41

It was a lively affair, children bugs and laughter as Caden and Harry came as one another and fooled the poor old lady for a while before she caught on and Yvonne clucked as she cuddled her little one to her happily unable to place her aside in a chair. The Brig's look of primal ownership not lost on anyone either as he sat with their chairs together and one hand mostly on Yvonne's thigh.

Ianto rose and found them all looking at him so he pointed, "Bathroom break, I have need of some relief if that trifle comes my way. I hope it has brandy in it, I miss alcohol. Gods, I hope so."

They laughed softly and Jack made to follow but Ianto patted his shoulder gently as he passed the back of his chair, "It's OK Cariad, I only need to relieve pressure not the entire cargo."

More laughter as Jack sheepishly slid back into his chair and resumed the lively debate with Tosh about some new structure being erected in town.

Ianto walked down the corridor amazed at the work the bugs had done and how pretty it all was, entering the bathroom to sit and sigh happily, lamenting the day he might be able to stand and trust his aim again. He looked at the walls so smooth, and the tiny scratched designs that he knew had been done to please him as bugs don't really care about such things. He smelt something and canted his head as he rose to shake and flush, then he wandered to the sink to wash his hands and he smelt it again.

Smoke?

He walked out into the corridor and took a deep breath, fear crawling under his skin as he sent alarm through the bond to his love and Jack answered with question.

Smoke?

Ianto walked to the end of the corridor and looked up towards the outside world, the spiral staircase led up to the first level, one below ground level. It was stronger and he knew now that he was not imagining it, Jack's hand on his lower back as Jack stepped beside him a balm and he immediately felt safe, calm and in control as they both started to climb. There was no need to comment about the elevator, if it was a fire then it would not be safe.

Jack stepped around Ianto to reach the top first and in another instance he might have been annoyed but knew the baby made things different, Jack was Alpha here and the Captain was in control as he entered the kitchens, "Is something burning?"

Several bugs turned, one holding up a claw as they listened to something beyond his hearing and he turned to speak to Ianto only to find his head tilted adorably as he seemed to listen as well.

Right.

Cuckoo.

Forgot.

Huh.

"Shhhhh"

Jack focused on the bump instead, the buttons staining as the fabric sat snugly against their lovely chick.

"A hover outside is burning" Ianto finally said softly, like they were being secretive, "They are searching the keep for evidence of how, apparently they don't like the smell. They say it was not mechanical, they think someone is in here."

"Down" Jack demanded, "Now. Down, back down, now. This is the only way down right?"

"Another on the other side" a bug said in a strange posh voice that showed he had been a service bug before Ianto had 'purchased' him and his family away from slavery, "My brother and his partner guard it already. We are going door to door, room to room. We hunt. You go down my fathers."

"Thank you Gordon" Ianto said softly, a hand reaching out to pat the bug gently on the chest, "Wonderful management."

They started the descend and Jack looked back to see four bugs close the walkway with their bodies meshing together to form a barrier, their intent to seal the lower levels clear and Jack remembered the children, moving faster, "Cora, you! Cora right?"

Cora turned and bowed, her blue fur undulating as her legs splayed out and Jack calmly nodded to the arachnid hiding his fear of her, "Cora love. All the babies, the buggies and all of your kind, all babies into the feeding room please. Then seal it with us inside. Fire cannot reach this level even if they raze the place."

Ianto made a noise of alarm as he glanced back and Jack reassured him, "It will not come to that. We will view this as an exercise OK?"

They entered the room to find several little ones already clustered with the children in the corner of the room with toys, "Well done. Seal this once I leave."

"Jack!"

"Sweetling, if there is someone up there I will find them, tear their skin off and then rub salt on their body, OK?" Jack whispered, kissing him and then hesitating, kissing him again.

Ianto knew he was sidelined and he sighed as he sat to watch his love leave.

Red Carded in the final minutes of the game without even firing a shot.

Damn it.