4

Like… OK, I hadn't told Ianto everything.

There was no point making the guy any more freaked. But the situation was dire. Gray had been frantic the last time I'd radioed in. Shelter in a skimmer if you have to. But if it looks at all possible, get the hell out of there, Jack! Don't be a hero. With the undercurrent being: I don't want to have to tell Mom you're dead.

Everything was going wrong with this fire. The smoke here was too thick for aircraft, so we had no air support to lay down retardant or give us a bird's eye view. After Chief made the call to open up both lanes for outbound traffic, trying to ease the evacuation gridlock, the winds shifted and picked up. We'd lost control of the flare-up to the south.

To the east, the wind had whipped up the main body of the Dixie Swarm, and it'd swept into town like a freight engine, forcing us to pull back the line there. A couple of stations were now trying to save some of the buildings on the west end of town.

So it was shut off in that direction. Our only exit was westbound and that was stuck thanks to the downed tree. We were sitting ducks—Ianto and I, and all the other people in vehicles on the highway.

I was fucking scared, if you want to know the truth. I'd had my training so I knew what to do on paper. But my teachers had also stressed how quickly things can turn lethal, and how even experienced crew could find themselves in a no-way-out situation. I'd already known that. I'd gone to a lot of Bug Fighter's funerals growing up.

Everyone in the extended Harkness clan was either a bug fighter, had one as a sibling or parent, or was married to one. But, it was what it was, and there was no way I was gonna cut and run, even if I could. Not on Ianto and his grandfather. Not with all those people stuck on the road. And if that meant I bought it, and then I guess I fucking did.

I'd grown up in a family that saw public service as the highest good. A family that raised heroes. I was a fucking Harkness. At least I had a plan now. I got on the radio while Ianto drove. "Station 75 Gridley, this is Jack Harkness. The end of the evacuation line is close to Torchwood Lake State Park, and they've got boat rentals there. Enough for maybe fifty people or more. It's pretty fucking hairy here, guys. No time to wait for that tree to be removed. Request permission to send drivers to the state park, get people out onto the water."

Chief came on the line. "Sounds like we're outta time. If you can get people to the lake, do it! I'll radio the chief in charge at the west end of town, see if they can send you some backup, but don't count on it. Out."

"Good idea, Jacky," came Gray's voice. "But don't take chances! Be safe! That's a fucking order from your bro. Out."

I hadn't expected them to agree quite so easily or sound so anxious. Which just confirmed that we were in the shit. Ianto pulled onto the highway. It didn't take long before we were at the back of the line of skimmers again. They hadn't moved.

"Pull over as far as you can," I ordered.

There wasn't a lot of shoulder here, but Ianto edged off the road as far as he could and parked. I hopped out, Ianto right behind me. It was blistering here. The smoke was heavy and hot, as if it held heat of its own.

Dozens of people were out of their skimmers, pacing, trying to get cell service, talking to each other, but I stopped and grabbed Ianto's arm before we got any closer.

"Wait." He turned to look at me, a little frown between his brows. "You should go back to the lake. It's too dangerous here. Please."

Ianto blinked at me, looked over his shoulder at the people, then back at me. His chin jutted out with determination. "Jack, I'm not gonna scamper to safety like a rabbit and leave you to handle this all by yourself. I may not be much, but I'm what you've got. So let's do this."

I stared at him for a moment, wanting to argue. But remembering how he'd lain down on his grandfather's apartment floor, knowing it would be futile. I wasn't sure if he was incredibly brave and selfless or just a pain in the butt-cheeks.

"Come on," he said softly. "We're wasting time."

So we walked over to the group. They zeroed in on me instantly. "What's going on?"

"Why haven't they moved that damn tree?"

"Does anyone know we're here?"

"Should we just start walking?"

They were upset and scared. I could feel a growing panic, and I needed to calm everyone down. I held up my hands.

"Listen up! I've been in touch with command by radio. They know we're here, but it's gonna take time to get a crew up to remove that tree due to the traffic. I don't think we should wait. There are canoes and paddle boats at the state park. The safest place for you right now is out on the water. Get back in your vehicles and turn around. The state park entrance is only a quarter mile or so back." I pointed that direction.

"Once you're in the state park follow the signs for boat launch!" Ianto added loudly.

A few people had questions or wanted to argue. I probably looked like exactly what I was—the youngest Bugman in the department. But most people scrambled back into their vehicles, frantic and willing to grasp at any straw.

The two skimmers in the rear backed up, one pausing to let the other get turned around, then swinging around too. I directed traffic, waving my hands to get the skimmers in the rear to back up, encouraging them to hurry.

Ianto ran ahead, talking to the other drivers down the line, and, I assumed, explaining what was going on. I shouted directions… Turn left at the state park sign! Follow signs for the boat launch. Turn left at the state park sign! Follow signs for the boat launch…. as car after car backed up and turned around.

Part of me was keeping an eye on Ianto. He was easy to see in his pink hoodie. He kept his mask on… good. Don't get too far ahead. Don't get hurt. Don't get hit by a crazed driver. Don't get so far away I can't save you.

