Author Note: Torchwood is owned by the BBC.

Chapter One

Jack slowly closed his eyes as the comm device in his ear beeped, 'why now?' he thought.

Jack opened his eyes to see Ianto staring down at his hands in his lap "you going to answer that?" he said dully.

Jack shook his head, "it's not important." He tried to lean closer to Ianto on the bench but Ianto just sighed and tapped his ear piece.

"Tosh what's up?"

Jack stared at Ianto's stoic face, he gave nothing away but Jack knew that underneath that mask was pain and annoyance.

"Ianto, I'm sorry I know that you're busy-"

"Don't worry about it Tosh it's not important" Ianto interrupted, making Jack wince, "what do you need?"

Tosh sighed, wishing that she didn't have to interrupt them, "Gwen and Owen are out on a Weevil hunt, I'm coordinating for them so I'm stuck here and there's been a rift spike, I'm sorry Ianto."

"I told you Tosh, it's not important, where's the spike?"

Ianto could hear Tosh tapping away at her keyboard, "its a few metres away from you, to your left."

Ianto raised his eyebrows in surprise, "here?" he said, looking around the park that they were sat in.

"Yep, I'll track you through the comm. and let you know when you're on it."

"Thanks Tosh." Ianto sighed, got up and straightened his suit jacket. "Come on" he said, holding out his hand to help Jack get up.

As they walked along, Jack got more and more miserable, 'why can't this just happen?' he thought. 'Why can't me and Ianto have one day…one measly hour to ourselves? Bloody Torchwood.'

Ianto's thoughts were along the same line, ever since he and Jack had decided that this was a relationship, not just sex and comfort, they hadn't had a minute to themselves. Ianto was sure that it wasn't like this before, he sighed heavily, maybe they just needed more now. Nowadays they didn't even have time at night to be together, they'd collapse in exhaustion in bed and mere hours later they'd be called out again. Ianto thought back to the days when they had the time and energy for naked hide and seek, 'what I wouldn't do for a quick shag in the archives now' he thought longingly.

Ianto was shaken out of his thoughts by Jack slipping his hand in his; he looked to his left and smiled. "I'm sorry Yan" whispered Jack.

Ianto frowned, "it's not your fault that the rift has just decided that it won't let up."

Jack smiled weakly, he was worried. He could feel their relationship slipping away from them, it wasn't just that they never had the time for sex anymore it was the fact that they couldn't even leave the hub before something needed to be done. Weevils, calls from UNIT, paperwork and the rift kept them from talking about anything else or even spend time with each other.

Ianto tapped his ear, "Tosh are we there yet?" The two men could hear another flurry of keys being tapped and then Ianto swore that he could hear Tosh frown. "You should be right on top of it." Ianto let go of Jack's hand and started to look to the sides of the pathway whilst Jack looked in the bushes.

"Jack!" Ianto called.

"What is it?" asked Jack, walking up to him.

"Not an it," Ianto whispered softly, "him". Ianto spoke louder, "Tosh am I right next to it?"

"Yeah" Tosh said.

Jack picked up the unconscious boy, "is Jack holding it?" Ianto just wanted to confirm that he and Jack weren't about to be accused of kidnapping or something, they were in a park after all.

"Yeah, why Ianto what is it? Readings are showing that it's not moving."

"Toddler, male, I'd guess about five, and he's unconscious. We'll be back at the hub soon Tosh, can you see how long Owen's gonna be?"

By the time that they arrived back at the hub, Owen and Gwen were back with two new friends for Janet. Jack laid the child out gently on the autopsy table, "Owen I need you to run the usual tests, any injuries and see if he matches up to anyone on the database." He stared down at the child with a frown on his face, he couldn't be more than five, had a button nose and black hair.

Gwen touched his arm lightly, "Jack? You okay?"

Jack shook his head, bringing himself out of his thoughts "yeah, yeah I'm fine; I dunno he just seems familiar to me that's all"

"Who does he remind you of?" asked Ianto passing out mugs of coffee.

Jack gratefully accepted his cup, "I don't know, he just looks like somebody, I can't put my finger on it though."