Torchwood - Phantasmagoria - Best read after TWHL To know why certain

[MorningAngel]

Phantasmagoria

 

By

 

Dawn M Duval

 

Chapter One

 

The darkness was pretty impenetrable, there was no moon to light the night. The SUV pulled up, it's blue lights stronger than the old street lamp above. They parked next to a house which would have been the envy of the street when it was built. That now stood there mouldering, vandalised and unloved.

 

"Great we've stepped into a cliché" Owen said as they got out of the SUV "Why are we here exactly?"

 

"Reports of a ghost" Jack said taking out a torch.

 

"Great now we're ghost busters or is it Scooby doo?"

 

"What's the matter with you" Gwen asked "Didn't you and Tosh get it on last night?"

 

Toshiko could feel herself blushing, she was surprised she wasn't lighting up the dark street.

 

"No" He said winking at Tosh which didn't make her blushing any better "I just don't like being sent on a wild goose chase. Since when have ghosts been our area anyway?"

 

"Anything unexplained needs investigating to see if it's 'our area', you never know. Back in the day, before even Torchwood, there was a load of gelths who disguised themselves as ghosts. Would have been a right mess if it wasn't for the sacrifice of a selfless maid. I've seen a picture of her in the archives, it happened ten years before Torchwood was formed but they still thought the incident was of note. I tell you it is, that maid was the spit of our Gwen or is Gwen the spit of her"

 

"So do you think it's the gelth again?" Gwen asked a bit concerned.

 

"No, they lived off the gas and this place must have been cut off years ago"

 

"So what is it?"

 

"We don't know that's why we're here" Jack said slipping the lock on the front door.

 

The house was dark, there was dust and cobwebs everywhere. They walked carefully in, watching out for any floorboard that might be missing.

 

"It's not April fools day is it?" Owen asked

 

"No" Came Jack's curt reply.

 

"Someone is having us on, there is no such thing as ghosts"

 

"All the things we've seen and you're querying ghosts?" Gwen asked.

 

"Yes"

 

"I believe in the stone tape theory" Toshiko said

 

"What's that when it's at home?" Owen asked

 

"That ghosts exist in as much as their surroundings have absorbed the energy created when they were alive or just dying -as is often the case- and every so often it plays that event back. It's just a recording of what happened stored in the surroundings"

 

"Interesting theory" Owen said

 

Gwen reckoned his relationship with Toshiko had softened him a bit to new ideas.

 

"Remember a couple of years back" Owen said "Everyone thought they saw ghosts. Turned out they were just cyber…" Owen saw Ianto's face and shut up.

 

"That was because Torchwood One liked playing with their toys, and look where it got them. We've got to make sure we don't make the same mistakes" Jack said putting a caring hand on Ianto's arm.

 

They entered the large main room. The many windows' curtains were hanging tattered letting what little light there was outside in.

 

"This place is really rather freaky" Gwen said "And it reeks" she said wrinkling her nose.

 

"There's someone outside" Toshiko said as she saw a silhouette at one of the windows.

 

The others looked but it had gone.

 

Owen went to the window and looked out "There's no one there babe"

 

'Babe' Gwen mouthed to Ianto

 

"My how things have changed" he whispered back with a grin.

 

"It must have been the shadow from one of the trees or something" Owen said coming back into the room.

 

"It defiantly looked like a man to me" Toshiko said still looking at the window.

 

"Shadows can be deceptive" Gwen agreed "and we are all a little on edge"

 

"Isn't the ghost supposed to be on the inside?" Ianto asked

 

"Or whatever it is" Gwen corrected

 

"Yes it's supposed to be inside" Jack said looking around.

 

"Why don't we split up and get this over and done with" Owen said "We can find there's nothing here but spiders, then we can all go home"

 

"That might not be a bad plan" Ianto agreed

 

"I'll go with Tosh"

 

"No surprises there then" Gwen said

 

"Why don't you go with Ianto" Owen said to Gwen

 

"I'm fine with that"

 

"But that'll leave Jack on his own" Ianto pointed out

 

"I don't mind I can take it" Jack said "You haven't lived as long as me without being on your own occasionally" Jack smiled to show he really didn't mind "Owen you and Tosh take the ground floor, I'll take the next floor up, Ianto and Gwen you can have the top floor."

 

Gwen and Ianto crept up the stairs, each stair creaking as they trod on it.

 

"You do think these stairs are safe don't you?" Gwen asked Ianto.

 

"I certainly hope so" Ianto said leading the way.

 

-

 

Toshiko cautiously lead the way with Owen right behind her, their torches making little dent in the gloom.

 

"This place is a bleeding death trap" Owen said "Someone is laughing at us big time"

 

"There might be something here"

 

"Other than rats"

 

"Oh no, not rats" Toshiko said stopping in her tracks "Mice I can handle but rats"

 

"Yeah and there going to climb right up your trouser leg" Owen teased

 

"Owen don't"

 

Owen gave her an enigmatic smile and they continued walking down the corridor. The floor boards creaked and groaned beneath them. The creaks and groans suddenly got louder. The floor gave way beneath Toshiko, Owen make a grab for her but it was no good.

 

Chapter Two

 

Jack wandered around the room. It was just an old room nothing unusual. The only mildly strange thing was that the furniture and the possessions where still there, it looked like either someone had left in a hurry or they had died and there had been no one to care enough to come and clear the place. Jack picked up one of the pictures that stood on the fireplace, the man in it looked vaguely familiar. Jack wondered if he had known him, or if he had been a past lover. No there might be many, but Jack always remembered them, and he hoped they always remembered him. He supposed he had just seen him around. He put the picture down again, that's when he heard it.

 

-

 

"Tosh are you alright down there?" Owen called down through the hole.

 

"I think so, just a bit bruised. I can't move though" she called back.

 

"I'm coming down" he said putting his torch in his mouth and preparing to climb down.

 

"No, Owen it's not safe. Those floor boards could give way too" she was quiet for a moment, but Owen could hear movement.

 

"There's a door in the corner, there must be some stairs down here somewhere.

 

"I'll find them. I'll be down as fast as I can"

 

"Just watch out for any more rotten floor boards"

 

-

 

"You must help" an ethereal voice said behind Jack.

 

Jack turned around, but there was no-one there. "Where are you?"

 

"I cannot show myself, I do not have the power, you must help"

 

"Help with what?"

 

"They must be found"

 

"Who?"

 

"They are lost in time, they must be returned"

 

"Who must I find?"

 

"I know you can do it Jack"

 

"Who are you, and how do you know my name?"

 

But there was no reply; the voice wasn't there any more.

 

-

 

Owen found the door through the gloom, which lead to the room he though Toshiko was in. There were all sorts of things stacked against the door. "Tosh are you in there?"

 

"Owen thank god" came the muffled reply.

 

"I'll be in as fast as I can" Owen said as he started to move the things that were blocking the door "There's all sorts of crap here"

 

There were tables and chairs amongst other things in the way. Eventually Owen managed to move them out of the way. But the door was jammed or locked shut, Owen hit it in frustration.

 

"Owen!"

