19

Ianto saw the hover in the half light, letting out breath he didn't even know he had been holding and he rose to greet them, able to walk freely now the sun was almost gone. Jack was grinning, bringing the hover to a stop and then he called out, "Best get her into the stables so we can unload safely with the tunnel. Get the doors would you?"

Ianto walked to the stable doors and John craned over the side of the hover to appreciate the lithe body, then squeaked as Ianto swung to look directly at him.

Shit, cold.

The doors were secure and John bounced to the wooden floor, looking around with interest. The others were lifting out boxes as they talked, Ianto leaning in to snag one, the hand on his arse was small. Petite. Not Jack's.

Ianto swung around, seizing the man under his jaw and lifting him up into the air as he squealed with surprise. Ianto was snarling, his teeth glistening as his other hand held a blade under John's jaw.

"Careful Captain Hart, I bite too" Ianto snarled.

"Hey John" Jack said gleefully as he leaned on the hover, "This is my Ianto."

John squeaked and Ianto lowered him, the blade disappearing and John couldn't help look him up and down, "Strong aren't you. Where did you hide that then Eye Candy?"

Ianto canted his head, "Always have something in reserve Captain."

"You know who I am" John said with surprise, "Still letting me in?"

"DA!" a little voice called out and Jack dropped to his knees, his arms open as the little Blu-man-chu ran to him with a squeal of glee, Jack lifting her for a cuddle.

"There she is, the lovely little sapphire" Jack crooned as she kissed his face and clung to him.

"Wouldn't eat her tea" Andy said from the doorway, "as soon as she saw the hover she went nuts. Had to promise she could come through the tunnel before she would stop begging. I have something hot in the oven for all of you"

"Awwwww" Jack crooned happily and John turned to the cute blonde.

"Tunnel?"

Andy led him to the side door and showed him, "Jack's idea. It's an old carriage. They can't get through the hard wood. Gives us a way to get between buildings."

John looked around it with a slow nod, "Good. So, I want another look at that walkway up there too. We could walk on this to get to the attic window?"

Andy looked up as did the others who had followed them to the tunnel.

"Yes, I was walking on it during the move, it's solid. Shit. It's the walkway to the house, we can move between buildings without having to enter the house." Jack said as he swung to Ianto, "We brought timber at the yard in town. Being delivered tomorrow. We can build."

"So we need to hunker down tonight, they are close. I think another half hour and one of the packs will come investigate" Ianto said and John canted his head as he examined Ianto.

"And what makes you a specialist in this field?" he asked.

Ianto went to answer but Rhys slammed into the tunnel from the house where he had gone to put some supplies away. "Gwen. She's gone."

"Shit." Andy said, "I never saw her go. What horse did she take?"

Jack swung to look, Ianto running his eye along the stalls as he answered, "None. They are all here, including Jack's boy. No. Oh gods, she left on foot? There is no way she will make the Jameson place before nightfall, even if she left right after the hover left."

"Do we go after her?" John asked with a grimace, "Really?"

Jack turned to Ianto who was looking intently at Rhys. "Rhys?"

Rhys considered and then shook his head "Nah. She made her choice. She made a few choices without thinking about what they would mean. Why should one of you risk yourself for her? No. Let her go. Maybe they will recognise another monster and let her be."

"I am so sorry" Ianto said sadly, "I know the loss of a mate."

"She was never my mate, or my partner. She didn't see that, shame. I see that now. No. I'm OK" Rhys sighed as he headed over to the hover for another box of goods, "she can fucking jog on."

..

.

.

.

.

Gwen had stopped running, now walking calmly as she hummed to herself, the baby blanket she had snatched from the cage tucked under her arm. The scent kept them off him right? It would for her too. Right?

Gwen felt righteous as she adjusted her bonnet and wonky pin. She was going to expose them and she was going to let the law know Ianto was bitten, a half-turn. They had been warned about them, still able to turn at any given time. Oh no. Gwen would be triumphant and they would rue the day they….

Gwen stopped and swung as she heard something move behind her in the dark.

What was that?

Clicking?