My hair appointment got moved to the morning so I didn't quite get this up on time but it should be in time for some of you getting home from school/work. So here you are :)

Rachy Babes: I always know when it's you :) I know. It only took me 4 series of Torchwood to use the actual quote. *eye roll* nice that you reviewed despite being to 'meh' to sign in. *big hug back*

I can't believe what you said to me
Last night when we were alone
You threw your hands up
Baby you gave up, you gave up

Could we fix you if you broke?
And is your punch line just a joke?

And I know that it's complicated
But I'm a loser in love
So baby raise a glass to mend
All the broken hearts
Of all my wrecked up friends

And after all the drinks and bars that we've been to
Would you give it all up?
Could I give it all up for you?

And after all the boys and girls that we've been through
Would you give it all up?
Could you give it all up?

Lady Gaga – Speechless

'Ok…where's the 'Where the hell have you been' talk?' Jack asked as he stood opposite Winter. She was still dressed in his shirt and her trousers but she'd pulled her hair out of her eyes with a shoelace as a ribbon.

'I know exactly where you were.' She told him, 'You went to see Oswald Danes. Then you went to a bar where you spoke to the secretary of the head of PhiCorp and then you went to interrupt his dinner where his wife called the police.' He raised his eyebrows.

'Were you following me?' she smiled.

'No, I guessed you'd been to Oswald, I traced the search you did on the secretary and intercepted the 911 call from the wife. I hope you got some good information.' Jack smiled proudly at her and sat down at her side, kissing her cheek.

'Girl you're good.'

'No the system Tosh put in place is good, but thank you anyway.' There was a beeping noise to the side and they looked up to see Gwen's face on the lens cam monitor.

'Hello. Anybody home' the computerised voice stated. Winter moved to sit in front of the laptop and smiled up at Jack.

'She's alright.' He nodded, equally happy. He leant over her shoulders and typed in. you're a sight for sore eyes. Winter hit his chest. 'Be nice, she probably stressed out over there.'

'Jack is that you?'

And Nemo, he typed, you OK? She nodded. We miss you.

'I know Jack, I'll be there soon, I'm coming back to the fight.'

We need you

'I know, but first, there's something I've got to show you.' Winter frowned up at Jack.

'What do you think she's doing?' He shook his head.

'I don't know.' They watched Gwen's movements through her own eyes as she jumped onto a spare motorbike and sped past the module. Then she stopped and talked. Jack's hand gripped Winter's as they witnessed the entire module blow up in front of Gwen. Jack's laugh filled the room and Winter gaped at the screen.

'Bloody hell,' Winter exclaimed, 'Who knew PC Cooper was such a fan of Pyrotechnics.' A grin spread across her face and she flung her arms around Jacks neck, letting him encase her in an iron grip.

'You know I think you were right.' Jack told her.

'I normally am.' She smiled, 'but about what this time?'

'I think things just might work out.'

TTT

'So,' Winter looked up from her spot standing outside the rented room, the landlord looked her over with an appreciative look, but Winter passed it off because he'd been nothing but kind to them since they'd arrived. 'They all in there practicing?' She frowned at the landlord who smiled secretively. 'You know, for the traveling circus.' She smiled back, catching on.

'Oh, oh yeah right. Yeah, they're all hard at work.' He leant against the wall and held out a box of cigarettes. She shook her head, 'not for me thanks, I like my lungs to be a nice shade of pink rather than filled with black goo.' He chuckled and lit up at her side, blowing out a ring of smoke before turning to face her.

'So your friend in the coat.' She smiled coyly.

'Jack.'

'Ahhh, Jack is it.'

'Yes, Jack. Amazing isn't he?' The bearded man laughed and nodded taking another drag.

'Yeah, I mean I've seen some strange ones come through my door but no one quite like him.' Winter smiled and stretched like a cat.

'Tony. I think you could travel this whole planet and you'd still never find someone quite like him.' He nodded thoughtfully.

'And what a coat it is.' A car pulled up around the back and Winter heard the door slam.