 

"I'm getting there, babe the doors stuck"

 

Toshiko was trapped by a fallen bookcase, try as she might she was unable to move it on her own. She didn't like the room she was in, it gave her a bad feeling. She heard Owen at the door trying to bash it in. After a few times he made it in, stumbling in when it finally gave way.

 

"Owen, thank god"

 

"They definitely made doors to last back then"

 

"Hurry up and help me. I don't like it"

 

"Funny I though you love being trapped under a book case" he joked as he went over to help her.

 

"No it's this room, I don't like it. Something just moved over there" she said with terror in her voice.

 

"Probably just a rat"

 

"I hope not, it was human sized"

 

It was then Owen realised the feeling he'd had when he'd entered the room, the feeling of being watched. Not by Tosh but by unseen eyes. But it was worse than that, it was an evil feeling of foreboding. A feeling of death, he'd met death, hell he'd even defeated death, he knew what it felt like.

 

"We've need to get out of here, now!" he said with a renewed effort to free Toshiko.

 

Chapter Three

 

Jack was still mildly in a trance after what he had heard, he had to find someone but he didn't know who and he didn't have the first idea where to start looking.

 

Ianto and Gwen had checked the top floor without finding much but spiders. All that was left to try was the attic.

 

"I'm not a great fan of attics" Ianto said as he entered cautiously behind Gwen "I find them a bit spooky"

 

"This whole place is spooky"

 

"True"

 

Gwen stopped in her tracks putting her hand out to stop Ianto too. There was a small broken window at end of the attic and there looking out of it was a small, ill looking child. It wasn't a living breathing human child, it looked like a faded picture.

 

It turned to look at them "He needs protection, this place is not safe"

 

"Who needs protecting?" Gwen asked

 

The child looked on as it faded away completely.

 

"Ok no happier about attics now" Ianto said with a note of panic in his voice and heading back towards the stairs.

 

Gwen went over to look at where the child had been. She looked out of the window, the view was amazing.

 

"Are you coming" Ianto said his head popping back into view.

 

"Umm, oh yes sorry" Gwen said joining him.

 

-

 

At last Toshiko was free of the bookcase. They headed to the door with great speed. Owen made sure Toshiko got out first. He turned around to look behind him as he left. That feeling was still there, death was calling his name like it had before.

 

-

 

Jack walked down the stairs back to the ground floor, he was still desperately trying to understand what the 'thing' had wanted. Who was it that it wanted? He himself was lost and wandering through time, but surely it couldn't be him the thing wanted. And what was it? The voice of a ghost, an alien, or someone talking through time? As jack reached the ground floor Owen came running towards him, he held Toshiko's hand tightly in his and she was desperately trying to keep up, so he didn't wrench her arm from its socket.

 

"We need to leave now" Owen said stopping next to Jack, Toshiko was gasping for air after their sprint.

 

"We're not going anywhere without Gwen and Ianto" Jack said calmly

 

"Well tell them to get here now, this place isn't safe"

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"We need to get out"

 

"What have you seen?"

 

"There's a creature here, I can feel it. It feeds on death and I don't propose we be it's next meal"

 

Chapter Four

 

"Where did you find it?" Jack asked

 

"In the basement"

 

"Could they be anywhere else?"

 

"Yeah I suppose so"

 

"We need to find Gwen and Ianto" he said heading back up the stairs.

 

However he was pleased to see Ianto was already coming down at a similar speed, followed by Gwen.

 

"We need to leave" Jack said

 

"You don't have to tell me twice" Ianto said leading the escape closely followed by Owen.

 

As they crossed the overgrown garden back to the SUV Gwen and Jack looked back at the house. Owen didn't and was first back at the SUV closing followed by Ianto.

 

"That place was horrible" Owen said being careful not to look at it.

 

"You're telling me" Ianto agreed

 

The drive back to the hub was quiet, for once Owen wasn't commenting on Jack's driving. Instead he sat in the back next to Toshiko staring out of the window.

 

"Are you ok?" she asked

 

"I'm fine" Owen said looking at her for a moment before looking out of the window again. She noticed a haunted look in his eyes.

 

"So I take it we all found something" Jack said from the head of the boardroom table.

 

"We saw a child" Gwen said

 

"It was horrible" Ianto added

 

"No it wasn't, it was small and sad"

 

"Did it say anything?" Jack asked

 

"Something about the place not being safe and someone needs protection"

 

"Who?"

 

"I don't know" Gwen said shrugging

 

"What about you Tosh?"

 

"I'm not really sure what we saw" Toshiko said "There were really dark shadows moving and the room we were in felt horrible"

 

"Owen anything to add?"

 

"No" came Owen's short reply. He was trying not to think about it. 

 

"Well I didn't actually see anything, but I heard it" Jack said. 

 

"Not those voices in your head again" Gwen teased

 

"No, not this time"

 

"What did they say?"

 

"It asked me to help. Saying something about they must be found"

 

"Who are 'they'?"

 

"I don't know. It could be a group of people or it could be just one, it didn't say. It knew my name though"

 

"How did it know your name?" Ianto asked

 

"Pass"

 

"So we're not much wiser" Gwen said

 

"So what you found didn't say anything?" Jack asked Owen and Toshiko.

 

"Thankfully no" Owen replied

 

Owen was sitting at his desk trying to work on some notes, but he kept cautiously looking around him, he looked tense. Toshiko walked over to him, he nearly jumped out of his skin when she spoke.

 

"Owen are you ok?"

 

"I'm fine" Owen lied

 

"I'm worried about you"

 

"Really I'm fine"

 

It was late and the hub was silent, everyone else had gone home hours ago. Jack sat sifting through files, it was an impossible job. There were far too many missing people in Cardiff. What with people running away, not wanting to be found, being murdered- and their bodies never being found, and the rift taking whoever it pleased. He didn't even know when to look. His office was littered with files, but he didn't known who he was looking for or when they had gone missing. Where they even human come to think of it?

 

-

 

The sudden pull on the covers woke Toshiko, she opened her eyes to see Owen sat bolt upright staring into the darkness, sweat on his brow.

 

"Owen what's the matter?" she asked sleepily

 

"Must have been a bad dream" he said but still he eyed the dark corners of the room suspiciously.

 

"Come here" she said pulling him back down and snuggling into him, her arm crossing his body.

 

"Tosh, this is going to sound really lame. But can I put the light on?"

 

"Whatever" she said dozing off again.

 

He switched the bedside light on and hugged Toshiko close, but he didn't close his eyes.

[MorningAngel]

Chapter Five

 

Owen was at his desk, the problem was his head was laid on it and he was snoring. Jack wandered over and tutted managing to remove one of the reports from under Owen before he managed to drool on it.

 

"He didn't sleep much last night" Toshiko said apologetically

 

"Steady on Tosh, I'm not sure we want to know" Gwen said raising an eyebrow.

 

"Oh god no, not like that" Toshiko said blushing "I think what he saw at the house affected him. That's why I want to go back"

 

"Are you sure, I mean if it's affected Owen this much"

 

"That's why I want to go. I can investigate it and hopefully find out that it's nothing to worry about and he can get some proper sleep"

 

"You can come with me" Jack said "I was going to go back anyway"

 

"Can you not mention it to Owen" Toshiko said lowering her voice "That's if he notices I've gone"

 

Jack and Toshiko got their coats and left. Owen's snoring was still ringing through the hub as the door rolled closed behind them.

