26
Jack concentrated his shots around the writhing creatures, Lissy slashing at the wings of the huge bird that was his everything, making sure their fight was their fight, any Other approaching was taken down as Jack yelled for John to help.
The two men stood hip to hip as they fired, throwing back their weapons for Mace to reload as they seized the ready laded ones placed beside them for the exchange, everyone else up top firing intermittently into the packs.
The noise of Ianto and Lissy attracted the Others and soon there were only small factions fighting as the others all started to move towards the delectable smell of blood.
Ianto was bleeding.
Gods, Jack knew how good he smelt, to them he must be like a drug.
"Grenade" John yelled, lobbing one past the couple fighting and the boom made them duck then snort as they watched Others scatter.
"Wait…. That was a concussion one … John, where is a flash bang?" Jack asked and John reached for one that gave of a large explosion of light and sound, hefting it in his palm then he turned to Jack with a huff.
"UV, we need some…. Toshi love, get over here. Can you change out the bulbs in our scopes? UV bulb, come on, if we make sure we don't touch Ianto or the Chicks, we might cause pain to the Others, come out with night vision, hate bright light right? UV might hurt them." John reasoned.
"It does, Ianto can't walk in full light. It's not the Vampyre, it's the Other in him that cringes as Vampyre can hide discomfort" Jack slapped at his partner, "Well done!"
Tosh motioned for Owen to get some bulbs as she began dismantling scopes and Owen ran down for the box of bulbs under the stairs.
"What's happening up there" Andy hissed.
"Ianto and the little chicks are in it" Owen panted, "We are trying to keep the Others back. He's fighting Lissy."
"Fuck" Andy paled, "A night for closure."
"Good" Rhys said as he pushed past Andy, "I like the sound of that. Watch the kids Andy, we need as many up there as we can get."
Andy caught Rhys' arm, "Careful."
"I will be" Rhys smiled, then headed up to do what he should have done in the first place.
Andy was right.
A night for closure.
Owen slammed back up to help his wife, both working feverishly and as the first scopes turned on and swung at the seething mass below howls told them John had been right in his assumption, UV light hurt like hell.
"Around Ianto" Jack yelled, "Me, John and Owen will concentrate here. Tosh, you and Mace protect the stables. We can't afford to lose that stock. Rhys, look to the other side of the house, they might realise our flank is unguarded."
"Fuck" Rhys barked as he swung to check and found there was a small contingent milling.
Firing resumed.
Jack watched Ianto roll the two of them and remembered his own experience of Ianto on top as he held his breath then she seemed to pause, maybe some recognition somewhere deep in her mind as Ianto looked down, then he roared, transforming from the bird to something similar to an Other but instead of black fur he was covered in scales….reddish tint….shit.
"DRAGONE!" John whooped, "He's a fucking Dragone!"
"No, he's something else" Jack said softly as he watched the lizard-like creature seize the black furred one by the throat and start to clamp down.
She started to scream.
A flash and one of the Childe latched onto her as well, little wings beating against her as he pulled, his sister appearing as well. Ianto swung, lifting her off the ground and slammed her body against the edge of the house, the shuddering making everyone grab for handholds as it shook.
A loud crack and Ianto dropped her, panting heavily, then he roared loudly and advanced on the Others.
"What the fuck is he doing?" John yelled.
"Dominating" Jack replied, "He just killed the Alpha of a pack. If he acts fast they won't have time for the next in line to work it out and step up. He has a small window to make them all scatter to regroup."
"Come on then" John yelled with glee, "Light them up!"
Lights swept in front of Ianto as the scattering began and finally Ianto stood in human from panting with two little children clinging to him, their nakedness apparent as they watched the black mass disappear back into the gloom of the tree.
Jack leapt from the tunnel top and ran, his coat thorwn around them to shield as he held them and placed his forehead against Ianto's.
"Still find me attractive?" came a hiss.
"Are you kidding?" Jack replied gently, "I get to shag the Alpha?"
Ianto turned to look at him and he saw the total devastation.
Ianto had just killed her, finally severed whatever tenuous link there was. Orphaned her pup…the pup. Ah shit.
Joshua.
"I'm sorry love. He'll be OK, right?" Jack asked.
Ianto shrugged and then turned to go inside, "Come Childe."
Jack watched them go and sighed as he wondered if the pup would survive the night without it's mother to protect it.
Ianto had really given his all, hadn't he.