Torchwood: Fanfic: Hand made

[m_findlow]

Title: Hand made
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack, Mica
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 757 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for badly_knitted's prompt "Any, any, "Do you like it? I made it myself"" at fic_promptly
Summary: The best gifts are those that money can't buy

Ianto couldn't believe that he was stuck here in hospital. Of all the things they faced working for Torchwood, how was it that he was laid up with a case of appendicitis?

The surgery had gone well, but despite that, he was going to be stuck here for a few days, and then a few more at home in his own bed. There'd be no chasing weevils for a while, and whilst he didn't think he'd miss that particular task, the lack of proper food and real coffee in the hospital was slowly driving him up the wall, as was the lack of anything to do. As much as he was the kind of person who enjoyed solitude and his own company, right now he'd have killed for a visitor or two to make the day go a bit faster.

As if by wishing it, he heard the door creak open and two figures stood there.

'Uncle Ianto!' Mica cried, running up towards the bed. Some kids would have been scared at seeing someone in a hospital bed, but somehow Mica had inherited her mother's gumption.

'Hello, Princess,' he said, breaking out into a smile.

Jack followed her into the room, a bunch of fresh daffodils in hand to replace the ones that were beginning to wilt. Ianto couldn't think of two people he'd rather see right now.

'Hey gorgeous,' Jack said, leaning in for a kiss. 'How're you feeling?'

'Better for having you here,' he replied, not feeling ashamed at the admission.

Jack picked up Mica, and sat her on the edge of the bed, whilst taking up the chair himself.

'Be careful with him, Mica,' Jack warned, as she leaned in to give her uncle a hug.

'I'm not made of glass, Jack,' he said reciprocating the tiny hug, hoping Jack didn't noticing the wincing expression on his face. A hug was still better than nothing.

He struggled to sit properly upright until Jack leaned over and helped readjust the pillows.

'Thanks,' he said. 'So, what have you two been up to? Catching aliens without me?'

'We've been making valentines,' Mica declared.

'Have you now?' He'd forgotten that tomorrow was Valentine's Day. Before his appendix had decided to burst on him, he and Jack had planned a romantic weekend away. So much for that. He'd been looking forward to it too.

'And who have you been making valentines for, Mica? Is there a special boy at school?'

'No, ew!' she cringed, making him laugh. He'd feel saddened that day she decided she'd rather hang out with boys her own age rather than her uncles. 'I made one for you, silly.'

'Did you?' he said, sounding surprised.

She pulled the folded paper out of her backpack and handed it to him. It was a big pink, awkwardly shaped heart, with two stick figures holding hands, and the words "for my Val-time".

'It's so lovely, Mica. Would you mind putting it up over there on the table for me?'

Mica beamed and took great care in placing it right at the front, taking pride of place in amongst the handful of other get well cards.

'I brought you something too,' Jack announced, handing over a large envelope.

'Is it something I can open in front of Mica?' Ianto asked warily, knowing Jack's penchant for the inappropriate.

'Of course it is!'

Ianto carefully tried to slip open the flap on the envelope, though Jack had take great pains to lick every inch of adhesive, gluing it tightly shut. In the end, he was forced to tear off the top to get to the contents.

Inside was a bright red card, covered in silver and gold marker pen doodles of love hearts and flowers, lots of stickers, and an excessive amount of glitter glue. It looked like it had used up every single item in Mica's craft kit. On the inside, there was a picture of a coffee mug and the words "you bean everything to me."

Jack grinned. 'Do you like it? I made it myself.'

He rolled his eyes more than he ever had. It was so very Jack: tacky, over the top, inane, and yet so very, very sweet.

'I love it. I love it more that you made it. They're both excellent, and the best valentines I've ever received.'

Jack beamed, Mica beamed, and Ianto got caught up in their inexhaustible enthusiasm for wanting to spoil him. If it wasn't for the painful surgery, he could get very used to being looked after so well.