 

Jack and Toshiko warily entered the house.

 

"Owen's going to go spare when he realised you've come back here" Jack said closing the door behind them.

 

"You're here too" Toshiko pointed out.

 

"Yeah but he doesn't care about me as much, if at all"

 

"I'm sure he does"

 

"Even so definitely not as much as you"

 

"I will tell him, but only once it is all sorted, tell him he doesn't need to worry"

 

"Well we'd better get on with it then" Jack said "Where do you want to go first?"

 

"I'll be alright on my own, if you want to go off and do what you've come for"

 

"You sure?"

 

"Yes I'll be fine"

 

"Well if you're sure, meet back here in half an hour"

 

-

 

Owen woke up, the indent of the files still on his face. He had the perfect Torchwood logo on his cheek from one of the more impressive files that had embossing on it.

 

"Welcome back sleeping beauty" Gwen teased

 

"I seem to have dozed off there for a bit"

 

"Tosh said you had trouble sleeping last night"

 

"Oh did she? It was just a bit of insomnia everyone has that occasionally"

 

"You didn't have insomnia just now"

 

"No, these wonderfully exciting case notes cured me" he said wiping the drool off them.

 

-

 

Toshiko entered the room cautiously the same feeling of dread filling her but she pushed herself forward, she was just imaging it. If there was anything there she would scan it and find out about it.

 

"Where's Tosh and Jack?" Owen asked taking a sip of the coffee Ianto has just supplied.

 

"Oh they have gone out, there were reports of a loose weevil" Gwen said

 

"Oh" Owen said surprised "What's Tosh doing with Weevils, that's more my area"

 

"Yeah well she's got a new device she wants to try out, a new weevil detector" Gwen said thinking on her feet.

 

"Oh, well that makes more sense. There had to be a bit of kit somewhere. I've not dealt with a weevil since I've been properly back from the dead. I hope I've still got it"

 

"Owen you will always be king of the weevils"

 

Jack entered the room where he had heard the voice. The atmosphere seemed different this time "Hello" Jack called

 

But there was no reply

 

"Hello are you there?"

 

But still there was silence.

 

"Is there anybody there?" Jack said in a final attempt "How corny was that?"

 

Jack signed and wandered over to look out of the window into the grounds. He saw a figure looking in through the railings. They were just standing there looking. Jack wondered if they might know something. He ran down the stairs and out to where they had been, but they had gone. Jack cursed, he was certain they knew something.

 

Toshiko shone her torch into the corners of the room, noting the readouts on the small computer in her hand. She stayed in the middle of the room, away from the corners only moving her hand to see if she could get a better reading. All of a sudden, her torch went out. Fiddling with it she also dropped the computer, the screen breaking when it fell. She was plunged into complete darkness, it felt like the darkness was creeping in towards her ready to suffocate her. Tosh being Tosh managed to fix the torch in the complete darkness in seconds. When she turned it on again the room felt and looked lighter, the corners didn't seem as black as before. Had she imagined it? Had she believed something was there? But what had changed now? She satisfied herself that it was just a creepy room with nothing there to be scared of.

 

Toshiko returned to the hall at the same time as Jack.

 

"Did you find anything?" He asked

 

"No, you?"

 

"Not a thing"

 

Jack and Toshiko entered the hub.

 

"How were the weevils?" Owen asked

 

"What weevils?" Toshiko asked, Gwen making frantic hand movements behind Owen's head.

 

"The ones you went to find"

 

"Oh we didn't go looking for weevils we went back to the house"

 

Gwen smacked herself in the forehead.

 

"Oh right…" Owen said looking at Gwen

 

"Thanks Tosh!" Gwen said annoyed

 

"Hold on, you went back there?" Owen said as it sank in "are you mad?"

 

"No, I'm not thank you. There is nothing there to worry about, you're just being paranoid"

 

"Oh am I? How come you felt it too then?"

 

"I was panicking, so were you"

 

"Yes, because of what was there"

 

"Owen there is nothing there believe me it's all in the mind"

 

Owen lay back in bed in a post coital glow. Quality was defiantly better than random anonymous quantity. Not that quantity was lacking either.

 

"You're not staying are you?" Toshiko's voice broke Owen out of his thoughts.

 

"I usually do"

 

"I'd rather you didn't"

 

"I thought you liked it, its nice waking up together"

 

"You've got a flat of your own, why don't you use it?"

 

Owen looked at her in disbelief "Are you throwing me out? I thought you enjoyed yourself"

 

"I did, but now I want my space. So if you don't mind"

 

"I bloody well do mind!" Owen said getting up and retrieving his clothes "I don't bloody believe this" he said pulling his trousers on "I was alright for a shag, now you want rid of me" he looked at her in total and utter disbelief "Fine!" he said leaving, the rest of his clothes in his hands. He slammed the door behind him. He felt numb with shock for a couple of minutes while it sank in. Then he felt totally and utterly crushed. He slung on the rest of his clothes in the cold hallway.

 

Chapter Six

 

The flat was quiet. Rhys' snores were the only thing that could be heard, until the door buzzer rang. Gwen stretched out her hand for the phone before realising that wasn't what she was hearing. She pulled herself out from under Rhys' arm and wandered sleepily to the living room, she picked up the entry phone.

 

"Hello who is it?" she said her throat hoarse from sleep.

 

"It's Owen can I come up?"

 

"Ok" she said yawning and pressing the door release.

 

Rhys had stopped snoring and come to see where his wife had gone "What's going on?"

 

"It's Owen"

 

"What's up with him?"

 

Gwen shrugged. Just then Owen came in, he looked flung together and awful.

 

"I've been used!" he said sitting down dejectedly on the sofa.

 

"What?" Gwen wondered if she would understand better if she was fully awake.

 

"Tosh, she's used me"

 

"Tosh!" Gwen said in shock

 

"Yeah, she had her wicked way with me, then told me to sling my hook"

 

Gwen couldn't help but laugh "Tosh?"

 

"Yes Tosh" Owen spat back.

 

"There's got to be some mistake. She's mad about you. It took her long enough to get you into her bed, never mind chucking you out of it"

 

"Well maybe she's gone off me"

 

"No, no this isn't Tosh's style. She loves you, I've seen it"

 

"Well there was no love tonight" He said his head in his hands. Gwen had a feeling he was crying not that he'd admit it.

 

"It must have been a misunderstanding"

 

"No she was perfectly clear 'Owen bugger off'"

 

"I really don't believe it"

 

"I'm having trouble believing it myself"

 

"I'll have a word with her tomorrow. You can stay here if you like. Is that ok Rhys?"

 

"Ay, oh yeah whatever" Rhys said even less awake than Gwen

 

Gwen got Owen some blankets before she and Rhys went back to bed. Once again Owen had trouble sleeping, but it wasn't the darkness that worried him this time.

 

"Which hedge did Owen get dragged through?" Jack asked Gwen

 

"He spent the night on our couch" Gwen said

 

"Why?"

 

"Seems him and Tosh have had a falling out"

 

"Why didn't he go back to his place?"

