30
"What do you mean? Dead?" Ianto asked as the Heddlu helped themselves to some pastries fresh out of the oven. Ton added some cupcakes as he wafted about the kitchen. The kids were at school and Walter was with Curtis who was snoozing at their place, unaware that there had been that hard rapping at the door.
Of course Ianto had intercepted them like a fucking cruise missile and they were now ensconced in his kitchen with their boots off at the door like good boys. Seems a handsome man in a three piece suit out here in the wop-wops was startling enough for them to forget they were supposed to be the authority here and as they politely requested their beverages Ianto praised them for their manners.
They all felt like kids again.
"Wait a sec" Ton said suddenly with a plate of sandwiches half way down to the table top "Is it Dale? The one who tried to screw Walter over? He's dead? Wow. Maybe a fan got him. There were a lot of death threats ya know."
Ianto could have kissed him for remembering this so he added "My son is right. Dale brought that up at the litigation like it was our fault. Apparently some were quite explicit. I think someone finally found him. I can't say I am sorry, some people are just air takers in my opinion."
"Well ... we have to agree" an officer nodded then rose as Jack entered "Sir!"
"Greggy!" Jack roared with glee "Look at you. Married life agrees with you buddy."
"Yes sir, thank you for the lovely gift. Me wife is so taken with it. It hangs over our mantle" the young man gushed as he accepted a hug from Jack, his favourite instructor.
"Glad she liked it" Ianto smiled softly "It's our back yard actually. Jack said she liked roses the moment he saw it completed on my easel."
"You… you painted that?" the man gaped.
"Yes. I paint for my nerves. Married to a man like that, I need some form of escape" Ianto winked and they all laughed, talk of Dale gone as they settled for an afternoon of 'Jackisms' as he explained why there was a barn on fire on the outer edges of the town and gushing about the latest car Babs had purchased before leading them across the road to the Car Warehouse for a squizz at all the lovely cars.
"So. That is that?" Ton asked as he stood watching the men in the distance racing for the second warehouse.
"Yes" Skidmark said softly, drawing Ton against him for a hug "It's over now. Back to normal."
"There is no such thing is normal Skiddy me old mate" Ton said happily "What a boring world that would be. Nope. Madness all the way here for me."
Skidmark kissed the chubby cheek of the nephew he loved as much as his own kids and agreed.
All pirates here.