33

Jack was due back late afternoon if there were no further problems and from what he could understand from what he 'saw' happening, he sure hoped not. The pup was wanting her daddy back as well, the female entity more clear to Ianto now, even if he was unsure if anyone else in the bond could feel her orientation. She seemed... shy.

Ianto stood talking to one of the women at the new Site, the preparations for the incoming remaining members that were being collected by Jack causing a flurry of activity. He was standing by a flower garden with the field beyond and the tree line in the distance when he heard it.

A raised voice followed by a loud slap.

Ianto swung to see a man standing over a woman who was on her hands and knees, one hand over her cheek as he raged at her and reached out to seize her by her hair and yank her towards him for another slap.

Ianto was moving fast, not transforming but leaping over the grass to intercept the violence but he was a moment too slow as the little boy that had been playing in the dirt nearby ran to protect his mother and as he threw himself between his parents he got the full brunt of the slap.

Ianto yelled with anger, the roar reverberating around the clearing as everyone froze and turned to watch him coming, almost skimming the grass as he tried to get to the man who was clearly blind with rage as his son lay crying in the dirt, his poor mother trying to shield him as the father now drew back his foot to boot whomever he could reach.

The world stopped.

Silence.

Ianto slowed and then looked to the tree line with horror as the Mara slowly came from their hiding places. Sliding down tree trunks and emerging from under bushes, moving towards the child who was bleeding, crying and in distress.

"Wait" Ianto yelled "The child is loved."

"Not the child we want" came the reply of many voices and the father seemed to flicker in and out of existence before he was suddenly gone, the void left making a popping noise as the cosmos rushed to fill the space.

The world started again.

The woman looked up with confusion at the space her husband had been filling, her arm over her head slowly lowering as she sat up and looked around for him, expecting him to be walking away or something.

"Garret?" she said softly rising shakily to her feet as Ianto reached her.

"He's gone" Ianto said to her in a low tone "Take your child and walk away. He is gone, will not be back and you are free of him whether you wanted to be or not. The creatures that took him will not give him back. He will learn to repent for what he did."

"He's gone" she repeated then let out a sob of relief, reaching down to gather her child into her arms.

"Do not speak of this. If anyone asks, tell them he was angry and left you. You suspect he wanted to go raid somewhere for some booze or something and was told no, went by himself. He will not be missed and not be asked about too often." Ianto checked the child and nodded "Walk away from this spot."

"He's gone" she repeated again.

"Yes."

"The things that took him…"

"I consider them little gods. Little ancient gods who watch us now in this time of need. They love children and will protect them" Ianto counselled "now we both know some do not like talk of such things."

"Me Nainny did, she said the little people were mighty when pissed" she said, then let out a hiccup and a snort of laughter "Oh my god. She was right. They did, didn't they. After all this time, all my prayers… I was praying to the wrong one."

"There is no wrong one, they all listen ya know" Ianto winked and she moved away more quickly as he stood rubbing his stomach and considering things. After all this time, when they had told him they would not take another child due to the need to replenish, they had come when needed to protect a little one in need.

He found comfort in that.

And he knew the natural order would prevail.

Sometimes the Chosen One is not taken, sometimes they are supposed to stay. That little boy had promise, they had seen it and he was touched by them now.

Ianto knew he had to take an interest in the child, if only for respect to them.