82
Jack walked through the Outpost camp with interest, taking in the feel of the place that reminded him of Boeshane. Small shacks close together around a communal fire pit where it was clear they all came together. A spit over it, cooking utensils. A feeling of community.
"OI!"
Jack looked up and smiled as he raised his hand to wave to the red headed man striding towards them with his long beard flying back, his long curly hair looking like his finger had been in a light socket again and a look of total glee. In the old world … the before world…he must have terrified people. Although not what you call big, he seemed to fill twice the physical space with personality alone.
Dean squealed as he was lifted off his feet and swung around with total abandon, a madman with a toy. Again … anyone else might not like that but Jack knew his pup was resilient and enjoyed roughhousing with this man who was now yelping as Dean seized his beard and slammed their foreheads together in a Liverpool kiss.
He placed the child down and rubbed his forehead with roars of mirth, Dean smiling sweetly to show the head-butt had not hurt him at all. Then the man sobered, turning to Jack "Captain. I've put aside lots of good sh….stuff."
"You can say shit ya know" Dean informed him "Daddy does when Taddy is not around to hear."
"Is that right?"
"Hey!" Jack scolded "Don't get me in trouble here, he might be listening. He has ears everywhere."
"This fella of yours, he must be something to scare people so easily. They call him the wolf?"
"Yes… something like that. Wolfling. Krissy, show me what you have aside for Bonnie" Jack said as he finally remembered the Red's name and Dean nodded to show that was good. Mind not totally gone yet old man. Jack slapped at his child who giggled and ran off to join some others nearby. Cheeky shit spends far too much time with Owen.
There were several boxes waiting with things, some Jack recognising as Poppy's and he felt a wave of gratitude to the man for returning these even if he still seemed to rub him the wrong way. He couldn't explain it, everyone seemed to love the guy but sometimes he got this manic look to him that reminded him too much of John Hart. Time and time again he had been told that the man was gentile, kind and all the kids loved him but there was something about him, something that made the senses tingle. Jack wondered what Ianto might make of him. Dean seemed comfortable enough with him. Maybe it was just his imagination. Sometimes Jack forgot this feeling and liked the guy too, he seemed genuine.
"So, she has another room?" he broke into Jack's thoughts.
"Yeah, running water, larger than the last. These huge tanks over here … what do you use them for?" Jack asked as he walked over to what must have been brewery barrels, huge silver tanks taller than him.
"Actually, wine originally" he was told as a red beard was tugged, "These vats are from a winery. You thinking for her distillery? I was gonna cut the side out and make one a shitter."
Jack blinked then looked around for his child who was clearly loving the other kids, "You know … maybe the smell would get trapped?"
"Ah. Didn't think of that friend" he roared as he slapped Jack hard enough for him to stagger then look at him with annoyance as he rubbed his shoulder, Red already stomping off to yell at someone that their fecking dog was pissing on his stump again.
"He grows on you" Ash said softly as he came to stand by Jack "He seems to make you bristle. Weird, no one else gets a vibe off him like that. I know you like him but then your smile slips."
"Maybe he reminds me of something or someone" Jack said although he did not know why. The more he watched this man kneel to address a child with a loving stroke of the hair or yell lustily that someone had a nice arse today, he was less sure why. He was not like John Hart. Not at all, why did he keep thinking of him like he was? This man seemed incapable of hurting a fly, much less being a manic. He was a good man, one Jack could see as a good friend. Why was there something … off?
"Come on Dad" Billy called "We have the shops to check!"
Jack raised a hand and waved to his son as he looked around once more then went after Billy and the small group forming to go into the town below, hunting for whatever else Bonnie needed to get things back up and running. After all, the Outpost needed her as much as anyone else, her bullet casings perfect for their armoury.
As they mounted their horses to head out Jack looked back and saw Red rummaging around in a sack by the side of the forge then he decided to stop being weird about something that did not mater. Not his circus, not his monkey. Right? If Ash chose to have this man in his settlement it was his business.
Not like he was ever coming to Holdfast!