51

They rolled out after breakfast. They had decided on dawn but then Billy had a nightmare and Ianto didn't want to leave until he saw his baby smile again.

That sorted, they headed off into the morning mists.

It was going to burn off and turn into a wonderful day, the heat already making the seed pods pop as they drove along the overgrown roads.

"This will all be gone soon" Rhys said as he peered out the windows, "Amazing how Mother Nature reclaims."

"This time next year, we will barely tell where the road is" Ianto agreed, "These burnt out houses will be invisible under the ivy and rambling rose."

They travelled past a farm and Ianto craned his neck and made a small noise, making Jack stop the Transporter.

"What is it baby?" he asked, trying to see what Ianto did.

"See the big trailer unit?" Ianto pointed, "The thing it's attached to it a combine harvester. If it goes, it could do the hay bales a lot easier that the horses and us. God, do you think it still goes after sitting all winter?"

"We could check on the way back" Rhys agreed, "But that trailer could hitch to this now."

"What?" Ianto swung to look at him with surprise.

"The hitch," Rhys pointed, "It's adjustable. We could tow it."

"We could fit more books," Ianto enthused and Jack sighed.

At least they weren't going into Cardiff this time. They travelled to the next town and Ianto scanned quickly, finding no immediate danger.

As the transporter pulled up outside what had been the local school, Ianto closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he let his jaw drop, tasting the air.

"Several" he said softly, "In and out."

"Rhys, you and Owen stay in here until we have a clear zone" Jack said as he moved towards the door, "Sean, you stay behind us with Hailey, don't lose your footing or fall behind. Remember the training lessons."

They spilled into the street, Jack in the lead with Ianto scanning the building. Hailey held her machete with a look of grim glee while Sean fumbled with the shotgun.

"I told you, guns are the last resort" Ianto hissed, "As little sound as possible please!"

"I know, it just feels … good" Sean muttered, then stopped talking at Ianto froze.

"Jack" Hailey whispered and Jack swivelled on his heel to look at Ianto who was staring up at the upstairs window.

"Fuck" he huffed and they all looked.

A face looked back.

"Human or Z?" Sean asked and Ianto shrugged.

"Hard to tell, could have be a naturally thin person, or ….nah. Look" Ianto sighed.

A hand was slapping at the glass as a green tongue licked the glass.

They entered the interior and closed the door behind themselves, remembering the rule to trap those within so they could clear and not let any more enter unseen.

They moved swiftly, Ianto taking the lead now as the blades whistled.

Sean watched with awe as Ianto twirled, parred and slew all those who slouched towards them.

Finally, he stood panting softly as he wiped his blades on a curtain, bodies lying at his feet.

"Let's load up please" Ianto said politely as he strode forward, "Books, supplies, anything my babies will need to survive."

Sean didn't argue as he stepped over the corpse of what had once been a pretty woman, felled by Hailey's machete during the melee.

Jack watched as Sean balked at the gutted body in his way and smiled to himself as Ianto turned and casually kicked it out of the way, sending it splatting against the wall.

Sean looked at the pulverised Z and then turned to Jack who shrugged.

He motioned him forward and Sean gingerly walked through the blood trail.

Jack couldn't hide his grin as he followed.