23

They were moving in… out… you know what I mean. They were claiming their areas within the compound, even as Ianto made sure the Valiant was just a quick run's distance. He had insisted on a siren that would sound if there was danger so everyone would know to head for the safety of the Valiant. Some had rolled their eyes at him for being such a fusser but he pointed out the unpredictable storms and they had relented. After a drill. The kids were overly excited and they thought the entire thing was a big game. Maybe that was for the best, keep it light. Notion got be scared of right? Ianto knew he had to settle down. After all this time, it was only natural to feel a little startled by wide open spaces. Right?

Today he was in the belly of the Valliant, deep in the lower levels going through one of the storage areas. He was not even sure what he was looking for but a strange niggle had him in there looking for whatever it was he felt was needed.

"Ianto?"

"Down here" he called out to whoever that was, it was not Jack.

John came around the corner "Whatcha doing?"

"Fussing and farting apparently" came the tepid reply as Ianto opened another box to peer into and John grinned with amusement before trying another tactic "Can I help?"

"Doubt it, my level of help needed is professional and I do not think we will find one out here" was another muttered response, John now highly amused with the man's fluffing. He was really kinda cute ya know.

"I was wondering if you knew where the kids were. I wanted to ask if any if them wanted to go with me to check out the huge rabbit run, so we might catch a few and have as pets. The cats really do not want to leave the ship and the kids are taking it personally."

"Hmmm, I thought they were in class" Ianto rose and stretched his back.

"It's after two in the afternoon Sparky" John grinned at him softly "Class has been out for over an hour. They only do morning to one, then free time for fuckery."

Ianto stared at him some more and the frown deepened "And they are not showing up on the motion sensors?"

"Tried that, clear across the board. Only motion sensors being set off are adults." John rolled his eyes. He knew how to do that.

"Remember at the last meeting I said I was concerned that the fences were too easily breachable by little hands? You all poo-pooed me and pointed out that I am way too over protective when we have an amazing moat and land shark now?" Ianto asked, one eyebrow raised.

John sensed a kick in the head coming but bravely stood his ground "Yeah I was the one to tell you to stop mothering them."

"Right. I said the mesh on the fencing was too large, I wanted another secondary fence within the perimeter about a meter away from the main fence, like a little walkway inside the walkway area. You all said I was being a worry wart." Ianto now stated to look annoyed and John knew the kicker was coming.

"Yeah?"

"So… did you walk the perimeter to see if any of them were at the perimeter fence reaching through the mesh to pat Janet? With those dogs?"

John felt the blood drain from his face as Ianto folded his arms to stare at him defiantly and with a soft curse he took off to see. Of course Ianto had pointed this out, been told not to be stupid, Janet loved them. Was harmless. The kids all fussed and took her treats to shove at her through the mesh. They knew the rules, an adult must be with them. They were responsible kids.

Over thinking. Over doing it. Fussing.

John found them where Ianto said they would be, little arms right through to stroke her face as she crouched to let them. The problem was not her, but the dogs. One of them was on it's belly creeping forward and John barely had time to call out before Janet swung and clipped it on the side of the head, making it yelp and stagger back. She growled low and long, then the dog retreated.

"Good girl" John crooned "control your babies, I will control mine. Kids? What are you doing? You know there has to be a grownup out here with you when you roam near the fences."

"Janet will never hurt us!" came the sullen reply.

"And a feral man outside that shoots at her and the bullet or arrow hits one of you? The snake from the snake house that escaped ages ago to live free that slithered under the fencing and is unseen, entering this area with the long grass we've not mowed? Safe from them?" John demanded "Janet is a good girl, the dogs still need to learn. But the real threat is outside the moat. Someone or something might attack the fencing to get to Janet, or blast through the moat to get us inside. If you are this far out the alarms sounding will not help you run any faster for the safety of the vessel. What if we have another of those electrical storms out of nowhere? A locust swarm? Killer bees? You are all the way out here. And Janet? She would not run for safety, she would have to try to save you and might die."

Cruel, cold and totally bastard to say this to them like this but it got the message across. Even if the kids thought they were invincible, their love for the weird alien would make them think.

Ianto was right.

They were to lax with the kids interacting with the big girl.

This should be a treat, earned and with adult supervision.

The dog in question was now in the back of pack with it's head lowered still watching the child it had zoned in on at the beginning of this. Little Mica, the twin.

Ianto had a soft spot for her.