 

"Dunno, just wanted some friendly faces I think"

 

"So what did he do to get thrown out?"

 

"Nothing from what I can tell"

 

"Really?"

 

"Yeah, she threw him out after they had done the deed"

 

"Is he really that bad?" Jack joked

 

"It's not funny. It doesn't sound like Tosh at all"

 

"I know what you mean. Tosh throwing Owen out of her bed doesn't sound imaginable"

 

The cog door rolled aside and Toshiko entered. Owen looked over trying to pretend he wasn't. She was dressed extremely sexily, her clothes fitting and hugging in all the right places, and there was just enough cleavage to be enticing but not slutty. She had scarlet red lipstick too. Owen couldn't help but register how hot she looked, and let out a small moan.

 

"She's doing this deliberately" Owen said to Gwen

 

"I'll have a word" Gwen said patting him on the shoulder, before walking over to Toshiko. "Tosh what are you playing at with Owen?"

 

"Pardon? Oh that I needed some space"

 

"So is that it? It's over between you now?"

 

"No"

 

"That's what Owen thinks"

 

"Don't worry I'll sort it"

 

Owen could see Toshiko coming over, and resolved not to look at her.

 

"What do you want?" he said

 

"Owen, I'm sorry"

 

"Yeah right, you were perfectly clear last night. You've had enough of me"

 

"No, that's not it"

 

"You couldn't throw me out soon enough"

 

"Come on forgive me, you know you want to"

 

The fact that her hand was travelling up his thigh was making it impossible to think. Owen made an attempt to speak but her lips silenced him and he didn't fight it.

 

"For god sake get a room" Gwen said smiling when they came up for air "Honestly" Gwen said looking at Jack. Jack was still looking at them but he wasn't smiling.

 

-

 

Jack bounced down the stairs from his office, putting his coat on.

 

"Owen, if you can put Toshiko down long enough, we've got weevil to catch"

 

"Right oh" Owen said kissing Toshiko who was still sitting on his desk, before getting his jacket and following Jack.

 

"What's wrong with Tosh?" Jack asked as he drove the SUV through the busy Cardiff streets.

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"She's acting really out of character. The Toshiko I know would never dream of throwing you out of bed"

 

"Gwen told you?"

 

"She was concerned"

 

"Tosh is fine, don't worry"

 

"Umm" Jack said unconvinced

 

A silence descended in the SUV.

 

Jack slammed on the brakes so hard Owen thought he had hit something. But soon found out he had seen something as he leapt out of the vehicle.

 

"Jack where the hell are you going, what about the weevil?"

 

Owen got out to go and find him.

 

When Owen found Jack he was in the middle of a busy square, looking as if he had lost something.

 

"I saw him" he said more to himself than Owen

 

"Saw who?"

 

"He was here"

 

"Hello, who are we talking about?"

 

Jack seemed to come back to his senses "It doesn't matter"

 

"And that's why you dumped the SUV in the middle of the road?" Owen said his voice could just be heard over all the blaring car horns.

[MorningAngel]

Chapter Seven

 

Jack and Owen returned to the hub, both looked sullen.

 

"Did you find the weevil?" Gwen asked

 

"No chance, not a sign of it" Owen said sitting down "Of course Jack going AWOL didn't help"

 

Jack said nothing but continued to his office and closed the door.

 

"He leapt out of the SUV" Owen continued "saw something. Didn't tell me what it was though"

 

-

 

Jack sat down heavily at the desk. Had he been seeing things? He was sure it had been him. But how could it be, that picture was over a hundred years old, but still he was certain it had been him.

 

-

 

Toshiko had accused him of not using his own flat. She was right though he did spend a lot of time at hers these days. So for a change they had come back to his flat. They'd had a nice evening and the sex had been great. At least she couldn't kick him out of his own bed, he thought as he moved towards her to settle down to sleep. But she moved away and got out of the bed.

 

"Where are you going?" he asked

 

"Home" she said putting her clothes on.

 

"What?"

 

"I'm going home"

 

"Oh"

 

She bent down, Owen lent in for a kiss but she was just getting her phone from the bedside table.

 

"See you" she said as she headed out of the door.

 

Owen lay there in shock. He couldn't deny it any longer, there was definitely something wrong with Toshiko. He turned over looking at the empty bed next to him. He had got used to her being there, the bed felt so empty without her.

 

-

 

"There is definitely something wrong with Tosh" Owen said chucking his jacket over his chair.

 

"Did she throw you out of bed again?" Gwen asked

 

"She couldn't exactly, we were at my place"

 

"So what happened?"

 

"She just got up and left no kiss goodbye, no nothing"

 

"After you….." Ianto asked

 

"Yup"

 

"You don't think she's…" Gwen started

 

"Seeing someone else. She might be"

 

"No. No she wouldn't!" Gwen said in shock "No I was going to say pregnant. It can make you do some pretty strange things"

 

Owen laughed

 

"What's so funny?"

 

"It's not possible"

 

"Why? I know you've been sleeping together. No contraception is 100 per cent reliable"

 

"Believe me, there will never be Harper-Sato babies"

 

"You might not want them. But it doesn't mean…"

 

"A side effect of being returned from the dead by the Angeline Order is we are both infertile. We can have our lives back but not create any more. Tosh was worried when certain woman things... well weren't as they should be" Owen said slightly embarrassed.

 

"Why are you embarrassed? You're a doctor for god sake, periods are just part of the female body"

 

Both Owen and Ianto winced

 

"Its just well, it's different when it's someone you know, someone you're intermit with. Anyway I tested her and when I saw the results I tested myself too. We are both as barren as the desert. Although the plus side is lots of sex with not worries" he said with a grin that disappeared when he remembered what had happened the last two times"

 

"Aw poor Tosh, perhaps that's what's driven her bonkers"

 

"No, we've know for a couple of weeks now. She took it ok"

 

"We'll have to tell Jack when he get's back" Ianto said

 

"Where is he?"

 

"I don't know he was very vague"

 

-

 

Jack didn't know where to start looking. He had seen him, he was certain. A man that should be about as old as him. But what was his story? Why had he lived so long and where was he now? Jack started by trying the area he had seen him in. He had to be about somewhere.

 

-

 

"Do you want me to talk to her again" Gwen asked looking over at Toshiko

 

"No thanks, I'll do my own dirty work" Owen replied

 

"Do you want to put on some chastity pants on first?"

 

Ianto sniggered

 

"Yeah very funny"

 

-

 

Jack was just about to give up when he saw him. He could hardly believe it. He almost though he'd imagined it. He quickly moved towards him before he disappeared again.

 

"Can I have a word?" Jack said taking him by the arm to a quiet spot.

 

"Get your hands off me. Who are you?"

 

"My name's Captain Jack Harkness, I'm from Torchwood"

 

A glimmer of recognition showed on the man's face before it was quickly hidden again.

 

"That means nothing to me"

 

"Really?" Jack asked unconvinced

 

"What is it you want?"

 

"You look familiar"

 

"Oh do I?"

 

"Yeah, I think we've met before"

 

"Can't you remember if we have or we haven't?"

