5
It was just after ten at night and although Ianto could not hear the music, he had looked out the south windows a few times and saw the distant lights of the concert, the lasers shooting into the sky. He knew Alice was be as happy as a pig in shit right now and he hoped that she and Lucia were having a good time.
Steven had been slightly pissy that she got something he didn't but learning that there was a gingerbread house to be made… 'just us two boys'… had made up for it and the little bugger had eaten more lollies than adorned the now finished, slightly lopsided cabin. That's the weird thing ya see. Despite Ianto's OCD need for everything to be correct, he found himself able to make allowances. God, he loved these kids.
Ianto was now making a hot chocolate for himself as he pondered the fact that he had turned into a farty old man in his dressing gown and comfortable slippers complete with pinstriped PJs. Christ, when did that happen?
Jack hated PJs and had tried for years to talk Ianto into going naked at night but having a little girl in the house always put paid to that idea for Ianto, I mean what if there is a fire and they have to snatch the kids and run outside. Sure, Jack would be fine naked as a jaybird but Ianto sure wasn't.
Steven was currently in bed asleep, the noise of whatever cartoon still paying and Ianto was walking across the bedroom to turn off the TV when it hit.
No warning, jut this sudden huge WHAMP as the entire building seemed to lift into the air several feet and then slam down again, Ianto yelping as he found himself airborne as well, landing in a heap at the foot of his son's bed, the rocks rolling across the floor towards him as the house now… rocked.
Ianto now knew how bucking bronco riders must feel at the rodeo.
What the fuck.
EARTHQUAKE
Ianto reached onto the bed and pulled the sleeping tot from it, then rolled beneath the sold metal framework as the house did another huge WHAMP like a plane hitting bad turbulence and as the sleepy little boy snuffled into his arms, unaware of the chaos. Ianto? Thought only of Jack and Alice.
Oh god.
.
.
Jack was at the Harkness House home in the huge office space he shared with his father looking over opening arguments for the next day's main event and he looked up with surprise as the lights flickered. Huh?
Great, this house was falling apart at the seams and if it was one thing Jack didn't want it was another bloody repair bill. Since Grandpa left the place to him, his mother took every chance to complain about things she wanted fixed like he was her fucking landlord. Once of the things he and Ianto argued about was the weird dynamics of this family.
He rose from the chair and wandered towards the large windows to look outside in case it was a power cut when the quake hit, throwing him to the ground as the building showed that an over 100-year-old brick construction might not move and adapt to a earthquake of this magnitude as well as a modern metal one.
Ceiling fell, somewhere in the house he could hear others screaming including his mother and sister as upstairs someone was yelling with pain. Oh shit, the chimney. Jak looked out the window to see some of said chimney hurtling past to slam into the ground outside.
Fuck.
Ianto had repeatedly said that needed stabilizing or…. Oh god…. Ianto.
.
.
Alice was jumping on the spot while singing along with the pop star as Lucia tried to look enthused but all she really felt was tired. God, so much effort for something she already hated hearing on the car radio.
The quake hit with force, the open-air arena at least not killing everyone as it started to collapse, just those on the steps and in the seats. Thank fuck Alcie wanted to be out in the common area dancing, not in their assigned seats, those obliterated with metal and flood lights and bodes and… oh god.
"MUMMY" Alice screamed, suddenly a small child nearby was echoing Alice calling to her mother as Lucia reached for her daughter, both of them in their knees as those around them either prayed, fell about or …. Well… died I guess.
Lucia closed her eyes and held her only baby close, glad that at least if this was it, they were together.
.
..
Jack became aware of silence, a terrible horrible silence. Then a scream. He sat up and looked around at the remains of the room, everything looking like it had been in a tornado…. No… it was an earthquake. Fuck.
Jack staggered to his feet and left the room, clambering over fallen masonry and such to find his parents there with his sister and brother who was also looking beyond shocked.
"Oh god… are you OK?" Franklin asked reaching for his son. "My man Gerald has broken his arm I think. Can you call for an ambulance or something for the poor man?"
"Shit, I can't find my phone" Jack said, patting his pocket as he hoped desperately that Ianto and the kids were OK.
.
.
"He's not answering" Lucia sighed, shaking the phone like it might work better. "All that money for a satellite phone in case of emergencies and the bloody idiot doesn't have his own one with him?"
Alice had stopped crying and was plastered against her mother looking around at the destruction as people were staggering around bleeding and crying. She reached for the phone, plucking it from her mother's hand and she rang the number she knew by heart.
"Alice?"
Alice sobbed as he heard his voice.
"Alice, honey… where are you?"
"Still in here at the concert place, we can't get out."
"Put mummy on the phone darling."
"I'm scared, please come get me … I am so scared." She sobbed. "please… I need you!"
"Darling, I am right here, listen to my voice. I am coming for you, no matter what it takes I will come for you. You stay there in the open where nothing can fall on you and I will come get you. I promise. I promise darling, I am coming. I love you and I will come for you!"
"OK Taddy."