10
Ianto looked around his nest forlornly.
Still no chick.
With a shrug, he unwrapped the latest piece of glass only to have it flick from the paper and smash in the floor.
Ianto looked at the destroyed piece of tat and burst into tears.
Jack came running, moving Ianto away from the mess as he soothed him.
"It's OK baby" Jack crooned, "I'll get you another one, a better one, OK?"
Ianto sniffled and blinked at Jack, "Better?"
"Yes" Jack smiled as he led Ianto to the flight deck.
"Doc, we need a market planet please" he said softly and the Doctor looked up from the book he was reading.
"Huh?" he spluttered, "I thought we were gonna drift for a while"
"We broke a pretty" Jack said diplomatically, "Sweetie needs another one for the room."
"The nest" the Doctor corrected and Jack rolled his eyes.
The Doctor flipped a few switches as he honed in on the nearest planet and opened the doors with a flourish.
Ianto bounced out with excitement and rushed towards the nearest stall as Jack tried to keep up. The red great-coat to match Jack's had been found in the Great Wardrobe and Ianto loved it.
Jack kept getting glimpses through the throng of people of his baby and he was soon cursing under his breath as the crowd became more condensed.
"Ianto" Jack called out over the noise, "Please wait for me sweetie"
Ianto either didn't hear him or it was already too late.
Jack arrived at the stall of lovely baubles and Ianto was nowhere to be seen.
Jack didn't panic until he looked down.
Ianto's cloth shopping bag lay in a puddle and Jack felt his balls shrivel as he stared at it. Ianto never let that go. Not the home for his treasures.
Jack was now frantic, calling out as he searched for the red coat Ianto had been wearing.
The red coat he found was of another breed and he snarled as he hooked John's collar from behind, swinging him into his fist.
"Where is he!" Jack roared.
"What?" John spluttered from the wet ground, "Where? Ah, shit. Your little Chickie flown off?"
John's grin faded as he watched Jack crumple, curling into himself as he realised that John didn't have Ianto.
Ianto was gone.
John rose and gathered Jack into an awkward hug then asked if he had any trackers on Ianto.
Jack face palmed and then flipped open his VM, scanning for his wee bugger.
They were soon running, panting as they pushed past people in their haste to catch the moving target.
"Cariad!" Ianto's cry was heard and Jack put on extra speed, crashing into a hooded figure who had hold of Ianto.
"I don't think so" John said calmly as he took aim at the head of the other hood.
"Oh Jack" Ianto was weeping, burrowing into Jack's chest as Jack crooned and soothed him.
"You fucking arseholes!" John snarled, "Taking what's not yours."
"He has no chip!" the hood Jack had tackled said as it rose.
"You fucking …" Jack began to yell, then turned back as Ianto wailed with fear.
"Sorry baby" Jack soothed, "I'm not angry with you. My good little star."
"You idiots!" John growled then the sound of grinding filled the air.
The Doctor flew from the Tardis with a look of complete confusion on his face.
"Where is he" he yelled, "Where's Ianto."
"I'm here" Ianto said in a little voice from Jack's armpit and the Doctor swung with relief.
"Those meanies were trying to steal me" Ianto pointed at the hoods who were stepping back from the Doctor.
"Really?"
"He is a rare find" one of the hoods hissed. "A pretty thing."
"Windy Woos are not things" Jack snarled, then pulled Ianto to the Tardis as the Doctor glared at the hoods.
"Well, you have bitten off more than you can chew" the Doctor sighed, "Tell your Mistress that I say hi and…. Ah … this was not funny."
The Doctor turned on his heel as he followed his companions and the two hoods looked at one another with fear.
Who was going to tell the Mistress that they had just angered the Doctor?
No one had noticed John slipping on-board the Tardis as the doors swung shut.