Tosh Sato, Web Designer & IT Supervisor

“He’s a bit stressed right now.” He admitted honestly. “She knows. He knows. Its a bit of a mess.” He sighed, figuring out that this was about to be turn into a large mess. 

Quite the opposite actually.

Nodding, Tosh glanced towards the office. “I can only imagine. Poor man,” she sympathised. “The entire situation does seem, well, confusing to say the least. Where was he all that time?” she wondered out loud, “did he say that much? Donna certainly didn’t know. The poor thing was worried sick; even if she didn’t come straight out and say anything... Well, not to me she didn’t, but I don’t know her as well as some of you all,” she acknowledged.

Tosh did not miss the way Owen seemed to perk up at the mention of Osgood.

Really? Osgood? Those two were a thing? Or he was interested in her at least? Tosh felt herself deflate.

Her eyebrow raised slightly when he mentioned Donna would be gone for a few hours. “A few hours? Whatever could they be doing for a few hours?” she mumbled to herself,  before looking at the doctor a bit quizzically, “What do you make of those two. Honestly.” Tosh glanced down at the tablet. This virus wasn’t your “run of the mill picked up over the internet” virus. Whomever planted this on Donna’s tablet, was out to pick up some very specific information. 

It was not good, that much she knew.

“I mean, when I first saw the two of them together I figured... They were having a spot of fun, it would grow old, and that would be that, but,” she paused, “looking around to take note of who was around to overhear her. “The Captain seems like he is here to stay. Him and his mates, doesn’t he? Donna’s living with him, he’s now co-owner of the club. Chris can’t be too happy about it, and I know James isn’t.” Tosh nodded at Owen, “What about you? You seem rather, close with her. What do you make of the situation?”

While Tosh was certainly interested in finding out his opinion (after all, it was always best to have as much information as possible), she really just wanted an excuse to keep talking to the handsome doctor for as long as possible.

Sorry Osgood.

Tosh was given Donna’s tablet by Osgood. She was told there was some sort of virus on it and it was giving the young IT tech a hard time. To be honest, Tosh was quite surprised to get the call. She hadn’t been up to the Club in probably two months. Most of the work she performed could be done from home, keeping her mostly anonymous. 

As a matter of fact, she wondered just how many of the employees would know she worked there as she came in through the back entrance. Honestly, the only people she really ever dealt with were Harry, Donna, Jack and Chris because they were in charge of security and Osgood. Well, Harry was gone, Jack and Chris too. So that only left Donna and Osgood to vouch for her she supposed.

Well, wasn’t that the way it was with her? Always invisible, she sighed quietly, especially where a certain doctor was concerned.

She had been to the club of course, and had sat a few stools down from Dr. Harper. She even sent him a drink, tried talking to him a few times. Still, she was fairly certain he didn’t even know she existed which was entirely awfully considering she was fairly certain she was in love with him.

Well, maybe not love. Not yet at least.

Tosh weaved in and out of the crowd, holding the tablet close to her body as she made her way to Donna’s office. She had quite a bit to tell her about what she found on this thing, and none of it was good. She swallowed hard and straightened her skirt before knocking and pushing the door open and popping her head in.

“Hello? I um… Donna? I brought back your… OH! Owen… I…” she stammered slightly, letting herself in and shutting the door behind her. “What are you doing here? Is Donna all…” 

That’s when she caught sight of Chris sprawled out on the small couch in her office. She couldn’t tell if he was asleep or just resting his eyes.

Tosh gestured towards the prone security guard and mouthed “Chris?” to Owen wondering what the hell he was doing here and did the Captain know about him?

“uh… T… T…” he snapped his fingers trying to remember her name. “…To…Ta…Tosh.! Yeah? Yeah… Chris is back… he’s just had a bit too much to drink.” He said quickly, keeping to the truth but not the whole truth. 

When Owen struggled to remember her name she glanced away, but brightened up the moment he came up with it.

“Yes, you got it. Tosh, that’s me,” she replied brightly, internally flinching at how eager she sounded. “I sent you a drink at the bar once... Or twice,” she admitted shyly. In all honesty it was probably much more than that, not that he had ever noticed.

