m_findlow

Title: Helping hand
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Tosh
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 91 - Guest at anythingdrabble
Summary: Tosh is trying to find a way to repay Jack and Ianto's generosity.

Jack frowned as he heard the sound of crashing upstairs. He made for the hallway, taking the stairs two at a time as he called out. 'Tosh? Everything okay up there?'

He caught her slim figure backing away and turning to face him. 'Fine, I think. I'll have this tidied up.'

Jack's brow furrowed in confusion as he saw the contents of the hallway cupboard spilling out across the floor. 'Uh, Tosh. I know you've been to our place before, but that's the hall cupboard, not the bathroom.'

'I know that,' she replied, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. 'I was looking for your vacuum cleaner, or a broom, or even a feather duster.'

'What for?'

The look she gave him was so reminiscent of that look his husband always gave him when he'd asked a seemingly stupid question. He wished Ianto was here to see it now. He'd be so proud. 'So I can clean, of course.'

'Tosh, you don't have to clean,' Jack insisted as he watched her trying to stack the fallen items back into the cupboard.

'It's the least I can do to pitch in and help,' she replied. 'I've been here over a week and I haven't contributed a thing. Thanks by the way, for being so patient and letting me stay here rather than some hotel. And for doing my laundry, cooking, washing up and just generally putting up with me cramping your lives.'

Jack shrugged. 'Not your fault. An infestation of crackle mites could've happened to any of us.' Poor Tosh had been speechless as thousands of them scurried over the walls, and covered everything in sight. 'Must've been a stray one somewhere that came into contact with some residual rift radiation, sending it into a reproductive frenzy. That sonic resonator will do the trick though to rid you of the little pests. It just takes time to make sure we get them all. Don't wanna have a repeat.'

She gave him an appreciative smile. 'Thanks. I just want to help around the house if I can. Cleaning seemed a safe bet.'

'You don't have to clean our house. Even I don't clean our house. Besides, I think Ianto would take offense if he thought you felt the house needed cleaning. You know how he gets about those kinds of things.'

'Oh,' she said, her face falling. 'I hadn't thought of it that way.' Her best friend would no doubt understand, but not before feeling a sense of shame. Ianto took being houseproud to a whole other level.

'Look, I've got an idea,' Jack began. 'Why don't you thank us by shouting us diner tonight? That way, nobody has to cook or clean or do anything other than have a good time.'

'That sounds great.' She frowned at the cupboard again. 'By the way, just in case, where do you keep the vacuum cleaner?'

Jack grinned. 'You're asking the wrong person! I wouldn't have a clue where Ianto keeps it.'