Challenge 478 - Out of gas

[m_findlow]

Title: Out of gas
Author: m_findlow
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Rating: PG
Challenge: 478 - Empty at tw100
Notes: The boys are stuck in the middle of nowhere. Five drabbles, one story.

'I don't understand how we could have just broken down in the middle of nowhere,' Ianto complained, leaning back against the SUV, arms folded in annoyance.

'It's pretty simple, Ianto,' Jack bit back, equally frustrated. 'We ran out of fuel.'

'We can't have,' he argued. 'I filled it this morning.'

Jack threw open the door and pointed at the fuel gauge. 'It says empty. I don't know where the confusion is.'

'But. It. Was. Full,' Ianto repeated, emphasizing each word.

'Well, it's not now,' Jack said.

Ianto turned on his heel, walking away.  

'Where are you going?'

'To get fuel.'

 

Ianto waited for the sound of footsteps to come up behind him but they didn't.

Great. What a time to have a row, stuck miles from anywhere. Still, he supposed he didn't feel like Jack tagging along behind him anyway right now. He was just so mad.

How could Jack be so empty-headed as to not notice the fuel gauge running low? It shouldn't be, but that wasn't the point. If he had noticed, they might have stopped for more at the service station he'd seen eight miles back. Now he'd have to walk all the way there and back.

 

 

Jack watched Ianto storm off down the road. He was mad. It was bloody miles to walk. There had to be a better solution to the problem.

Angry as he was, it didn't take long to discover the source of the problem. The fuel tank was cracked underneath. His occasionally reckless driving, no doubt. Just something else for Ianto to blame him for.

He slumped in the seat, mad at Ianto but wishing he'd chased after him all the same. It felt so lonely and empty without him here. Better that they argue for miles but at least be together.

 

 

After two hours of walking without another car in sight, the service station looked like heaven. Never mind he still had to walk back, lugging a heavy fuel can. He wished Jack had come with him so they could have shared the load.

Worse still was the discovery that the service station hadn't sold fuel for years. They had milk and crisps, but not the one thing he really needed. How could he go back empty-handed?

The proprietor put in a call to a local garage but couldn't get there until tomorrow morning.

Defeated, Ianto began the long trek back.

 

 

It was beginning to rain when the sound of the car door opening startled Jack.

'You're back!'

'Of course I'm back,' Ianto replied. 'You didn't think I'd just leave you here, did you?'

'I had my doubts,' Jack confessed. 'Need a hand with the fuel?'

'Nope. Because there is none.' He told Jack the bad news.

'So, were stuck here all night?'

'Unfortunately.'

'Great,' Jack moped. 'And I'm starving.'

'Well, that I can fix,' Ianto replied, producing a bag with two packets of crisps and a pair of chocolate bars. 'At least we won't be waiting on an empty stomach.'

Comments

[bk_forever]

Oh, what a nightmare situation! Poor Ianto, a 16 mile walk for nothing. Even if he'd got fuel, with a cracked tank it wouldn't have helped much.