Rose stared at her watch and then to the door. He's taking his time, she thought. She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. Images of the last few years drifted through her mind. Memories of her once normal life, living with her mum, going to work and how it all changed so quick. But for the better, one day changed her life forever. She smiled to herself, feeling the memories warming her heart.

Rose, sometimes it feels like the whole world is against you. Fighting back seems futile and yet we still plan ahead. If you remember one thing, it's that the little decisions bring us to the places that we were always meant to be. Don't you think?

"Rose? Rose?!"

She jolted awake to see Ianto watching her. "Are you okay?" his voice was filled with concerned. Rose nodded just Gwen and Jack entered with a pile of folders in their hands.

Jack stood at the front of the conference room while the rest of the team took their places. "We've found CCTV footage of this man near a nightclub on the high street at 4am this morning". He said, indicating the screen behind him.

The screen flickered and showed the image of a tall hooded figure standing a few feet away from where the camera was. Jack pressed a button on a small remote and the image zoomed in slightly, but there was no clear view of the alien's face.

"Watch closely". The team gapped at the clip, astounded as the hooded figure disappeared in a puff of green smoke.

"How did he…?" Ianto began.

"We don't know. But we can confirm that this alien hasn't come through the rift".

"A few minutes before this was captured on film, a body was found a couple of streets away" Gwen told the rest of the team. "The victim is Stewart Hallway. He was forty-two, married with two small children, worked as a chef a couple of miles away. What was left of his body you saw in the images from earlier. The police were able to match the dental records"

Rose felt her stomach turn as remembered the images from earlier. How could anything…

"We've seen worse." Jack said, his voice cold, not wanting to get distracted.

"Have we?" asked Gwen, looking at the images again.

"Poor family" Rose muttered before turning to Jack "You think this hooded creature killed Hallway then?"

"We need to investigate. It's definitely a teleporter, but when he disappeared it gave off an energy signature"

"I've set the computers to trace the signature and we can find out where it has moved on to" said Ianto, feeling slightly proud that he can still contribute to the team "The computers should tell us within the next half an hour".

Gwen stood up and moved closer the screen examining the footage. "We'll need to check to see if it came here recently. Hopefully we can find the landing site"

Rose picked up a folder and scanned all the information from the police report. But something was in the back of her mind, picking away. Something didn't feel right.

"Why Earth?" she asked. "I mean they are hundreds of other planets out there, Jack. Why specifically Earth?"

"Maybe it was nearest?" suggested Gwen.

Jack gazed at Rose, and shrugged. "Guess that will be one of the questions you can ask it, Rose".

Ellie glanced around the small living room, taking in the sight of a broken woman's home. Her eyes landed on a picture of Helen and her boyfriend. He was a large bloke about twenty stone and his arm was around her. They looked happy but Ellie knew that sometimes there were secrets under the smiles.

Various scenarios ran through her head, maybe he was staying elsewhere and forgot to call or maybe there was a miscommunication? She could feel herself becoming more cynical as did this job or maybe that was because of her boss' influence. She wasn't sure.

"When was the last time you saw…" Alec checked his notes "Billy?"

"Two days ago" Helen sobbed, wiping her eyes with a tissue. "He told me that he was going to the pub with the lads after work. Drinks to celebrate his friend's leaving do. He usually stays out late"

"You didn't notice him coming back in?" Alec asked.

"I work as a A&E nurse and I working the night shift for the couple of weeks. By the time I come back in, he would have already gone to work. But then I got a call from his friend Gary and he said he didn't show up that morning"

Alec scribbled down his notes. "Is it possible that he stayed over someone else's?

Helen shook her head and continued to sob into her tissue.

"Have you had any difficulties lately? Any arguments? Has something happened to make him want to have space from you?"

Ellie glared at her colleague for his subtle approach. Before she could apologise for Alec's rude phrasing, Helen carried on talking.

"We had a fight. It was nothing though. A joke at first. We've been together for a while now and I asked when he was going to pop the question and then it all kicked off".

"How did you leave things?" Alec inquired.

"We talked. I thought we were okay. He wo… wouldn't just leave." Helen broke down in tears and rested her head on her knees.

Alec was never good with these sort of situations, that is what Ellie was good at. People was never his thing, even when he genuinely try. Ellie sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"People sometimes do things we can't understand" Ellie told her.

