A/N—Hope people are still reading, and I am trying to get back to regular posting. Please enjoy, read and review.
After the prerequisite singing and ceremonious blowing out of the candles, Micah starts in on presents while Alice presided over the butchering of the cake. Jack was pressed into service passing out plates, and Ianto was put in charge of seeing the paper made it into the bin bag, again. It seemed to be going well until something broke out among the boys.
Jack was the first to move, across the yard in seconds, he reached down and came up with two boys, one in each hand. "Get off me, Fag," the one shouted. David, the third boy in the initial scuffling came off the ground looking like he was perfectly willing ton continue the fight and Stephen, still squirming in his grandfather's grip opened his mouth but closed it as he caught sight of Jack's face.
"That's enough of that language," Jack said sternly. He set the boys down on the ground and separated them from the rest. "You three, inside on the settee, now and not a word," he barked. The one looked like he was going to say something else but whatever he saw made him change his mind.
"Don't mind 'im, Jack, gets if from 'is Da, whose not but a loud mouth who spends 'alf his time down the pub spoutin' off," Johnny said quietly. "Best we go talk to 'em, yeah?" Ianto was a little surprised, his brother in law was the first to take the mickey with them when he found out. But then Johnny had always been one to speak first and think after, and lately he had seemed to come around.
"Sure you want me…"
"Someone's got to straighten 'im out, better it be both of us. 'e don't know what 'e's talking about and you're the best for that."
"Alright, enough of that nonsense," Ianto said, collecting everyone's attention. "Presents to open. Don't want the ice cream to melt." The focus instantly returned to the more important business of presents and food.
Inside, the three boys were on the settee. The one Jack didn't know was on one side, while it seemed that Stephen and David had fought over who got the other end.
"Alright then, someone want to explain wha' happened out there?" Johnny said impatiently. Instantly all three of them had something to say.
"Enough," Jack barked, interrupting them. "One at a time, David, you start."
"Best be good too, disruptin' your sister's birthday party. Best believe your Mam'll 'ave somethin' to say 'bout this." David blanched a little at the thought, as did Stephen, the other boy just smirked. "Think that's funny do you, Donny Jackson? Don't think your Mam'll be thrilled when I tell 'er. Regardless of what kind of sh…rubbish yer Da's spouting this week, she'll not have it." The boy thus identified thought about that for a moment, before starting to look worried.
"David."
"Everything was fine, then Donny said…" David paused, clearly deciding if repeating what was said was going to mean more trouble. "He insulted you and Uncle Ianto," he said finally, having decided on discretion.
"So you decided to correct him with your fists?" Jack said, still calm.
"Nah, Davy told him to shut his stupid god on account of he din't know nothing 'bout anything and was just repeatin' 'is stupid Dad," Stephen said, coming to his defense. "Then Donny threw the punch and called Davy a…"
"Alright, I think we get the picture. You know that was not the right way to handle it?" Jack said. Both boys nodded but Donny looked defiant.
"I don' 'ave to listen to you, yer not my Da' and anyway yer just a…"
"Not another word, less you want me to take you home right now, and 'ave you explain it to yer Mam. You know she don't 'old wit what 'e's spoutin. He's a right to 'is opinion, 'e's an adult. Still, you shouldn't go round parrotin' 'im when you don't know what's what. Best to find out what you believe yerself, otherwise people are goin' to thing you don't know your own mind."
"But he says that they're twisted, and again' the Bible, ruinin the country, and besides they do things to kids, make 'em like them," he finished, eyeing David and Stephen suspiciously.
"Uncle Jack ain't no pedo," David said dismissively. "We learned 'bout them in school when they came and talked 'bout it. Them kind, they ain't like that, they like kids, not other blokes."
"Against the Bible, is it now?" Johnny said, getting around slowly. "An when was the last time yer Da was seen in Chapel, I'd like to know? The rest, well, it's like Davy says, they ain't done nothing to you, 'ave they? An' as for the country, Jack's a bloody veteran, served in the Air Force, defendin' the country."
"Listen kid, do you know what any of that means?" Jack asked. Donny seemed to be having a hard time processing.
"It means…" he started.
"In your own words, not your fathers," Jack said gently, squatting down in front of the settee so he was more or less eye level.
Donny seemed to be thinking on it, looking at Jack.
