53
"So, she is going to be a problem" Rhys said as they watched the vehicle peel out, Gwen's anger making her poor man hit the gas pedal.
"Well... let her. The snow is here, tonight will be the first real snow fall and it will be deep. With no snow ploughs, those Bugs have no way to traverse the roads… neither will she" Ianto replied "Like another form of Bug… she needs some spray or something to keep her on check."
Rhys started to snigger as he shoved at Ianto.
As if to prove his point, a snowflake fell between them and Ianto grinned widely.
"Boom shaka-laka" Rhys laughed.
.
.
"Right, the tunnels are gone so…"
"No, just collapsed at pinch points. The real problem now is those stuck this side who will realize sooner or later that they can't' get back ot their nest. When that happens they might panic and act… out of character" Ianto cut into Owen's conversation with Mickey "We need to close the gates and be quiet, aware and see if that lookout balcony idea works."
"That's my man, always looking on the bright side" Jack quipped, slapping at Ianto's arse as he passed "come on. Time to baton down the hatches."
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It was about three hours later that a little bell tinkled and everyone looked up at John who stood up on the Crow's Nest. I know, it was not a crow's nest, it is a bloody balcony and no matter how much Ianto argues with him, he kept calling it that (I suspect to piss him off more) and now everyone thought of it as that.
John was pointing and making frantic motions so they all took off for their agreed posts, Mickey excitedly clambering up on the water tower where the platform waited with some guns, extra ammo, a lunch box (yes Martha looks after her man) and bottles of water.
He waved to John who waved back and Ianto and Jack appeared beside him, on the lower level Rhys was visible circling the house to double check everything was shipshape… yes… that irritated Ianto too but they were now deep in the nautical theme.
Two Bugs.
They were moving fast and as predicted, they seemed frantic. The light snow on the ground had not totally obliterated the road and they could see it, rushing along it doing a strange sort of dance that had those watching them stifling giggles. Seems the Bugs do NOT like getting their feet wet at all.
They passed without incident but it had proven Ianto's' point that with no tunnel system, the fuckers would be forced to move across the top to get back. Until they knew the place was Bug free, this was a dangerous time.
The watch was doubled, two on the house and two on the tower so they had a 360 degree watch at all times. Ianto's nervousness was rubbing off so John found a game of Twister in the cupboard and soon the kids were all shrieking with glee, totally forgetting why they were inside.
Ianto headed up in the afternoon, setting on the bed to try an catch some sleep, the night watch soon to be calling. Jack joined him and as they lay there holding one another the faint sound of the bell started again. They did not go out to watch as four Bugs moved past, clearly following the tracks of the larger ones.
Ianto prayed for more snow. And also sort of… less. He wanted all of them gone, out of the valley and back where they came from. Then locked in for winter, those rogue ones out here now cut off from the main group were the danger.
And he knew he would not rest until they had at least three days with no sightings.
To be sure.
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"Do you think she made it?"
Ianto looked over from his chair on the balcony, his feet propped up on the railing and a hot dink in his hands, answering Jack softly "Are you kidding? She made it, she won them all over and is likely trying to decide who to fuck over first… and then who to fuck. You know… she is sort of… well… suited to that place."
"And your Ex?"
Ianto made a snorting sound of amusement "Yeah… she will fuck him too I guess."
Both men grinned as thy listened to the faint bell from the tower, Martha signaling a Bug in the distance.
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"So, they don't seem to hesitate, are not searching like they usually do. They are just…. Vroom… hell for leather" Owen made a cutting motion with his hand as he spoke at the breakfast table "they are not even looking at us."
"And I want it to stay that way" Ianto agreed.
"So… three days of no Bugs and we can rest assured they are done traveling for winter?" Owen asked.
"Well… I don't know if I will be assured, but I will agree to it" Ianto replied and the table laughed as he grimaced.
"Right!" Owen slapped the table "My turn on the tower."
"Actually… was gonna swap ya" Rhys said casually "Me and Andy on the tower, you and Mark on the house? In case you are needed?"
"Oh… I guess" Owen shrugged and Toshiko mouthed her thanks to Rhys who she had confided in early about her fear of Owen falling from the ladder like a fuckwit. Once she had said it, he could totally see it and Andy didn't care as long as they could do it together.
A good man that.
Rhys knew he loved him so.