12

Ianto stood there with a feeling of loss, like someone had suddenly swept the rug out from under him and he could not quite understand why.

"Could you repeat that Mona?"

"We all talked it over and we think you are not a good fit for the committee" she said slowly "And the cancer thing… well… we thing the funds should go towards something for the kids. So many of us pregnant and maybe money towards a new playground or something, or an update of things at the school."

"The… the cancer thing?"

"Well, no one who is a village member has cancer, it's all outsiders so… we don't think we need to give money to some national thing that will never help us or our own kind personally" Diane agreed with her mother-in-law. "I mean… good god-fearing people like us don't have to worry about the thing God gives those… digressers."

"I see" Ianto said softly, turning his head to look at each woman's face "OK. Right. Thank you for clarifying that. No one who belongs here in your village has cancer. Ok. Right. Anyone who does deserves it for sinning…. Wow."

They all stared back and he felt this strange feeling of pain, silly really. He didn't want to be here and they were leaving anyway right? So why did he feel that kick straight to his gonads?

He was half way home before he felt the first prickle of tears and he was almost there when he slammed into someone "Ah, careful where to you there Mister Jones. We watch where we are going around here."

"Fuck you too" he choked out, slamming into his house and closing the door to lean against. His sobs making his chest ache.

"Ianto?"

Ianto looked up from his feet to find Jack in the kitchen doorway with a tea towel in his hand "Ianto?"

"It's OK.. it's… it's…. oh god. They kicked me off the committee because I am not pregnant" Ianto started to laugh at it now, the absurdity of their views and his own reaction that was so stupid too "And they decided the proceeds will not go toward cancer research because no one who belongs here has cancer."

"What? What… wait… they all know you have cancer. We've not made a secret of it. Who said that to you!" Jack demanded, getting angry now.

"No…it doesn't matter."

"Clearly it does" Jack pulled him in close and felt those invisible strings of righteousness that kept him upright most days snapping. Ianto slumped as he gave in. Jack did too once he heard the words used.

They were ready to go too.

.

.

"Captain, how long are you going for?" Gwen laughed as she saw the screeds of paperwork he was trying to get through.

"Ianto's cancer treatment and I want to be fully focused. I feel guilty with all this still here so I am clearing the desk for your weekend as acting Captain, that's all Gwen."

"How is he going with that?" she asked distractedly "He seems delicate."

"He was going fine until the fete committee told him that no one who belongs here has cancer, then kicked him off the committee for having a dick. Sort of upset him to think he is not accepted and his cancer can be thrown in his face so flippantly… and the fact only preggers women are allowed… really makes him feel like the barren wifey." Jack said with anger, then he took a deep breath to pull himself back "But when we get back, w will enjoy the fete just as two people walking around looking at everything. I will tell them to find another fucking Judge, if my husband is not good enough… neither is this poofter either. The stress alone might not have been good for his recovery anyway."

"They said that? That… he's not part of the village?" Gwen was aghast. "and I am sure the gay thing was just a Freudian slip."

"He is trying to act like he is not hurt but they fucking tore his guts out" Jack sighed, ribbing at his face "and I hear you are too?"

"Huh?"

"Preggers?"

"Oh. Oh yeah, ya know there will be a booth at the fete for blood donation. They will also be doing pregnancy tests as they think there are more women, within the next few weeks we will hopefully have every woman in the village tested."

Jack nodded, trying not to show his fear.

Ianto was right.

"They had to get Toshiko out now.

Time to call in some favours.

.

.

Ianto entered the corner store and felt eyes on him as he walked to the counter "hi. Jack is about to start sorting his taxes for the quarterly or something like that and told me to come pay the account for the end of the month."

They went about the usual procedures as someone slid up close and Ianto tried not to look at whoever it was.

"Do you really have cancer?"

Ianto turned slowly to stare at the man he had never seen before, the Red Cap jauntily on one side. The other thing he took in was the handheld device that was pointing straight at him at hip height.

"I have prostate cancer, I am getting different styles of treatment in a... nuke it form orbit mentality… including female hormones. Jack is joking about getting me a training bra" Ianto said as he watched the man glance down at the screen of his tablet, then grunt.

"Right. Hormones, like… estrogens right? Heightened levels."

"Yes. Exactly."

With a grunt the man moved away and Ianto took a few beats before racing out of there to Owen's house.

.

.

Toshiko was surprised when he entered her home talking loudly about the dog chewing up something, his hands moving through her civil defence kit and removing the survival blanket.

"Here it is" he said loudly "This will work."

He then wrapped it around her waist and mouthed 'hand scanners' before stepping back.

She gaped at him and then nodded to show she understood.

They had to get out of here.

NOW!