11

Jack was moving through the gates to leave the village when he became aware of the large boxes still being unpacked. He made a mental note of the numbers along the side of one of the boxes and once back from his briefing at the next village, he passed them on to Toshiko who was waiting with Owen and Ianto to greet him inside the barriers. He saw the dangerous look Ianto gave him and knew something had happened while he was gone.

"What?"

Ianto went to answer but found himself unable to "Jack … can you pull over? I need some air. This dog is farting again."

Once the SUV was on the side of the road Ianto booked it out across the field to stand in the rain. After a moment or two the others got out and walked over.

"We need to be overly careful now. The SUV might be bugged too. We leave it parked on the street, they could bug it, track it… anything." Ianto warned "Those gates being put in… they are body scanners. They are about to close the gates."

"What will that mean?" Jack asked.

"It will mean all vehicles are left outside the cordon, we can only walk in and out… through the barriers like at an airport only they will check bodies passing through." Ianto hissed "Toshiko, if you ARE pregnant, you cannot come back with us. When we go on Friday… it has to be for good. If we can't get you out now before they finalize their numbers… they will lock you in."

"But if she doesn't come back…"

"So you both have to have a reason to stay in the city. We have to protect you. Toshiko, look at me. Do you want them to have you imprisoned? Do you want them to take your child when it is born? Do you want that? We both know that is likely their intent. If these babies are something… not normal… they are gone and what about everyone else? Like they can scoop up thirty or forty kids and no one kicks up?"

"What are you saying?" Owen asked.

"Gas leak… or maybe a jet plane crash… they will sort of… wipe the village off the map and all those inside the cordon." Ianto said softly, his eyes going over the moors "Incoming."

They all turned to see five Red Caps walking towards them and Jack grinned as his dog took off to challenge them. Some laughter as Jack called her back like they were just another tramping party, coming alongside.

"A bit chilly out here, what are you all up to?" the leader of the pack asked.

"She's been shut in all day and with Friday being my day for the city, we are giving her a good walk first. Actually… might take her with us. She destroyed her room last time" Ianto said in an off the cuff way "The vet can give her her shots and such. Her claws need clipping too, you wanna argue with her?"

They nodded "so back Sunday?"

"Yes, back to start the final build for the fete the next weekend, god help us all" Ianto smiled as he turned to whistle the dog.

"Every last Friday of the month… you missed the last one."

"Yeah, I contacted them and they offered to send me the meds I needed, told me to let it go as things were still up in the air over what happened and they didn't want the publicity of me being at the clinic. In the end, we missed it. I can't miss it again."

"Ah, yes. Cancer."

"Yes. Cancer!" Jack answered now, his voice flat to show his annoyance "Let's go in. She's tiring."

They broke up.

.

.

Jack didn't want to walk the moors again but knew he and his husband needed a quiet word away from everyone else, so the only other place was the shower.

They both stood there with the water cascading over them, Jack letting his hands slid up and down Ianto's arms like it was a subconscious thing. Strangely he was drawn to him more than ever, seeing him like this… vulnerable… made him sexy and Jack could not tell why. Maybe because for the first time, Jack actually felt like the one who could do something "Where are we Tiger?"

"In the crap" Ianto replied sagely "Jack, I don't like this. It stinks of cover-up. Whatever caused this, I think Owen's 'something in the water' idea is not far off."

Jack looked up at the shower rose above them as it rained down softly, then back to Ianto "So… what now?"

"We have to get Toshiko out. I think she is gone, I think she knows she is and is not willing to say it out loud and Owen is in denial. But… I am sure of it. Those things going in are going to detect a fucking bladder infection!" Ianto swore softly. "We will have to walk away too, you know that right? This dream job...I am sorry."

"How will we manage it if they are already operational?"

"We will use me as interference. If they are to detect hormone levels I will set them off with my cancer meds on board. I have two lots there so I will double dose and once through the cordons I will heave them up again… I am going to be essentially as hormonal as a pregnant woman and it will show right? After all, they all know I have cancer. If we make all the right moves… we get out."

"If we do this, I am throwing away my job"

"If we don't we might be throwing away our lives Cariad." Ianto whispered softly "do you think they will let anyone here live? We both know one way or another everyone not taken for testing will be surplus."

"Agreed."

"Right… well… since we are here…"

"Really?" Jack smiled softly as he felt more affection for Ianto than he had felt in a long time. This thing happening was scary, confusing but to see Ianto as himself again, the cancer not forefront in his mind, made Jack felt like they might have a chance after all.

Ianto was right.

Time to stop thinking of everyone else and get their family out.

It did not occur to Jack what he had just said about his meds. Two lots there…

Ianto has stopped taking them?