Torchwood: Fanfic: Out in the cold

[m_findlow]

Title: Out in the cold
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Owen, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 827 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, is it still camping if you don't have to a tent?" at fic_promptly
Summary: They boys are forced to make do in the wilderness

'I keep telling you how much I hate the sodding countryside, and still you keep dragging me out here!' Owen complained.

'Stop your griping,' Ianto replied, pulling the collar on his coat up.

'No. I won't. It's all your fault.'

'My fault?' Ianto cried. 'You're the one who lost our supplies kit in the river!'

'I tripped! If it hadn't been raining it wouldn't have been so damn slippery.'

'No, you're right,' Ianto said, 'it is my fault.'

'Told you so.'

'My fault for putting you in charge of even the simplest task.'

'Oi!'

Ianto slumped back against the tree trunk, pulling his knees up and folding his arms tight against the cold. It was going to be a long night, but he had to get some sleep if he could. He'd notice the cold a whole lot less asleep.

What a mess, he thought. A simple job. That's what he'd told the others. A small strange signal out in the middle of some rugged coal country. He volunteered himself and Owen to go check it out, knowing that the roads would only get them so far and the rest would have to be on foot. It was tough country and a good chance they wouldn't make it there and back before nightfall. That was why he'd packed basic camping supplies. One small tent and an emergency blanket, energy bars and bottles of water. They wouldn't need more than that. Just basic food and shelter for the night. Ianto's own pack held their equipment: an assortment of items, guns, a net, expandable containment units, sedatives and a first aid kit. Everything they might need to locate and contain whatever it was that had come through the rift. Just nothing that would help make their night any more comfortable.

'I fucking hate camping,' Owen said, continuing his complaining. His mood had grown ever darker since accepting that there was no way they could make it back to the SUV in the pitch dark. 'You tripped into the river in broad daylight,' Ianto had said. 'What chance that you can make it back in one piece with only a torch and your hands full?'

'Is it still camping if you don't have a tent?' Ianto asked. He supposed he should be grateful Owen himself hadn't fallen into the river. All he had to moan about were wet feet, and even Ianto had to admit that couldn't be comfortable.

He'd been distracted by the small creatures they'd managed to find and capture. Feeding them small chunks of the meat they'd managed to scavenge for themselves. There was one each in two of the containment cages, each about the size of a rabbit, but looking more like large rats, with extra long tail and huge round ears. They were cute until you got too close and met their ravenous little teeth. The poor fox they'd either killed or found dead was now dinner. At least someone would eat tonight...

Cold, hungry and without shelter, they'd picked out a wooded section that would at least protect them from some of the worst winds that ripped through the land.

'Aren't you going to say anything?' Owen demanded. He'd happily continue their argument all night long. Perhaps it would keep him warm to keep his temper stoked.

'Go to sleep,' Ianto muffled into his coat. The sooner they slept, the sooner it'd be morning and light enough to keep going. Walking at least might warm them up.

'Can't sleep,' Owen grumbled. 'It's too cold and those things are making too much noise.'

The two creatures were chittering in the dark, but it wasn't overly loud. No louder than any of the other animals living out here, though he didn't feel like mentioning that to Owen. If Owen thought their camp might be overrun by curious badgers, he'd never go to sleep.

'Try,' Ianto said.

'It's too cold. We'll freeze out here.'

'Not if we still had our tent and blankets.' As he tried to nestle more comfortably, finding a loose stick jabbing against him, something else brushed against him. It was large, but it was no badger.

'Owen? What are you doing?'

'Conserving body heat,' he said, pressing closer.

'I generally like to be wined and dined first,' Ianto said. It wasn't like Owen to want to be within ten feet of him, let alone cuddled up like this.

'Har, har. I wouldn't sleep with you if you were the last person on earth. Now shut up and don't tell anyone what happened here,' he said, gripping Ianto closer. 'I'm only doing this so we don't die in the middle of the night. I've still got things I want to do with my life.'

Ianto hated to admit that it was slightly warmer. Owen might be grumpy, but at least he was warm and grumpy. What happens in the countryside... Ianto thought, closing his eyes. Lucky Jack wasn't here. They'd never live it down.

Comments

[bk_forever]

Oh, I so don't envy those two, cold and hungry, out in the dark, miles from shelter... *shivers* Maybe Myf can seek them out with blankets and a flask of hot soup.