51
They reached the next homestead on dusk, Ianto steely quiet in the passenger seat now as John sat in the back, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that hail had come like Ianto had called it down on them.
It was only the fact Mickey was not disturbed by this that comforted him that this was not a new thing.
The new homestead was huge, looked like some sort of tourist trap. Ianto headed to the kitchen again, this time he seemed calmer. They closed and locked everything, this time settling in the middle room that led to all the others, like a sort of communal living room.
They ate in silence, Ianto distractedly pulling at books on the shelves while doing so, almost like a child in a store looking for the right toy. John watched Jack's face, seeing the utter adoration in his look and knew Ianto had Jack wrapped around his little finger, even if he didn't know it himself.
"So… first thing in the morning we reach the third system and then… boom" John finally could not stand the silence anymore and broke it with his usual bluntness.
"Hmmmm, I think I want to sleep in here too" Ianto finally spoke, "feels safer in here. Like a cuddly hug."
"Well… there are four sofas, we can all sleep in here" John shrugged.
"This one is huge, me and Ianto can be together" Jack finally spoke as well, making Ianto turn to look at him and blush as he looked coyly around and then went back to fiddling with shelves and their tat.
Mickey pulled over the bag he had brought in with him, opening it to pull out the map from within "Yeah. About an hour's drive to the west, we set our final bomb boomer and then head for here, almost to home before we push the button to set them off."
"And you are sure the signal will still be ok that far underground?" Ianto asked without turning from the latest piece of tat he was fiddling with.
"Yes, these can be set off on a plane over eight hours away… when we push this button, all three will go at once" Mickey assured him.
Ianto hummed softly, slipping the little figurine into his pocket, then turning to look at Jack "Right. There is an attic in this place?"
Jack did not know why he wanted to know that but rose, the two of them searching for a manhole in the ceiling of the hallways, and then pulling down the ladder before both heading up into the semidarkness of the loft space.
"What are we looking for?"
"You ask me these questions" Ianto muttered, "always with the questions."
Jack sighed as he started to look for Christmas decorations or whatever, the hand on his butt a surprise as Ianto whispered "There is a sofa under that sheet… I bet that's big enough for two too."
Oh.
Oh… OK.
Jack didn't have to search for the energy to do what Ianto wanted now, after all… if was what Jack needed too.
And they were sort of quiet, the occasional thump or squeal heard downstairs making Mickey say to John "Mice up there I bet. Listen to Ianto squealing like a girl."
Both men giggling as upstairs Ianto bit Jack on the hip and Jack squealed again, slapping at him and giggling insanely.
Oh yes.
Nervous energy dissipated in the nicest possible way.
.
.
"There…. See by the raised concrete thingee" John pointed and Mickey swung the wheel, the awesome four wheel drive they had found in the garage rode like a fucking dream.
The Transporter was following behind and both vehicles were pretty full, the extra bedding and cooking stuff, food and even some Christmas decorations… yeah… go figure… Ianto did look for some after Jack was asleep… and they were almost on the final leg.
Jack and John levered up the manhole from the ground and then John dropped effortlessly into the black before a yelp was heard.
"Are you OK?" Jack called down "did you turn your ankle? John?"
Silence, then a strange sound like rustling.
Ianto reacted without a second thought, puling the blade from his boot as he pulled his gun from the side holster with the other hand, dropping into the black as Jack grabbed for him, a beat too late.
Ianto entered the dim light and swung at the Bug that John had inadvertently landed on, his limp body nearby scaring Ianto into a rage and he swung the blade into the thing's face, snarling as he forced it against the wall and fired several times into it's torso.
"Fuck"
Ianto turned his head to find John on his feet, staggering over to look at the dead Bug pinned to the wall by the blade through it's head.
"Are you OK? Did it… get topside…now!"
"Hang on we need to set the charge so…"
Ianto seized him and yanked him towards the ladder "UP NOW! JACK … CHECK HIM FOR SCRATCHES!"
John found himself topside being undressed as Jack made sure John did not have any claw marks. John sighed "I tried to say. It threw me, slammed me with it's arm thing. No claws."
Ianto appeared, out of breath and frantic "Manhole cover… now. I hear some coming to see what happened to the big one. I mean it, let's go."
They closed the cover and ran for the vehicles, Ianto yelling that the charge was set and ready.
They drove like the hounds of hell were after them and as they stood together, pushing the button and watching the distant smoke plumes they all counted silently.
One.
Two….
Three.
Thank fuck.
All tunnels were closed.
"Well, that's that" John said happily.
"Just those stuck this side of the collapses to worry about" Ianto agreed, talking to Jack and they all turned to gape at him as they had not thought of that.
Typical.
Ianto had been thinking of that all along.
Fuck.
Clean up Aisle three?