Predation 16/?

[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

Lifting his head Ianto groaned loudly while pushing the airbag that had exploded from the steering wheel out the way and tried to ignore the slight pain in his ribs where the seatbelt had dug into them at the moment of impact.

“Everyone okay?” Ianto asked, turning to his sister beside him in the passenger seat.

“Head hurts, but I think so.” Rhiannon replied, her fingers pressed to her temple.

Ianto didn't miss the cut just above her eye but it was barely bleeding so he didn't mention it, the passenger side airbag having saved her from a more severe injury.

“Johnny, kids?” Ianto asked, twisting around to them in the back seat and sending a spike of pain through his chest.

Johnny nodded quietly, Mica was curled against him looking scared out of her wits and her face conveyed just how hard she was trying not to burst into tears, David was sat bolt upright staring straight ahead and obviously in shock.

“I'm going to get out and assess the damage.” Ianto told them. “This car has reinforced bodywork so hopefully it won't be so bad that we're stranded.”

“Okay.” Rhiannon replied, closing her eyes and resting it back against the head rest of her seat.

The opening the door meant the cold air hit them all, Ianto climbed out quickly into the still pouring snow, pulled up the collar of his coat and made his way to the front of the SUV, the snow on the ground coming up to his knees.

At first glance the vehicle looked barely damaged but when he crouched down to brush the snow away from the underside of the SUV he got a whiff of diesel, the fuel line had ruptured.

Straightening up again Ianto brushed the snow off his coat and then blew into his cupped hands to warm them wishing he had remembered to wear his gloves and considered their options as he made his way back to the door and got back in.

“It's not going anywhere is it?” Johnny asked, still cradling Mica who had given in and was crying softly into his chest.

“Fuel line has ruptured.” Ianto told him, casting a look at David who had changed position, now sat sidewards on the back seat with his feet up on the seat and his arms wrapped around his bent knees looking out the side window.

“David, are you okay? Are you hurt?” Ianto asked.

“He's fine.” Rhiannon replied, casting a worried look in her son's direction but obviously relieved he was physically okay.

“I'm going to call Jack, he'll arrange for us to be towed.” Ianto said, pulling his mobile from his pocket.

“Does this mean we're not going to London?” Mica asked softly.

“I think we should get you all checked out by a doctor first.” Ianto told her. “But there's no reason why you still can't go, we'll just get you on a later train.”

“Don't want doctor, want to go on holiday.” Mica pouted making Ianto smile, apart from the upset of the crash she was obviously fine.

“That's up to you Rhi?” Ianto asked her. “You know your kids.”

“They seem okay, would the tow truck take us to the station?” Rhi asked him.

“I'm sure it would.” Ianto told her, not wanting her to know that he was worried the tow truck wouldn't make it through the snow to them anytime soon.

Ianto selected Jack's number from the contacts on his phone and waited for Jack to answer, aware that the temperature in the SUV was already dropping.

“Ianto, are they safely on the train?” Jack asked.

“Nope, we had a bit of an accident.” Ianto replied. “We skidded off the road and into a field and a tree kindly stopped out progress across it, unfortunately the fuel line didn't make it in one piece.”

“But you're all okay?” Jack asked, his tone changed to one of concern instantly.

“We're all doing okay but we're stuck here in a foot and a half of snow with a broken car and the temperature is plummeting.” Ianto replied. “We need a tow.”

“I'll call the local garage, I know their tow truck is a four by four, they should be able to get you out of there.” Jack replied. “Give me your location.”

“Hang on, let me just ...” Ianto trailed off as he turned on the modified Sat Nav and pressed various buttons so that it gave him a precise map reference and he passed this on to Jack along with roughly where they had come off the road.

“Get the blankets out the boot and then stay in the car until help arrives.” Jack told him. “I'll call you back when I've spoken to the garage about the two truck.”

“Do whatever you can to make it sooner rather than later Jack.” Ianto replied, his teeth already chattering slightly in the cold.

“I'll bring the tow truck myself if I have to.” Jack replied, completely serious. “I'll call you soon.”

“Thanks.” Ianto replied, cutting the call and turning to speak to the others.

“Jack's arranging for the tow as I said, there should be some blankets on the boot.” Ianto said. “I'll nip out and fetch them and then Jack would be calling back with the details.”

“Be quick.” Rhiannon urged her brother, shivering inside her winter coat.

Ianto exited the car into the snow for the second time and moved as quickly as he could to the boot, yanking it open he grabbed the blankets, looking up sharply when he heard someone banging on the window and yelling. “Uncle Ianto, Uncle Ianto.”

David was bashing the window hard with his fists, a took of complete terror on his face while he shouted.

“There's something in the snow.” David yelled, pointing into the distance. “Over there, it looks like the snow but it isn't the snow.”

Ianto looked in the direction his nephew was pointing, peering through the falling snow he couldn't see anything, taking a few steps forwards he suddenly saw something, movement.

“Shit!” Ianto exclaimed under his breath, slamming the boot closed he headed back and jumped into the SUV, closing the door and locking it.

“What is it?” David asked. “It looks like snow?”

“It's going to be fine.” Ianto replied, trying not to scare the young boy.

“Ianto Jones, tell me the truth, what has David seen?” Rhiannon asked him, fear on her own face.

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you.” Ianto replied, pulling his phone out and calling Jack again.

“Hey, I was ...” Jack began only to be cut off by Ianto.

“It's here Jack, it's fucking here in the snow!” Ianto exclaimed, all calm vanishing from his voice. “The alien is here, out there, yards away from us.”

“Ianto, whatever you do stay calm.” Jack replied. “Lock all the door and keep quiet, Gwen and I will get there as soon as possible I promise.”

“Hurry Jack, oh god, hurry.” Ianto replied, not knowing if the one gun he had with him would be any good against the creature if it attacked.

“You're not going to die Ianto, this thing is not going to make a meal of the man I love and his family I promise.” Jack told him firmly. “Keep warm and keep quiet.”

“We'll do out best.” Ianto replied, just as the battery on his mobile gave out and the line went dead.

TBC