51

"Get your hands off my daughter" Franklin roared as he bore down on them and Malcolm placed Rose on her feet with a look of surprise.

"Dadda?" Rose gasped as she turned to face him, her hand still on Malcolm for support and Franklin shoved him away from her as he grabbed her arm and yanked her towards him and she cried out with surprise and pain.

"OI!" a soldier yelled, stepping forward to intervene and Ianto walked in to find Jack's father face to face with the solder snarling as Rose twisted in his grip and Malcolm stood back with a look of confusion.

"Franklin?" He said calmly, "Everything OK?"

"OK?" Franklin turned to face him, dragging Rose with him, "Really? Look at my castle, look at my fucking home and now my daughter with this ….this …this …"

"Blu-man-chu" Ianto supplied, "His people are called Blu-man-cho Franklin. Do you have a problem with your daughter's suitor?"

"Suitor" he spluttered, finally releasing her and she slid around the soldier as Malcolm reached out to check her wrist that was now bright red from her father's grip.

"Franklin, you are upset. Come, let's go sit down and discuss this, it appears that we need to …"

"Who the fuck do you think you are" Franklin roared, spittle flying and Ianto straightened at the challenge, his own blood starting to boil and suddenly he was a sea of calm.

Like ….'fuck you' calm.

"How dare you" he said in a low growl, "How dare you speak to me with such a tone. You are merely a fucking Sergeant, I am a First Lieutenant of His Majesty's Quadrant. Who the FUCK do you think you are!"

Franklin blinked as the man seemed to gain height as he glared down at him, "You stand down this bloody instant and pull your head out of you arse soldier!"

"What?" Franklin blinked.

"We are in a Quadrant Emergency, I am the ranking officer here and if I choose to raze this fucking building to the ground to keep warm tonight I shall." Ianto was shaking with rage, "You forget yourself Sir!"

Franklin opened his mouth and then shut it as his wife stepped forward.

"This is still our home and a little respect…"

"Grunt" Ianto barked, "You didn't even clear basics. You were sectioned out due to an ear infection and never re-entered as you were supposed to. You are, technically, a subversive madam! Does not effort a conversation with me until you can find a polite tone!"

Everyone was struck with the authority in his voice and the way he stared them down, the Logan bloodline apparent as he bristled openly with anger. If he had whiskers they would be flicking and his top lip seemed to move as if he did.

"Now!" he said after a few moments of silence, during which Jack came out of a side room with Owen and froze, "Franklin and Margaret, you seem to need a timeout. I suggest you go check the horses and calm yourselves, find a polite tone and return to speak to your superior officer with the respect I expect from you. Malcolm is a member of this team, this squad. If you have a problem with his colour, my daughter's colour and the colour of the fucking sky today, keep it to yourselves. Yes? Thank you!"

Ianto swung on his heel and looked at the nearest soldier, "You. I told you to take that table through to the children's room! She is not the one giving orders today."

"Sir, yes sir!" the man picked up the side table and took off as Ianto calmly looked at Jack and then lowered his chin in question. Jack nodded silently and pointed at Malcolm.

"Mal, I need another pair of hands in here so we can move the desk to one corner," Jack said, "I need the floor space for some beds."

"On it Captain" Malcolm nodded, brushing past Franklin and when Rose went to follow, her father grabbed for her again.

"No!" she said angrily, "I am a grown woman and capable of helping. You managed to get me out of serving with your influences and my weak lungs, I will not let you hold me back any more. I can provide. I will provide for these people. Our people. My quadrant."

She walked away with her blue dress swaying and Ianto looked at the man who was chewing his lip angrily.

"Franklin, remember what you are doing" he said softly, "Judge yourself before others for one day that judgement may be all you have."

As the old man looked at the young officer with surprise Ianto walked off in the direction his husband had gone. Ianto was saddened that the feud seemed to continue despite his efforts to put a line under it.

This was Jacks' family, his fight but they were a pair now.

Right?

Your light is my light, your darkness mine too.

Your fight my fight, family true.

Ianto was prepared to go to war.

I just don't think Jack's parents realise what a warrior he is.

Oh yeah ….and …

Kitty has claws.