37

Ianto took a bar of soap, a towel and a change of clothes as he headed for the river running along the back of the property. There was still light, the official shut down for the night not for another hour. He was almost to the trees when a small voice called after him and he turned to find Clyde following him with a look of intensity that children have when they want to talk about something. Ianto placed the things on a stump and walked towards the little boy who was without Owen for a change.

"What's up buddy?" Ianto asked as he sat on a log and the little boy came along side, "You need something?"

"Those things will come back" he said with big eyes, "What will we do?"

Ianto rubbed his face as he tried to find the right words, knowing at this age they could be taken as gospel "Clyde. The electric fences put up this avo will help keep the lizard things out. If they can't get in then they can't hurt us. Maybe they will simply move on then. Tosh and I are working on an alarm system, motion detectors or something so if someone of something does get close to camp we will have time to raise the alarm and hide, right, run. Whatever we need to. Tosh is very clever and we are still gathering things to help her keep us safe. OK?"

"Uncle Rhys shot her" Clyde whispered and Ianto swallowed. "Her head exploded."

"Yes" Ianto replied slowly, "Her mind was gone, she was acting crazy and the baddies were going to hurt us. Uncle Rhys wanted you safe. He made a choice. They were going to hurt all of us. Doing that meant they couldn't hurt you. This is a hard place right now. We have to do hard things, maybe even bad things to get through. We will though. All of us grown-ups will always do what we have to, to keep you and your family safe. We are all a big family now and we need to stick together. Gwen…she was never going to make it. She couldn't live here."

Clyde looked at his feet as he considered, then he looked up again, "But what if they do come again?"

"Then I shall kill them" Ianto answered calmly, his hand resting on the little boy's knee. "I will tear them apart with growls and gnashing of teeth like a big monster. I will destroy anyone who tries to harm you. I promise."

Clyde nodded, a promise being a strong thing and he might be young but he was old enough to know that a promise from this man was gold. He rose and wandered off to do his little jobs he had been given and Ianto headed to get a quick wash. He knew the water would be hot enough for a shower inside but he needed to moment or two just to shake off what had happened, so much in such a short space of time. If it was doing his head in the poor little ones must be totally gaga. He was glad Clyde felt comfortable enough to ask him, vowing to always speak the truth to him as he had already grown beyond his wee years in the last few days.

Gods, barely a week. Not even.

Ianto's heart bled for those poor wee mites and he was glad to see Andy taking an interest in their Mama, suspecting there had been interest before all this hit the fan. As he walked and ruminated, he also made mental notes where clumps of gorse grew so they could move them tomorrow. He knew they needed more security, the bloody dogs were useless. Typical working dogs. They did as they were told like good boys and laid down when not needed. No. He needed barkers, growlers and if need be biters.

It then occurred to him that more dogs might to tied up and starving, the horror of the thought stopping him in his tracks. Gods, they needed a drone or two to check for that sort of thing. Shit.

Ianto's mind was whirring, so many thoughts, ideas and worries that it was a relief to reach the water, kneeling and dunking his entire head under.

He sat up and let the water flow over his now naked top half. The water soothed the tattoo which still burned slightly even if he was not going to admit to it and cause worry. He knew it would settle. Somewhere deep inside he knew it was no threat to him.

Just to them.

And that thought comforted him ever so much.