14

"What is it love?" Ianto asked as he looked up from the book he was working on.

Walter settled in a chair with a frown "They found a Zodiac on our side of the river this morning."

"A bear?"

"Tad. What are you doing… hey… focus. A Zodiac … as in a boat."

"Oh shit… sorry love… I was miles away… oh. Wait. So.. how many would that fit?" Ianto was rising with anger "What the hell… are they trying to get to the studios?"

"We don't know. The boys are doubling security and sweeping the entire village to make sure it's not something subversive. We are hoping it's some of those who were working on the movie, trying got get some gear and we will have strong words about them breaking the lockdown" Walter assured his father.

"And it it's not?"

"Then they will be sorrier than a cat in a dog pound"

.

.

Ianto was still chewing on it as he started to scrape potatoes for tea. New potatoes need to be scraped with the correct bone handled knife, at the exact angle to take that top layer off, keeping the rest intact so the little sprig of mint from the garden makes the kitchen smell great, gives the potatoes that lovely tang. He was staring out the window at the goats as they rampaged about, thinking about that little boat.

He did not like it at all.

"How's the book going?"

Ianto jumped, squeaking as Imp entered the kitchen with Harley in tow, both boys startled as well by Ianto's unexpected reaction. They all stared at one another then started to giggle at the silliness of it.

"Sorry fellas, I was miles away" Ianto finally said "what's up."

"Harls and I are looking for that book I had yesterday on the goat shed. I wanted to show him the design in it for the two storied one. Me and the others think we might be able to build it on the far end." Imp said, making Ianto feel so proud of his big boy.

More like him than ever, thin yet strong and his head held high, glasses on his pert nose today as he had lost a contact again. Or maybe didn't feel like them. Some days Ianto is sure he wears them to show support to his Tad when he sees Ianto's on glasses on his face for a change.

Ianto smiled.

"Your father found it I am afraid, best double time it down there before he has a twelve bedroom palace for them"

The boys took off laughing, Hawk appearing from under the table to follow them and Ianto jumped again, this time not squealing at least.

Man… he was jumpy today.