Chap 11
Ianto stood staring at the blinking light on the message machine and sighed.
He pushed the play button and Rhia's voice came from the speakers.
"Ianto? I came by but you weren't home, I guess. Look, it's been a few days and she's really missing you. I know a little cuddle would …" Ianto hit the delete button and shivered as he deleted his sister's plea for attention.
Walter announced his arrival home with his usual holler for his Taddy as he heaved his bag to one side and ran inside from the SUV.
"Hey Buggy Bum" Ianto smiled, hugging his boy to him.
"Hey babe, what ya cooking?" Jack called as he picked up the bag and hung it on a hook.
"Roast beef with roast veg and gravy" Ianto called back as Walter shivered against him.
"Cold hon?" Ianto frowned, noticing the flakes of snow still clinging. "God, where the hell is spring? Seems like winter just won't bugger off!"
"Yeah but Ianto …." Jack whined and Ianto interrupted with a sigh.
"You love the snow" he finished for Jack.
"Yeah" Jack smiled sheepishly.
The time limit on the message machine ticked over and the next message began to play.
"You think this is adult of you?" Gray's angry voice boomed, "You think ignoring your sister is going to make this go away? You need to stop being so bloody childish and admit you were wrong to keep this cold shoulder up. You and Jack apologise for the way you've been acting and I'll let you see her again. Rhia is so upset about all of this and it's not good for her milk production."
Ianto hit the delete button again and Walter stood there with wide eyes, "Wow. Uncle Gray is really angry. Is that why we can't have Rory anymore?"
Jack was staring at the machine with shock. His brother had sounded like their Dad that time he caught them with cigarettes. He couldn't understand why he thought this was all Ianto's fault. Did he forget about his meltdown at the hospital?
Ianto cleared his throat and looked at Jack for support but the blank face was confusing. Ianto wondered if Jack agreed with his brother and he fled to the kitchen.
Jack followed Ianto and watched him as he checked the roast. As Ianto straightened up he wiped his eyes and Jack realised that he was crying.
"Hey," Jack stepped forward and hugged his husband as he wept.
"Sorry, I'm sorry" Ianto sobbed and Jack shushed him as he rocked him gently.
The doorbell shook them from their hug and Ianto wiped his eyes as Jack headed for the front door.
Walter beat him to it and was peering carefully through the side windows, having learned the rules of door opening. "Uncle Gray!"
Walter swung open the door and reached for his Uncle who smiled at him and bent to hug him.
"Walter, Taddy might have a wee treat before dinner if you ask nicely. Say Daddy Said so" Jack said and Walter ran off with a whoop.
"What do you want" Jack snarled.
"To see Ianto. I just got the police report and …"
"Get out of my fucking house" Ianto was standing by the bookcase that walled the foyer from the main room and his knuckles were white as he gripped the woodwork. "You have no place here!"
"Jack? You going to let him wear the trousers or …" Gray stopped talking as Jack pushed him.
"You heard my husband. You chose this path now you get to walk it without us" Jack hissed, "Go home to your family and I'll enjoy mine."
"Jax. You can't mean that. We're brothers!" Gray gasped.
"No. Like Ianto says, time to put a line under it. I choose this life, this family and you can go fuck yourself!" Jack took great satisfaction in slamming the door on his surprised brother.