torchwood down I want to study how it effects Winter and Jack's relationship, so I've been missing out big chunks. If you're ever stuck again feel free to ask me again :)

I saw myself as a concealed attraction
I felt you kept me away from the heat and the action
Just like a child, stubborn and misconceiving
That's how I started the show
One of us had to go

One of us is crying
One of us is lying
In her lonely bed
Staring at the ceiling
Wishing she was somewhere else instead
One of us is lonely
One of us is only
Waiting for a call
Sorry for herself, feeling stupid feeling small
Wishing she had never left at all
Never left at all

One of us is lonely
One of us is only
Waiting for a call

ABBA – One of Us

Winter paced nervously outside the PhiCorp building. Jack and Gwen had been in there for at least half an hour, why weren't they on the way out? Where were they? Rex came up behind her and tapped her shoulder making her jump. 'woah! Easy tiger, you know, pacing nervously outside a secretive looking black van isn't exactly helping with the whole secret surveillance thing.' She glared at him.

'Last time Jack and I went on an undercover mission with Torchwood we got beaten up, the time before that the man we both loved died. So excuse me if I'm nervous about my friends' safety.' Rex held his hands in the air and opened up the side of the van, jumping inside and leaving Winter to pace around. She could hear a low mumble form inside as Esther and Rex talked, but the voices became louder, louder and more emotional. God help her if they were having a tiff and they missed something.

'God damn it, This is all your fault!' Rex yelled as he threw the van doors open and jumped out of the van.

'What is it?' Winter asked.

'They've been compromised.' Rex yelled.

'I told you!' Winter cried as they careered over to the doors, 'Something always goes wrong!' They raced through the back entrance and came across Jack's truck, the security guard from the door was lying on the floor, his throat wrapped in thick cable. Winter followed Rex up to the lift. When she saw it wasn't working she yanked Rex across to the stairs he groaned but she leaped at them, if Jack was in trouble and she's been held back by a flight of stairs she would never forgive herself. She heard Rex's panting as he slowed at every turn and her kind instincts took over, going back to help push him further up the stairs. They stumbled through the doors together and split up at either side of the room.

'WHO ARE THEY?' Gwen yelled. Winter turned on her heel and raced across the room but Rex got there first. He shot down the man in black standing over Gwen and Jack. Winter whimpered in relief and rushed over as Rex collapsed against the servers. 'He was just about to tell us!' Gwen told him.

'Thanks? Anyone? Thanks?' Rex replied.

'And you shot him in the throat.' Winter almost laughed at the looks on Jack and Gwen's faces instead she fell to her knees at Jack's side and hugged him.

'Why is it you always go and do your most stupid plans when I just get you back. One of these days you'll give me a heart attack.' She kissed him gently and he smiled.

'Nemo, normally I'm all up for a bit of bondage but we should really be going.' She raised an eyebrow unimpressed and shook her head, getting up and turning from him. 'Erm Nemo…a little help.' She stopped and sighed. Swinging around in one fluid motion and slicing through the wire with one strike of her sword. His hands fell to his lap where he untangled them and moved to help Gwen. Winter took Rex's hand and pulled him to his feet.

'Can you manage?' she asked quietly. He nodded but stumbled as he walked. She sighed and wrapped an arm around his waist to help prop him up they came to the edge of the stairs and he groaned. She turned to face him and shrugged, 'What goes up, must come down.' His un-amused glare made her laugh as they steadily made their way down again.

TTT

'There's my Captain.' Winter smiled as Jack strolled back into the safe house living room dressed in his normal clothes. He smiled at her and threw her the coat.

'Anything yet.' Esther looked up from the computer she was working on.

'It's going to take days, weeks, but I'm rushing through a primary set up for basic patterns.' He nodded in understanding and looked up as Rex stepped out in a new shirt.

'Good morning.' Jack called, Rex grunted, 'thanks again for saving my ass yesterday.'

'Wasn't just me.' He mumbled.

'Yeah well I thanked her last night.' Winter was suddenly glad she'd hidden herself under the coat, the blush on her cheeks hot and dark.

