6

"Come on Soldier, just this other pesky shoe and we are out of here." Ianto crooned as his son stood playing with the flashlight, enthralled with the blackout.

He had woken afraid and crying out for Ianto but now, it was an adventure. Taddy said so. He was even allowed to choose one of his smaller rocks to come for the trip. He chose the small white one he called Snowball and Taddy had sounded pleased, and agreed he was a friendly looking rock friend.

Then they were moving, down the now rickety crazy stairs that Taddy made a funny game, making noises as one of the steps was too cracked and they had to get over it like it was a huge chasm with molten lava underneath it, both of them giggling as they got to the door… that would not open.

"OK Steven…. This is a secret and if I show you my secret you can NEVER tell anyone OK?" Ianto said softly "Only the people with first class clearance can now this."

Steven nodded solemnly, the pancake shaped rock clasped in his hand.

"I have super powers."

Seven's eyes widened as he stared up at him and Ianto continued "watch this."

As Ianto continued to look at his son he kicked back in a mule kick at the door and it flew open into the street, the cracking of wood and pinging of poor hinges one a firefighter would be pleased with.

"WOW" Steven crowed "Good one Tadda!"

They stood in the street and looked up and down at the chaos, screaming debris and general fuckery of panic. Oh shit.

"Tadda… your car is squished!" Steven giggled as he pointed at the remains of the Jag.

"Shit."

"Bad word Tadda! Daddy sez it's a secret one!"

"Well… shitty shit shit, don't fucking tell then!" Ianto said, poking his tongue at the child who was not sure if he was scandalized or amused, settling to laugh out loud as he clutched the rock.

Ianto drew the phone from his pocket and tried Jack again, still getting a busy signal. He had to get across town to the stadium, he had to get to Alice.

He considered options and knew there was only one right now that was quick, nasty and effective.

He had to call in a favour.

.

.

Jack looked around as he tried to work out what to do next, his parents clearly shaken as they sat in the good armchairs from the front room that were now on the front lawn. His father's servant did have a broken arm the poor bugger. The horror of it, his mother was complaining about the damage to the fine wooden legs on this shitty lawn.

Gray pulling out the Persian rug to lay down for her to place the chairs on made things comical.

Jack checked the phone, lamenting the loss of his own and looked again at the house they had been told to stay out of until the fire services had checked it over and had left with Gerald in their care, but really… he needed his phone.

With that in mind, he headed back in.

.

.

Alice was calm now and she kept looking around as the faint screaming and crying continued, people now trying to help those they could reach "Mummy… how do we get out?"

"It's OK. We will be OK, we just need to stay calm" Lucia promised trying to hide her own fear as she tried to think about what to do as well. Then across the way a faint call for the bleachers.

"AAAALIIIIICCCCEEEE!"

"TADDYYYYYYYY" Alice screamed as she pushed away from her mother, amazed to see Ianto scrambling over broken seats. No suit, he was in black clothing, like a fucking ninja or something.

Ianto got to her and engulfed her in a hug then his hands were checking her over as he looked into her face crouching to be eye height. "Are you OK sweet pea?"

"Oh Taddy, I was so scared." She sobbed.

"Of course you were, don't tell anyone but… I was too. God, so scared. But we are OK now." Ianto assured her, rising to reach past her to hug Lucia, something that surprised all of them "Right let's get out of here"

"How?"

"I have some friends helping me" Ianto turned to point and they saw someone standing up in the bleachers one of them huge as hell "See the big one? He's called Rex… as in T-Rex. He has a sidecar and I bet you've never been in one before, right?"

"Oh my god… Ianto… are they from the Hoodlum Bike Club?"

"They owe me a few favours" Ianto shrugged "And their Sargeant of Arms Animal… is a good man… when not beating someone senseless with a tyre iron."

Lucia stared at him, then laughed as she shook her head, used to his weird humour.

"Hi princess" the large man rumbled as he reached out to smooth her hair back from her face "I have some noise cancelling headphones here, great for on the bike."

She accepted them and looked at Ianto with confusion.

"Sweet Pea… we are going to get out, but we have to get through some… hard spots and it's going to be loud, horribly scary and safe. Very safe but I would feel better if you keep your arms around Mummy, your eyes closed and the headphones on so all the damage and sucky stuff isn't too scary and sad to see… OK?" Ianto crooned softly "Promise?"

She nodded jamming the headphones on and Lucia asked "Is it bad?"

"Worse" Ianto said softly, his face covered with sweat, grime and... a smear of blood.

Lucia nodded and took a deep breath before wrapping her arms around her daughter ready to let Ianto lead her though hell.

And it was.

The worst part were the bodies. Mothers and daughters, clutched together, the odd father in there covering his family, all the bodies crushed and torn apart… bloody. Emergency workers trying to save who they could. Oh God. Those not dead, the noises, the smells… Ianto kept his hand on her back, urging her on as he kept his eyes on their child, making sure Alice never had to know how horrible it was, what her mother's nightmares would be for a while.

And Lucia was grateful that once again, Ianto was part of their family.

And so sad that Jack had fucked it up.