2
They rumbled through the small ravine entrance out into the receiving area they now knew was just a front. Like one last test or something and a small group of newcomers turned to watch them approach, Ianto huffing softly "Is that Andy?"
"Well, I'll be damned!" Jack said with surprise.
"Nope, seemed you aren't after all" Ianto quipped as he leapt from the still moving hover, calling out to Andy who lit up as he saw that he was seeing the people he thought he was.
"Bloody hell! Team Torchwood!" he called out "I don't believe it!"
"Sez you!" Ianto laughed engulfing Andy in a hug as he reveled in the arrival of another blood "Welcome home cousin."
"Christ, you got them all out of dodge too?" Andy looked back at the hover, then motioned to those with him "I got some too. A family from my apartment building that were pure and …"
"Swanson!" Jack yelled happily "My gods woman! What the hell are you wearing?"
"I was off duty when it all went to shit Captain!" she roared "Go blow yourself!"
Jack laughed happily as Ianto looked over the small group of his kind standing there expectantly then nodded, "OK. I think we can forgo the one night of deciding. I see their auras and they seem clean souls."
"Already?" Andy asked softly "Your eyes are clear already?"
"Yes. The closer I got, the clearer my mind. Coming home has been an awakening" Ianto whispered "I feel good."
"And why are you here, not in the heart?"
"Pilfering" Ianto winked "We are going to attack those houses over there we do not need now that this will be closing soon."
"Are we?"
"Yes. The chalets will still be used for latecomers but within a week or two I want to close the boarders. Anyone not here by then will not be coming … or will not be clean."
"I know what you mean. Did you see the bots?" Andy hissed "I crapped meself, I swear to the gods those things…"
"Hush" Ianto let his hand rest on Andy's shoulder "Jack and I are going over to make sure our protective grid is still in place. Maybe place some little EMPs about for anyone we do not want this close."
"They will not make it this far … surely" Andy's eyes widened.
"Never say Never" Ianto replied sagely as he started to follow those already heading into the houses marked for removal.
"So what are we doing?" Andy asked as he started to follow Ianto and Ianto turned to motion at the others.
"Get then registered and squared away, then assigned quarters. When you are done come back and you can help us pick this place apart for the long term housing" Ianto explained as Andy nodded enthusiastically. "Occupy those who don't want to think too hard just yet."
Ianto watched him go then turned as he felt Jack's hand on his lower back, a silent question.
"I know" Ianto said softly "But I need them to be busy. I do not want Gwen to think for a second that she is coming with. I do NOT want that drama. I am finding it hard right now to focus on her without feeling annoyance. It wafts off her like a silent but deadly fart."
Jack knew what he meant but had not heard of it being put like that before, sniggering as he walked back to distract Gwen who would jump at the chance to go with them if she knew they were planning a trip to the mainland.
They had agreed to leave the SUVs on the island, wanting to draw as little attention as possible and they would use horses from one of their contact stations. As they boarded the boat that would take them to shore Jack glanced back, relieved to see no one had noticed him and Ianto splitting from the group and they were soon on the mainland again.
Ianto led him for about an hour over the fields to a small farmhouse where the guns were not a surprise, but the animosity was. Ianto took it well, calmly letting the man manhandle them both yet then once they could see there were no weapons bar Jack's Webley Ianto threw a haymaker that took the man off his feet, slamming him back to the ground.
"Anyone else want to question me?" Ianto asked.
"Calm cousin" a woman said softly, "He is nervous. It is all going off."
"As we always knew it would, he did not need to be so…so….fresh!" Ianto bristled "He touched parts of me that belong to my mate here!"
Jack blinked slowly as everyone fell silent, staring at Jack.
"Mate?" the woman said with incredulity "You? Really? I thought … that Lisa was your little pet …. Really?"
"He is mine. Got a problem with that?" Ianto demanded "I did not question your choice, such as he is currently on his arse!"
"Steady now" she laughed "Of course. I am just shocked that you chose someone who might be larger than you, your shadow needs someone who can stand back and he does not look like a wall flower."
"Jack?" Ianto turned to look at him with surprise "My sun and moon? Really? Well. Does the fact he can keep pace beside me make it so shocking to you? Seriously Demelza. He can hide on plain sight as well as we can, has he not for the entirety of his time on this land?"
"We are quite equally sized" Jack said smugly "Except when REALLY excited then … I am a smidge longer but he is thicker."
"For the love of the gods" Ianto sighed as everyone erupted with laughter "Stop it!"
Jack grinned as his Tiger blushed.
