96

"Why now?" Ianto was annoyed as he watched Jack fiddle with some papers, Kris on the edge of his seat as well. He clearly saw that it might not have been a good idea letting those two alone together for a while, clearly they had buried the hatchet and were both scheming little rats. They had spent the last few hours brainstorming about something he really didn't like and he knew this was showing all the hallmarks of a Recon.

"Summer is almost here. This spring is lovely but we know summer will be a scorcher. I don't want to fly in the summer heat if it's as severe as the winter cold. Let's face it, we could be in for a bloody heat wave and the cooling cubes we know are n there … since I put them there fifty odd years back… could save us from some damage. Can't fly in the heat you think is coming anyway. Bad for the blades" Jack said defiantly, his eyes sifting to Kris who nodded.

"So… I guess so. What is the plan?" Ianto sighed as he grimaced at being benched.

"Well. We take the chopper, go scope it out and I can bring back some gear in the chopper while our resident truck drivers can drive the big rigs back that we know sit underground with their cargo still strapped on the back of ease for shuffling about."

"So… names?"

"Me!" Jack said pointing to himself like a child.

"Me!" Kris did the same.

"Me" Hope said from behind them making Kris squeak with surprise then laugh as he moved to let her in.

"OK … I see where this is going" Ianto smiled "Go on then."

"My lovely missus can drive, Rhys can drive a rig. I understand young Billy can too, Rhys taught him. So that would be four big rigs moving in convoy. If we pack some motorbikes on the chopper then security can buzz about us as well."Kris enthused "I know a lot of you that usually go are benched so … Kev? Can he drive a truck?"

"No but I can fly a chopper" Kev said as he joined them, "If I fly it back it leaves Jack free to move across land with the convoy. Kitty is ready I think. So is Solomon. Millie and Celia too, if their mother will let them both go."

"Shit" Ianto said softly, "I hate not going too. You know I will have kittens."

"Well … he is right though love. Having Kris and Alli here makes a difference, their big rig skills along with Rhys' means the others can drive the smaller vehicles. Think of the fuel dump sitting there … come on. We need that alone with the rebuild!" Jack argued as Ianto huffed softly.

"Mum can drive a truck" Martha said from the doorway, "She can ya know. A bit rusty but … used to when we were kids. She helped out at a local grocery wholesalers, did deliveries."

"You've never told us this!" Jack said with delight, Francine along would mean good food … not that Rhys can't cook but … she is a queen.

Ianto looked even more doubtful, even if he knew Fay was competent, as was…ahhhhhhhh. No. Bugger. Ianto grimaced as a random thought floated in his hed that was clearly not his but another's.

"Owen can drive one too. All Torchwood operatives had to have full licences for crime scenes and such" Jack frowned as he caught Ianto's' thought "His leg won't be a bother if he's driving."

"Jack!"

"No. You are right, we can do this. Hope and Dean are more than…"

"DEAN! What?"

"Holdfast. I can't very well take her and not him now, not fair." Jack said calmly as Ianto blustered "We both know two Wolfling out there will ensure a safe passage home."

"And how many days is this going to take? Hmmmm?" Ianto was annoyed and not afraid to show it.

"I think Jack should scout with a motorbike, see if the road is clear there and back, find an alternate In case of emergency. Take a week or so of planning … then we go. A day by chopper and probably ….ah… three? Three back." Kris counted in his head "Each day the chopper can come and check on us, change out crew if needed and drop supplies. No reason to think it's all gonna be a crap shoot."

Ianto looked at Jack with mixed emotions as he saw the two men bounding over a mission and knew that it was better to just agree and let them go ahead. Jack was right, summer was going to be harsh.

He could feel it in his bones.

They were going to cook.