3
Ianto was watching the kids as they played in the playground hear the house. Henry was with school friends totally immersed in his world, little Tiny was sitting in the sandpit ignoring everyone as she ran her fingers through the sand. A visceral child.
Ianto watched the trees bending as a breeze picked up and he looked up instinctively as the huge helicopters thundered overhead on some mission. Since coming back on line, the security was markedly more intense and the time of escapes deemed over.
Everyone was on notice, Prayers now twice a day for headcounts and it was harder than ever to even plan a picnic. Of course… the camping weekends were a hit with the two families going whenever they had free time and as the month rolled over things seemed to settle into a pattern.
Morning prayers… work… evening prayers… eat… bed… at the weekends it was evening prayers… go up camping the back down for morning prayers… back up until evening prayers again. Up and down the mountain twice a day... the noise and bluster now so normal I don't think anyone looked twice as the kids hooted and waved.
Ianto knew it was coming.
He had started that ball rolling long before he placed that pin on her desk and when he saw the dark vehicle slide along the road he felt that tightening in his chest as he looked over at his son who had seen it too, his hand already in his pocket as he looked at his Taddy. He knew the drill, knew what he had to do if this was going to be bad. He was a clever man and he knew the number off by heart.
The squad that erupted from the vehicle were all in black, no insignias.
Ianto barely had time to register the fact they were not in uniform before one strode up to him and punched him in the face. Ianto fell as everyone started to scream with horror. As they dragged Ianto towards their vehicle Ianto knew his son was calling the emergency number in his little phone, calling Uncle Owen. It was not set to ring Jack because if they were snatching him… chances are they would snatch Jack too.
They threw Ianto in the back of the van and he felt his face connect with the floor of the van, his cheekbone not giving much sway and he grunted with pain.
As they drove away Tiny started to cry with confusion.
Her Taddy was gone.
.
.
Ianto sat silently raging as he watched the team move around him, more than once he had been shoved or grabbed and slammed into a wall as they bounced him to a holding cell. Nothing was said, no need. She knew. Clearly she knew.
Jack.
Oh god… Ianto could only hope Jack could get the kids to safety.
.
.
Owen was yelling down the phone over the seaming, the little girl enraged as her Aunty Toshiko was usually good at getting what she needed by right now she only wanted her Taddy and they could not pull him out of their arses could they!
Jack was not sure what to do, the fact the kids had been left giving him hope that this was not what they first thought it was and after considering the snatch and grab they agreed that if they were ever discovered, he decided this was not it at all. He pondered all of Ianto's plans and decided to go with one of the other options.
.
.
The guard looked up with surprise as Jack fucking Harkness Jones stormed along the corridor, … 'Captain' if ya please. He came to a halt and the man behind the desk looked up with a bored expression only to leap to his feet with horror as Jack stared him down. "Captain?"
"Where the fuck is my husband!"
"Sir?"
"Someone thought it would be a good idea to snatch my husband in broad daylight in front of our small children, leaving them all alone out in the world. Where is he!" Jack tried to be calm and the man scrambled to look at the day's paperwork.
"Sir… I… I am sorry… there is only a mister… Mister Jones here at the moment."
"Fuckface… what is my name?"
"Captain Jack Harkness Jonnnnn…. Oh no"
.
.
Ianto stood there in total confusion as he stared at Yvonne who was signing forms at her desk like he had not just been half carried in to her office.
"I will be with you monetarily Ianto" she said without looking up and he bit the urge to say anything back. He settled for a first grade glare she felt, making her place the pen down and sigh, looking up at him.
Her face changed.
She rose to gape at the dishevelled man with his bloody nose and black eye as he managed to still look more righteous than your average man.
"Ianto… what happened?" she asked with horror "Oh my god… what happened?"
"Your goons should answer that, don't you think?" he said in such a dangerously low voice that she took a step back. He was pissed… like… set the room on fire pissed. For once in his life he was so mad he was letting it show and he looked like a fucking serial killer smouldering at her.
"What is going on? I asked you to go get Mister Jones for me… what happened?" she demanded.
"We got him!" came the shrugged reply.
"Where are my children" Ianto asked calmly "I had them with me… where are they? What happened to my babies?"
Now she was pissed too as she finally understand that her order to fetch him had resulted in this… this… fiasco. She tried for sorrow "Darling boy.. I am so sorry… this is so… so… horrible. I did not tell them to do this… your children? You mean… tell me they were not left behind in the park!"
Ianto felt his eye twitch as she gave herself away. No one told her he had been at the park. She knew all along that he had the kids with him. This was some sort of show of dominance? This hadn't been part of the plan but he knew he had to roll with it, it was already underway and he knew there would be no other chance… not with the new security protocols about to be implemented in a week's time.
"A week… Yvonne... please this is too much. All I can think of is my babies. Why can this not be civilized?" Ianto said calmly, even if his voice did waiver a bit. Good. It made her feel stronger "I will make an appointment on Wednesday or Thursday while the kids have their afterschool time with their Godparents. We will talk, I … this is no good. I cannot focus on anything except my children and the fact this cheekbone is broken."
"Broken?"
Ianto pointed to his swelling face and she turned as the door flew open and Jack entered along with his Unit Commander and Chief, one of the other elders from the committee. "Ianto!"
Ianto turned and let him see his face, stopping Jack in his tracks with horror as the old man continued towards his chief of staff "Yvonne? Is this true? Mister Harkness Jones was snatched in broad daylight by a Kill Squad with no insignia on their clothing to identify them? Their children left unattended in the park like… like… dogs?"
