The Trick Is To Keep Breathing 9/?

[missthingsplace]

AU: When it all changes: Life, Love and Family in Torchwood. 
Title: The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
Author: missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Andy, My OC's: Caden, Eloise, Dylan, Jenni, Claire, Chloe, Damien, Ianto's family.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: The Twins, Caden and Eloise are now 19 and working for Torchwood, a case comes up that would be perfect for them but their parents are reluctant to let them work on the field, especially Jack ... will his fear be founded?
Spoilers: Probably not, but you never know ...
Warnings: Mentions of abuse but no details.
Rating: NC17 for the series.

Caden wrapped his hands tightly around the cup of tea a passer by had given him, thankful for the warmth that seeped into his hands. He had already been sitting in the same spot, a doorway of an empty shop for a few hours and was beginning to think he should move somewhere else but worried that if he did and someone had told the Hostel where to find him he'd lose his chance of being 'chosen' if he wasn't there when they came looking.

He sighed and finished the last of the tea before it got cold and pulled the sleeping bad he had been sitting on from under himself and unzipped it to drape it around his shoulders. The us was getting low in the sky and the night would be cold. Caden grabbed a battered copy of a favourite book out of his backpack and settled down to read until the light was lost when he hear a snuffling sound heading towards him.

The dog that only inches away from him froze when it saw him move, looking like it was deciding whether to bolt to safety or see of he had food.

“Hey boy, I won't hurt you,” Caden said softly, reaching out slowly with his had so not to startle him. “come one, good boy.”

The dog titled his head to one side and sniffed the air, whining softly.

“Good boy, good dog,” Caden encouraged him, digging in his pocket to get one of the few biscuits he still had left in it and waving it towards the bedraggled animal.

The dog crept a few inches closer, his nose extended as far as he could to try and reach the treat but Caden moved it a little closer to his body. The dog moved tentatively towards him, inch by inch until he stood at his feet.

“Good boy,” Caden smiled at him, breaking the biscuit into two and offering half to him.

The Dog took it much more gently than Caden thought a starving creature would and even gave a half hearted wag of it's tail.

“Sit,” Caden commanded softly and it did so without hesitation.

“You are such a good dog,” he praised him, braking the remaining half of the biscuit into half again and laughed softly when the dog offered it's paw in the hope of more food.

Caden gave him another bit of biscuit and slowly reached for the tag that hung from the collar hanging loosely around his neck. It had the name 'Scraps' on it but nothing else, not even a phone number.

“Well Scraps, it would seem you ended up with an appropriate name, ironically.”

Scraps gave another small wag of his tail and Caden let him have the final piece of biscuit.

“I wish I could keep you,” Caden told the dog sadly. “but if I get taken to the Hostel they won't let you come, I wouldn't think. “I should take you to the police station I guess.”

“Caden, are you there?” Eloise's voice came into his head.

“Here Ellie, everything okay?” He answered instantly.

“Yep, I've spent the day chatting to the others here,” she explained. “no-one seems aware of anything dodgy going on but they admit it seems strange about the ones who suddenly vanish and end up on the news.”

“Have you told our parents this?”

“Just before I contacted you,” she replied, adding a little huffily. “they don't want me to do any real snooping until you are here too, they think I'll get caught.”

“They are worried about you and two of us snooping it better than one,” Caden responded.

“They wouldn't react the same of it was Chloe or Gwen doing the undercover stuff!”

“I know, but they are our parents so it's to be expected.”

“I just wish they could see us as the capable adults we are,”

“They will, after we blow this case wide open and find whoever is responsible with out getting into trouble or hurt,” Caden told her.

“Hell yeah!” Eloise agreed. “You better check in with them before they start to panic about you.”

“I will, and hey, I made a friend.”

“Male or female,”

“A dog,” Caden replied, laughing seemingly to himself to passer bys. “his name is scraps, he is a stray and so skinny.”

“Poor thing,”

“I thought I'd take him to the police station in the morning, if I am still here,” Caden told her. “But he can share my sleeping bag tonight, we can keep each other warm.”

“What if the Hostel finds you?”

“Then I shall have to rethink my plan, I don't want him abandoned again.”

“Do you have food?”

“Someone gave me a couple of burgers earlier – not getting much cash but some kind people have given me food and tea,” Caden answered. “I have a few biscuits I can feed to Scraps and well, tomorrow is another day.”

“Okay, talk to you again later?” Eloise asked.

“Anytime,”

“Bye,” Eloise said and Caden felt her presence slip from his mind.

Caden checked in this his parents to assure them he was okay, told them he was going to try and get a little sleep and assured them he would let them know the instant anything changed.

He tucked his book back in the backpack, the sun was now too low for reading and got into the sleeping bag, zipping it most of the way up before putting his backpack in position as a pillow. Caden lay down and encouraged Scraps to curls up next to his chest and they lay there as the sun went down, both keeping the other warmer than alone until the city centre went quiet. Finally with Scraps snoring softly against his his eyes fluttered closed and he fell into a light sleep.

It was in the early hours of the morning when he woke, aware of Scraps growling softly beside him. Caden opened his eyes and spotted a car sitting a few feet away, headlights on and the Hostels logo painted on the side. He hid his delight at finally being spotted and pushed himself into a sitting position, assuring the dog it was all okay.

tbc