2

Ianto could hear sniffling and he moved the backpack slightly to allow the badger a clear path through the drain pipe, the creature stopping to glance at him and then move on. They were sticking to water too, clever. The bottle was empty, the baby asleep again and Ianto knew he had to refill it as the afternoon feed would be demanded before he knew it.

He checked if the coast was clear and moved along the creek bed, his stomach churning as the stench wafted from an area he was moving past so he tried to take shallow breaths and faster, silently and listen intently for signs of someone or something coming at him. That was the problem ya see, along with their heightened sense of hearing the fuckers were bloody quiet in their approach. Smart, too smart and human still to easily evade once they saw you.

He saw a library up ahead and felt relief, running across the road and around to try the side door while looking around before he picked the lock and let himself in. He swept the building quickly and found it as he expected to, empty.

End of the world and no one comes to a library. A Church maybe, a hospital for sure given the sickness but a library? No. Ianto knew they were safe here for a little while and he moved to the staff room to open the fridge door and hold back a sob of relief at the shelf full of bottled water in there.

Thank god.

Her feed was due soon.

..

.

THEN

The parent help and staff all gathered around once the children were all in bed, to listen to the talkback about the sickness that came from the dust, the cough and the painful breathing. The government were saying it was just allergies, something to do with solar winds or some shit that made Ianto feel slightly alarmed. They had thought that whatever it was, it was contained. Then Rhiannon rang and told him that things were going south, as in… down the drain. Ianto had told her to get out of the city, told her to pack up David and just go, leave the fat fuck. Her voice had been raspy and she had paused to take each breath in a way that further alarmed him.

He did not know if she did run or not, he could only hope. Deep down, he knew she would not leave Fat Fuck Johnny. Too much of their Mama in her.

Then the first child stated to cough. Then another. Then by the time Mica was coughing Ianto knew deep down that his sister had not got out in time. Even if she had managed, if the dust cloud had reached this far while they were all asleep then if clearly passed over the block. He never heard from her again.

By day two a child had died, day three had five more following.

Mica died on the fourth day.

The rest of them were gone by day ten. Ianto was fine. Just fine. It was weird, he didn't feel anything. He did wonder if it was something to do with Torchwood and their safety protocols, their vaccinations for 'space shit' as Owen called it and deep down in the back of his mind he wondered if the Doctor had sort of done something on one of his trips in that blue box.

Who knows?

By in the end of the week Ianto was alone, the last grave dug, filled and left behind as he walked towards Cardiff.

It was on the twelfth day that he found the radio in an abandoned police station and he finally managed to get the Torchwood Frequency Toshiko used, listening as her voice waivered in and out of clarity. They were moving, they had a plan. He could not answer her, they had no idea he could hear them but somehow he could. It was enough.

It was on the fifteenth day that he came across the baby. Silently crying as she begged for someone to help her, her mother laying on the ground dead by the pram. She had not been sick. She had been beaten to death with open malice. The Monsters had got her. The baby was silent, her cries as if on mute and Ianto knew this is what had saved her. They key off sound ya see?

Ianto had felt sick as he looked in and saw her in her shit covered clothing. Hungry, cold and so bloody sad like she knew she was all alone. At least nine, ten months old?

He could not leave her, taking her with him into the nearest rest rooms to clean up and try to help, then he had entered a service station to find some milk powder, starting the madness that is that of a single father. Who knew he was actually capable of this. When he finds a group he can hand her off, right?

Ianto learned fast that not all those sick died. Some changed. Became abusive, aggressive and super charged. The Monsters. He watched from the shadows as packs fought like wild animals, snarling and roaring at one another as they used primitive weapons like baseball bats and crowbars to kill one another. It was like their brains regressed or something, they did not talk anymore, just make noises.

He did not want to get close enough to one to learn much about them, he wanted to get to wherever the team were and he knew he had to keep moving to achieve that. Now he had a radio that could get their secure frequency (with some tweaks) to listen in even if he could not contact them, he hopes sooner or later he might find where they were.

And find a place of safety for this baby.

And get to Jack.

.

.

NOW

Ianto had named her. He had tried not to, he had tried not to get attached in case she became sick but as time went by it became clear that she was a fighter. And like him, was immune.

"Come on Emma, let's get you a dry bumble" he said as he changed her nappy and she blew him a raspberry. He laughed as he settled her in the large dump tub under the cash register drawer so she lay happily in the old till receipts that had rolled down in there. Then he moved to look out at the forecourt of the service station he was currently settled in.

Food. Bottles of water. Everything was good. At least it was not a bloody public toilet. Those suck. He could stay here for a long time, if only for the fact he knew Torchwood was on the move, and sooner or later a Monster would look in and see someone in there, he might have settled for a long time. He had been working on the pickup truck in the back. It had needed brakes and he had changed them out and was now filling the back with supplies before heading out.

Tonight, hopefully tonight Toshiko would give him a sign, some coordinates or at least drop a name for somewhere to head to.

Time was running out.