Fire and ice

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The wipers were going at max speed, thumping back and forth as the snow steadily fell. Ianto swung the wheel of the rig, the large fire engine taking the turn with ease. It seemed to loom from the blizzard in almost whiteout conditions. Mad men and Englishmen safely at home … Welsh bastards out tonight.

Ianto loved being a firefighter. It made him feel whole, like he was making up for the terrible fire that had cost him his mother and sister when he was still a child, unable to do anything but writhe in his drunken father's arms as the house burned down, his dog's howls of despair in the attic telling him his women folk died up there as well. Myfanwy would never leave them.

He was currently driving like he was in the Indy 500, swinging around the vehicles ahead of him on the highway, hitting the loud booming horn when the twos and blues didn't seem to be enough. Once upon a time people would pull over, give way but these days no one had any fucking manners.

"Shit…hold on" Ianto cried out as a car swung into his lane and hit their brakes. A classic brake-check that Ianto could not ignore, his foot slamming down more as the front of the engine caught the car in the arse, shunting it forward and to one side, clearing the way as the men in the back cheered.

"Ya bloody nutta Jonesy!" one laughed as he checked the car hitting the guardrail with a show of sparks and snow "Shit, might have to attend that one on the way back."

More laughter at the usual quip that Ianto caused more work for them than an arsonist.

He ignored them, swinging around the corner and taking out a postal box that had another shouting "Ten dollars Garry!"

"Fuck!" one spat as he felt around and then with wide eyes said "Oh no. No wallet!"

Laughter.

Ianto saw the scene ahead and called out "We're here!"

They piled out and looked at the mess. Four vehicles all meshed into one another like crushed soda cans, men moving forward as Ianto approached the chief "Chief Davidson, what's up?"

"Ianto, thank god. There are several already in route to the hospital but this black SUV over here has a man trapped. Can you cut him out?" Davidson pointed and Ianto signaled the other men. His men I guess. He was still getting used to being team leader, his own Captain arriving behind them in his car with a look of thunder.

"Jones! You did a bum shunt?"

"He did a brake-check!"

"Really?" the man stopped walking "pillock. The dash-cam will show it then. OK. Moving on!"

Ianto rolled his eyes "Yes Owen. Off we go, tally-ho!"

Owen laughed as he walked over to see what was happening, those that had arrived before them pouring over the place as the snow blanketed the ground. He stood back and let them work until the ambulance officers motioned him over to say the patent was stable.

"Thanks" Ianto said softly as he slid into the back seat behind the driver, the only door they could open as the vehicle had sustained severe damage. "Good afternoon, my name is Ianto and I will be your fireman today."

"Oooo, a fireman" the man slurred, his head injury oozing blood still "I think I might have ordered one on E-Bay while butt dialing."

"Ah, well you might not be able to afford me" Ianto quipped as he checked the man, the paramedics saying he was not severely trapped just encased with Ianto now being checked for himself as his hands slid down the man' thighs "I happen to have expensive tastes and you are American … that's an extra fee."

The man snorted with mirth and Ianto looked up, into the most amazing eyes ever. He froze, the eyes widening slightly as well and Ianto realized with a start that he was partially in the lap of a man handsome enough to be modeling jeans or something.

"Hi" Ianto said softly "Sorry. I had to check for myself."

"A man who doesn't trust" the man sighed "I'm Jack by the way."

"Well, since I am in your lap with my hands under your bum right now … it's nice to know your name" Ianto agreed, grinning as he also noted the dry seat, no blood loss there. No major injuries.

Jack smiled back "Gonna keep them there? Better than a heated seat thing."

Ianto laughed. He liked this man. He pulled his hands back, removing the phone as he did so and Jack looked relieved as he held out his hand "Thanks. I need to call the office, Toshi will kill me."

"You're lucky you aren't dead" Ianto told him "This area is notorious for black ice."

"Is everyone else OK?" Jack asked "I did ask but I think they were too busy to hear me."

"Everyone else has already been evacuated. You are the last and there were no fatalities" Ianto assured him as he looked into those eyes again.

"One more question before you tear this vehicle open like some dragon ripping the armor off a knight" Jack asked and Ianto's eyes danced.

"Then I get to eat you?" Ianto asked, then his brain caught up to his mouth as Jack roared with glee.

"Well … I was gonna ask or your number but … I'll try anything once." Jack chortled, leaning in to smell this exotic creature that came from a blizzard yet melted his heart "Or twice."

Ianto blushed, then whispered it in his ear.