2

As Ianto drove he lifted the cell phone to his ear. One of the few allowed one, he made sure to place it near his collar and that fucking pin.

"Owen? We are all go?" he said calmly, making sure not to raise his voice or sound rehearsed "Do you have everything? You know… there is no turning back."

He listened to the answer and then added "I know. Jack will be the best chance we have of that."

He closed the call and swallowed thickly hoping this would work. It has to work. Right?

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Owen loaded the quad bikes onto the trailer, handing over the money to the man who knew as well as he did that he could never afford these. Not these top of the line deluxe models. Long range, designed to travel vast distances.

Owen waited for the question and gave it like he was confiding something of deep, dark secret "It's for… friends of mine. I would not mention this if I were you. Like… they are a surprise."

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Ianto stood at security as he was scanned out of the building and as he stepped out the door he turned to look back at the doorman that always held the door for him "Thanks Terrance. You are a good man."

"Why thank you sir… you too." The man spluttered.

Ianto nodded and took a long time to look at him like he was memorizing him, then stuck out his hand to shake "Good bye Terry."

Ianto walked away knowing eyes were on his back.

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"I will need all of it... just in case of emergencies" Toshiko said as she waited at the dispensary for her large medical list to be filled, more than one pharmacist venturing over to look at the list and then frown.

"Bug spray? We don't have the flowers in bloom at the moment Doctor Sato" one of them called out.

"Bugs are everywhere… near water… in the woods… rather be prepared" she called back trying not to look too furtive… just enough for those to remember her doing this. Then she squealed as she slammed into Gwen Cooper's back "Erggghh…. Gwen. I … ah… I forgot you work here in the afternoons after your officer training."

"Yes, I help out while my little one is at physio" she smiled, then looked at Toshiko's bags "Oh my. Opening your own clinic?"

Toshiko made a weak gush about gardening and bugs, then added something about bike trials and then added it was a shame Gwen got a child with so many ailments… both of Jack and Ianto's kids were fine. Real shame… if only Gwen hadn't jumped the queue and taken the one meant for Ianto and Jack, she might have little Tiny… perfect little Tiny. Oh well. Toshiko left her there fuming as she took off. As she left she made sure to look like she was afraid of being followed.

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Ianto was packing things in the living room, making out he didn't know the cameras for evening prayers watched all the time. He looked around like he was memorizing the place, reaching out to touch things, pack a few little things and sigh theatrically.

Finally his mother's photograph that always sat on the sideboard was placed reverently on the top of one of the backpacks and Ianto patted it with a sad shake of his head "Oh Mama. If only you could see this."

He then made a show of hiding the backpack by the back door.

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"Are we still a go?" Ianto asked Jack as he came through the door looking like he was in a great panic.

"We have to do this now… I am not kidding Ianto… any minute we could get called back in... I am not going back. I am telling you… we have to go. Where are the kids? You packed them up?" Jack said all in a rush as he ran about grabbing the backpacks and the running from the room before Ianto could even answer.

Ianto carried what were clearly groceries out to the garage and looked around "Jack?"

"GET THE KIDS!" Jack roared "We are running out of time!"

Ianto went to get them and lifted his daughter to his hip as he called out to Henry to hurry up… Uncle Owen was waiting.

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Owen and Toshiko were waiting by the tree line, the evening air starting to come in as Jack and Ianto drove up, skidding to a halt as Jack waved.

Ianto got out and handed the little girl to Toshiko who kissed her and went over to secure her on the brand new Quad bike alongside the supplies and carefully attached child seats. Henry ran and clambered up into the larger seat, his little sister in her own seat giggling as she watched her parents and godparents act like right nutters.

Jack secured their things on the second quad bike, Toshiko and Owen making sure they had everything, then moving their vehicles back into a siding like they were hiding them.

"OK… we need to go before it gets dark! It's dusk now!" Owen yelled, running for his quad bike.

