m_findlow

Title: Celebrating
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 510 - Champagne at slashthedrabble
Summary: Ianto had plans for tonight, but this wasn't what he'd planned.

Bloody rift alerts, Ianto thought, gripping the steering wheel hard in frustration. He was convinced the rift was some kind of vengeful God that it had it in for him. He was sorely tempted to start putting fake events in his diary to confuse the rift as to when he actually had something properly planned.

At least he was driving. That was one small concession as Jack sat in the passenger seat, fidgeting and doing what Ianto would usually have done in his place: checking the details and location of the alert so he could direct Ianto to the scene. What he didn't need was Jack telling him to drive faster. He was already over the speed limit, determined to get there quickly and resolve it, in the hopes he might yet still salvage something from tonight.

'Turn here,' Jack commanded.

'You said East Street.'

'Well, I meant the street that comes off East Street.'

Ianto threw the SUV into the last minute turn. 'Of course you did.' He hit the brakes in a very sudden and Jack Harkness-like way, pulling them to a stop.

'It's small but soaked in Nelson seepage,' Jack said, already out the door and on the trail with his scanner.

Ianto followed, hot on his heels, until Jack stopped and knelt down, picking up something very carefully. In Jack's palm was a tiny little lizard thing which Jack called a Sminx.

'It doesn't look at all well,' Ianto observed.

'It needs a carbonated liquid environment to survive. Go start knocking on doors and see if anyone has got a bottle of soda in the fridge.'

'Oh yes, because I'm sure they'll just hand it over,' Ianto quipped.

'It's dying, Ianto. Just hurry!'

'Wait, I've got something that might work.' He rushed around to the back of the SUV, throwing open the boot and reaching for the cool carrier, unclipping the lid. For a minute he stared despondently at the bottle lying there in the ice, before grabbing it and hurrying back.

'Will this do?' he asked, holding it up.

'Since when do we keep champagne in the SUV? Expensive champagne at that,' Jack said, reading the label.

Ianto rolled his eyes and began tearing off the foil. 'It's our anniversary, though I know you've forgotten. Tonight was meant to be a surprise.' He eased out the cork with a pop that nearly made his heart break.

Once the cork was out, Ianto held the bottle whilst Jack used his hand to coach the frail creature from his hand and into the bottle. At first it just sunk to the bottom, but after a few agonizing minutes it resurfaced, looking much more lively.

'Good work,' Jack beamed. 'A perfect home until we can fix him something more permanent. Though with all that alcohol, he'll certainly be the happiest little Sminx.'

'At least someone gets to enjoy it,' Ianto replied.

'I promise the next bottle will be just for us.' He gave Ianto a kiss. 'Happy anniversary.'