Chapter 3: An Apple A Day

"That's brilliant Ianto!" Gwen marveled at the isolated video footage, "I can believe we missed that!"

"Yeah, but it still doesn't tell us anything about where Jack is."

"I'm just wondering what kind of thing can travel through the rift and not die. The only things I can think of are Time Agents, but that got shut down sometime in the 52nd century, so there shouldn't be any more around." Owen suggested.

"But what about John Hart?" Tosh pointed out.

"He saved Jack's life though, why would he kidnap him?" Gwen questioned.

Ianto shook his head, "I don't know. But there isn't a way to get ahold of him, if we were to ask him for help."

"What about the Doctor?" Tosh suggested, "I mean, he and Jack have a history and Jack's always talking about him."

"But how?" Owen demanded, "I mean this man-"

"Martha." Gwen said, "Martha Jones, she was his companion and she's working with UNIT, remember?"

"Hello?" Martha Jones sleepily answered her mobile, her eyes barely reading the three am on her alarm.

"Martha Jones? This is Ianto Jones, I'm with Torchwood." Ianto's static voice greeted.

Martha sat up, suddenly more alert. "Yes, I remember. Is everything alright?"

"No, Jack's gone missing."

"WHAT!?" She exploded, accidently disturbing Mickey from his sleep.

"What is it?" Mickey jumped, going into defense mode.

Martha turned her phone on speaker, "Jack's in trouble," she explained.

"Jack's in trouble!?" Mickey repeated in astonishment.

"He disappeared about a month ago" Ianto began, "and it corresponds with a massive Rift spike that happened over London and New York."

"So that's what that was…" Martha murmured, "You could have called earlier."

"I know, I'm sorry, I thought we'd be able to find him, but we're desperate." Ianto said, "but I'm in New York, with my daughter, and Torchwood's been able to determine that whatever took Jack can travel through the Rift, unharmed."

"What do want us to do?" Mickey asked.

"We were hoping you could get us in contact with The Doctor, and maybe he can help us."

Martha nodded, "Will do. Good Luck."

"Sorry about earlier," Rory apologized, poking his head into Luna's room. She was lying on her back on the sleeping bag with The Hobbit stretched half an arm's length away from her face. She wore one of her father's t-shirts and pink sweatpants. She turned to the sound of his voice, red hair falling across her eyes and nose. She blew it away with a soft huff and sat up, the t-shirt bagging around her making her look comically small, and placed the book by her side.

"What for?" She asked, "You didn't do anything wrong."

Rory leaned awkwardly against Luna's door, "They are my brothers, so I feel responsible for them." He looked down, unsure of what to do. He turned to leave.

Before she realized what she was dong, she called out, "Wait." She scooted over on her sleeping bag, "W-why don't you come it?"

Rory stood hesitantly in front of her door, his toes just barely crossing the threshold. "Won't your father kill me?"

"Don't do anything squirrely." She responded smugly.

Rory laughed lightly, "Nothing squirrely, promise." He joined Luna on her sleeping bag. A moment of silence passed, "You're reading The Hobbit."

"Yeah, it's my favorite book. My father used to read it to me when I was a kid."

"…Earlier, in the kitchen…" Rory attempted, unsure how to bring up the subject.

"You mean before…"

"Yeah…" There was another moment of awkward silence between the pair. Nether was looking at the other. Luna's sweaty hands were clasped in her lap. "N-normally I wouldn't…I mean…I-I'd get to know y-you first before I…well… I…"

"Get to know each other." Luna blurted out swiftly.

"Right! But obviously, we just met and-"

"Totally…yeah, I-I get it."

"We should get better at this awkward silence thing." Rory looked at Luna.

She looked back at him, "We really should." After look at each other, both suddenly burst out laughing.

"You're getting acquainted, how nice!" Estelle smiled optimistically as she passed the hallway to see Rory and the new girl laughing.

"Hello Mrs. Slippery," Luna greeted politely.

"Hey Mum."

"Who's getting better acquainted? I'd like to bet better acquainted!" Edwin eagerly jumped in shoving himself into Luna's room. Rory and Luna's faces simultaneously fell, but both were quick to force on a pleasant expression.

"No, Edwin," Estelle pulled her youngest son away, "You have school tomorrow." Edwin gave a sour face, and then attempted to seductively wink at Luna. She forced herself not to shudder.

"Thanks Mum," Rory gasped with relief.

Estelle nodded, "Don't stay up too late, you've got work tomorrow, and I'm sure Luna's busy too." Estelle left and Rory got on his knees to get up and leave. The letting his body take over, he leaned over and pecked Luna on the cheek, the bolted out the door leaving Luna with her heart pounding, and red faced.