The Trick Is To Keep Breathing 10/?

[missthingsplace]

AU: When it all changes: Life, Love and Family in Torchwood.
Title: The Trick Is To Keep Breathing 14/?
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.

 “Ellie?” Caden called out to his sister with his mind.

“Caden, everything okay?”

“I've been found, but I have little problem,” Caden told his twin.

“Problem?” Eloise asked worriedly.

“Nothing bad, I made a friend, a stray dog and I know they won't let me take him with me,” Caden explained. “are you able to contact one of our fathers and get them to collect him, take him to the police station?”

“I can,” Eloise replied. “hasn't she approached you yet?”

“She, at least I think it's the woman you described has been sitting in the car watching me,” Caden replied. “I dozed off so I have no idea when she arrived.”

“Perhaps she is waiting for you to approach her? Wondering if she can separate you from the dog? Maybe she's not sure if you are right for the Hostel, if there is something dodgy going on there?” Eloise fired suggestions at her brother.

“I think I have some thin rope in my backpack,” Caden told her. “I'm going to tie it to Scraps collar and to the door handle and go to the car, see what happens. I'll try and convince her that I need to take the dog and see what happens.”

“Good idea. His name is Scraps?”

“Yeah, he has a collar but that is all that is on it,” Caden said. “I guess he might be micro-chipped though.”

“Da can find out easily enough, or Chloe,” Eloise told him. “anyway, you better approach the car before she decides to drive off.”

“Will do, I will let you know if Scraps needs rescuing,” Caden told her, rummaging around for the thin rope and finding it at the bottom of his backpack. “aha, right, I am tying Scraps up now and he is giving me such a sad look, I am feeling really mean now.”

“He will be okay, if you have to leave him I know our fathers couldn't let him stay there all alone,” Eloise assured him. “now get on with getting a place at this hostel.”

“Going now,” Caden said, getting to his feet, giving the dog one last pat on the head and walking towards the idling car.

Caden knocked on the window and it slid down.

“Hi, are you watching me?” He asked the woman behind the wheel bluntly.

“I am thinking of offering you a place at our Hostel but I wasn't sure if you'd leave the dog,” she replied. “we don't cater for pets.”

“He's not really a pet, he only introduced himself to me a few hours ago,” Caden explained. “I can't really look after him but he looked so sad I let him cuddle up to me.”

“So you will be happy to leave him here?”

“Not happy but if it means a bed for the night then I will have to,” Caden said with a shrug. “but can we call the police or a shelter to collect him?”

“Of course, when we get you back to the Hostel and you are clean and fed,” she answered. “my name is Jane by the way, get it.”

Caden gave the dog a sad look as if trying to convey how bad he felt at leaving him there and there opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat.

“Seat belt,” Jane told him then pulled away once he had fastened it.

Caden used the following silence to contact Eloise and tell her exactly where the dog was and made her promise to contact their fathers as soon as possible to pick the abandoned animal up.

“So, young man, I've told you my name, what's yours?” Jane asked him lightly.

“Caden, Caden Harkness,” he replied, needing to have a different name to Eloise.

“So Caden, how did you come to be out on the streets?” Jane asked.

“I'd rather not say,” Caden replied, acting cagey and sullen.

“You don't have to of course but we can arrange help, counselling of the right kind if you wish to help you while you are with us,” Jane explained. “but we need to know what it is you require?”

Caden gave her a look that said he didn't want to talk about it.

“It's fine, you can tell me later if you decide you want help,” Jane said with a bright smile. “is there anyone you want us to contact for you, a friend or relative you wish to know you are safe? We obviously won't tell them where you are if you don't want us too.”

“There's no-one,” Caden told her simply. “so, how long can I stay at this Hostel? Is it one night deal kind of thing?”

“No, you can stay as long as you wish,” Jane explained. “it is a charity run facility but we have some very generous donors.”

“Right,” Caden nodded.

“And here we are,” Jane said with her bright smile again, pulling into the car park and stopping. “luckily for you the kitchens are still serving dinner so we shall go straight to the dining room and get you fed, then take care of cleaning you up.”

“Sure,” Caden said, following her into the Hostel and calling out to Eloise.

“I'm here, are you in the dining room?”

“I am, table near the door you will enter through,” she replied instantly. “I am with three friends, they are cool.”

“Did you tell da or dad about Scraps?”

“They promised to go and fetch him straight away.”

“Thanks.”

“As if I would let him stay here alone,”

“Thanks again. See you any minute now!” Caden told her, walking through a doorway behind Jane and into the very room. He spotted his sister straight away, gave her a small smile and headed towards where the food was served. Caden couldn't believe the selection of food. He chose what he wanted when urged to by Jane who then led him to the very table where Eloise sat.

“Do you mind if Caden joins you?” Jane asked him. “he's just arrived and I am sure you will make him feel at home.”

“Of course Jane,” Lottie grinned, indicating he should sit down with them. “So Caden, I am Lottie, these fine friends of mine are Eloise, Jamie and Sandra.”

“Hi,” Caden said, taking the seat and placing his tray of food upon the table.

“You'll like it here,” Sandra told him. “it's so much better than being on the streets.”

“I bet there are rules though?” Caden asked, tucking into his food.

“Of course, but it's worth it,”

“We shall see,” he said, “or I'll be off soon.”

“I doubt it,” laughed Jamie and then Lottie changed the conversation to lighter subjects.

tbc