"Oh and more back than forth," he confirmed. "Wasn't until really the nineties that I got more involved. Alex Hopkins, good leader, good team. Really started to enjoy it. Well, until he killed everyone else and then himself. That's when I took over. New Century and a new Torchwood. Or that was the idea."

He took the flower from the girl with a smile and a wink, and he tucked it up behind his ear. Rather belatedly he considered that a military coat was perhaps not the best dress for this sort of occasion. Oh well, never mind.

Jack was glad of the out, whether it was intentionally provided or not, and he laughed, "See! Sly old fox! Just how many mouths have those lips kissed, Doctor? Because they're certainly well practised." He teased him slightly, and grinned.

"See, I've got you worked out," he continued, still teasing, "this whole aloof thing of yours, it's all just a big old rouse really isn't it?"