The Trick Is To Keep Breathing 11/?

[missthingsplace]

AU: When it all changes: Life, Love and Family in Torchwood. 
Title: The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
Author: missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Andy, My OC's: Caden, Eloise, Dylan, Jenni, Claire, Chloe, Damien, Ianto's family.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: The Twins, Caden and Eloise are now 19 and working for Torchwood, a case comes up that would be perfect for them but their parents are reluctant to let them work on the field, especially Jack ... will his fear be founded?
Spoilers: Probably not, but you never know ...
Warnings: Mentions of abuse but no details.
Rating: NC17 for the series

“He should be up here, on the left if memory serves,” Ianto said, turning the SUV left and driving up the road.

“Over there,” Jack said, pointing a few yards in front of them where they could see a dog tied to a door handle in the glow of the street light.

Stopping at the kerb a few feet away they left the car and approached the dog who dropped to his belly and looked even more scared than ever.

“Hey boy,” Ianto said softly, walking very slowly towards him with his hand out. “good dog, I'm not going to hurt you.”

“His tail twitched,” Jack stated, walking at the same slow pace behind the younger man.

Scraps stretched his muzzle out as far as it would reach without moving his body and gave Ianto's hand a tentative sniff. Ianto stood completely still while the dog tested the waters, slowly dropping down into a crouch to appear less threatening to him and was rewarded when Scraps got to his feet and licked his fingers.

Ianto stroked the top of his head and untied the thin rope from the door handle.

“He's so thin,” Jack said sadly. “he's either been a stray for a long time or badly mistreated.”

“I suspect we will never know,” Ianto sighed, leading him towards the SUV with Jack at his side making friends with the dog. “he doesn't look very old, maybe a year.”

“We promised to take him to the police, maybe it would be better to take him to a dog rescue place in the morning?” Jack suggested. “Give him a good meal and company for the evening?”

“You want to keep him, don't you?” Ianto said with a smile, settling the dog on the back seat of the car.

“No … well, maybe … but we did tell the kids no more dogs,” Jack said, climbing in the passenger seat.

“We did, as we said, now the younger kids are at school and Claire isn't there most of the day it wouldn't really be fair on him,” Ianto added. “he'd be on his own all day, he'd be better with a young family.”

“But what if … we could take him to the hub?” Jack suggested. “he could have his own bed and toys. He's not a big dog, we wouldn't take much room.”

“We could get a dog cage for when we are out?” Ianto pondered out loud.

“I don't like that idea, but I do remember someone I knew once used to put their dog in a playpen when they needed him contained,” Jack said. I remember it being about four feet square, plenty of space for a dog his size.”

“My sister had one of them for the kids, I wonder of she still has it?” Ianto mused, pulled out his phone and called her.

“Ianto?” Her surprise at his call was evident in her voice.

“Rhi, I know I haven't been around in a while but … do you still have the kids playpen?” Ianto asked.

“OMG! Is Jack pregnant again?” Rhiannon shrieked excitedly.

Ianto laughed. “No, it's for a dog, the paypen we have is far too small,” he explained. “we need it to contain a dog when we are out.”

“You can't leave a dog all day!” Rhiannon admonished him.

“That's the point, the playpen would be so we can take him to work with us,” Ianto reassured his sister. “if we get called out we can put him in there for the duration.”

“Okay, I still have it and yes you can borrow it but I do remember you saying no more dogs after losing Chewie and Princess?”

“He's a stray, still you and so thin,” Ianto said. “Caden found him, we were doing to take him to a dog shelter but ...”

“You are way to soft little brother,” Rhiannon chuckled. “but I understand. Come and collect it tomorrow if you like, I'll get Johnny to get it down from the loft.”

“Thanks Rhi,” Ianto said. “see you then.”

He cut the call with a smile.

“The playpen is all ours,” Ianto told Jack happily.

“It looks like we have a new pet then,” Jack grinned back, glancing over the back of his seat where Scraps lay watching them intently. “so we better take him to his new home.”

“Agreed,” Ianto nodded, started the SUV and began to drive.

They were more than half way home when Into suddenly remembered something.

“Umm, Jack, we are meant to be having dinner with Gwen and Rhys this evening,”

“It went completely out of my mind too,” Jack admitted. “we'll have to cancel, we can't leave this poor chap home alone mere hours after rescuing him.”

“We could get a takeaway, invite them to the house?” Ianto suggested.

“Our we could cook something?”

“We haven't been there in days, the cupboards are rather bare,”

“Takeaway it is then!” Jack stayed. “Chinese?”

“That sounds good to me,” Ianto agreed and left Jack to call the other couple and inform them of the change of plans.

On the way home they stopped at a local shop and purchased some dog food, treats and a ball from the small selection they had and upon arriving home found an old duvet and folded it into a makeshift bed for Scraps,

“We can get him a proper bed tomorrow,” Jack said, watching Scraps eating his food in fast gulps from a desert bowl. “along with bowls for food and water and maybe a coat, he is so thin and his own coat is so short.”

“It's like having a new baby,” Ianto chuckled softly. “so many things to buy.”

“But much less trouble I hope, no night feeding anyway,”

“Yep … you know it's hard to believe that Lizzie is now five and at school … do you remember that conversation we had when she was born, that perhaps we should have one every five years?” Ianto asked with a big grin on his face.

“Not a serious one if memory serves me right,” Jack laughed, grabbed Ianto by the hand and pulled him into a lingering kiss.

When they parted they found Scraps sat watching them with his head tilted to one side as if he was wondering what they were doing.

“I think we will just focus on him for now,” Ianto smiled, squeezing Jack's hand with his own watching as Scraps walked over to his makeshift bed, snuffled at the duvet, picked the ball up and then lay down on it as if he knew it was his.

“Well, look at that, he's already made himself at home,” Jack gasped. “he was obviously cared for by someone at some point,”

“I am thinking we should check to see if he is micro chipped?” Ianto said sadly.

“He's been on the streets a long time, look how thin his is? You can see his spine and every rib,” Jack argued. “if he was missed surely they would have reported it to the police? We will check with them in the morning, if they didn't care to do even that then we keep him, agreed?”

“Agreed,”

“We should get changed, Gwen and Rhys will be here in just over an hour,” Jack said, glancing at his watch. “then if you fetch the takeaway menu I will get the plates and such ready.”

“Good plan,” Ianto agreed and they hurried about their tasks while Scraps looked on, the very tip of his tail wagging hopefully.

tbc

Comments

[jedi_harkness]

Aww, I knew Jack would want to keep Scraps. <3

[missthingsplace]

Oh yeah!

Thank you :)

[yanto]

Torchwood protecting the earth and saving puppies.

[missthingsplace]

Of course!

Thank you :)