15

As they drove Jack glanced at Ianto several times before Ianto sighed and said "Pull over. Let's do this while it is just the three of us."

Jack glanced back at the dog on the back seat, her eyes so soulful as she stared back and Jack pulled to the side of the road which was sort of weird. Not like they were holding up traffic ya know. Just seemed… right.

Ianto sat and waited as Jack sorted his words then Jack asked "How do you know so much?"

"I …." Ianto sighed and glanced back at Myfanwy. "Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes. You are empathic?"

Jack frowned as he looked at the dog, then Ianto. Ianto then added "You are an empath. You can stop shielding so strongly as she can hear you loud and clear, she hears everyone loud and clear. She is strong, no shields can keep her out."

Jack turned to look at the dog "So… you are a Harbinger."

"Yes" Ianto replied, then glanced at Myfanwy "There are several here. Their ship crash landed almost eight months ago and the Grey Men are seeking them, and the one you took down was one of their Hunters."

"Right. Why you knew about the safety and stuff. You and her are communicating?" Jack nodded.

"Yes, of course."

"So… when you found her… was it really…"

"I did not lie. I was at the shelter and she was on a stretcher, so wasted and emaciated that she used what little strength she had left to scream in the hopes someone would hear her. I did" Ianto blinked slowly and Jack took a moment to stare at him long and hard.

"She calls you Hooman."

"Yes. I am"

Jack drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he stared out the window of the SUV and Ianto then added "And you are not from around here your own damned self Sir."

Jack grinned "Oh yeah? You know that too?"

"You smell is… intoxicating" Ianto admitted "Myfanwy warns me constantly about you, she worries you will turn my head and I will forget her."

"Awww" Jack swung to look at the creature resembling a dog "Look… I think you are sweet. Cute. You chose a great outer image and I really love dogs. Cats too… but well… Catkind are to blame for that. Harbingers… I do love your kind too."

She looked at Ianto then Jack heard a soft "OK"

He grinned and repeated "OK."

He started to drive again, even indicating before catching himself and chuckling as he shook his head. This had shaken him a little even as he had known deep down there was a Harbinger in their midst, it was still exhilarating to speak to one. These almost mythical creatures from his time, all but extinct due to the hatred Grey Men have for them.

They were almost to the others when Ianto made a small noise, Myfanwy pulling back in from the back passenger side window to chuff with alarm and Jack slammed on the brakes then swung to ask "What?"

"Someone is out there… in the tree line watching the house." Ianto pointed and Jack strained his advanced eyes to see and … movement. Faint but there. Shit. Jack's eyes then slid to something he really didn't want to see.

Stephen was walking along with one of the other children, a bucket in his hands clearly full of scraps to be flicked in the back yard for the birds and as he watched the movement happened again.

Jack knew he was snarling as he stomped on the gas.

The SUV flew across the field as Jack slammed his hand on the horn not caring if it showed him to the things in the trees, he wanted the others to see them too, to realize there was something there and as he slammed the brakes on at the edge of the gardens he faintly registered that the dog had jumped out the window before his mad gas stomp.

Myfanwy ran a slow arc around the house, a deep roar as she headed for the trees and Jack exited the vehicle to run to Stephen "RUN FOR THE HOUSE!"

Owen and Toshiko exited the house, while already firing wildly and then turning to step aside, letting the boys into the house as Jack swung to watch the trees shaking with what can only be a battle.

Then a Grey Man stood up.

Right in front of Owen, past Jack and too close to the house, too close to Owen for Jack to fire and he cried out with alarm as he watched the Grey Man reach out for Owen who was frozen with shock and confusion.

The roar was closer and Jack turned his head to see the Harbinger come, a huge shaggy bearlike beast with gnashing teeth, huge paws the size of Jack's head with claws that dug into the earth before kicking off, soil flying behind it as it bore down on the grey Man.

It all happened so fast.

I gotta admit… it did look pretty bloody awesome though.