'Yeah, we heard.' She swore in her mind and squeezed her eyes tight shut, wishing there was a way to get out of the room without anyone seeing.

'I'm sorry I made such a mess of things.' Esther told them quietly.

'That was your final warning.' Rex told her darkly and turned back to Jack, 'You give it any more thought? That maniac said it was someone you knew.'

'Not that easy when you've lived through thousands of years.' Jack replied.

'Hey at least 1000 of those years were spent in a hole under Cardiff park,' Winter reminded him, 'unless this is the work of a super-villain worm I think we can count that thousand out.' Jack smirked but Rex just looked at them blankly.

'You two are going to keep talking that shit huh?'

'I've got something.' Esther called over, 'the first basic pattern, land crisis, estimates going back years and they're all linked. To these construction plans.'

'Plans for what?' Rex questioned.

'They're calling them overflow camps for all the patients in ICU. Looks like PhiCorp is taking charge of them, like they own them. Sold some kind of strategy to the UN.' Winter got off the sofa to join the group around the computer and as Gwen's phone rang she took her seat. The plans of the overflow camp span on the old swirling Torchwood screen. She really did miss those days. Sure she was still on a mission but what was Torchwood without Owen's sarcasm, Toshiko's brilliant mind and Ianto's quiet support. What was Torchwood without her friends, she didn't even have Pip.

'I haven't got time to explain just bloody move!' Gwen ordered her husband over the phone. Jack frowned and stepped over to her, his hands in his pockets and his interest gained. 'This is bloody PhiCorp, move, don't let them go, just get him back! Get him back now!' there was a careful silence, Gwen's lips moved quickly in a silent plee for her father's safety. Her eyes closed in horror and she whispered, 'They've got my dad, Jack. They've got my dad.'

TTT

The mood in the house was solemn. Esther was driving Gwen to the airport and Jack was left staring at the Torchwood screen, his face grave. Winter wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. 'Hey.'

'Hey.' He pulled her around to sit on his lap and she curled in.

'It'll work out you know.'

'How do you know that?' She shrugged.

'Things have a habit of working themselves out. Sometimes they need a nudge but it happens. I'm not saying it'll be pretty and I'm not saying everyone will be around to see it but it will happen.' He shook his head.

'Time is in flux, What happens now could have a major effect on what will happen, just because we've been to earth in the future doesn't mean it will defiantly turn out like that.' She smiled.

'I wasn't counting on our knowledge of future times.'

'Then what..?'

'Even aliens know not to mess around with a girls wedding day. Gwen proved that.' Jack chuckled and kissed her. 'Do you ever think…'

'mmmm?' he murmured as he nuzzled into her neck.

'Do you wonder what our friends are going through right now?' He looked up, 'I mean like, Martha and Mickey, Donna, even Rose in her universe.' Jack smiled.

'Well Rose is easy.'

'Really?'

'Yeah, Rose would have marched straight into PhiCorp with her mother and scared them all so much they told her the whole plot which she then stopped, all the while dressed in a devastatingly sexy suit.' Winter laughed happily.

'I'm talking about real life not your dreams you daft idiot.' He pulled a face.

'So was I, why would I dream about Jackie Tyler, the woman's terrifying.'

TTT

The sand beneath Winter's toes felt strange and to an extent, unwelcome. The last time she'd been on a beach had been her last day with Fawks and this beach seemed rough and burnt out compared to that glorious time. Esther stood admiring the sunset across Venice beach, her bag in hand and her thoughts distant. Winter had set off to find her but now she had she wondered if she was intruding so she turned back. 'Nemo!' She rolled her eyes as Jack strolled across the beach and waved at her, there went the plan of sneaking off unnoticed. She turned to wave in embarrassment at the CIA agent who had caught her in the act of leaving.

'It's ok.' Esther told her, 'You can stay.' Winter smiled apologetically and gave Jack a look of amused exasperation waving him over, they took places either side of Ether and walked a little.

'Sorry, subtlety isn't his middle name.'

