8
No… Owen did NOT want to come on a stupid country loving trip. Weirdoes.
Rhys did.
Ianto was happy to see Luka taking charge with the security forces for the area as he loaded up the SUV, Wick squealing as he jiggled in his car seat, now content to be a little boy. Jack was pleased with this as he liked cuddling a little boy more than a wriggly dog now he was of a lap size. With bump growing Wick wanted to remind people he was a little one too I think.
They were underway, Warren and his two in the back with Wick, the kids overly excited as they babbled and generally made weird fart noises and things that were apparently funny, Ianto rolling his eyes as apparently Jack found that funny too. More than once he glanced at Warren to find the man silently doubled over with mirth… OK. Bonding? OK, Jack did feel a little out numbered with the amount of Kelpies and Weres in the area, a Were willing to be a good friend is a great asset.
"Ianto?"
The radio crackled, cutting into the wiggles song about… yeah… farts and the kids groaned as Ianto touched his Bluetooth in his ear to let the kids have it back "Tosh?"
"Sorry… you are near Birchgrove Primary School, Heath…. Right?"
Ianto felt his annoyance thrumming as he gripped the wheel and said though gritted teeth "We WERE about twenty minutes back."
"Well… any chance of a turn around and full lights?"
Ianto felt himself start to really get pissed off, glancing over to find Jack looking at him intently, not hearing the call now and Ianto pointed to his ear. Jack fiddled in the glove box for an earwig and turned it on "Toshi?"
"There are reports of a teacher at Birchgrove Primary going a bit… well… naff. The thing that got my attention is the mention of a slime trail?"
"Ahhhhhh no." Ianto thumped his head back as Jack made a noise of interest and looked at Ianto with that 'now' look that had Ianto turning the wheel at the next turning point in the road with open annoyance. "I am telling you now Jack… this had better be a bloody invasion or something. I have a tight schedule here and this is fucking with my calm!"
"Ears Tadda!" Wick yelled "Bubbas hear you!"
Ianto poked his tongue at his son's reflection as Jack laughed softly, rubbing his hands together as he fiddled in the glove box some more. Ianto glanced over "What prey fucking tell are you doing?"
"Weapon" Jack muttered , now doing a weird interpolative dance to reach under the seat for the lockbox.
"Preggers. Benched. Up the duff. One in the … well… two in the oven… no" Ianto said as he drove like a maniac, the lights in the grill of the SUV flashing like it was a Heddlu car.
"For Warren?" Jack said in a small voice as he tried to find a good argument.
"Werewolf." Warren said distractedly as he started to puff himself up, getting ready for a transformation at will. Not all can do it like flicking their fingers ya know… without a moon to help they need to mentally control it.
"You protect the babans" Ianto said as he entered the school grounds and the gravel made a horrid sound while they drifted into the parking spot like the pros they are. Jack pouted as Ianto slid out, fluidly moving along the side of the vehicle as Warren leap out after him, the glee obvious as he got to pretend he was Torchwood too.
"Not fair!" Jack muttered.
Ianto moved quickly, flashing his ID at the scared staff who simply pointed towards the pool area with wide eyes, the faint screaming also a tell that this is the direction to head in. Warren grinned as he passed the teachers, his eyes gleaming unnaturally as he felt the thrill of a good hunt about to begin.
They entered the building and Ianto swore softly as he saw a child laying prone on the floor, a small pool of blood underneath the body. He let himself turn his mind that way for a moment and was relieved to hear a faint heartbeat, turning to point to the child as Warren nodded already moving to scoop her up and remove her.
Three more kids were in the far corner, huddled together with open horror as the creature snarled and loomed over them, a large black smudge of oily smoke, not fully formed and the children were visible through it.
"Excuse me" Ianto said calmly "Is there some problem here?"
The black thing swung to attack him and he reacted without a second thought, flinging himself into the water as it followed him in and Warren yelled as he re-entered to find the water boiling while the creatures struggled for control.
"Ianto" Warren yelled, urging the children to run around the edge of the pool and the teachers entered to help them run, only one child hovering to watch with wide eyes as the flashes of green and black rolled around.
Then the Merman left the water, breaching like a dolphin to slam back down into the inky back.
Ianto was working for his money today.