Rex Matheson

Rex Matheson was a CIA agent in the 21st century and a member of Torchwood in the year 2011.

Biography
Matheson was raised in the Los Angeles area by a father with severe personal and financial problems. After growing up and joining the CIA, Matheson remained out of contact with his father and told acquaintances that he was from the east coast of the United States. (TW: Escape to LA)

Matheson was in the middle of a mobile phone conversation with his colleague Esther Drummond when a truck in front of his car stopped suddenly and sent several poles through his windshield, impaling him. Matheson awoke in a hospital and learnt that one of the poles had struck his heart and should have killed him, but did not -- the Miracle Day event, which prevented all humans on Earth from dying. Matheson began to investigate the phenomenon, and his hunt for answers led him to Wales, where he sought out Gwen Cooper, a known member of the Torchwood Institute. On finding her, he collapsed due to his injuries and was taken prisoner. Matheson freed himself and escaped from an armed helicopter with Cooper, her husband Rhys Williams and their child Anwen Williams, and Jack Harkness. After making their way to Cardiff, Matheson informed the police of their whereabouts and ordered that the others be taken to America, under special protocols allowing their rendition. (TW: The New World)

Upon arrival at Heathrow Airport, Matheson ordered Harkness and Cooper taken aboard the plane commandeered for the rendition, but that Cooper's husband and baby to be returned to Wales. Once in flight, Matheson discovered that he had underestimated Torchwood, as Harkness' knowledge of possible causes of the Miracle were better than any he had heard. He also learned from a scan from Harkness' vortex manipulator that his sodium levels were low. Matheson later realized that one of his fellow agents, Lyn Peterfield, had poisoned Harkness without his orders. Working with Doctor Vera Juarez by phone, Cooper, and the flight attendents, an antidote to the poison was found.

On landing back in America, Matheson was called by Esther Drummond, who informed him that the CIA had cleared out his office and turned on him. Realising his situation, Matheson attacked Peterfield and the corrupt CIA agents escorting them, freed Harkness and Cooper, and in escaping with them and with Drummond, effectively became part of the Torchwood team. (TW: Rendition) The four began investigating Miracle Day while in hiding, but Matheson at first insisted on trying to work within the system by calling a mentor in the CIA for help. From hiding near the hotel he and his mentor had arranged as a meeting place, Matheson saw police swarm the entrance, proof that they were truly on their own. He struggled against his frustration with the their circumstances, and with his own damaged heart, which continued to heal slowly but which caused him frequent pain and bled when placed under intense physical stress. Looking for help, Matheson broke into Dr. Juarez's home in order to obtain medical treatment, a meeting which led to a sexual encounter. (TW: Dead of Night)

Functioning with the other team members was productive, with Matheson helping the new Torchwood to find PhiCorp's massive stockpile of painkillers in preparation for Miracle Day, devising the plan to penetrate PhiCorp's Los Angeles headquarters in order to steal sensitive computer equipment, and coming to the resuce of Harkness and Cooper when the two were tied and threatened with torture. However, the relationship was also tense. Matheson berated Cooper and Drummond for remaining in contact with family and jeopardizing their safety, despite taking time to briefly visit his destitute and antagonistic father. He also came into regular conflict with Harkness over who should lead the group, and he regularly expressed discomfort with Harkness' open homosexuality. Throughout this time, Matheson continued to take PhiCorp painkillers for his condition. (TW: Dead of Night, Escape to LA)