8
It is DNA coded, the lock. Is he close enough to me to open it? What if he does? Will she hurt him?
Funny how time can slow down, the few short metres I have to run seem a bloody footy field before I get to him, his face so innocent, his little fingers almost to the touch pad.
.
.
.
.
Ianto ran, scooping the child up as Janet slammed into the glass and howled. Ianto knew she wanted to see and cursed again as he placed the child back on his feet and knelt to scold, "I told you to stay up there. This was very naughty!"
"What is it?"
"It's a Janet" Ianto replied, "She is something called a Weevil. Like … a wild animal from somewhere far away. She is stuck here and we have to keep her locked up so she doesn't accidentally hurt someone or get hit by a car or something."
Max stepped up to the glass again and Janet groaned as she fell to her knees and rubbed her face on the glass, the little one exciting her.
"Like a bad doggie?" Max asked "My friend Roddy had a bad doggie. It bit his face and made a big scar. Roddy's Tadda made the men take it away."
"Yes" Ianto said softly, his hands around the little waist to centre the child, "Like a bad doggie but she's not really bad. Just … dumb. Doesn't know what is good or bad and sometimes does bad things. That's all. She is not evil, just … impulsive."
"Impulsive."
"That means…."
"Acts without forethought or consideration of consequences" Max said in his little sing-song voice as Ianto's mouth went dry. Gods, the little fella even has his mind. Shit, shit, shit.
"Those are some big words there soldier"
Ianto looked at Jack who was standing in the doorway, "You know … aunty Tosh is having kittens looking for you."
"Sorry sir" the little one smiled and Jack saw the tiny teeth flashing "I wanted to pee-pee."
"Come on, I'll take you" Ianto rose and offered his hand like he does for Mica and David, the warm one slipping into it almost familiar. "You know … this is a really big place and if you got lost you might have to eat a shoe or something to survive. Best you stick to the levels with the bright lights, we know those ones best. Even I get lost down here."
"True, I've lived here for over a hundred years and get stuck down here. Just last week I had to eat my braces" Jack joked as he walked with them, the little giggle sweet in the semi-darkness, "Sort of like spaghetti once it's boiled too long"
"You need only boil it until it sticks" the child said with big eyes, "I like perscetti"
Jack melted at the mispronunciation of the word and grinned "Me too. With meatballs. Don't get those little sausages, they are just weird."
"Yeah. Meatballs and sauce"
Ianto took the little boy in and then retreated to stand with Jack outside the door. Jack looked around, "I didn't know there was a bathroom here"
"Well … I do clean them all" Ianto said in a droll tone.
"Ianto … Tosh is looking. There must be family to take him in, I didn't mean to sound flippant about him earlier. It is just sometimes easier to distance yourself" Jack whispered.
"I know. Bit late when he already knows what smile works best and has shown me my own mind. Clever little man, I bet he even knows what is happening" Ianto looked at his feet, a habit that was employed when he included rub the back of his neck like he preferred to do. The dust and murk on his hands forcing him to place them in his pockets instead.
"I think he knows they are gone too" Jack agreed, "But we have no time for tears. You understand that, you know the lost of a parental when still a child. He will hold it in until bedtime probably."
"Did you?"
Jack swung to answer but Ianto was walking away with the little boy running after him to slip his hand into Ianto's once more.
Jones-hit-and-run strikes again.
Bringing Gray into it. Jack wondered when he had told him about him then remembered John was good as goading and prodding, probably told Ianto to get a rise out of him. Did he? Ianto never said what had happened between him and the other man, but Jack knew something had. Something intense as he was the only team member John did not harm. Almost… liked. For that, Ianto must have challenged him somehow. Scared him a little.
Jack followed them up and watched Tosh's relief as she raced to hug the child and scold in Japanese, his answer in the same language making Ianto bark with laughter.
"You … you speak Japanese?" she blinked
"I speak four languages" the little one informed her, "But I still don't like Russian much."
"Well there ya go" Jack said with wonder, "Even a blind man can see he is yours. Even has your snark."
Ianto glanced over at the same time the child did.
"So … are you my real Taddy then?" Max asked as Ianto paled, "Is that why we look the same? I didn't look like mama or Daddy. They made me. Did they make me from you?"
"Holy shit" Owen said from the entrance doors, "He is Ianto down to the cutting questions"
Ianto sighed and let his hand slide to the back of his neck, germs be damned.
