13
"We can't go" Jack said again, his mother's voice audible as she screamed down the line and Owen ignored it as he knelt by the sofa, checking Ianto with his portable scanner. "I know… I know he always goes with them for this but not today. He's poorly and Cora has already agreed …. Mama…. Mama…. No. I will not follow later like I usually do either. No. Mama, stop being melodramatic. Ianto is not going in the chopper. I am not following in the car with the dignitaries… no. Not gonna happen…..Get Gray to if it's so important to you! Little shit can pull finger for once!"
"Well?" Ianto whispered, "Is there one in there?"
"You are not gonna believe this… yeah" Owen was grinning, "I mean, until we can get you to the lab for a full body scan I can only check the skin density but … yeah. You have another layer of skin beneath the surface that had all the hallmarks of a womb. Crazy bitch swapped the needles while too busy watching us. I reviewed the CCTV footage and she was not looking when she scooped up the tray with the syringe in it. The others were lined up, she placed the one down she prepared, slid along to listen to us, then scoped up the other one. I am confident she has no idea as she has thrown everything she can think of to make us stop proceeding with a lawsuit. This would have been top of the list."
Jack sighed as he came to sit by Ianto taking his hand and smiling wanly "She's a little disappointed. May not go either now, a real flounce. Like she was invited!"
"Sorry mate, he can't travel. I am positive that my research is in there. If so, his travel sickness might be extremely detrimental to him given his current state. Only sort of moving t is to get an intravenous drip going to help with dehydration, he would crumble in no time otherwise." Owen sighed "I am gonna have to start one now actually, you are borderline."
"So … how do we get it out?" Jack asked.
"A sweep. It will be a small incision, I sweep the site and a couple of stitches. Local anaesthetic, he doesn't even have to be asleep. We can say it's a kidney stone or something. Sorry mate, no wonder you've been feeling a bit insane … your hormone levels mist be off the charts. Shit, I feel terrible about this."
"It's OK Owen, the shots you gave me are starting to help. The headaches are already gone and I am feeling much more… calm" Ianto assured him, smiling at Jack who was kissing his knuckles "My poor Cariad. I have been acting like a teenage nightmare."
"You were a lovely teenager" Jack replied softly around those knuckles he was still kissing "So sexy in those blue jeans. I miss those blue jeans. Such a lovely bum. Sexy in the suits too but … I miss you … dirty you … sweaty and sleeves rolled up."
Ianto smiled softly as he sighed and accepted that this little bump in the road would soon be sorted.
.
.
.
.
.
Ianto knew something was wrong the moment the security detail rushed into the room, the palace alarms sounding as outside shutters slammed down and they became encased in a fortress.
Jack was running for him, gathering him close as he seemed to be having some sort of panic attack and Ianto helped him, trying to see what was happening as mother's staff were herded in and the door closed.
"Jack?"
"There was an attempt on Mother" Jack said as he looked fearfully at the door "Apparently Gray too but his team saw it coming. Christ, I don't know. It's not good. Mama was hysterical down the phone… Security are….They are not even talking to me, I don't know."
"I don't like this my love" Ianto whispered then did the most natural thing he could think of to do. He turned on the news.
A plume of smoke was on the screen, an incredibly large black plume of smoke rising from what seemed to be a crash site and Ianto felt sick, reaching for a rubbish bin as Jack reached for the TV remote and un-muted the TV.
We do not know who was on board yet but at this stage we can only assume it was the entire family as they were due today for the festivities at the Dell. Further news as we have it. For those just tuning in, the Royal Chopper has crashed in remote bush and there does not appear to be any survivors. No official word has been given but it is believed that the entire Royal Family have perished. All three generations.
Jack turned to TV off and stood gaping, unable to move as Ianto started to cry softly, reaching for his phone and calling Cora's private line.
It was dead.
Gods.
They were dead.
A security head entered, looked around and went to stand in front of Jack "Your highness…well …ah… majesty. What do you want to do?"
"What? Jack turned to stare at him glassily.
"We can confirm the king, queen, prince, princess and their son were on board. The press will be told soon in an official press conference that the bodies have been retrieved. Sire, you are now the uncrowned head of state."
"Your mother will be pleased" Ianto said dreamily "Christ on a stick. Oh no, poor little Henry. I hope he didn't know, I hope it was quick. Poor little Duckie. I …."
Ianto vomited again as Jack felt his knees give out.
He was now to be king after all.