53

Billy refused to get out of the bed, refused to eat and kept fighting to stay balled up so Anna told the two men to go do what they had to, his Nainny was here.

Ianto transformed and went first, now confident that the Wolfling would be unharmed by the clickers.

He found many dead or dying on the ground, others resting as if waiting but the bulk of them had disappeared.

Like smoke.

It was unnerving, as he walked around and looked at the damage, then gave the all clear for the others to start clearing with the flame throwers.

By midday the village was clear and they were able to see that the barn was a total wipeout, as were several other buildings.

"It's like they were looking for something" Jack pointed out, "Weird, but they seemed to choose areas Ianto frequented."

"And Marley" Ianto said softly as he looked at the shattered frontage of the parlor.

Tosh and Mickey headed for the Dome Shed at the centre of the village and soon had confirmation that one of the crystals had burned out.

The Dome was dead.

Tosh placed the crystal on the table as she spoke; outlining the damage and Ianto silently plucked it from the papers with a soft frown.

"It is not the original colour?" he asked as he regarded the black crystal.

"No, it was blue. After we pushed the Dome to capacity that time it paled to purple. Seems like maybe it was telling us that its charge was depleting or something." She sighed.

"So … the ones in the secure archives that are blue or purple would do the job?" Ianto looked up as Jack pointed at him with glee.

Ianto rolled his eyes and then sighed as he knew what this meant, not wanting to voice it.

Fortunately, Owen was always good at voicing things unsavory, "Seems the Wolf-Boy would be best to go get it with the flying bugs about!"

Ianto sighed as Jack started to protest and the place erupted in arguments over what to do.

"STOP IT!" he roared.

Things died down and he sighed, rubbing his face as he felt Jack shaking against him.

"It is true, the clickers don't attack me when I am in Wolfling form" Ianto began, "It is also safe to say they would attack anyone else."

Jack sighed softly. "It is also safe to say that there will still be some back in Cardiff, since they came from that direction. It is also snowing, so it is no good for a chopper, even if we can get one going."

"Sorry Cariad."

Although the helicopters had been relatively unscathed, the intake valves were full of husks, as were any other crevices they could cram into.

It was going to take weeks to remove the last of them, even months later an occasional one turning up in a crack or hollowed space.

Jack knew where this was going, "What about that pup in your gut? The one crying in our bed?"

"How can I help him?" Ianto sighed, "He is still angry that I saved him and not her!"

"He is grieving, he doesn't mean what he is saying, you know it's you he clung to all bloody night!" Jack snarled, then groaned as Ianto's eyes flashed with triumph.

"See? Even you are angry with me, what good is it?" Ianto asked again, "Besides, only the two of us know how to get into the secure archives and we both know you are crap at finding anything down there anyway!"

Jack slumped as he had to agree and he looked over at Ifan for help. The shrug was no help at all.

"And the pup in your belly?" Jack pointed out.

"Needs the Dome as much as the first one to slither out!" Ianto snarled angrily, rising and Jack hooked his hand pulling him back down with a look of apology.

"I was not suggesting you were being foolish baby" he soothed, "But it is a long way to go, it's dangerous to go alone."

"You come with" Ianto shrugged, "In the crawler. You stay locked in, safe. I would need a way to get them back anyway."

"You've already thought it through, haven't you" Jack said as he looked around the table for options.

"I have to agree with the Boy" Ifan said sadly, "We need that Dome. If we didn't have this Stronghold we would be screwed royally. How long can we keep all these little shits holed up before one gets the idea to sneak up for a peek?"

"Poppy's right" Owen leaned forward, "We need that dome. The snow is already falling and without it we will be buried in no time."

"Then it's agreed" Ianto rose, this time waiting for Jack to join him, "I'll go in the morning."

"Agreed!"

Jack followed his husband with a heavy heart, knowing where he was headed.

She was not going to be happy about this development.

Not one jot.