'HEY!' Jack exclaimed, 'I'm the king of subtle.' Both Winter and Esther eyed his military coat and he relented. 'alright, maybe a little more subtlety would be good every now and then.' They smiled and fell into comfortable silence.

'Do you think I'm useless?' Esther asked suddenly.

'No.' Winter told her, 'Why would you think that?' Esther shrugged so Winter continued, 'Look at all the stuff you've done, escaping from the CIA building, saving us from PhiCorp, coming up with the whole server plan, you save Gwen every day from the trap that is the American language and did I mention you escaped from the CIA? Now compare that to what I've done. Lots of moaning, a nice meal and shagging Jack, all in all who's the useless one.' Esther laughed lightly and Winter took her arm happily.

'You're not useless.' Jack added, 'You're just not used to all of this.'

'Yeah but I'm CIA.'

'So is Rex but he's just pretending.' He leant down to her height, 'That's the big secret Esther. In times like these the game goes to the person who speaks with the loudest voice, but pretty much everyone just wishes their mother was here.'

'I don't.' Winter commented. Jack sent her a look. 'What, I don't.'

'I lost my mum back in 2003.' Esther told them.

'I lost mine in December, 2006.' Winter stated, looking at a girl and her boyfriend sat on the beach to their right with masks over their faces.

'I'm sorry.'

'Don't be, I shot her.' Winter replied, only half paying attention.

'You what?'

'She was trying to kill me.' Jack sighed at the complete lack of tact his girlfriend displayed sometimes, Esther coughed and turned to Jack.

'What about you?'

'I don't know.' He replied, 'Long ago and so far away.'

'Where are you from?' Winter smiled at the familiar '20 questions' but they were saved from answering by their mobiles ringing. Winter put a finger up to stop Jack's voice.

'Anyone who say's 'saved by the bell' gets chucked in the sea.'

TTT

Winter covered her mouth and giggled uncontrollably through meeting Dr Juarez. Jack's shameless comments were too much to bear and as soon as Rex and Vera had gone inside she burst out laughing. 'You just live to torment him don't you?' Esther chuckled. Jack grinned back at her.

'It makes life more fun.' They trailed into the living room and settled down at the computer screens, leaning over he called Gwen on a spare lap top. Winter leant her hip against Jack, her arm over his shoulder. 'Right well, this is everything we've got so far.' He told them, 'It's updating every twenty seconds, tapping into major news feeds, wiki leaks, back door roots into the CIA and FBI, What about South Wales?' A picture of Gwen flickered up on the screen with baby Anwen.

'Yeah I'm here can you see me?'

'Clear as daylight agent Cooper.' Winter sat down on the armrest and watched the discussion, there was something she really didn't miss about Torchwood. The constant meetings were amusing every so often but mostly they just left her staring around the room wondering how she got pulled into this world. Monkey habits were all well and good, even the occasional plan, but strategies weren't exactly her forte.

'So this name, Torchwood?' Vera asked, 'Are you, investigators.' Jack shrugged.

'More like freedom fighters.'

'That makes you sound like terrorists.' Winter frowned angrily.

'And in some languages 'Doctor' means a terrifying warrior whom no man or woman can stop or reason with. But we don't hold that against you.' Vera looked up at her surprised and Jack looked between them uncomfortably.

"But what's in a name…" he quoted to calm the tension. Winter smiled at him and kissed his hair, looking up at Vera.

'Sorry, I've just had about as much 'Torchwood bashing' as I can take.' Vera nodded thoughtfully.

TTT

'So…' Jack trailed off. Winter nodded sat on the sofa at his side. They stared at the Torchwood screens and drummed their fingers. 'I still don't see why I couldn't go in.' Jack moaned. Winter rolled her eyes.

'Jack not only are you easy to spot but you can die. There is no way you were going in that camp.'

'But…'

'No.'

'Is this what our marriage is going to be like?' She sighed.

'Maybe now you'll understand how much it used to suck that you left me behind and swanned off with the rest of the team half the time.' He frowned.

