43
"So… these trucks can be completely closed in if need be?" Ianto was walking around one of the large bright orange dump trucks with open interest. Sold metal. If it came to a gun fight those in the belly of the machines would be safe. These things are like tanks.
"It will take us most of the day to get there… if we spend the night under the roof of the barn area where the displays are with the doors closed… safe, filling these… then at first light we take off… take the long way home" Jack said as he held the map that had been drawn for him.
"Right" Ianto said as he turned to look at those ready to come with.
Rhys of course, Ianto glad to see Michael there ready to drive as well. Myfanwy was back in hound form, which was her preferred way to be and Andy stood to one side with open dismay as she put him in his place by pointing out that he was not going to be a huge help to them out there.
Ianto knew she was slightly cruel in this but also knew she had to be. Andy was starting to mean something to her, something which was both dangerous and rare. Her biggest fear would be losing him, her glances at Ianto telling him that she knew he was totally aware of this new development and allowing it. Even as both of them knew it would end in tears sooner or later given the fragile lifecycle of these humans they had come to love as pack.
Ianto still found it strange to be the Alpha, something he had not expected but now it was this way he knew deep down that he ALWAYS was this way. Each life remembrance had him leading somehow. He knew this. Something else to accept and move forward with. He was destined to fight this foe.
Especially when his mate was also an Alpha. But not one who needed the reins. Felt strange yet nice to know Jack would never openly fight with him, rather try to understand and debate a solution for them both. For all his anger and bluster he shows others, Jack is actually more thoughtful than people think. With their link, Ianto knows this too.
Jack is worried about the stability of the place while they are gone, especially with the one in the caravan. Bitch. Ianto encouraged him to seek some reinforcement there.
"Andy… Owen is coming with us and leaving Toshiko here in the safety of the village. I need you to be our eyes and ears… you know as well as I do that Gwen can talk the talk. I need someone to stay here that knows her bullshit moves and can make sure she stays where she is supposed to be. Coming back to chaos would put Ianto over the top." Jack handled the man calmly "I need you as my man."
Andy seemed happier with this and agreed to hold the fort.
Gwen stood and watched with open dismay the next morning as Rhys drove past, not even looking in her direction and Ianto knew she would likely try something while they were gone, relived Jack had spoken quietly with Andy. They had enough on their minds while outside the walls without worrying about what was happening inside them.
Ianto was also confident Mica would step up, speaking to her about his concerns too and he hoped that she would defend it if came to that. I mean… silly really. They will only be gone a couple of days… one night but… he hated leaving this little bubble of safety.
A they rumbled out Ianto found himself turning to look back, watching the gates close and those rocks settling into their formation. Myfanwy huffed and he answered, turning to go with her as he transformed into Hound Mode as well, both of them like huge horse sized shaggy dogs running along easily keeping up with the trucks.
Jack chose a motorbike and he knew Owen was excited to be on the other one. Jack was watching the huge beast taking point, his huge paws making dust rise and he grinned as he knew those paws could kill a man with a single swipe. Myfanwy was running along behind Ianto, close to Rhys's truck as she let Ianto scan first, his eyesight so keen.
They travelled with ease, the Greys not appearing as they thought they might and after a while Jack started to wonder if they were even here at all. Had they pulled back? If so... was that a good thing or a bad thing? Deep down Jack did not like it at all, the way Ianto slowed and glanced back telling him that Ianto was not happy with this silence either.
At this stage a little attack might help sort the nerves all around.
They passed the village they had been in and forced to leave, Ianto not slowing but the faint stench of death was sad. As they had feared, the village had fallen. Damn it. So proud, so damned pig headed. Jack forced himself to shake it off, did not pay to dwell on the children that had been there.
Jack knew of loss, he knew of extreme loss, he had seen entire colonies decimated but this seemed so much more personal… here on HIS favourite planet.
Damn it.
He thought about it. He went there, didn't he! Stop it!
Jack sighed and closed his eyes for a second, then focused on the huge beast lumbering along in the distance.
Something to fix on.
A future.