2

They all stared at Jack as he walked to the left, away from Ianto and as their eyes followed Jack none of them detected the movement of Ianto's hair, the slight tremors that became soft waves as if fingers were threading through it. Air seemed to shimmer around him, his eyes closing as he communed and back at the school Scout was also standing in the grass at the back doors in the same position.

Jack was now standing on the road, in the direction they had come from, his hands still in his pockets and he smiled disarmingly at them, "Well now. What can we do for you?"

"The school, there is a school in there and we need to get in!" the woman said as she stepped forward and Jack held up a hand stopping her.

"Sorry sweetheart, but he doesn't like you advancing on me like that" Jack said as Crypto slid around the vehicle and appear beside Jack, his size growing as he stalked them, his snout elongating as he snarled, his teeth glistening.

"Holy shit, what the hell is that!"

"That's my friend" Jack said happily, "He doesn't like you though. I don't think you are allowed in."

Jack watched the two released prisoners staggering at the other side of the vehicle and towards Ianto, the unharmed one showing recognition as he launched himself at him, clasping him for a moment and then stepping back, leaning down to remove his own shoes. The woman simply collapsed into the grass and lay her face in the coolness of the dirt.

Shit.

Things are about to get real.

"Look Captain, things have changed. We don't answer to you bloody pencil pushers now" one of the men laughed, "So piss off or we run you down!"

Jack could feel it now, the crackle in the air. The smell of something that was earthy yet … hot. He wondered if it was what Lava smelt like … brimstone ….well, he did say it was hell coming for them right? Jack shrugged and sighed, "You really don't get it do you. We do not care if you want in. You do not have an invitation."

Back at the school Mica had stepped from the back door to stand with Scout, her bare feet in the soil of the yard as she hesitantly raised her arms for her first ever casting. She was nervous but felt the power in the air and knew she could do this.

Ianto felt her join… the power of his little girl in the bond made him smile, Jack watching the beauty of his mate before remembering that they had something to do.

"Look. There are far and few between of us left now … living. Crawlers are everywhere and they do not seem to be going away anytime soon. Any human life left is precious, I do not want to see you lot dead but if you don't let this idea of the school go I might not be able to stop them."

"Sop them" one of the soldiers repeated, "Stop who?"

Jack smiled softly "The Fay."

They all laughed as one turned to the vehicle, "We know what hoodoo-voodoo you lot live by but as you know, this is the real world. No such thing as magic, this might have been a cute little cult following but we are done with that bullshit now."

He yanked the door open and stared at the empty interior. "Fuck. Where are they?"

"Behind you" Jack said and they all turned to find Ianto now levitating off the ground as was the man, his hands untied and free, his eyes glowing as intensely as Ianto's. The woman was sprawled spread-eagle on the ground like she was dinking something from it and Jack knew she must have been badly hurt to be seeking power like that.

"I think the words Ianto there is thinking are from the book he has been reading us called Lord of the Rings … something along the lines of … You Shall Not Pass…. Right Tiger?" Jack grinned, "You gonna smite them?"

Ianto's grin was predatory as his eyes flashed, changing colour from the iridescent blue to bright white, almost a golden light.

"Last chance, he doesn't want to but will defend what we have. You made a terrible mistake when you came here. The kids are all gone. School holidays, the staff too. Just us freaks left" Jack started to walk back to stand behind Ianto, Crypto's exaggerated stalking as he followed making it seem like he was walking in slow motion. Never once did he break his glare from the people he wanted to taste. Crunch. Kill.

"Dusk soon" Jack said after a while, "We might want to just leave them out here for the Crawlers or …"

Lightning crashed, the air popped Jack's ears as Ianto spoke softly "No."

One word, all that seemed needed as the woman on the ground threw her head back, her hands now buried in the soil as she screamed.

Jack was transfixed on Ianto as he expanded and the world….

Fluxed.