'Yeah, what a coat…wait here I think Gwen might be back. I'll just say hi and then maybe we can talk more about the coat.' He laughed and waved her off. She burst inside and looked around the room at Esther and Rex on the sofa. 'Well?'

'Well what?' Rex asked impatiently.

'Well, where's Gwen?' He shrugged.

'She came in two seconds ago, asked for Jack said she had something to show him and they left.' Winter cussed in welsh causing both agents to give her a confused look. Esther got up off the sofa and crossed to the lap tops. As one began to buzz quietly, Winter turned and shrugged, ready to leave the pair behind and go back to talking Jack with Tony but Esther caught her attention.

'Guys, guys you've got to see this.' Winter wandered over and looked down at the screen. Written on the history of the commands sent to the video lenses were several commands that made Winter's blood freeze in her veins.

We have your mother.

We have your husband.

We have your child.

Bring us Jack.

Without a thought Winter hurtled out to where they parked the car. It was gone, so was Gwen, so was Jack. For a moment she considered panicking. This wasn't her job, her job was to get into trouble and stumble upon the answer by mistake, how was she going to track them down? Rex and Esther were still staring at the computer when she rushed back in.

'They've gone.' She told them, 'The car's gone and Gwen and Jack are missing.

'Maybe they've gone to talk.' Esther rationalised but Winter shook her head.

'No. No this is Gwen sodding Cooper she doesn't think like that. She's taking them Jack. She's trading him in.' She lashed out and kicked a chair over. Rex looked down at it.

'Yeah well destroying property is one way to deal with it.' He turned to Esther, 'Can we track them?' She nodded.

'Yes.' He crossed to the weapons cupboard and threw a sniper rifle onto the sofa. Winter grabbed her comm from the table and looked up to Esther.

'You two find another car and find some way to cover the trap.'

'What are you going to do?' Winter looked out of the room at the skyline and then turned to the door.

'I'm going to find another route.' She stopped in the doorway and turned to look at them a slightly vulnerable look on her face. 'Listen…Jack, he's all I've got left…' Esther nodded to her.

'We'll get him back.' Winter smiled and held up the comm signalling for Esther to let her know the directions to Jack. She sped out of the room and took Tony's coat arm in her hand turning him to face her.

'You're a biker right.' He cocked an eyebrow.

'Erm yeah.'

'So you have a bike.'

'A Harley s….'

'Tony, I need you to do something for me and trust me, I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.' He eyed her suspiciously.

'I'm listening.'

'Jack he's…gone…kidnapped.' Tony's eyes widened.

'What kind of mess are you lot into?'

'Something huge, something to do with this miracle but if the human race has any chance right now it will disappear if Jack is killed.'

'Where do I come in?'

'I need you to drive me somewhere.'

'Where?'

'I don't know. I have Esther feeding me directions. Please, please Tony, please, I have to get him back.' Tony looked down at her hands and smiled.

'You're marrying him right.' She nodded, 'well come on then girl.' He strode across the road to a sleek old fashioned motorbike, 'Jump on.' He snatched a helmet from someone else's bike and handed it to her, she jammed it on with the comm underneath and yelled.

'Which way Esther?'

'Head out of town, eastwards.' Winter tapped Toby's shoulder and pointed east, he nodded and let the bike gain speed until they were hurtling towards Jack

TTT

The motorbike hurtled through the city at terrifying speed. Winter pointed the way Esther directed her and listened to her friends conversation in the car. Rex's plan was simple, get to high ground and cover Jack from there but they needed time. Time to get there, time to set up, just time.

'The trace has stopped.' Esther told them. Winter froze.

'We've lost them?'

'No, I mean it's stopped. The car must have stopped somewhere.'

'How far off?'

'You're heading straight for it.' Winter's grip on Tony tightened and Esther called. 'There's a short cut right here, we're going to take it and cover you, with any luck we should arrive almost in sync.' The bike ground to a halt when Winter signalled to Tony. She pulled off her helmet and put a hand on his arm.

'When we get there I need you to do two things.' She told him, 'They're both very important.' He nodded. 'First, keep your helmet on. Don't take it off, if they see your face I can't guarantee this won't come back to bite you so just keep it on.' He nodded again, 'Secondly, if I nod to you, you take off, you got that? Don't hesitate just go. It's not self-sacrifice it's bigger than that. Promise me you'll just leave.' There was a moment's hesitant silence then a muffled voice.

