18
Jack entered the bar, heading for the back where it was dark. Rhys and Mace were with Toshiko, helping collect and carry her provisions then Mace would stay with the hover to protect their things. Jack told them he was going to get more manpower and now he hesitated, unsure if it was a good idea. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't … Ianto needed all the help he could get.
He slipped into a chair and placed a small diamond on the table, watching the man opposite look at it and then stall.
"More where that came from" Jack said.
John Hart plucked it up and looked at it in the half light, then rose and staggered to the window, holding it up for the light to explode through it.
"Where did you get this Jax?" he asked with wonder.
"This is not a take. Not a job. I have come to ask for your help. As a friend." Jack said carefully, "I can pay you for your time with a nice fist sized bag of those. This is not an easy thing I ask and of all the things we have done … this is going to be the most dangerous."
"Well, you had me at fist lover" John purred, settling again, "Tell me. How scary"
"Others. At least three packs that I can tell. All fighting for a patch of land. The owner of the patch is … well … mine. I will not share, he is out of bounds. OK?" Jack said, "Before we go any further I need an agreement here. Ianto is not up for sharing or play. He is mine."
John twisted as he knew it meant he was something special, then nodded, the diamond winking as he still held it between his fingers"OK"
"An orphanage" Jack explained, "Children that are orphaned from the attacks, scared, scarred and alone. There are at least ten I think in the home. Ianto runs the place. We need to shore up the place, better security and if you can hunker down for a while, you get the diamonds with my continued friendship."
John considered as he looked at the diamond.
"Or I walk away. I will hold no malice to you my old friend if you don't want to play the hero. I will leave that there for you either way. When I walk out, if you do not walk with me then … we will probably not see one another again. I will die to protect them. Him." Jack rose and nodded to John, "Been good knowing you Captain."
Jack walked out of the bar into the bright light, immediately thinking of Ianto and hoping he was not working himself too hard out there helping reinforce the windows. He took a breath and walked confidently towards the hover, Rhys rising from the seat to swing the rifle at his hip was a surprise then he heard the chuff of laughter behind him.
"I do hope that isn't your Ianto, I don't think I can be that polite to a man who greets me with a gun" John chortled as he brushed past Jack to climb into the back seat next to Toshiko, "Hey toots."
"Charmed" she said dryly and Jack grinned as he settled into the driver's seat.
"What about your horse?" Jack asked.
"Sold it" John shrugged, "Thought I was going to jump a hover out of here, more fool me."
"I mean it John, this is not a mark. Ianto is … my end game. You get it? This is where I am settling" Jack said as he swung around, ignoring the looks form those travelling with them, "These kids, this man … I am settling down and making this my dirt too."
"OK, OK. Sheesh. I get it. No playing" John laughed.
John settled back wondering just what was so important about this Ianto.
.
.
.
.
Dusk was creeping closer and they still weren't back. Ianto felt his hackles starting to rise as the first call echoed around the hills behind them and Ianto rose from his seat on the porch to call out to the children still playing in the yard, "Everyone in."
"But Tada, it's not even …." One of the children complained but Ianto cut him off.
"Now Evan love. Everyone inside, locks in place please Andy. I'll wait here" Ianto settled back on the swing seat as Andy hit the internal security and the window bars slid down into place.
Ianto waited.
He had faith in Jack.