18
The shot had been loud and Ianto swung to stare at the house with open horror.
Then Myfanwy roared in a way she never had before, moving fast as she shot along the path and into the long grass with a rage that scared Ianto, turning to let his eyes follow her to her destination as another shot rang out, this one hitting the tree next to him as Blue yelled with anger, Myfanwy latching onto his outstretched arm.
Gray was running from the house, the distance too far. Too far.
Ianto started to move towards Blue, his body feeling like it belonged to someone else, underwater and upside down. Myfanwy had a firm grip on Blue's arm, the gun on the ground as Blue wrestled with the dog, punching her head and neck as he tried to get her to let him go. Ianto was in the way, Gray could not fire without risking Ianto or the dog and he dropped his arm from the shooter stance to start running for real.
Ianto took a moment to consider then began moving fast as he swung, his fist meeting the side of Blue's head as they both tumbled over the rampaging dog, her roaring now a high pitched squeal as she took a death grip on Blue's forearm.
Ianto landed on his hands and knees, looking up as Gray arrived, his foot connecting with Blue's head and Blue tumbled back, the dog going with him still attached as her claws racked at his chest and belly. She was clearly trying to gut him or something, scrabbling as she tried to rip his arm right off.
"Gray…."
Gray looked up from the man he was pummelling to look at Ianto like he was gardening or something, not actively killing a man "Yes?"
"Gray…."
Gray looked at Ianto and then staggered from the inert body that the dog was still savaging and started to walk towards Ianto, the man still on his hands and knees as he looked up at Gray.
"Gray… the first bullet… the first one…"
Gray swore as Ianto finally fell face first into the grass.
.
.
.
.
.
Jack didn't know how he got there, the adrenaline and fear driving him as he made his way through the airport security to the sheriff waiting "Jack, this way. I have the Prowler so we can have lights and sounds."
"How is he?" Jack asked not caring about his luggage as he yanked at one and then tossed it into the main floor, another one coming that he hooked out the same way as the Sherriff picked up the first case.
"He's stable. It's not a fatal shot. You have to remember that. He was caught in the shoulder and he lost a lot of blood but Gray did all the right things." The sheriff assured him as he drove like he was a Harkness "Your man is strong. Determined and more worried about the kids than himself."
"And the arm? Is there any nerve damage?"
"The doc can tell you more. All I know I that he wants to keep him at the surgery for tonight but he is playing up merry hell to get home to the kids. And that damned dog. We almost had to tranq her to get to the bloody fool."
And is he alive?"
The sheriff didn't answer, swinging the wheel around a corner as Jack's luggage slammed in the back. Jack looked at him long and hard "Paul?"
"Some of the others came for him. The back country folk. Wilders from the mountain. They wanted a word, he apparently did some deal with some horses then reneged. They have their own bone to pick and believe you me … they don't mess about. Don't' you worry about that. I was happy to back the Prowler up to the tree line and take a walk to pee against a far tree while they delicately 'stole' him from the back. His screams were enough to tell me they were not in a happy mood with him." Paul stopped and cleared his throat, then snorted "They have one for Mimi too. A horse. The one who talks to me said they watch you sometimes. From the mountain. They like you. You sing?"
"Yeah. A good tool for keeping my voice in check. I sing. Ianto loves it, laughs at me and sometimes joins in. He has a lovely voice, was in a choir back in Cardiff when a lad. He can hit notes I can't" Jack shifted in his seat then said softly "Thanks Paul."
"Should'a done something but that one long ago. The town was divided. Not so much now. Easier to give him to them than face the bloody blather of a trial." Paul nodded then glanced at Jack. "You OK?"
"Tired. Agitated and bloody mad. Yeah. I'm OK" Jack sighed, "Once I see him. Touch him I will be fine."
They bumped over a small speed bump that signalled the start of the township, the streetlights still on and the town itself still waking up, the dawn almost here. It looked like a painting and Jack knew Ianto loved it here as it looked more like home. It was home now. Did Ianto miss Wales? He knew the kids had never even seen their mother's place of birth. Still. Those Welsh vowels of Ianto's was a good reminder.
"Funny" Paul said as he swung into the township's centre square and made for the clinic "That's what he said."