4
They were moving, Owen sitting between the two men humming softly as he consulted the map Ianto didn't need to glance at as he drove and he pulled to the side, and then turned to Owen, "Drone time. Up ahead is the bridge, a perfect place for an ambush or toll."
Owen nodded and slithered out the back window to pull the drone from its box and set it on the cab of the truck. He watched it rise and move off as Ianto leaned back and closed his eyes.
"You OK?"
"I am visualising what he is seeing hoping what I see and what he sees is the same thing."
"Tell me" Jack whispered and Ianto smiled.
"The grass is long on either side of the road, the old bridge was stone sides, curved slightly. There is a breeze so the water will be babbling under it, some wild flowers maybe at the gates to it, waving in the wind" Ianto sighed, "the sound of birdsong, the wind picking up so the grass bends more then settles again. Maybe a cow or something wandering in the distance chewing the grass as it contemplates the silence."
"Clear" Owen says too loudly, Jack jumping with a squeak. "It is a stone bridge like you said, you been there lots?"
"Stock yards" Ianto nodded, "When I was small we moved that way each spring for the stock sales. I remember the basic layout of the area."
"Trucks?"
"Yes. I do not remember diesel though, there is a construction company with heavy machinery. Maybe they have a diesel tank on a trailer?" Ianto surmised and Owen whooped as he banged the cab to encourage movement.
"Come on, let's go!" he roared.
Jack laughed and they took off, moving with caution over the bridge and into the outer township. As per Ianto's instructions they moved towards the school. Ianto reasoned that it was least likely to have Crawlers in it as in crisis people go to the church, pub or home. Not a school. Besides, it had done them well so far.
Ianto was right.
Of course.
They settled in and Owen sent the drone out, Crawlers soon apparent as Ianto had thought as welland they sighed as a second drone went out which Ianto checked as well. Jack watched the monitors with interest as it also became apparent that there were no sign of people. Well, you know what I mean. Real ones.
"We wait for first light when these fuckers go to ground" Ianto said as he returned his drone and then went to sort something to eat. Owen turned to look at Jack as Ianto's snarled curse had startled him.
"He's sad. For them? Where do they go?" he asked, "Really. Like Ianto said, they go to ground. Where do they go? Do they just find somewhere instinctively or do they like….lump?"
"Lump?" Ianto said as he sat back down and placed a Tupperware container between then fill of chicken salad and handed forks to them. "Like… vampire covens?"
Owen snorted as he speared some meat and sat back to consider, "Maybe under a certain building or something? Some underground place they go? I mean … how do they know to do it?"
"Base skills" Jack explained, "Like remembering to walk, to run and to seek. They look for us, it stands to reason they feel pain to some degree and hide when the sun comes up."
"Agreed" Ianto nodded then placed bottles of water down, "also, no drinking the water, we have no idea of the source is clean."
"Agreed" Owen smiled.
Jack looked at Ianto as he fussed about then asked softly "Perhaps we should get some sleep then? If not sleep then rest? Prepare for first light?"
Ianto glanced up at him with surprise then over at Owen who nodded, "You two have a cuddle in the back room, I'll take first watch then wake you before dawn. I'll have a couple of hours and when the sun is high we check for signs of life."
"OK…um….yes" Ianto flustered about then blushed as he headed back to make up a bed of sorts from beanbags and sleeping mats.
"Thanks Owen, if I had suggested it he would have said it was OK to stay up and wait knowing my lack of need for sleep" Jack said softly, "He needs a few moments to process. Thanks."
"I can see the nerves jangling" Owen agreed, "Go hold him for a while. I get the feeling he is waiting for you. Just the three of us…no one else. He wanted you alone, right?"
"I think so" Jack nodded, "Crypto went everywhere with him, leaving him behind was for a reason. I think because he projects between Ianto and Mia and even at this distance she might feel him and his fears. Leaving Crypto behind means she cannot feel his concern right now."
"I did wonder that" Owen leaned back, "Laving him behind was a surprise. You really think that he can join them from this distance if he were here?"
"Clearly he does" Jack agreed, "I think… I think he wants to mourn a bit while he can. While she can't feel his despair. He doesn't want to frighten her."
Owen sighed and looked back into the darkness beyond the windows.
Jack rose and went to seek his lover.
