2

He returned in two hours and was surprised to find a sleek back SUV in his usual parking spot.

They are here already?

He was getting out of his vehicle when he noted the markings on the side of the SUV and the TORCHWOOD boldly cut into the bodywork like a brand. He stared at it and sighed softly. Had to happen sooner or later I guess, here come the circus. All the way from the UK to the boondocks of America? Really? He knew how far it was, he had travelled himself in his youth.

"Send in the clowns" he muttered under his breath, looking over at the silent playground. The children wound have scattered to their homes when the strange vehicle had arrived, now watching behind lace curtains with their parents as these strangers filled their quiet world with bullshit and bluster.

He removed a basket from the back of his vehicle and headed inside, like before he headed for the main foyer where he saw mess galore. Someone had dumped bags in the middle of the foyer, someone else had kicked some to one side and a tepid looking man sat on a large metal crate arguing in a London accent with… himself?

At the reception counter a man was leaning over it while talking softly to Heather and his coat's split back had slid up and the coat's tails fell to each side of a nicely toned butt. With a raised eyebrow he looked at her over the man's shoulder and she smiled softly as she noticed the basket in his hands "Oh sweetie. Oh, you gorgeous creature you. Thank you, I remembered to leave swapsies this time."

He nodded and headed to the back where he found his freshly emptied basket from earlier waiting with more preserves, a couple of watermelon and to his interest, what appeared to be some freshly made lemonade. Ginger beer and some baking, the chocolate chip biscuits still warm when he leaned in to smell them.

Good trade.

He was walking out when he saw a small petite woman struggling a large wheeled bag up the stairs and he immediately placed the basket on the nearest counter to rush over and take it from her, her squawk of surprise cute. "Oh, thank you so much."

"Tosh!" the man at the counter yelled, flinging keys at her and they would have hit her in the face had Ianto not snapped his hand out to snatch them like a ball keep. The man leaned back to stare at the tall dark stranger on the stairs with Toshiko's Kitty Cat bag in his hands and Jack leered "Nice catch. Nice hand work there, you seem good with those hands there gorgeous."

The man stared at him silently as Heather made a noise of alarm behind the counter and rushed around the side to leave her place, rushing to say something but to her shock and relief the man on the stairs laughed. A deep rolling bellow of amusement as he shook his head and then looked at the keys before turning his back on the man in the Great Coat and carrying the bag to the correct room for the little one.

"Thank you so much" Toshiko said again and then she started to pat her pockets "Oh. A tip. You are supposed to give a tip right? Oh."

She pulled out several small screwdrivers, a piece of tat that looked like a computer component and then a bag of sweets. He raised a finger and she stopped checking her pockets to watch as he leaned over to smell the bag. She opened it and offered it, his eyes narrowing as he perused the selection and chose a deep red gummy bear. He straightened up and popped it in to his mouth to hum around. With delight she offered him the entire bag but he shook his head to let her know one was sufficient for his time.

As he turned to leave she called out "Wait. I am Toshiko. Toshiko Sato."

He turned back to her and smiled softly, his face changing to appear so much younger and more… friendly. Then to her shock came a familiar accent "Jones. Ianto Jones. Lovely to meet you little blossom. English?"

"Yes, we are from Cardiff, Wales actually. Here on a job." She smiled at him and he nodded as she added "You're Welsh too?"

"Mehaps I am, Mehaps I ain't" he said in a southern drawl that had her giggling at his playfulness.

She smiled shyly as she watched him start to descend the stairs and then she saw Gwen struggling up the steps with a face full of anger, looking directly at the man as she said with tepid sarcasm "thanks for your help there."

"I don't work here" he said with a guttural grunt. He stared at her and then shrugged as he stepped past her to continue to go back down the stairs.

"Gwen, for Godsake, he doesn't work here!"

"But he helped you!" she groused as she rumbled past.

"Yes, but apparently I am sweet and cute… not tepid and bitchy" Toshiko said under her breath as she closed her door firmly on Gwen's shocked face.

Ianto had re-entered the foyer and went to get his basket in time to hear the man with the Great arse… ah … Great Coat ask Heather about a guide. She looked shocked, looking past him at Ianto as she asked him where he wanted to go.

"The woods… sorry. The forest. The mountain and the campsites around the place. We want to explore some game trials and such, no hunting. No guns, just… looking" the man said even as the sidearm clearly betrayed the fact there WERE going to be guns.

She listened then looked at Ianto again like she needed him to save her and he sighed before he spoke "Go to the garage across the way. Ask for Hayden. His family has hunted in these hills for generations. Not a good spot he does not know of. He's local Search and Rescue too so any questions about the trails and the missing trampers, he will know. I assume that is why you are here."

Jack looked at him with shock then he asked "Welsh?"

"Sometimes"

The man's smile grew wider as he approached him "Captain Jack Harkness."

"Torchwood" Ianto finished for him, his eyes narrowing. "Alien hunters."

"Oh for goodness sake, there are no aliens around here, no sightings and definitely no invasion of the body snatchers" Heather laughed as she shook her head "But by all means… search for them. Lord, wait until Betty hears about this at church tomorrow."

Ianto continued to stare at Jack as he knew full well why they were here.

Big Foot sightings.

Bloody tourists.