40

Jack strode into the room and dumped the grocery bag on the table.

Yes, a nice reusable cloth one Ianto had made himself thanks. The pretty material had been one of Babs' sun-frocks and the daisies were so happy and…. Jack dumped the contents of the bag on the table with triumph like a mighty hunter home from the jungle or some shit.

Ianto looked at the mess and bit back the anger as the three legal pads, copious pencils and bags of sweets stared back.

"I don't smoke so... I can't smoke and think so I can chew… these are really chewy." Jack said as he pound a packet of sweets, Ianto leaning back to see the beast entering with his own bag. This one had been a pillowslip and now the bag that Ianto knew was fucking full of sugar filled madness.

"So… I can sit and look over the water with a pencil and pad… take notes and write down ideas as they come to me then when I sit as the laptop and write… it will all make sense" Jack said, the other hand rising to reveal a brand new laptop.

"What was wrong with mine?"

"Has your stuff on it. Besides, I will be pretty busy and you might need it back so… I have my own" Jack said sitting to poen the box and frown "But how do you get the skin on?"

"Skin?"

"yeah… I chose one with butterflies" Jack held up a massive sticker and Ianto sighed, taking it and sitting to place it on the laptop.

"It's upside down." Jack pouted looked at the way Ianto was doing it and Ianto silently lifted the laptop screen then turned it for Jack to see the sticker. "Oh. Right. Makes sense that way. Right. Thanks love."

"JILLY" Jack roared, his dog sighing from her bed as if to tell him to fuck off and Ianto did the smile "Shit, I know. Sorry, I was in a hurry. Are you gonna sulk because I left you home with Taddy, Lady and the puppies? Come on Jilly Bean!"

"Oh my god" Ianto said as a sound emanated from the dog that was not from the sighing end. Jack blanched first, rising and scooping up a pad and handful of pencils before taking off.

Ianto rose and tried not to breathe as he walked to the doors, opening them so the windows looking over the lake were suddenly concatenated to openness. Something he rarely did as he hated the weight on the rollers but needs must.

Hawk crawled along the floor commando style out and on the porch where he gasped for air and then looked at his father "Old man… you left me."

"Survival of the fittest kid" Jack replied, watching as Mi' Lady calmly walked out with a pup in her jaws, dropping it in Jack's lap before heading back into the gas zone for another.

"Ah shit, gotta go back in for the bed" Jack croaked.

"Fuck that" Ianto replied, dropping his robe to the wooden floor, "She can have them on this until Jill is finished with her butt tantrum."

Everyone agreed.