11
Here I am listening to Jack give a spiel about some serial killer targeting clients of the fertility clinic, the Clinic's records being used to track them down and all I can see are the parentals all looking at their kids then me, putting two and two together.
"And him? Is he a target too?" one finally asked.
I didn't know what to say, where to look. They all knew it was me, somehow it was me and I was twisting as I tried to look unaffected. Jack's hand on the small of my back as he stepped forward was soothing.
.
.
.
.
"Mister Jones is part of my team. Why you are under our protection, there are families that he cannot claim a link to and are unprotected and two of those others have already been attacked" Jack said firmly, "This is not something to do with him, it is a weird coincidence that is currently saving your life. If Mister Jones were not an operative under Her Majesty's Contract you would all be unaware and probably some of you dead."
"Nice" Ianto muttered with a roll of his eyes, the place erupting. He raised his hands to soothe the place and called for calm.
"What the Captain is trying to say is that I pulled some strings to get you here, others could not make it. There have been fatalities, nowhere near where we are and if you've not noticed … we are heavily armed and you are all being guarded here" Ianto boomed out, his head held high, "We are doing all we can to stop this mad man and can only ask for your patience in this matter."
"The animal attacks they were talking about on the news, shit. You mean those, right?" a man pushed his way to the front, "it's not an animal? It's a man? Doing that to a little child?"
"Why we are taking every precaution" Jack informed them, "Let's all calm down. You are all lucky to have chosen Ianto as your donor, this is what will save you when others aren't!"
Ianto stepped out and stood in the back yard, his heart pounding as he pondered what Jack had said. Ws it true? Or a lie. He felt sick, physically ill at the thought of being anyway responsibly for the deaths of children. Babies. Gods.
"Ianto?"
He turned to find Gwen there, her face full of concern as she moved to comfort him. "Pet, this isn't your fault. If we hadn't picked it up they might all be gone. Owen earned his chockie bickie there, eh?"
Ianto snorted as he nodded looking at his feet, the bare ankle mocking him. He frowned as he started at it, "Gwen … is that glowing?"
She looked down and in the fading light of the evening the ankle was indeed glowing softly. "How the hell did that happen?"
"It's the Hunter's blood" Ianto looked at her, "It glows in the dark. Gwen … if it's bleeding, it's glowing!"
Soon they were galvanised, setting traps that might cause injury. Everything from jumping-jacks which are a form of landmine to lasers Tosh bashfully said were a prototype. Jack whispering to her they were going to be popular and definitely a future must-have.
Ianto was lagging, his eyelids heavy and Jack saw the fatigue there, "Ianto. You're bruised and beaten. Go take some rest, I will wake you if anything starts, OK? I need you alert for this."
Ianto nodded and headed for the back rooms that were set up for anyone who could possibly sleep in this madness. He kicked off his shoes, pulled off the tie and then placed his cufflinks by the bed. He was nothing if not routine.
He slid into the cold sheets and was pleased he had left his socks on, shivering until he warmed the space. Then he felt something patting the bed and he rolled to find Max standing there with a hopeful look "Mister? I'm cold."
Ianto wordlessly lifted the covers and the little boy's face lit up as he slid in to cuddle against him, Ianto pulling him around to spoon him much like he does one of Rhiannon's when he stays over.
Soon they were both asleep.
Jack stood listening as Toshiko and Kathy Swanson talked, Tosh's face falling as it became obvious that Max didn't have next of kin. Both parentals had been only children, parents of one both dead, the other only had a mother living, in a dementia ward.
Jack started to look for the child and gave up, heading back to check if Ianto had taking some time to sleep like he had hoped. The little one asleep in his arms was a surprise and Jack found himself sitting on the other bed watching them sleep.
What the hell was he going to do now?
