36
They got back to the Lake House at dusk and Ianto felt a slight thrill to see the lights automatically turned on at the moment of their entering the section.
"When I hell did you set that up" Jack snorted as he brought his vehicle to a halt behind Ianto's and the snort over the coms was soft and not Ianto-ish. Jack tried to remember where he had heard that before but then the house interiors started to come on and he saw those leadlight windows that ran along the top of all the windows in the place and he sighed softly as the roses taunted him on their glass vines.
"Oh Taddy, so pretty" their daughter voiced their collective opinion and Ianto hummed his agreement as he stepped out of the SUV and looked back at Jack.
Sweetling care to drive it into the carport over there so we can unload easier? Me and Jack will go inside and he can open the connecting door for you while I start the fire." Ianto offered and she drove it into the covered vehicle bay by the side door as she wondered why he had not simply done so himself then that voice in the back of her head, that Boeshane reasoning she got from her father whispered that he was stalling her while he swept.
"You know Taddy, I am a grown arsed woman capable of taking point and clearing a room while you sweep" she scolded, "You two don't need to…Taddy? There is something by the door."
"Stay in the car!" Jack demanded as he opened the window next to the back door and stuck his head out, then frowned, "Babe, looks like a basket. A welcome gift?"
"Or a bomb" Ianto said snidely and Jack sniggered as he popped back in. Kara now got to listen to then bicker like an old married couple and the thought was nice as she settled back to wait.
"No, I will go out. You have soot all over your hands."
"Soot. Are you kidding me, I've had worse on my hands as you well know sir and it's probably nothing that you will shoot full of holes so the jam or lovely cake is ruined."
"I don't just carelessly shoot shit full of holes."
"Excuse me?"
"Oi, you were shooting too. Do not tar me with that brush mister."
"Without proper feathers?"
"Taddy?" Kara decided to defuse the situation of not the bomb, "I'm cold."
Kara then decided to go for the clincher "It has a puppy in it."
The door flew open and both men stared at her as she stood on the doorstep with the basket in her arms, the puppy now clearly visible.
"Shit."
"Fucking hell's teeth!"
"Sweet, yeah?" she grinned at them, "Can I keep him? Pweeeeeze?"
Both men blinked and the Jack did the classic "It's up to your Tad"
Ianto gaped as Jack disappeared shouting over his shoulder "The fire will be going in no time, our princess is cold."
Kara grinned at her Tad who grimaced and peered into the basket again, "Well, I am not going to take care of it. It's your problem."
Kara made a noise of glee as she pushed past and raced into the main room, "Tad said yes!"
"Of course he did" Jack said without looking up as he lit the match and then leapt, slamming his head on the mantle as the fire roared to life with a whoosh.
"Jack did you use an accelerant on that?" Ianto sighed as he moved to the kitchen "I told you to stop with the kerosene."
"But it makes a lovely whoosh" Jack said with glee, his hands clasped together as he watched the flames like a lunatic.
"What sort is he?" Jack asked and Kara remembered the puppy, kneeling to pull it from the basket. He was white with a smudged back like soot had fallen on him.
"Huh. A wire terrier? Or a Sydney Silky? Looks like a bit of both really. Definitely a wee terrier" Jack said as he examined the see butter ball then handed it back to his daughter, "Might be some sort blankets in the attic stuff. Tiger?"
Kara watched her Tad produce bedding from thin air and even a little meal of chicken that he pretended were just leftovers.
Right.
When they hadn't been there to eat a chicken meal that might have leftovers, sure that's what they were. Nothing he had purchased for pizza topping or anything.
Right.
Kara grinned as she cuddled the wee baban with glee.
"I will call him Sydney" she said, "I like that. A killer if ever I saw one."
"Can I have a cuddle?" Jack asked, holding out his arms and he settled to croon at it while it licked it's chops. "Have any more? He might get hungry again, yeah big killer doggie needs feeds, yeah."
Ianto rolled his eyes "You are going to spoil it! Stop that!"
Then he went to check.
May have to roast one for tea now.
Poor wee mite might need another feed before bedtime.