Behind him, crawling through the vent, panting slightly was Alex Rose. Yes she no longer looked like the fiery girl he saw walk out but she was just as pretty as before and to him her looks didn't matter. He had been well prepared for one day she'll look like someone else. He found in highly amusing that she looked more like her twin than she did before however due to the overwhelming disbelief of this situation he feared if he turned to look at her one more time she'll vanish.

Like Eurydice in that Greek Myth.

Right now these vents were the path to safety, leading out of the underworld and the blonde girl behind him was his Eurydice. Someone most likely to vanish if he turned to face her. Ianto finally reached the end of the vent and sighed in relieve when he could hear normal street noises, cars going by and once again a police siren.

Didn't surprise him, after all this was London.

He stifled a gasp when he felt Alex Rose's cooler breath against his ear as she passed him a small tool set. "Mickey says you need to unscrew the ventilation grill so we can get out" she whispered, pulling away unaware that he was blushing.

Used to doing small jobs like this Ianto had the ventilation grill unscrewed in no time and leaped out. He took a deep breath savouring the cold slightly polluted air before turning round and holding his arms out to Alex Rose. She jumped out nimbly and landed in his arms, he gently helped her stand up and stared transfixed at her face, so close he could count her freckles.

"Twenty two" he whispered.

"Pardon?" she asked nervously trying to pull her gaze away from his lips.

"You have twenty two freckles on your nose and cheeks" he said blushing even harder though she was fairly pink as well.

"Oi lovebirds, we don't have time to flirt right now" Mickey's voice cut in like a bucket of ice cold water. The pair jumped apart, making room for Mickey to land on his feet after he jumped from the vent. "Come on then" he said brushing his hands against his jeans. "Sarah's waiting for us around the corner"

Ianto followed Mickey silently, trying to avoid looking back where he knew Alex Rose was following even though they were out of the ventilation he wasn't taking a chance of looking back and losing her. Inside a rather small car was a brunette woman that Ianto remembered from when the Earth was stolen, her face aged well barely showing any wrinkles there sat Sarah Jane Smith.

Mickey opened the back seat door and ushered Ianto and Alex Rose in before walking round and sitting himself in the front seat. "This is Sarah Jane Smith, a good friend of mine" he said putting his seatbelt on. "We'll be staying at hers for tonight"

"Oh" Alex Rose said innocently. "So this is your great aunt then?"

Ianto bit his lip to stop laughing; Mickey looked horrified as Sarah Jane's eye twitched. "What did you say?" Sarah Jane whispered in a rather deadly voice.

DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW

Carly stepped out of the refreshing hot shower and wrapped a fluffy white towel round her. She stared up at her reflection and attempted to count her freckles, did she really have twenty two? Why did Ianto find it so interesting to count? Her cheeks turned a faint pink as she tried to dismiss the thought. Right now she was staying at Sarah Jane's house which was beautiful and rather big considering only two people ("when Mickey isn't living on the sofa" Sarah Jane sniffed) lived there.

Sarah Jane was polite, kind and affectionate. Almost immediately after entering her house she was eager to feed her and Ianto up ("I can't imagine that, that disgusting institute fed you properly" she said rummaging through the fridge) though Mickey said it was probably better to order take out ("cooking isn't exactly one of Sarah Jane's strongest skill" he said ducking to avoid a newspaper.). Despite her sweet natured attitude towards her guests, Sarah Jane still yelled the whole way home at Mickey for implying she was old, she then refused to feed him when they got home.

"All done in there?" Sarah Jane called from outside the bathroom door.

"Um, yeah. Thanks" Carly yelled back nervously as she dried her hair with another towel.

"Can I come in? I got some clothes for you" Sarah Jane asked.

"Sure"

Sarah Jane entered holding up a pair of old worn jeans that she hadn't worn since she was probably Carly's age, some underwear and a t-shirt. "They might be a bit big for you but it's the best I can do right now"

"That's all right, its fine" Carly said politely as she accepted the bundle. "Erm...Sarah Jane...why...what...i don't quite understand" Sarah Jane blinked. "I mean...with what's going on, nothing makes sense"

Sarah Jane smiled sadly. "It will soon" she said mysteriously before leaving the bathroom.

DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW

Carly stepped out of the bathroom wearing oversized jeans clinging tightly due to the belt that was also left in the bundle and a baggy pink t-shirt. Outside waiting for her was Mickey Smith.

"So...you're not a normal bartender are you?" she asked smiling nervously.

"No"

"And it was your mission to protect me"

"Yes"

"And you know why everyone thinks I'm an alien"

"Yes"

"So who am I really Mickey Smith because I have no clue" she could feel tears building up but she refused to let them fall. She cried too much recently. "What's really going on?"

Mickey sighed. "I don't think I'm the best to explain it, however someone has just arrived and she's willing to tell you everything"

Following Mickey down the stairs and into the living room, seated opposite Sarah Jane and Mickey in her whole slag-like glory (Carly's opinion) with short spiky blonde hair and heavily made up eyes sat Shirley Carter.

"Mum...what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to tell you the truth" Shirley replied looking terrified, hurt and incredibly sad. "About whom you really are"