6

Jewel was happy to see them, struggling to her front legs, the back ones dragging as she whimpered so Ianto sat and pulled her into his lap as he checked for any sign of pain.

"Shit" Ianto looked up to find a technician standing here gaping at him with open horror, "Wow. When they said she belonged to someone important I never thought …I mean. Shit."

"He is someone very important" the king said, making the man swing to gape some more, then rub his face and look again. "I am still real."

Jack could see the children were trying to touch her so he nodded and turned to face the technician, "Jewel is a service dog, she was Ianto's eyes after he was blinded in the line of duty. Although he can see again, bright light and sudden changes in light can still trick his eyes. Jewel still works by his side. He really needs her, how do we get past this?"

Ianto looked up with relief as he saw his mate take charge, not wanting to be the one to make decisions as he cuddled his dog and his babies, all he wanted right now was to go home and rage. He settled for kissing his daughter as she laid her head carefully on the poor dog's shoulder.

"So?" Jack said softly to the tech, "Any ideas?"

"We will need to wait a few days to see if she improves or …well. Not" he grimaced, "But I have every faith that she will regain some movement, but not enough to be as mobile as she once was. This is not the hardship it once was. We can offer solutions but my first would be to approach the Cybernetic Branch to see if they can make some sort of walking frame or something she can glide with. If we can find a way to support her weight I think she can still push herself around."

Jack nodded, "Make it so."

Ianto lifted his dog, making them aware of his intention to take her and the tech rushed to get a blanket to wrap her in, "If you want to take her home go ahead, I will come visit you in the morning when I have something to tell you that might help"

"Thanks" Jack said as he followed his mate out to the transporter and Ianto stood there staring at it as he realised he had no way of getting home.

"Come on, I'll give you guys a lift" the king offered with a cheeky grin, "Seems I have clear airspace."

They arrived home to find the mess had been cleaned up With the Away Vessel from the sweep team gone. There was only a pool of wstered down blood…. Or three which Jack found surprising as he had only shot one and he made a note to ask his father later where the stand-in sweep team had gone in such a hurry when he still wanted a few ….er….words. All that remained were the blood splatters and the depressions in the dirt. Jack noticed Ianto glancing that was as well then Franklin was worriedly running towards them as they landed. "I was going to come but then … I don't think I could stand to see you despair. Dear boy, are you alright?"

Ianto smiled as he let Franklin pull him into a hug and then looked back as Jack gently carried the dog for him, Logan a limpet in Ianto's arms as his little boy was so tired from all the worries of the day. "Ah, thank the gods."

"She might not be able to walk unaided, apparently a prosthesis might be able to be developed to help her" Jack told his father, "either way she is fine. If we have to hire someone to carry her like fucking royalty we will."

"Thank you Jack" Ianto smiled, stepping close and kissing him as his hands rested on his dog, "My beloved Cariad."

"Come on, let's just settle and let our….shit" Jack said softly as he looked up and the sky seemed to erupt into a maelstrom. A storm of slowly descending away vessels.

As vessel after vessel touched down, opening to vomit soldiers and muzzled weapons Ianto felt a stab of delight, the first vessel that landed had it's door facing away but Ianto could hear the voice yelling orders as his men surrounded the castle.

John Hart strode around his vessel looking at the King's with surprise, then to those standing by the door.

"Ianto!" John called, walking briskly towards him, "I came as soon as I heard there had been an attack. Is she OK?"

"Oh Johnty, she can't walk" Ianto said with a wobbly lip, so touched that he was showing a respectful interest in his Jewel "My poor baby girl."

"Is it sorted with the one to blame?" John demanded "Do you need someone cleared away?"

"Oh John, thank you so much. It's OK, Jack killed him for me and the team seem to have left" Ianto smiled, "I just need to adjust to this."

"Well, we are going nowhere" John said with a firm nod of his head, "Angel love, set camp."

The King looked on as the vessels sank low and their bellies almost touched the ground. They looked like large metal dragons all resting as if waiting for orders as soldiers prepared to camp in them.

As Ianto settled on the sofa and watched Jack place Jewel in the lovely bed Franklin had prepared he hoped things would be OK.

They were supposed to fly out in a week for the wedding.

How could he go?

But then … how could he possibly let Rose down?