"Hold on, why am I staying here?!" demanded Gwen.

Jack crossed his arms. "Because I need you here"

"Why? It would be better if I came along" Gwen's voice was getting louder and Ianto sensed that would not be fixed easily.

Rose stepped into conference room and the tension hit her like a blow to the stomach. Jack and Gwen spun around to her, looking angry until she held up four mugs.

"Cup of tea, anyone?" she asked.

Gwen practically snatched a mug from her hands, not meaning to, but Jack was being unreasonable again. She took a sip of her tea, feeling it relaxing her but not quickly enough.

"Jack, I've been on this team longer than Rose and I should go with you"

"Rose has been on this team for a while now. She can handle herself. She proved that more than once"

They were acting as if she couldn't hear them or was even there, which annoyed Rose. She opened her mouth to argue her case, but then saw Ianto from the corner of her eye shaking his head and then return to his tea.

"What's the real reason Jack?" Gwen asked.

"Someone needs to stay here with Ianto"

"I don't need a babysitter!" snapped Ianto.

Jack's face soften, and he walked towards Ianto. "I know that but I would feel better if someone stayed with you. After what happened it would put my mind at ease"

"It still doesn't explain why Rose can't stay here instead of me" Gwen said.

"I'm in charge"

"So, my opinion means nothing?"

"I never said that!"

"So, what the hell Jack?"

Rose scrunched up her eyes trying to concentrate, but the noise around her was getting too much. The tension was building, oh today was not her day. "Just stop it!" She slammed her hand on the table which effectively shut up them up. "We're a team. Bickering is not going to help anyone"

Jack took a deep breath and met Gwen's glare. "Yes, you have been here longer. But Rose doesn't have the same computer skills you have. I need you and Ianto to watch that signature. Rose is brilliant field agent and I need her with me. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir" Gwen left the office, not looking back.

After a few more questions Alec and Ellie left Helen's home and made their way back to the car. The judgmental neighbours were no longer standing in their gardens and a feeling of relief washed over Ellie. At one point these people were her friends but at the moment the only person she could talk to about that case was Alec.

They remained quiet until they got back to the station car park. Ellie took a deep breath and Alec watched her, concerned.

"I told you not to let it in"

"It's not that" she responded.

"Then what?"

"That poor girl, she's alone. No family to help her through this"

"Miller, we can't…"

"She has no idea. I mean what if he's just left her and not said anything"

"Miller…"

"I mean what sort of coward…"

"Ellie, stop it!" Alec's voice became louder, cutting off her thought trail. "You're projecting"

Ellie shook her head, trying to regain her composure. She knew this was nothing like Joe but the memory still stung. The whispers through the streets, the friends she had lost like Beth. She stayed in Broadchurch because it was her home. She thought people would understand, they've known her for years, but they didn't. Being met with a constant reminder was emotionally draining.

A couple of hours later, Jack and Rose were on the road following the trace. Jack was driving while Rose was reading the map giving directions, while on the phone to Ianto.

"Okay, thanks" She hung up and turned to Jack. "He said the trace has stopped on the coast, a place called Broadchurch. Broadchurch? Does name ring a bell to you?"

"Nope" Jack said, eyes focused on the road.

There was an awkward pause, something that never happened to them before. Usually Rose couldn't get Jack to shut up. Rose leaned back in her chair, glaring at Jack before nudging him in the ribs.

"Do you mind? I'm driving."

"I don't want to get between you and Gwen. She's right. She is the more experienced" Rose said.

"Doesn't matter"

Rose put down the map, awaiting a better explanation. She didn't have time for mind games. "Jack?!"

"It's nothing against Gwen. It's not about what happened with Ianto" He paused, but his words still didn't make Rose feel any better. "But you work differently to her. Your instincts are different. You see things that no one else does". Rose scratched the back of her neck, confused. "It's one of the reasons I asked you to join us".

"So, like a fresh perspective?" She said, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly"

"And this has nothing to do with what today is?" Rose asked, fiddling with her fingers.

"No" Jack said firmly, but then his tone became more gentle. "Rose?"

Jack looked up and gave her a half-smile, hoping to ease the situation. "I miss him too".

Rose bit her lip, as tears welled in her eyes. "You need to take the next left"