 

"Well it was some time ago. I'd say about a hundred years"

 

"That's impossible"

 

"You know it isn't"

 

"You're mad"

 

"What's your name?"

 

"As if I would tell you"

 

"I told you mine, it's only fair"

 

The man sighed "My name is Oliver Gilbert"

 

"Well Ollie…"

 

"Oliver!"

 

"I need you to come with me"

 

"No! I'm not going anywhere"

 

Jack got his gun out and pointed it at Oliver.

 

"We just want answers" Jack said "We won't hurt you"

 

"That's why you are threatening me with a gun"

 

"I need you to come with me"

 

"I am not going anywhere" He said suddenly charging at Jack, taking him my surprise. He knocked Jack to the ground, his gun bouncing away from him. Oliver got to the gun first. He pointed it at Jack who was prone on the ground.

 

"I'm not going anywhere Captain-Whatever-Your-Name" he was lowering the gun again, but as he did it went off and hit Jack squarely in the chest.

 

"Oh my god I've killed him" Oliver said dropping the gun in horror "I'm so sorry" he said before running off.

 

-

 

"Tosh, what are you playing at?" Owen said as he arrived at her desk.

 

"Owen" she said with a smile

 

"Why are you treating me like this?"

 

"Come on it's just a bit of fun"

 

"What?"

 

"I thought you were used to leaving afterwards. Love them and leave them"

 

"Well in the past…"

 

"So what's the problem?"

 

"Come on you know it's different between me and you"

 

"Is it?"

 

"You know it is"

 

"How so?"

 

"You know!"

 

"No I don't"

 

"Come on"

 

"How am I different from all the other women you have slept with?"

 

Owen looked about shiftily, licked his lips and lowered his voice hoping only she could hear "Because I love you"

 

"Oh" was all the reply he got

 

"Is that all? Oh"

 

She shrugged completely untouched.

 

"I thought you felt the same"

 

She shrugged again "You're a good lay"

 

Owen snapped and grabbed her by the shoulders.

 

"You are not my Tosh! Where is she? I want her back!" he grabbed her head and stared deep into her eyes "Babe are you still there? Can you hear me?"

 

"Got off me you're mad!" Tosh wailed pushing him away.

 

Ianto and Gwen rushed over. Ianto caught Owen by the arms as he tried to launch himself at her again "She's not my Tosh" he said breaking down. Ianto's hold turned into a comforting hug.

[MorningAngel]

Chapter Eight

 

Jack returned to the hub, his guts still ached from getting shot. His New Year resolution had been to stop getting shot, it hadn't worked, that's resolutions for you. He could hear the arguing the second he entered the hub. Owen and Tosh were facing each other with Ianto and Gwen holding on to them.

 

"What the hell is going on?" Jack yelled and the arguing stopped

 

"There's something wrong with Toshiko" Owen said

 

"I'm perfectly fine" she objected

 

"I want to do some tests"

 

"What and get your filthy hands all over me"

 

"I thought you liked my filthy hands all over you" Owen said bitterly

 

"Children please" Jack cried "Tosh you have been out of sorts lately, some tests wouldn't hurt. Ianto you go and referee"

 

"Right oh" Ianto said as the three of then headed off to the medical area.

 

-

 

"Oliver Gilbert" Jack said to himself as he tapped it into the computer. It came up that they did in fact have files on him, but they were so old they were in the archive.

 

Jack went down to the archive it was the dingiest place in the hub after the cells. There was a musty smell. The files covered every wall. Torchwood had been going a long time and most of the files had survived. Some had disappeared over the years although Jack supposed that their disappearance hadn't been accidental. Jack looked for the reference to Oliver Gilbert's hoping it would still be there.

 

-

 

Toshiko sat down on the bed in the medical area "This is pointless" she said

 

"I'll be the judge of that" Owen said getting his kit ready.

 

"I feel fine. Ouch, well I did until you put that bloody great needle into me"

 

"Blood sample" Owen said taking the needle out again and separating it from the vacu-tube that now contained her blood.

 

"There's already a blood sample of mine on file. We've all got one"

 

"Well I wanted a fresh one, just to check" he said inserting the sample into one of the machines.

 

The machine clicked and whirred and a bar slowly filled up on the computer monitor. Ianto and Owen looked at it intently, Toshiko didn't bother. Suddenly the screen changed.

 

MATCH FOUND

 

The loading bar was excruciatingly slow to load.

 

100 MATCH

 

TOSHIKO SATO

 

18.09.78

 

Ref: 3891397

 

"Well there's no arguing with that" Ianto said

 

"Well what did you expect?" Toshiko said "Can I go now?" She made to get up.

 

"No, there's other tests"

 

"Oh goody" she said sarcastically, sitting back down again

 

"Brain scan" Owen said sorting it out. He took a couple of electrodes and attached them to her temples, moving her hair out of the way. Her beautiful hair, he longed to run his fingers through that beautiful glossy mane. Externally he managed to keep his profession mask on. He flicked switches and the scanner beeped into life.

 

-

 

Jack got out Oliver Gilbert's file and was having a look at it before he went back to the office with it. The lights when out in the archive room for a moment before coming on again "What the hell are they doing?"

 

-

 

Owen stared at the still smouldering scanner.

 

"I'm not the doctor here" Ianto said "But I'm guessing that shouldn't have happened"

 

"Just a bit"

 

Toshiko didn't look in the least bit bothered "Can I go now?"

 

Owen looked at her in disbelief "You've just blown my scanner up!"

 

She looked over at it but still didn't look bothered.

 

"Ok one last test" Owen said taking out a traditional thermometer

 

"That's a bit low tech, isn't it"

 

"Well after what you did to the scanner I don't want to risk it with anything too pricy" he said popping the thermometer into her mouth - her mouth, her lovely soft lips "Now no talking"

 

Toshiko folded her arms and rolled her eyes.

 

"So why did the scanner blow up?" Ianto asked

 

"I really don't know" he took the thermometer out.

 

"Well?"

 

"Normal"

 

"What the hell's that smell?" Gwen's voice said from above.

 

"Melted plastic"

 

"Can I go now?" Toshiko asked yet again

 

"Yes go" Owen said exasperated

 

"What the hell have you been doing?" Gwen said passing Toshiko on the stairs

 

"Don't ask"

 

Jack had decided against going to investigate the smell, he was much more interested in the file on his desk. He opened the file and started reading

 

Chapter Nine

 

"It blew up?" Gwen asked poking what was left of the scanner.

 

"Yup, just with her mind" Owen replied

 

"That's not good; someone shouldn't be able to do that"

 

"You're telling me"

 

"Do you think she's still got her skills?"

 

"I'd say so, just seems her emotions that are missing" Owen said bitterly

 

"But she was still sleeping with you" Ianto pointed out.

 

"Yeah but it wasn't for emotional reasons like the real Tosh would. She obviously gets something from it"

 

"Who doesn't?" Gwen asked

 

Owen had the terrible thought that if he didn't sleep with her she'd find someone else. It wrenched at his heart thinking of another man touching her beautiful soft skin, feeling it against his. But even so he couldn't sleep with her again, not while she was like this. He couldn't deal with the mind spam as well as the traditional kind.

