6
Ianto didn't care where they took them and didn't care, he just hoped they would stay in whatever hole they wound up in. He never thought he could feel so … separated from things but really he didn't care.
"Sweetheart" Jack said softly, watching from the doorway and Ianto realised he had been hugging himself. Ianto moved to him and leaned into his arms, letting Jack engulf him.
"Shower?" Jack asked softly, "I need to wash a bitch off."
They stood under the hot water soaping each other and exploring the familiar landscapes as Ianto silently worried about Jack's reactions with Bunny. Were they over? Or would he react the same way next time he needed her for a release?
After the shower he went in search of Jerry and quietly told him of his fears and Jerry nodded, promising he would pass it on to 'the boy' and they would make sure before they were finished what all the release words were.
Once again Ianto knew he should feel some level of … and….but he didn't. His anger was still there, Quinn's little face still showing signs of confusion as he put his little arms up for extra comfort. For a little one who had been content to sit on the floor with toys, it was not exactly favourable to suddenly have a limpet. Although too young to understand what had been happening, he had obviously felt Ianto's fear.
"Let me take him for a while" Gloria offered but the little man whimpered and hung on even tighter with wide eyes.
"Poor little lamb, still upset" she sighed as she settled back to show him that he would not take him from his favourite person.
"Maybe a walk in town in the monster buggy. Some harmless pretend people killing and he will feel more himself" Ianto surmised, "Although part of me wants to hide I know getting out and about will help with the notion that everything is OK. They will come up missing sooner or later and if we hide more it might be remembered. Being seen as fine and out will make people remember we were in town, not somewhere they might be."
"Yes, you're right there son" Jerry nodded, "Act a normal as possible. The little guy will love some Café madness and then a walk to the playground to watch the kids pay and throw some breadcrumbs for those ducks he is so fond of."
"Actually, that sounds lovely. I'll come too. Davey and Mimi need some extra school things so we have an excuse." Gloria pointed out and they all nodded as Quinn looked up into Ianto's face and hooted, getting lifted to his feet so he could stroke Ianto's face and hair.
"Quite the little lover" Gloria smiled, "Look."
"Maybe he's doing hair and makeup" Jack chortled, "A little artist in the making already saying he needs a little colour."
They all laughed as the tension eased and Ianto hugged the little guy against him as Quinn hummed happily, the smell of Ianto's hair interesting now.
Soon they were in town moving through the crowds as Quinn did the mad Man Growls and people watched him trying to get them with little snarls and swings of his wheel.
"He is so aggressive" One pointed out in the dairy, "So much like his father. Gray was a vicious little bugger sometimes. Oh, Captain, I didn't mean…."
"It's OK. Remember the time he hit me in the head with a baseball bat?" Jack laughed, "He was only four or five. Hell of a whack, bled like a stuck pig."
"Oh I remember that" Annabelle said, placing her shopping basket down as she turned to face Jack, the elderly lady had been his teacher once upon a time, "You wore your hat to hide the damage. I commented on how like your father you looked. So handsome. This little one is so much like you CJ. You are such a handsome man."
"Yes" Ianto smiled softly, "Isn't he just?"
"Look who's talking" she giggled, "If I were twenty years younger …."
"Oh hush now!" Ianto snorted, "You know, I like being a boy toy."
Everyone laughed as Quinn screamed to let them know he wanted the toy, whatever it was and Jack crouched to show him a squeaky chicken from the shelf they had stopped by in the pet section.
"Cariad, I think that's a dog toy" Ianto frowned and Jack shrugged.
"So? Little bugger is part animal I think, yeah?" Jack crooned as Quinn growled and shook the toy, then put it in his mouth to show he knew what they were saying.
"Oh, so you are a doggie now?" Jack laughed
Quinn growled happily with the chicken in his mouth and to Ianto's horror Jack started pushing the carriage along the sidewalk with the little boy sitting proudly with the chicken in his mouth while holding his wheel.
"So … everyone will remember we were in town today for certain now" Ianto sighed softly, people laughing and waving as Quinn snarled around his chicken.
Harkness side, the Jones side kept the safe hands both on the wheel.
