10
"No" Ianto repeated as Bonnie sat looking at him.
"Not an interview or anything, just a few words, a sound bite" she said softly, "With the court case …"
"No" Ianto snarled, "Shut it. No. Gone, done. No. Line."
"What's going on?" John asked as he entered and Ianto looked at him with relief.
"No Hartman!"
"Look love, Ianto doesn't want to know what happens to the bitch, or her hit man. He has no interest in her. She is too small, too unimportant to waste a moment of his life" John drawled as he leaned back against the doorframe, "He wants to look forward, move on and recover. She is poison, her breath is irrelevant to him. Please. He doesn't want to talk about her."
"Sorry Ianto" she sighed, "You are so loved, the entire nation is watching this with teeth bared. I don't mean to push, you know I'm a bitch."
He squeezed her hand as he smiled softly to show no lasting damage and she kissed his knuckles.
"Tired" Ianto declared as he settled back and closed his eyes, even though John knew he wasn't and he motioned Bonnie out then shut the door.
"She's gone"
Ianto sighed and reached up to rub his noise, then examined his hand like it was an alien.
John sat watching for a while, then he tried another conversation with the sullen Welshman.
"Your coordination seems a lot better, with Walter's Birthday coming up I thought we could make something of it" John said softly an noted the way Ianto's face softened at the mention of one of his babies, "Your own birthday was …Babs is still so upset. Maybe a wee blow out will help set everyone back on their feet?"
Ianto let himself relax into the bedding as he considered and then he pointed at the laptop Jack had left charging.
John rose and placed it on the bed table, moving it closer and opening it on Word.
Ianto stared for a while, then started to type. John sat back and read as the words flowed and snorted occasionally or pointed at something that would be corrected or changed.
Finally Ianto sat back exhausted from the short twenty minute typing and John leaned over to kiss him gently and croon, then send the document to his phone.
"I'll get on it scrumpy" h said softly as Ianto smiled and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
John called out the Bets that he was heading into town on errands and she smiled softly as they walked to the door, then stepped to one side as Carl entered and kissed her cheek.
"I think he's drifted off" she apologised.
"No worries, I can read while I wait" he smiled, "Herb is coming soon, I just want some quiet time. Funny how Ianto is always so calming, just to be around."
Bets nodded and went back to baking.
"Carl" Ianto said softly and he eagerly rushed to the bed, reaching for a hand.
"Hey pumpkin" he crooned.
"There is a wheelchair in the blue storage shed" Ianto said calmly, "It's from my time as an invalid so it is probably near the rear. It was a wee while ago that I injured my back."
"What do you want mate?"
"I want to see my garden, feel the sun on my face and see my village" Ianto sighed, "So tired of being locked up like the crown jewels. I've not seen anyone, I heard Manny trying to get in yesterday, even Bets is blocking everyone."
Carl went to the old storage shed and pushed past boxes and old toys, finding an expensive wheelchair sitting there waiting. It had obviously been expensive, the all terrain wheels and sturdy frame giving away Ianto's desire to see the village alright.
Carl sniggered as he pulled it out and looked at the small battery, then he rose and went to the ride on mower and checked that battery, nodding as he pulled it off and swapped the batteries out, then put the chair one on charge.
He then returned to the house and watched Ianto's face light up.
"Your chariot awaits!"