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"But will she recover Cariad?" Ianto's voice was full of concern and Jack smiled as he held up the mouthpiece.

"She will love, might be spending the rest of her days getting fat though, might not be ridable" Jack replied and the sigh in response spoke volumes. That horse would want for nothing.

"Just one more night Tiger. Tomorrow at first light the large transporter can come get us, it usually fits two horses so Janet will have room to lay down if she needs to" Jack soothed, "Tell the kids I am sorry and will have some treats."

"You will, will you? Anything for me mister? I will be there to count your limbs"

Jack laughed, the sound warm and musical as he told him to behave and they signed off. Jack turned to the man, "Thanks for that Dale, he will relax now. Well … sort of."

"Come on, let's eat and we will see about a bed for the night. You are not sleeping out there in the barn even if it is secure" Dale Caldwell scolded but Jack shook his head.

"This is a dangerous world, for all the trust you are placing in me I will not overstay my welcome" Jack leaned in and whispered, "And your oldest girl there is too uncomfortable knowing I am taken."

Dale blinked with surprise and then nodded, the sudden idea of a man in the house might not be a good idea after all. He had not noticed her age, she was blossoming and becoming a woman. Yes. It was best to be more careful.

Jack settled for the night and was soon asleep as his horse shifted in her stall, her injury throbbing softly behind the medications provided by the kind man.

.

.

.

..

Jack was woken by Janet's soft wicker of alarm, something he always took seriously and he sat up rubbing his eyes, "what?"

He listened and heard the sound of claws ticking on the cobbles outside. He cursed softly as he rose and peeked out through the slats to find Others in the front yard. As he watched them move about there was a boom of lightning that lit the entire yard and he swallowed as he saw more than a dozen of them.

Another strike and he knew why they were there. The security fencing had failed along with the power cells, no doubt one taking a lightning strike and they had simply wandered in. Jack found himself hoping the stock was OK, these people were kind and definitely did not need to lose their meat.

Then he felt his mouth go dry as the front door opened and the ill lady wandered out to the front porch, waving her arms as she called out "shoo now, get to work."

"Shit" Jack fumbled with his Webley and checked again, finding the young woman calling out with horror from the doorway as the poor woman now stumbled into the yard, the Others turning to regard her with open glee.

"MAMA!" Rebecca howled as the Others started to surround her, Dale appearing beside his daughter with a shotgun that Jack knew would be useless in defence. After all … two shots against twelve was pointless. Jack sighed as he looked at the Webley, same goes for six really. Jack squared his shoulders as he reached for the door latch, six…eight…three. Didn't matter. He couldn't stay in the safety of the barn while the poor sick woman met her doom. Especially since the man was already storming for his ailing wife with a determined snarl.

Jack stepped out and started to fire, the door swinging shut behind him.

Three fell by him and another from Dale before the Others started to move back.

"Go on, get! We all know we can't kill you all but we can kill some more. You want take the risk that the next bullet is for your pelt?" Jack roared, "I know you understand me. I know you are still intelligent enough to know when it is not worth the risk. Go! We will burn your dead."

They seemed to consider, then turned and walked off, three more appearing from the shadows as the girl screamed and clung to her mother. Jesus, finally Jack saw more moving beyond the original light. They would have been dog meat for sure…Other meat anyway.

"They listened" Dale panted as he looked at Jack with confusion, "they understood."

"They were human once, there is some memory of that. A crumb of humanity left in some. Not all, but some. I've seen some respond before so took a punt at it. If nothing else, they value their own lives" Jack looked around and motioned towards the house, "Let's get inside. I don't' think I will sleep again tonight, I will keep watch."

"I will stay up with you" Dale nodded, glancing over to his daughter as she helped the poor woman up the steps, her face full of confusion as she looked around.

"Where did the doggies go?"

"Tomorrow morning ma'am, my partner might bring one" Jack answered softly.

He fetched more ammo from the barn.