A/N: My first full Torchwood episode! I've only done a few flashback scenes that they've shown of Jack's past but this is the first time Kathy's interacting with someone from Torchwood other than Jack. To try and save confusion, our Jack is simply referred to as Jack but the original one that Jack stole the identity from is Captain Jack.

20th January, 1941

Kathy is bouncing her knee up and down anxiously as she sits at the table in The Ritz dance hall, Cardiff, waiting for Tosh and Jack's arrival. She's pretty sure she's got the date right considering that the real Captain Jack Harkness is here, saying goodbye along with comrades before they head off to the mission which will kill the captain and her Jack (past him) will assume his name. Her current Jack is with Estelle Cole in London, the woman who's the old woman that appeared when Torchwood met the fairies and will then go on to be killed by them.

Around her, the dance hall is full. The windows are heavily curtained and the chandeliers are lit as it is night time. A four-piece band Buzzy Taylor's Band plays clarinet, piano, drums and double bass. The song is upbeat Air Express (Ken Mackintosh and his orchestra). There are seats and tables around the dance floor and people on a balcony up above. There is a banner hanging across the entrance that reads 'Kiss the Boys Goodbye' and a good few women obliging making the thirsty soldiers in uniform very happy.

"My love is true and just for you. I would do most anything at any time." The woman on stage sings.

Then there they are, future Jack with Tosh at the bar before George Bridgers (RAF, 24, boorish, thick-set, cheery with a regional accent) grabs Tosh and pulls her out onto the dance floor. Tosh looks incredibly uncomfortable and desperate to get away from him as he quickly twirls her around the dance floor, attracting startled looks from onlookers. They are dancing slightly messily on account of Tosh's inexperience and George's alcohol intake.

"Come to me, my melancholy baby."

Jack goes and taps George on the shoulder. "Do you mind?" Kathy hears him say as she approaches them.

"I'm only borrowing her, mate." George retorts.

"'Her' is standing right there." Kathy snaps as she pops up beside them.

"Kathy!" Tosh exclaims in surprise while Jack flashes an excited grin.

George scoffs. "Listen lady—"

"Hey, hey, the lady said no!" Jack interrupts.

"I didn't hear her."

"Maybe you need your ears unclogged then." Kathy quips back.

George steps forward aggressively causing Jack to quickly shove George back.

Jack turns back to Kathy and Tosh. "Come on, girls."

Kathy spots George rushing over. "Jack—"

George yanks Jack back around and throws a punch. Jack turns away but the blow still glances his chin. This results in a scuffle causing another, rather familiar, American RAF Captain to put a hand on George's shoulder. Kathy keeps back, knowing she doesn't need to be involved here.

"Cut it out, kiddo." He says.

George stops in his tracks, breathing hard. There is a hint of amusement in Captain Jack's eyes as he surveys the scene. He wears a Group Captain's uniform with a USA flash on his arm. He also wears a Distinguished Flying Cross medal.

He turns to Jack. "Sorry about that. The men are a bit lively tonight. It's last day of OTU tomorrow. Apologise to the gentleman, George."

"I was only dancing." George retorts.

"I think it was your fist he didn't like, not your foxtrot." Captain Jack retorts.

George grimaces before turning to Kathy's Jack. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You barely got me." Jack replies causing Kathy to roll her eyes. Yeah, like that's going to help.

"I think the lady also deserves an apology."

"I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted." Tosh answers.

"Let's get a drink, George." Captain Jack says before turning back to Jack. "Hey, are you a volunteer too?"

"Yeah."

Kathy watches closely as they shake hands and both begin to speak at the same time, "I'm Captain—"

"You go first." Jack offers.

"I'm Captain Jack Harkness. 133rd Squadron." Captain Jack introduces. Kathy watches how Tosh's face is flooded with shock while the smile freezes on Jack's face.

"Look this way, please." A voice speaks and it's Bilis, the ever-so-camp manager lifting his 1948 Polaroid Land camera. Captain Jack turns to the camera and smiles as Jack continues to stare at him in shock. Bilis takes a photograph of Jack, Kathy, Tosh and Captain Jack.

Kathy grimaces at the sight of him, knowing what this man is up to.

