10

Sherlock and Mycroft stood eyeballing each other in the main hub.

Jack finally left Ford to greet them and was in time to see Mycroft's top lip start to peel back.

"Uncle Jack!" came a cry and everyone's heads turned as the elderly woman jumped from the stone with more energy than her age required.

"Lizzie, my darling girl!" Jack crooned, holding out his arms so she could run to him.

"Oh dear. Look at your clothes" she gasped as she drew back and took in the dried blood still smeared across his white shirt.

"Not mine, my love's" Jack said as he looked down at himself with surprise, "I never even noticed."

"Well? Do I get to meet him?" she asked and Jack offered his arm.

Mycroft made a noise in his throat and her Majesty called out over her shoulder, "Stop puffing, the little pigs will never come out, you know!"

Sherlock blinked and then started to laugh as he followed.

Jack led her into the room and stood by Ford with a hand on one of the large paws.

"Oh my goodness, he's huge!" she enthused, "Look Crofty, he is the size of an elephant!"

Mycroft was silent.

All colour had drained from his face as he looked at the largest member of his kind he has ever seen.

"He's mine, gently now wee girl" Jack said as he let her Majesty reach out and stroke the dark fur.

"Oh, so soft" she said with a child-like wonder.

A gentle huff shook the body and Jack lunged for Ford's face, crooning as he stroked a massive cheek.

An eyelid rose as the sapphire behind it swiveled to find Jack and then took in his visitor.

With a groan, Ford tried to rise before the queen.

"Hush!" she demanded, "Easy now you do not need to rise for me."

Ford chuffed softly then spoke, "My lady."

"My Wolfling" she replied with a soft smile, "Mr. Holmes, I presume?"

"Jones, Ianto Jones" came a teasing growl and she laughed as she clapped.

"Really?" she looked to Jack.

"Ianto Jones is the earth name he chose" Jack told her and she sighed.

"Not his real name, will I not be told that?" she asked as she watched Mycroft leave to fetch the tea.

"Sherrinford" Ford sighed, "Ford for short."

"But … I don't understand. He's your brother?" she frowned at Mycroft as he returned and he froze as Jack suddenly got the problem.

"Ford was being held by Unit when the treaty was finalized, otherwise he would have been the co-signer as the oldest male" Jack explained diplomatically, "Crofty and Locky probably thought he was gone and would never be let go."

"Let go" she sighed, "Croft? Do we have the final word on how that thing got loose?"

"Unit have only said that they had a 'failure to contain' and it was unable to be controlled" He grimaced, "Which means they thought they had tamed it and brought it out for walkies, only to find it was playing possum. Mum."

She nodded, "Tell them that we expect a full report with a copy sent here to the Captain. Also, I believe an apology and expenses."

Jack was not listening anymore, he was helping Ford as he started to transform and the queen cried out as she watched her very first transformation.

Andy ran in and offered support with soft yips as Ford became humanoid once more.

Jack held the blanket across the shrinking body and soon had a shaking Welshman in his arms.

"Oh my lovely man" Jack laughed, stroking a now clean cut cheek as Ford's head lolled against his shoulder.

"Oh my! Of course you are Mister Jones" the queen laughed, "We've met several times. Well, I never saw a hint of your hidden self."

"That's the point Lizzie," Jack said softly, "You remain hidden. Safe."

"I have ordered a blanket media ban on the last 48 hours, they hate it but will not rile me" she said haughtily, "You are safe here."

"Thank you dear" Jack said as he felt himself start to relax.

"You have such nice eyes" Ford said dreamily as he blinked at her, "You have a wild soul."

"You know, that is the first thing Mycroft said to me!" she pointed out, "I thought I hid my naughty side so well."

"That's the thing with us" Ford smiled as he came to life a bit more, "We are naughty enough to be nice."

"You are lovely!" she decided, "I hereby grant you the shelter of the crown."

"Thank you" Ford bowed his head, "I do hope the friendship of our peoples continues."

Jack had listened long enough and he rose, gathering Ford in his arms.

"We will retire now, Ford needs a bath and some wounds seen to that Owen missed under the fur" he informed the room, "Thank you all for coming. Andy, help me get him down into my bunker."

Andy bowed, then followed the Old Father.