25
Ianto was kneeling with his hand down the hole as he watched Jack pose and posture for the UNIT crew trying to get past him and Gwen. At least it had stopped raining.
His fingers caught it and he almost had it but the sleek metal thing slipped back and he swore softly, closing his eyes to concentrate, pulling again and this time getting a firm grip. Once it was half way up the hole left form the force of the impact he called to Jack who raced to see, falling to his knees with excitement.
"Quick, into the box" Jack hissed, helping Ianto slide it into a box shaped like a pizza, same as the small ship. Then Jack stood and grinned at those watching the exchange as he hissed softly. "Internal pressure good Tiger, it's safe to move."
Ianto rose, tucking the box under his arm like it was nothing and started to walk, "OI!"
The UNIT officer was bearing down quickly and Gwen's foot shot out tripping the man with ease and they all watched him slide in the mud like he was stealing a base. Ianto raised his foot to avoid getting splashed and the still immaculate Oxfords flashed past the man's nose as Ianto walked calmly to the SUV and slid into the passenger seat, the box now gently placed on his lap.
Owen was excitedly waiting, pulling at the box from between the seats and Ianto growled softly that if he didn't behave there would be no hot chocolate with coffee shot.
"Ooooo" Owen said as he shot back and clipped his seatbelt like a good boy, the rare offer of a real Ianto mocha too good to pass up. Even for something as exciting as a spaceship.
Back at the hub Jack placed the ship on the examination table and knelt, lifting the arm with the VM attached and keying in a code. The little ship make a farting noise that had Owen giggling like a loon, then a small opening dropped and Jack gasped as a tiny body fell out.
"Shit. Is tht a cat?" Owen asked with awe "A tiny fucking cat?"
Jack lifted the body of the tiny cat no bigger than a jelly bean and he sighed softly, "We got there too late. Poor wee fluffs. This is an escape pod for pets. Wait."
Jack crouched and made a kissing sound, and then a tiny paw reached out around the hole to feel the edge of the ship then disappeared again.
"Come on sweeties" Jack crooned and they slowly appeared, little fluffs with tiny wee paws an whiskers and such. They were in perfect proportion, just so small that they seemed to be toys more than real cats.
"Shit" Ianto said softly, "Babies."
"So sweet" Jack was crooning, watching as Ianto reached out a hand and a little one rubbed its face on a finger.
"I'll call the Doctor and see when he is in the timeline next, he can do a scoop and run. These wee things don't belong on a big scary plant like this, there are mini worlds for them out there." Jack said as he rose and headed for his office, then the one thing Ianto didn't want to happen did.
"KITTIES!"
"Flynn? What are you…ahhhh, no!"Ianto groaned as not only his son's face appeared over the railing but two more.
"What the hell?" Jack groaned as he descended the steps again.
"Rhiannon chipped a tooth and had to go to the dentist, she asked me to mind them then we got the call. I told them to stay topside." Tosh defended herself with a frown at them as they all looked not the least bit sorry.
"We were bored, can we touch?" Flynn asked eagerly.
"You can come look, but no touching" Jack decided, "so little. They can hurt really easily and you would feel terrible if you made one cry, right?"
Flynn nodded enthusiastically as he approached and then sighed happily, watching the wee ginger one love his Taddy's finger. His Taddy did have lovely fingers after all.
"We can't just keep one?" David asked with big eyes, making Jack squirm.
"No" Ianto didn't fall for such things and looked the children in the eyes, each in turn as he explained why not. "They will hurt and die. They need a mama and there is no mama their size here. Doctor will take them to a place where they can have friends and one day get married to have their own babies. That's how it is and to keep one is to keep a tiger in your bedroom. Cool idea but mean."
"Yeah" David pouted as he was forced to agree.
"I already have my tiger" Jack said softly, making Ianto blush as he scolded him silently and then snorted.
Cheeky beggar.
Ianto looked back at the little ones, marvelling at their sweetness knowing full well who had who by the tail thank you very much!