4

Jack revived with a snarl of anger, sitting up to stare at Owen. He had slithered in the snow to him, now hidden behind a bank of snow.

"Four of them, got us surrounded but they think it's just me. You are dead" Owen said with excitement, "Commando crawl about in the snow where they can't see you and get the fuckers!"

Jack knew how to, taking a leaf out of Owen's book as he slithered to a nearby gas station and behind it he found what he hoped would be there. A pile of old tyres. It was an easy task to set it all on fire and stand back, glad the wind was favourable then wondering if Ianto had somehow managed to help with that as the smoke slowly covered the village in a thick blanket.

The Crawlers didn't take long to work it out either, slithering from their hidey-holes towards the building they wanted so badly that they didn't even look at Owen.

Yes.

They did look at the men who screamed and ran for their pitiful lives as Owen watched with a disinterested sneer. They were not human either, not really. Owen was frightened for Ianto but Jack's calm seemed to soothe as he watched the Crawlers descend on the building, Jack striding past encouraging him to get off the back of the wagon.

"Stay there, protect the horses" Jack called over his shoulder "The Crawlers might remember about you too."

"Right, right you are. Yeah. Right" Owen nervously looked around.

Jack didn't know what to do so he opted for confidence, standing there with his hands behind his back like he had every faith in Ianto's ability to return to him.

It didn't take long, the man in question bursting from a side door with two children following, a third in his arms and a look of pure rage. The fact he left the door open for the Crawlers that slid past him told Jack all he needed to know as he watched Ianto kick at one, in the direction of the door.

"There you are" Jack called jovially, "Was gonna leave you with that slack arse dragging!"

"Hey! I was handicapped due to children!" Ianto replied, his face lighting up as he saw his love staining there, the blood on his shirt nothing to him but the children slowed with fear.

"It's OK, that's the Captain. He's OK, the baddies tried to hurt him but he won" Ianto explained and the children ran for the safe looking one. Owen.

"Shit … are we keeping these?" Owen called out as he helped the older two onto the wagon.

"Well … better than leaving them as food" Ianto snarled as he handed the toddler to Owen, the little one blinking at him with mutual surprise.

"Food?"

"Yeah, meet the food source for the humans inside that building" Ianto reached for his horse's reins, "Cannibals!"

"Shit" Jack said as he held the horse's head for Ianto to mount, the smoke thick and dark now.

"Let it all burn" Ianto said as he kicked the horse and turned it towards the light beyond the village limits. Once there they stopped and Ianto turned in the saddle to watch, blowing like he might … wow. The smoke thickened and covered the village like a fog, Ianto turning away to leave them to their fate.

Owen looked at the children with interest, the little one still clinging to him as it decided he was a nice man too. Ianto feeling like it was OK to focus on the older two.

"You OK?" Jack asked as he drew his horse alongside Ianto's and Ianto nodded. "What happened?"

"It was … weird. A cellar thing, a gun and a crazy idea of eating humans to sustain yourself" Ianto grimaced, "End of the world and still … humans are the worst thing slithering about."

"How much do we tell them?" Jack asked and Ianto knew what he meant.

"Gwen will freak out … but .., I think honesty is the best policy, especially with the kids in tow. Might make them feel safer knowing we tell the truth to one another" Ianto said after considering.

"Agreed" Jack sighed softly, "Gwen will be the one. The baby …. Yeah. She is so close to delivering and so vulnerable right no."

"She's terrified" Ianto agreed, "I will take her aside, make it more like I am trusting her to tell first, ask her for advice with the kids. Make it her deal. Might help."

"yeah, yeah I see that" Jack glanced back and watched Owen cuddle the little one in his arms ,"Tosh and Owen might take the toddler. The older wto … I don't know. Might want a room together, if they've been together from the start of this they might not trust that easily."

"Agreed" Ianto kicked his horse, "Meet you there sexy"

Jack barely had time to comprehend the teasing title as Ianto took off and he laughed as he settled back in the saddle.

He was fine.