13
Jack went searching for Ianto the next day, Winkle happily playing with the other children and Jack again told himself he needed to learn all of their names.
This was more than a bolthole and he was willing to admit that now.
He looked at the blue door and glanced around, reaching for the handle and not surprised to find it locked. Still. No matter. Another look around and he was soon in, tucking his pick back into his pocket as he crept down the stairs hoping to find something that would help him understand Ianto's melancholy.
He reached the bottom and waited for his eyes to adjust to the light, then he smelt it.
Wet dog mixed with biscuits and gravy. A strange almost earthy smell as he crept closer towards it, then saw something that stopped him dead.
A cage.
A blue baby blanket, some baby toys and a….. Jack swallowed as he stared at the thing moving in the cage, little teeth flashing as it chewed on a bone and then it saw him, it's stormy grey eyes boring into him as it rose to show it was the size of a dog.
Jack backed away and watched it resume its chewing then he fled up the stairs, his heart pounding with shock and horror as he saw why Lisa-thing came each night.
Josh.
.
.
.
.
Jack managed to get back to the stables without blurting out obscenities and he stood there breathing deeply as he tried to understand what had just bloody happened. Josh. The little framed photograph had Joshua written on it and the blanket was the same. Holy mother of the Gods. He said the child had turned, he said…. So this is why she comes each night.
Ianto has her pup. Cub. Whatever you call a baby monster.
Jack slumped into the chair and considered things, tried to make sense of things. There had to be more to this, Ianto was not a cruel man but he was also not stupid. Surely he knew this was no longer his child, after all he did point out it was no longer his wife that came each night.
.
.
.
.
Ianto moved down the stairs with a hunk of fresh kill and he paused at the bottom as he watched the thing in the cage move to scent the air.
"Here" he said softly, flicking it between the bars and stepping back as the small beast fell on the meat with little snarls, then Ianto turned away feeling ill at the sight of the thing eating.
He was heading back to the stairs hen he detected something over the scent of the thing.
Musky and sweet, it fizzed in the back of his nasal …. Ianto ran, his mind in turmoil as he wondered why Jack had not fired, had not put the thing down when he had clearly seen it.
Ianto slowed as he reached the stables and he took a moment to calm himself, telling himself that it was his own fault and he should just accept.
So sure he would find Jack already gone.
Instead he found Jack working at his desk with his fingers flying over the keyboard as he checked the livestock and he glanced up, "Almost time to ring the bell, I think we should call them back a bit earlier tonight. Full moon."
Ianto sat in the chair and wondered if Jack would address what he had seen, then he remembered what he had read about this man as he followed his progress closer, each crime considered as Ianto watched him come.
He hadn't expected him to be so dynamic, he had known he would be a quick study though.
"Winkle happy with the others?" Ianto asked as he noticed her absence.
"I needed to talk to you" Jack said and Ianto knew it was coming now, nodding.
"All the kids, I need to learn their names. Is there ever a time they are in one place so I can look at them and get their names right?" Jack asked and Ianto blinked with surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes. If I am staying I need to act like it" Jack said looking back down at his bookwork and he watched out the corner of his eye as Ianto's face lit up, glowing with delight.
Gods he was sweet.
Whatever the reason for the thing in the basement, it was well cared for and happy. Ianto had his reasons and it was not Jack's place to ask.
He did hope though.
That Ianto would trust him enough to explain in time.
Since he was staying.