6
"So I didn't matter?"
Ianto looked at Jack with confusion.
"I didn't know her, I knew nothing of her and you think this will be the same?" Jack demanded, "If you had died the other day that baby would be gone."
"I didn't ask for the attack!" Ianto spluttered. "You make is sound like I threw myself under a bus!"
"I would have been with you" Jack screamed, his arms waving, "I would have been there with my gun, my protection."
"I…I didn't know how to feel" Ianto finally admitted, "I thought Kara was a onetime deal. I did my duty, I raised her right. It never occurred to me that it might happen again."
Jack leaned closer, "So you don't want it?"
Ianto glared, "Don't be stupid. If I didn't want it I would have died and you would never have known."
"I would never have known" Jack repeated slowly, "You would never have told me. Has this happened before? Will this happen again? Ianto, I thought you did die when the chopper crashed."
"I said just a little death, more like a moment of struggle. You've had those right? Not a real one?" Ianto took a moment to calm himself as Jack rose to pace the room, he watched Jack wring his hands and then he sighed, "Jack, I would have told you once I knew how. Magic in the words, I know it is important to speak to you of important things in the right way. Had I died, I would have mourned this child. It is starting to move, I feel the fluttering of life. I am bonding to it. I thought I would have another few weeks to settle things in my mind and then speak to you, maybe I hoped you would guess. You would notice?"
"So this was a test?" Jack with livid, "Like, if I noticed I got a say in keeping it, if I didn't notice and you lost it then ever mind?"
"Jack, we are both emotional right now and maybe…"
"No! You don't get to do the Jones-Hit-N-Run mister!" Jack snarled, his hands slamming down on the table making Ianto flinch, "You will fucking talk to me!"
"I am not one of your interrogation subjects, do not speak to me like I am some fucking criminal" Ianto said in that low tone that warned of his anger level.
Kara looked at her parentals as she wandered through the room and slowed, turning to the other person sitting silently in the back of the room, "Are they fighting?"
"Yes. He thinks he is keeping the baby from him as he does not want to share. He is saying he kept the baby because he was willing to sacrifice it for you. Your Dad is now unsure if he should agree or not while your Tad is considering leaving" Gino explained calmly, "I think your Tad is about to storm off into the town to hide for a while and hopefully eat something with meat in it. He is starving."
"I can't eat meat" Ianto snapped, "It gives me terrible heartburn!"
"Processed meat" Gino nodded, "My mate has the same problem. Three younglings, all needed fresh kill. I will ask the others, some fresh meat that is wild will not upset."
"Thank you Gino, at least someone had my child's interests at heart" Jack said haughtily and Ianto had heard enough rising from the table.
"Maybe I never said because I knew you would act like this? Maybe I didn't want to be the 'wife' just yet! I am a grown man who didn't want you wiping my arse!" Ianto swung to leave and Jack lunged at him only to get a huge immovable wall in his way. Gino looked at him with open malice as his lips peeled back and his eyes glowed with that inhuman magic of a Were.
"Get out of my way"
"No."
Jack blinked with shock, "Excuse me?"
"I was sent by the old ones to protect him and the little one growing in him" Gino said calmly, "I will not allow any harm to come to either of them, not by anyone including you. He is upset, his blood levels are elevated and it is now making him hurl outside in the garden."
"Shit" Jack sighed as he slumped and looked up at Gino again, "Please. Can I get to him, please?"
Gino stared at him long and hard, "You are a dangerous man. I see that. Remember that this is a brave new world and we can all harm one another here, the trick is not to."
Jack nodded, seeing why Ianto had accepted this man into his life, the Were was not antisocial as he had first thought. He was a thinker. Of course Ianto would like him. No doubt when alone they spoke about things and considered. Not the bull at a gate Jack was.
"How long did you know?" Jack was suddenly jealous of the fact this …man…knew before him and Gino's face showed he didn't care for Jack's tone.
"I have known since I met him" Gino said with the same tone "He asked me to protect him and the little one. I am tasked with the baby's survival."
Jack blinked, "So … he wanted it?"
"Yes. Ianto wants it so bad that he is convinced he will not be allowed it with the fickle gods and their warped humour" Gino sighed as he shook his head at one so old, yet so childish that he did not see his mate's fear, "Kara is such a gem. To be allowed another? He fears that loss most of all."
Jack finally understood.
Ianto was not saying it out loud, like whistling in the graveyard he was trying to stave off the fates.
Jack went in search of his love.
Loves.