A/N: As usual, many thanks to my beta Red Shoe Kitty.

Ianto has a fresh round of coffee waiting for them when they arrive back in the boardroom, and Jeannie settles into her seat while wrapping her fingers around the warm mug. She keeps her eyes trained upon the creamy liquid, while her brow is wrinkled in a small frown as she assimilates what she 'saw'.

The team returns their seats quietly, giving her the time she so obviously needs. When Jack gently lays his hand upon her forearm, she raises her eyes, glancing around the room with an unfocussed gaze. Taking a deep breath, and then releasing it slowly, she starts to speak.

"I was right; she is losing the battle to stay alive. Pressure is building in her that can only be released through mutual sexual release with a partner of the opposite sex. I can coax the entity to leave her, and enter into me; while it is traveling from her body to mine, Jack needs to throw the portable containment unit under it; we cannot save the entity, but we can save the woman." Catching Jack's eyes with hers, Jeannie continues. "Jack needs to give Cooper a small dose of his energy, to ensure she survives the transfer." Taking another deep breath, Jeannie continues: "After the entity is destroyed in the containment field, we need to incinerate the remains to ensure that it can no longer pose a threat. Cooper will need a day or two for recuperation, and then we have two choices. Remove her memory, or offer her a job."

Silence reigns for a few moments, and then Jack sighs. "Okay. That sounds like a plan. Ianto, please get me that containment unit. No time like the present to wrap this up."

Two hours later…

With PC Cooper lightly sedated, and resting comfortably in one of the small treatment room beds, the team shuts down the hub for the night. The destruction of the entity had gone off without a hitch, and the team shared a celebratory drink before going home for the night.

With an alarm set to alert them to PC Cooper's movements, the three Hub residents relaxed in their living room, cuddled on the couch. Jeannie is pensive; Jack is aware that she did not tell them everything that she 'saw', and suspects that she is about to reveal the remainder, now that it is just them. He was correct.

"She will choose to join Torchwood, and she will have two paths that she can follow from that point. She will either remain with her current boyfriend, happily married, and die of old age with her family around her; or she will die (at the same age) alone and bitter. Her choices will determine which future she lives with."

Jeannie looks at Jack and Ianto with serious eyes. "I 'saw' the three of us around her when she dies on the first path, and we looked just as we do now. We were together; do you know how that could be?"

Jack looks thoughtful. "There's a story about the Phela; when they bond with their mate, that bond links their life-forces together, so that they're not forced to live without their soul mate." He gives Jeannie a sharp look. "You saw all three of us?" Jeannie nods, and her eyes are shining, with a small smile upon her lips. Ianto is also smiling, realizing that the connection he has felt for both of his friends is returned. "Do you have any idea how to 'bond' us? I have never seen anything that gives any details, only that the bond exists," Jack says.

Jeannie looks thoughtful. "I think I do. We'll need some time to ourselves though." Ianto perks up a bit; "I can reserve us a suite at the St. David's; room-service and privacy would be guaranteed there." Jack likes the idea. "Okay; we'll talk to the team tomorrow, and arrange a few days off for us. Ianto, can you call UNIT in the morning, and arrange for them to be on call while we're gone?"

Ianto nods his head in affirmation, then reminds them that they need to figure out the 'PC Cooper problem' before they go. They all agree then trundle off to bed to sleep for a few hours.

The next morning…

PC Cooper slept through the night, and was guided up to the boardroom by Ianto, and settled into a seat with a cup of coffee in front of her. Jack enters the room, quickly glances around the table to verify that everyone is present, and then he takes his seat.

PC Cooper looks quite wary, and keeps glancing at Jack with a slight blush. Jack ignores her looks, clapping his hands together to make sure he has everyone's attention. "PC Cooper. I apologize that you had such a nasty experience these last couple of days; but the entity is gone, and you're safe now. We have a position available if you want it; your skills as a constable would come in handy here. Or we can take your memories of the last couple of days; your choice."

Cooper now looks furious. "How dare you! You can't do this, I am a police woman! I…" Jack rolls right over her indignant spluttering, and slaps his hands on the table…hard, making her jump. "I don't believe I will give you a choice, after all. I doubt that you would be right for my team. Owen!" Owen quickly moves with the syringe he had stashed, and soon, PC Gwen Cooper is sleeping soundly.

Jack sighs. "Ianto…" "Yes, Sir, I know, sort out a cover-up for the two missing days our intrepid PC now has." Jack grins at him happily; he knows that he will get the cover-up taken care of quickly since the three of them have a 'date' at the St. David's this evening. Jeannie snickers, and shakes her head. "So, Owen, Tosh, and Suzie: Jack, Ianto, and I will be taking three days off, and will be unreachable while we sort some personal matters. We have arranged for UNIT to be available if you need assistance while we are gone.

All eyes turn to stare at Jack; he says, simply, "We are going to initiate a mate-bond between the three of us." The curiosity turns to shock. The playboy Captain is going to settle down?! Of course, it's not a bad thing, just a bit unexpected. Tosh looks thrilled, and congratulates them. Suzie looks happy as well, joining Tosh, and Owen just nods his head.

While all of the minutiae of wrapping up a case continues on around him, Jack reflects on the fact that Jeannie had said that Cooper would join Torchwood. He shoots a speculative in her direction, thinking that perhaps she missed a timeline. Shaking his head, he doubts this very much. Time will tell, he decides, and smiling softly at his future mates, he grabs his greatcoat for their short vacation.

A/N: Next will be the bonding for the triad.