"One more for the record, sir. I insist." Bilis removes the developing polaroid image from the back of the camera, then goes to stand between the two Captains whilst an employee takes the second one. Anachronism alert. "Thank you, gentlemen." Bilis leaves.

"I should be heading out." Jack tells the captain.

"But I didn't catch your names." Captain Jack argues.

Kathy steps forward, sharing a smile and a handshake with the captain. "I'm Katherine Davis and these are my friends, Toshiko Sato and Captain James Harper. 71st."

Captain Jack looks interested. "71st? That's where I'm hoping to be posted. What's your poison?"

"Maybe later." Jack declines. "My friends and I were in the middle of something."

"Sure."

"Why does that man have your name?" Tosh immediately questions once they're out of the room and in an empty corridor. "I'm lost enough here without you holding back on me."

Due to Tosh's lack of questioning about how Kathy can be here as she seems to know her in the future, Kathy can only assume that, unlike Jack, Kathy had been (or will be) rather open about who and what she is.

Jack hesitates causing Kathy to sigh and say, "Come on Jack, give her something here."

"It's not my name. It's his. I took his." Jack admits. "But I didn't realise he was so hot." He laughs, then shuts his eyes as he takes in what's happening. He turns to Kathy all accusatory, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kathy smirks. "Spoilers."

"You even suggested I take his name." Jack retorts.

"You do realise I only do that cause you told me I will?" Kathy counters.

"Jack. Kathy." Tosh hisses.

Jack sighs. "I know too much."

"Then share."

"You wouldn't want that. Trust me." Jack replies before he changes the subject with, "We have to get back. What's in here?" He gestures to her bag.

"I've got half the equation in here. The other half's back at the Hub." Tosh admits. "If I can find some way of getting these figures back to base, then they can combine them and open the Rift and bring us back through."

"I know a place we can do it that will be empty." Kathy tells them, gesturing for them to follow her.

Kathy knows she needs to help them, particularly Tosh, in getting the coordinates back even if they may not fully succeed especially as Owen will activate the rift manipulator due to what happened with Diane. Ianto will try to stop him. Although his choice rescues Jack and Tosh, it will set off a chain of chaotic events leading directly into the story.

As they move along the corridor, Tosh suddenly stops, looking back.

"What?" Jack questions.

"I thought I heard my name." Tosh explains, her eyes flickering around the corridor as if trying to find the source.

"That'll be Gwen. They're looking for you both now." Kathy tells them. No harm in giving them a little hope.

"They must've had a rift alert." Tosh says. "I set one up."

"Yeah, anyway, in here." Kathy lets them into Bilis Manger, the Manager's, office. There are distinctive objects in the office a grandfather clock, a drinks cabinet, an ornate lamp, and a selection of antiques all from different periods. There is a portrait of Bilis on the wall. There is also a name sign on the desk which reads BILIS MANGER.

"No-one here. Good." Jack says.

Tosh puts her laptop on Bilis Manger's desk and opens the lid as Jack stands guard at the door. The laptop powers on. "It works."

"Your battery is running low." The machine tells them.

"Brilliant timing." Kathy remarks sarcastically.

"Just take down everything you've got in case it dies." Jack instructs as he fiddles with Bilis' nameplate on his desk.

"Here. I write while you read at the equation." Kathy offers, remembering Tosh's difficulty with the fountain pen.

Tosh hands it to her and they quickly get to work.

"Your battery is running low." The screen is fading whilst the warning message overlays the equation just as Kathy writes the last little bit.

"Your battery." The laptop dies.

"You got everything you need?" Jack asks.

"I just want to get the exact coordinates of the dance hall, so I can integrate them into the waveform equation. Then we need to get the information back to the Hub." Tosh says.

"One step at a time." Kathy says. "First, I know who you can ask about that. He—"

"What are you doing in here? Who are you?" A voice suddenly asks causing them all to spin around to find Bilis standing there. Tosh slams shut the laptop.

"I'm Captain…" Jack pauses a beat, remembering, "…James Harper. And friends Katherine Davis and Toshiko Sato, mathematician." Jack introduces.

"I'm Bilis, the manager. You're not in full uniform, Captain." Bilis remarks. God, he really is creepy.

"On leave. Forty eight hours."

"That's an interesting camera." Tosh observes.

"It takes photographs instantly." Bilis explains.

