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They were falling in a slow corkscrew that had them all crying out with fear as Kev struggled with the controls, Jack seizing his own controls to work in tandem. They ground their teeth and called out to one another as they tried to stay calm.
In the back Hope had seized her brother and was holding him tightly, her fear raw as she screamed for her Taddy.
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Ianto was walking slowly with the plate of food for the birds when it hit, the fear so raw that he found himself on his hands and knees, crying out from the wave of sheer terror coming from his pups. He immediately cast and felt Jack's fear as well.
Going down.
Ianto howled.
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The chopper was still slowly going down, Hope's loose hair was swirling in the cabin, a weapon flew out the door as Kris tried to grab for it, turning to seize his wife's hand instead and making eye contact.
Of all the ways he thought he would lose her in this mad fucking hell … a random chopper crash was not up there on the list. Alli looked him in the eye and mouthed her love for him, his kiss sweet as he pulled her in, both their safety harnesses taut as they cling to one another.
At least if this is the end … they are together.
His manic grin one of irony.
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Martha was trying to comfort Ianto, holding him as he panted and groaned, shuddering as if being attacked by something. Others had gathered with horror, the children crying as Ianto's feet drummed in the soil, some sort of convolution.
"He's having a fit" someone called out, "Get Logan and Abner."
Then he screamed
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
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Jack yelled it loudly over the screaming engine, "Brace for impact!"
He did not look back into the cabin, did not want to see his children in fear, so raw he could taste it in the back of his throat and instead he took a moment to make eye contact with Kev, nod to show he had faith in him and then the ground was there, rushing toward them so fast all he could do was grit his teeth for the impact.
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Ianto had gone still. Was laying there with wide shocky eyes as they tried to get him to sit up, it was like he was not there, was not even hearing them as his eyes flicked around looking at … something.
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Dean had his eyes screwed shut and his head buried in his sister's chest, her heartbeat not quite Taddy's but good enough to comfort as he tried to be calm, his Daddy's fear too real to ignore even if he thought he was shielding from them.
Hope's eyes were wide open, looking across at Francine, the closest thing to a mother she had known and she watched as Francine calmly reached out to pull Kitty into her arms, kiss her forehead and close her eyes, lovingly stroking the girl's hair.
Hope's eyes moved around the cabin to rest with Owen who was grimly holding onto his harness like a man riding a rocket, no fear just a determination.
Her eyes moved from person to person resting finally with Billy.
He was staring straight back, his face calm as he smiled softly and mouthed that he loved her, his sweet sister. Despite everything happening, she found the courage to smile back.
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Ianto was on his hands and knees, puking into the dirt now, the fear and horror making him groan with each expulsion, people shouting and racing around him in an attempt to help. Rosie stood back with her hands clasped under her chin, eyes wide with fear as she felt what was happening as well, only the twins bookending her keeping her from crying out as their hands firmly held onto her arms, their eyes closed as they tried to send calming thoughts to their dam and that baby within who was also howling with fear as if felt despair for the first time.
Pip stood crying alone to one side.
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The chopper hit hard, a sudden thump that had everyone straining in their safety harnesses and Rhys bit his tongue, yelping and slapping his hands over his mouth as the chopper screamed and started to buck on the ground, Jack and Kev shouting instructions to one another as they struggled to shut it down.
Jack undid his harness and fetched under his seat, pulling out a tool box, seizing something as the tools started to fall about the cockpit floor then he stated to climb out the door, reaching up into the housing for the engine and Kris cried out with horror as he watched Jack slam a screwdriver into the engine, making the entire thing explode, Jack flung out into the air as everyone screamed with fear.
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Ianto froze, a gasp that had everyone else freezing as well. All sound was gone, time seemed to stop as Ianto's wide eyes sought something only he could see.
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Everyone looked around with confusion, Jack suddenly back at the door to the chopper with smoke wafting off his clothing, standing on the skid "Well? We have arrived at our destination."
Everyone stared at him and then Owen started to laugh, the old Torchwood joke resurfacing after all these years as the newly resurrected boss winked at him from the remains of a crash. Soon everyone else joined in, their laughter carrying.
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Ianto felt the relief, taking another breath as he scrubbed his face and whispered "They are down."
Everyone around him slumped with relief as well. Thank the gods.
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Kev twisted in the seat to look back at Jack who was now crouching over his children to comfort them "Hey you crazy mother fu…."
The ground beneath the chopper gave way with a loud groan and they started to fall again.
This time….
No control.
They fell into the darkness as everyone screamed, Jack only able to throw himself over his children as he realized the roof of the underground bunker's top surface had given way under the pressure and weight of the pounding from the chopper.
He closed his eyes and thought of Ianto.
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Ianto's scream was heart rendering.