12

Ianto liked the new carpet, he liked the bed and he really liked the little set of drawers under the window that fitted soooo many more pretties than he currently had. Part of him felt it was silly to want such things but another part of him really wanted more.

"Ianto?" Jack called from another room "Doggie time?"

"Yes" Ianto said happily taking off for the front door where Jack was waiting with their coats and the car keys twirling on his finger like he did when happy. So easy to snatch them and get out the door before he could react, calling over his shoulder at him "Too slow old man!"

Jack ran after Ianto with a mixture of anger and amusement as the cheeky monster fan while shucking on the coat then got into the driver's seat and had the keys in the ignition before Jack could even get into the passenger seat, the vehicle taking off as Jack yelped and clicked the seatbelt.

Ianto knew the way to the pound… of course. He tracked everything on the internet and knew damned well where the pounds were… especially the 'killy' ones. This is one of those where he stopped and got out, confident that Jack would follow and both men strode towards the entrance with their coats flying out cape style.

They looked and felt magnificent.

"Hello" Ianto said as he swung around to the counter "I want a doggie, I want one from the Death Row lot please."

"Excuse me?"

"Doggies." Ianto said more sternly like he was demanding now.

"Hello there" Jack said as he came to a stop finally, smiling disarmingly "What my excited partner is trying to ask is what dog or dogs are in their final days here before you have to make room."

"Oh. We have two. A terrier and a large Irish Wolf Hound." The receptionist replied as she reached for the phone, "I will call a handler for you."

Ianto was moving from foot to foot as he considered "Why did no one want them?"

"Ah, the terrier is…ah… hyperactive and the Wolfhound is old" she replied as she looked at the files, then rose and watched Ianto do a weird dance around Jack while saying nothing except little squeaks.

Jack sighed "Hyperactive did you say?"

She smiled "He is a little excitable isn't he."

"I think he wants them both" Jack said with growing awareness of the level of hope in Ianto's brain "Darling… an old dog is one that will die soon."

Ianto stopped moving and looked at Jack with open devastation "So… those with a short life span are not worth it?"

Jack saw the hole he was digging as he looked at his second chance, the first Ianto having died so young… shit. He knew damned well he had him against the wall now and he grimaced as Ianto gave her a blinding smile "Yes.

"well…" she looked at Jack, clearly the adult in the relationship.

"Looks like we would like both of them if possible" jack said with more confidence now as Ianto glowed with delight. This was the right decision. Of course it was.

The terrier was a little black and white one, stubby legs and a wild look to it as it sped along dragging the fully grown man who was struggling to keep his grip on the leash. Ianto dropped to a knee and Jack was reminded of the Windy-woo in him as Ianto said softly "Stop that and let me see you!"

The dog stopped dead, the man sailing past to skid to a stop with shock, turning to see the dog wagging his tail as Ianto looked at him with interest "well now. Flash?"

"Ah… Baxter" she checked the notes.

"No. It's definitely Flash. Flash Gordon." Ianto rose and looked at her, as she blinked.

"Ah… well… that was his name in the early years, his first owners but it was changed on his second adoption. He was… ah… only eight months old. He is three and a half now." She said as she checked his notes "the chip was updated as sch."

"Well… he remembers and prefers that. Children, the first ones have children" Ianto said to Jack like the staff weren't' there. "Where is the other one? The old fella?"

"Ah…" she turned and pointed as another helper approached with a lovely shaggy hound that walked so slowly and with his head down. Depressed.

"Hey now, we can't have that long face" Ianto said, then laughed at the joke. The dog looked at him with silent scorn making him laugh more "Oh you are dry!"

"His name is Chester"

"Yes, of course it is" Ianto chuffed "He is a Chester to his bones. Look at him… Chester, come on. Let's see if we can get Flash to behave in the car for the ride home hmmm?"

"Wait… we have paperwork…" the woman said with shock as Ianto started to leave with the dogs.

"I will do that, he will take them for a little walk and a little fun. It's OK… he handles animals all the time" Jack assured her "His worst one was called Owen. A real little shit that one… I almost shot him a few times… Ianto did once."

The faint gales of laughter at the reference to their dear gone friend made Jack grin wider as she clearly could not work out how Ianto could have heard that from outside. Her hands may have shaken a little once the wallet was opened and that badge was visible.

And that is how they got their first 'fur children' to warm their house and make it a home.

A nest.