A new chapter for a new day, this one may feel rushed or confusing, I'm not altogether happy with it but I can't work out what it is that I don't like. On the other hand new chapters of 'Words Have Meaning...' will be up in a moment.

1945: I think Jack is trying to be light for Nemo but I'm not sure that's what she wants at the moment. I think it might make her feel like he's just ignoring the issues. But his heart is definitely in the right place.

Rachy Babes: a bit of both ;) and YEY for your little writing presents for me. I swear they really have kept this story going.

Dwatlaskrhtcm: I'm afraid you may be slightly disappointed with that hope but in order to bring back some old friends I had to make some sacrifices. Also Winter needed some separation time from Jack so what I did made sense… in my head anyway.

'sSydney: Yes, that's exactly what I thought someone should do when I watched it. It was the only part of the ep I was totally certain of :)

Hello, hello. There is no place I cannot go.
My mind is muddy but my heart is heavy. Does it show?
I lose the track that loses me, so here I go.

And maybe someday we will meet, and maybe talk and not just speak.
Don't buy the promises 'cause, there are no promises I keep.
And my reflection troubles me, so here I go.

I'm not calling for a second chance,
I'm screaming at the top of my voice.
Give me reason but don't give me choice.
'Cause I'll just make the same mistake,

Saw the world turning in my sheets and once again I cannot sleep.
Walk out the door and up the street; look at the stars.
Look at the stars fall down.
And wonder where did I go wrong.

James Blunt - Same Mistake

Two more men dressed in black met them at the door to an impressively sized house. The Woman smiled to them both as they got out of the car. 'They're with me.' she told them, 'And they've agreed to leave their guns behind.'

'Yeah,' Rex agreed, 'But Esther's going to wait outside.'

'Why, what for?'

'She's going to keep an open relay to a hard drive up in Los Angeles. If we go through those doors and disappear then we have a record. OK?' The woman seemed unhappy about the idea but nodded anyway. 'So tell your goons to leave her alone.' Jack turned to Winter and Gwen and motioned towards the door.

'Come on, Angelo's inside.' Winter kept a stern face judging every aspect of her surroundings and trying hard not to feel the slight pang of jealousy that struck her heart. She'd not seen Jack's devotion aimed at anyone but her for so long. Ianto was dead, John was … well he was John, but this Angelo, there was a look in Jack's eye and no matter how hard she tried to suppress it she couldn't help feeling slightly resentful towards the man inside the house.

She followed Jack and Gwen up some stairs and along a corridor covered in impressive artwork and one of a kind wallpaper, sticking close to Rex's side because right now she didn't want to talk to either of the others.

'He talked about you all the time Jack. This immortal man in old New York. He never forgot.' The woman told him.

'You're telling me the whole world got screwed because two gay guys had a hissy fit?' Rex commented. Gwen tutted.

'Rex get back in your cave.'

'Come on give me a break.' He sighed.

'You inspired him.' The woman continued, 'you proved immortality was possible and he devoted the rest of his life to finding out how to live forever.'

'And he did it? He's still alive? He's still young?' Winter gritted her teeth angrily.

'Oh yes he's still alive.' The woman told Jack, 'Angelo Collisanto is still very much alive, but he's not young.' The group turned to look at the ancient man lying in a hospital bed surrounded by machines, so out of place in such a beautiful home and suddenly guilt filled Winter's heart. This poor, sick man was what she had been so jealous of. The man who was now surrounded by his own home but unable to move around it, the man hooked up to every possible machine, and for just a moment there, she had hated him. 'My grandfather spent all this time trying to live forever.' She looked away from the old man, unable to stare at him any longer, 'And his wish came true. Too late.' For a second Winter contemplated taking Jack's hand, apologising but she didn't, she knew him too well. He took a few steps forward. Then a few more and then strode over to Angelo's side. Gwen followed and Rex entered the room a little more but Winter stayed in the doorway.

'What's wrong with him?' Jack asked.

'At his age?' The granddaughter replied, 'just about everything.' Jack examined the man in the bed and she smiled. 'You must be horrified.'

'Why would you say that?'

'He's grown so old.' She reasoned, he laughed.