"You love your Dad and you want to be respectful of him, that's good. The thing is, you also need to base your ideas on what you learn for yourself, not just on what other people tell you. I'm not saying you should go to your Dad and tell him that someone else told you he was wrong, either, no matter what I think of his ideas. These are decisions you need to think about, get more experience of the world and then make up your own mind, do you understand?" The boy looked like he was trying to sort it out but he'd lost some of his belligerence.
"Kind of?" he said, finally, uncertainly.
"Goes for you, too," He said to the other two.
"Yes, sir," they said, obviously over the lecture.
"Think you can all behave now?" They nodded, but they still weren't looking at each other.
"An' I think you owe Captain Harkness an apology," Johnny said, though Jack wasn't all that concerned.
"Sorry Captain Harkness," Donny said, torn between being embarrassed and impressed. "Are you really a Captain?"
"Yep, RAF, retired."
"He was a pilot, and knows a lot of brilliant stuff about airplanes an' stuff," Stephen said proudly, as they headed back outside, Donny looking back as if he wasn't completely sure what to think.
"Alright?" Ianto asked as they came out, passing out cake and chocolate ice cream to the heard of small children, while his sister directed him.
"Finish up there, the ice cream is meltin'." Jack nodded to his partner and the young Welshman handed plates to the boys who went to rejoin their comrades but the fence.
Jack, nothing obvious for him to do, sank back into his chair. No matter how old he got, that kind of thing still surprised him, made him feel his age. At least maybe they'd got through to this one.
The rest of the party passed in reasonable peace and quiet. Lucy and Stephen were thrilled about the sleepover, though less so that both of them were getting to stay, and Alice had accepted the bag graciously without even really looking at the contents. Instead she hugged them both, and refused a ride to the hotel, saying that she didn't want to have to pull them away from something important tomorrow. Then, she got into her car and drove away.
"Well, think that's our cue," Ianto said.
Jack nodded. "You want to drive?" he asked abscently.
"You alright?"
"Fine, just…thinking." The incident with the boys seemed to have sapped some of Jack's energy and now he was quiet, thoughtful.
"Penny for 'em," the young man asked as he pulled the big vehicle out of the estate.
"Not worth it."
"Fine, probably a ha'penny in your change then."
"Probably." Jack had a bad habit of dumping his change on the dresser at night and scooping it up in the morning. Not all that unusual except that at his age, he'd never cleaned out the old coins, not to mention the odd bits of alien money, strange bolts and fasteners that he tended to absently drop into his trouser pockets without a thought. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised about that boy, Donny. I know there is a way to go, but still…"
"Yeah, still, Davy and Stephen have the right of it, same with the rest. It's changing."
"Yeah, I know, sometimes it seems only yesterday when we could be arrested for loving each other, the rest of the time it seems like change is glacially slow."
"Suppose so. When I was at school, being called queer was still a good way of getting a fight going. Now seems like the kids are more willing to give things a try, take their time sorting rather than assume."
"Exactly, of course it took decades of build up."
"Bit philosophical tonight," the Welshman said lightly.
"Yeah, suppose so. Just wondering about the world that my grandkids are going to inherit. Grandchildren, that's still a scary thought on its own."
"Yeah, need another reminder of what an old man I've saddles myself with."
"Keep it up and I'll remind you of exactly what this old man is capable of."
"Promises, promises," Ianto said turning into the underground parking, secure in the knowledge that he'd redirected Jack's thoughts along more pleasant lines. Oh, he'd pay for it later but in all the best ways.
They hurried into the Hub, anxious to switch over to night mode as they could get on with it. The main area was empty, and the Lorisians were probably still sleeping, or keeping to their rooms, but there was some music coming from the tunnel that led to the firing range and between the songs, what was most definitely a moan, not of the unpleasant variety.
Ianto looked at Jack. "Definitely don't want to know," he said.
"Sure? I could check the CCTV."
"Yes, besides, he's probably turned it off already."
"Not likely, not until he saves it for his private collection."
"You're jokin' aren't you?"
"No, why do you think I've been so careful about locking out the comms with him around? I don't necessarily mind, but I didn't think you would care for sharing with John."
"You're right, but that…" Ianto said as Jack took his hand.
