Predation 5/?

[missthingsplace]

Title: Predation
Author: missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen, Andy
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: Something is stalking around Cardiff and the surrounding area but it how can they catch it when they can't see it? Set after the end of series 2.
Warnings: Slash, angst, horror
Spoilers: Anything is fair game
Rating: NC17 for series

Arriving at the scene of the 'crime' Gwen and Ianto made their way across the muddy field towards the white tent the police had set up over the fox's body knowing that Andy would have been responsible for it, lifted the flap and entered to find him waiting inside for them.

“So, this is one of your 'spooky do's' then?” Andy asked them with a grin. “As you're so interested it can't just be the attack of some while animal?”

“That's what we need to find out.” Ianto replied, unfurling the black body bag he was holding. “Jack had a close encounter with something we can't identify earlier in the night.”

“And you didn't catch it?” Andy asked with a small smirk.

“Nope, it was pitch dark and it was gone the instant it heard me approaching.” Ianto replied, not wanting to give Andy too much information.

“Well, here it is.” Andy told them, lifting up the sheet that covered the animals remains.

“That is even more disgusting than it looked in the pictures you sent me.” Gwen baulked, raising her hand to cover her nose and mouth. “And it stinks.”

“It's getting rather ripe.” Andy replied, watching as Ianto placed the body bag beside what was left of the animal and lift it carefully with gloved hands into it and then zip it up quickly.

“Thanks Andy, we'll let you know as soon as we know more.” Gwen said.

“Anything useful you can tell me? You said Jack had a close shave with it earlier does that mean we're going to have a spate of attacks on humans?” Andy asked, stopping them leaving by moving in front of the exit to the tent.

“To tell the truth we have no idea what it is or what it might do.” Ianto admitted. “Maybe you could leak a story to the local paper that a dangerous wild animal has escaped from the zoo?”

“It's not though, is it?” Andy asked.

“No.” Gwen told him firmly.

“Okay, yes, I can leak a story to that effect.” Andy agreed, moving out the way so they could leave, Ianto carrying the remains of the fox and Gwen following.

Depositing the body bag in the back of the SUV they climbed back in with Ianto trying not to think of the amount of mud that was covering their footwear.

Arriving back at the hub they found Jack studying the CCTV images on Gwen's monitor closely, moving from frame to frame slowly.

“Anything?” Gwen asked, letting Ianto take the fox down to the medical bay.

“No, but I've not got very far.” Jack explained, I watched about an hour on fast forwards but then I realised that this thing is invisible and I'd need to look closer.”

“So, how much have you watched?” Ianto asked, walking back across the hub and coming to a stop behind Jack's chair.

“About ... forty five minutes, this is going to be slow going and we might not find anything.” Jack replied with a small sigh. “Gwen get off home and get some sleep and we'll see you later, bring dinner back with you?”

“I'll see if I can get Rhys to rustle up a lasagne.” Gwen replied with a grin. “It'll make a change from pizza and Chinese.”

“Sound marvellous.” Ianto agreed.

“Yeah.” Jack agreed. “Now home woman!”

“I'm going, I'm going!” Gwen laughed, leaving them and heading towards the cog door.

Ianto rested his hands on the back of the chair Jack was sat in and stared at the screen.

“This things going to be impossible to find, isn't it?” Ianto asked.

“It's not going to be easy but it has to have left some kind of trail.” Jack replied, skipping forward to the next frame. “It must have some weakness.”

“Then we will find it!” Ianto replied. “Coffee?”

“I could murder one.” Jack told him, turning to smile at the younger man.

“Consider it done.” Ianto told him, pressing a kiss to the top of Jack's head before heading for the kitchenette.

Two hours later with both of them studying every image they agreed that they needed a break, leaving the image paused so they didn't lose where they had got to they headed down to the medical bay to make a start on the remains of the fox.

“Wait.” Ianto told Jack as he went to unzip the body bag, opening a drawer and tossing Jack a face mask. “It's more than a little smelly.”

“Good thinking.” Jack smiled, putting the mask in place and then unzipping the black bag.

“It sure made a meal of this poor animal.” Jack said, lifting the fox's head and looking sadly into it's eyes. “Anyway, lets get blood and skin samples and then we can examine the remains a closer.”

“Not much left for a blood sample.” Ianto said, reaching for a syringe. “Only place left to try is the head.”

“You do that, I'll get the skin samples.” Jack told him, reaching for some sterile test tubes, a scalpel and a pair of tweezers. “Times like this I ...”

“I know.” Ianto said when Jack trailed off knowing he meant just how much they missed Owen.

The look the exchanged expressed more in a moment that words ever could have before getting back to the task in hand, samples collected they put them to one side and turned on the scanner.

“I can't see anything on these bones, no bite or claw marks as if the flesh was ripped from the body on one swift move.” Ianto said.

“It felt like that, like something was ripping my leg apart.” Jack told him. “But the pain was too much for me to remember any actual details.”

“Yep, well we don't need to dwell on that.” Ianto replied.

“So, lets wrap this fox up again and get back to those CCTV images.” Jack suggested, changing the subject. “Gwen'll be back in a couple of hours with dinner.”

“I'll get us more coffee and meet you at the monitor.” Ianto told him.

TBC

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