'That's how I see the whole world, he's still young compared to me.' Winter caught the granddaughter eyeing her out of the corner of her eye and looked away. Now she wished she hadn't made the huge 'Jack means everything to me' speech, it seemed a little harsh in front of a woman descended from a man who loved Jack too but was now so old. Especially as Winter was aware she looked no older than 22. Rex interrupted her train of thought.

'It's Esther,' he told them, holding up his phone, 'she's keeping an open line to make sure we're all safe.'

'After all I've heard about Torchwood technology, you're going to rely on an open handset?' The woman asked.

'Yeah well we had to leave L.A in a hurry, thanks to someone I could mention.' He looked pointedly at Gwen who gave a frustrated glance at the ceiling. 'Anyway, what the hell's going on with the stock market?' Winter glanced up at the plasma TV that Rex had motioned to and watched as a series of numbers passed by her eyes making absolutely no sense to her.

'They're falling.' The woman told them, 'It's been inevitable since the Miracle, which I recon is part of the plan.' Gwen glared at the woman angrily.

'So you put a gun to my daughter's head for what? For this? To get your revenge on Jack?' The woman shook her head innocently.

'We weren't trying to hurt you. I was carrying out my grandfather's final wish, to keep you safe.' Gwen stepped forward.

'So you don't want them dead…' Jack pushed Gwen back and addressed the woman confused.

'What do you mean you were protecting me?' Winter snorted quietly and leant on the doorframe.

'There is a crucial distinction, my grandfather cared for you. I don't. You might be important in some way that we've yet to work out. So it's best to keep you intact. But that's as far as the sentiment goes.' Gwen babbled in confusion for a few seconds then swore and gave up. Winter rolled her eyes and collapsed onto the floor, her back against the doorframe. Her worry and stress had taken it out of her and add to that the difficulty sleeping over the past few days, her anger with Gwen and her fear of the future and she was shattered. She sat quietly and listened to Gwen and Jack as they discussed the pictures on the mantelpiece. Taking in the story of the three men who watched as Jack was tortured in the 20's and collected his blood to be used to recreate his immortality. She memorised the names, Ablemarch, Costerdaines and Freins. And groaned at the reoccurrence of the words, 'the blessing'. Then Esther went silent on the phone and Winter finally looked up.

'What's going on?'

'I think there's trouble.' She jumped up off the seat and brushed passed Jack and Gwen heading toward the window where Rex pulled back the curtains a little to peek outside. 'Tell us where we can find the three families quickly.'

'You'll never find them that's the whole point.' The woman told them as Winter headed for the doorway, she turned at the edge of the corridor and looked back at her, 'they came out of New York with the motivation of keeping this secret, where's the best place to hide yourself? In plain sight.' Winter gasped suddenly and stiffened as a gun cocked at the back of her head and the room was swarmed with CIA.

'Nobody move!' one woman shouted. 'With the other's.' Winter felt the gun behind her neck shove her forward and Esther grabbed her arm pulling her back across the room towards the windows. 'Matherson, don't try anything.' The agent snapped.

'Looks like she knows you.' Winter commented dryly. Rex shrugged it off.

'We are arresting all of you for violations of the Miracle security act.' The fattest and most useless looking agent told them. 'This is the same as treason now folks. And I want a word with Rex.'

'Oi, idiot.' Winter snapped. Jack's head snapped to look at her but she ignored him. 'the definition of treason is a crime that covers a serious act of betrayal of one's sovereign or nation. Well since you're obviously too thick to remember, I'd better remind you that not only is this America where there isn't a sovereign but being British citizen's myself and Gwen don't belong to this nation and therefore haven't committed treason. Jack is also a British citizen and therefore you need to contact our embassy before you can arrest us.' Gwen smirked.

'The rules apply in Britain as well.' The agent told her.

'But I doubt the warrant does.' She retorted, the female agents gun turned on her.

'Shut up.' She yelled, 'that's your last warning!' Winter seethed with anger that wasn't hers as one of the other agents lead Rex across the room, a hot glow filling her chest and her mind burnt. The anger seemed to radiate from her and a voice that was hardly hers yelled back at the woman.

'Don't point that gun at me you ignorant little girl, I could burn your heart out with a thought of…ahhhhh!' She let out a gasped scream and doubled over as a shot of pain sliced through her stomach and her eyes glowed slightly. The agents watched, as confused as Rex, Esther and Gwen but Jack dived for her.

