17

That night the two men enjoyed being close. No sex but the two bodies together seemed enough, just comforting to sleep together with the sound of the other one breathing.

Crying out.

Gasping.

Thumping…. Ow!

Jack finally moved and let Myfanwy take over, her weight thing seeming to help.

After a while Ianto settled and Jack did as well knowing there was no point upsetting everyone by moving about. Ianto would not likely even reference it in the morning.

.

.

"Ianto?"

He knew it would be her, it was always the alpha female that tried to push so he turned calmly, dropping the bucket of chicken feed to face her and she seemed startled by his defensive posture. "Yes Gwen?"

"Sorry pet, didn't men to startle you" she smiled in a way that made him bristle "I just wanted to ask about the things the others are saying. Myfanwy turned into a huge monster thing that ate Grey Men?"

"What? Who told you that?" Ianto blinked slowly like he didn't understand the question and Gwen got defensive too.

"Look, Toshiko mentioned to Owen that the large Harbing thing was terrifying and she was glad it was on our side. I just need to know that thing is not a danger to…"

"THING!" Ianto spat cutting her off as he openly bristled now, his teeth flashing as he snarled at her "The word is Harbinger. How dare you call the one who protected and showed loyalty to people who are not really pack a THING!"

"Is everything OK here?" Jack asked from the side of the barn seeing Ianto's anger and Gwen's righteousness.

"I just need to know if that …"

"Call your protector a THING one more time Gwen. I dare you. Call ANY Harbinger a fucking THING after recent events… "

"Whoa!" Jack stepped between them, turning to face Gwen as he did so "Gwen.. you are NOT interrogating Ianto are you? He is not a member of Torchwood, not on the team and needs time to distress after what happened yesterday. He is one of those we are here to help."

"I just…"

"Stand down Gwen" Jack said on a low one.

"If you are not comfortable with us I can go." Ianto said as he bent down to pick up the bucket and Jack REALLY did NOT want that. He turned to Gwen and gave her a ok that left no doubt of his feelings in this then Ianto started to move past them.

"N O!" Jack yelled, his hands out to placate as he swung to face Ianto "No… please. Don't leave. Gwen is… she used to be Heddlu before she joined my ranks and is still a little… abrasive."

"Abrasive. You call sandpaper abrasive… caustic soda is downright nasty" Ianto replied with his eyes still firmly on Gwen.

"Did you just call me acid?" she gaped.

"You smell like it" Ianto retorted and Jack now turned to glare at Gwen again.

"I don't think this is an apology? It doesn't sound like one at all" Jack growled to her and she looked at him, then simpered as she said sorry like a small child with her hand in the cookie jar. For some reason, this enraged Ianto more as she displayed her throat, let her lips pucker and offered herself like a fucking bitch in heat.

Jack tuned his head to look at Ianto, that last thought so loud it resonated and somewhere in the distance a dog barked, warning Ianto that he could be heard so he turned and promptly walked away.

"What the hell was that!" Gwen spluttered.

"You took the words right out of my mouth" Jack answered calmly. "an alien race is trying to exterminate the human race and you are not happy that another alien race is trying to help us… an alien race by the way that has been here on Earth for years and is known to Torchwood if you ever read the case files like you were supposed to. I am sure Toshiko does not remember as she read so much but ask Owen about Harbingers. He will take a little while but remember the info on them. They are as known as Blowfish and not a skirick of the bloody trouble!"

Gwen seemed to fluff for a moment, then turned and walked away. Jack turned to find Owen there watching and Owen said "Harbingers eh? When was I supposed to read that one?"

"humour me" Jack rolled his eyes "She is still so green to all of this. Another year or so, she might have reacted differently but she has to start with the whole 'ew alien' thing she keeps doing. After all... I am not from around here my own damned self."

"I know. Harbingers. Werewolf type…. No. Lycanthrope beings that can take on a life form's image for long periods and usually protect others like a dog protects a flock of sheep. Not wolves.. more like…" Owen's voice died away as Myfanwy trotted past and he loked at Jack, then grinned "Ahhhh. Right. Why you and Ianto are sharing a room? Getting to …know.. one another in a biblical sense?"

"Owen… there is nothing in their bible about us" Jack grinned as he paused he shot at him "And we are not shagging!"

"Yet!" Owen pointed a finger "He's not from around here either, not just the bloody Dog. The bigger one was him!"

"So?" Jack postured, "Jealous?"

Owen roared with mirth and stomped off, leaving Jack to let out a sigh of relief.

Owen would not judge Ianto, after all … Owen was not from around here either.