 

"Gwen" Jack called down "Can you come and do a criminal search on a Mr Oliver Gilbert"

 

"Can't Tosh do it?" She asked

 

"Apparently not"

 

Gwen sighed, rolled her eyes and left the medical area, to go and do that check.

 

"Oh Ianto" Owen said sitting down "I miss her so much. That thing's not her, no matter what machines tell me. Sure it looks like her, sounds like her even smells like her, but it's not her.

 

"Don't worry we'll get her back"

 

-

 

"Jack I did that search" Gwen said entering his office.

 

"And?"

 

"Clean as a whistle. If he has ever done anything illegal he's never been caught. Who is he anyway?"

 

"Oliver Alistair Gilbert born around 1870"

 

"So why…" Gwen asked puzzled

 

"He's still about and don't look a day over 25"

 

"Oh"

 

"I think we need a meeting"

 

They were all seated in the boardroom. Toshiko and Owen were sitting opposite each other but avoiding eye contract. An old picture of Oliver Gilbert appeared on the screen in front of them.

 

"Very nice, old lover?" Owen asked

 

"His name's Oliver Gilbert" Jack said ignoring Owen's comment.

 

"And why are we interested in him?" Ianto asked.

 

"We need to talk to him he's definitely of interest. He is still walking around looking like that. He's out lived friends and family. Although I don't think he will be easy to find though, Torchwood have had trouble finding him in the past"

 

"Have you worked on his case before?" Gwen asked

 

"No, not personally I was more freelance in those days. Although I may well have seen him before" he said looking at the picture on the screen

 

"So we find him and bring him here?" Owen asked

 

"If we can. I've a feeling he's connected to the house too. I want some answers"

 

-

 

Toshiko was working away quietly when Gwen pulled up a seat next to her.

 

"How are you?" Gwen asked

 

"Fine" Toshiko said not looking away from the screen.

 

"It must have come as quite a shock"

 

"What?" She asked finally looking at her

 

"That you can't have kids"

 

"Oh that"

 

"Aren't you upset I know I would be?"

 

"No. The thought of it kids running around your feet screaming for attention, its bad enough with Owen"

 

"Oh right"

 

"Are you done?"

 

"Pardon?"

 

"Being all touchy feely"

 

"Well I…"

 

"Because your life's so wonderful. You're married but you hardly ever see your husband. Which you love so much, that you had to go and screw Owen"

 

"That was in the past" Gwen said in shock

 

"Does Rhys know yet?"

 

"No, and he's never going to"

 

Toshiko looked at her with an evil grin on her face "I'd mind your own business then" she said getting up and walking off, leaving Gwen shell shocked.

 

-

 

Jack and Owen were out looking for Oliver.

 

"It was him you saw the other day wasn't it?" Owen asked

 

"Yes, but I wasn't sure then"

 

"He's not here we've been looking for hours"

 

Jack sighed "You're right. He's probably gone to ground. I'll get Tosh to keep an eye on the CCTV" Jack said as he walked back to the SUV.

 

"If she can be bothered" Owen muttered

 

"What has got into her?"

 

"I don't know, something's really wrong"

 

"How did the tests go?"

 

"Inconclusive, well except she blew up the scanner"

 

"Really?" Jack asked shocked

 

"Yup smouldering heap"

 

"Perhaps I should keep an eye on her"

 

"I'll do it"

 

Chapter Ten

 

The Cardiff night life was buzzing, a year ago Owen would have lapped it up. He would have eyed the women making his selection for the night. But now it was different, sure he was looking for a woman, but one in particular. He was certain he'd find her here.

 

"Alright gorgeous" a pretty blonde said to him. But he didn't notice, his attention had been drawn to a club across the way.

 

There she was dressed up the nines. Owen rushed across the street and followed her into the club. The place was heaving, he had trouble seeing her. Eventually he spotted her. He laid low but made sure he kept her in sight the whole time, as well as watching the various men fawn over her. He wanted to go and hit them. He obviously hadn't kept a low enough profile because she saw him, but she didn't come over. Instead she wrapped herself around the neck of the man she was talking to and initiated a long sensuous kiss. Owen tried hard to control himself, his glass took the brunt of it as it gripped it hard. But it was too much it couldn't take it and shattered, the glass and alcohol stung his hand.

 

Owen went to the toilets and cleaned his cut. He took a bandage from his pocket and wrapped it around his hand. It was reminiscent of the bandage he'd had before. At least this wound would heal. He felt ill thinking of Toshiko with that man. He wiped some water across his face to take away some of the nausea. He thought he's better go back, goodness knows what they were doing by now.

 

He panicked when he couldn't see them. Then he spotted them heading towards the door. He quickly followed them. He just saw them heading towards an alley across the way. "Oh God" Owen said to himself knowing all too well what follows. He ran across there as quickly as he could. They had just started kissing again and his hand was up her skirt, she started undoing his belt, fumbling with urgency.

 

"No!" Owen screamed pulling him off her.

 

"Owen!" Toshiko screamed

 

"Get off me you nutter" The man said heading towards Owen and throwing a punch. A fight soon broke out. Toshiko watched from the side lines smiling. Owen was actually loosing until he pushed the other man away and pulled out his gun. The other man stopped in his tracks.

 

"Can't win fairly so you cheat? Ok you have her. I'd keep a better eye on your bird in the future" he said leaving.

 

"What the bloody hell are you playing at?" Toshiko demanded

 

"Tosh this isn't you"

 

"Sod off"

 

"We're going home"

 

"Have you got plans" she said sliding her hand on to his bum

 

"Not those kind of plans" he said removing it. "I'm going to keep my eye on you"

 

"You're going to baby sit me?"

 

"It's me or the cells"

 

-

 

Toshiko took her shoes off and threw them across her flat. Owen counted himself lucky that it hadn't been at his head.

 

"You are such a hypocrite" she wailed

 

"I know you, you'd have hated yourself if you did it"

 

"Instead I hate you" she spat

 

"I'll have to live with that. Right so I'll sleep on the sofa"

 

"Do what you like" she said going off to the bedroom and slamming the door.

 

Owen settled down on the sofa using his jacket as a very small blanket.

[MorningAngel]

Chapter Eleven

 

Owen followed Toshiko into the hub. His face battered and bruised from the fight, he still had the dressing on his hand.

 

"Oh my god" Gwen said "Tosh didn't do that to you did she?"

 

"No" he said

 

"I really could have done" Toshiko said annoyed

 

"I just got into a bit of a fight, I'm fine"

 

-

 

Ianto had made Toshiko a coffee and was just putting it down when she moved knocking it out of his hand and it went everywhere.

 

"You bloody idiot!" she screamed "Are you completely incompetent like everyone else around here? All you do its make the drinks and you can't even do that properly"

 

Ianto would have pointed out that he did a bloody site more for them then they ever realised if he hadn't been shocked into silence.

 

"Right that's it missy" Jack said walking over "There is something seriously wrong with you. You are not the Toshiko Sato I know and hired. Owen get the cuffs"

 

Owen hand cuffed her arms behind her back.

 

"Bet you're loving this" she hissed at Owen

 

"Not in the least" Owen said solemnly

 

"How do you know this isn't the real me? And sweet Toshiko was just an act?"

