9
Ianto woke to a lovely sound, rolling from the bed to open the curtains and look out the window at the downpour.
"Rain?" Jack asked from the bed as he stretched and enjoyed the image of a naked Welshman's silhouette in the pale moonlight. With the rain and low cloud it was almost dark, even though it was clearly morning. Ianto and Jack both woke at the same Dawn time.
"It's bucketing down, already surface flooding on the ground."
"That Fire House is an hour's drive to the east. I know it is not towards your home town but if it is raining like this all day, it's a good time to find out if the Buggers stay inside or not" Jack said as he rolled to his side and watched Ianto consider an answer before turning to show he had morning wood. Nice. "Want some help with that? We really need to stop feeling this tension and just… fuck already"
Ianto looked down and Jack knew he was blushing, even as he covered himself like someone might walk in and be shocked in their house they had to themselves. Ianto kissed him, initiating sex and for the first time, innuendo and silly flirting gave way and they had their first real fuck. And it was a great fucking fuck if ya wanna know, both men enjoying the release as they felt safe enough to be vulnerable for the first time since meeting.
Afterwards they lay there panting through the aftershocks as Ianto let himself drift. Jack finally said "Wow."
"Hmmmm."
"So… Fire House?"
"After Brekkie. We will see if anyone wants to come with" Ianto rolled to him and kissed him gently, such affection in that soft touch.
They got up and got ready for the day, Ianto first to be suited and booted, his combat boots shining. Jack was not surprised to find his own boots were as well. Sometime in the night those damned fairies came again and Jack was again taken with this man's work ethic. "What did you do for a crust again?"
"Cyber Tech and IT" Ianto replied as he looked over at him, the side arm he had taken from one of the soldier's bodies always last to be strapped on, first thing available in a moment of panic.
"Not a super soldier or something?" Jack grinned.
"Maybe a weekend territorial" Ianto said with a grin, "Like you."
"Yeah, we both spent our youth aspiring to be something better I guess" Jack snorted "and I was a weekend Home guard too. How about that. You too?"
"Yeah, every weekend, out in the woods with a compass, map and supplies. An overnighter with a team who were shitting themselves and deciding they were not cut out for a fox screaming in the night."
Jack laughed as they walked to the main house and found Rhys ready to go as well.
"So, you are really gonna push on?" Martha asked as her hands rolled around her ample stomach.
"I have to. I promised her I would be home for a cuddle." Ianto replied softly "If she is still there…. God… even saying that… if I find her, I will bring her back here. You are safer. This place… we can fortify and defend better here and I know that. Also, smaller numbers. If I find my daughter I will."
"And if you don't?" Francine asked. "If she is not in the survivors?"
"Then I will bring him back, what is left of him" Jack said softly.
Owen started to rise and Jack waved a hand at him "Oh no you don't. You're missus is not going to want to be left behind but she's benched now we are somewhere safe, Martha is due to pop and you are needed here."
Owen waivered, looking back at Toshiko who nodded her agreement "Two of us with child. If you fail and get yourself deaded, what are we supposed to do?"
Owen sat back down, torn between feeling inadequate and relived.
"Besides" Ianto said as he packed a light lunch, hoping for more supplies at the firehouse "if we make it back injured and half dead, you need to be in top condition to save us. Not one of the damaged. And we all know you would not shirk."
Owen perked up as Toshiko mouthed her thanks and the three men took to the road.
"You don't have to come" Ianto said to Rhys who snorted softly.
"I am happy to have my little girl, leave her safe with these people. You need your daughter too. Come on, sooner we get this done, the sooner we can be back here and hunkering down. This downpour looked settled in for several days" Rhys said calmly "Don't want the rivers to rise too much and cut us off."
"Good point" Jack grunted "Besides, we need a third. One to drive this, one to drive the Suppressor Truck and one to man the water gun."
"Which is why you need a fourth for shits and giggles" Mickey said behind them, making them all swing to look at him with surprise "I need to see what is left. I had friends in that town, good friends and I can get you past the roadblocks if they are a little antsy. You think to strange vehicles with armed men will be welcome?"
"Strange?" Ianto gasped "me? Jack is definitely strange and exotic… but me?"
"Toto mate, even I didn't recognize ya for a beat or two. Look at ya… all… Wolverine on us" Mickey waved a hand up and down and Ianto scratched at his prickly beard as he considered the comment.
"Wolverine huh? What does that make Jack? Captain America?" Ianto asked.
"Different universes" Rhys said back "Ya can't mix Marvel with X-Men."
"Captain Cheese Cake more like" Mickey agreed.
"OI!" Jack said with fake horror.
"Well... I like cheese cake. Could eat that all day" Ianto said dreamily and they all laughed as they rolled over the cattle stop, their fear masked with joviality.
They had to have hope.