Her smile slipped into a concerned frown when Owen said he had too much to drink. “Really? Chris? That doesn’t sound like him?” she half muttered. She leaned in a bit, keeping her voice somewhat low, “I am assuming Donna must know he’s back if he’s in her office. Can’t imagine that went over too well. Does the Captain know he’s back?” curiosity getting the best of her.

One hand reached up to check her hair when the doctor looked her over. Trying desperately to maintain her composure and act casual she flashed him a little smile. “Actually, I’m going to be working more from the club now,” she replied, “I um, came in because Osgood was having some trouble with a virus on Donna’s tablet but there is actually a lot of well, projects that need my attention now that Harry’s gone.” She held the tablet out to show him, “Truthfully, this quote unquote virus was way more than what it seemed,” she confided in him, “that’s what I was coming to tell her, but I can see she’s not around,” she trailed off, “don’t suppose you know where she popped off to, do you?”

“I’m really sorry. Don’t even know how they wound up on the floor but are there any spares?” She asked.

“Hello Rose,” she grinned at the singer glancing down at the broken bit of tech she held in her hands. She tried to hide her grimace as she waved off her apology. “No worries, though... I think you killed these ones,” she took ear pieces from Rose and set them on the table.

“Sure, I have others. Just try to be a bit more careful with these, yeah? They are the last two for now.”

John smirked when she leaned in as well, eyebrow raising a tick when she handed him a twenty from her bra. 

“Well, thank you eyecandy.” he said moving to pour himself a drink. He had ganced up to check on Donna, (as he secretly did when she was on the floor) noticing Greg was there. 

He got a small smile. Good lad. 

“A man like you? Well now, Captain,” she emphasised the title, lowering her eyes briefly before meeting his again, “just what kinda man are ya’ now? And where abouts did ya get your rank because I would think Captain is a bit low for a man as... Impressive as yourself, eh?” she smirked at him.

Gwen noticed the bartender’s little smile, wondering where it came from. She decided to let it go and waved off his comment about being nicer to him.

“Welllllll,” she tilled slightly, “ya’ know, you take a bit of gettin’ used to, you do,” she laughed, “but what can I say? Maybe I like what I see?”

Oh, this had all better be worth it. She knew she was on to something, but what?!

--------

If Donna wasn’t so surprised to see Craig here by himself she might have been a bit more vocal about him physically steering her towards her office.

Instead, she shot him a look and gave him a loud whisper next to his ear, “What the HELL is goin’ on! I mean, thanks for the help back there, but I’m fine and I’m sorta keepin’ an eye on...”

Craig cut her off as they reached her office door, “I need to talk to you, now!” He glanced over his shoulder towards the bar. He would have liked to speak to both of them, but he couldn’t wait. “Look, Ms. I... I don’t have much time!” he implored her.

Donna blinked at him. As much as she really didn’t want to leave the floor with Gwen suddenly getting all “flirty” with HER bartender, there was something in his tone of voice that caught her full attention.

“All right,” she placed a hand on his arm briefly, her eyes lifting up and back over towards the bar, before turning back to unlock her door and look at Craig as it swung open, “come along,” she ushered him in, shutting the door behind them.

“Yeah, well, it’s in the job description isn’t?” she leaned her elbows on the bar, setting her drink next to her. “How’s it been up here? Quiet? Seems things have settled down some, hasn’t it?” she leaned in a bit, “I was talkin’ to Jimmy ‘bout it some earlier,” she took another sip from her drink and sat down at the bar, “he thinks highly of himself there the lad. Poor kid, “ she laughed throatily, “almost broke me heart to tell him to sod off,” she grinned at the bartender. “I’m not much for little boys,’ she continued off handedly. “I tell ya though, that lad can talk yer ear off though he can!”

Gwen sighed and finished her drink, “What about yerself there? You much of a talker there, or you more a man of action?” she blatantly flirted with him. 

The captain shook his head. “He’s a good kid. Well, as good as his kind can get.” 