'What is it? What's wrong?' Winter's eyes snapped back open and Jack gasped at the golden glow of her irises.

'She shot me. She shot me.' Everyone turned to the female agent whose eyes widened.

'I didn't! I didn't even pull the…'

' Melody. Melody shot me.' Jack frowned and then a thought struck him.

'TARDIS?' Winter nodded. He pulled her hands away and saw nothing, no blood and no gunshot. He relaxed a little more and 'go back,' he ordered. This is not the time to take refuge in Winter's body. You're putting her in danger. Go back and repair.'

'But he needs me. My theif.'

'And I need her.'

'Your cat.' He smiled.

'My kitten.' As Winter breathed out the gold dissipated and her knees shook. Jack stood up, taking her weight and pushing her back down onto a seat. Winter glared up at the remaining agents and growled.

'I think you should have let me burn their hearts out, might have made this whole thing a lot quicker.' Jack rolled his eyes but a slight twitch of a smile appeared just for a second.

'How did you find us?' Esther asked.

'A few hours ago, Rex made a phone call to the brother of Dr Vera Jhuarez expressing his condolences, we've been tracking his phone ever since.' Gwen frowned.

'That doesn't make sense. I mean it's Rex, he'd know they'd be tracing him.' The plasma suddenly switched to static and a picture of the fat CIA agent appeared. Winter's eyes widened as she thought back to the car. Gwen angrily pulling the lenses from her eyes and putting them back in the cases and Rex offering to keep them in his suit pocket. He'd put them on and now he was using them to good effect.

'They own me, they are everywhere, they are always.' The agents in the room began to freak out but Winter paid them no mind choosing instead to concentrate on regaining her strength and take in the confession. 'They are no one. What.' She realised they were now listening to half of the conversation, she bit her lip trying to figure out what Rex could be saying from the replies but it didn't make enough sense. More agents appeared in the doorway and Esther obviously recognised them as superior because she automatically stiffened and pointed to the TV. Winter stood up as the new agent had ordered the arrest of the rogue group of agents and she swept down the corridor to Rex and the fat agent.

'I think they want you back that way.' She smiled at the agent and then turned to Rex throwing her arms around him.

'You are a genius!' she exclaimed.

'And you are frikkin' insane.' He replied, 'what was with that whole, 'burn your heart out' thing.' Winter shrugged.

'I guess you could call it a psychological defect of sorts.' He shook his head and headed back down the corridor with her, pushing the agent in front of him.

'I knew you lot were crazy.' The agent who Esther had reacted too approached them and Rex glanced down at Winter, she took the hint and headed back over to the room containing Angelo and her team. Moments later the pair returned and Gwen interrupted them.

'Did you plan this thing from the start?' she asked Rex.

'No I just improvised when these Collisanto people turned up.'

'You could have warned us.'

'Oh, NOW she's all for sharing.' Winter snapped. Gwen looked over at her sharply.

'People seem to be talking over me. Which is fascinating and rare.' The man who had entered with Rex looked at them all like a headmaster looked at naughty children. 'And forbidden. I'll come back to you.' First we're going to deal with this Collisanto woman, the granddaughter Olivia am I right.'

'Yes.' Olivia stated calmly. 'And as far as I'm aware, the CIA does not have the authority to operate on American soil.'

'Get her out of here.'

'This is my property.' She cried as she was manhandled from the room.

'So, these are the Torchwood clowns?' Gwen gaped.

'Torchwood did more to piece this together than the entire CIA.'

'You're that English girl Cooper, have I got that right?' He questioned. Even Winter smiled at that as she sat down in one of the chairs.

'No, I'm not English. And I'm not a girl.' Esther stepped forward.

'Gwen this is Alan Shepero, don't really just, don't.'

'Well he's not scaring me,' Gwen told her, 'Hello.' Alan rolled his eyes.

'I am sick of her already.'

'Oh join the bloody club mate.' Winter murmured too quiet for him to hear, Jack kicked her shoe lightly and she kicked him back harder. No, still not forgiven. 'Can we deport her, let's deport her.' Rex stepped in to stop his boss from deporting Gwen but Winter shrugged.