Owen led the way followed by Toshiko, Jack and Ianto behind them as Ianto and the kids tried to take the easiest path. They heard the klaxons start below in the city and knew they had very little time to get this right, looking over to see movement to their left.

Owen resisted the urge to wave and instead turning sharply up the track in the other direction as he turned on the huge headlights to his bike and those behind him did the same.

Here we go.

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The elite Hunter Squad erupted from Owen's house and looked up the side of the mountain where the lights of the bikes could be seen. Hawksley gasped as he watched the four bikes snake up the side of the mountain and he screamed with rage.

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They knew they were coming, Ianto sure to cuddle the kids against him as they heard rather than saw them coming. Owen settled back on the camping seat and watched them burst into the camp, boots stomping and yelling as weapons were raised.

Everyone froze as they took in the scene.

Henry stood with a little stick over the camp fire, the sausage on it slowly sliding off. Ianto was seated with the little girl half asleep in his arms, cuddled in the princess sleeping bag. The tent behind them clearly had camping gear in it for the family of four, as did a smaller one farther back with Own and Toshiko's things scattered about.

Finally Owen spoke "Damn. If you want a snag, just ask guys!"

Jack rose from his seat and looked around "What is going on here?"

Haswkley asked "I would like to ask the same thing!"

"We are camping!" Henry replied before anyone else could "For my Birthday. I wanted to camp… I had a fight with my friend at school and I hate him now. Taddy and Daddy knows and we said we can do this. When they were little they did camping too… in the olden days!"

Ianto was so glad Henry had a fight with his bestie Cameron at school… that it coincided with this little mission and that his son was so strong to stand and look at these men. Henry handed the stick to Ianto and walked over to Hawksley and patted the large rifle slung over his shoulder "Wow. Is that heavy?"

Everyone gushed, the evening turning into a little camp full of elite Hunters enjoying the food and laughter as they confessed they thought they were escaping the Bubble.

"That's stupid. You can't get out" Henry told everyone with wide eyes "The gobblers will get you. We are safe here and everyone is loved here. Mama Yvonne says so!"

"Yes darling, that's right" Ianto crooned then sighed "Is this my fault? Did I say or do something wrong? Oh god… don't tell me. Another tip. I am sick to death of those fucking arseholes setting you up like this. I am so sorry… someone did didn't they. Like last time."

"Last time?"

Jack to over, telling them how someone had made a false claim that had resulted in some upset and confusion, adding at the end "Meanwhile… there really was some getting out and indirectly due to this person's vendetta taking precious resources away from the fight for nonsense … they managed it."

"But that could NOT be the same thing this time. No one is stupid enough to make a false claim against us twice to hide an escape… you guys are too smart for that" Ianto scoffed.

"Of course we are darling, we are highly trained professionals... nothing short of purse sabotage could even have a shit-show here… we make sure of it" Jack crooned as he leaned in to kiss him gently "My god, you look lovely in this fire light."

"Oh… is that your way of telexing me I am looking old in the normal lights?" Ianto asked, the laughter filling the air as everyone enjoyed the evening camping.

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Ianto knew it would happen and as soon as he signed in on Monday he was told that he was required upstairs. He missed softly and thanked the messenger like it was a good thing, walking to the lift and moving up like he was excited to be there.

He entered Yvonne's office to find a squad waiting… not one he knew at all. Not one Jack knew either, they scared the bejesus out of him but instead of showing it, Ianto walked past them like they were not there and stepped in to the office to find Yvonne waiting "You require something Mama? How may I serve?"

"What did you do this past weekend Ianto?" she asked, the anger making her voice sharp even if she did pretend to smile while asking.

"Ah. Henry has his birthday and the party was bombed due to a fight with his friend who was going to have a sleepover" Ianto blinked slowly, then added like a throw away comment "So we went camping."

"Camping."