She leaned in towards Hart when he did, “Aye, that I do. You don’t become a security guard in a place like Saxon’s if you want the quiet life,” she purred. Gwen decided to test the waters a bit, “I’m no waitress… nor a manager. I go where the action is and do you know why?” she leaned in a bit closer, “because I love it.”

Gwen backed up just a tick and gave John an appraising gaze, slowly. Up and down, making sure he’d notice. She also gave a quick glance over her shoulder to gauge where Donna was at.

“And from the looks of things, I gather you feel the same way, doncha?” she smirked at him.”Say, why don’t you pour yourself a drink? Gwen pulled a 20 out of her bra, “On me,” and pushed it towards him.

—

Donna forced herself to keep smiling at her small group of vapid, insanely rich patrons. Ignoring the short man’s wandering hand… For the time being. That was, until Gwen’s little money in the bra stunt.

The manager leaned over and with a seductive grin, she motioned for Mr. Grabby Hands to come nearer.

She was just about to lay into him when someone beat her to it. Seemingly out of no where, Craig was in his face threatening him with a snarl. Donna took a small step back, a surprised look on her face that she quickly hid behind a little smile and glanced towards the bar before turning her attention back towards Craig. Donna noticed he appeared to be here alone.

Mr. Grabby Hands and his friends turned tail and quickly made for another part of the club.

Alone with Craig, Donna gave him a look.

“Yeah, well, it’s in the job description isn’t?” she leaned her elbows on the bar, setting her drink next to her. “How’s it been up here? Quiet? Seems things have settled down some, hasn’t it?” she leaned in a bit, “I was talkin’ to Jimmy ‘bout it some earlier,” she took another sip from her drink and sat down at the bar, “he thinks highly of himself there the lad. Poor kid, “ she laughed throatily, “almost broke me heart to tell him to sod off,” she grinned at the bartender. “I’m not much for little boys,’ she continued off handedly. “I tell ya though, that lad can talk yer ear off though he can!”

Gwen sighed and finished her drink, “What about yerself there? You much of a talker there, or you more a man of action?” she blatantly flirted with him. 

“I’ll tell ya’ what though, maybe you can tell me a bit more about what you and y’er mates know about all the trouble we’ve been havin’ here in the club lately, yeah?” Gwen gave him an appraising look, “I’ve seen you pallin’ around with some of the fellas I think are in on the trouble.”

Gwen leaned in closer, this time with a little smile on her face, “You don’t seem like such a bad fella, Jimmy… maybe y’er even tryin’ to do the right thing, turn y’er life around this time and fly straight, yeah?” She backed up again, “Or maybe not,” she frowned, “maybe that’s just what you want us to think?” She narrowed her eyes at him a bit, “I’m not Donna… I don’t ‘ave blinders on to that bartender friend of yours and I certainly don’t with you either,” she warned him, “but I think unlike y’er mate o’er there tendin’ bar… you might actually have a chance to make it here. So why don’t you do the right thing and tell me what you know, eh Jimmy? Come on… be the hero for a change.”

He shook his head and began to mindlessly strum on his guitar. He wasn’t playing a song anyone had heard of before but the music made you feel like you had but he was really just playing what came to mind in that moment. “Listen, I don’t know anything. I just want to get my girl back from the skinny scrap of nothing that she seems to have found herself with, got it? Now go back to doing whatever it is that you do. I’ve got a show to do.”

Well, that’s what she got for tryin’ to play nice with the little rodent! 

The Welsh security guard closed her hands around the neck of his guitar, stopping him from playing.

“Look ‘ere you tiny little man,” she hissed at him, “this isn’t an interrogation. Trust me, you’ll know what I’m interrogatin’ ya, yeah?” she bent down low, almost nose to nose with him.

“What I was doin’, was givin’ you a chance to save y’er pitiful arse from the fallout when you and y’er mates get busted for all the nonsense y’er causin’ in me club, but now? Now you can forget it buddy.”

Gwen released his guitar and stepped back giving him an appraising look, hands perched on her hips. She laughed openly at him, “Oi! You really are a sad and delusional idiot aren’t you? What girl in their right mind would leave their man for the likes of you? No one, that’s who,” she said with a smirk, “especially when y’er arse ends up in jail where it belongs,” her smirk sliding into a smile. 

