58
It came sooner, rather than later and Rex was almost relieved when Ianto suddenly strode across the yard calling his name.
Jack was sitting with the baby in the shade, totally oblivious to the showdown about to happen and Rex had time to drop the shovel and wipe the palms of his hands on his pants before Ianto got to him.
"What are you doing!" he demanded.
"One of the dogs died in the night, that old one that had been slated for euthanasia when we visited the pound last. He had another few months of happy and died in his sleep with a belly full of roast chicken. Looks like his heart gave out" Rex said, then ducked as the fist flew, followed by a snarling man.
They were soon rolling in the dirt and both men grunted, wrestling for control as Jack's cry of alarm went up. Ianto was strong, God he was so fucking strong and Rex knew that he needed to get space between them before he was choked out by the hands finding traction around his throat.
The shovel was his saving grace, rolling Ianto back onto it and making him bark with pain, releasing for a moment, which was all Rex needed to get his feet under him and push out of the grip, leaving behind his ripped t-shirt.
"Stay back" he yelled to those approaching, "This between me and Ianto."
Then Ianto roared, leaping at him with an unnatural grace, more like a cat as he twisted and turned for a second swipe, catching Rex on the shoulder and flinging him back against a tree.
Rex slid around the trunk, Ianto's fist connecting with the bark where his head had been moments ago and he glanced to the left to see if there was a clear path. This was his mistake as Ianto snarled and reached around the tree, grabbing him by his shirt and slamming him towards him, into the tree and Rex was winded and on his knees as Ianto swung around the trunk and lifted him up to punch him hard.
"Stay back" Rex choked out as Rhys tried to skirt around them, "This has to end when Ianto says so."
"Fuck!" Jack exclaimed as Ianto got Rex by his head, lifting him like he was nothing and shaking him, his neck snapping back and forth as he cried out with pain.
Then he was flying.
He was relieved to find himself falling onto the hydrangea bushes before the ground, knowing the fall may have caused greater damage and as Ianto bore down on him again he stood to face him. Ianto seemed to hesitate and Rex saw the flicker of recognition before the fist hit him in the head, sending him sideways.
Ianto slid on the wet ground from when Rhys had watered the plants not half an hour again and Rex managed to get to his hands and knees before Ianto was on him again, snarling as he started to choke him out.
Rex struggled as he felt himself flail, his vision blurred and he finally gave in, flopping to the ground as Ianto snarled and raged on top of him.
"Ianto" Jack said softly, on his knees so that they were eye level, "Sweetheart, darling look at me. Look at me."
A snarl and the grip tightened.
"Ianto!" Jack said with more command and Rex wished he had the breath to tell Jack to fuck off.
It seemed an eternity, but can't have been more than a few minutes before Ianto released Rex to lie gasping in the mud they had churned up as Ianto stood to face Jack.
"Do not tell me what to do" Ianto barked.
"Do not hurt family" Jack replied softly, "Ianto. It's Rex."
"Yes" Ianto blinked softly and Jack saw the eyes glow before settling into their usual stormy grey, "He asked for it."
"Jack" Rex gasped from the ground, "I told you, keep out of it. I deserved that. I was wrong, I almost cost you a little princess, because of my indecision I cost another family theirs. I deserve to be beaten within an inch of my life for my failures. But I promise you Ianto, I will always rise to fight again. Beside you."
Ianto turned to him and blinked, then smiled.
"You'll do" he finally said as he slapped him on the shoulder, "You need more work. But …As far as brothers go, you'll do."
For some reason, Rex realised that he had won after all.
Ianto had forgiven him.