15

They Came.

Everyone watched calmly as Ianto and Jack took aim, the first one stopping and looking up then barking a warning that had them running for the other side of the house beyond the guns.

Ianto lowered the gun "Jack, that's not her pack. This is a rival one. They are not supposed to be here, they are trying to take the patch."

They started to make an ungodly noise, the screams making your hair stand up and your bowels clentch. They they began to scatter.

"Can you see them?" Jack yelled as he ran for the other end of the walkway, then looked at the front yard. "Ianto?"

They watched one of the beasts move around, no doubt scenting where Lisa usually stood, "See? They are looking for her. We are just…."

Ianto's voice petered out as Gwen appeared and then he was screaming with horror as she stepped into the full lights, the bundle in her arms moving, "No! Gwen, no. Don't give him to them!"

"It's what she wants, you said so yourself. If we give him to her they will leave" Gwen screamed back and Ianto started to run inside, Jack leaning out to yell down.

"It's not her, this is another pack ya stupid bitch, get back inside!" Jack screamed as Ianto and Rhys shot out into the yard, Jack feeling his blood run ice cold as Ianto ran towards the beast, letting Rhys run for his wife. Jack started down. Gwen looked confused as Rhys reached for her and Ianto stopped between them and the beast, his head high as he blocked them.

"Get" he demanded "She is not here. This is my patch, get."

The answer was a low snarl as it lowered its head.

Rhys almost had Gwen to the house when a flash of blue had Jack yelling as he was running across the grass towards Winkle who ran with the knife held high, her little face twisted in hatred.

Ianto turned and saw.

He ran.

The beast chased him.

The baby monster saw him coming towards it and screamed, struggling in Gwen's arms so she dropped it and Ianto cried out as it found it's feet, running in the other direction.

"Winky!" Jack screamed and Ianto slowed, turned from his son looking at the little girl, then Jack.

The beast still came.

The baby screamed again, shrill and long.

Ianto made a choice.

He stepped away from Gwen and the baby, turning once more to face the Alpha, roaring in a deep bellow as he crouched, protecting the little girl he had snagged back behind him and Jack ran like he had never run before.

The baby monster was almost to the pack when one lunged seizing it by the scruff and shaking it. The scream was horrible as it realised too late that it was not the pack it belonged to.

That pack?

Was thundering towards them, the baby screaming making them cry out in reply and Ianto clutched at Winkle as Jack finally reached them and scooped her up.

"Get inside" Ianto spat, "Go."

"What about you?" Jack asked, "He's gone."

"I know, but she is going to kill everything if he dies" Ianto panted back, "Get everyone inside and maybe shoot Gwen a few times if ya would. I might be able to reason with her if he lives."

Jack got to the porch as Rhys tried to get Gwen inside, her confusion as she argued that she had done what had been necessary making him want to slap her so he shoved her hard, enjoying the slam of her into the wall of the inner room. Rhys looked at her crumlped on the floor and asked himself why he had hoped she might change.

"You bloody fool. That baby was what kept her at bay. Don't you get it?" Jack roared as everyone stood agape, "You just gave up the only bargaining chip we had. Now there is nothing to stop her from coming in here and killing every fucking one of us!"

"Hells teeth" Rhys moaned.

"You knew" Owen said with shock "You knew about Joshua?"

"Yes. I knew Ianto was keeping him as it was what she scented when she came. As long as she smelt him fresh each time, so she left. He was using the baby as leverage. Now there is no leverage. This idiot just gave up our bulletproof vest."

"Awwww, shit balls" Owen sighed, "Where's Ianto?"

Jack looked at the door.

"Fuck" Owen ran to the window and watched as Lisa slammed into the one hurting her baby, Ianto slowly backing away as the two packs started to battle.

"Come on mate" Owen whispered, "Slow and gentle. Don't' call attention to yourself."

"Why haven't they attacked him?" Andy frowned.

"The bite. He didn't turn but it changes his scent to mask his human side. In the heat of fighting, they can't smell him over one another" Owen explained, "If he keeps coming slowly … ah shit. The baby is loose."

That which was once Joshua was frightened, confused and it instinctively headed for the only thing it did know.

It's Taddy.

Owen swore as the baby squealed and all the heads swung to look at Ianto, finally seeing him upright and human.

Ianto turned and ran.

As did Jack.