Torchwood: Fanfic: Fear of needles

[m_findlow]

Title: Fear of needles
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Owen, Myfanwy, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,021 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for juliet316's prompt "Any, any, who won?" at fic_promptly
Summary: Owen underestimated just how tricky giving Myf her usual exam might be.

Owen knew Myfanwy would be a little testy without her favourite person there to help distract her whilst Owen went through his usual procedures. He'd assumed that by now she'd just be used to the process and wouldn't be any trouble at all. It wasn't like Ianto did anything special. A pat now and then, and a few fish at the end once it was all over. Piece of piss as far as Owen was concerned.

He clambered up the long flight of steps and ladder that led to her nest right up in the roof of the hub. Despite their best efforts, it always smelled bad up here. It must have driven Ianto nuts, Owen thought. There was just no getting rid of the smell of live animal, even if she was trained to do her business outdoors, as much as was possible.

He gagged on the stench, worse since Ianto hadn't been up here for days, and apparently, neither had anyone else. He probably wouldn't mention that when Ianto got back from London. He'd only have a hissy fit and chastise them for not looking after her properly. That was a whole bunch of grief he didn't need. He was sure he could blame it on Jack, or something.

Myfanwy must have heard him climbing the ladder because she was there waiting for him.

'Alright?' Owen greeted her. It wasn't hard to tell she was disappointed it wasn't Ianto coming to visit. Even the sodding wildlife played favourites around here. 'Yeah, you know why I'm here, don't you?' Owen said, setting down his bag of equipment. 'Let's make this as painless as possible.'

Famous last words, Owen thought, as she began to flap in an irate manner. Most of what Owen did wasn't invasive at all, but it seemed all she remembered was the needle at the end when he took a blood sample. The rest didn't matter.

'Come on, don't muck about,' he warned her, grabbing the edge of her wing before it knocked him out. She squawked and tried to poke him with her beak. He dodged it at the last moment.

'Shhh.' He tried for the gently, gently approach, reaching out and stroking her head a few times. In his pocket she could already sniff out the tiny chocolate bar he'd tucked there in case of emergencies. He'd planned on giving it to her afterwards, but perhaps handing it over up-front would help.

'Yeah, you know what I've got in there, don't you? I'm not the heartless bastard you think I am.' He pulled it out and unwrapped it, breaking it in two. 'You get the rest after, alright?'

She snapped at his hand and took both halves before he had a chance to pocket the remainder. Cheeky bugger. 'Alright, that's me holding up my end of the bargain. Your turn.'

He took out his stethoscope and set it in his ears, trying to reach under her breast. She whacked him in the head once he was within reach, trying to swat him and his cold apparatus away. He persisted though, prepared to put up with it, just to get the job done. He managed the rest without too much fuss, but as soon as he reached into his kit and drew out the syringe, Myf was on him in a flash, knocking him fully to the ground. The fall winded him, despite the straw breaking his landing, and his needle skittered away.

'Stupid bird,' he grumbled, crawling around to try and find it. 'Don't think you're getting out of it that easily.' Where the bloody hell was it? he thought, scrabbling through more filthy, smelly hay. There was something else sticky in there, which he stuck his knee into, knowing it wasn't scraps of fish, tucked away for later.

'Ah ha!' he said, wrapping a hand around the thick ampule, holding it up.

That was a mistake. One glint of the needle was all it took to send Myf tumbling into him in the straw, trying to relieve him of it. All bloody Harkness's fault, Owen thought bitterly. She still remembered the very first time she'd been stuck with a needle - albeit it had been a damn sight bigger than anything Owen used. She'd be lucky to feel it through that thick skin.

They battled for a while, until Owen received a jab in the solar plexus, followed by one further down which left him curled up in pain.

'Yeah, alright, I give up!' he yelled. 'You win, freak. '

Myf squawked out a cry, knowing she'd won this particular battle, watching Owen slowly crawl away and back down the ladder, taking his nasty needles with him.

'When Ianto gets back I'm gonna make sure he knows about this,' Owen threatened. 'He's gonna let me poke you so full of needles that you'll leak.'

Jack burst out laughing as soon as Owen walked into his office. His appearance was priceless, stood there covered in bits of straw and looking like he'd taken a roll in the hay. Finally, he managed to contain himself enough to get words out. 'So, who won?' he asked, smirking.

'Stupid sodding lizard,' Owen muttered. 'This is the last time I agree to do a medical check on her without Teaboy here.'

Jack folded his arms across his chest, looking smug. 'I did warn you,' he replied. 'What were your words, exactly?' Jack said, trying to recall them. 'I can handle that overgrown budgie?'

'Shut up.'

'She's got feelings, you know,' Jack said. 'She's very sensitive. And she's a lot smarter than most people think. Dinosaurs would still be around today if it hadn't been for the asteroid.'

'Easy for you to say,' Owen grumbled. 'You didn't have to go up there.'

'You only had to ask,' Jack said.

'And I was nice, just so you know.'

Jack smirked again. 'I never doubted you for a second. Still, I'll be wanting an update on her. You know how Ianto gets when he's not here.'

'Well, you can be the one to tell him she gets ten out of ten for attitude.'

Comments

[bk_forever]

Heh! That'll teach Owen! Myf is a lady with a mind of her own!