7

Ianto was walking down the long hallway and slowed as he saw Rhys up a ladder with Scout watching intently from the ground. "What are you two up to?"

Scout smiled as he turned to face him "We are taking down these Exit signs. They are a glow in the dark plastic see?"

'That's right" Ianto agreed as he accepted one already in the little man's hands, "So?"

"So, first we thought of placing them about in the case of a power cut. If the genny goes out or we are under attack in the middle of the night or something. Then we realised the stairs would be a black hole. We are going to see how many we have and put them in the stairwell. We think we might get enough to cut them into strips and place on the edge of the steps for the stairs so even in the middle if the night each step is clearly marked so no one trips running up and down them in an emergency."

"What an amazing idea" Ianto said with glee, "Brainpower cousin."

"Rhys thought of it" Scout said without caring, "He is clever. I love his brain."

"Good. Good." Ianto patted the small shoulder affectionately, "I seem to remember that he likes chess too."

Scout's face lit up as he glanced up "Teddy bear? You play chess my man?"

Rhys looked down with equal affection and Ianto was touched to see that they had bonded and become firm friends already, "Gonna thrash ya later if ya like!"

Scout roared with mirth as he argued with him and Ianto left them to it, walking to the kitchen where he found Gwen. "Hey, what's up?"

"This cafeteria is huge and horribly boring. I want to clear out all these four person round tables and chairs. We bring in some large tables that we can put together from the classrooms to make a nice big one so we can eat tougher. Also, maybe some couches and things so the kids have a flop area while snacking and such? Maybe it will help enforce the 'food is to stay in one place' rule so we don't have half eaten food all over the house. Mice ya know."

"Brilliant idea Gwen" Ianto smiled, "You and that man of yours are firing on all cylinders today. Sleep well did you?" Ianto asked then poked her, "Like…tired out?"

She giggled as she shoved at him and he smiled.

The Crypto wandered past in human form talking with Andy who was arguing about a colour scheme for their room and he saw that things had changed. They were not in survival mode anymore and everyone had started…relaxing.

Ianto went to find Jack and was not surprised to find himself drawn to the roof where Jack and Toshiko were fine tuning some cameras and motions sensors as Jack made notes on ones that needed to be placed at the perimeters for full coverage while Owen raced about on his motorbike enjoying the freedom as he planted them.

"Hey, guess what!" Ianto said as he strode towards them and they both turned, Jack's face lighting up and Ianto felt a twist of delight as he saw it.

"What's that handsome?" Jack called out.

"This is becoming a home!" Ianto said as he reached them and kissed Jack then turned and kissed Tosh's cheek as well, her blush pretty as she grinned at him and accepted a hug. "Mimi and that green skinned monster are pulling everything out of the maintenance cupboards and itemising them, apparently we have SOOOOO much bog paper they are building a bog roll fort."

Jack laughed and hugged him against him as he looked out over the school's compound, "The fencing is looking good, not visible from the road. Owen checked and like you said, from the main road this place doesn't exist."

"And we plan to keep it that way" Ianto agreed, "We can wait this out … whatever this it right?"

"We can live" Jack agreed as he knew what he was being asked, "We will plan, compile and settle in before the snows."

"Good plan" Ianto said like it was all Jack's idea and even Toshiko laughed as Jack hugged him tightly again and kissed him longer, more lovingly and then they laughed.

Down below a horse was wandering about on the trimmed tennis court looking at the net with interest then raised its tail to …well … fertilise?

This might work.

Ianto was going to do all he could to ensure it.

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So ends this section and next will be a recon that actually works, not that direction but another where they might have more luck. I will call it … "Bravo Major Tom"