Anythingdrabble Challenge 35 - Under pressure

[m_findlow]

Title: Under pressure
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Owen, Ianto
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 35 - Clot at anythingdrabble. Sequel to Easing the pain.
Summary: Jack and Ianto are left to manage a medical crisis on their own.

Jack reached down and pressed two fingers close to Owen's neck, keeping tabs on his pulse as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. That was the downside to Owen being unconscious. Then again, judging by the amount of blood Owen was losing, he might have ended up unconscious anyway.

'How are you doing there, Ianto?' he asked, trying to be supportive of the young man tasked with the job of keeping Owen's leg from bleeding out.

'Just peachy,' he replied. This wasn't how he'd planned on tonight going. They hadn't even found what it was they'd came out here for. Owen had to go and find the only foxhole in the entire park, sticking his foot in it and falling over in such a way that he'd snapped his upper leg so badly it had broken the skin.

'You're doing just fine,' Jack reassured him. 'As much pressure as you can. He won't feel it.' Ianto added his spare hand over the one already covered in blood.

'They didn't cover this in basic first aid,' Ianto muttered, trying to stay calm. Where the hell was that ambulance? Bloody NHS. He looked back at Jack who was calm as anything.

'Seen worse than this, have you?' he asked, trying to distract himself.

'Much worse,' Jack replied.

'Was it the war?'

'Which one?'

'How many have you fought in?'

'More than anyone ever should. I've seen guys with whole limbs blasted off by landmines, shot off by artillery fire, and torn apart by their own barbed wire fencing, trying to return to the safety of trenches.' No amount of medical aid was going to save them no matter how much he tried. All he could do was be there for them, listening to them passing on messages for their wives and children.

'What about you?' Ianto asked.

Jack was spared answering as the sound of sirens and flashing lights approached. Two paramedics were there moments later. One knelt next to Ianto.

'Alright sweetheart, I'm going to get you to ease up on the leg for a second and give me a look, okay?' He did so as the woman examined the wound.

'Looks like it's starting to clot a little bit. Didn't puncture any main arteries. I'll get you to just pop that hand back on for a bit, though. Gently, alright?' She handed him a thick wad of bandage so he didn't have to use his hand. She was such a calming presence he did exactly as she said. Jack stepped away to let the second paramedic do his job, helping to add compression bandaging above the wound.

'What's his name, love?' she asked.

'Owen.'

'And what's your name?'

'Ianto. And that's Jack.'

'Owen's your friend, is he?'

'Yes,' Ianto replied.

'Well, you've done a very good job, Ianto. It's lucky you were here to help him. Not too many people would have got stuck in like that. Nasty injury.'

'He's a doctor. He'd have done the same for us.'

Comments

[bk_forever]

Ianto deserves a reward and some cuddles from Jack.

I hope Owen will appreciate Ian to more after this.

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

There will definitely be cuddles. Owen will be grateful in his own brusque Owen way and hopefully watch where he's going a little more carefully next time.