57

Jack and Mace took off early, John following later in the day with two of the men they had for security. In the last few days more had arrived seeking shelter as the Pack Wars neared and Jack had shared his idea with them while on evening shift the night before. They had all then slept on it and woken with purpose.

Ianto was entertaining the kids who were not happy to see the men go, complaining that they had all the fun outside the fencing.

"Oh diddums. They have all the fuuuuun" Ianto howled flopping on the floor to roll around and fake howl as the kids laughed and pounced on him, Immediately forgetting all about the men going as they all wrestled with glee.

It was late afternoon before they returned, the trip with two hovers to the old Hover Graveyard… a veritable goldmine as the men talked animatedly, unloading stuff they had removed from old long since dead and discarded Hovers. Ianto was curious, watching as John stood to kick a roll of thermal skirts, watching them roll onto the ground where men waited to hoist them up and take them down to the lower level.

Ianto followed them and was interested to find scaffolding up at one end of the large expanse. Then he watched as the men unrolled a skirt, lifting it up while standing on the scolding, holding the foil against the ceiling to pound nails into to hold it all in place.

A shield.

Jack was creating a firewall… a physical, real world firewall so he Others could not hear them down here. So Ianto could have peace from them up there as the shielding kept out not only the cold from above, trapping the warmth in this room… it also meant a muffler.

"Brilliant" Ianto said softly as he watched another skirt get unrolled. He checked the space, the rolls and knew there was not enough. Hearing his thoughts jack called out "There are plenty more hovers to pilfer love. Tomorrow we go again, and again until this entire room is covered, all of it!"

"A lot of work" Ianto sighed.

"Yeah, but we have any hands. Whitman over there has called for his three brothers to come and bring their elderly mother, they live on the outskirts of the township, near the river. Afraid... seeing the beds and knowing there is space they already approached us to ask if they can come. Owen is counting heads and we can fit more. We can fit a lot more if we have to." Jack grinned. "John and I hid in old ships during Pack Wars a few years back. We found the things did not know we were right there as they battled outside. The dampening fields really work. This is the same principle!"

Ianto nodded, looking aroid some more then he said "so… some of the old Hover seats could be good down here too. One end a sleeping area, the lights dimmed… the other end brighter for eating, commutations and general socializing?"

"Yeah… that's what I was thinking. We can hang curtains to keep the sleeping area darker for the kids, then if we are doing security changeovers or a meeting it does not wake everyone. Those who are working the night shift can be in another corner… still working it out." Jack agreed, knowing this entire conversation could have been in private, or even silent. By both of them openly talking out loud, everyone could hear and understand as well. Comforting. This man is so damned clever.

Ianto nodded his agreement, looking around some more and humming as he saw an area for the kids to play. They might need more supplies there if it was going to become a winter living area for longer than a few weeks of Pack Wars. This could be a long term solution on winter months.

"Are you OK with this?" Jack asked softly as he moved closer to Ianto "With me giving orders and stuff. I am not overstepping am I?"

"I know your thoughts, remember? If I find anything not acceptable or likely to clash with something I will let you know but given the fact we are so alive in our thoughts… I don't that will happen. So far… I have nothing but praise for your forward thinking here. Also… I am no longer afraid of people coming in…. after all … Joshua is no longer a caged animal." Ianto paused then added "And the kids can hide in the walls if not happy. They have to learn to share space too. First one without Lisa to defend us we need all the help we can get. "

Ianto didn't know why the urgency was there, hanging in the air but something deep down told him this Pack War would be different. With Lisa gone, her pack now uncontrolled he had a feeling that this place might be targeted not only for the fact it is a prime spot for hunting but the simple fact that it had been defended by such a strong pack in the past. This Pack War… Ianto knew would be more vicious than any before and he REALLY wanted everyone down here safe.

No matter the length of time to would take or the boredom that will ensue … Ianto knew this was the only thing they could do now.

That and pray to the Gods for guidance.

He had such a bad feeling in his gut about this one.