“’Cause that’s where losers like you end up, Jimmy. In jail. I was willin’ to help you out, but now...” she shook her head sadly at him. 

“I’ll tell ya’ what though, maybe you can tell me a bit more about what you and y’er mates know about all the trouble we’ve been havin’ here in the club lately, yeah?” Gwen gave him an appraising look, “I’ve seen you pallin’ around with some of the fellas I think are in on the trouble.”

Gwen leaned in closer, this time with a little smile on her face, “You don’t seem like such a bad fella, Jimmy… maybe y’er even tryin’ to do the right thing, turn y’er life around this time and fly straight, yeah?” She backed up again, “Or maybe not,” she frowned, “maybe that’s just what you want us to think?” She narrowed her eyes at him a bit, “I’m not Donna… I don’t ‘ave blinders on to that bartender friend of yours and I certainly don’t with you either,” she warned him, “but I think unlike y’er mate o’er there tendin’ bar… you might actually have a chance to make it here. So why don’t you do the right thing and tell me what you know, eh Jimmy? Come on… be the hero for a change.”

Gwen knew it was a long shot, but she was willing to work any angle, to get any bit of information she could to help put an end to all the trouble at work recently.

He had trains! She loved trains.

Unfortunately, Gwen was too nervous about telling Harry she was going to need the night off to pay much mind to her daughter at the moment.

“Anwen, please... Mummy’s busy,” she hissed quietly, “I promise, whatever it is, it will keep for just five minutes, Sweetie.”

Anwen’s green eyes flashed with annoyance as she pulled her hand out of her mother’s and crossed her arms in front of her with a pout. Gwen could only roll her eyes at her daughter’s dramatics, quite used to them by now.

Gwen put on her best smile when Harry’s office door opened, “I’m sorry, but it seems me cousin Andy... he got called into work without warnin’ and now I’m stuck without someone to mind Anwen here so I’m goin’ to need to stay home with her tonight,” Gwen looked down at her momentarily before looking back up at Harry, “I know the timin’ couldn’t be worse with all the trouble lately and all, and honestly, Andy is normally really reliable...”

It was then that Harry’s attention seemed to drift toward Anwen, not that Anwen minded one bit. If her little girl enjoyed anything, it was being the centre of attention... especially from handsome men it seemed as she noted her daughter’s pout immediately disappear into a demur little smile and her arms uncross.

Great, first Jack, now Harry, she thought.

Anwen listened attentively to Harry, “Thank you Mr. Saxon,” she replied to the compliment, “Mummy didn’t mention you were so handsome, but she’s silly like that,” she shook her head at Gwen, “No Sir, I ‘aven’t met him yet. I tried to tell Mummy I saw him in the hallway, but she didn’t pay me any mind,” she frowned, doing her best to look pitiful.

Gwen felt her jaw drop!, Oi! The little... she really was paying way too much attention to Jack!

The little girl’s frown immediately disappeared at the appearance of Jefferson,

“ ‘Ello! I’m Anwen. Mummy, can I stay and play with Jefferson?”

Gwen looked up at Harry helplessly. “She’s quite a handful... “ she sighed, “And sorta hero worships Jack if you  haven’t quite caught on to that one yet,” she laughed at a loss for how else to explain her daughter’s earlier comment.

Still, it was nice to have a friend so loyal and looking out for you, Clara even wondered if she would ever have that.

“Oh, don’t I know it. I can’t account for him being with your daughter, but I do know he’s a good man.” She smiled warmly at Gwen and gave a confirming nod, now glad that her headache had ebbed away.

However, when Gwen went to give her a warning, Clara’s eyes levelled with hers as a hint of knowing and greater understanding danced behind her brown eyes. “Trust me, Gwen. I know he’s got a lot going on in that head of his. There’s a lot more going on with all of us, really. But you can say that I’ve gotten to know him better.” She gave a pause and raised a brow. “And I’m also not just talking about sex.”

Crossing her arms across her chest, Clara gave a shrug. “They’re not, but we still have a select few who look clean but in reality are far from it. Looks can be deceiving, so I’d be careful if I were you.”