"Funny, you would've thought that they don't do that yet." Kathy quips.

"And I didn't know they made an attache case out of metal." Bilis retorts. Tosh hugs her laptop. "Where did you get it?"

"London. I'm from there." Tosh explains simply.

"I should go back, dear. They're coming for us now." Bilis warns.

"Pearl Harbour." Tosh reminds them as they make their way down the staircase, back to the crowd of people. Upbeat music plays next door in the main dance hall.

"You're in January 1941, Pearl Harbour doesn't happen for another 11 months." Kathy tells her as they come to a stop on the stairs. She knows it's not that much of a reassurance.

"Granddad stayed in London but he was persecuted. If I stay stuck here, what will happen to me?" Tosh questions still panicked. Kathy doesn't blame her.

"We'll take care of you." Jack says.

"This period. You look like you fit in. Like Kathy does. Have you been here before?"

Jack realises that Tosh is truly scared and needs the truth. "Yeah. I can't explain but I served in the war in 1941. I was undercover. I needed a false identity, so I took his name." Jack explains.

The first time anyway, before he became immortal, when he first met Rose and Nine. It's weird to think that, according to Jack, there's another her running around out there.

Jack's second stay is happening with Kathy right now as he waits for the Doctor after becoming immortal.

Captain Jack walks past them in the foyer bar area on the ground below unaware, chatting with those around him.

"Who were you before you took his name?" Tosh asks. She receives no answer so changes her line of questioning. "Why him?"

"Kathy suggested it. Said it was convenient."

"Not yet I haven't." Kathy sing songs, drawing a smile out of Jack.

"But if you chose his identity to steal, then he—" Tosh realises, unable to finish the sentence.

"Dies, in battle." Jack finishes.

"When?"

"Tomorrow." Kathy answers. They look at Captain Jack in the bar below, laughing with his men.

Kathy's eyes catch Tim another RAF who's merely 19 and would be described as a lanky upper-class youth. "Now, he's the one to talk to about the coordinates."

They quietly make their way downstairs just catching the end of George Bridgers' diverting tale, "And I say, look, love, it's raining bombs and fire, so get down that cellar. And she says, I can't, there's rats down there." The men laugh.

Tosh sidles up to them, planting herself next to Tim. "So, who's the best navigator here?"

"Tim." George answers. "He can't fly for toffee, but at least when he goes down, he'll know exactly where he is." George obnoxiously cackles causing Kathy to roll her eyes at him.

"Why don't we chat over here?" Tosh quickly pulls him away. Tim doesn't put up much of a fight, not that Kathy blames him, as George whistles after them as Tosh and Tim head for the corner table and Tim pulls out a chair for Tosh.

"I give the public schoolboy a fortnight." George remarks.

"That boy's come a long way in five weeks." Captain Jack intercedes. "As long as you boys remember your training, you'll be all right." He turns to Jack and Kathy (though Kathy believes it's most definitely the former). "Glad you came. Shall we sit down?"

Kathy glances towards Tosh. Seeing she's alright, Kathy shrugs and joins the group for a drink.

There's only so much Kathy can take of those such as George and is thankful when Tosh gestures to her and Jack to come over.

"I've got what I need." Tosh tells them. "Now all I have to do is find a way to leave a message for the team on something that will last across time."

"Okay." Jack answers and they begin to move away but then Audrey of all people blocks their way all flirty and nosey.

"I haven't seen you two here before." She remarks accusingly. "Katherine, are they friends of yours?"

"They are." Kathy answers. "Welcome friends."

"She's after Tim." George unhelpfully adds, sauntering over and drawing more attention to the conversation. "Why else would she let him bore her to death about navigation?

"Maybe she's a spy." Audrey accuses.

"The Chinese are on our side, aren't they?" Another pilot, Smiler (Kathy recalls him standing at the bar, fluffing his beer and watching the pretty women) says. Kathy really not liking how she and Tosh are almost being circled right now.

"I'm Japanese." Tosh corrects.

Audrey scoffs. "You're hardly an ally, then."

"Leave it, Audrey." George interrupts with the most helpful thing he's said all night.

Audrey ignores him. "So, whose side are you on? What's in the bag?"