Every gust of wind, every blast of heat felt like the ticking down of a bomb, and I prayed silently in my head that we'd have time to clear everyone out, even if it felt hopeless. I prayed that Ianto wouldn't be hurt. He was so young and had so much spirit. He deserved to live his life. Surprisingly, I liked Ianto. More than liked him. I'd told myself I didn't find him attractive at first, when Chief had told me to go with him. He was not my type. But obviously, there were things I didn't know about my type.

Sometime over the past hour or so, he'd turned into the most gorgeous, sexy, and flat-out awesome guy I'd ever met. It didn't come from my brain either. He hit me in a down-in-my-gut-and-lower, make-me-stupid kind of way. I liked the way he looked. His stubborn fragility. His thick, curly hair. His long legs. The straight-forward sass that came out of that big, beautiful mouth. The way those amazing eyes sparked with fire when he was passionate about something.

Or mad.

The way he argued with Grandy. How funny he was. Even his drama. Drama was my family's middle name, so it was my comfort zone. I could never be with someone who was all quiet and stoic. Or a timid mouse. I needed someone who could stand up to me… to my whole, crazy, loving, obnoxious family.

The way Ianto stood up to Grandy. I'd always figured that a guy who was more fem would be weak or wimpy but obviously, I was wrong. Ianto was strong. And determined. And brave. And damn, my body was all in. I wanted the chance to discover what it would be like to be with someone like him, to touch him. Just, please, God, let Ianto be okay. Let us all get out of this alive.

"Turn left at the state park sign! Follow signs for the boat launch. Go!"

We got into a rhythm. Ianto was up ahead, explaining to the drivers. By the time they got to me, there were no questions, no hesitation, so I could just direct traffic. People were mostly impatient to turn around, and they did it as soon as the skimmer behind them gave them enough room.

We were making progress. But some people were slow turning their skimmers around. It was a lot faster when drivers just drove in reverse.

"Let's go! Let's move it! Go! Go!" I encouraged, trying not to scare people further, but needing them to hurry. How many skimmers were blocked by the tree? Fifty? A hundred?

More bugs were flying across the road now, and the heat had gotten unbearable. When I looked down at my hands, they were red and getting puffy. We were running out of time. In this kind of heat, fire could sweep over roads from one heartbeat to the next, blasting everything in its path. And Ianto and I were out in the open, completely unprotected. But the cars just kept coming. I jogged along the roadside, waving cars on.

"Ianto! Ianto!" I pulled down my mask and called again. Where was he? I was getting a really bad feeling. An older man took forever to turn his mega skimmer wagon around, blocking both lanes, his face panicked behind the glass. Skimmers behind him honked. It was taking way too long.

"Sir, please hurry!" I shouted to him, but he didn't seem to hear me. Finally he got turned.

"Just drive in reverse!" I called out to drivers. "It's not that far! Just back up! Go, go!"

I searched ahead for Ianto, but there was only smoke. "Ianto!"

I needed to find him. The message seemed to get through. More drivers simply drove in reverse, and the line moved faster. "Ianto!"

He emerged from the plumes of ash, running toward me, his hair whipping in the wind, his eyes wild above the mask. When he reached me, we grabbed each other's hands.

"Only ten or so cars left. I think they've got the message," he said, voice raspy. I nodded. The cars were simply following each other now… not like lemmings off a cliff, hopefully.

"Yeah. We need to go!" I grabbed one of his hands in mine and ran. He kept up with me easily. We paused, waiting to cross the road. Cars were still reversing in both lanes.

I remembered Gray telling me, "There comes a time when you just know in your gut it's time to bail. You listen to your Chief… he knows. But if your Chief ain't around, listen to your gut and get outta there."

At the time, I'd wondered if I had that instinct. Now I knew: My gut told me loud and clear. It was time to get the hell out of there. Past time.

We crossed the road. It felt like we ran a long way, especially trying to sprint in my gear and with masks on. But finally we saw Ianto's skimmer. He fumbled for his keys and we piled inside.

Ianto started the skimmer, wincing when he turned the ignition, as if the skimmer might blow up. It didn't. He shoved the skimmer into gear and floored it to pop out of the slanted road shoulder. Then he slammed on his brakes, put it in reverse and, with his arm over the seat, turning back to look, backed up fast.

I didn't see any other skimmers on the road. Had everyone blocked by the tree already headed to the state park? God, I hoped so.

We passed the state park sign. Ianto braked hard and swung right, tires squealing. My fingers were dug into the seat. "You didn't mention that you're a rally driver."

"I'm discovering lots of new quirks today. Like the need for speed."

He flashed me a brave smile. Which caused certain parts of me to perk up, even in this dire situation. Yeah. I'm discovering new quirks too. We followed a black pickup truck down the state park road.

Walkers appeared on the right shoulder… a couple in their thirties, a small dog cradled in the man's arms. I didn't know where they'd come from, but they were going way too slow. "Ianto."

"Got it." Ianto slammed on his brakes, and I rolled my window down.

"Hop in!"

"Thank you," they both said, getting in the skimmer. Their faces were white and the woman was crying and shaking.

"Our skimmer stalled out," the man explained. "I thought..."

He didn't finish.

"It's gonna be fine," I told them.

Ianto kept driving.