 

"Don't you dare"

 

"We know" Jack said and he nodded for Ianto and Owen to take her to the cells.

 

Owen and Ianto returned

 

"Sorted?" Jack asked

 

"Yes, but she's not happy" Ianto said

 

"I'm not surprised. We need to find out what's wrong with her"

 

"It happened after she went back to that house" Owen said

 

"So even more reason to find Oliver Gilbert"

 

"Do you think he might know something?" Ianto asked

 

"Well his picture was in the house"

 

"So what are we waiting for?" Gwen asked

 

"Let's go and find him, for Tosh's sake if nothing else"

 

"Owen are you coming?"

 

"I'll give it a miss if you don't mind" he said fiddling with the computer they all knew he was bringing up the CCTV for the cells.

 

"What's the betting today he's decided to stay in?" Ianto said looking around at the scene.

 

"Excuse me" Gwen said to the man in front of her. Oliver Gilbert turned around "I seem to be a little lost" she clicked the phone in her pocket.

 

"Where is it you're trying to get to miss?"

 

"Well I came from over there" she said taking his arm and directing him into the direction she was pointing.

 

A hand holding a handkerchief appeared from behind Oliver, and clamped down on his mouth. Jack pulled him towards himself.

 

"It's not working" Jack said panicking. He went for plan B and hit him with his revolver, knocking him out.

 

Oliver Gilbert woke up in the interrogation cell. His head hurt, he looked up to see the familiar American sitting looking at him. He was somewhat surprised to see him as last time he'd seen him he'd been dead.

 

Oliver looked at him for a moment "You were dead"

 

"Wasn't as bad as it looked"

 

"You where only mildly dead?"

 

"Never mind me. Let's talk about you"

 

"There's nothing to tell"

 

"Let's start with your age. You're at least 130 years old"

 

"That's ridiculous do I look 130?"

 

"No but that's the point. What are you?"

 

"What do you mean 'what are you'?"

 

"Where do you come from?"

 

"Cardiff" Oliver answered as if Jack was stupid.

 

"Perhaps not here, perhaps a planet called Cardiff"

 

"You really are mad"

 

"I know what it's like you know. To see the people you love age and die while you live on, sometimes you'd rather you didn't"

 

"There's nothing special about me"

 

"Apart from the fact that you've lived over a century"

 

"I honestly don't know why I have lived so long. Just lucky I guess"

 

"Nope it's not just luck, you haven't aged since your 20s?"

 

"There's nothing more to tell"

 

"Perhaps some time in the cells will loosen your tongue"

 

Jack dragged Oliver to the cells. They passed the other cells, the one with the weevil and as they passed Toshiko's she shouted "Bastards!"

 

"Lovely neighbours" Oliver said as Jack locked him in.

 

Chapter Twelve

 

Owen knew it was safe to go down to the cell, he'd seen her asleep on the CCTV. She looked so beautiful asleep, like her old self no evil mischief shining in her eyes. Owen sighed his nose inches from the toughened glass.

 

"She's got the rage you know" the man in the next cell said

 

"Pardon?" Owen said

 

"I said she's got The Rage"

 

"You're telling me"

 

"It's an alien parasite"

 

"How do you know?" Owen said suspiciously

 

"You've not lived in Cardiff as long as I have without seeing your fair share of strange things"

 

"So what exactly does The Rage do?"

 

"It takes over the person so that they cause so much hurt, fear, hatred and any other negative emotion they can. It feeds off them making it stronger"

 

"How can we stop it?"

 

"It is not easy"

 

"But not impossible"

 

"It can be done"

 

"How"

 

"I can do it"

 

"Yeah, right I let you out and you leg it"

 

"I can do it. You want your girlfriend back don't you?"

 

"How do you…"

 

Oliver simply smiled

 

Owen clicked his earpiece "Jack can you come here a minute"

 

"Ok we're got what you asked for" Jack said holding a secure flask. He let Oliver out of the cell "Now don't try anything, this place is in lock down, there is no way out"

 

"Fine" Oliver said sounding as if he didn't really care.

 

They entered Toshiko's cell "What the hell do you want?" she said on seeing Jack and Owen. Her demeanour changed on seeing Oliver "Hello handsome"

 

"None of that" Oliver said firmly, he turned to Owen "It feeds off Carnal Knowledge too"

 

He turned back to face Toshiko. Before she could do anything else he placed his hands either side of her face. He was perfectly still as if meditating, he stared straight at Toshiko who struggled for a bit before becoming perfectly still like him. The other two men watched captivated. With a sudden inhalation he let go of Toshiko who fell to the floor. She crawled to the wall of the cell and started to cry. Owen went to comfort her

 

"I'm so sorry" she said tears streaming down her cheeks.

 

"Flask now please" Oliver demanded, not moving his head but holding his hand out.

 

Jack handed it over. Oliver took it and exhaled into it for several minutes. He was exhausted when he sealed it and handed it back to Jack, who looked at him suspiciously.

 

Chapter Thirteen

 

Toshiko couldn't look at Owen "Oh God I've been so horrible to everyone. Worst of all you, I'm so sorry" she said her tears making puddles on the floor.

 

"It wasn't your fault" He said holding her close "That thing knew it could hurt me more than anyone" he put his fingers under her chin and made her look at him "It wasn't your fault. I know you'd never have done that to me" Owen helped her to her feet.

 

Jack came over "Owen, I want you to run a full set of tests on Oliver, I want to know exactly what he is"

 

"I would but the scanners still buggered"

 

"You've not fixed it?"

 

"Jack, it's a melted lump. I've had a go, even Ianto has"

 

"I'll sort it" Toshiko said quietly "It was my fault anyway" she said blushing.

 

"Are you sure you're feeling up to it" Jack asked

 

"Yes, besides I've got a lot of making up to do"

 

Toshiko plonked the melted heap that was once a scanner on her desk, and proceeded to remove bits "I can't believe that Rage thing managed to make me do this" she said

 

"I don't think it liked being looked at" Owen said

 

"It didn't like much. I was so mean to everyone" Toshiko said sadly

 

"It was alien intervention, we understand. We knew it wasn't you, if you weren't usually so nice we might not of noticed" Owen said smiling

 

"It got a buzz from hurting people"

 

"And other things"

 

Toshiko blushed bright red "Thank you for…. That night. I feel so bad about everything"

 

"Don't worry about it. I got a taste of my own medicine, showed me what a spam I used to be"

 

Owen bought a box over and put in down on the desk next to Toshiko's

 

"What's that?" she asked

 

"Some of Oliver's things we took off him. Jack wanted me to check through them in case there's anything important" Owen said looking at the contents.

 

"He will get them back won't he?"

 

"I'd have thought so, unless I do find anything of consequence, it's not looking like it so far. Wallet not much money, couple of very faded pictures, one looks like his Mrs.

 

"Is he married then?"

 

"Was, by the looks of this picture she was worm food a very long time ago. Loose change pre-decimal, post decimal, pre-war, post war. God I don't want to be stuck behind him in the supermarket"

 

"Anything else?"

 

"Comb, tooth missing and a snotty hankie"

 

"That it?"

