14
"It's been two days since the ships disappeared and I feel that they're gone" Ianto said softly as he stood in the back of his sleeping quarters with Jack, Andy and Owen. Toshiko was amusing the kids.
"So, we have a plan?" Owen asked, looking directly at Ianto.
"Yeah, but I don't want extras. I know… I know some might want to come with and you also know my dislike for fucking Gwen but… Rhys is a friend and… I would feel horrible if I left him and Annie behind only to have something happen to them, even if it means I have to have her along for the ride."
"So… Me, Ianto, Owen, Toshi, Gwen, Rhys and Andy…. seven adults and … Mica, Liz, Ki, Ali, Annie … five kids" Jack muttered "Twelve total."
"I prefer odd numbers." Ianto said in reply even as Jack nodded and went to say the same thing.
"Thirteen is my lucky number but twelve will do." He agreed.
"And just like that… a jinx" Ianto shivered, making Jack look at him with confusion, even as he nodded in the direction of a woman who was heading for them with a look of determination, her son playing over the corner with the other kids.
"But… it would make fourteen" Owen pointed out.
"Not for long" Ianto muttered, giving Owen a look that Jack had come to know was a warning and Jack heard those words in his head 'feel it in my waters' as Ianto headed over to talk to them.
Jack then looked at the one watching them with a pursed mouth and knew.
Like, she knew.
Gwen was not going to be with them for long.
Thirteen is a lucky number for some but… looks like not her.
.
.
"So, when are we leaving?" Gwen demanded as the sleeping quarters she and Rhys shared with others was now being used.
Jack went to answer but Ianto did instead "Tomorrow night after final count"
Jack turned to look at him with disguised shock, this not being the agreed time at all. Then it all made sense.
"Well, we have to tell everyone and give them the choice to come with" Gwen immediately responded making Jack turn back to her with new surprise.
"What? Gwen, we are just going, just us. A small group." Jack spluttered "The entire reason for secrecy right now. We can't support a huge group!"
"Well, that's not up to you. You are not in charge" she scoffed moving off before he could stop her to call out to another couple of women and usher them into another side room.
"Well… fuck" Rhys spluttered.
"Rhys… we can't…."
"And you won't have to" Rhys replied, turning to face them "Me and Annie are in. She can stay and do whatever the fuck she wants."
"Rhys, I like that idea but…"
"But nothing. Annie is not hers. Annie is from a donor egg and a surrogate mum. My sperm, only I have legal custody of her. Why she didn't die when she was born. Gwen has not signed the papers to adopt her, made some quiet comments about a mutant child and was pissed that she didn't know at birth if the poor kid was a higher power than her. One of the things we argue about." Rhys dropped the bombshell.
Ianto stood staring at him for a while, then sighed as Jack muttered "Thirteen.".
.
.
Ianto wanted to contact Rhiannon, wanted to check they were OK but knew as well as anyone down there that the chances of that were not good right now. Mica had been listed as Mutant at birth, most likely she had been scooped up for questioning and… he knew. Like he knew other things, he knew it was so.
Rhiannon and David were in the wind running, Fat Fuck Johnny left behind.
And he let that thought go, knowing she also had the brains to keep her head down and get to where she needed to be.
If thirteen was to become fifteen down the line and… he felt in his waters… that she would be there where she was supposed to wait it out until he sent for her.
Like a good girl.
.
.
It was just after the lunch had been called that they did it. Moving quietly they gathered their backpacks and the kids who were also ready, the silent way they not only knew what was happening but was ready showed that they had discussed it while plying, were ready to go because one of them was a designated leader.
It didn't take a genius to know who, Lisbon already pulling on his bobble hat.
With a silent glance between them, everyone followed Ianto from the loud bluster of a meal, the sandwiches the new team member Kathy Swanson handed to the kids to chew as they walked would have to do for this little merry troupe of mutants.
Off on an adventure.
At least, that's what they told them.