28

They worked through the morning, Ianto begging off once the sun was high enough to cause discomfort to him and he now sat with a jug of sweet iced tea that he poured to each man who came looking for something to soothe their throats.

They were burning the bodies, the stench almost unbearable. Jack had ensured Gwen was one of the first on the pyre along with Lissy hidden under other bodies so the children were then allowed out to watch, this important for them to learn. Just animals. Not monsters, not evil entities. Creatures. Animal that could be hurt, killed. Conquered. For that reason he didn't want them to see Gwen's features on any of them, these half-turned that seemed more frightening than the Others fully formed in animal form.

Rhys had a bandanna over his face, the smell of burning flesh too much as they all knew they would not be eating any roasts for a while, Toshiko gamely dragging limbs over from the worst of the battle where not many bodies were still intact.

"How many do you think?" Andy asked as he straightened and tweaked his back, wishing the horses could be used for this but the stench would only scare them more.

"Forty or fifty" Ianto replied as he reached out to hand Mace a glass as he settled on the top step close enough for Ianto to touch.

"At least two hundred in battle" John agreed, "Hell of a thing. I bet a lot more have died since they left, those running on adrenalin. Looking at the blood trails several were bleeding out as the pack swept them away."

"What will happen to them?" Andy asked with concern, the smell in the heat of the day was terrible and these were fresh. If there were dead in the trees they would be stink the surrounding place out in no time.

"I would think they will eat their dead" Ianto said tonelessly, "I've never found one. These were only left due to the sun. Tonight they will come searching for scraps I guess, if we don't get rid of it all the smell will lure them for sure."

"Are you OK?" Jack asked as he settled on the step for a glass of tea and he watched Ianto's hand shaking. Slight. Almost hidden yet there. Jack knew what was wrong and he rose, brushing his trousers. "Ianto, I have an injury I wonder if you could have a look? It not something serious and I don't want to annoy Owen when he is enjoying his autopsies so much the little creep."

"He is isn't he" Ianto turned to watch the doctor crouched over an Other with glee, his hands deep inside it and Ianto made a noise of disgust.

"Come on, it's just a knock to my side, I can't see the bruise" Jack led Ianto in and to his surprise Ianto headed up, not down and Jack found himself in a room he had not been in before.

Ianto's room.

Jack looked around with awe, the ancient tomes and parchments still rolled with ribbons around them crammed in spaces around the books and little artefacts. A hoarder. Shit, of course, Dragone. A Hoard.

"Wow" Jack finally said softly as he looked up at colours moving on the walls and ceiling, "This is the most eclectic, mish-mashed mess of a beautiful space I have ever seen. Wow, the light in here is incredible, how do you do it?"

"Skylights and mirrors. This way I can see the glass and the colours without the UV discomfort" Ianto said as he showed Jack the mirrors and pretty glass baubles that threw the coloured light into the room.

"I don't have a boo-boo" Jack said as he stepped into Ianto's personal space, "I have a lot of blood."

Ianto swallowed.

"The babies feed, you don't. You suppress that side of yourself but you've just opened Pandora 's Box and let it out. You need to feed love" Jack said as he offered his neck and Ianto shook his head with a look of concern.

"I know how good you taste, I know your blood and I might not be able to stop" Ianto warned, "You are so sweet."

"Ianto I trust you, I will always trust you" Jack assured him, "Please, I do not want you to feed from anyone else."

"Like John?" Ianto canted his head, "He is similar in blood to me, it would be a good match."

Jack snorted, "Nice try Tiger, I am not going to get the huff and leave. I want you to feed, I need you strong and ready for tonight. We have no idea what they will do now, there could be a second wave."

Jack had chosen the right incentive as Ianto looked up at the attic above them, the sleeping Childe within. They would sleep for at least 48 hours after that effort, they would be both useless in battle and extremely helpless if an Other managed to get inside the house.

Not to mention all the other babies.

Ianto stepped forward and Jack swallowed down his fears, letting his affection flow as Ianto took his face in his hands, lovingly kissing him then sliding to his pulse point on his throat.

There was no pain just…. A rush.

Gods it felt glorious.