Adam ( TV story ) Adam was the fifth episode in the second series of " Torchwood " . It explored Jack Harkness ' origins through flashbacks and gave more context to Gray , the mysterious person first mentioned by John Hart in " Kiss Kiss , Bang Bang " . It was ultimately revealed that Gray was Jack ' s brother . Additionally , it is the only form on media to ever show Jack ' s father and mother . It also explored more of the relationship between Jack and Ianto . From a production point of view , it marked the last time Catherine Tregenna wrote for " Torchwood " . The next time Tregenna would write anything within the DWU would be " The Woman Who Lived " , over seven years later . Synopsis . An alien with the power to change memories infiltrates the team . With Captain Jack caught up in memories of his lost family and Gwen struggling to remember Rhys , it takes Jack ' s love of Ianto to reveal the truth . Yet there ' s always a price to pay . Plot . The Torchwood team is investigating a strange box when Gwen Cooper arrives , slightly late because she was spending time with Rhys . Looking around , she sees Adam Smith sat down , and asks in confusion who he was , to which Adam replies " That ' s what I said to you on your first day . . . remember ? " Putting a hand on her shoulder , Gwen suddenly has false memories of Adam being here . Smiling , she hugs him . Adam is then seen editing the Torchwood database to add his file into it . Tosh asks him what he was doing , which he replies as updating details on rift activity . Adam and Tosh then kiss , much to the displease of Owen , who is wearing glasses . Meanwhile , Jack is down in the cells where he sees a young boy , which causes him to stop and stare . Gwen calls him , but when Jack turns around again , the boy is gone . Gwen is then seen in her apartment . Rhys comes up behind her and attempts to give her a hug , but Gwen , thinking he is a stalker , points a gun at him and gets Jack to come over to her apartment . We learn that all of Gwen ' s memories of Rhys have been wiped , to which she even thinks he put up photos of them together while she was gone . However , Jack and the rest of the Torchwood team simply dismiss it as temporary amnesia due to stress . Owen is seen trying to flirt with Tosh unsuccessfully over beers . Jack is off trying to catch another Weevil down in the sewers , but then encounters a strange man whom Jack refers to as " Dad ? " , who tells him to get out , to which he does quickly . Exiting the sewers , Adam seemingly appears out of nowhere , but when Jack questions him how he got here , Adam simply implants false memories into Jack that he came with him . Adam asks him what he saw in the sewers , to which he replies simply , " My past . " He then further imprints himself on Jack ' s mind , convincing him he joined the crew because Jack felt he could confide in him . Jack then reveals he remembered a buried memory from his time at Boeshane Penisula : the " most horrible creatures " attacked his home , killing his father . In the confusion , Jack lost his brother Grey , unable to find him . Striken with guilt at having lost his brother , Jack leaves Adam in the rain . At Torchwood Hub , Tosh has found out the box is made of wood . Owen asks on the origins of the box , to which Ianto states Jack brought it in . However , Tosh insists that Adam found it in an excavation . To clarify , Ianto leaves to check in his diary . Owen again tries to flirt with Tosh but fails and ends up managing to anger her . Owen is devastated . Gwen is seen at a general store with Rhys . When they get to checkout , the cashier leaves to answer a call , despite clearly being able to see Rhys there . Rhys , angry , begins to go off on a rant , to which Gwen laughs . She has regained some of her memories back . Ianto is flipping through his diary and is shocked that he has made no mention of Adam at all . Adam then appears behind him , and Ianto questions who he really is , stating he feels Adam does not really exist . Adam ' s hand starts to flicker , and we learn that Adam exists simply from people being able to remember him . Discovering Ianto knows he is not who he says he is , Adam decides to implant memories of Ianto killing and strangling three women , claiming that he forgot about the thrill he got from doing this . Ianto sinks to the floor , crying . Adam leaves , going to Tosh ' s flat . To celebrate their anniversary , the pair kiss passionately . Adam briefly stops , asking Tosh how far she ' d go to protect him . After she confirms she would die for him , they resume kissing . Meanwhile , Jack is on a rooftop , puzzling why he can suddenly remember the " worst day of his life " despite having buried the memory 150 years ago . He returns to the hub , finding Ianto in a delirious state . Ianto tells him to put him in a vault because he is a monster , revealing he killed three women . However , Jack refuses to believe it , even after he uses the best lie detector on the planet and confirms he is telling the truth . He pulls up CCTV footage of the Hub and finds Adam implanting the false memories . He then recalls Adam touching him earlier , deducing touch is how he changed their memories . Jack , after checking , finds that not only is there lacking a blood sample of Adam , his file was updated only 24 hours ago . The day lights then switch on as the others arrive . Owen brings in a boutique of flowers foe Tosh , apologising for how he acted yesterday . Tosh forgives him , confirming she happy with Adam , who sits at his desk . Gwen then arrives , revealing her memories of Rhys are still hazy . To comfort them , Adam insists on a group hug . Noticing Ianto has not joined them , Adam goes to touch him , but Ianto knocks his hand back . Jack then approaches and holds Adam at gunpoint . Gwen and Owen are confused by this as they still believe Adam as part of the team , and Tosh , upset , pulls out her gun at Jack . Ianto grabs her and Jack quickly sends Adam to the cells . Jack and the others then go to the meeting room to discuss Adam . After remembering their true memories , Gwen of Rhys in high school , Owen of his tenth birthday , Tosh on her fondness of maths and Ianto recalling his girlfriend , Lisa , Jack hands them all an amnesia pill to wipe out their memories of Adam . The only one left , Jack goes to the vaults to have one last talk with Adam . Begging to live , Adam promises to help Jack regain his other , happier memories of his family . Jack agrees , recalling the day he and his father played catch with Grey . However , Adam telepathically implants himself in Jack ' s revived memory as a stranger who spoiled Jack ' s day , changing the memory from one of happiness to sorrow . Distraught at losing the real memory , Jack takes an amnesia pill , erasing Adam from existence . The next day , all of the Torchwood team are confused why they cannot recall anything from the past 48 hours . Owen has taken off his glasses again , and Tosh has also reverted to her old personality . Jack is seen messing with the box Adam ' s essense was in when a component falls out . Ianto comes in , asking if he ' s seen his diary , which Jack gives back to him , saying " Measuring tapes don ' t lie . " Picking up a plastic bag , he asks Ianto : " Who ' s Adam ? " Ianto replies that he doesn ' t know and leaves . Jack , fiddling with the box and the component , manages to open it , finding it to be filled with sand , which he stares at ominously . Story notes . Production errors . " to be added "