"Then let's go downstairs, no cameras, no being disturbed…"
It was almost an hour later when the alarm went off. The four people who assembled in front of the screen had clearly not been expecting it. Commander Johnson, hair down around her shoulders, was wearing a tee shirt that Ianto knew he'd last seen on John Hart, while Jack's former lover was carrying a pistol in one hand, mother naked save for the handcuff dangling from one wrist. Johnson had the grace to blush, but considering their own state of undress, Ianto didn't see the point. He was wearing a pair of trousers, barely and he'd not noticed til he was out the door that they were Jack's and had no belt. Jack, on the other hand was wearing a pare of boxers, he'd grabbed when Ianto reminded him that they weren't alone, backward.
On the screen, Martha Jones looked at the four of them with something that probably started out as surprise.
"Martha Jones, this is a pleasant surprise."
"Yeah, sorry to interrupt er… whatever…"
"Best be good, don't know 'bout the rest but unless you two are ready to join in, I for one…"
"Shhhh," that came from Johnson managed to sound more threatening than Ianto thought was possible but John Hart smiled his sexiest, heart melting smile towards her. Ianto decided he definitely didn't need to know any more, and was glad they'd not got any further than they had.
"What's up, Martha?"
"Just got a call from a friend in UNIT and…"
"Jeezzz, could you put some clothes on?" Mickey Smith walked into camera range and then turned away.
"ANYWAY," Martha said, shooting him a look. "Someone went fishing for background on one Alice Carter. Since the flag is with a Torchwood notify, she gave me the heads up though the official will come to you by morning."
"Have they, or you done the back trace yet?" Jack asked as Ianto immediately moved to the keyboard.
"Just finished, boss," Mickey said, still trying not to look at the Screen too closely. "Request came through from MI-5. I called in a favour and it came to them through the office of a cabinet minister, along with a new request for the background on one Ianto Jones, and the occupants of 4 Carrick Close, in…"
"Tha's Rhis and Johnny's address," Ianto broke in.
"Yeah, and here's the interesting thing, my contract says they were also interested in you, boss man. They specified Alice Carter, daughter of Captain Jack Harkness, that set off enough flags for a Jubilee party."
"Considering that I'm not listed, it would. Damnit, this has to be connected to Joe, I just can't believe…"
"Its alright, boss. They just want to know what to say. The official docs'll be in you're email first thing. Meanwhile, you want me to go over there, and sniff 'round?"
"Jack, Lois worked as a temp in Whitehall for a bit before we pinched her. I'm sure that we could manage…"
"Yeah, send Lois in. You shouldn't take long to figure it out. She still has her credentials and all."
"First thing, Jack, is this something…" Martha asked.
"It's not Torchwood, I think it's personal. I suspect its got something to do with the sudden reappearance of my ex son in law. I really shouldn't be asking any of you to be involved."
"That's total bullshit, Jack. Anyone comes after your family, they come after Torchwood, and we bite back," Mickey said vehemently. Jack smiled, looking at the people around him nodding their support, even John Hart. Ianto put an hand on Jack's arm.
"We're in this together, you should know that."
"Ok, Ianto, will you call Swanson and see if she can make sure there are extra patrols over at Rhi and Johnny? I don't think there's a problem but better safe…" Ianto nodded.
"Martha, tell your contact at UNIT to stick to the cover, if they try to dig deeper, I want a trace on it."
"I'll do the same with MI-5," Mickey said before Jack could ask. "Also tag anything else that they might think of."
"Thanks.
"We'll sort this Jack," Martha said before signing off.
"Too right," John agreed. "Not much we can do tonight but if you want, I'll put some more surveillance cameras outside eye candy's 'official' residence, see if anyone stops by. Help with the outside cameras here too, before we load up. But that's for tomorrow, if you'll excuse me, like to get back to…"
"He's right, Sir. We'll get this taken care of," Johnson said patting his arm awkwardly before following John Hart down toward the firing range.
"Since they've put me in the mix, I'll just tag the official tourist bureau website, see if anyone tries to hack in from there. Best call Ifan at the St. Dayffd, just to be sure, then we can get back. Jack, you know it'd still be ok. Yeah?" he said putting an arm around his lover.
"I've tried so hard to keep Alice out of everything and now…"
"Not your fault Jack. If you'd been the butcher they'd probably still be doin' it, just without the red flags."
"True, I guess I want to know why."
"Well, get it sorted, now why don't I make that call and you head back downstairs. Think you were about to show me you'd not got too old…"
"Oh, I'll show you a few things, Ianto Jones. And you look good in those trousers," he winked as he walked out. He wasn't distracted, not yet, but at least he was willing to try and Ianto could work with that.