'Well you wanted to be with your family.' Gwen turned on Winter but Jack took her shoulders and turned her back to face Alan and Rex. Winter felt the overwhelming urge to stick her tongue out at her behind Jack's back.

'And the little girl down there.' She looked up to see him staring down at her. 'How old are you? Twelve.' She smiled sweetly back at him.

'Depends how you look at it. This body is about 25 but a good portion of my soul is over 10 000 years old. Little boy.' He frowned down at her unimpressed then looked up at Rex.

'You sure know how to pick 'em.' He commented.

'We're wasting time Mr Shapero,' Jack told him, 'We've got the names of the people responsible for causing the Miracle so I suggest we get to work.'

'Tochwood is going to work for the CIA.' Jack faced him head on, never flinching.

'I think the CIA can work for Torchwood, if you're lucky.' The silver haired man smiled.

'We've got a plane ready and waiting 20 minutes away. The sooner we can pool our resources the sooner we can end this thing. Alright everybody out.' Jack stopped by Angelo and asked about him. Mr Shepero gave him two minutes and left.

'Jack, did we just join the CIA?' Gwen asked.

'I think we did.' He replied smiling. Suddenly a loud bang echoed outside and everyone ran for the door. Winter pulled back the curtain and watched the plumes of smoke billow from the car that had contained the traitor CIA agents and Olivia Colisanto. She watched the smoke, mesmerised by the way it trailed into the sky in great plumes and then blew away, dissipating into nothingness. So taken in by the patterns that she didn't realise Jack had come back inside until he sighed. She span around and saw him looking down at Angelo. Realising this wasn't a moment for her to interrupt she headed for the door but Jack grabbed her arm, she stopped, facing away from him and he whispered two words in her ear.

'Don't go.' She paused and then nodded.

'I'll wait at the door.' And that she did, leaning against the doorframe and watching as he bent over the hospital bed, pulling up a stool he sat down and sighed, unsure of what to say.

'More bloodshed.' He told the sleeping man, 'All these years later and my life hasn't changed. Can't believe you were watching me. Maybe you said hello. Some old man asking me directions and I'd just…look right through you.' His voice cracked a little but he refused to look away. 'Did you see him? Did you see Ianto? You would have liked him. Or maybe not. You'd have been jealous.' Winter smiled as Jack laughed quietly, 'got to go. Work to do.' He stood up and bent down over the old man he had obviously cared for so deeply. 'I'll take care of you. I promise.' He gave him a quick kiss and replaced the oxygen mask. The machines began to beep, alerting both occupants to a problem with Angelo. Winter headed over to the heart rate monitor and looked at the straight red line.

'Jack.'

'He's sick I know, tell me something new.'

'Jack, he's dead.' She whispered the beeps kept coming and Jack gave a frustrated moan.

'Shut up!' he pulled the plug out and everything shut down. 'Even if your heart stops you keep living now days.'

'no, Jack…he's dead.' Jack took Angelo's hand and jumped in shock, pulling out his manipulator and running it over the dead man.

'That's impossible, how the hell did you do this.' He frantically tried to switch the machine on and perform CPR but it did nothing. 'I've got a man dying here!' He yelled. 'Do you hear me? Someone's dying.' The others strode back into the room Gwen at the front of the assault.

'Jack? What's happening.'

'He's dead. Angelo died right in front of me.'

'What? Ok just think about it Jack he can't die.'

'Gwen would you just listen for once!' Winter yelled and pointed at the machines. 'He's dead!' Alan pushed them all back and got the nurse to look him over while Esther and Gwen tried to talk Jack around.

'He can't be dead Jack, he just can't be it's impossible because no one can die.'

'I scanned him.' Jack told her, 'He's gone.'

'What the world just changed back?' Rex asked him, 'And if so what happens to me? I was supposed to die.'

'Well you look fine Rex, I think it's just him.' Winter told him, examining the fuss around the man in the bed. This was a turn up for the books, but Winter hadn't a clue whose side it would fall in support of. She bit her lip and refrained from mentioning that Jack had kissed him the second before he had died. Instead she headed off to the kitchen to get some food, she hadn't eaten in at least twenty four hours.