'If you promise to let me know when you can if you're alright then I'll promise to leave.' She smiled at his unquestioning loyalty and nodded.

'I'll call you personally.' He nodded.

'Then we've got ourselves a deal.' He kicked the motor into gear again and Winter's heart pounded in her ears as she saw the two cars parked further in the distance. Tony revved the engine and bent forward slightly, she frowned at the two people walking toward the ones she assumed were Jack and Gwen. 'We're here.' Esther called. Winter heard the car doors opening and Rex's voice.

'Get me the rifle.'

A shot rang out and the unsettled dust circled around the spot where the rifle bullet had hit. The group jumped in shock and the mystery lady in the white suit turned angrily to her men.

'Find out who that is!'

'It's on you!' Gwen warned, pointing at the red dot darting across the woman's pristine white jacket.

'Who is it?' Jack asked Gwen looked around shocked and angry as a roar echoed in the distance.

'What the hell are they doing?' She growled. The roar grew louder and everyone turned to see a black motorcycle scream to a halt at their side. The driver stayed put, the engine running and his foot on the floor but the back passenger leaped nimbly off the back and pulled off her helmet at the same time as drawing her sword. The helmet was dropped to the ground and Winter glared at the group. She stalked forward and looked at the lady in the white suit.

'Well if it isn't…' Winter brought the sword up to her neck and glared at her.

'No. You, you can shut up for a minute because I'm going to deal with them first and then get back to you and if you have a problem with that you can take it up with the man with the rifle. You got that.' She looked back at the angry young woman and nodded, no expression on her face. Winter turned on Jack and Gwen her glare never lessening. 'What the hell is this?' She yelled they were silent. 'I asked you a question, what the hell is this? Because it certainly isn't Torchwood. You.' She stabbed her finger at Jack, 'you shouldn't have let yourself come even close to this situation you complete and utter moron. You have responsibilities now you're mortal and if you don't start recognising that soon then I swear to god I'll lock you in a cage until this is over with. Have you got that?' Jack stared at her dumfounded but nodded slowly as Winter turned on Gwen. 'And as for you Gwen bloody Cooper.'

'My family…' Jack took a step back in surprise as Winter lashed out and slapped Gwen in the face. The older woman stumbled back a step and held her cheek in her hand. Winter grabbed Jack's coat and turned him to face Gwen.

'You see this Gwen. This idiotic, charming, flirtatious, cunning, complex and quite frankly dangerously reckless dimwit. Well he's my family. The only bloody family I have left in the entire universe. So if you ever, ever make the mistake of thinking that you're in some way entitled to knowingly lead him straight to his death again. Then you better know that I will quite happily skin you alive and stick the video on youtube. Because life isn't just about you and your little family Gwen.'

'Kitten.' Winter turned at Jack's voice and looked up at him, he gazed deep into her eyes and nodded, 'That's enough.' She took in a deep breath and turned back to the woman in the white jacket.

'Now, Miss…

'Miss…'

'I trailed off to breathe not because I care about your name.' Winter snapped, still angry with Gwen, 'Like I said, there's a guy with a rifle pointed at you head and an itchy trigger finger so unless you have an urge to be barbequed in one of those overflow camps you might want to stick those bony hands in the air.' The woman's sour face hardened and she raised her hands unhappily. Winter sliced through the plastic ties on Jack's hands and he turned around to hug her but she took a step back. 'Not in the mood.' She mumbled and pushed him towards Gwen as the older woman collected the bodyguards guns from the floor, she handed one of the guns to him and Winter signalled to the hill where Rex and Esther were hidden, then she turned to Tony and nodded to him. He gave a smooth salute and kicked the bike back into action taking off away from the gathering.

'Who was that?' Jack asked, keeping his eyes trained on the men and woman before him.

'One of the few loyal people in this world.' She growled. The rumbling sound of an engine caught her attention and she looked up behind the black SUV to see Rex and Esther pull up and jump from the car. Esther ran straight for Gwen.

