19

"Movement" the old judge was by their door and Ianto looked up blearily, half asleep in the late evening quiet. "Someone thinks they heard movement outside the south doors."

"Shit" Jack went to move and Ianto seized his arm, shaking his head.

"There will be a free for all, there will be those who rush to get out and there might be more violence or mistaken hurt. Please stay back with us. I would rather be last out."Ianto begged "Let them take the questions, cameras and limelight. Please, stay here and keep us safe one more time."

"It's OK" Jack settled back on the bed looking at the baby in Ianto's arms, "you're right. We can wait. It's OK."

It was another five hours before the doors swung open and the evacuations began. Jack waited with his family until the quarantine area was cleared out then he lifted his daughter to his hip and they started to move with Ianto carrying the baby.

The cameras were waiting in the dawn light. Apparently more than one person had told of their time down there and the revelation that a Harkness was in the Harkness Bunker of the Harkness family itself was a boon, cameras honing in on them as they emerged. Ianto hung back so Jack and Alice were in the limelight hoping to slide around the chaos but a hand fell on his arm, "And you are his new husband? Wed in there? How romantic."

Ianto blinked and smiled weakly, "Yes, well. We were not sure of the outcome and wanted it lodged that we were together. Didn't want to die un-bonded. Ya know?"

"Oh my Great Pete! That voice" someone gasped, cameras moving as Jack rushed to stand beside him.

"Gorgeous isn't it? Makes me go all mushy, like hot chocolate for the soul" Jack gushed, "Even when he's mad and scolding me he sounds so sexy!"

"Stop that" Ianto scolded, "Incorrigible you!"

Jack laughed and the vid-coms verse wide caught the adoring look Ianto shot at Jack while he wasn't' looking before he looked down at the bundle in his arms to hide it.

The Verse awed.

Well, most of it.

They managed to secure a hopper and moved over the uneven terrain towards what had been the house, Jack's face stony as they watched it come onto view. Rubble. Like Ianto had feared.

"Bugger" Ianto huffed, "At least some of it is still standing. We can salvage some things for transport to Old Earth right?"

"Yeah, the sleeping quarters are intact at least" Jack agreed as he saw it was not all lost, "Maybe some of her things on the rompus room if the doors closed and locked like they were supposed to. Damn it."

"What about your family things?" Ianto asked with genuine worry.

"Already in storage, I had started packing when I met you" Jack assured him "I felt something that day. I knew we would be OK. We will salvage what we can over the next few days while I secure our travel permits. My brother and sister are already screaming on Old Earth for help, we will get it."

"Where will we stay?" Ianto asked, ever the organiser as he looked around, "And we still need to talk about Caden."

"We will stay in the bunker if we have to but I think we would qualify for quarters on the ship in orbit. I know you hate space but…"

"Yeah. Agreed" Ianto sighed with a grimace, "We have to think of these two. They need to be safe. OK. I cannot go back down there for Pete sake. OK."

Jack saw to that while Ianto held Alice back from entering the ruins as he explained calmly that it might not be safe. He pointed to the falling debris and told her it might squash her and he would be so sad he would die.

Alice turned to hug him as she promised with big eyes not to go in if he promised not to die. Ianto promised with a pinkie swear that they would all stay together and she hugged him with glee as she declared him her bestest friend who wasn't Daddy.

So sweet.

Jack returned to them and nodded, "We have an Away Vessel headed this way to scoop us up. I would like to go in and get a few things but…"

"I can't come with you. I promised Alice I would not leave her" Ianto said softly, "We can wait in the Away Vessel, she need not know what you are doing."

"OK" Jack agreed, trusting Ianto with her in a heartbeat. He knew that he had overreacted now, Ianto would die for his baby. Anyone's.

"Come on Alice" Ianto said excitedly, "See the ship coming in? We're allowed on it for a snoop. Think we can find some cool buttons and things?"

Soon they were exploring the vessel as good natured crew let the little one in the pilot's seat and such as they made such a fuss of her that she didn't even notice her father was not there. Jack returned with several bags and dumped them, Ianto relieved to see his amongst them. He was sick of those PJs.

As they slowly ascended through the lower atmo Ianto felt something releasing and was horrified to find tears silently rolling down his face as he looked down at the carnage below. It looked so much worse now, the entire scene below like a war zone.

Jack held his hand in the silence as Alice sat up in the cockpit unable to see their distress.

They left it all behind.