m_findlow | Torchwood: Fanfic: In need of a hand

Title: In need of a hand
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Tosh, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,292 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, physical therapy" at fic_promptly
Summary: Tosh needs a hand to get back in her feet

It had been such a relief just to get out of that hospital that Tosh hadn't been able to think about anything else for days. Now that the day had finally arrived, it made her nervous.

She'd been looking forward to the freedom of not being trapped in that bed in that room, but come the morning, nothing wanted to work.

The accident that had landed her here was just that, an accident. For all the guilt Jack felt, no one could have stopped that car from skidding on the flooded roads.

The fear had been a spinal injury. When they'd pulled her out she had no sensation from the waist down, but fortunately it had only been swelling that had impacted her spinal column. After a week in hospital, all feeling had returned.

She pulled herself sideways on the bed, massaging her legs that now dangled over the egde, feeling pins and needles. There was still some residual swelling but they assured her that with a bit more time and physical therapy that it would take care of itself.

'Ready to go home?' the nurse asked her.

'Yes,' she replied, letting the nurse help her to her feet.

'Someone picking you up?'

'I think so.'

'Best get you showered and ready, then.'

It was slightly humiliating having someone stand there to help her undress, and then to be hovering just on the other side of the curtain while she showered, parked on the small plastic stool. Standing or walking more than a few minutes at a time was hard. After a week in bed, the lack of muscle use had left her in a worse position than the accident itself. It was going to take a while to get back to her former strength, but she was determined to get out of here today and start the process of healing.

Showered and dressed, she was sitting on the end of the bed, tying back her hair when there was a small polite knock. She'd expected Jack, or perhaps Gwen. Owen, even. She didn't expect to see Ianto standing there.

'Hello,' he said, giving her a small wave. 'Feeling better?'

'Better for seeing you,' she said, smiling. 'Jeans?' she said, noticing the change of attire.

'Day off,' he explained. 'Owen sends his apologies. He and Jack got caught up investigating a rift alert.'

'Owen apologised?' she said.

'Well, no, not exactly. I won't attempt to paraphrase his actual words.'

She laughed. 'That's okay. You're a good consolation prize.' She watched as her words caused him to blush. He was such a sweetheart. 'And thank you for coming here on your day off.' She pushed herself off the bed and nearly collapsed onto the floor, except for the strong arms that were suddenly wrapped around her waist.

'You okay?' he asked.

'Still a bit wobbly,' she apologised.

'No problem,' he said, readjusting his grip so that it was less imposing. 'Car's out the front so it shouldn't be too far to walk. Or I can get you a wheelchair.'

'No. Walking is fine,' she said, taking her first steps forward, forcing him to gently grip her elbow in support. 'I'm getting out of here if I have to crawl across the floor.'

'Let's hope it doesn't come to that,' he said, offering her his arm.

'I can't tell you what a relief it is to get out of here,' she said, sliding into the passenger seat, grateful for the respite. He smiled in that quiet way of his and got in without a word, starting up the car and pulling out onto the road.

'Jack still blames himself, doesn't he?' Tosh asked, watching Ianto's expression as he kept his eyes firmly on the road ahead.

'We don't really talk very much, but I think it's safe to assume.'

'It's really not,' Tosh insisted. She didn't want Jack thinking he'd caused her pain. It was the job. Sometimes it was dangerous and she was okay with that.

'I know.' Ianto cleared his throat, flipping on the indicator and turning smoothly left. 'Owen mentioned you had a rehab program to follow?'

Tosh groaned. So much for freedom. 'Yeah, they gave me a bunch of different exercises and things to do, but it means going to a clinic on the other side of town every day for three weeks.'

'That's the only place that does it?' he asked. 'I could put in a few calls, find you somewhere closer.'

'No, that's okay. It's only because I need to be supervised in case I fall or hurt myself. I could do them from home if I had a partner or a boyfriend or a crazy neighbour, but since it's just me... I didn't want to ask Jack or Owen.'

'You could ask me,' Ianto suggested.

'Oh, no. I couldn't possibly.'

'Why not? Seems silly for you to have to catch a taxi halfway across town twice a day.'

'But you've got a million things to do at work.'

'I can always squeeze in one more. I have a lot more spare time on my hands these days.' Tosh didn't have to have him add that it was on account of not having to look after Lisa anymore. Perhaps he needed someone to look after. Wasn't that what he did for them every day?

'You're sure?' She didn't want to say that she'd feel stupid trying to do the same exercises with him that she'd done with the occupational therapist. Funny how she'd taken for granted the simplest things, like walking, or going up and down steps. It was like having to learn it all again for the first time.

'I insist,' Ianto said. 'If it helps you get better then I want to help. I can even bring coffee.'

Now he was talking! 'That would make me feel loads better,' she said, having missed her daily fix of Ianto's coffee.

'It has excellent restorative properties,' he agreed. 'If it can fix Owen's mood, it can fix anything.'

'Maybe you should be selling it at the hospital,' she suggested.

'I wouldn't want to put the doctors out of a job.' That earned a hearty laugh from Tosh. She couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed properly.

He practically carried her up the two flights of stairs to her apartment. Why had she never noticed how strong he was? He seemed so slim. Maybe there really was something in the coffee.

'They should put in a lift,' he said, waiting for her to slot the key in the door.

'It's body corporate. They don't pay for anything,' she replied.

He laughed. 'Don't I know it? So, what time tomorrow? I can do first thing. Or mid morning, if that's better, let you get some sleep. Afternoons? After work isn't great. Jack never goes home these days.'

'First thing would be great,' she said. 'Six am, so long as you don't mind that I might still be in pajamas.' The sooner she got back into her old schedule, the better. Maybe she could even convince Ianto to take her to work with him, once she was feeling a bit more sure on her feet. Three more weeks cooped up at home would drive her crazy.

'Think I can live with that,' he said. 'Perhaps when you're feeling stronger, we might manage to get you dressed for a walk in the park down the road. See you tomorrow at six, then.'

Just as he was about to leave, she called out to him from three doorway. 'Ianto?'

'Yes?'

'Thank you for being such a good friend.' She'd never realised it until just now, but they really were more than just coworkers.

Ianto just gave her a small, modest smile and left.

Torchwood: Fanfic: In need of a hand

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