53
Afternoon rolled around and Ianto had skipped lunch in favour of debriefing a squad who had wearily trudged in, relieved to find a friendly stronghold and Ianto had been saddened to learn that some of the low lying farms had lost stock.
At least so far, the body count was low and was mainly elderly having heart attacks and such from the stress. There were some unaccounted for and he knew with a heavy certainty that the count would rise as those homes could be swept.
Ianto was flagging, his back was killing him and his leg was on fire so he found a chair and eased into it.
The coupling had been fierce but had also meant they had time for soft murmurs and petting afterward and Ianto was surprised at how much he enjoyed Jack's hands moving over his skin. He would have liked him here now, rubbing his knee for him but knew that was a selfish wish as the day wore on.
The military had rallied, taking over from Malcolm and another small hopper's pilot, then Rhys had stumbled in with red eyes seeking the nearest cot to fall into, Rhiannon scolding him for flying in the bright light of both suns on an empty stomach as she fussed over him, her delight as he kissed her knuckles filling Ianto with pleasure as well.
Finally he heard the hopper he wanted and he watched a team march out to relieve the pilot, allowing Jack to carry a small dog into the keep. Once it was put down a small child screamed with joy as it was recognised and Jack called out that it had to have a bath before being allowed inside, then shrugged as it disappeared inside anyway.
Who was he to deny a child's pleasure?
He walked inside to find Ianto in the war room, sitting with his feet up and his eyes closed so Jack fell to a knee and started gently removing his boots.
"Awake Cariad, just conserving battery power" Ianto whispered and Jack grinned, leaning in for a kiss.
"Ew, gods. That the mud?" Ianto's nose wrinkled at the stench and Jack grinned at his mate's sensitive nostrils as they flared.
"I think nothing short of a bath will get the smell out of my hair" Jack agreed, "Wanna come draw it for me while I wrestle these boots off?"
"Sounds like a plan my love" Ianto said happily, rising to follow and he paused as he watched Jack's mother pull a face that was unmistakeably distain.
Maybe if it had been any other time he would have pretended he hadn't seen, maybe if it had been any other place. But right now, right here, he was not in the mood.
"Margaret, I saw some pets coming in with the children that hadn't been defleaed or bathed, perhaps you could see to that" he said calmly, nodding as a salute was given by a passing soldier heading out to duty, "We all need to do our bit, right?"
"And what will you be doing?" she demanded, bristling at his tone and the room grew silent as he looked at her with a canted head, wondering if this was stupidity or a challenge.
"I will be debriefing my husband" he finally said with a droll tone, "Shortly after which I would hope he debriefs me so we might … unload our stress from the day."
Several sniggers started as Ianto gave a shit eating grin his husband would have been proud of and strode from the room.
"You asked for that" Owen muttered as he passed, "Stop poking at him or you will get a response and believe you me missy, his bite is worse than his bark."
She huffed and went to find her husband, hoping the legals had been informed of this disgrace and he assured her that they were coming to talk about the entire debacle.
This afternoon, before high tea dear" he said calmly, pulling her closer, "come the evening meal we shall sit high at the table, they will know our displeasure in this and any recompense will be sought from the Quadrant and I think our son should pay his dues too."
"Once upon a time I would never have imagined we would be in this position" she sighed, "Our own son acting like…like…erg. Gray would never have allowed this."
Franklin hummed as he pulled her into his embrace, swallowing back the desire to remind her that Gray had barely been six years old when taken from them and a larger bully than his older brother who had been sporting a black eye that day from his brother's fist.
Not the first time he had bitten his tongue as she waxed lyrical about their middle child, forever her baby. His own mother had been the same with his sister, her brilliance and intelligence always rubbed in his face, even as she became fat and sluggish with her inability to bond.
She was still costing him a pretty penny as she lounged at his Parent's house on his stipend.
No one can argue with a mother's love.
