m_findlow

Title: Physical therapy
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto, OCs
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 865 words
Content notes: set in a future verse of my own creation. The OCs belong to me. :)
Author notes: Written for prisca's prompt "Any, any, sometimes everyone needs a hug" at fic_promptly
Summary: Ianto is having a bad day, but Penny has an idea on how to make it better

Penny didn't come up from the archives very much, seeing as how they were her domain, and no one else was particularly interested in them. That suited her just fine. She'd never been much of a people person. Not that the people she worked with weren't all lovely and kind, just that she preferred things that didn't require her to make conversation with them.

Despite that, her current project required some assistance, and the only one with enough knowledge to help her out was Jack. They'd kept one another busy all day in Jack's office, trawling through a box of miscellany whilst Jack explained what each one was and what it did so that she could properly classify it and store it away. She spared a glance at the office just across the way, watching as her predecessor was locked in a battle with his computer.

'Did you two used to do this?' she asked, kneeling on the floor next to the box and extracting the next item.

Jack looked up at her, and then across at his husband. 'Things weren't quite so organised in the old days. It was more of an ad hoc thing. I'd go downstairs and Ianto would tell me to go away because he was busy, and I wouldn't leave until I'd gotten what I came for.'

'Sounds like you really had to work your magic on him.'

'Oh, he got some enjoyment out of it too,' Jack replied grinning and remembering how he usually only went down there for some private time. Ianto might have been unwilling at the start, but he was usually screaming "don't stop" by the end of it.

'Not like now, huh?' she said. 'I haven't seen him leave that desk all day.'

'I know. If the team don't get some coffee soon, war might break out,' he joked.

'He looks stressed,' she said.

'Just one of those days,' Jack said, staring wistfully in the same direction. 'Unfortunately you can't please all of the people all of the time, and Ianto isn't happy unless everybody is pleased.'

'I wish there was something we could do to help,' she said, staring forlornly at the obvious pressure their director was under.

'We do our jobs and that's a huge help, Penny. It's one less thing he has to worry about, then.'

'That doesn't seem like much help,' she said, running a hand over the bulbous metal object Jack had identified as the alien equivalent of a night light.

'It's plenty, trust me. He'll be okay.'

There was a sudden commotion as several files from the top of a very tall pile on Ianto's desk slipped onto the floor, spilling their contents everywhere. They both heard Ianto growl loudly in frustration.

'I'm thinking maybe we should take this box downstairs and finish up there. Give Ianto some space,' Jack suggested, keeping one eye on him like some wild animal that might be about to pounce and attack.

Penny looked apologetically in Ianto's direction before reluctantly following Jack out of his office.

It was late by the time Penny finally shut down her computer, pleased with the progess they'd made. It was only as she was packing up that she remembered she'd left her scarf up in Jack's office. As she knocked on the doorway she saw that Jack wasn't there. Then she recalled him saying something about firearms practice for some of the team.

She gathered up the long orange scarf, wrapping it around her, pulling her long mouse-coloured braid out from under its folds, when the voice caught her by surprise.

'Why are you still here? You should have headed home hours ago.'

'Sorry, sir,' she apologised. 'I was just on my way home now.'

'Penny, how many times have I told you, you don't have to call me sir.'

'Sorry, sir. Er, director. I mean, sorry Ianto.'

'Better,' he said, smiling warmly. 'Good day?'

'Very,' she replied. 'You?'

'Rubbish, if I'm honest.'

She wasn't sure what compelled her, but before she could stop herself, she'd closed the gap between them and hugged him.

He let out a brief laugh when she finally let go. 'What was that for?'

'Sorry. I just thought, well, since you had such bad day. Sometimes everyone needs a hug.' She paused for a moment. 'I hope that wasn't inappropriate seeing as how you're my boss.'

'No need to apologise. I fact, I think you're right. A hug was definitely in order. I feel better already.'

'Jack won't be mad, will he?' she said, suddenly realising the potential repercussions.

Ianto laughed again. 'He'll probably be more miffed that he didn't get one. But all the same, I won't tell if you won't.' He winked at her.

'Not a word, I promise,' she said, quickly crossing her heart.

He smiled, looking thoughtful. 'You know, I think maybe I need to make it a policy around here that everyone gets a hug at least once a day. I think it would do wonders for morale.'

Penny wasn't sure if he was joking or being serious. She'd never been very good at telling the two apart.

'Whatever you think is best, sir,' she said, making her leave.