48

Mi' Lady made a soft chuffing noise, alerting Ianto of her need to get to of the pen and he rose, still reading the book to open the gate, then curse as not only the dog, but the puppies shot out.

His own fault for using one hand.

"PUPPIES….HELP… ESCAPEES" Ianto yelled, then sat back down like nothing had happened, turning the page on his book as Captain Kitty Hawk exploded from a side room, his mask getting pulled on still.

"Don't' worry Citizen Taddy… I am on the case!"

"Oh… thank god for that then" Ianto muttered as he tapped his teaspoon against his cup, then lifted the cup to take a sip.

"Damn you to the seventh Rell of Orange cake!" the child roared and Ianto's cup paused on the way back to its saucer, then he continued to place it down. CKH does not like orange cake.. waste of a good icing apparently.

"Everything alright Cappy?"

"Not to worry…. Arghhhhhh…. Little heaving… "

"Heathen?" Ianto corrected and got no reply. Ianto hoped he meant to say Heathen… not something heaving in his living room on the good carpet.

Captain Kitty Hawk came running into the room with a puppy held high with triumph, placing it in the pen, turning and running off again "One down Citizen… I shall prerwail. Wait. Prevail."

"Yes, perfect" Ianto agreed, turning another page.

"Babe? The puppies are loose" Jack roared as he entered the kitchen, a little puppy attached to his sock.

Captain Kitty Hawk ran on and snatched up the puppy "For goodness sake Dadda. Don't let him do that… there is no way your feet are clean!"

"What?"

Ianto took another sip "The coffee pot is hot darling."

Jack wandered over and looked at the mother dog standing outside staring in at him "Is she in time out?"

"Self medicating I think. They are getting teeth" Ianto turned another page and Jack grunted, sitting and then sighing, lifting a puppy to his lap for a quick pat.

Jill wandered over to insect the puppy with glee, rare to be able to do so as the mama dog was so damned protective. As if knowing what was happening where she could not see, the dog outside gave a loud bark that only a big mama can do.

Ianto rose and opened the door, letting her in as Jack placed the puppy in the pen. She wandered past to watch the weird little Hooman collect her babies for her. She leaned against Ianto as she did so, comforted in the hand now absently stoking her face and head so gently, so lovingly.

She loved her life.