m_findlow

Title: The little things
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Owen, Ianto
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 19 - Hug at anythingdrabble
Summary: Jack never thought he'd miss the little things so much.

'No,' Owen said.

'We wouldn't be kissing,' Jack replied.

'No.'

'But what if we...'

'No, Jack,' Owen repeated. 'I don't know how I can put this any other way.'

'But that's not fair!' Jack whined, pouting like someone had taken all his toys away and told him to go and sit in the naughty corner. In a way, Owen supposed that was exactly what had happened.

'Jack, I cannot stress to you just how contagious this thing is,' he said, stripping off one glove and then carefully using it to strip off the other, before disposing of them both into a sealed container.

'But it's not airborne or we'd both be sick. He looks fine,' Jack said, watching his lover sleeping peacefully in bed. There were no real outward signs of anything being wrong.

'He will be,' Owen assured him. 'A few days from now he'll feel right as rain, but he'll still be contagious for at least another two weeks. Three to be on the safe side. That means keeping your distance until the virus dies off. Think of it like the worst case of gastro ever.'

Jack folded his arms, frowning in an annoyed way. 'So, what exactly are you saying?'

'Teaboy stays here, but you'll have to stay elsewhere for the next few weeks.'

'But this is my home!' It had been a long time since he could have said that, but the house he shared with Ianto was most definitely home.

'That's just tough,' Owen said dispassionately. 'Because if you get sick, chances are that we'll all get sick, and do you really want the whole team out of action?'

He didn't, but the alternative wasn't really appealing either. Quarantined from his best friend for three weeks. It wouldn't really be that bad, he supposed.

After two weeks of store bought coffee, irritable teammates, and having to feed weevils, Jack was fed up. Ianto not being here thoroughly sucked. The feeling seemed mutual as they spoke over the phone as Jack drove back from a minor rift alert.

'I'm going crazy here, Jack,' Ianto said. 'The house has never been so clean and organised. I'd have to make a mess just to have something to do.'

Jack sighed on the other end of the phone.

'What's wrong?'

'Just a shitty day, that's all.'

'Wish I could do something to make it better,' Ianto replied.

As Jack stopped at the intersection, he suddenly pulled right instead of left, headed away from the hub. Two more lefts and a right turn had him cruising to a halt outside the front of their house.

He marched purposefully up the path and straight through the front door. He didn't stop until he found Ianto, still dressed in his pajamas, before slamming into him and wrapping him in a huge hug.

'What happened to being quarantined?' Ianto said, relishing the feeling of Jack in his arms.

'Screw Owen and his quarantine. I'll take my chances getting sick.'

'I missed you, too.'