32
The drive into work was in relative silence, then as they got into Cardiff Jack finally poke "So the old couple that does the yard work and watches over the house…"
"On the other side. A nice couple, have a little hobby farm. They tell people they are the parents to the family Daniel is with, helps cement them in the community as humanoid. Also, no kids of their own so the little ones are the grandchildren they always wanted. They adore Danny. David loves it there, they have horses" Ianto smiled softly "he would live there permanently if his mother would let him."
"But for school"
"Oh, he could home school. No. Rhiannon hates the quiet of the place. She loves going to her friend's place an playing cards, shooting the breeze. Watching terrible soaps … she is a real social butterfly. Mica is too, her dancing and hr little sleepovers and such. David unfortunately is more like me. Would rather let it all burn. Moved from the Estate to a better neighbourhood and instantly fond another group of mothers to slide into … the kids have a better school, some nice friends but are still unhappy with their home life. I do what I can but I am not their mother. Sometimes… sometimes I watch Daniel with Godi and feel such a …. Twist in my gut. She is his mother now. David is different. He needs a father, I don't know if I fit the bill." Ianto said as the SUV crawled into the parking space and they started to get out.
"So … he is what… fourteen? David?" Jack said as he closed the door and turned to face Ianto who had walked to the front of the vehicle "Maybe she should loosen the apron strings? If you and he were there more often, you could have Daniel too, right?"
"Chance would be a … JACK!" Ianto yelled, his hand going to his side arm as Jack swung to found a large, angry creature that looked like a huge purple gorilla or something dressed in a jumpsuit barrelling towards them and he cursed as he reached for his Webley knowing he wouldn't get it out in time. Ianto was already there, stepping in to stand by his shoulder firing at will so Jack yelled at him to aim for its eyes, only part that bullets would penetrate.
The creature fell, screaming with pain as Ianto's aim was true.
"Still a good shot" Jack said as he stepped away from the writhing creature. Ianto stepped around him to look down at it and aim again. Jack held out his hand "Don't, we need to talk to it."
Ianto hesitated, but then let his arm fall to his side as Jack knelt over the dying creature.
Rex slammed out of the side door and ran over with open alarm, his own weapon raised and as he came to stand by Ianto he noted Ianto's calm demeanour so took it on board, also letting his gun aim at the ground.
""Why" Jack was asking the creature as he leaned over it "Who sent you? Why waste your life?"
Ianto was watching as Jack pawed at its clothing and he took a step back with horror as he noticed something the other two had not, and he answered Jack's question answered for it "So it could get close enough for that bomb!"
Rex yelped and turned to run as Ianto turned on his heel to watch him with mild interest "How long has he been immortal again?"
Jack didn't answer, frantically checking pockets and then he laid on the ground with his hands and the information clutched within them underneath his body, Ianto crouching as well so when the blast went off they didn't fly too far from one another.
Rex was lifted off his feet to slam into the pillar he had been running for futilely, the impact making his body wrap around the pillar and leaving a large chunk ripped away with the force of the impact.
Debris and a few ceiling panels rained down… then silence reined.
.
.
.
.
"No!" Beckett said for the third time, physically blocking the door with his body as Gwen tried to get around him, frantic to get into the parking garage and to her fallen men. "Not until the all clear!"
A soft thump on the door made them all stop, turn to stare then three solid thumps followed by a pause, then one more. They all relaxed and opened the door to find a messed up and pissed off Captain, his clothing torn and scorched, his hair wild and his eyes to match. Behind him Rex stood with a weird look of …well… embarrassment? Ianto stood lastly at the very back with his clothing matching Jack's but his face serene. Part of his suit, waistcoat and shirt wss gone to reveal pristine white skin beneath and the chest hair peeking out over the barely revealed peck.
Jack turned back to leer and then faced Gwen again "It was a suicide bomber."
"No. really?" she asked sarcastically and then to his shock she shoved him aside to waddle for Ianto and check he was OK.
"Hey. He's immortal to ya know!" Jack groused.
"Yes, but he is at least smart enough to not get blown up as often!" she snapped back "come on pet. Let's have a cuppa."
"Sounds good to me, give him a chance to translate that garbage in his hands" Ianto agreed and Jack looked down at his hands with glee, the papers, trinkets and pockets of trash clutched firmly intact in his grasp, as he had hoped, his body had shielded his goodies.
Gwen glared back at him like this was all his fault and Jack shrugged, calling out "Want me to come find you when I have it all sorted out?"
Gwen turned to him and said with force "Go sort it out, yeah. We have purple orangutan s blowing themselves up on our fucking parking garage now. All we need now is a blowfish in a … oh wait. Now. Hart was the worst thing. Yeah. Right. Still Hart!"
Ianto hooked her arm and said gently "Come on, the baby needs something sweet."
Gwen simpered that he was right there, letting Ianto extract her from a hormonal meltdown as Jack threw him a grateful look and went into his office to piece together all the weird things he had in his hands, hopeful that something might tell them what the fuck this Purpillo had to do with the Decay.
Now he was really confused.