m_findlow

Title: Incurable
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Tosh, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 485 words
Content notes: Written for Challenge 15 - Diagnosis at beattheblackdog
Summary: Ianto has contracted an unexpected disease

It was only the third time they'd gone out for drinks after work, but already he could tell that he and Tosh were fast becoming good friends. She was quiet and reserved at work, much like himself, but she had a sharp mind and saw far more of what happened around the hub than she let on. She also had a wicked sense of humour which only came out to play after a few drinks, and the pair of them would end up in uproarious laughter.

Ianto was returning to the table with another round of drinks when he finally plucked up the courage to ask the question that had been playing on his mind all evening. He sat down and took a nervous sip of his drink before opening his mouth,

'Tosh, can I ask you something?'

'Sure,' she smiled congenially.

'Do you, ah, ever discuss things with Owen if you're, um, concerned about something? Medically speaking that is?'

Tosh tried not to let the awkwardness show on her face. She thought Ianto must have been implying something about her fancying Owen. It wasn't that obvious, was it?

'I'm not sure I understand,' she replied, turning the glass in her hand.

'I mean, if you thought perhaps something alien might be affecting you.'

'Oh!' she exclaimed, slightly relieved. 'Well, yes of course. He is our doctor after all.' Then she stopped as her train of thought caught up with what he'd just said. Her face fell into a look of concern.

'Are you worried about something being wrong?'

Ianto picked up a spare coaster on the table and began fiddling with it, not meeting her eyes.

'It's just, you know how Jack says he has these weird pheromones?'

'You mean the ones that make him smell like a million dollars?' He fixed her with a shocked stare. 'Don't look at me like that, you know it's true!'

Ianto blushed slightly. 'Well, yes. I think maybe I'm allergic to them.'

'Allergic?' she said, sipping her drink absently, now engrossed in their conversation. 'What makes you say that?'

'Erm, well, sometimes when he's really close, it's sort of hard to breathe. My hands go all clammy and my heart starts pounding. Sometimes it's like my whole head is spinning. Do you think Owen should check me out?'

Tosh smiled and reached a hand out to clasp Ianto's, forcing him to drop the coaster back on the table as she squeezed it.

'I don't think it's a medical diagnosis you need. It seems perfectly obvious what's wrong with you.'

Ianto looked concerned. 'What is it?'

Tosh's gentle laughed trickled in his ears. 'You really don't know?' she asked.

'Is it fatal?' he asked worriedly.

'Probably,' she said seriously.

'Oh God,' he moaned. 'What do I do?'

Tosh smiled again. 'Nothing you can do. It's completely incurable.'

'But what is it?' he asked seriously.

'Love,' she replied. 'It's love.'