As she pulled a leg of cold chicken from the fridge and nibbled on it she thought back to happier Torchwood days. Her first proper conversation with Gwen had been so full of hope for their friendship, time after time she had joked with the older woman or grabbed lunch with her, she'd even stayed with her while Jack was traveling the world. But now she couldn't be sure of Gwen's loyalties. Their relationship had sustained a damage that Winter just couldn't see being easily fixed. Gwen wasn't the only thing on her mind. Her turn in the room when the TARDIS had invaded her mind, that defiantly hadn't helped matters. But she didn't understand. It felt more like a shockwave, like something that was either about to happen or already had and she was feeling the after effects. The slicing pain had been there but at the same time it had felt ghostly. That could only mean one thing. If the TARDIS really had been shot by Melody Pond then it had been in flight and Winter had no way of getting in touch with the Doctor and asking what was happening because the TARDIS systems were shut down for repairs. All in all she was worried and stressed out and wishing more than anything else, that this would all be over soon. Because her nerves had already been cracked by Fawks' death, much more of this and they would shatter, and scatter in the blowback.

TTT

'What is it?' Winter asked as the group looked down at the sheets of metal plating Esther had found underneath the bedroom floor. Jack had that look in his eye, the one he got when he knew the answer but didn't want to tell anyone. Normally he reserved it for people asking about his future knowledge but she could see instantly that not only did he recognise it, but he knew it was bad news. Shepero asked everyone to leave then turned to Jack.

'Captain Harkness, answer her question.'

'I've no idea.' He told the other man, looking him straight in the eye.

'Jack.' Esther pleaded, 'Tell us what it is because if you could hear my sister volunteering to be categorised you would help.'

'Look if he says he doesn't know, he doesn't know ok.' Gwen told her. Sheparo turned on her a glint of the unknown in his eyes.

'I've read the Torchwood file.'

'You and half the rest of the world apparently, we obviously weren't as secretive as we thought.' Winter sighed. He glared at her.

'More interruptions.' He pointed out, 'They really are quite tiresome. Are those materials extra-terrestrial?'

'I said he doesn't know, now get out of his face.' Gwen snapped.

'The file also says that the three of you will inevitably form an alliance and the best results will be obtained by separating you.' The three of them were silent, staring into space at the accusation and Sheparo finally snapped. 'Ok I'm done, get these two out of here, and I mean it this time, deport them, they are no longer welcome in the United States.' Two suited men headed for Winter and Gwen. Gwen gaped in shock but Winter just shook her head.

'You, Alan Sheparo are the most dangerous kind of man in the world.' He smirked.

'And why is that?'

'Because you're a fool and you don't know it.' She replied but she turned from the room and shrugged off the agents trying to escort her out, striding out by herself without a second glance. She could hear Gwen's loud mouth protesting behind her but right now she could see the situation. They were outnumbered and on strange territory the best thing to do would be leave and get back some other way. Winter climbed into the black SUV she was shown to and waited for Gwen to be thrown in behind her

'What was that?' Gwen yelled. Winter didn't look at her instead gazing out of the Window as they set off.

'Don't shout at me Gwen Cooper.'

'Why the hell not? You just left, no fight, no….no anything! You had a right go at me for not taking care of Jack and now you're just leaving him.' Winter sighed and fingered her ring lightly.

'He knows I'll come back for him.'

'And how the hell do you plan on doing that.' She smiled and looked over at Gwen.

'My friend has a private little plane I'll fly back in in a couple of days.' She murmured. Gwen opened her mouth to retort but couldn't come up with anything more to say so she was silent except for a few huffs and sighs. That was until they finally got onto the plane.

'What are you really planning?' She asked in her lowest voice. Winter smirked.

'You caught the look in the mirror huh.' Gwen nodded.

'You were saying that to throw off the CIA, I get it, so what are you really planning.' Winter pulled out an orange bottle of pills.

'I'm going to call on some help from a friend but right now I'm going to take two of these sleeping tablets helpfully provided by the agent who escorted me onto the plane and avoid having another panic attack.'

'He gave them to you?' Winter smiled as she swallowed a couple.

'Nope, swiped them. Duh.'

Next chapter will see the return of an old friend and a BIG mistake…