3

They ate, Rhys still unable to believe how much they had and he was amused slightly by his woman's ability to be such an idiot. He also found it hard to look at Barbie, having seen the way she and her husband had been ejected.

Barbie had assured him that she did not blame him but still, he felt like he should have done something more than protect his missus and the little fella. He had watched Suzie do that and held on tight to what he could hold on to. Ianto did not fault him on that. At least they all knew now what Ianto had worked out looking at Suzie's talons. She had bene the ejector.

It was late afternoon, the day seeming to lag, and Ianto watched as Owen and Rhys added more driftwood to their bonfire. He was glad they had something to do. He also knew it was all so bloody wet that it would never burn but… well… it gave them something to do and they seemed to enjoy it like little boys.

The Lord of the Flies came to mind and he sniggered softly, watching as Toshiko encouraged the little one to drink some coconut milk. The waterlogged book in the nappy bag told them he was just over eight months old. Owen had assured them that after six months old it could be introduced slowly but at eight months… with little alternative… he might adjust OK.

Seems he is adjusting to it, wide eyes as he suckled.

"What are you thinking now!" Jack asked whiting as Ianto carefully folded up the piece of paper he had been looking at.

"That some of these papers need to be in a plastic bag to be kept dry" Ianto replied softly, smiling to show that he was accepting of the repeated question still.

"And?"

"And that I need to weave some fine rope if I am to build a snare to catch a pig"

"Ooooo" Jack grinned. He settled to watch, his eyes moving from Ianto's calm face to the nimble hands making a rope that was like… a four plait? It looked like it was square… clever and… advanced. Ianto looked up and saw Jack holding the end of the rope, feeling it with obvious interest.

"I was a bit of a sailor in my time."

"You know Tiger, sooner or later I am going to call bullshit on all of your lies." Jack said quietly, "But until then, you go right ahead blowing smoke up everyone's arses."

Ianto blinked then started a soft snigger, that quickly evolved into a full-blown display of glee his hands dropping the rope as he placed his hands on his stomach, his head tipping back for a glorious crowing bellow.

Jack knew he had fallen for this man but… damn… he looked so fuckable in his messy clothing, his shirt sleeves rolled up and shirt open to show that hairy chest Jacky didn't even know was a trigger for him. Fuck.

"OK. You and me… just between us" Ianto said softly as he picked up the rope again, his giggles still in the background as he tried to bring himself to order "Mabe… maybe I was in something like the special forces OK? Like... Navy Seals but not quite."

"Like SAS?"

"Like" Ianto nodded then exploded in giggles again "I was raised by extremists who believed in the end of the world. An apocalypse coming. Had a compound in the country, bunkers, weapons galore and survival classes… the whole kit and caboodle. I was recruited as a spy. At first I didn't understand, these were my people ya know? Then it became known to me that it was not my people that scared the crown… it was those we dealt with in the fringes. The Crazies as we called them. We were scared of them and respectful, kept out distance and traded when they demanded it out of fear and respect. Helped bring down a plot to blow up the palace… believe it or not. I was only nineteen. My family were torn over it, my parents sort of cut me off. My sister… well… she saw it as a means to escape as well, her and her fella."

"And then?"

"Well, I became an asset. I became usable in the field and went on to infiltrate a few more cells before they agreed that I was becoming too recognizable and let me go with a lovely Thank You Bank Balance. I think really that is what my wife loved the most about me. My bank account. She tried every which way to Sunday to get dosh out of me every chance she got" Ianto's smile faded, seeing his wife in a light he had always blocked out deliberately. Those rose tinted glasses were a bitch and he had worn them for too long.

"So … She was the love of your life."

"No. Just the only love I had ever known" Ianto shrugged like it was no big deal, rising to test the rope by placing his foot on it and yanking, satisfied with his work before he began fashioning a noose. "So… let's go lay a trap."

Jack rose with him and resisted the urge to place a hand in the small of his back, feeling oddly protective of this powerful creature that showed himself to be vulnerable and badly hurt inside.

Jack knew he had to protect him. And this knowledge he had so quietly shared, Jack feeling like he had never spoken so freely with someone else before. Not even Lisa saw this man's small hurt child inside.

But Jack did.

And he now had a focus.

Ianto.