60
Ianto was in shock, as were most of the pack.
Jack moved him to the Family Place where people were gathering as those that felt they could helped dig from the top of the mess. It would be some time before they could reach the bodies and they all knew they were already gone.
"Ianto?" Jack said softly "Love?"
Ianto was holding Pip as he nodded, his eyes wide with horror.
"Ianto, it's OK. This is not your fault. It's OK." Jack soothed rubbing Ianto's' hands as he sat.
Clara entered and headed straight for Ianto "What happened. What ...my baby is in a hole?"
Ianto looked up at her, not sure what to say. Jack softly replied "Sean wanted to dig a hole. Liam was digging it with the excavator. The other two boys, Trey and Joel were in the hole helping clear. It was over Bonny's work cavern and the entire thing collapsed. Why the field was marked to be left."
She gaped.
"Clara" Alice said softly "Come over here. Dad and Tad didn't authorise this, they were not part of those deciding to do this. They tried to stop them but were too late as no one told them it was happening."
"What do we do?" Travis asked.
"Those that can, take turns digging. We have to be careful so we don't lose someone else to another cave-in. We have to dig them out. Shit. Bonny … can you save anything in there?" Vic asked.
"No. That much weight? Everything I have is gone. No. It's just a workshop. I can build another" she sighed, looking at Pip who knew this meant the things Poppy had put down there from his forge were gone too.
She was right though.
Just things.
"You dug the kids out that time … you got to them and they were safe?" Clara demanded "why not mine?"
"They were in the tunnel system" Jack sighed "Safe and still breathing. Not this time love. They were gone within moments, the weight alone crushing them from above as the walls caved as well."
Ianto rose, "I … I should go help dig. I … yes."
Jack went with him to the surface where they found their Wolfling Pups in full digging mode, their paws pulling back the dirt as they worked on a patch and they barked softly as they uncovered the roof of the excavator.
Ianto slid down and took a deep breath, then peeled back the roof to expose the dirt filled cage, the red cap still on the young man's head and visible. Ianto took another deep breath and rammed the blade into the top of the head. Ianto helped dig, getting the body free for people to carry up as they now looked for the other two.
They worked into the night and by dawn all three bodies were laid out in the Big House main room, those who loved them cleaning them down silently with sniffles and sorrow. Ianto moved amongst them providing touches, loving hugs and when needed brute strength lifting the bodies. Ianto had mercied all of them, just to be safe.
Jack wanted to help but knew Ianto didn't want comfort right now. He wanted to be strong, the falling apart would become later. He made himself useful by filling in the hole to ensure the tunnel system would still be viable. If the air from above could get down there, so could the cold come winter.
The pups rallied the children, keeping them busy with things to do so that the three new holes being dug would not be too morbidly watched and by the time the burials were ready it was late afternoon. The bees were buzzing and the children had their paper flowers ready and their songs sorted.
Clara stood silently as she watched her son's coffin lower into the ground. Desiree started to cry, clutching at her father Samuel as Abner sighed, finally seeing his granddaughter was losing her first crush.
Ianto felt so sad, so empty as he held Pip's hand. He looked over at Sean who stood unwashed, unshaven and in the same clothes as the time of the accident, his eyes red from crying as his son was lowered into the ground. Destiny stood looking confused as she looked at her brother's coffin, then she looked at Ianto like he might explain it. Ianto wanted to do something, but there was nothing to do though. This was beyond his reach.
Francine was watching Ianto as his eyes moved around everyone's faces and she wished she could do something as well. He looked so frail all of a sudden, the shock of something happening that he could not control had taken the wind from his sails.
"Come on, let's eat something" Jack said as they walked from the graves towards the village.
"Not hungry" Ianto said sadly "Take Pip. I want to get some rest."
"Hey" Jack took his arm and looked into his face "You need to eat something."
"Later. Promise, I just … I am so sorrowful" Ianto assured Jack "I will have something later. I think Frannie was gonna make some soup."
Jack kissed him and took the little man, letting Ianto wander off towards the woods.
He was gonna gain some rest where he could not be found by others.
He didn't want to talk.