"If you must now, sknows decoder for the British." Kathy interrupts, remembering Jack's defence. She doesn't want to let this interrogation go on any longer than it has to. "Her work is too secret so I doubt she appreciates you questioning her."

"Without ladies like her, we'd have no way of defending the country." Captain Jack says, handing Kathy and Jack their drinks he has offered to get earlier. "To Toshiko."

"Toshiko." They all cheer.

"I need Bilis's camera." Tosh says, pulling Kathy and Jack to the side. "Photographs last, don't they? Kathy?"

Technically it's only part of the equation that'll be taken but it's better than nothing and they will still get the rest of the equation to the others, even if Bilis scratches out the last few numbers, as nothing will stop Owen with Bilis' timepiece, so Kathy nods.

"I'll go with you." She offers. "Jack, you can stay here."

"Sure you don't want me to come with you?" Jack asks.

Captain Jack hears this. "Oh, you can't run out on me. I've just got you a drink." He says to Jack.

"We're fine. You carry on." Tosh encourages.

Jack glances wordlessly at Kathy. She can see the question in his eyes. She nods. He must stay with him.

As Tosh uses Bilis' camera to take a photograph of the piece of paper that now has the latest figures worked out in pencil, Kathy's eyes flicker around the room and that's when she notices the grandfather clock and Bilis' portrait is now missing. She fidgets nervously at that, staring at the blank space.

She's so focused on it that she startles as Tosh does when Bilis says, "Starting to be a habit."

They turn just as the photograph comes out of the camera to which Tosh quickly yanks out. Bilis smiles, taking the camera from her hand.

"We just wanted to try it out." Tosh says.

His eyes take them in. He smiles creepily. "This little beauty is very unusual and rare, not unlike yourselves."

And now this is their chance to just get the hell out of here.

Kathy lets out a fake chuckle. "I didn't know you were such a flirt Bilis. I apologise for our trespassing." She grabs the piece of paper with the equation with one hand and wraps her other hand around Tosh's shoulder, urging her to move forward. "We should join the others. Captain Harper is waiting for us."

They reach the door quickly once Tosh gets her surprised feet moving.

"Of course, but I can think of better things to photograph than numbers, my dear." Bilis calls after them.

This unsettles Tosh, causing her steps to stutter but Kathy swiftly moves her on.

"Do call again!"

Kathy helps Tosh place the photograph inside the plastic which held the unwritten birthday card for Tosh's grandad.

Before she places it inside an old disused electricity junction box, Tosh freezes.

"Oh no, Kathy."

Tosh shows her the photograph. Showing that the full equation isn't on there, it's been cut off in the corner. Kathy winces. She knows she should've either taken the photograph or kept an eye out for Bilis and Tosh may have taken a better photograph but Kathy can't risk changing too much, not when dealing with such an anomaly that is Bilis Manger. Making sure everything plays out as it does in the episode, Bilis will be defeated and won't be lying in wait for another go.

"We can get the rest to them, Tosh. They'll see this and keep searching." Kathy reassures her. "But right now I think there's going to be—"

The air raid sirens start and bombs start falling. Kathy grabs Tosh and yanks her towards the entrance where the lights have been turned off. They dive into the dance hall as a bomb lands outside and blows through one of the curtained windows causing screams from the people inside.

Bilis directs them to the basement air raid shelter. Captain Jack stands in the middle of the room, trying to help. Their Jack stands on the staircase going up to the upper floor yelling, "Katherine!" and "Toshiko!" up them.

"We're here!" Kathy yells as they are jostled along by the panicking crowd, making sure not to call him Jack in front of the actual Jack.

Jack saga with relief, hurrying over to them, putting his arms around them, and guiding them towards where everyone else is heading. As Tosh tells Jack about how they weren't wholly successful in their mission, Kathy glances back at Captain Jack who watches them go.

The basement is blacked out but some oil lamps have been lit, Kathy grabs one. Couples hug. As they pass them, Kathy sees Smiler pull the "You could be the last girl I ever kiss" with Audrey before the two kiss. Kathy tries to not roll her eyes at that. The key word being tries.

"I've got to finish the message. Pencil will fade. I need something else." Tosh tells them. "Kathy?"

"Blood will be the safest bet. They'll be tins and that over here that'll protect it." Kathy pulls Tosh to the corner of the room. All around them are pools of light, unsteady breathing, some tears, some laughter.