 

"No there's a pocket watch under the snotty hankie" Owen said extracting it.

 

Toshiko stood up and joined him looking at it.

 

"It looks really old" she said taking it from him and inspecting it.

 

"Well he is rather old himself, probably bought it new" Owen said taking it back.

 

"Unusual engravings. Is it still working?"

 

"Don't know" Owen said flicking it open.

 

The hub disappeared and Owen and Toshiko found themselves outside. In front of them was the house they had visited.

 

"Cool, it takes you home" Owen said

 

"I don't think so, well not like that " Toshiko said still looking at the house

 

"Why?"

 

"Look at the house Owen"

 

He did and was rather shocked when he did. It was the house alright, but it looked beautiful. All the windows where intact and shining, all the slates where in place, there were no crumbling walls, the garden was immaculate and there was no graffiti anyway.

 

"We've gone back in time haven't we?" Owen asked with a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.

 

"Looks like it, have you still got the watch?"

 

"No, I had it in the hub, but I haven't got it now"

 

"You sure?"

 

"Yes. Great no return ticket"

 

Chapter Fourteen

 

"Owen" Toshiko said putting her hand on his arm "Look"

 

A woman in a long heavy cloak was approaching the house, they couldn't see her face, but they could see she was carrying something. Moments later she left again without whatever it was she had been carrying. Toshiko and Owen carefully approached the house.

 

"Oh my God it's a baby" Toshiko said when she got close enough to see.

 

"Ah, you must be here about the positions" A voice behind them said.

 

"Must we?" Owen said as they turned around. They found themselves looking at a distinguished man who was obviously one of the higher members of staff.

 

"Yes we are" Toshiko said thinking it would explain why they were there.

 

"Interesting attire" he said looking them up and down "Still uniforms will be provided" He looked at Toshiko "You are rather exotic my dear, still the master will like that"

 

"Let's hope not too much" Owen whispered to Toshiko.

 

"Do you two know each other?"

 

"Yes, we're married" Owen said before whispering to Toshiko again "I don't want the master getting any ideas below his station"

 

May-Lee Harper's body ached, she wasn't afraid of hard work but this was very hard work. She was used to using her brain more than her muscle. Not only had she 'married' Owen, which was just as well as if not they would have been kept either end of the house never seeing each other. But the powers that be, namely her employer had thought Toshiko too strange a name and renamed her May-Lee something she muttered about when anyone other than Owen wasn't there. So not only did she have to do back breaking work for little thanks, but she had lost her identity too.

 

-

 

Jack scanned the hub "Have you seen Tosh and Owen lately?" he asked Gwen and Ianto.

 

"Not for about an hour" Gwen said "Wasn't Tosh working on the scanner?"

 

"What this scanner?" Ianto asked pointing to the semi dismantled scanner on Toshiko's desk.

 

"Don't worry they'll be here somewhere" Gwen said "They can't have gone anywhere we're still in lock down"

 

"You're right" Jack said turning back towards his office "Maybe they're in the vaults"

 

"Making up" Ianto said with a grin

 

"Ianto!" Gwen said in shock.

 

Jack set off back to his office again but as he did he kicked something and it skidded across the floor.

 

"What was that?" Gwen asked

 

"A pocket watch" Jack said puzzled. He picked it up, put it on Toshiko's desk and set off again.

 

-

 

Toshiko was dead on her feet by the time she clambered into the tiny bed with Owen. She knew she would be up again really early and so too would Owen.

 

"I hope they find a way to get us back soon" Owen said "I didn't spend years at medical school to become a butler"

 

"You're not a butler, you're a footman"

 

"I still have aspirations"

 

"At least you get to keep your name"

 

"Of course I do, nothing wrong with Owen"

 

"And there is with Toshiko?"

 

"Well for simple folk"

 

"We haven't really found out anything interesting either"

 

"Well that kid we saw was defiantly Oliver"

 

"So he was adopted"

 

"Makes sense, adopt an alien"

 

"Oh well at least we know that. But I really hate this place"

 

"Don't worry I'm sure they'll get us out soon" Owen said blowing the candle out and pulling her close.

 

-

 

"Jack, we've looked but we can't find Tosh or Owen anywhere" Gwen said rather worried.

 

"They've got to be here we're in lock down" Jack said

 

"She's right" Ianto agreed "we've looked everywhere"

 

"Gilbert!" Jack said storming off to the cells, followed by the other two.

 

Chapter Fifteen

 

"Where are they?" Jack said slamming his hands on the cell door.

 

"Who?" Oliver asked

 

"Toshiko and Owen"

 

"Ah the pretty Japanese girl and the doctor"

 

"Yes" Jack boomed

 

"I don't know"

 

"Of course you do. What have you done with them?"

 

"Nothing I assure you"

 

"I think he's telling the truth" Ianto said quietly

 

"If you've hurt them"

 

"He did take The Rage away form Tosh, why do that if he's going to hurt them?" Gwen asked

 

"He might need them healthy"

 

"I promise you Captain Harkness, I really don't know where your friends are"

 

"Come on Jack" Gwen said pulling him away "He doesn't know"

 

"It's something to do with him"

 

"They can't have just disappeared into thin air" Jack said angrily as they arrived back in the centre of the hub.

 

Ianto noticed something flashing on Toshiko's computer and went to look. "It's showing activity"

 

"Couldn't they have gone to investigate?" Gwen asked

 

"They'd have told us" Jack said "Besides Tosh may be good but even she can't get out without cancelling the lock down" he said cancelling the lock down himself "Where's the activity"

 

"Oh great" Ianto said sarcastically "It's at the old house"

 

"You can stay with the SUV if you want to" Jack said as they stood on the threshold of the crumbling old house.

 

"No, I'll be ok, just don't ask me to check the attic"

 

"Ok" he said standing aside to let Ianto in.

 

"So are we going to split up?" Gwen asked

 

"I'll do anywhere but the attic" Ianto said

 

"Both of you make sure you don't find any more of The Rage"

 

The house was as quiet and empty as last time Jack had come. The pictures still stood on the mantel piece. Jack went to pick one up but it disappeared before he could. The room around him changed, the dust and cobwebs disappeared. There was a person in the corner of the room, it was a maid and she was dusting.

 

"Excuse me" Jack said and the maid turned around "Toshiko!"

 

"Jack" she said in shock, she had turned around so suddenly at hearing his voice, that she had knocked over a vase that went crashing to the ground.

 

"May-Lee what on earth are you doing!" another voice said.

 

The dust and the cobwebs reappeared and Toshiko had gone again.

 

Ianto entered a small unassuming room. He looked around, there was nothing unusual. He had just turned to leave when he heard it. It was a very familiar sound. Ianto's shoes didn't get that shiny on their own. Someone was polishing shoes. He turned around and there sure enough was someone who hadn't been there a second ago. He had his back to Ianto and was polishing away. The man sensed Ianto standing there and turned around.

 

"Owen!" Ianto said in shock

 

Owen dropped the shoes and headed for Ianto "Ianto mate you've got to help, Tosh and me are stuck" just before he reach Ianto he disappeared.

 

"There's nothing here" Gwen said as they met up again.

 

"That's what you think" Jack said