They were wandering around the open field looking for some stupid piece of rift junk and Jack kept stealing glances at his young archivist.

The barrens was still fresh for everyone, the bruises barely faded. Jack knew Ianto had been more hurt than he let on and Owen's refusal to confirm or deny with his stubborn "Confidentiality" snark hadn't helped.

Ianto now straightened up and grimaced as he placed a hand against his side where Jack knew the broken ribs must be.

He glanced over at Gwen who was stuck in the mud but laughing as she reached for Tosh's outstretched hand.

Owen was standing near the girls with his hands on his hips, offering to help by way of laughing hysterically and mocking their footwear.

Jack turned to ask Ianto for the PDA and watched as Ianto's face changed.

"What are you doing?" Jack called out, starting to walk towards Ianto.

Ianto looked up and turned up the volume on the PDA. He was watching a news feed to see if their rift dump had featured.

"The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that people distance themselves from anyone displaying these symptoms. They are also recommending that families gather emergency supplies and start making plans in case they are asked to evacuate. You can get more information at .gov."

"Ianto? What are you watching?" Jack repeated as Ianto's face began to pale.

"It's in America. Some sort of outbreak had occurred overnight. People are becoming violent and... Oh god" Ianto looked up at Jack, "They seem to be attacking each other. They're dying over there."

Jack had been careful to avoid making Ianto uncomfortable, respecting his personal space and as he now stepped close enough to look over his shoulder he noted the slight tightening of the shoulders.

They watched footage of people covered in blood attacking bystanders. Screaming and begging filled the air as Ianto tried to turn it down but accidentally turned it up instead.

"Great! We're over here freezing our preverbals off and they're playing a bloody video game" Owen groused as he heard the faint screaming.

Jack stepped back and cleared his throat nervously as he watched the carnage.

"Jack?" Ianto said quietly.

"It's OK. See if there is any signs of the outbreak this side of the ditch will you?" Jack said softly noting the use of his name instead of the standard "sir" he had expected. Ianto was rattled. Jack knew he was too.

"OK, pack it up!" he called out and the rest of the team froze and then straightened up.

"We don't have the piece of shit we came for!" Owen yelled as he yanked Gwen away from a cowpat.

"Ianto has found some newsfeed that is confusing, we need to go home and investigate." Jack called back, "Who the hell would be out here? Whatever it is, it's not giving off anything so it's not dangerous."

They raced back to the hub as the rest of the team watched Ianto's footage in the back.

When they reached the hub they all exploded from the SUV, well Ianto sort of slid but you know what I mean, and went to their terminals to research the growing violence.

"Maybe it's a form of mass hysteria?" Owen called out as he watched a group run at unsuspecting people.

"Mass hysteria usually doesn't include man slaughter Owen, but nice try" Jack huffed.

Ianto had headed for the archives where he dropped to his knees and pulled a backpack out from under his desk.

He upturned it and let the contents fall out for a quick inventory.

MREs, a bottle of water, flashlight, insect repellent and sun screen, deodorant, liquid soap, hand sanitizer, Swiss army knife, large knife in a sheath, small stainless steel bowl, water purification tablets, stainless steel canteen, first aid kit, sewing kit, fishing hooks and line, plastic poncho, extra socks and a small handgun that had been near the top.

Ianto added the sleeping bag from behind his chair and straightened up. Now he looked around the room and headed for another bag, dumping its old documents on the floor. He began rifling the archives, placing alien tat in the bag and then he hastily carried his stuff up to the main hub.

"Owen, where did you put the camping stuff?" he asked as he dumped his bags on the floor.

"Fuck! That laundry?" Owen barked.

"Owen." Ianto spoke slowly, "The camping gear. I helped pack it up but didn't put it away. Where did you put the tents please? Also the portable cooker."

"In the spare parking space behind the pillar. Why?" Owen narrowed his eyes, "You know how heavy it is?"

"We need to put it back in the SUV." Ianto turned to Tosh who was watching, "Toshi, we need portable stations please. Extra battery packs, don't know when we can recharge the solar cells and they only work on two chargers."

"Ianto?" Jack was looking in the bug out bag with admiration, "Nice bug-out kit. We also need food, MREs suck!"

"What's happening?" Gwen asked as she watched Ianto with confusion.

"I have additional food in the kitchen, under the counter. Enough for three months." Ianto dismissed Jack and turned to Gwen.

"Rhys. Now or never, we're moving and we're moving fast. He can come or we go without him" he informed her and she gaped.

"Jack!"

"I'm here Ianto" Jack said gently as he straightened up and watched Ianto take charge.

"We will need a cover story if we hit roadblocks" He said with his hands on his hips, "We can't be torchwood. Shit, Owen we need to change the SUV's face plates. Remove the Torchwood name."

"On it!" Owen moved without a second thought, as if Ianto was always in charge and Jack grinned as he saw the boy sink his teeth in.

"Gwen." Ianto said as he walked towards Tosh's station, "Rhys."

With a low whine, she fumbled with her cellphone.

Jack moved to the kitchen and opened the lower cupboards and gave a low whistle at the canned food and airtight containers that greeted him.

Ianto had been prepared.