2
"Can't we just shoot her and say it was a Crawler?" Suzie asked, Jack looking up from the list he was making and he sighed.
"We have the baby to consider now" he reminded her and she slumped.
"As she will remind us each time she's called out for being a bitch." Suzie snorted, "Then … we wait until the thing is here, let her …ah….wander one night? A gate left open? I know Ianto would breast feed the thing if he could, already fussing about baby stuff."
"Jealous?" Jack asked softly trying to hold back a snarl at the tone she was using to speak about his new lover.
"No … I … she's nothing special."
"I mean of Ianto" Jack looked up, "That caustic remark was against him or did you not hear yourself."
"It's just…. He's such a goodie two shoes" she grimaced "Probably saves spiders he finds in the house and rushes them outside in his cupped hand to release into a bush or something. Went on bush walks and took photos of birds for the register."
"Yes, I've watched him do it" Jack sighed, "He does save spiders. Says killing them is bad luck and although he would gladly take the baby as his own that is no excuse to get her eaten."
Suzie considered, "That was caustic wasn't it. I do like him, honest. He's just so …well, he's a…."
"B Clearance Operative" Jack said as he went back to his list, "Ianto had a Kill Order Clearance ya know. Higher than you. He was an active member of one of the Seek and Destroy Squads sent into the wilds to hunt down errant aliens rampaging about in the country. Did his knee in the mountains. Why he limps when tired."
"What?"
"He's a killer. I remember his file now, asked about him after I saw Yvonne step back from him in her office and realised he had something over her. He could kill Gwen himself and not blink. Killed his own girlfriend right over there." Jack pointed to the stairs, "Did you not see that he could kill you without you even knowing you were a target? He shoots like a pro, could have got a gold at Olympics if he hadn't refused the offer to represent. I also remember another small fact that interests me immensely. You have no idea the weapons he possesses."
Jack straightened and looked at her, "He is the one who warned me that you were planning something and exposed the support group you had set up."
"What?"
"They are all gone. Cleaned. Those people you brainwashed. Your father is long gone now too isn't he. Some comfort" Jack ticked something and turned a page, "Be clear in your intent, be true in your movement and be wary of those who move n the shadows. Ianto was one of Yvonne's assassins."
Suzie blinked as she gaped.
"So… that's why you trusted him so quickly" she considered, "Shit. So when he took off you were not worried about his safety so much as..."
"Well. I was scared he wasn't coming back" Jack nodded. "we need him more than he needs us."
"So, back to her then." Suzie swung back to her first annoyance, "I really can't just…. Smother her?"
"Sorry love, she has to stay"
"Botheration" Suzie huffed then canted her head, "You really put an end to my little group? They were harmless."
Jack looked at her with amusement, "You have no idea who I am, who I was and that is why I know you do not know that I see you more clearly than you ever will. Suzie, I do not know what you had planned, what it was that moves you but … Ianto did. Still, he told me to have faith in you. He cleaned up your mess, whatever it was and told me via our email conversations to forgive you and be impressed with your clever mind. To find him, a real person not just the person at the other end of the emails that sometimes had me roaring with mirth in my office. We don't talk about it, neither of us has openly said to one another that that we know who we are but we both know we are the same …. He matches me in a way I can't explain and like it or not she does the same for Rhys. I will tell you what … if she ever looks like turning then you get first dibs. How's that?"
"Will have to do I guess" she frowned.
Jack watched her leave and sat back in his chair as he considered the enigma he had found himself warming a bed with. He hadn't told Suzie, he had let her think she stood a chance but first sign of danger and it would be him that took Gwen out.
Ianto.
He was already circling.
His eyes slid to the corner and he grinned, "Did I say enough Crypto?"
The creature stepped from the shadows and grinned as he proved Jack's warning to beware of those in there.
Everyone was on edge.
Jack hoped things might settle.