m_findlow

Title: Got your back
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Ianto
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 138 - Foul at anythingdrabble
Summary: Bad weather and bad luck collide to make Jack's evening hellish.

Jack groaned as the first drops of rain hit his forehead. Of all the days to be out without the SUV, he thought, as the rain began to come down in earnest. If he'd known the weather would take such a sudden foul turn, he'd have made other arrangements.

He patted down his pocket, growling as he discovered his wallet gone. He must have lost it in the pursuit, somewhere between here and, oh, ten blocks away at least. Most likely it was when he'd managed to finally get a hold of the alien, tumbling to the ground in the scuffle. If only he could recall just exactly where that had been.

Deeper in his pocket he found his phone, but as he pulled it out he saw the screen was shattered and the case snapped in several places. So much for calling himself a taxi or having the resources to pay for one assuming he could flag one down in the rain. Resigned to his own bad luck he pulled his collar up, bowing his head against the worsening weather and cursing his failed attempt to capture the troublesome alien. Some days it just didn't pay to get out of bed.

Evening fell quickly, adding darkness to the rain as he plodded purposefully down the streets, feet slapping in the newly forming puddles. As a lone car rounded the bend in the road, its headlights blinded him and he held an arm up to shield against them. The car stopped right in front of him and he squinted to make it out.

'Well, don't just stand there!' Ianto's voice was like a gift from the gods as he'd flung open the door, holding out a towel. Jack grabbed at it and slid into the passenger seat, already lined with a second towel as he pulled the door shut against the weather.

'Thank you,' Jack said, ruffling his hair in the soft folds.

'What were you doing out there?' Ianto asked, pulling carefully back onto the road. 'You should have called.'

'Couldn't. Busted my phone and lost my wallet.'

Ianto gave a long suffering sigh. 'Guess that's me cancelling all your credit cards tomorrow, then.' He sighed again. 'At least once upon a time we used to have payphones you could call reverse on. And shelter from the weather. You picked a hell of a night for it.'

'Tell me about it,' Jack agreed. 'How'd you know I was out here, anyway?'

Ianto rolled his eyes. 'I always keep an eye on you when you go out on your own saying you can handle things.'

'Make me eat my words, why don't you?' Jack replied, still annoyed. He sighed and rested a hand on Ianto's knee. 'Guess I should just be glad I can count on you to worry about me when I'm out on a job.'

'I always worry about you,' Ianto said, 'not just when you're out on your own.'

'On a night like this, I appreciate it.'