Kathy finds the storage cupboard in the corner and opens it. There are tins of coffee and tea inside. She empties a coffee tin and hands it to Tosh.

Tosh grins. "Airtight. This'll do."

And she gets out her grandfather's unwritten birthday card from her bag. Then she cuts her finger on the rough edge of the tin until it bleeds. Tosh kneels down, dips the pencil in her own blood and starts to write the remaining part of the equation on the card by the light of the oil lamp.

The band player has brought down his clarinet and is playing 'The White Cliffs of Dover'. A woman sings along, her beautiful voice echoing in the near darkness. Some people hum along softly to the song while Tosh continues to write in blood on the card. Captain Jack stands very close to their Jack as they talk quietly to one another as Tosh seals her note in the coffee canister and hides it in the corner.

The all-clear sounds which is rather a good thing as Smiler has his hand inside Audrey's blouse.

"Let the dancing continue!" Bilis cries joyfully causing everyone to cheer.

"I've finished. The rest of the equation is hidden in there." Tosh tells Jack as they emerge from the corner. Her left hand is still bleeding which Tim notices.

"What happened?" He asks, concerned.

"I slipped." Tosh lies.

"I've got a first-aid kit in the van." Tim gently leads her out.

Kathy shares a look with Jack as Captain Jack lingers nearby. She flashes him s small smile before leaving the two alone.

Kathy sits with Jack and Tosh at a table at the edge of the largely empty dance floor knowing this is it. The rift will open at any moment and Jack and Tosh will leave. Kathy's sad that they'll have to go, she enjoyed her time with the two but she knows she'll see her current Jack soon and she'll soon see Tosh again in less than a century.

The band strikes up 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'. "That certain night, the night we met, There was magic abroad in the air."

The band plays and the woman sings. Slowly, Captain Jack walks across the dance floor and passes the few couples who are dancing together until he reaches their table.

"There were angels dancing at the Ritz, And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square... I may be right, I may be wrong."

Jack looks at him in amazement as Captain Jack takes his hand and leads him onto the dance floor.

"But I'm perfectly willing to swear."

The men are shocked as the two dance in each other's arms. The dance floor clears and people stop, mesmerised and transfixed by the beauty of these two men dancing slowly together, cheek to cheek, their eyes shut... Oblivious to anything but each other.

"Who is he? Really?" Tosh asks softly, entranced. "You know him more than any of us."

"Jack's so many things and I don't know all of it yet," Kathy replies. She knows there's time before he became immortal and turned up in 1869 when he knew her as well as this Jack's present in the early 21st century. She knows her current Jack, the one who's waiting to confront Ten for leaving him behind on Satellite Five.

Jack pulls back and they look each other in the eye, searing intensity. Just as the two captains are about to kiss the dance hall door bangs open and a bright white light appears. Kathy and Tosh run over to him, the letter yelling his name and telling them they need to leave. Kathy ignores the people around them and instead focuses on Jack. She can see he doesn't want to go. He wants to be with the Captain.

She grabs his arm to pull his attention to her. "You need to go, they need you." She knows not to make any promises that she'll look after Captain Jack, that they'll be alright because it wouldn't be the truth.

Kathy can practically hear Jack's heart-wrenching as he looks at Captain Jack. "I have to go… It's my duty."

Captain Jack nods. Jack begins to walk away from him while briefly brushing his hand against Kathy in the form of a goodbye though he doesn't look at her, he doesn't look at anyone except the bright light that Tosh anxiously waits by. He's halfway there when he stops then turns and strides towards Captain Jack, pulling him into a passionate kiss. They lose themselves in each other. They pull back and look at each other.

Tosh yells for Jack again. He pulls himself away and walks back over to Tosh. He stands there, looking back at the Captain who salutes him before both Jack and Tosh vanish before them.

Kathy ignores all the stares and the mutters of shock and instead puts her hand on Captain Jack's arm and smiles sympathetically before pulling him out of the room, away from everyone's gaze.

"Do you think Kathy's alright?" Tosh asks Jack as the both of them sit in his office after returning from 1941 to their present day. She swirls the glass of brandy that she holds in her hand after toasting to the lost Captain.

