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From the moment he began to edge out of sleep, Jack knew something was wrong. First off, he didn't wear leather pants to bed. He also didn't sleep upright, or with a gun digging into his side. He had a feeling he knew what was going on before he even opened his eyes. When he did, he knew just where he was.

The Game Station.

Satellite 5.

He looked down and noted he was wearing just what he'd had on when he'd arrived on the beach. What he'd worn in that final fight. He got to his feet and brushed off the dust, then looked around. This couldn't be real. He couldn't have come back. This had to be like Neptune, he was sure. Something like that. He and Logan were probably still safely in bed back in their hut.

Except he didn't see Logan. He didn't see anyone. The place was as silent as a grave. Not even the sound of the TARDIS. That thought roused him the rest of the way and Jack started to run. If he had come back, maybe this time he'd have a chance to catch the Doctor. He dashed down the hall and burst into the control room. There was no blue police box...but this time, there were people.

[Jack-Logan-Joe-Dale tagging order to start with]

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Leave it to Dale to be clear and to the point. He couldn't fault Joe for the two word response...he could see on the man's face how he felt. Jack felt just about the same way.

"Yeah," he agreed as he got to his feet and flipped open his wrist strap. A few quick taps of the buttons told him nearly nothing.

"He covered his tracks," he said with a shake of his head. "All we've got to go on is 1867. I...I guess it can't hurt to go see. If the stone is there, the signal will be clear upon arrival."

He didn't hold much hope that John had simply gone on ahead like some fucked up game of tag...with kidnapping.

Trying for words, the only thing Joe managed was a frustrated, exasperated sort of sigh and he threw up his hands before looking at Dale. This entire situation had gone from slightly fucked up to being far too fucked up for his liking, but there wasn't a hell of a lot they could do. They had to get Logan back, that much was obvious.

Dale just kept Joe close by, trusting no one else to watch out for him but himself.

"Jack," he said, "I will back you up to the best of my ability, but I think we need to put this one in your hands. This is your playing field, and you're the one who knows the rules here. We'll follow your lead."

He felt that 'keep the civilian safe' needn't be said. Especially when said civilian was Joe.

"Okay. Okay...jut let me think for a minute," he replied. His adrenaline was pumping and his thoughts were jumbled. If they went to the stone, it would mean Joe and Dale would have to blend. Americans in Victoria's London wouldn't exactly be inconspicuous. Joe was the poster child of what an Agent was supposed to avoid. Dale...Dale would pass, given the right clothing.

Maybe they could just get Joe a hat.

But if John had been lying, it would be a wasted trip. If there was no stone, or if there was simply something else he had wanted...

And then there was the fact that he had Logan and a Vortex Manipulator. They could be anywhere and anywhen.

"Shit," he hissed under his breath. "What I need is a computer. What I need is..."

Torchwood.

"Torchwood One is here in London somewhere, I think. With my Manipulator, once we find him we can arrive on his metaphorical heels. It'd be better if we were in Cardiff, although that would be a hard one to explain- And there's the whole taboo of crossing your own timeline and the risk of touching and all that would just be a mess..." He was rattling on and when he realized it, he stopped abruptly.

"Right. Torchwood One. Pinpoint the artron trail. Go get Logan. Sounds like a plan. You in?"

Joe just shot Jack a withering glare, because that was the stupidest fucking question he could have asked. You in? Of course he was fucking in, because Logan was the one they had to go after and Logan was the one who mattered.

"Yeah," he said flatly, looking to Dale again. "Yeah, of course we're fucking in, right?"

"You say that as if there were any other rational options, Jack," said Dale. "Of course we're in. But I'm afraid I'm not as much help as I might've been under different circumstances. We'll do what needs to be done, but you're goint to have to continue to lead the way."

Jack...did not relish the idea of being a leader. He'd seen enough of the reels to know that once he went down that path, he was that much closer to becoming the man he'd seen and wasn't all that fond of. However, in this case it seemed it was pretty much unavoidable.

"Okay then. Let's go."

It wasn't long before Jack found a car- 'just to borrow' he promised- and he'd found the building that had once been Torchwood. It was one of few times he was grateful for the detailed shots of the city in the reels. He made idle conversation outlining what little plan he had, hoping the others would be up to this. One of the first things he intended to do was get them armed.

What had once been an entire corporate machine was now limited to just a few floors. Jack was recognized instantly and his psychic paper did the rest. Mr. Cooper and Mr. Dick were introduced around, but Jack wasn't interested in hellos and how's your familys. He just wanted the tech.

"I'm getting you weapons," he said quietly when they entered a room that was clearly the armory. "Pick what you think you can handle. I know this is less than legal, but right now all I care about is Logan."

The weapon Joe had most often used back home had been his fists, but he still managed to arm himself with weapons that he knew he would be able to use. Looking back at Dale, as it for some kind of approval. He wanted to hear that he'd made the right choices.

"Okay," he said, patting down his shirt again, pulling it into place. "Got it."

Dale had a realistic understanding of what he could or could not handle, but he still armed himself a little more heavily than he might have under other circumstances. In this case, he had no idea what he would be faced with and wanted to be as prepared as possible for every eventuality. Less than legal was an acceptable option when it was morally the right choice.

"Is there anything I should know about this situation that you haven't told us yet, Jack?" he said quietly. "Is there anything about this man I should know that can help us here?"

"He's psychotic," Jack replied simply. "He's been in rehab for alcohol, drugs, sex, murder, name it. None of it took. He's probably the most unpredictable, violent man you'll ever meet, and he's not to be trusted. Don't ever let him out of your sight, and no matter what you do...don't let him kiss you."

He looked from Dale to Joe and back, knowing that neither of them would willingly kiss the man, but that wouldn't stop John.

"Paralyzing lip gloss. It's a Time Agent thing. It'll kill you if you don't get the antidote," he continued, arming himself with more weapons than a man could possibly need in an ordinary situation. "The things I used to do...let's just say I wasn't the kind of person you'd want to meet in a dark alley. I've changed...John hasn't. He's still an Agent through and through."

Joe snorted, but said nothing, only because sometimes he wasn't so sure anyone could change that much. He sure as hell hadn't, no matter what people thought.

"So don't make out with the guy," he said. "Got it. What the fuck else are we waiting for?"

"I'm fairly certain we can all resist the temptation," said Dale, as ready as he was ever going to be for this new adventure. "And defend ourselves, if need be. Come on, let's go get Logan back."

Homeplot 2

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