59

Jack was running, the engines idling as the Firefly sat on the ground, Mickey and Martha now on the ramp with their guns swinging around, scanning for anything just in case John was too mental to tell them.

Jack was making little whimpering noises as he blew past them and they turned to watch him reach Ianto, scooping him into his arms and slamming their mouths together, Janet barking as he ran form Stephen to join the two men. Stephen shakily got to his feet and yawned, then frowned as he yawned again.

"You OK kiddo?" Owen asked, looking at the boy who seemed to be having a problem with his ears.

"My ears popped" Stephen said "It feels … funny."

Owen stepped closer "Like … you heard a pop or the sound suddenly changed?"

"Yeah. Like … I was underwater and now it's all so clear" Stephen frowned, looking around with confusion as Owen considered things then said "Can you hear the symbiote?"

Stephen looked at him with confusion.

"Janet. Do you hear Janet?"

"Yes, of course. He says Grandy is kissing Ianto" Stephen nodded. "He is … filling him?"

"But you don't hear others. Do you? Did you hear others before?"

"Yes. Yes, like a crowd in the background but it's … it's this. I'm safe in here!" Stephen looked around.

"Beryllium lined" John said as he appeared, staggering over to pull his son into his arms "We cannot connect with the outside, or them in here. The worms can't reach you in here, the hull is too strong. I think maybe that's why this class of Firefly was decommissioned about two years ago. These things started their invasion … infiltration … occupation or whatever you want to call it … back then … they put the suggestion forward?"

"Makes sense" Jim agreed, turning to watch Andy as he untangled Tosh and hugged her along with the baby, the relief raw.

"Owen, when you have a sec ….ah…. Gwen and Rhys are still up on that freighter over there" John pointed and Owen gaped. "I think they took quite a hit."

"What the fuck?"

"Go on, you can get them down right?" John said with wide eyes, Owen now starting to splutter then he stormed to the top of the ramp to peer out.

"OI! Stop the tonsil hockey! How do we get the bloody twats off the ship there?" he roared and Ianto leaned back as Jack tuned to look at Owen then follow his finger that was pointing with anger at Rhys and Gwen.

"You two OK?" Ianto was instantly worried "Stay there. Christ, Jack! Get them down from there, oh Gwen, wait there!"

"Stay there, I will come to you!" Jack laughed as he waved at them, then helped Ianto up the ramp, motioning for everyone to get back from the edge. "It's OK. I will scoop them up."

"Scoop?" Owen repeated "What? Scoop? They are not ice-cream ya know!"

Jack went to the flight deck and was pleased when Ianto instantly settled in the other seat. The Firefly lifted off and Jack expertly swung her arse up and over to rest on the top of the vessel, Rhys and Gwen running up the ramp.

"Are you two OK?" Owen was in Doctor mode, pulling at them and Rhys yelped as he showed his arm with a gash to it.

"I think I twisted my ankle" Gwen whined and Sally rolled her eyes as she pointed out she had run on it pretty damned well. "What's it to you? All you could do is cling to your boy!"

"My MAN can at least say I didn't almost kill him!" Sally snarled back.

"Enough of that!" Ianto said gently "We are all tried, freaked out and wanting as far from this place as we can go. Let's focus on that. Something to eat, somewhere to sleep and then….only then… can we speak to one another with some civility please?"

"I'm with Eye Candy" John nodded.

"No you bloody well are not!" Jack roared "He's mine!"

"Well … first of all. Your name is not tattooed across my arse Captain, I am my own self and secondly … I think he means that he agrees with me, not that he wants to snuggle." Ianto said softly, everyone starting to snigger at the silliness of the thing.

Only mere moments ago they all almost died …almost failed and now there is an argument about sleeping arrangements?

"Jack. We had a deal!" Ianto said as he swung to address him and Jack made a noise of surprise.

"Well? We are off the planet" Ianto shrugged like they were talking about the weather as they went back to the flight deck "Now I get to shag you silly …right? Payment for being a good boy?"

Jack's face changed as he leered "Yeah? Me a good boy? Or you?"

"But if I wake up to a tattoo across my derriere you might be in trouble mister" Ianto said and then smiled softly as he accepted a kiss. "Seriously Cariad … just a full five hours sleep and I would be … ever so …. Up for anything."

"Ooooo, Ianto" Jack crooned "you are making promises now!"

"Jack … I promise you one thing … I never want to go back there again" Ianto sighed and Jack knew Ianto was not talking about the planet they were leaving for dust.

"I will never leave you, as long as we stick together, it will be OK" Jack assured him reaching across the space between the seats to touch Ianto, the instant connection soothing as it had been each time it had happened since they had boarded.

The silence … that deafening silence … gone. Jack's heartbeat strong and true in Ianto's head as he settled to watch the stars get closer.

Jack would mind him now.

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OK, so ends this part. Yes, there will be more… when I get there ya bossy bums! I just want the space part on it's own since it will be a new adventure. Yes. Gwen will find herself inviting some smack downs.