12
They drove to an area that seems like farmland, out of the way and totally barren apart from a barn and some cows in the field staring at them like they were aliens. Ianto drove the vehicle into the barn and got out to close the doors, leaving Jack to explore the interior.
Jack was interested as he looked at the four wheel stock moving motorbikes, looking from them to Ianto "How do they work?"
Ianto hadn't thought about that then narrowed his eyes "Hang on… you know how these work. You were here during the bloody war! You met the Doctor then, right? Then jumped back. Don't pretend with me! I cannot imagine you not trying to blat about on one with a sidecar or something"
Jack grinned as he straddled one, jiggling as he hummed and then watched Ianto place the backpacks in the trailer his one had, then the extra gear on the back of his own. Jack was about to ask why nothing was being placed on his when the bike jolted and he swung around to find himself face to face with a huge dog.
"Don't mind Janet, she's just excited to be getting out, Marcus dropped her off for me. Don't worry, you chose my usual bike and I knew she wanted her red rug she likes to sit on…. Cold tooshy means a grumpy dog" Ianto said without turning around, and then he kicked over the bike and whooped as it took off out the side door, leaving Jack still blinking at the huge sheep dog.
Jack followed with trepidation as Ianto send far too excited about where they were going and Jack was now concerned that maybe others knew it was there. If Ianto loved it so much, had he talked about it with friends?
Ianto slowed as he got to the fork in the track and turned around to motion to Jack in the right direction only to find the track behind him empty. Ianto stood up on the running boards of the bike with concern, looking back with confusion, then he got off the bike and turned it off, listening for the bike's engine but there was nothing but birdsong.
He was confused and also a little frightened because this could mean only a few things.
Jack had engine trouble.
Jack had left him.
Jack was captured.
Ianto was about to turn the bike back on and go back when he heard the bike in the distance and he swallowed back a sob he didn't know was there, the sound of Jack coming was…
FUCK what if it's not Jack.
Ianto only had moments before the bike rounded the bend and he decided that if it was someone else, if Jack was taken then he would not run. He would let them take him too, and then he might at least be close to Jack.
Jack was driving slowly, the dog running ahead of him with her tail swishing in full English Sheepdog Mode. He had got lost? Ianto waited for him to catch up and as he neared him, Jack called out "Hey, I stopped because she got off to have a pee. Can you believe that? Typical woman, needed a toilet stop five seconds into a trip."
The relief was raw as Ianto smiled back, then he knew Jack had been worried as well, had feared Ianto's thoughts and it only made Ianto love him more. "Jack… I was worried a sinkhole had got ya or something."
Jack laughed happily, patting the bike's back seat and Janet jumped back up "you know… Janet is a strange name for her."
"Rocky Horror Picture Show" Ianto said as he settled back on his own bike, "she is such a Janet."
"And you name all your pets after that?"
"Oh no. Myfanwy is named as she is a fair sweet lady" Ianto replied, then pulled a face that made Jack cant his head. Ianto added "sorry, she was another Torchwood inmate of sorts. Shit. I hope she got out."
"What sort of SHE was she?"
"Oh… um… a flying she" Ianto said, and then he waved a hand dismissively "Let's change the subject. I was fond of her but not many were. She was a biter."
Jack smiled as he leaned closer "I can bite too if ya like."
"Shop that" Ianto sputtered "bloody harassment that it."
Jack roared with glee as Ianto blushed, then kicked over the bike, taking off and leaving Jack there still laughing softly.
Soon they were moving fast, leaving the track to move across a field and then into dense woods that made Jack relax more. This seemed to be going nowhere and anyone looking would find no trace of them as the spongy ground spring back up after the weight of the bikes had gone past.
Then… ahead… he saw it.
A log cabin.
Holy hell, it was old and craggy but clearly solidly built with some wood stacked along the side. A veggie garden that was slightly overrun was bedded along the side as well and Jack was pleased to see potato plants that made his mouth water. God, new potatoes?
"Let's get the stuff inside and then maybe heat up the soup in the canister" Ianto said "Once the fire is going."
"fire" Jack repeated with interest "I like lighting fires."
"I know… they warned me about you. Look how well I've heeded them so far."
Jack laughed again as he reached out and touched Ianto's hip, making him turn to face him and he kissed him gently before asking "and what warning would you give anyone else?"
"Oh that's easy. I will fight you for him."
Jack had never been told anything as sweet.
God.
He was falling in love.