13

I can't believe that just happened.

Christ on a Harley … it came out of nowhere, just came at us. Max, poor little max, my heart is pounding so hard that I can hear it in my head, my ears are ringing.

Shit.

I think I am in shock. Owen hurt it, he did that, hurt it. Jack is right, we have to calm down. I need to calm down, Max is scared.

.

.

.

.

Ianto was shaking, several women fussing over him as well as one of the men. No, not Andy.

Max clung to him with wide eyes, still silent and Ianto knew it was not a good thing, his own childhood silences hiding shock so he rubbed the little boy's back and sang softly rocking him back and forth.

Heddlu were everywhere but Jack was calmer.

"It will go to ground until dark now" Jack said with authority, more than was real and both men knew that as they shared a look, "We will spend the day preparing and at dusk we will simply follow the blood trial to its lair."

"And if you lose the trail?" one of the men scoffed, "You are gone and we are in danger!"

"We just proved that you are safe, no other family has faced it and lived to tell the tale. Don't you see? It is injured, on the run. We become the hunters now!" Gwen said with her hands on her hips, "Be bloody grateful for a change ya numpties!"

She sat and took Max for a cuddle, letting Ianto have amoment. Jack and Ianto headed to the kitchen and Jack pulled him aside, "You OK?"

"That was close. How did it find us? Did it follow us?" Ianto whispered.

"No… it was here when you pulled up, I think. Max ran out and triggered it. Then he was hidden so it headed for the house. It's not finding what it wants. I am right, there is no defined target, whatever or whoever it seeks … it's not here. Just something close that it recognises" Jack soothed "Come on. Eat and act normal, calm them all and then we go try and get some rest. This will not be a Weevil hunt tonight ya know."

They ate and then headed to the room that seemed to be becoming theirs not surprised that a little boy followed hopefully and as they did the night before, the three of them tried the bed, then Jack cursed, got up and pushed the two beds together, Ianto giggling as he dragged things about and settled again, more room even if Ianto was in the middle.

He didn't complain.

It felt …. Nice.

Several times people came and went, pulling blankets over them or just checking, Gwen kissing the little boy as she tucked him in and Ianto smiled at her with silent gratitude. Then Max started to wriggle and Ianto hugged him gently, "Need to Pee?"

"Yeah"

They repeated the ritual urinating, Ianto smiling softly as the little boy again washed his hands carefully and headed out to see the other children. It was like a school room, children all listening as a mother told a story and Ianto knew that wouldn't last. Can't control the sea ya know.

Ianto accepted food he wouldn't eat, watching the little ones for a while as he let himself accept that they were his … but not his. Weird, like a parallel universe or something. He turned to Jack whohad settled next to him and whispered, "We need to get ready before dusk. I want to be outside, this place in total lockdown with weapons drawn inside. It might circle around us … he was right about that."

"Agreed."

"Can we do this?"

"Ianto, look at me. This is what we do" Jack took Ianto's shoulders and shook him gently then kissed him, taking a moment to give and take some comfort, "We will be victorious, cut it's fucking head off and Owen will try to wear it like a meat helmet while bemoaning the smell!"

Ianto snorted with mirth at the image Jack had offered, nodding as he rubbed at his face, "Yeah. Yeah. Meat Helmet. Got it."

They showered with surgical soap, trying to mask their smells at much as possible, washing their hair and then agreeing not to use deodorant or product. Ianto did not shave, looking more like a rogue than ever with his hair fluffing as he dried it with a towel.

"Damn it" he muttered as he glared at the mirror, "I look like a tramp."

"A sexy, fuckable tramp" Jack hissed as he pinched his butt and Ianto squeaked, then laughed softly.

They changed their clothing to some black threads, Ianto looking lithe and sexy as he always did in Hunting Mode, more than one mother making a small noise as he stalked from the back room with his hair no longer slicked back but flopping loosely.

He looked older, wiser and definitely more of a killer.

He was ready.