Slashthedrabble Challenge 505 - Need you now

[m_findlow]

Title: Need you now
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: M
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 505 - Anxiety at slashthedrabble
Summary: Ianto needs Jack here now more than ever.

Coming face to face with a vicious and unknown alien wasn't what Ianto had expected today. Of course, stuff was always coming through through rift, and it was their job to deal with it. Their job, he reiterated, because Jack had left them. They were the only line of defence this city had, just the four of them. Most days that wasn't an appealing prospect. Good as they were, and well-intentioned to a fault, they were still well out of their depth. Whether Jack had been aware of that, or even cared, Ianto couldn't say. They just had to make do.

Tonight's quarry had proven more than a challenge, eluding them for most of the day. It finally gave itself away, performing a smash and grab at a luxury car dealership. Even then, they'd had to stop for directions from a little old lady. Not quite the elite alien-fighting team he imagined, he thought wryly from the backseat as he primed their guns. Now he wished he was back in the car, occupying the least important role on the team.

It had all happened so fast. Owen was bellowing orders as they split up. He went straight for the man on the floor with the gunshot wound. Gwen pushed a second woman out of harms way, into an alcove. Tosh had her gun, but her focus was on scanning the blowfish. Owen must have been mad when  he'd told Ianto to take centre position, his gun aimed at the blowfish and its hostage. It was surely just a temporary measure. Nobody was really expecting him to take the lead offensive. A quick scan of the room told him all he needed to know. For all intents and purposes he'd been left in charge.

No, this wasn't happening. He couldn't be in charge. He didn't know how. Jack should have been here. Ianto had never needed him more than he did right now. Things hadn't been the same since he'd left. Ianto felt empty and adrift, without purpose.

The poor girl had a gun to her head and was sobbing. That blowfish would happily blow her brains out if he didn't do something.

Then came the mocking. The blowfish knew it had the upper hand, left dealing with the weakest link. Ianto wanted to shoot it, but God, what if he hit the girl? His aim would only have to be a little bit off. What if the blowfish shot her first? What if he shot, but the blowfish  shot him? Or Owen? Or Tosh? Jesus Christ, what should he do? The gravity of the situation made him feel sick to his stomach. The blowfish had them all by the balls unless he did something.

'Can you shoot before I do?' the blowfish taunted. Ianto felt his hand shake around the gun ever so slightly, trying desperately not to show his anxiety.

'Can you? Dare you? Would you? Won't you?'

Fuck. What the hell did he do? What would Jack do?

Comments

[bk_forever]

Remember what Jack taught you about ignoring distractions, Ianto.

Then wait for Jack to show up and shoot the blowfish.

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see an AU version of this where Ianto steals Jack's thunder and does shoot it. It's the kind of anticlimactic entrance Jack perhaps deserved from the team.
Must add that on the list of ideas...