38 12.55pm - Day Four

Lunch had been a loud blustery affair and Jack and Ianto had arrived late, not wanting to make an entrance. Now Ianto sat pushing the food around his plate listlessly as Jack watched with concern.

The meat had been cooked to perfection, scalloped potatoes, mushy peas and a selection of salads for those watching their weight. Rhia and Gwen had tucked in with gusto as Tosh fuddled with a PDA until Owen threatened to throw it overboard if she didn't eat.

Gwen was unusually quiet, eating with her head down and Ianto wondered who had spoken to her knowing this behaviour usually followed a telling off. As to who, he was unsure but young Prince William glanced at her momentarily and Ianto watched his face change, now certain she had done or said something to offend him.

Great.

Another Gwenzilla mess to be sorted out.

Ianto made a mental note to spend a little time with the lovely man and make sure his feathers were not too ruffled. He wracked his brain to try and think what she may have done, then he frowned as he looked back at this plate, sick of handling everyone all the time.

The kids ate and rushed off with Rhys and Harry, apparently the young prince didn't go for titles and was quite the big kid himself. Seems like he was also a brilliant nanny.

So much of his mother in him, that one.

"I think it's dead already" Owen said after a while, "Kinda have to be if they are gonna cook it mate."

Ianto looked up at him, then back at the knife he was stabbing the meat with and dropped it with a frown. "Sorry."

"You need a nap?" Owen asked leaning forward, "You look shattered buddy. How's that ankle?"

"Aching" Ianto admitted, "I guess…I have been going all morning but we needed to get shit done."

"Now shit is done" Owen assured him, "They are here, they are safe and the others that we've made contact with are all safe and not needing extraction right now. Jesus, you are packing three days worth of work in one morning, no wonder you are lagging, Jack take him and strap him to the bed…shit….no, he needs to sleep not your idea of strapping down ya fucking pervert"

Those within earshot roared with laughter as Ianto blushed and Jack winked, "spoilsport."

Jack agreed with Owen and although he didn't say so, he knew Ianto felt it too so once he was finished he politely asked Ianto to help him with something, then led him to their quarters.

"Come on, Owen's right" Jack said softly as he pushed Ianto towards the bed.

"I'm just bone weary" Ianto complained, "Give me a PDA so I can…"

"Yan!" Jack scolded "I need you, OK? I need you right here by my side for as long as possible, yeah?"

Ianto nodded as he watched Jack's face soften, giving in and settling into the bedding as he watched Jack remove his soft shoes. Then he closed his eyes telling himself it would only be for a few minutes while Jack sorted out his gear in the corner from the extractions.

He was asleep almost immediately and Jack smiled as he pulled the blanket over him, stroking his face as he thanked the gods everything had gone well.

There was still plenty of work to be done and Jack pulled over a large armchair to settle with the PDA and was pleased to find Mainframe waiting for him.

There was more contact being made and she assured him that all those so far were safe, well provisioned and some had even started to evacuate themselves. Jack didn't know how many there were still to check in but so far he was satisfied that thousands were out there OK and those in the unaffected areas were welcoming those who need help.

It was good to know that the human resilience was still strong and when the chips were down they rallied to help one another.

This was not the end.

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My thoughts are with Westminster today, it's all very well for media to say it was expected, maybe overdue for an attack but it doesn't make it any easier to accept.