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Ianto was laughing as John regaled the table with the latest PI job, the man running along the road with his pants around his knees was awkwardly re-enacted. The phone went and Ianto rose to get it as Jack added a part that he just remembered, Franklin laughing along with Owen and Toshiko.

"Hello?" he answered softly.

He listened to the man on the other end, answering him where he stood and then seeking a chair to sit on as he listened some more, then rose and went into the other room as Jack rose from his chair with concern for the pale face of his husband "babe?"

"Sandy… she… a car accident. She had some sort of… medical event… they called it that… so clinical." Ianto sat heavily "Oh god. She's dead."

"Shit. Where is Damo?"

"Damo… was in the car.. he… hurt but alive… ah… I need to get to Wales… ah..." Ianto rose and looked around like he didn't know where he was so Jack took over.

"Right. Toshiko, get us a couple of tickets over and then me and Ianto can pack. Ah… you two can look after the kids right?" Jack asked. "Dad… not the right time for Mon to get involved."

"You mother will…"

"Not be needed" Jack said sullenly "Until she apologises to Ianto, there is no change there."

John watched Jack helping Ianto around and then asked "Want me to come with?"

Jack glanced at him and smiled "No, thanks for the offer but Ianto … he might get emotional and he would hate for someone to see him like that. With you there he will hide it, just us… he can release it a bit."

"Of course" John understood this and knew as soon as Jack said it that he was right. Besides, there was still a business … or two to keep going. Toshiko can do Ianto's store, he can do the PI side and they will keep it together while things are sorted out. Not like they can get in any trouble… right?

The thing in the back of John's mid was the little boy. She was dead. The little boy was Ianto's. He knew damned well that child was coming here and he found himself in the spare room that Ianto had been using like a second office space. As he stood looking around he knew he had a job ahead of him.

.

.

They could not get tickets on the same flight, Ianto going first as Jack promised to be right behind him. The plane touched down and Ianto was heading got the hospital before he could really comprehend everything, his friend Marc there to pick him up. Marc talked as he drove "The little guy seems OK, the harness has bruised his little chest and such but nothing broken. But he is not talking, they say it's shock."

They were parked, out of the car and heading inside before Ianto could ask "Sandy?"

"Her bloody mother is trying to gt the body, claiming next of kin. Elaine is still nowhere to be found, off backpacking or some bullshit. Shirking her responsibilities if ya ask me!" Marc rumbled as they got the nurses' station "hey Brianna, this is me mate Ianto. Wee Damon's Tad."

"Oh thank god!" the nurse said with relief "That bloody grandmother is doing our heads in."

"Helen! Yes, I can imagine." Ianto said, then took a deep breath "I am the legal father of that child, have the paperwork with me to prove it. First thing I want is that woman out of his room and away from him. She tried to have her daughter abort the child, and then she tried to kidnap him as a newborn in this very hospital!"

"Oh god" Brianna yelped, surging out of her chair "I knew I had seen her somewhere before."

Ianto stood back as security came to escort the woman out, the little old lady routine as she stammers and sobbed that her little boy needed her changing as she saw Ianto there, lunging for him as she screamed "you did this. You made her have that little shit now look… driving home from the pre-school and she died. You did this, if she hadn't kept that baby …."

The rest was lost as she elevator doors closed and Ianto let his breath out.

"Thank god" Brianna seems rather fond of that saying as she slumped back in the chair "Right. Wanna go in?"

"Can I see the doctor first perchance?" Ianto asked politely and she laughed as she nodded, paging him.

.

.

"What do you mean…. How bad was it?"

"Sandrina had…"

"She hated that name. Please… call her Sandy." Ianto sighed.

"Right, sorry. Yes. Sandy had an aggressive form of leukaemia that…"

"I am sorry, I keep interrupting and I know how annoying that can be but… I don't' want the medical jargon or the in-depth explanations. I does not help her or me now. Just the facts. Bare, harsh and truthful" Ianto said gently.

"She had cancer. The treatments were harsh and expensive, the last treatment the morning of her accident. Due to the extra money she had received, she wanted a double shot… something I do not like doing. I personally believe the effects of the treatment is what caused her to lose control of the vehicle. It can cause nausea and in some cases blackouts. Although she had never blacked out before… there can always be a first time. She was doing well, we had hopes of her beating it and this was her last round." The doctor shook his head with sorrow "So close."

Ianto sat back "And my son?"

"Severe bruising, of course the mental trauma of seeing his mother die… he is mute at the moment. Not that uncommon when shock hits the little ones. We think in time he will regain himself, he just needs time and sometimes a break" the doctor liked this no nonsense man who seemed to know to leave the unspoken words in the room, the way he seemed so calm.

"Right. I am getting his passport sorted out but until then… is he needed here or can I take him home?" Ianto rose from the chair "Ah…"

"Her personal effects are here. Of course. And as her next of kin, being the child's father… er… the remains… ah…"

"I will sort the details with my usual funeral home, yes." Ianto nodded.

One more thing.

God.