40
"Well?" Andy asked as he watched Jack pace.
"Well what!" Jack snarled as he looked over to the bedroom doorway where Ianto lay with Anwen, consoling her as she cried.
Rhys sat staring into space like he had nothing to say so Martha said it for him, "We monitor and if he comes this way we put him down!"
"Christ" Andy rubbed his face.
Tosh was showing Rex's vehicle on screen as her drone hovered overhead, the unmarked vehicle tracked by her since it left the compound.
What Gwen didn't know is that while they were all in the park the other day, Mickey was slapping trackers on all the vehicles he could possible find.
"He lit out of there like the hounds of hell were after him, it looks like he's hiding there" Mickey sat and reached out to rub Rhys' arm and Andy realized he needed comfort.
"Rhys?" he said softly, "I have a cramp in my leg, could you …"
Rhys slid from the chair and started to rub his leg. Andy reached out and easily pulled him into a hug.
Ianto sighed as he left the sleeping child and wandered over to the fridge, pulling it open and staring morosely into its depths, then reaching for the canned cheese string and a jar of pickles.
He made a cheese sandwich with two sliced pickles, chewing as he frowned.
Missing something.
He looked back at the fridge and chewed slowly.
He opened it and looked on the door, humming as he extracted the chocolate dip, then tried again.
Much better.
He leaned back against the counter and rubbed bump as he listened to the talking, finally catching up.
"I think he ran away" he said as he licked his fingers, reveling in the tart sweetness.
"And what do you think about that?" Jack asked as he leaned back and watched another pickle and cheese concoction get dipped into chocolate.
"I think he's spooked. I think that poor little girl is the last straw" Ianto chewed, "I think it might have been nice if he'd taken her too but I guess she must be dead already."
Ianto pushed off and opened the fridge again, scanning.
Strawberry milk.
Mmmmmmm.
He turned and found a silent table staring at him.
"What! I'm using a glass!" he frowned.
"Ianto. Did you just say that … you think?" Andy said softly, "You think?"
"Yep, I think she's killed the poor wee thing" Ianto nodded, "Sister says Gwen is mixing her DNA so much she needed Anwen to use like a… what did she call it … a vessel? Put the next lot in her, and then draw out the already altered stuff. I told you this … didn't I?"
"No baby, you didn't" Jack said with horror.
"Oh. Baby brain. Well, the little girl didn't meet her needs or she decided to try with her instead I guess. Either way, the poor wee thing saw too much and will have been disposed of." Ianto replaced the milk and picked out radish, popping it into his mouth.
"Sister?" Rhys asked, still trying not to look at the bedroom where his daughter slept, safe and sound.
"He means the Predator" Jack answered.
"Yep" Ianto said as he went back to the pickles and cheese.
"Ianto … she speaks as her kind do" Jack sighed, "That doesn't mean it's true. This is Gwen we are talking about. I refuse to believe she would hurt Anwen, or that poor little girl they snatched. I know you believe her but please remember that we are your family, not her. Gwen is still Gwen, right?"
Ianto frowned at Jack's condescending tone and placed the lid on the half empty jar, carefully calming himself as he wondered how much of his reaction was due to hormones and once his hands stopped shaking he turned back to face them.
"I am with child. I am altered. This is true. I am not stupid or impaired" Ianto spoke slowly and with clear enunciation, showing his immense anger, "I do believe her as she would not lie to me. I also remember Gwen quite well, thank you. Please don't make out I am easily led."
"I didn't mean to upset you babe" Jack said with surprise.
"Then stop fucking handling me!" Ianto glared, his face hard.
"I think … I think Jack holds out hope, as we all do, that the little girl might be released" Martha said softly as she watched Ianto's eyes glow with anger, "He didn't mean you were lying."
"Only one way to find out" Jack said, rising from his chair.
"Let's scoop him up."