11
Ianto had finished doing the inventory and rose from his squatting stance as Jack approached.
"Hey, wanna choose your room?" Jack asked and Ianto nodded.
"Um, we have six rooms so sharing will have to occur" Ianto frowned. "Two doubles and four singles"
"OK, options?" Jack waited for instruction.
Well, Rhys and Gwen take one double," Ianto said and Jack nodded.
Nain and Poppy take one double" Ianto pointed at one that was already showing signs of occupation.
"Sean can take the small one at the end" Ianto pointed to a single room then looked at Jack nervously. "And Owen and Tosh each have the other two singles."
"So the middle one with two single beds would be Alice and Stephen?" Jack asked and Ianto nodded.
"He's too big to share a bed with his mum, probably kicks like a mule!" Ianto smiled.
"That leaves the large family one" Jack pointed out.
"Yeah, a double and single bed" Ianto sighed. "The table and chairs means we could go over stuff at night while staying out of the way and have more private meetings away from the main group if things get down to hard decisions."
"Share?" Jack grinned.
"Yeah, me and Mica can take the double and you the single, if you don't mind sharing" Ianto smiled.
"Sounds like a good idea" Jack nodded, "Won't Mica want to be with your grandparents though?"
"Er, Poppy snores. Room is soundproofed but …." He grimaced and Jack snorted.
"Like Owen" Jack laughed and Ianto shook his head.
"Much worse Jack!" he laughed.
Jack felt a swell of pleasure as he heard his name used again and he grinned as he began to move bedding.
Soon everyone was moving stuff around in their respective rooms and Mica threw her first tantrum.
She wanted the cute single bed with drawers underneath, apparently the light above the bed was exactly right for reading her books.
"Mica, you are five years old, how many books to you intend reading in bed?" Ianto tried to reason with her and she growled as she stamped her foot.
"I'm a big girl" she roared, "Mummy said so. Big girls sleep in their own bed!"
"Oh dear" Ifan said softly.
"Mica" Jack popped down and looked her in the eye, "I don't think Uncle Ianto means it that way. I think he wants someone to cuddle with in case he gets scared in the night. You know, a bad dream or something."
"Then he can cuddle you!" she growled, "I saw you cuddling him on the bus!"
"What?" Jack gasped.
"I saw you out the window." She accused, "You were kissing and cuddling! You can sleep with him!"
As she stomped off Jack burst into peals of laughter as Ianto gold fished.
"Really? Kisses as well?" Owen raised an eyebrow as Ifan cleared his throat.
"It was … a comfort cuddle" Ianto blushed as he shifted his feet.
"Leave them alone Ifan!" Anna scolded as Ifan went to speak, "I told you they need to move at their own pace!"
"I beg your pardon?" Ianto glared at her.
"Oh come on" she laughed softly, "You two are big boys. You can share a bed without worrying about cooties!"
"Nain!" Ianto snorted but she saw the humour in his eyes.
"Thought so!" she nodded, moving off to sort out the child.
Mica was defiantly laying on the single bed and when she saw her Nain coming she frowned more.
"I want this bed!" she demanded.
"Mica, don't be so rude!" Anna scolded and the little girl's face fell as she started to cry.
Alice was passing and rushed in to gather the girl into her arms.
"Tell us why" she said to the little girl, "We need to understand so we can let you have it."
Mica whispered something and blushed as Alice sighed.
"Someone still wets the bed sometimes" Alice whispered to Anna who slumped.
It all made sense.
When she told Ianto he became distressed for not thinking of that himself and took off to the barn where the SUV was now hidden as Jack was afraid of aerial drones searching for good places to attack. The SUV was parked next to the bus in the safety of the huge barn with Jack polishing her with pride.
Ianto was in Jack's arms before he could drop the cloth he had been buffing the paintwork with and he was stunned for a moment. He slowly brought his arms up and held the weeping Welshman.
"What's happened" Jack asked softly.
"Everything. Oh God, I … Oh." Ianto sobbed and Jack soothed him as the whole nightmare finally caught up with him.
"It's OK Tiger" Jack rubbed his back and kissed his cheek as Ianto sighed into his neck. "Let it out, no one can see you here."
They folded into the hay and Ianto allowed Jack to hold him as he shook with grief.
His sister, his beautiful sister was gone, David too. How could he let that happen, how could he have failed them?
Jack waited until Ianto relaxed in his arms and Jack knew he had fallen asleep, then gently rolled him onto his back. Removing his great coat, Jack made sure Ianto was covered and warm before sitting back to ruminate.
Poor bugger, lost so much and kept it together for so long.
Jack told himself to respect his boundaries no matter how much he ached to be more than what they were.
For now.