19

"OK" Ianto stood at the head of the carriage looking donw at those assembled, "We are about to enter Harpenden. The home of Rothamsted Manor and Rothamsted Research …formerly Rothamsted Experimental Station and later the Institute of Arable Crops Research s situated here, If we can get there and check it out there might be all kinds if supplies that would ensure our future."

"Are we sure the building is standing?" Bonny asked.

"Jack says yes. He is scoping it out while we wait for the all clear, once I have concluded this little talk I will transform and go join him. If those seed vaults are still intact we could really have a chance here. Gods, I really want some watermelon" Ianto sighed and everyone nodded eagerly.

They unloaded the other two ATVs and trailers, then started for their destination, more carrying empty backpacks as they were going to make each trip back and forth worth it.

"Would be nice if Tommy didn't need the tracks" Kev said as he passed Bonny who was standing looking back at the youngsters staying to guard her 'baby' and she pondered that comment. Gotta be a way, right?

Then a short two minute walk across the green and they were there, those on ATV waiting impatiently as the golden rule still applied.

Wolfling first!

It was a huge manor style house and they knew the bunker hidden beneath was the real payout, eager to see if it would yield the results worth this excursion even if they really knew this had been to see if Tommy was worthy of a trip somewhere else. Ianto and Jack had still not told the others about Torchwood House, both too hopeful and afraid of what they might find.

It was more than spooky to enter the main entrance with the white marble way too clean and sparkly. Then once their eyes adjusted to the dim light they saw the dust like a thick layer of greyish white felt on everything. Years of neglect.

No one was here.

Alive or Z.

Ianto let Hope and Dean take the lead, scouting the place anyway. Good experience for them with Dean acting the aggressor to startle Hope around corners and such. Of all his children, Dean was the most cheeky, loving the thrill of a scare and this served well on training runs. Here out in the Real World it was cruel and she needed the tests as she didn't know if it was him or not, still on alert.

Ianto left them to 'gear up' and he took off, joining Jack to search the building's lower level for any Zs or survivors. Neither were present and it was with great delight Ianto snapped the lock to the lowest levels and they headed down to find that the vaults were indeed … intact!

There were no lights of course, no power. They quickly snapped off some light sticks and found a generator, the clatter of it soothing as Bonny knelt to fix the intake then the lights flickers and took.

"We can use this too" she said more to herself than the others "Perfect for the 'Maybe' house."

She was in a world of her own as she pulled old boxes of parts out and preened, pushing them into the 'take' area for those with spare hands to carry back to Tommy who waited patiently on the tracks not far away.

Seeds, books and different fertilizers snap frozen so that thawing would hopefully not damage them an Ianto was almost beside himself as he examined one of the little freezers and wondered if …

"I could rewire that!" Bonny said and for a moment Ianto wondered if she had heard him then he grinned at the silliness of it. Of course she knew what he was thinking. She was a clever one.

"Well, I think this has been a success" Jack said softly s he pulled Ianto aside, "Now let's steam home as fast as little Tommy can run. Let's open him out and see how he goes, you and I will both run ahead and track check, Hope can warn them if something is ahead. I wanna be home by dark. Even this far away I feel Pip."

"Agreed"

They were done within four hours of arrival, the generator the biggest problem until Ianto lost patience and simply picked it up in human form, startling them all as he picked it up and dumped it on the flat bed trailer.

The laugher started as he grinned and winked, Jack hooting that his man was a manly man.

Ianto accepted the kiss and dip, even if it did show Jack had forgotten who was 'the man' and the giggling was intense as he simply lifted Jack over his shoulder and carried him to his ATV, "Come on my Captain. Tally ho!"

Home!