16
Ianto opened the front door and dropped the toilet brush with horror.
Tarn was crying on the doorstep and an open cut on his cheek was not the only injury.
Ianto gathered him into his arms and ushered him inside. Jack was sitting on the sofa trying to work out a piece of tat and looked up with surprise as Ianto entered with Tarn.
He rose and looked at the boy, then at his husband's face of thunder.
"His father" was all Ianto said.
All Jack needed to hear.
The sound of the SUV peeling out of the driveway had CJ searching for his Tad. Finding Tarn sobbing in his Tad's arms was not what he expected and he fought his own tears as he took his Tad's place.
Ianto came back with two steaming mugs of tea and Tarn sniffled as he took his, snuggling back against CJ whose Harkness anger had started to kick in.
CJ held his boyfriend and rubbed his shoulders as he glared at his Tad. Ianto took that to mean he was being blamed and rose to leave the room with a soft grimace.
"Taddy Bum?" CJ's voice sounded so fragile that it broke Ianto's heart.
"Yes Bug?" he said softly, turning back to see a lip wobble.
"Please don't leave" Tarn pleaded and Ianto saw fear in the look.
"Your father can't get you here darling" he soothed, "CJs Dad has gone to tell him so."
Ianto gave his son a glance and saw it again. Anger, raw and fierce.
"I want to pound him into the dust" CJ hissed as he clung to his friend.
"I know baby." Ianto smiled softly, "Daddy might."
RJ and SJ were at school and Ianto was thankful as he collected the first aid kit and checked the boy over. The bruises were vivid and CJ growled softly more than once when Ianto made Tarn wince.
A couple of butterfly stitches closed the cut above his eyebrow and Ianto blew on it and gave a soft kiss before he remembered it wasn't his child.
He drew back with a blush to apologise and saw Tarn's eyes closed and a soft smile as he accepted it.
Ianto left the two boys cuddling on the sofa after he had thrown a blanket over them and went to CJ's room.
He stood in the doorway for a long time staring at the bed. 16, almost 17.
Ianto sighed and rubbed his face.
He went to the SJ's room and pulled out the trundler bed. After a few minutes of cursing under his breath he navigated it into CJ's room and soon had a second bed made up.
He knew he might find them together the next morning but he wasn't going to encourage it.
The roar of the SUV heralded his husband's return and Ianto went to the garage to gauge the atmosphere.
Jack was solemn and blood was on his cuffs.
"I couldn't help it" Jack sighed as he stepped into Ianto's calming arms, "I thumped the bastard!"
"Oh Cariad" Ianto soothed, "Good job."
Jack snorted and drew back for a kiss and Ianto pushed him back against the SUV. Soon they were necking and hands had opened clothes.
"Oh Ianto," Jack whined, "My love"
"My Jack" Ianto returned as he found the little captain, "My hero."
Jack flopped back over the hood of the SUV and sighed as Ianto dropped to his knees and showed him just how much he loved his Captain. Big and little.