5
Skippy and Hammer… and the feckin dog that was not allowed AT ALL were sitting silently watching everyone with an ice-cream each, licking in sync. Yes… and the feckin dog.
Ianto was trying desperately to get in touch with their probation officer who no doubt had noticed them missing by now… right? I mean… fucksake.
Ianto was moving sedately to the edge of the room like he usually did when he was about to take off, Jack was watching him intently as he finally saw Ianto's ability to wraith away like a fucking ghost.
Ianto was walking along the east walkway when he noticed Jack following so he slowed to let him catch up. Jack started the conversation "Hey."
"I can't believe you managed to get away from the cameras, they think you are their god" Ianto replied.
Jack laughed, not the least bit upset about that comment "Two stowaways make better news today."
"The contracts are being written up, those kids will get paid well, see out the rest of their parole in here as well as get some publicity that might lead to some job offers after this is over as they will have some invaluable skills for the local nurseries" Ianto answered and Jack grinned wider as it felt like maybe that was the longest conversation they were having to date.
"So we have enough food and such for them?" Jack asked next. "Sleeping quarters?"
"We have room for about thirty souls easily. We have enough food for three years, we will only be in here for one so… all good. The dog is the bugbear I have to work out but I am sure I can bake some dog biscuits from the supplies we have" Ianto shrugged "and roast chicken and such is not bad for a dog… we have an entire flock of those suckers."
"What?" Jack stopped walking and Ianto slowed, turning to glance back. He raised his eyebrows so Jack added "We have chickens?"
"Did no one read the feckin files?" Ianto motioned for him to follow and he led Jack to a wonderland. Well… a farm land that he did not know existed in the West Dome.
"So… chickens lay eggs. This is where we get our eggs from?" Jack asked.
"Yes, they lay eggs, we eat the ones who are not laying or are spare roosters… we have an endless supply if we can make sure that dog is not a bird killer" Ianto nodded. Then he pointed and Jack turned to see what he was trying to show him only to see three little chicks running along with their tiny feet going hell for leather after a large white hen that seemed to have forgotten she was a mama.
"We have ducks and geese as well. Did you know these are brilliant natural gardeners. Keep down snails, insects… some weeds as well as naturally tilling the earth" Ianto started to walk again and Jack who followed him deeper into the Dome to find a manmade lake with some lily pads floating lazily around.
"It's moving?"
We have solar powered motors to make the water move, filtration for it as well. This is one of our water sources" Ianto pointed to the middle "And over there it's deep enough for fish."
"Fish" Jack felt silly repeating everything but this was… not in the briefs.
"I know what you are thinking, this is not in the briefs in the packet given to you… no. This is extra, my little side project. I paid for this with my own money" Ianto smiled "There was only to be four domes… not five. The fifth one... this one… is mine. They forgot that when they fired me and made a huge deal of Lisa and her wonderfulness. Of course, it all splattered all over their faces when it was revealed that the man who fired me and gave her all that kudos was her lover… they both got fired and I still lost everything. Supposedly. Even if they had not agreed to me being the Archivist, I still had this and they could not stop me. You would have had four domes, the walkway would have been closed off and I would still have this for my own use. They still have not remembered this fact, sooner or later someone will ask why there are five Domes in use. Then they will see other things I tweaked along the way."
"And you are showing me so when it happens I do not stand there with my mouth open, catching flies" Jack nodded, "you noticed that I do that?"
"I understand that there are some things you are neutrally gifted at…but when it comes to reacting … some others are … not so much" Ianto said diplomatically.
Jack responded with glee, clapping his hands and then grimacing as several birds flew from a nearby bush, startled by the sound "Fuck... sorry."
"So… what now? We are in here, the contracts for the extras are being sorted, Gwen is being the Camp Mother … we simply all have a nice evening meal and turn in for the night?" Ianto asked with amusement in his voice.
"I guess so. We start as we mean to go on with some pretense at being normal. One big happy family for the masses watching at home" Jack shrugged back "How the hell would I know? This is NOT in the brief."
"Tell me about it" Ianto snorted with a wide grin.
Jack saw the beauty in him, in that moment alone in the country wild garden of some old ad woman's estate… well it could be if not for the huge dome around them… and felt… hopeful.
This might not totally suck balls after all.