16

Owen was struggling with his seatbelt, the upside down thing not helping as gravity made his body weight lock the belt in place. The water was pouring in though the half open door window as well as the smashed windscreen and it ws at this point he finally remembered the Demon that was now forcing it's head though the hole in the windscreen.

"Fuck!" he cried out as he heard the nails on the metal above the sound of the water… in the small space it echoes and he began struggling more as he tried to get to the scalpel he always kept in his pocket. He knew that he had to cut the strap to get out, the locking mechanism would never let go … his hands were slippery as the water poured over him, choking and blinding him as he heard the slathered growls over the roar of the water.

Then silence.

Owen looked up, finding Ianto there a mere hairsbreadth from him. Ianto was so calm. Everything was so quiet like someone had hit pause. Even the water was gone, just Ianto.

"What are you doing little man?" Ianto asked softly.

"Ianto" Owen sighed with relief.

Ianto drew Owen close and whispered "Do you trust me?"

"Of course" Owen said as he felt the strap give, the thing holding him slid back as Ianto's hands slid around his waist like a man would his little dance partner mid-lift and it was almost a dreamlike scene as Ianto drew him against him, his lips moving to cover Owen's in a kiss.

Owen felt things all go gooey and slide away.

He came back to himself standing on the bank of the river, stepping back from Ianto as he took a deep breath then looked down at the one rear wheel sticking out of the water "Shit."

"Did you just kiss him?" Jack demanded as he ran, slipped, slid down the embankment "did I see you kissing him?"

"I had to move him quickly and I needed him to not breathe while in the void. How else to take his breath from him without encouraging another?" Ianto asked blandly "Hmmm?"

Jack blinked.

"seriously Cariad… you must learn to share. There is more than enough of me to go around" Ianto was amused now, seemed to grow and thin out until he was just wisps of smoke, still recognisable like someone was projecting a picture of him on a smoky background "And it is only Owen."

Jack shrugged as he conceded that Ianto had a point.

"Only?" Owen asked then looked back at the vehicle "Hang on. That… how did you get me out?"

"Magic" Ianto said softly, reaching out to pat Owen's head one might a small child. Owen grinned like one too. OK. He accepted that.

.

.

.

Faith was waiting on the roof of the old cinema over on the south side. The wind had whipped up and as she lifted her face to the sun her hair lifted and started to waft around her head. Her henchmen stepped back nervously as her skirts started to rise and swirl around her gently as well.

Faith laughed as she opened her eyes to watch as a bird approached, it's wings flapping lazily as it used the wind's updraft to 'surf' it's way in. As it came closer it seemed to grow larger and larger until the men realized it was not a bird at all, Ianto landing on his feet to cant his head and look at her as her skirts and hair slowly settled. He looked eerily like a giant crow all in black, with his head canted that way. That one visible eye glowing a bright blue.

He didn't need the wind now.

"Hello sweetie" he said softly "I know things have been a little frantic the last couple of days, are you OK?"

"Yes thank you" she said politely "I lost some people but they died with honour as befitting one who is worthy of the journey to the next place."

"Yes. There are still some unwanted guests in the shadows. I am unable to pin them down, elusive and crafty as they watched their brethren fall. They are changing their tactics accordingly." He advised in that slow conversation of those who have lived long enough not to care about the length of time said words might take to be heard "Please do not let yourself be at ease yet. I am fond of you."

"Thank you" she repeated herself with a slight curtsey, pleased to hear his affections as he was so very hard to read.

"Oh.. and one more thing" Ianto said as he went to leave, turning at the edge of the building to look back at her "Stop needling Jack. He is young but shows promise as a Watcher."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. One day… one day he will give all he has for the betterment of this rock" Ianto nodded, then said as an afterthought "and I shall be waiting for him to join me in my little bottle."

Faith snorted at the Genie reference as Ianto stepped off the building and one of the men made a noise of alarm, rushing to the edge to look down.

Of course there was nothing there.

Faith rolled her eyes at him as she saw that this one might not make it much longer.

He had no idea!