'It's ok, your family and baby they're safe.' Gwen doubled over in relief and gripped onto Esther murmuring cries of 'Thank you' Rex pointed his rifle at the bodyguard Gwen had been covering.

'The next time ask for help, I'm sick of Torchwood acting like amateur clowns.' Gwen threw herself at him and kissed her cheek.

'You know for the first time since I met you Rex Matherson I think we've hit a point we can agree on.' Winter told him joylessly. Gwen turned to look at her, her eyes begging for Winter to turn around, smile and say, 'no worries Gwen, just don't let it happen again.' She took another step forward and Winter pointed the sword at her using it as an extension of her arm.

'Don't you dare. Just…' she shook her head disgusted, 'don't you dare.' She turned from Gwen and walked back over to where she'd dropped her helmet, walking straight passed Jack and Gwen as they hugged and throwing the object into the car Rex and Esther had stolen.

'I don't see how anything's changed. You're still coming with me.' The suited lady told them.

'Why would I do that?' Jack questioned her, she smiled.

'You'll want to come with me. Because I can take you to the one man who can tell you how the miracle began.' Winter leant on the bonnet of the SUV listening in.

'Who's that?'

'Angelo,' Jack's face dropped into a mix of horror and confusion, 'Angelo Colisanto.' Winter scanned her memory for a mention of the name but nothing jumped out. Jack wasn't one for talking about past lovers. Because that was certainly who he was. She'd seen that look before when Gray had returned, when John had called his manipulator. Only Family and lovers returning from out of the blue got the look he was giving now she was sure of it. Did it bother her. To be honest yes, a little. But right now every little thing bothered her. The cut of Esther's hair, the way Rex held his rifle, the colour of the woman's dress. She was just angry with the world and therefore she held off on thinking about Jack's possible ex-boyfriend because whoever he was he was important to this and the sooner the mess was fixed the sooner she could go back home. She missed her sister.

'You're lying.' Jack whispered.

'No, I'm not. And if you want proof you'll be coming with me.' Winter looked over at Rex and nodded to him.

'We want a minute to discuss it.' She told the woman, 'then you'll get an answer.'

'Very well.' The woman replied. Winter stood straight and headed over to Rex and Esther, waving for Jack and Gwen to join them a few meters from the three mystery persons.

'Who the heck is Angelo Collisanto?' Rex asked. Winter waved a distracted hand and interrupted.

'Obviously a boyfriend from Jack's past who he's going to mumble through a sentence long explanation and then change the subject so there's not exactly much point in asking is there. What we need to think about is where our case is going.' She refused to look at Jack, missing the hurt look on his face. Yeah so that had been bitchy, right now she was too angry to care.

'Which is nowhere.' Rex replied.

'Exactly, we've been fighting this miracle for days and all we have to go on is a Google search of 'The Blessing'. If this is a new lead we may as well follow it. Just on our terms.'

'What do you suggest?' Esther asked, Winter shrugged.

'I was hoping Rex could help with that, strategy isn't my strong point.' They both turned to Rex who glanced over at the woman and the two bodyguards.

'We go with them, the guys can take our cars we go with the woman, stay together. We do what they want, we let them take the lead but anything shifty and we step back up in charge.' Esther smiled.

'Make them think they have the upper hand.'

'They'll be more likely to talk to us then.' Winter nodded and looked up at Jack.

'You can tell her. Considering she came here to meet you.' He nodded his eyes not leaving her even when she turned away and began heading back over to the three would-be kidnappers. Jack explained the conditions and the woman agreed waving them over to the car. Gwen got in one side, Esther in the middle and Winter pulled Rex in to sit at the other side. She hopped in and squeezed in between Esther and Rex, sitting right at the edge of the seat to give herself enough room. Jack frowned and took his place at the front of the car. She was punishing him, he knew it. No contact with her when he could have easily sat in the back with her on his lap, but no, she chose to sit with Rex and Esther. Yeah, she was definitely punishing him.

I have to admit I quite enjoyed this chapter even if it did give me the idea for our little twist in the tail. Review's make me smile :)