2

The van rumbled past, Ianto looking up from his garden that adorned the frontage of his property and shaded his eyes to watch it wander up the lane. Trades plates. Hmmm. Ah. Gas Company. He grunted turning back in time to see Hawk shove a flower into his mouth and chew thoughtfully. Spring bulbs were blooming and Ianto had been picking some for the table. His carefully planted daffodils and snow drops putting on such a show along the roadside.

"Awwwww, you little devil" Ianto scolded, trying to wrestle it back as the toddler giggled and squirmed, finally spitting it out and laughing as he was tickled.

"Hey boss" Animal called as he neared them "Skidmark just rang. Apparently some of the library fittings are coming out too, looks like some books and such being dumped in boxes outside. He's gone to ask if they are just for the space for work or if they were binning them, he wants to know what you want to do if they are gonna dump some."

"Well … that's not a nice feeling. Books being mistreated" Ianto frowned as he plucked more daisy from the little laughing mouth "Could be just for space and they are moving them back in tonight. If not … we will take them and store them in the green garage. I will go through them and gift them on to some other libraries or something. Might be a nice little…"

BOOOOOOMMMMMM

Ianto acted without a second thought, throwing himself on his baby as the shockwave blew though, then he looked up at Animal who was on all fours next to them "what the fuck? Did a plane just crash or something?"

Animal was looking up at the village with open horror "Boss. Fire."

Ianto rose to turn and look, also horrified as he knew exactly what had happened "Animal, take the baby in to Sam, check the house is OK, the kids. Shit, windows. Check my windows are not broken."

"Where are you going?"

"The site" Ianto said as he ran for his SUV "I'll bet you ten to a dollar that was my library going up along with the mayoral chambers. Fucking Gas! I told Jared not to go with that heating option."

"Ahhhhh shit" Animal was moving too, running for the house beside Ianto with a wriggling little boy in his arms as Curt exploded out the doors calling out with open fear.

"Are you all OK?" Ianto called to him.

"Yeah, our house took most of the shockwave. I've lost some windows but … it looks like your house just got the tail end, Tons' room. His window is cracked but intact. We can tape it until it can be replaced." Curt said shakily "Taddy, what the hell was that?"

"I think it was the mayoral chambers and library exploding with the gas refit" Ianto said sadly, "I have to go love. People will be scared hurt and there will be chaos."

"Yeah but Jarred will be there" Curt remedied gently. "He's a mayor now."

"Curty love" Ianto sighed "Who do you think was probably in there when it went?"

Curt grimaced. "Shit."