41

"To the east, half a click please" Hope was calm as she politely told the vessel to change course, swinging it in the direction of the smoke. They were soon over a camp, people walking around like it was just another camping trip, tents and camp fires.

"Right. I really didn't think we would find somewhere so soon" Dean admitted "I mean… I thought a week of scanning … not barely four days."

"Closer than we thought, well hidden. Look at them, we would have never found them in the ground, so well dug into the dirt like a fucking battlement. Right, Tosh?" Jack tuned to her with raised eyebrows.

"Right. Well … I suggest we send a few small sets of eyes down and we start monitoring them. Marley can creep around for a hour or so at time then regroup to report and rest … we can have the entire place mapped out and should know if there is any cause to trust or not. We have enough meat for a few days thanks to this morning's hunt so … let's settle back and … Jack are you OK?"

"I think … I think I ate too much. Pup takes a lot of room and … nope. Nope. He's … something's wrong. He's wriggling like …. OWEN" Jack rose unsteadily as Ianto ran from the Galley where he had been helping Rhys with the evening meal to scoop Jack up as if he weighed nothing, then turn for the medical bay. It had been a wonderful surprise to find Alice and Rhys on board, everyone together. Now Rhys was proving his worth.

"Pup is panicking, something is wrong. MOVE IT" Ianto roared as he ran, Owen following as did Hope and Tosh. Ianto placed him on the bed and stroked the stomach as he watched Owen reach for a scanner "Owen. No time. Cut. Get the fucking scalpel and cut. Be careful, don't kill either of them and get pupper out. Something is wrong, he's in trouble. Look at me."

Owen swung his head and was caught in those maelstroms of power, Ianto staring into Owen's eyes mere inches from him as he said calmly "You WILL be excellent and do your best work and we will all be relieved when Jack is intact and still alive, feeding the pup at his breast. Now …. Cut."

Ianto stepped back and Owen blinked as he was released from the little hypnotic moment, then he stepped forward, took a deep breath and sliced along the underside to the bump, letting his breath out as the sonic cauterised as it went, the baby coming out easily in a rush of fluids. He was struggling, fighting to get out like something was after him in there and Tosh gasped as she tried to catch him. It was Frank that swore softly, reaching around Tosh to hook his claw in the cord around the little one's neck and wrench it over his head, the pup starting to cry immediately, his arms flailing as he took his first angry breaths of life.

"Fuck. Fuckity fuck" Owen panted, his hands shaking as he took a second, Jack wide open and the baby now lustily roaring as Ianto snatched it to place again this chest, the bare skin soothing his son. Owen then took another breath "OK. Crisis averted. Christ on a pogo stick, he's your kid aright. Even if I had not just taken him from your gut I would know that's your kid Jack. Entering with flair and almost certain doom only to come away with cuddles."

Jack's terror had subsided along with the bond's settling and now he craned his head to see the child, Ianto crouching as he continued to wipe the goop off, Jack not even caring a bit the pain as he was cleaned out and Owen closed the wound with the scalpel, not even a scar. Not that it mattered … there would be no scar after the next reset anyway … not that we want one yet. Jack wanted that bonding time and …. Speaking of which.

Ianto placed the baby into Jack's arms and immediately the little one latched on, eager and alert, so forward and strong.

"All the fresh blood" Hope whispered into the silence "He's soooo pretty. Oh Dadda, he's soooooo pretty. Look, your lashes and nose and mouth … OH! Your eyes!"

"Chin too" Dean nodded happily "Wow. Like a clone."

"Cool" the twins said, their voices together as they sang "he is long too, gonna be tall."

"Just like his Daddy" Ianto crooned, stroking the hair that was drying to soft dark flicks.

"Still no name" Own sat back and sighed. "Stubborn like his father too."

"So … looks like we have some time here .. tomorrow we start the surveillance and considerations of this place below us … right now … I need another hunt" Ianto said suddenly "Fresh blood for Jack to heal … the baby will have some in its first bottle too. Look how hungry he is … we will need to supplement."

"Really? I though now the baby was here we were done with …. OK. If you say so" Owen made a face at Ianto that was not quite decipherable then Hope turned to return to the Captain's chair.

"Deer? I will seek" she said as she started to leave the room.

"No … I feel like cow. Look for a herd please. Maybe some beef for a change" Ianto called after her "I'm hungry for some beef and Rhys makes the best meat patties for hamburgers."

"Oh god. Hamburgers!" Jack groaned, "Yes please Holdfast."

Ianto kissed his love, then stroked the tiny head once more, the resemblance to his father so sweet and he knew Shadow was delighted with a little lookalike as well. What handsome men they would be next to their father … gods, the girls will be smitten.

Now.

Blood… I mean … meat.