"Hershil… it was a mistake and.."
"Yvonne! Rule number one. Never admit to a mistake!" he snarled as he stepped into her personal space "These escapes, now this? The Harkness Jones Family has been a flagship for equality and co-working within our sector. Mister Harkness Jones is one of your pets and Captain Harkness Jones is one of our most decorated men… you seriously fucked this up!"
"This was not her fault" Ianto stepped away from Jack to defend her and Jack tried to work out where he was going with this "Mummy would never order harm to anyone… I know… I AM one of her most valued pets.. I have seen things… know things… I know this woman is the Mother of Us All … this was not her doing. She would never harm me, she loves me!"
The man looked from Ianto to Yvonne and hissed "That better be true."
"She merely wanted to ask me to come back to work. Some made false allegations about me several times and I got upset with being treated as if they were real each time. Of course standard protocol but I can be flighty… my love here can attest to my temper… I quit. She gave me time to calm down and merely wanted to ask me to come back now. Her request was relayed as an order by a third party who clearly has a vendetta against me! They twisted her words."
"Why!" Hersel asked "What have you done that could precipitate this farce?"
"I fell in love with him" Jack answered, now back to script as the plan evolved and reset. Now he knew what game Ianto was playing… remembered what to do.
"Explain."
"The first day I saw him… that first day… I knew we were destined to be paired" Ianto sighed happily, stepping in to Jack's arms "He entered the room and… the air changed like… waking from a daydream… he was… everything in that moment to me."
"I seem to have that effect on people" Jack grinned, and then it slid as he added "unfortunately more than one. Others in the room also perked up and one of them was rather… determined. If you go back through our school records you will see the complaints of harassment and punishment metered out before she would stop."
"She was already paired too… but she wanted Jack. Lisa Hallett and I had been loosely paired but she was already seeing another boy on the side as well… the Mediators knew and agreed that it was clear to them just looking at us… we were perfect for one another." Ianto added.
"Love notes… messages through other students… even cupcakes and sweets left on my desk as she passed… when she saw that I was not getting interested, that Ianto held my gaze… she broke into the boy's locker rooms and caught me in the shower, declaring her love and trying to… to … well.. Some of the others pulled her out of there including the one she was paired to. Poor bugger… he was in pain for a while but forgave her. She always... well… we keep our distance as she still likes to touch me in passing or give Ianto a snide comment about stealing things."
"Bitter. She had her man, actually… I should not say… she also had others. Jack was not the only one she wanted besides her paired mate and she was known to … ah… try others out… then go back to her mate each time. He knew… was devastated but loved her so much he forgave it. Probably still does" Ianto placed his head on Jack's chest and sighed deeply "I want to go home Cariad."
"Tell me Captain… the one with the vendetta against your family?"
"Gwen. Gwen Cooper" Jack said, watching Yvonne's face change as she sat heavily in her chair.
Ianto squeezed Jack and he responded with a deep breath "Excuse us. He needs medical attention and hugs from our kids. If Ianto wants to return and make an appointment… I will not stop him but I want it known that this thing with Gwen is getting way out of hand. I know it was her… I did not have to check the chain of command here to know somewhere along the line the request for Ianto to come here transformed into a snatch and grab via her. She is vicious, cold and cruel. She does NOT emulate the loving nature of the Mother of Us All."
"We will look into it boy."
"Oh… can we be excused from evening prayers? Look at him. I … no offence and I know the Gods will not mind… Ianto is hurt and I need to comfort him. He needs rest, not kneeling right now in front of a screen where the one talking is here in the room right now."
"Jack… don't be rude. Yvonne is not to blame… do not be a hothead. I am the hothead in this family. Mother…. Mummy… bless us now. Please.. let us not leave here in anger. This is not the way. We move in light. Give me blessings and let this… evil… wash off us. Then the evening prayers are already completed for us. I will carry your love in my heart and be content to rest with my babies in our bed." Ianto stepped over to Yvonne who took his head in hers and gently kissed the bruised cheek, then she stroked the hair away to see the damage more clearly.
"I will find the one who did this and take out his fucking eye" she whispered then kissed his forehead "Go with peace and love my child."
"Thank you Mummy" Ianto smiled softly, then nodded to Jack who stepped over hesitantly.
"Mother?"
She reached out and touched Jack's cheek, then leaned in to kiss his other cheek, stepping back quickly "Oh my. I see why they go a little ga-ga over you Captain. You smell…"
"I know… right?" Ianto laughed. Then clutched his cheek and groaned.
"Oh Baby" Jack sighed, "Come on, let's get you medical attention."
"Goodnight Jack… Ianto." She said then as they left she called out "Oh Misters Harkness Jones… you are exempt from evening prayers tonight."
They left fighting the urge to punch the air.
They were almost ready.
.
.
"Fuck me" Owen said again, his hand stoking the cheek gently as he applied a salve that should reduce the swelling even as it brought to the bruising more.
"So… we are exempt from evening prayers" Jack said as he watched Owen work.
"Me and Toshiko can kneel, get recognized then bolt" Own replied as he leaned back and nodded "Good to go."
"This is it Owen… not backsies once we start this. This will be it" Ianto said shakily as he rose and looked over at Jack "We got them all out… everyone that saw the truth got out in one piece, we are the last of the resistance… this is the only shot we get before she closes the bubble's borders forever. Then hunts us down."
"Then we better not fuck it up"