She smiled warmly as Gwen recounted her days as a constable. “Doesn’t sound very fun or rewarding. Glad you were able to get out of it.” And she meant it. Gwen seemed genuinely good and nice and she honestly didn’t deserve a life like that.

So she knew her Jack pretty well did she?

A bemused smile played upon her lips. Gwen made a note to ask Jack about Clara when he dropped by. He could see her being interested in her. She was beautiful, clever... feisty for certain. She decided to not pursue the topic of Jack any further with the waitress though, instead she just nodded and hummed in agreement, moving on.

“So tell, me, about these select few,” she asked Clara in all seriousness, “it’ll help me know who to keep my eye out for,” she paused for a brief moment, her hand brushing the hair away from her eyes, “actually, if you don’t mind, it would be nice to get the low down on whatever I should know before I start tomorrow,” she nodded thoughtfully.

“You know, who the important players are. Who does what. Who is a ripe arse? Who comes across as a bitch, but is actually okay and vice versa...” she thought for a moment, “Any relationships between staff members I should know about? That sorta thing. I wouldn’t want to step on any toes on my first bloody day.”

Gwen’s smile reached her eyes, “Okay, honestly, is there anyone here even  worth lookin’ at?” she admitted with a little laugh. “Though, it’s been so long since I’ve been out with anyone that I probably wouldn’t know what to do anymore,” she confessed.

“Jack told me a bit about River and Harry, and John the other security guard,  but other than that, I’m afraid I’m completely clueless!”

Her smile dimmed when the conversation came back around to her life as a constable. She didn’t like to think about that time too much. 

“Aye, it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be that’s for sure,” she admitted, “then again, not much in life ever is.”

Her smile returned when Clara mentioned she liked her job, “Well, it’s a comfort to know you enjoy y’er job here. That bares well for me then I hope. And there’s not a damn thing wrong with being a waitress, but for the record,” she said standin’ up from her bar stool, “I think you’d be a bloody brilliant teacher, Clara Oswald, though you might  find your students would have a hard time concentratin’ on their studies.”

Gwen’s eyes sparkled mischievously at her, “Ya know, havin’ such an attractive teacher, and all.” 

Clara continued to hold her smile towards Gwen, clearly the woman loved her daughter and it made her feel like she was missing something in life when it came into that department. Still though, the years were young for Clara and she had plenty of time to decide to have a child, especially since money wasn’t ever going to be a problem. Though, the only problem she had now was… finding a mate.

That would be what would prove difficult.

She laughed at Gwen’s explanation about why she wouldn’t be fit for a teaching profession before shaking her head. “Oh trust me, I might look placid but there’s plenty of times where when I was a nanny that I wanted to strangle them. But it’s all a part of the job, and honestly everyone has those thoughts, it’s just what makes us human. Though we’re better off since we don’t act on them.”She pointed a finger at Gwen before grinning.

Raising a brow about Jack and his escapades, Clara considered it carefully for a moment before giving a light shrug. “I think I’d risk my chances, and I’d have to say he’s a hell of a lot cleaner than the rest of our clientele.”

Nodding when Gwen spoke about how she ended up here, Clara smiled brightly at her. “So you were a cop before all of this? Must have been hard, at least with here you get a load of interesting people, and that’s just the co-workers.”

She had to learn to be. Escaping Adam. Starting over with nothing and a new baby, a new last name... Having to carve out a whole new life for her and Anwen? Well, sometimes morality had to take a backseat to paying the bills and keeping food on the table in those early days.

She shook the thought loose from her thoughts and gave her head a little shake, “Well, I’m afraid I’m a bit too Welsh,” she snickered

That was something Jack always accused her of... letting her Welsh temper get the best of her. He loved it though, she knew it. “Got a bit of a temper if properly provoked. I’m afraid my mouth would do me in before I’d have a chance to strangle the little darlin’s,” she laughed.

She stopped laughing when Clara commented on Jack though, raising an eyebrow instead. 

Oi, did she fancy her Jack? No. Not her Jack. She didn’t mean it like that. Right? Of course not! They were mates for god’s sake! 