'Well what do we do, sit down and watch American TV like you and Ianto did…or?' She looked up at him and found his eyes raking up and down her figure, before she could say anything his hands reached out and pulled her on top of him, pulling her in for a fierce kiss.

'How long have we got?' She asked smiling, amused by his insatiable character.

'Time enough.' He murmured in her ear.

"You are insatiable." Winter smiled, kissing down his jaw.

"Mm... And you love it." Jack retorted, he pulled her top over her head and threw it behind the couch somewhere, Winter met his lips as she easily undid his shirt buttons and he leaned up and pulled it off with his t-shirt and then leaned back, pulling Winter closer. Suddenly he jumped forward a little.

"Ow, ow," Jack said.

"What?" Winter asked, sitting up slightly on his lap, and looking worried. Jack reached behind him and pulled the TV remote from behind him. Winter laughed slightly, as Jack glared at the remote and threw it behind him, there was a loud bang as it hit one of the desks.

"You're going to break our rubbish hub." Winter smiled.

"Believe it or not, at this particular moment in time, I don't really care."

"I didn't think so." Winter smiled. Jack leaned back against the couch and smiled up at Winter and pulled her back down against him. Jack ran his hands up Winter's back and he undid the clasp on her bra. Or at least he tried. He fumbled a little and it refused to undo. Winter bit her lip as she tried to stop giggling and Jack swore under his breath.

"It's a good job we've done this before else this would be awkward." Winter murmured in his ear. Jack tutted as he finally undid the garment and he pulled it off Winter and flung it across the room. Jack undid Winter's jeans and dipped his hand below the waistline and Winter let her eyes flutter shut as she shifted her hips in time with her hands.

"Not laughing now?" Jack said softly as he pulled her down for a kiss.

"Yeah well, it wasn't going well...ooh..." Winter trailed off with a soft moan.

"Mmm..." Jack moaned lightly at Winter's blissful expression. "I think you have the best sex face...ever."

"Oh, shut up." Winter moaned and kissed Jack hard. She ran her hands up his chest and back down again. Undoing his trouser belt and slowly pulling it from his trousers and letting her fingers play over the muscles on his stomach. Jack laughed breathlessly.

"That tickles." He smiled, stopping Winter's hand and moving them lower. Winter grinned and Jack lifted his hips as Winter pulled down his trousers. Jack lay Winter back across the couch and groaned as he thrust forward, hearing Winter's soft sigh as he rocked his hips against hers. They both rocked in time with each other, hungry lips and curious hands moving knowingly over each other teasing and taunting the familiar curves and muscles. Breath was getting more ragged and movements more frantic, Jack groaned as he slammed his hips forward earning a pleasured cry of his name from the woman beneath him and then the cushions from the couch slipped and dumped the two of them on the floor. Jack gave an

"oof," As he landed on his back the same time as Winter unravelled above him. Jack followed only seconds after and Winter leaned heavily on top of Jack, gaining her breath back and then full out laughing.

"We should just stick to the bed next time." Winter snorted, still chuckling on top of Jack.

"Or, get a bigger couch." Jack said. Winter stood up and put the cushions back on the couch. She looked over her shoulder at Jack who sat up on the floor.

"Maybe we just need more practice?"

"oh, yeah? Who's the insatiable one now?" Jack grinned, jumping up and wrapping his arms around Winter's waist and spinning her around making her giggle.

TTT

Winter woke up on the sofa, she buttoned the shirt Jack had given her in her sleep and pulled her underwear and trousers back on. He was gone, she almost expected it when she looked up at the screen and saw Oswald Danes' live address to the world. He would be there, she knew it. Winter grabbed some take out from the fridge and sat back against the sofa, watching her phone on the table. Until it rang, there was nothing she could do. 'I moan, I eat and I shag Jack.' she repeated to herself. 'Now who's useless?'

To make up for my lack of updates earlier today I will be updating tomorrow morning at some point :) but if you can…review anyway? :) And Thanks again to Rachy Babes for the help with this chapter!