2

The second house was the same, Ford beside himself as the woman lay gracefully slumped on the floor next to the parcel.

The team raced to alert the other houses as Ford stood shaking with rage, his hands closed as fists swinging at his sides as he tried to stay calm.

This one had been a personal favorate, the blue skinned lady delicate and polite to the point of painful. A race that fed off energy, she had found this solar paneled dwelling perfect for her needs.

So much like Tosh that Ianto had touched her without thinking on more than one occasion, giving them both a small electric shock that had reduced them to giggles and apologies.

Now, in death her colour was muted, as if they had stolen her vibrancy as well as her life.

Jack knew he was mourning and walked gingerly around him as he checked the parcel and found more fur, again it was almost too obvious and Tosh called out that she had traced two more parcels, luckily caught by Andy and Gwen.

"So, we've thwarted them this time" Ford huffed.

"Yes, thyne enemy is smote!" Owen snarked, then watched Ford blink at the sarcasm.

Ford's soft chuff of laughter was a balm as Owen's humor was appreciated and Ford relaxed, rubbing his face.

"I don't know why they are doing this, what they hope to achieve." Ford sighed, letting his hands drop, "Cariad? Any ideas?"

"No babe. I'm as flummoxed as you are" Jack huffed, his hands on his hips in hero pose.

Ianto couldn't help a small smile as he looked at his handsome mate, posing unconsciously and gave into desire, stepping forward to kiss him and side his hands around him.

"Hey, you OK?" Owen asked, worry on his face as he covered the space between them to place a hand on Ford's shoulder.

"Just sad" Ford said softly, burrowing his face in Jack's neck.

"We still have several houses to watch" Tosh said after a while, "Six more occupied not targeted."

"Yet" Ford said angrily, pulling back and Jack saw tears before they were quickly banished with an angry swipe of a hand.

"So?" Gwen spoke, "We wait? We Watch? What? I suggest we focus on them now. Ford, focus."

"Watch. Yes, good work Gwennie" Ford nodded softly, "Gwen, Tosh, Owen, Andy, Leia, me and Jack. Six houses, we stake them out and see who comes with the next parcel."

"We move those already in residence?" Owen asked.

"No, They'll see" Gwen answered for Ford, "We will simply go in and settle. Sleep on the sofa if need be but we keep out of sight so they think it's just the family there."

"Right, Jack and I will stay together and we will go to the Gisherb family as I feel they are the next, as they are the next important ones. The other five are small fry compared to a royal representative."

"Agreed" Jack nodded, "Gwen, Rhys might like a go. If so it would free Tosh up to remain at the hub, if not he is competent enough to handle coms instead."

"Rhys is very good with coms but you are right, the field work might make him feel a bit more like a member of the team." Ford said softly, "I hated not being part of the action. It did make me feel like a glorified janitor."

"Ford" Jack said softly.

"It's OK. It was Ianto. Not me. I know I will never be overlooked my love, I know that now" Ford smiled as he watched the genuine concern in Jack's eyes.

"So, we go back to the hub and assess this" Jack said, taking command, "Tosh? Assign people their houses please."

As he crawled back home Ford pondered the strange events and tried to work out who was trying to undermine them.

Undermine Jack.

Ford's eyes slid to his mate who was gripping the steering wheel as his own thoughts swirled.

Jack's worry was for Ford, how this might affect him given the blatant hint at Ware involvement.

This had to get sorted.

Ford was not himself, his worry coming off him in waves.

Jack didn't like the feeling he was getting from him.

He was afraid.