20

Jack was in the boatshed, the Racoon getting a sliced apple for a snack. Shhhh… don't tell Ianto he was warming to the little guy. Not after all the carry on but really, he was sort of cute like a cross between a cat and a monster.

"Jack?"

He turned to find Gwen out there, her face solemn and her hands clasped together "Hey Gwen. What's up?"

"Do you think this is all really happening?"

"What? You mean, is it real or are we dying in a plane crash and our final moments have created this in our minds or something?" Jack tried to understand.

"NO. God… good one but no. I mean, the little one. Is he really harmless like Ianto thinks? Those men work for the Government, they are highly trained and know things we don't. If they think he is a danger…"

"Gwen. Look into my eyes" Jack said as he grasped her shoulders and stared her down "He is not using mind control to convince us he is a little boy so we can't see the big monster eating townsfolk one by one each night. He is not here to take over the world or harm anyone. The only reason he is here is because they made him crash. Remember?"

"What if we are all in danger?"

"We are. Gwen, I think Ianto is right. If they catch Eddie, do you think we are all allowed to just leave? Finally go home? Think about it. There has never been a town come forward and talk about aliens in their midst or something. Even Big Foot gets a TV show or three. Why not? If these things are known to mankind, if we even have teams of dedicated Alien Hunters… why no publicity?" Jack asked her calmly "What do you think? Those towns with the deadly gas mists that kill everyone… or the gas leak that took out everyone… or a freak landslide covered the entire town never to be seen again. Not even dug up? Think about it Gwen. Cover ups."

She stood staring at him as she computed his words and she nodded "I know. I just…"

"It goes against the grain to lie. I know. You are Heddlu, trained to see the lies and to tell the truth. This time you can see the lies and are trying to protect the truth. Think about that. All your life, maybe it was leading to this. This moment. Here. With us. Gwen. You are here to protect us. Not just Edie. All of us. From them. Not the aliens…. The MIBs who will not let us go back to normal lives after this. Your entire training and life of service into this one clear thing. Protect us. Your family. One day, your child will thank you."

Gwen squared her shoulders and nodded, knowing Jack was right as she looked around the boatshed "I do feel a sense of purpose here. Like on a stakeout of when we are about to do a major raid there is this…"

"You said it Gwen. Purpose. You are where you are supposed to be in this moment, doing what you are supposed to do. You feel it now right? Because your soul… your very essence knows you are right. Come on… how often are you wrong? Ianto aside because he is wily."

She laughed softly and realized "You're right. I guess it is all just so fantastical. You know… like something out of a sci-fi movie or something."

"What is it they say about life imitating art? Something art… science fiction is a cut too close to the bone." Jack agreed. "At the end of the day, if he was going to hurt us he has had ample opportunities to do so. All he wants is affection. Come on. He is not here to hurt anyone. I don't see a big sonic blaster in his hands. That Nerf Gun is a little dangerous, Ianto was not pleased with the broken vase but that was Owen and to be honest with you… I would rather believe HE is a bloody alien with his weirdness."

Gwen laughed as she nodded leaning back against the shelving "I know I am being silly. I just hate not knowing everything. I feel like I am going in without backup."

"Well that's not true. We are all in this together. Even with the initial clashing with others… we are a family now. You think Ianto doesn't care? He hates salad. Makes it for you, the only reason we know Eddie likes it. He made it for you. I think you are just too much like his sister that he misses at the moment. Right?"

"I hadn't thought of that. I miss my mum and dad too." She slumped "This is a shitty deal but I think you are right. They can't let us go, if they find him… they have to shut us up."

"And are either of us the kind to just shut up? Remmy? Estelle?"

Gwen nodded knowing it was all real and she had to stop telling herself it was some conspiracy against her. It WAS a conspiracy. And she was in the middle of it. She had to do the right thing. She always did the right thing. And Jack was right. The right thing was to protect the town, which included Eddie. He was family too.

She headed back in and settled on the floor with the little one, pulling him into her lap for a cuddle and he made a soft purring noise as he cuddled in, his hands going round her waist in a hug.

Awwww.

She knew she was in the right place, on the right side and would protect this innocent baby.

Jack had watched her leave and let out his breath, turning to look into the face of the raccoon, Randy was sitting the shelf with a piece of apple in his hand and his eyes boring into Jack's like he was listening to very word said.

"How about it Randy? Are you an Alien? Come on, you can tell me" Jack winked and the raccoon seemed to consider then to Jack's immense delight, the cheeky raccoon winked back and then went back to his apple.

Jack laughed all the way back inside.

Once he was gone Ianto stepped out of the shadows in the water end of the shed, his hand on the boat's siding as he looked at the raccoon, then at Jack's retreating figure now halfway up the lawn and said softly "That was a close one buddy."

The racoon stopped chewing to look at Ianto like he was mad, then resumed chewing as the dog appeared from behind Ianto's legs, it's eyes intense as it stopped in the doorway leading back to the house and as Ianto posed the dog to enter the twilight of the back yard there came a deep voice.

"Closer than duck shit"

Ianto turned to look back at the shed and make a face "Ew Buddy, gross. Do you know what that smells like?"

The dog trotted past and toward the house like Ianto had not just spoken and Ianto followed, knowing that this town was in more danger than they realized. This was a place of interest, given the way the MIB had been so close and had chosen to down the craft here, this area a portal. And Some aliens had NOT come down in the last shower … and Eddie was not the only one currently here.

Oh no.

This Hot Spot was a known drop zone for explorers.

And his greatest fear is that sooner or later the MIBs would work that out too.