Summery: Gwen's curiosity always got her into life and death situations. Sometimes Little Red Hiding Hood needs to take risks and sometimes the Bad Wolf isn't always bad.

Pairings: slight Jack/Gwen

When Gwen Cooper was seven years old she loved detective stories.

Her favourite cartoons were Scooby Doo, Josie and the Pussycats and Captain Caveman. All three were detective shows, solving ghost stories and catching the bad guy. Gwen used to consume Nancy Drew books, her father reading a chapter a night as a bedtime story and it was then she decided she will solve crimes and protect the world.

When Gwen Cooper was seven years old a series of brutal murders were happening around the surrounding area of her home.

They were the most brutal murders, bodies ravaged and half eaten by some sort of creature. Blood stained the pavements and the guts pulled out. Her mother had tried to hide the pictures on the front cover but Gwen had found them in the bin and read the articles. She was determined to solve them.

"I'm going out to play" Gwen told her mother as she zipped her red hoodie up.

"Ok dear but be careful and come home before dark" her mother said kissing her forehead. "And be sure to avoid using Forest Lane, that's where most of the murders have been happening on"

"I promise" Gwen said crossing her fingers behind her back.

Gwen wandered along Forest Lane, looking for clues by using a magnifying glass she had brought from collected cereal tokens. She examined the blood stains carefully looking for the stray hair or a paw print or something. She accidentally bumped into someone and fell backwards, that someone reached out and caught her. He scooped her up into his arms and then placed her on the floor.

"Hello little girl and what are you up to?" a deep American drawl asked, she looked up and saw the most beautiful and handsome man that she had ever seen in her life.

"I'm going to solve the murders" she said firmly, trying to cover her blush.

He bent down on to his knee so he was face to face to her. "Are you now? Well Little Red Riding Hood you best stay out of the forest in case the Big Bad Wolf gets you"

She gasped slightly and ran away from him. Slipping to a hidden alleyway, she leaned against a wall and breathed deeply. Something about tha man got to her, her little heart beats fast and she felt her face hot with her blush. She was scared of him and yet adored him immediately.

Could he have been the murderer?

She was not sure but something told he was not the murderer. She waited till dark when he must have surely left the street before she left the alleyway. She walked the street carefully keeping an eye out for clues though it was more difficult with night coming. She heard something growling behind her and she stiffened. She looked cautiously from the corner of her eye and saw nothing.

She continued walking when she heard footsteps behind her.

She stopped and the growling got louder.

She turned round and saw a monster.

She screamed.

It lunged.

BANG!

The monster flew backwards as the bullet hit it. Blood spurted out and hit her pale shell shocked face. She burst into tears and collapsed onto her knees. Something warm and sweet smelling filled her when an arm draped around her and pulled her to his body.

"Shh....shh...it's all right Little Red Riding Hood, the Hunter came in time" he whispered stroking her hair. "This is what has been making all those murders; it's a Bad Wolf you see. It's why you should stay away from the forest, promise?"

"P-p-promise" she stuttered.

"Good girl. Now lets get you home" he scooped her up in his arms and carried her like a princess right back to her front door step. "Have a sweetie and get a good night sleep" he told her as he handed her a mint.

She didn't ask him how he knew where she lived; she just put the mint in her mouth and went home.

The next day she had no recollection of the day before.

Years went by and Gwen Cooper grew up. She had become a police officer and solved crimes for real but one cold wet night she had saw a the most handsome man bring someone back to life. She followed him in the hospital and found a monster and the handsome man saved her. It was like déjà vu to her for some random reason. She followed and staked out all night until she worked it out and then the next day she forgot once more.

Only something triggered her memory and she remembered the day before and knew who murdered the people. Suzie Costello tried to kill her but Captain Jack came in time and literally came back from the dead to save her. She fell to her knees when Suzie died and sat there pale, shell shocked with tears running down her cheeks.

Jack bent down onto his knees and cupped her face. "Little Red Riding Hood we should really stop meeting this way" he whispered huskily.

Gwen Cooper worked for Torchwood. She found herself falling more and more in love with Jack Harkness love with a passion. Jack constantly vanished and returned, his secrets drove her mad and after the disastrous incidents that cost many of their friends' lives he had disappeared forever.

Gwen continued to fight the aliens and save people. She created her own team and worked her best.

But once just once her best was not enough and she was devoured by a weevil of all things.

Jack came too late and cried. The little girl who was so determined to solve the murders, the young woman who brought compassion and love into the Torchwood Team and was so determined to sympathise with all....

Was gone.

Maybe Little Red Riding Hood should have heeded her mother's warning?

Jack held Gwen's mutilated body in his arms and cried. "I left to spare her!" he shouted to the sky. "I left her so she would stay alive!"

A flash of light and Rose, his beloved friend, practically his sister appeared.

"Rose?" he whispered.

"Sometimes the Big Bad Wolf isn't always bad" Rose said cryptically before vanishing once more.

And then Gwen woke up.

"Jack?" she whispered.

"You stupid girl!" Jack wept pulling her to him tighter. "Must Little Red Riding Hood always go where she shouldn't be?"

"What's life without a little risk" Gwen shot back with a smile.

Jack glowered but helped her up, it started to rain and Gwen smiled fondly at it as she pulled up her red hood to keep her hair dry.