26
"Are you two finished your domestic?" Rex asked as he stood looking at the two men now standing face to face, like they might kiss or fight. He wondered idly if there was much difference.
"No" Ianto said as he turned from Jack, "there isn't much."
"What?" Jack asked.
"I was talking to Rex" Ianto waved at hand and Rex felt confusion then horror as he realized Ianto could hear him. His thoughts.
"Only when you project like that" Ianto looked at Rex and explained "you took a header. Your brain is misfiring and there are not … firewalls. That's what you call the natural reflex to hide your thoughts, to shield from one another. You see, once upon a time humans could instinctively 'feel' one another's thoughts. We lost this sense as we evolved into stupid apes. In the future, Jack's time… this has been reclaimed to a higher level. Right now, discombobulated, you are projecting and anyone near you with abilities can hear your thoughts."
"Well .. shit. You know… OK." Rex decided it was best to shut up and hum some inane songs or something.
"God" Jack muttered as he brushed his clothing down like there had not been a massive event "I hate hip-hop."
"Seems like I can't win today" Rex huffed throwing his hands up and Ianto walked over, tapping his forehead twice.
"There. Silence!"
"What?"
"I just reset your shield. Shut the fuck up and stop being such a bloody juvenile" Ianto scolded "God. Eminem? Really? Had you more of a Snoop Dog kinda guy."
Rex blinked then started to snigger, this turning to a laugh as he watched everyone moving around.
"Is anyone going to fucking answer me?" Gwen's voice came over the comms with that edge of 'shoot a bastard' to it.
"Sorry Gwen. John blew the warehouse and the coms were shaken up. Some have lost them all together. We will need to requisition some more I am afraid" Jack said without the slighted jot of concern or apology.
"I would like to retreat. We do not know if there is any fallout from the blast, if the air is toxic or the ash falling contains the Salts" Ianto suddenly said, moving to shoo everyone away "I suggest we all get out of here. Cordon this off, UNIT can make some brownie pints by standing guard like the great pillocks they are and we go home to base. Everyone gets a patch for luck and then decompress."
"And I ask John what the hell he was thinking" Jack agreed.
..
.
.
.
Ianto entered the house and called out softly, the dog approaching had Jack freezing with horror. Ianto then remembered that Jack was afraid of them. Now he knew why, the massive Herdorxiakols from the Merridox Sector were K9 in appearance.
"Hey sweetie" he crooned, the dog now focused on her owner and her tail swept as she padded over to him "Awwww, Myfanwy. My love."
"Big" Jack managed, then he was lost… gone. In love.
The little boy in the doorway was his replica, down to the flop of hair in the front. Only difference was the chin. Ianto's strong chin. Jack was on his knees looking intently as the child who was walking towards them with interest "Taddy?"
"Hello munchkin" Ianto smiled, kneeling beside Jack to pull their son close "remember me telling you how you have a Daddy who lives in the stars? Like Superman did?"
"Yeah?"
"This is your Daddy. He came back to Earth for us" Ianto lied, thinking to himself Jack would have come back for them. If he had known, he would have. Their child could have this thought too.
"Hello son" Jack croaked out, his eyes looking back into those of his doppelganger. The boy was like … perfect "Wow."
Daniel smiled coyly and stepped forward, reaching out to touch Jack's chin. Interested in the cleft his thumb fit in and he looked at his Taddy.
"Daddy has a cleft chin. Or a dimpled one if ya like. You have my chin but if you look in a mirror it's Daddy's eyes and nose… and his hair too." Ianto now felt a strange desperation, wanting his son to be welcoming to this man.
Mica chose this moment to appear "Uncle. There you are, it's going to be chicken casserole. Who is this?"
"Mimi. This is Jack. Daniel's father" Ianto said as he rose to face her, she was old enough now. She was old enough to understand "This is my love."
There. He said it.
Jack rose and looked at her, the sweet lithe creature that did not resemble the tubbly little girl he last saw in her mother's skirts "Hello Mica. We met once before."
"I remember you. You look the same" she accused then looked at her uncle "Like you."
"Yes love. He is like me" Ianto nodded "Or rather… I am like him I think."
David appeared in the doorway, took in the scene and turned to yell in that surly teenage way "ONE MORE FOR TEA MAMA!"
Just like that.
Daniel took Jack's hand to lead him inside.
Clearly he was family then.
.
.
.
.
Yes, the second wave is starting in NZ but it is on the other island to me. Although they have moved to alert level 3, my island is moving to alert level 2 today which just means masks and social distancing once more. There are no cases on my island, but 4 community transmissions on the North one. My oldest brother lives there and he is already to protect himself … I was told I was a nag a week ago… ha! Who is right now ya bald bearded muppet? Masks on!
I will be super careful this time guys… I have more health issues that mean I will be.