Torchwood: Fanfic: Showered with flowers

[m_findlow]

Title: Showered with flowers
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Tosh, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 650 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, Please, no more flowers!" at fic_promptly
Summary: Tosh never thought gratitude could be so overwhelming.

Tosh was certain she'd never seen so many flowers in her life. Not ever. Not even that time her parents had taken her to the cherry blossom festival when her father had been on shore leave. Back then all she'd remembered was the sea of pale pink all around her, tiny little petals catching on the breeze, and drifting down like the most beautiful snow she'd ever seen. Her papa had laughed when one landed right there on her nose, forcing her to go cross-eyed to focus on it. And then, just as delicately, he'd reached out and brushed it from her face. It was always hard to imagine her father as the stern naval man, with his soft hands and tender eyes.

She'd wanted to go back and see the cherry blossoms again, but she feared that they wouldn't hold the same magic that had captivated her when she'd been a child. She didn't want to ruin that memory.

For now though, it hardly mattered. She was surrounded by more flowers than she knew what to do with. They came in every hue and shape, and she wished she knew more about flora, able to name a handful of them easily, but just as many she had no names for. There were happy yellow roses, elegant violet irises, gerberas in deep pinks and reds, carnations, daisies, and marigolds. And each came with its own brightly coloured wrapping, sparkling cellophane and cheery little boxes. The place looked like a florists shop.

When was that last time she'd been inside a florist, she wondered. She never bought flowers because she never had anyone to buy them for, and certainly not for herself. Flowers needed to be enjoyed, and she was never home long enough to admire them. They'd just sit there and slowly wilt, abandoned and unloved. Even her one fern that she kept in a pot on the kitchen counter had been forced to brave complete neglect for days on end. Somehow though, it continued to cling onto life, gratefully accepting the water she gave it when she did remember. Like her, it seemed to require very little love and affection, just carrying on stoically.

She stared around the room again. It really was overwhelming, but she supposed for hospital staff this was just par for the course. People got sick and injured, and their friends and loved ones brought flowers out of sympathy, but also to cheer up the place that was otherwise stark and depressing. They probably took one look at a patient and placed bets on how many flowers they'd get whilst they were here. For some she supposed there'd be none. It was a sad thought. No one who knew they were here; no one who cared. It would just be that awful white room with no colour whatsoever. She'd expected that would be her. She didn't have anyone to buy her flowers either, but somehow the room was full of them. It was rather embarrassing.

A huge cluster of oriental lilies made an appearance in the doorway, flushing pale pink and white, but the person behind them was completely hidden from view.

'Please, no more flowers!' she begged. 'Give them to someone else on the ward.'

'But I bought them especially,' came the voice. 'I know they're your favourite.'

'Oh, sorry, Ianto,' she apologised. 'I thought you were one of the nurses.'

'Please don't say that too loud,' he replied. 'You'll only give Jack ideas.' He paused, looking around for a spot to set down the arrangement, but finding nowhere suitable. 'You've got quite a collection,' he said.

'I know. I think every parent from that school has sent flowers of some kind,' she said.

'Well, you did save the whole school from being annihilated. I'd say that's worth being grateful for.'

'I just couldn't save myself,' she said, grimacing at the bandages all over.

Comments

[bk_forever]

Tosh the hero! She deserves her flowers, even if she doesn't need so many. Maybe she could keep the cards off them and have Ianto distribute a few bunches to people who don't have any.

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

I'm sure she'll make sure they all find good homes, and give her something to do whilst she's recuperating, becoming the flower delivery lady. :)