The Orphan and Her Family

Chapter Ten

They all clamber back into the van, Ianto switching places with Sophie. Owen complains the whole way to Jack's chosen campsite, but she chooses to ignore him, admiring the landscape instead.

Once Jack pulls off the road everyone starts to unload the van, Gwen and Tosh going to set up a tent. Ianto opens up the second tent as well, getting started on its setup. Jack grabs the third tent, Owen taking the other side. "What's the matter with a hotel?" he grumbles, unceremoniously dropping the bag.

"People are going missing round here. Do you really wanna stay in a place run by strangers?"

"Oh, because sleeping outside is going to be a lot safer," the doctor grumbles, crossing his arms.

"No other race in the universe goes camping, " Jack responds, throwing down the other side of the tent bag, "Celebrate your own uniqueness."

He turns on his heel and spies Sophie helping Ianto set the second tent up. "Kid, can I talk to you for a minute?" he calls out to her.

She jumps up from where she's crouching and rushes over to Jack. She jumps at the immortal, and he catches her in the hug, "Thank you for inviting me, Jack. This seems like it's going to be fun."

"Yeah. It's also going to be dangerous. This is a Torchwood investigation too. I know I told you there would be danger, but I want you at my side, alright?"

She nods, noting the serious look on his face. He beams down at her, knowing she understands him. They turn back to the team to see Owen kick the tent bag. Jack takes her hand in his, and they stroll back over to the group. Gwen smiles as they approach. "Oh, come on," she addresses Owen, "It's just a bit of fun. Who was the last person you snogged?"

"You even sound like an eight year old," the doctor grouses, as he tosses down a tent stake, "Who the hell says snog?"

"Mine was Rhys," she smiles, setting some cups out on the picnic table.

"Yeah, well, there's a surprise," Owen snarks.

"Tosh, your go."

"It's easy for you," she says, setting one of the wooden crates on the ground.

Jack opens the front door to the van, and starts to look over the map. Sophie settles down in the grass, and leans against the van, watching the Torchwood team.

"Oh, come on," Gwen smiles, setting her box on the ground as well, "Spill the beans."

"Owen."

"What?" the doctor sounds confused. Tosh looks a little sheepish, as Owen says, "Tosh, love, in your dreams."

"Three am, Christmas Eve, in front of the Millennium Centre, waiting for a cab. I had mistletoe."

Sophie turns to shuffle in her backpack for one of her textbooks, as the conversation continues.

Owen sits down on a stack of crates, as Tosh asks him, "So who was yours?"

Its silent for a few moments, Owen tossing a set of silverware up and down. He stops, pointing the cutlery at the Welshwoman, "Gwen, actually."

Jack looks up from his map, accidentally kicking Sophie in his urge to listen in. She shoots him a glare, which he ignores. The entire Torchwood crew seems a bit shocked as well. "When was this?" Tosh asks Gwen.

"It was complicated."

Jack hops out of the van, pulling Sophie up as he goes. He swings the door shut, walking over to the group. Jack takes a seat next to Owen, and Sophie slides onto the picnic bench next to Tosh and Gwen. Owen points at Jack as he sits down, signaling that it's his turn to go.

The immortal smirks, "Are we including non-human lifeforms?"

Sophie laughs as the entire Torchwood team are disgusted.

"Oh, you haven't," Gwen grimaces.

"You're a sick man, Harkness. That is disgusting," Owen snorts.

"I never know when he's joking," Gwen turns to Sophie.

"He's not joking. I was there. What're the Doc's kisses like, Jackaboy?"

Owen's eyes widen as he turns to his boss, Gwen grins, and Tosh smiles.

He rolls his eyes, "I was excited, alright. I didn't expect Rose to be alive. I just reacted."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Jack blushes, "Who was yours, Soph?"

She glares at him, "Never had one, sorry."

Owen raises an eyebrow, "You're nineteen and you've never snogged anyone."

She shrugs, and doesn't respond.

Ianto looks up sadly, "It's my turn, is it?" Sophie notices the shift in the mood, as the Welshman continues, "It was Lisa."

"Ianto, I'm sorry," Gwen says.

"Sorry she's dead, or sorry you mentioned it?"

Everyone looks a bit chagrined, and Sophie is just even more confused. She studies the Welshman, the pain across his face seems very familiar, as she sees it every time she looks in the mirror.

Owen suddenly stands up, "We should get some firewood."

Gwen nods in agreement, "I'll give you a hand."

Toshiko immediately moves back to unpacking gear, while Jack walks back over to the van. Ianto moves over to Owen's abandoned tent, working in setting it up. Sophie sets her book down on the table, walking over to the Welshman.

"Hey, Ianto," she says softly.

"Look I really don't want to-" he starts, before looking up and seeing that its Sophie.

"Are you alright?" she asks, crouching down beside him.

"Not really, but I should be."

"If it's okay, could you tell me who Lisa was?"

He looks up, "Lisa is-was my fiance."

"The one that you told Graham and Ryan about." She sits down in the grass beside him, taking his hand into hers, "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

He meets her eyes and sees a kindred spirit within them, "You lost someone recently too, didn't you?"

She looks down at the grass, pulling a few different pieces out of the ground, "My roommate, my friend. She, uh, she died in my arms a week ago."

The Weshman's face softens even more, "I am so sorry, Sophie. That's why Jack has been hovering over you then? He's worried about you isn't he?" She nods. "I know there are no words that can help, but I can say that the more time that passes the less it will hurt. If you need someone to talk too, you're welcome to come to me, alright."

"Thank you, Ianto. I didn't know Lisa, but I think she would be proud of the man you are today."

He smiles at her, then turns back to the tent. Sophie looks up to find Jack staring at her from across the campsite. She stands up and walks back over to the captain. "What were you two talking about?" he asks, as soon as she is close enough to hear him.

"It was personal, alright. Have you figured anything out?" she nods at the map in his hands.

The Captain opens his mouth to respond, but Gwen comes bursting out of the trees. She stops for a moment to catch her breath, "We found a body," she announces.

Torchwood jumps to attention, grabbing different objects. Sophie whips around to look at Jack, her eyes wide. He points a finger at her, "Sophie, stay here, keep guard of the site." He pulls a pistol out of his belt, "If anything approaches, shoot it."

He thrusts the weapon into her hands, "Thanks, I won't," she yells after him, as the group is already following Gwen into the woods.