Gwen smiled at Clara, “Fancy our Jack do you?” this time she did laugh a little, “Aye, he does seem to cast a spell on the general population of the planet now doesn’t he?” she teased in good humour.

“Jack’s a good guy,” she responded honestly, “he’s been good to my Anwen, she simply adores him. You certainly could do a lot worse than Captain Jack Harkness... No matter what anyone else might tell, ya’,” she gave her a  little wink to let her know she was kidding. 

Gwen looked back towards Jack’s office before looking at Clara again, her tone more serious, “Just remember that Jack’s a lot more than he seems,’ she told her quietly, “there’s a lot goin’ on in that head of his and believe it or not; it’s not always related to sex.”

She tilted her head, the grin returning to her lips, “Though, most of the time it is and isn’t that bloody brilliant?” she laughed, “you’ll get the best stories outta him that way. The man does loves to reminisce.” She wouldn’t use the word brag. That wasn’t Jack’s style.

Glancing around the club she gave Clara a questioning glance, “The clientele can’t be all that bad ‘round here. This is the most popular club in London for  cryin’ out loud. You’ve got celebrities and athletes in here on a regular basis!” she shook her head, “I’ve worked some real holes in the wall, over on the east end. Now those people...” she paused, making a face, “and I use the word people loosely, they were a waste of oxygen and DNA!”

At the mention of her short lived career as a cop, Gwen stiffened a bit, “Aye, I was a constable for a short time,” she made a disinterested face, “t’was nothin’ exciting. Neighbours complain’ about trash bins bein’ left out too long, kids vandalising things... “ She looked back at Clara, “Turned out, it wasn’t my thing after all and I quit. Good timin’ and all because Anwen was born a short time later.” 

She looked off into the distance for a moment, “Blimey, feels like a lifetime ago.”

Graciously accepting the pill bottle, she opened it and rattled two out before handing it back to her. “You, Gwen Cooper, are a life saver!” Clara chirped, before reaching for a glass and filling it with water and downing the pills. “As for the cuppa, that’ll have to wait until I can skirt off to take a break.”

She gave her a smile before giving the Welshwoman her undivided attention and a small nod. “In another life I’d like to think I’d be a teacher of some sort, maybe English? Who knows, but I’ve done my fair share of nannying, and I can tell you with full confidence that I understand.”

And if Clara could help it, she’d never nanny again. It wasn’t like she didn’t like children, she did, but the job was certainly not for her. Neither was waitressing, but she had to pretend to get an income from somewhere legal.

“Congratulations and welcome to Saxon’s then, always glad to see another pretty face join the ranks,” she gave Gwen a charming smile before turning to glance around the room, only to turn back and face the other woman when she spoke of Jack. “Oh don’t worry, the Captain can give me many things, but a headache certainly isn’t one of them.”

She held her grin, happy to see that Jack was able to help someone out, especially a friend. “Have you ever done security work before? Though given that Jack’s hired you, I’d say yes. That or you really know your way through a fight.”

She approached the bar, leaning up against it, “One little dynamo is enough for me right now I can tell you that much, at least on me own, but a teacher eh?” she shook her head in appreciation, “that’s a rather noble profession but again, one I seriously doubt I’d have the patience for,” she laughed, “I’d probably be fired for threatenin’ to beat the bloody buggers within an inch of their lives!” she grinned before straightening up and looking serious, “Not that I’d actually do it, mind you,” she didn’t want Clara to get the wrong idea about her after all.

Gwen waived her off when she called her pretty but smirked at the mention of Jack, “Oi, be careful there missy, there are a lot of things Jack can give you and a needle and antibiotics don’t cure all of ‘em!” she teased her.

“Aye, I’ve worked security before and helped save Jack’s well rounded arse in a fight before as well,” she told her with a grin. “He was playin’ it off up there like he was doin’ me a favour but I know my Jack,” she nodded, “he wouldn’t have called unless he needed me. That’s the way it works with us. But honestly, his timing was bloody brilliant! I was startin’ to think I’d have to consider becomin’ a constable again.”

Gwen made a sour face, “And that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.”