Challenge 890 - Too hot to handle
Nov. 9th, 2025 01:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
m_findlowTitle: Too hot to handle
Character: Jack, Owen, Tosh
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 300 words
Length: 300 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 890 - Hot at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
torchwood100
torchwood100Summary: Not everything that comes through the rift is easy to deal with. A triple drabble.
'There,' Jack said, pointing in the direction of the river as their search for the latest object from the rift finally bore fruit. They'd been wandering along the Ely River trail for half an hour without luck.
Owen's eyes followed Jack's finger and he saw it as well, the silvery orb lying just a few feet from the water's edge. 'Got it,' he confirmed, scrambling down the grassy bank to collect it. He reached for it with both hands, gasped and immediately dropped it again. He swore as he looked down at his palms already turning pink and blistered. 'Thing's bloody red hot,' he said as Jack and Tosh caught up with him.
'There was no indication it was giving off heat,' Tosh replied, rechecking her instruments.
'Well, it is.'
Jack gave the thing a brief kick sending it tumbling into the river.
'What'd you do that for?' Owen moaned.
'If it's as hot as you say, that ought to cool it down.'
'Like a blacksmith dipping a freshly forged horseshoe into a bucket of water,' Tosh said.
Jack nodded. 'Exactly. Give it a minute and we'll fish it out, then we can get back to the hub. Those burns will need treating,' Jack added, taking Owen's hands into his own and inspecting the injuries.
'Great,' Owen grumbled. He was about to add more about having to suffer Jack's unique brand of medicine when a deep burbling sound erupted from behind him. The three of them turned to find the river bubbling furiously, steam billowing and letting off a putrid stench.
'Well, didn't expect that,' Jack said.
'It's boiling the river,' Tosh cried.
'Told you it was hot.'
Jack tapped his earpiece. 'Ianto, we're gonna need the hazmat gear here pronto.' He sighed. 'The Environment Agency is gonna be pissed.'
'There,' Jack said, pointing in the direction of the river as their search for the latest object from the rift finally bore fruit. They'd been wandering along the Ely River trail for half an hour without luck.
Owen's eyes followed Jack's finger and he saw it as well, the silvery orb lying just a few feet from the water's edge. 'Got it,' he confirmed, scrambling down the grassy bank to collect it. He reached for it with both hands, gasped and immediately dropped it again. He swore as he looked down at his palms already turning pink and blistered. 'Thing's bloody red hot,' he said as Jack and Tosh caught up with him.
'There was no indication it was giving off heat,' Tosh replied, rechecking her instruments.
'Well, it is.'
Jack gave the thing a brief kick sending it tumbling into the river.
'What'd you do that for?' Owen moaned.
'If it's as hot as you say, that ought to cool it down.'
'Like a blacksmith dipping a freshly forged horseshoe into a bucket of water,' Tosh said.
Jack nodded. 'Exactly. Give it a minute and we'll fish it out, then we can get back to the hub. Those burns will need treating,' Jack added, taking Owen's hands into his own and inspecting the injuries.
'Great,' Owen grumbled. He was about to add more about having to suffer Jack's unique brand of medicine when a deep burbling sound erupted from behind him. The three of them turned to find the river bubbling furiously, steam billowing and letting off a putrid stench.
'Well, didn't expect that,' Jack said.
'It's boiling the river,' Tosh cried.
'Told you it was hot.'
Jack tapped his earpiece. 'Ianto, we're gonna need the hazmat gear here pronto.' He sighed. 'The Environment Agency is gonna be pissed.'
no subject
Date: 2025-11-09 10:45 am (UTC)