15
"But I should…"
"Jennifer. This is not something we can argue about." Jack said sternly as he took her hands "These kids need to be cared for, you need to be safe so me and Ianto can focus on the problem. Once we take care of the problem we will be back."
The kids were listening, eating their breakfast slowly, each bite an exaggerated exercise as they looked from one adult to the other then Red asked Joseph "What problem?"
"Your father I think" came the reply.
"Oh. Right" he nodded as he petted the kitten in his arms, remembering the fear he felt the night before as his father had chased him and Ianto up that hill. He was glad Ianto had saved him, glad they were safe and he wanted to stay here now with all these nice ladies.
"OK" Jennifer finally agreed sighing as she settled back in her chair.
Jack wanted Ianto to stay here as well but knew he could not ask that of him, not when he needed him. Deep down, Jack knew having Ianto beside him would give him an edge he might need and Ianto knew that as well.
.
.
.
.
Jack glanced over at Ianto who seemed asleep in the passenger seat but he knew him well enough know to know he was thinking.
"Those women…"
"It was a hippy commune once upon a time. Battered and abused women hid there. Over the years they cemented their place there and men found themselves unnecessary. Some are there, you didn't see them but there are some men there. They would have been asleep."
"The marijuana plants probably need a man's touch?"
Ianto laughed, letting his head fall back as his deep bellow filled the car. Jack settled back more in the seat of the old jeep they had borrowed from the women. You see, Ianto's old beat up crapper was known about the town, as well as his jag still in the garage at his house.
Rule number one when hunting.
Stealth.
.
.
.
.
They parked on the outskirts of the town by the reservoir, walking in. It seemed natural for Jack to reach out and hook Ianto's hand, squeezing as he asked quietly "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. Pissed. I think I may be coming down with a cold but other than that… peachy" Ianto replied and Jack giggled at the bland man's face. Ianto tickled him in such a way, ya know? Jack had never met someone like him, that sarcasm and wit oozing off him.
"Right, close enough" Jack said as he crouched in the dense bushes with Ianto, pulling out the burner phone the girls had given him. He called the number if his old handler who answered on the third ring.
"Jesus wept, is that you?"
"Hey. You guys OK down there? We have one on the loose still" Jack said and held the phone away from his ear as the yelling started.
"Wow. Excitable little thing, ain't he?" Ianto said with wild eyes, making Jack start the sniggering again as he shoved at him.
They had found the chaos upon entering the town. Hard not to, the house fire had been a beacon. Jennifer's house was unsalvageable, no doubt the body of the Monster was still inside, the other three in custody while they had tried to work to the timelines and find Jack with the Asset. They had no idea Ianto was even a part of it and hearing that not only was the Asset at a safe house but even THEY were not about to be told where seemed to upset them more.
"Right. We don't have time for this" Ianto rose and brushed off his clothing "Let's go find the Fucker."
Jack closed out the call, cutting off the rant as he agreed. No time for that bullshit. Got a Tall Man to hunt. As they adjusted their black clothing and rechecked their weapons Jack felt a thrill he had not felt since he was a boy out deer hunting with his father so many moons ago.
The adrenalin was pumping, rushing in his ears and Jack knew he was nervy. Ianto on the other hand seems so … calm. Like they were on one of their hikes together and Jack now knew from the conversations back at the commune that Ianto was not just a teacher. He had at one stage been an operative for Greenpeace's splinter group that no one admits exists. Hunting those who hunt the innocent. A Poacher Pincher as they are affectionately known. Ianto had been raised in Wales been on the outskirts of the Hoodlum Clan where he learnt guns, hand to hand combat, basic warfare and survived to come here and find another kind of family.
Jack could not believe it. All this time he had been walking alongside a kindred spirit. A fellow justice seeker and now he knew there was no way he was letting this man out of his sight.
He was about to ask Ianto how many poachers and abusers he had left zip tied at the local sheriff's office when Ianto turned to him and changed the game with a famous quote, his eyes shining with the same thrill seeking excitement Jack felt.
"Be Werry Werry Qwyet. We are Hunting Wabbit!"