Ianto opened the door wider and stepped out. It was late evening and the sky was dull with black clouds. Drizzle began to fall from the heavens and Ianto walked out with his towel still around his shoulders.
"Come in, Yan," Jack called out. "You're gonna get soaked...again. You'll catch your death."
Ianto ignored his words and walked up to the rowing boat and stood at the edge of the water. He looked across and could see trees and some parts of his abandoned pub, but the Hitchers convulsing on the ground next to their silently screaming hosts took his attention.
"They're done," Ianto announced.
He was soon joined by the others, still with their towels around their shivering shoulders, and stared out in disbelief.
Although there was relief, nobody cracked a smile.
"I wonder if that's all of them dying like that." Junior stood next to his dad and gently pressed his head against his shoulder. This had been the first time that Gwen had seen any emotion between father and son, and was touched by what she saw.
"I think the planes did them in." Lloyd stood up straight, still shivering. "At least nobody will need to keep a watch now."
Junior queried, "You mean they were scared of them—the noise, I mean?"
"I don't think so, Junior," said his father. "I think they were probably stopped by them, maybe even killed them. They're still human, but I don't think they have the intelligence that they had before they were infested."
"I've seen the films," said Junior. "But I never thought they'd be this quick."
Knowing what Junior was trying to say, Ianto said, "They're not zombies, Junior?"
"No?"
"No. They're still people, technically still alive, whose bodies are ravaged with some sort of spider thing that transforms the hosts bodies and minds. The immediate change is a total reversion to an aggressive, feral personality type." Ianto laughed, "Maybe you should have paid more attention to the TV rather than your Xbox."
"That's my fault," Lloyd spoke up. "I didn't really want him to see all of the footage they were showing. He'd seen enough; then I urged him to go to his room and told him that things should die down in a few days."
"According to what we've seen," Jack turned to look at Junior, "an infested individual will attack any human, regardless of past emotional connection, with rabid ferocity, and all the strength and mobility they can muster. Both the biological Hitchhiker, and its primal hosts spread quicker than the creatures in the Romero films you've been watching."
"So what's worse? Them or..." Junior paused and began to feel his throat tighten with emotion.
"I think the good news is that these things were more fragile than what you've seen in the movies." This time it was Gwen's turn to speak. "The better news is that we're in the middle of nowhere and I'm pretty sure we, humans, will overcome this. I reckon these Hitchers have all been hit with whatever those planes were sending out, killing Hitcher and host. By this time tomorrow, we will be safe again."
"We'll be fine." Lloyd now had his arm around his frightened son. "We just need to ride it out, that's all."
"Dad?"
"What is it?"
Junior broke down in front of Ianto and Joan, but appeared oblivious that they were next to him. "I'm still scared."
As both father and son hugged one another, Jack tapped Ianto on the shoulder and made a head gesture to suggest that they should both leave Lloyd and Junior alone during this emotional and delicate period.
With a towel still around their shoulders, Ianto and Jack squelched their way back to the cabin, kicked their shoes off and took off their wet socks and crashed on the couch together.
"You okay?" asked Ianto.
"Not bad, considering..." Jack smiled.
Ianto leaned his head back and looked up to the ceiling. He then closed his eyes and could feel the head of Jack resting on his shoulder.
"I wonder if the Doctor was behind that?" murmured Ianto.
Jack was too tired to respond.
It had been a few days from hell, and neither one was absolutely certain what was in store for them the next day.
As for now, all they both wanted to do was sleep.
Rhiannon and Micha had already settled in a bed and David climbed into Ianto's lap for a cuddle, Jack smiling softly at the little man.
Tosh and Owen were quietly putting a meal together and it seemed domestic somehow.
When Lloyd and Junior returned from outside, Gwen had moved and was now snuggled up on the mattress, still with the towels around her. Lloyd and Junior decided to share the couch.
They all lay down and worried about what tomorrow would bring. Ianto remembered something that was on his friend's coffee mug from work.
It stated: The struggle you're in today, is developing the strength for tomorrow.
"Good night, people," whispered Lloyd. "Here's to a better tomorrow."
Nobody responded, and the owner of The White Horse pub turned on his side and closed his eyes.
It was time to rest.
.
.
.
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I am leaving it here as noone seems to be invested in this and it is a good ending. Thanks for reading, anyone that did.