Out of the Rift

It was almost 1am on a cold December morning when the ex-police officer announced; "There's a definite spike in the Rift just up from the Millennium Stadium," said Gwen, turning to Jack. "It isn't a big one, so I think you and Owen can handle it." She turned to Tosh and smiled.

"Who put you in charge?" asked Owen, getting into his coat.

The two women giggled.

So much had fallen through the Rift lately, that Jack had asked his team members to stay the night to catch up on all the paperwork. It wasn't a unanimous vote, but they stayed to please their boss.

"Come on, Owen," said Jack. "The quicker we find out what it is, the quicker we get back in the warm."

Owen eyed the two women and frowned. "I expect hot chocolate and muffins mind."

"We'll see," said Gwen, sitting at her workstation.

"Whatever it is," began Tosh, "It's almost static now."

"Not surprised. Probably froze on entry through the Rift." Owen told her.

The two men left in the direction of the under ground car park and the SUV. Owen was grumbling, as usual.

"Too bloody cold to be out chasing whatever it is!"

Jack smiled.

"It's alright for you. Bet that coat keeps you warm."

"Yep and I intend to keep it that way."

The drive to the Stadium was in silence as Owen rubbed his hands together to keep them warm.

Parking the SUV, the two men got out and looked around.

"I'm picking up movement over by that door," said Owen, pointing.

"Let's go take a look."

Moving slowly, the two men moved forward.

"Bloody hell, it's a naked man. Surely he can't be what we're lookin' for."

Jack touched his head set. "Tosh?"

"That's it, Jack."

"Tosh says yes," Jack told Owen.

The man shivered.

"Put your coat around him, Jack."

Jack frowned, but complied, taking it off and placing it around the man's shoulders. Owen looked at the scanner in his hand.

"Don't take your hands away from the coat."

"What? Why?"

"His breathing has gone back to normal and I think he's taking in your scent."

"You're kiddin', right?"

"Nope."

The man rested his head against Jack's chest as he knelt beside him.

"We need to get him back to the Hub and find out where he came from. He's obviously human."

Jack stood up, bringing the man with him. A small whimper escaped the man's lips.

"It's okay," crooned Jack. "No one's gonna hurt you."

The young man rose to his feet, head coming to rest on Jack's shoulder. His arms went around Jack's waist, as he clung to the older man. He stood on wobbly legs, as Jack held on to him.

"I don't think he'll make it to the car on his own," observed Owen.

Nodding, Jack scooped him up into his arms and carried him, unresisting, to the SUV. Owen opened the back door and Jack placed the young man on the seat and got in beside him. Owen got in the driver's seat, heading back to the Hub as fast as he could.

"Keep 'im warm, Jack."

Jack pulled the young man to his side, wrapping his arms around him.

As they drove down Lloyd George Avenue, Jack spoke.

"Drop us off at the water tower. Park the SUV and I'll see to him."

Owen nodded. "Put him on the couch, Jack. If he sees the autopsy bay, he might freak out."

"Okay."

Stopping at the water tower, Jack opened the door and pulling the younger man across the seat, carried him to the invisible lift. As the SUV drove off, the open door slammed shut.

Placing the young man down on his feet, Jack opened his wrist strap, keyed in a few numbers and the stone began to descend. As it got near the bottom, Gwen approached them.

"Jack, is that a man?"

"Yep and naked as the day he was born."

Getting off the lift, Jack carried the man to the battered old couch and sat him on it. Sitting next to him, Jack waited for Owen. The medic arrived a few minutes later.

"I'll get a set of scrubs for him."

Jack nodded.

"Then I'll give him a once over."

"Is he human?" asked Gwen.

"Owen thinks he is."

"And he came through the Rift?"

"Yeah. The Rift takes things as well as letting them through." He looked at Tosh. "We think he's between maybe 18 and 21. Look back to say 1980 and see if someone fitting his description went missing."

"Okay, Jack."

Tosh's fingers worked their magic over the keyboard.

Jack took out his mobile phone, snapped off a picture of the young man and passed the phone to Gwen.

"Give this to Tosh. She can use the likeness to find out who he is."

Gwen took the phone to Tosh, standing beside her as she checked through records. Five minutes later, she found a match.

"Got him, Jack. Ianto Jones. Went missing from his buggie 7th September 1985, aged almost 26 months." Her fingers worked the keys again. "Both parents are dead. He does have an older sister who lives in Newport."

Once Ianto Jones had the scrubs on, Jack placed his coat along the back of the couch.

"That makes him almost 23."

"Looks younger," said Owen.

"So, the Rift took him?" said Gwen. "So why did it give him back?"

"Because it can." Jack frowned, remembering Flat Holm.