50
"I just don't know" Art said as he looked around the table, Ianto holding the sleeping baby against him as he rocked in the corner.
"Well I spoke with them saw and smelt them up close. I feel it is more a matter of luck than skill that got them here. Ash seems confident enough but also a bit needy. I get the feeling they latch into each group they meet and outstay their welcome or the group splinters so they move on. The little one showed no fear, is used to strangers appearing." Billy supplied.
"Also they said they were on a school camp but their child only looks about four? Five? Where is the child from the camp?" Ianto asked, everyone silencing as they turned to stare at him, "They talked of other families, but not their other kid?"
"Shit" Ifan huffed, "The boy is right. There might be a second group still out there."
"Jack is in range, he could skirt around and check while the others continue home?" Tosh said after considering, "Hope can lead them confidently. Kev will sweep the rear. I think Jack needs to know."
"Agreed" everyone nodded, and they watched Tosh pick up her PDA to call the coms link up, Jack's voice soon filing the room, and Ianto's heart wig warmth.
"Billy seems confident?"
"Yes Dad, I didn't think it was an act. I think they are genuinely just lucky" Billy answered and Jack puffed down the line for a while as he considered.
"Well, Hope agrees with you. Babe?"
"Yes" Ianto said softly so as not to wake the sleeping girl on his chest, "This is Billy's call this time and I believe he is doing the right thing."
"But?"
"I still want reassurance there is not a second crew. I wish I could go check but I am not going to risk it. Please be careful Cariad" Ianto smiled as he heard a chuckle.
"What, gonna pretend to care with others listening are ya?" Jack played, "Make sure they don't know the abuse I have to suffer at your hands."
"Well it's not just me hands you like" Ianto bantered back and Jack roared with mirth, the sound making the speakers shake.
"OK Holdfast, I am almost there, I have their tracks. I am following to the bridge with the binoculars. No, the tracks head off into the expanse and there are clearly three sets. If there were a secondary group they would not be so far back that they couldn't communicate. No. Huh? Hang on Tish is blathering at me with Stephen. Oi! You do blather woman, Kev control ya mad mare there she's blathering at…ow…stop…stop hitting me with rocks, bugger off! Hope lead them away love"
Ianto snorted softly, "Cariad?"
"Sorry, er momentary disturbance in the force. Ah. Stephen is sending up a drone to check the area, smart wee bastard. I didn't even know he had one." Jack laughed, "Will get back in a few minutes with an update. Sending the team to you now, me and my drone will wander that way. Love you."
"Love you too" Ianto smiled happily as the coms went into standby mode. Ianto knew Jack had gestured with his arm while speaking, not realising the others wouldn't know he was indicating that he was walking the perimeter of the dome, only Ianto's bond feeling the motion as if he were standing next to him.
"Well?" Tosh asked Ianto, "Gut?"
"They are safe" Ianto replied, "First child or children gone."
"I think so too" she nodded, "They seemed too calm. Also, seems more likely they would have a more elaborate story if they were masterminds."
"Taddy, we are at the dome" Hope interrupted their musings as her coms cut in, "Entering now."
"Right down here to me young lady" Ianto growled and everyone looked uncomfortable as the mood of the room changed, wee Rose waking to whimper as Ianto soothed, forgetting for a moment as his anger thrummed.
They entered and lined up, more than one staring at Billy with shock as he rose from his seat at the table to glare at them along with the other Grups.
"So, Hope you better come over here and give Tad a hug" Billy finally spoke, "He's been sick with worry over you. Not good for the baby at all, all this shit going on and if you lot had told me what you were planning I would have reminded you of that not so insignificant fact."
"We knew you would talk us out of it" Stephen answered with a grimace, "We wanted to see."
"Well? Was it worth it?" Billy asked, "Us left with less security, a possible threat in from the other direction that had a weevil as my backup?"
Silence.
"Poppy?" Billy turned from them to watch Hope reach their father, her hand stroking the little head of their sister as she leaned in to touch noses and Rose cooed happily as she recognised her.
"The boy is right, you all need a kick up the arse for this. Ianto hasn't eaten or slept with worry over you ungrateful shits. If I had to punish you right now it would be overkill so I suggest you all go get warmed up and fed. Your grandmother will smack your ears for me while I calm down. Go on. Get!" Ifan roared also giving them an exit as the coms crackled to show Jack was opening them again.
"No one else out here guys. I'm heading in, the drone will come ahead of me so don't shoot it down, Owen will want this one. It's a helicopter."
Owen hooted, sounding like Frank as he rose, Ianto's face softening as Hope leaned in to whisperer to his stomach "Hello in there. Sorry I had to go but they needed to come back. It's all OK now. You can rest now. I'm home. We are all OK."
Ianto felt the flittering stop and stroked her face gently, "Better now. Thank you love."
"They will be a real problem in time" she said with a frown, "They egg each other on ya know."
She turned to walk over to her great-grandfather for a hug and Ianto patted his gut as he agreed.
The twins were going to stir things up for sure.
