Chap 30
Rhiannon and Gray were away for the weekend with the kids, out of cell-phone range.
Ianto had rung Tosh only to get a mouthful from Owen who answered her phone. Apparently he was tied of Ianto calling her with every little bloody thing and he could ring back at a normal hours, not another "Ianto Crisis" hour!
Ianto had snapped the phone shut with a growl, then opened it again.
Idris was there within minutes, Skid Mark followed him inside with an arm full of McDonalds. Walter crowed as he saw his uncles and ran over for a hug. Ianto handed the baby to Idris who crooned as he accepted the half-drunk bottle and he settled into the sofa to cuddle and kiss the baby as he fed.
Jack was still sitting on the edge of the bed, where Ianto had left him and Ianto spoke softly as he coaxed him into his clothes. Jack had stopped crying and was now in zombie mode.
As he led Jack out to the car, he kept up the soft patter. Walter's school report, Noah's inoculations and the car needing a service.
They drove sedately to the hospital where Jack's mother was found in the waiting room. She sat in one of the cold plastic chairs and visibly jumped when Ianto touched her shoulder.
She rose and fell into Jacks arms as she cried and Ianto approached the front desk. They told him that Mr Harkness was in the morgue and they still needed an ID of the body to release it to the undertakers.
Ianto was grateful that they hadn't asked her for that and he left his husband comforting her as he walked that long walk to the last room you want to end up in.
Carlton lay still and grey on the table, the sheet looked so cold and Ianto wanted nothing more than to add his coat to warm the man before reminding himself that the temperature didn't matter anymore.
He filled out the necessary forms and thanked Doctor who had waited patiently for Ianto to finish.
"I'm so sorry for your loss Mr Harkness-Jones" the doctor intoned and Ianto nodded silently, walking back to his husband who was now sitting by a wooden mother.
"All done here." Ianto said softly. "I hope you don't mind, I've called my family's preferred Funeral Parlour. If you would rather …"
"No, no dear" Victoria answered dreamily, "Whatever you think is best."
They went back home with Victoria who burst into tears when Walter tried to cuddle with her and he led her to his bed. Jack went in to tuck them both in, glad she loved Walter enough to forgive the state of his room, and also thankful for the large bed Ianto had purchased for him once the animals seemed to be sleeping companions.
His mother was soon asleep with the wee man in her arms and Jack stumbled out to a nearby sofa and collapsed. Ianto went to him and gathered him into his arms, crooning softly as he gave in to his own tears.
Idris moved the bassinet from the bedroom into the spare room upstairs. He then settled in with the TV Guide and some snacks for the breaking dawn.
Ianto walked Jack to the bedroom and encouraged him to sleep for a while, then he returned to the main room and tried Gray's phone again.
"What!" came a barked reply.
"Gray?" Ianto sighed with relief, "Have you picked up your messages?"
"Are you fucking kidding? Looks like my message box is full, gonna take ages" he moaned, "God, I'm never going camping again!"
"Sorry Gray. Is Rhia there?" Ianto said calmly and Gray sighed again.
"Ianto? What's wrong Honey" Rhia asked and he told her to sit down.
After that horrible call which let his sister with an uncomfortable task, he checked on Jack again. He was sound asleep, uncovered and gorgeous.
Ianto pulled the covers up and kissed him softly, then went to the kitchen. He made a brew and stared into the darkened garden as he waited for the day to dawn.
It was beautiful. The colours lit up the sky, burning away the dark and he felt a bit better.
Retrieving a book of poems, he began to leaf through it as the list of "To do" things grew on the pad next to him.
By the time Idris woke and deposited a hungry baby in its Taddy's arms, Ianto had a plan and felt in control again.
Jack shuffled in about half an hour later and demanded Noah, retreating to the sofa to cuddle and croon. Ianto left him to his little bubble, Walter joining it when he woke and Ianto placed a blanket over them.
The doorbell marked the arrival of a tearstained Gray who asked hoarsely for his mother and fled to Walter's room as Rhia settled Rory on her mat by the doors.
The sun was streaming in and it had the hallmarks of being a wonderful day.
Ianto made coffee, food and light conversation as the day progressed.
Idris arrived with the undertaker and Jack's mother roused as she was shown pictures of caskets. Ianto then assured her that he would take care of it and she sank gratefully into the sofa where Gray slid behind her.
Ianto frowned as he contemplated the Harkness huddle, then added another blanket to the assorted limbs.
He went with Idris to choose a casket and make some arrangements, returning to find Tosh and Owen pulling up ahead of them. Idris saw the pinched frown and knew Ianto was about to blow them off so he got out quickly and approached, trying to warn them that it was not a good day.
"You think it's funny, calling that time of night?" Owen started off on the wrong foot and Ianto hesitated just long enough to pivot as he walked past hem and headed inside.
"Mandems!" Idris growled at Owen, "He is right flattened out and doesn't need your flapping at him!"
"What's happened?" Tosh asked, seeing Rhia's mini van parked in the driveway as well.
"Jack's Dad fell off his perch last night" Idris answered her politely because she was cute, "Heart attack, I think Toto said when he asked me to come and watch the kids so Jack could do the morgue thing with his mum. Eww."
"That's why he was calling" Tosh's hand went to her mouth with horror.
"Jack's Mum couldn't do it. Poor cow was sitting waiting for them, Toto had to do it 'cos she went all floppy at Jack" Idris sighed then repeated, "Poor cow."