Jack's sigh is full of emotion before turning to Tosh and flashing his usual charismatic smile that Tosh, after travelling to the past and learning more about him, sees right through. "Of course she is, you know she's out there right now. It's just been longer for her, she took the long way round."

Kathy chews her lips anxiously, gripping the telephone tightly as she waits for the person on the other side to pick up.

"Mom?" Carlyle's voice crackles through the receiver.

Kathy smiles softly as she replies, "Hi Carlyle, I just thought I'd check in, see how you're both doing."

Carlyle clears his throat, speaking in a cheery voice, "Everything's alright, we're fine, you don't need to worry."

Something in his voice makes her feel uncomfortable though can't quite tell what it is.

"I know, I know," Kathy huffs, laughing slightly though it feels forced, "it's just the two of you are always so busy these days, I hardly get to see you both."

"I'm sorry. You know how it is. So many things to see and do." Carlyle replies, continuing to be evasive.

"Of course, it's just…" she hesitates for a moment, "you will tell me if anything's going on, right?"

"Yeah. I would. Of course I would, mom." He assures her.

"Ok." Kathy replies despite feeling the opposite.

Carlyle puts down the receiver and lets out a heavy sigh. "I think we should tell her." He says. He stands in his and Ashildr's home, which is a 1500s-style building that's been repaired and renovated many times over with a mishmash of alien tech.

They've been here since the station was built in 1848. They found the alien foxhole and knew they needed to help it, better it. It's been their unofficial home since then. Their house is like the whole street, the place is run-down and grungy but still highly functional: spaceship parts piggyback off tree-house extensions and alien inventions. The street is hidden out of the view of the public due to the Lurkworms creating the telepathic field needed. Existing at the heart of central London. On the street, his wife works as a mayor for their existing refugee camp. They only get pulled away from it to keep up the pretence with Kathy that nothing's going on.

Ashildr scoffs from where she lounges next to the fire. The alien tech they have would mean that the house could easily be heated without needing a fireplace but Carlyle likes the rusticness of it. "Why? She probably knows anyway."

"More the reason to tell her." Carlyle argues.

"Would she approve?" Ashildr retorts, voicing the concern that's always in the back of his mind.

"Why wouldn't she?" Carlyle counters, fighting his doubts. "We're giving a safe haven, a sanctuary for over twenty alien species. Mom would be proud of that."

Ashildr lets out another huff, standing to face him. "Kathy wouldn't be any help to us. How could she be? She's too focused on the characters from that TV show. Always running after with stars in her eyes and that tunnel vision is blinding her from what matters. Things such as our refugee camp."

"She's my mother. It's been nearly a century since we started. I can't continue keeping this from her. She's already getting suspicious." Carlyle persists, feeling tearful.

"Who cares?"

"But–"

"What do you think they'd say if they knew our punishments?" She strokes the striking tattoo that whorls of black ink around her neck and collarbone, representing her alliance with the Quantum Shade. "You know what she's like, her and the Doctor, always that moral high ground yet what do they actually do? Nothing. They judge others. That's not us. We help others like us."

There's a knock on the door and a voice calling, "Mayor Me."

"Yes?"

Rump enters. "We have a group of Sontarans claiming asylum."

"Thank you, we'll be there shortly." He leaves and Ashildr turns to Carlyle, gently stroking both of his upper arms. "I know you think Kathy would be sympathetic but, other than Strax, when has she ever been kind to a Sontaran?"

"You're right." Carlyle admits.

"Of course I'm right. I'm your wife, I'm always right." She grins before pecking him on the cheek. She pulls back. "Remember. This is your anchor, your purpose."

He sighs and nods. She smiles, pleased. She smooths down her hair, straightening her clothes and wrapping the scarf around her neck, readying herself to meet either friend or foe.

He watches after her with pride. All that she's been through and lost, she still stands there as strong as ever and ready to face the world.

Yet, he can't help but feel that this is going to end badly.

A/N: It's difficult for Kathy to change the main thread of this story which leads to the finale as she can only change so much but I didn't want her to be just sitting on her hands or make it seem like it so I had her assisting Tosh as Jack is busy with the original Captain Jack.

The scene at the end with Carlyle and Ashildr 👀 Anyone who's familiar with season 9 might know what's going on there.