36
Friday came slowly for Jack and he was so excited as he slammed the back door of the SUV, taking a moment to steady himself as he watched Ianto stride towards him with a matching look of pleasure. They were going to see their kid.
Theirs.
Again Jack let Ianto drive, pretending to fiddle with his phone as he covertly watched Ianto out the corner of his eye. Finally he knew he had to say something as Ianto smiled to show he knew what he was doing "You know… Lilibet was not as mad as I thought she would be. After all … it wasn't our fault this time."
"Uh-huh"
"Beckett has a couple of new ones arriving to kit out over the weekend so next week we can be blasting back around as the other three get done." Jack continued and Ianto grunted.
"Christ… so … that will make eight?" Ianto asked.
"Eight SUVs, a minivan and we really need a flat bed. Wanted one of those for a while… for the big stuff" Jack nodded. "Rex brought a few over the ditch with him ya know … and recruitment is up."
Ianto looked at him sideways then shrugged "And the motorbikes come the next week? Followed by go carts?"
"Wooooo" Jack said with a cheeky grin, "Go carts? Like… all terrain zooming around Bute park at dusk? With flame throwers? Some net shooting guns like on Jurassic Park?"
Ianto snorted, then laughed as he slapped at Jack while not taking his eyes off the road "Cut that out!"
"I've missed you" Jack said, sighing as Ianto's smile faded. Ianto nodded not responding and Jack knew he didn't want to jinx the moment with the wrong words. No. This was enough.
After a while Ianto decided to speak "Lucy's liaison in Egypt got the flight attendant girlfriend. Looks like her end is clean, she was a mule but did not partake. Luckily… they had not done the deal to export to Egypt, they were in the early stages of it when the Decay struck."
"Near miss" Jack grinned softly. "Story of my life."
Ianto smiled, "Me too."
..
.
.
Jack was starting to doze when the tyres crunched on gravel, telling him they had left the road and were in the driveway. Jack sat up and looked around with interest and the place lit up with the security lights flashing on.
"Wow… great security here. Didn't' notice it last time." Jack muttered.
"Because it wasn't on last time" Ianto replied with a frown "Rhiannon has set the sensors. I am not sure if I like this, she knows the bright light hurts my eyes and she must have known I was…."
Ianto stopped talking as something moved in the half-light. Fast, skitterish and clearly not right. Ianto strained to see and he glanced at Jack who was already opening the glove compartment to pull out the spare sidearm before handing it to Ianto.
They slid out into the front yard, moving silently as they always did. It was strange, satisfyingly so that after all this time they could still communicate like this. Jack now realized they had been connected all along, just not aware of it. Now it was clear, not through murky water. Jack could feel Ianto's alarm, fear and anger.
Hot.
"Not now" Ianto muttered under his breath and Jack couldn't hide the grin as he was chastised for his thoughts. Ianto raised his weapon and stepped into the darkness, out of Jack's sight. Jack felt that familiar rush of adrenaline as he started to move along the opposite side of the house, pausing as he heard something moving, then he stepped forward again and felt a spike of annoyance. Ianto had something. Jack moved back the way he came, meeting Ianto who was standing with his gun pointed at the corner of the garden. He looked at Jack who nodded and moved forward. Funny, since they are both immortal but it was habit. Jack always took point. It would only be later that Ianto would consider the fact he could have as well. Only … Daniel may have seen him die on the lights. Jack was thinking clearly.
Just as well he didn't.
The thing erupted from the bushes and slammed into Jack flinging him to one side as a faint cry of alarm alerted Ianto to those watching from the dark living room. He had been right in his theory.
Shit.
Ianto fired.
It fell.
Jack staggered to his feet winded but otherwise unhurt and they approached the fallen thing. "Great. Just great. Vampetica Again. What the hell … how did they find this place?"
"My question is why come here at all?" Ianto looked around as Jack knelt to go through his pockets, the thing groaning softly to show it was still alive. "Connected to the Footy one?"
"Hard to say. They all look alike" Jack muttered.
Jack sat back and stared at the thing now writhing on the ground, its face changing to humanoid, then back to a faceless greenish blob.
"Oh. I see what you men. A facial modulator." Ianto said softly "Right. Great. I am sure our son is comforted seeing this now."
"Shit" Jack rose and turned to face the house, making motions for them to stay there "Have to call this in sweetie."
Ianto sighed.
His safe house as about to meet Torchwood.
After all his planning and careful…well… the moment he let Jack into this haven he knew deep down it was not safe anymore. If it ever had been in the first place.
Not fair to blame Jack.
This was the time of Decay.
He blamed the drug runners.