16

Ianto checked the house once more, and then left via the back door to check Walter's doors. Then across to Babs, Fen last. Once he was satisfied all his babies were safe, he returned to his own house, Mi' Lady entering behind him with her steps as calm as his.

Ianto settled in his big arm chair to stare out at the darkness, waiting for the monster to slouch its way towards his village. He knew it was coming.

Around 1am a soft ping told him the security detail was on change over, double the amount currently walking the village as some came in and some went out. Ianto rose and walked around the house listening to the sound of his family sleeping and looked again out those windows.

The air was thick.

At 2am he picked up the radio and called over it "Sprinkler Check."

No one questioned that soft voice, no one rolled their eyes as they did a system check of the fire control system to please him. The call came back that all is a go and Ianto sat back to wait some more. By the time the sunrise lit the sky he was half-pie convinced that it was a fire in the sky.

Imp entered the room and plonked in a chair, staring at his father wordlessly.

Ianto looked over at him "Smell it?"

"Yeah"

Ianto nodded. He sat with his son and waited. Soon others came and the house moved, life went on as Ianto served breakfast, imp still in his chair. The others leaded out to their normal day, Jack hesitating to kiss Ianto and then head out as well. Imp settled at the kitchen table to watch his father "Tad?"

"It's ok love. Nothing will happen now right? Middle of the day… right?" Ianto asked turning to look at his child but Imp stared back silently as if scolding him. "Yeah, I know. Never assume anything."

Imp was picking at some food his father put down when he felt it, the shift in the air and he looked up in time to see his father swinging to stare at the village out the window then make a noise in his throat.

"Now?" Imp asked.

"Yeah, do it."

Imp picked up the radio and said calmly "Hit the sprinklers. I want full coverage."

Ianto was already moving, his boots by the back door ready for his feet to slide into as he headed out to help.

The library was on fire.

Ianto hated being right.