"Yes. There was a whole class at his school on the art of camping and he was fascinated. We talked about it and when his birthday plans tanked we decided to go camping instead." Ianto gushed "It was so much fun. He godparents came too and we made a weekend of it. Like real Neanderthals."

"So… this was planed?" she asked.

"Yes, of course. How else could we have got the quad bikes? Owen knew a guy… where he got his and Toshiko's from. He got ours too… top of the line. Special seats for the kids on my one… Owen and Jack got gnarly ones for some blatting about but I do not like all of that so… I set up camp with Tosh while they were idiots in the dark."

"I see" she sat and folded her arms "and this can be verified?"

Ianto's smile faded as he stared at her and blinked a few times, and then said slowly "Excuse me?"

"Well… it seems a coincidence that you and your husband suddenly have this campout when you have NEVER camped before and now twenty three souls escaped the Bubble at the same time. A fucking record… You are telling me you had nothing to do with that?" she rose from the chair as she spoke then shouted "I do NOT believe you!"

Ianto was ready for this, quietly relived when she said it as if she didn't he might have had to say something to insult her to be in trouble and he lifted his head to jut out his chin "I see. I see. I have been loyal, true and I walked the path of righteousness you always taught me to. If that is not good enough… if you truly feel I am no longer one of your committed inner circle then…. OK!"

Ianto calmly removed the pin and placed it on the corner of her desk then said "I will clear out my desk immediately. Someone is spreading lies… making my life hell and now… even you turn on me."

"Wait" she said, shock on her face as she saw her favourite Pet turn and walk out the door.

Ianto did not break stride, trying not to run as his heart pounded in his chest.

Holy shit.

That was close.

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Ianto was waiting for Jack when he got home, the kids rampaging as Ianto sat at the table making a show of having a broken heart.

"Ianto? What's wrong?"

"Did you not hear? People got out at the weekend while we were camping and they blamed me! SHE blames me!" Ianto wailed "Like I am some mastermind fucking… what did they call them? You know.. who used to move people across the Mexican border…"

"Coyotes?" Jack said softly.

"Well… I told her. I … I quit!" Ianto said then let to a loud sob "she… she broke my heart Jack. She said she didn't' believe we really wanted to camp… like… our son is some … mastermind."

Jack hid his grin in Ianto's hair as he cuddled him with glee. He knew who the mastermind here and he was diabolical. Ianto was free of the Tower. The camera watching them impassively as they put on their agreed show.

And hopefully… the final part of their plan was about to come into effect.

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Gwen stood there wringing her hands as Yvonne circled her and snarled slowly "You know… I was never considered a fool before. I never made a mistake before but now… now… you have made me look a fool!"

"but… I mean…" Gwen whimpered.

"Ianto was one of my best workers… one of my best men and now… now… it will take a lot for me to get his love back. I hurt him… You… you made me hurt him." She snarled.

"But… "

"Stop saying 'But' you stupid bitch!" she screamed in Gwen's face.

Gwen could only whimper as she hoped she would only get the whip Yvonne had in her hand.

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The old man shrugged as they went through his files "I don't know what you are looking for but I can assure you… I pay my bloody taxes!"

"You were paid for two top of the line luxury quad bikes… Doctor Harper paid cash?" he was asked.

"Of course. Captain Harkness Jones and his good man were planning on taking the kids on a hike or tramp or… camping or whatever" the old man snorted "you know… the little boy loves stars. The bikes were a surprise for Ianto… apparently he had no idea the Captain was getting them."

As they left he smiled, those hidden under the tarps for the last three weeks long gone with those they carried beyond the Bubble.

The money handed over so much more than needed.

The Harkness-Joneses were generous contributors for the cause.

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"We can't be complacent here" Owen said softly as he looked around the table "This was too close, too fucking close."

"I know… terrible business" Ianto agreed with a wide smile "So… Jack has to work this weekend as he swapped shifts… but… weekend after next he is free again… camping?"

Everyone stared at him and then started to laugh.