Fandomweekly Challenge 11 - First day is always the hardest

[m_findlow]

Title: First day is always the hardest
Fandom: Torchwood
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: PG
Author notes: Written for Challenge 11 - Interview at fandomweekly
Summary: Ianto should have known better than to hope his recruitment drive would go smoothly.

Ianto felt the itch niggling his forearm and reached to scratch it, feeling a moment of relief and happiness. He was never going to take scratching his arm for granted ever again. Six weeks in that horrid plaster cast was more than he could bear. Now that it was finally off, he felt like himself again.

He flexed his hand as he wandered the hospital corridors, enjoying the freedom of movement. Whilst he'd come here mainly for the purpose of getting the cast cut off, he had one more thing on his agenda.

Torchwood needed a doctor. This wasn't a new dilemma by any means. They'd been without one for the better part of a year, but he was fed up with Jack's reticence to replace Owen. Having Jack and Gwen pretend they knew how to conduct an autopsy was becoming a joke. Try as they might, he was certain they were missing vital clues every time one of them took a scalpel in hand. Not to mention having to deal with basic first aid on the job. Jack was perfectly capable of applying a bandage or a lotion, but Ianto got nervous when he started handling needles. He was sick of coming to A and E to be patched up. In his heart he'd made the decision six weeks ago, but now in his head he was sure this was the right thing to do.

'Excuse me,' he said, leaning gently on the counter of the nurses station. 'Do you know where I can find Doctor Jeremy Holton?'

She gave him a distrustful look. 'Depends who's asking.'

He gave her a placid smile. 'Ianto Jones, from the St Helen's Hospital Trust,' he lied smoothly. 'I'm here to discuss a research grant.'

The nurse's demeanor changed instantly. 'Of course, Mr Jones. Try the cath lab on the third floor. Jez should be there.'

'Thank you.'

True to her word, Ianto found the young doctor stepping out from one of the laboratory rooms, patient chart in hand. He was just how Ianto remembered him, having tended to Ianto's broken arm and thus having put himself right in the spotlight as a potential candidate. A little research had confirmed he was single, well-educated, and socially outgoing. Book smart and street smart were important qualities.

'Doctor Holton,' Ianto called out.

The medic turned and took a moment to place the face. 'Hey, I remember you. Broken arm, right? Had it splinted with a spanner?'

Ianto blushed at Jack's first aid attempts. 'Not broken anymore,' he reported.

'That's good. You here visiting someone?'

'Actually I was here to see you. I have a job offer for you to consider.'

'What kind of job?'

'Medical, obviously. I'm not really at liberty to go into the details unless you accept. Official Secrets Act,' he apologised.

Jez frowned. 'No disrespect, but it's pretty hard to accept a job when you won't even tell me what it involves.'

'You said it yourself when we first met. People come in here all the time spouting strange stories about things that shouldn't exist. Didn't you ever wonder if some of it might be true?'

Jez gave him a suspicious look.

'Say you'll take the job and let me tell you everything,' Ianto insisted. If he said no, there was always retcon.

'How'd you know I'll be any good at it?'

'I just do.' He couldn't explain it to the young man. It was just instinct, which he'd learned to trust long ago.

'It's a good job?'

'The best.'

'And the pay?'

Ianto smiled. 'Very good. He was about to suggest that they take this somewhere else to discuss details when a scream erupted from down the hall. Ianto turned just in time to see a huge explosion of blood eject from a doorway, splattering the wall opposite.

'What the hell was that?'

'Stay here,' Ianto ordered, reaching into his jacket and pulling out his gun.

'Hey man, you can't be bringing guns in here. This is a hospital.'

Ianto placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 'Don't take it personally. I carry a gun everywhere.' He left before the young doctor could argue, shutting the door behind him.

Ianto crept down the corridor, hearing a disturbing growling, gurgling noise coming from inside the room. He paused at the corner, peering around cautiously.

He cursed as the phone in his pocket suddenly rang, announcing his position. He quickly silenced it, not caring if it was Jack or his sister or some random telemarketer. Once he'd assessed the situation, then he could find time to call in backup.

A large grey thing with tentacles began slithering out of the room, pulling itself along the floor, leaving behind a trail of blood and slime.

Ianto slipped behind the safety of the corner and marched back down the corridor, thrusting open the door. 'Come with me.'

'Why?'

'Because whatever that thing is, it doesn't look friendly, and it's always good to have someone with keys to the cupboard with all the really good drugs.'

'Registrars aren't supposed to access drugs without F1 approval.'

'Well, today you've just been promoted. Besides, that job offer is still on the table.'

'You want me to work for you?'

'Not for me,' Ianto corrected. 'With me.'

Jez shook his head, incredulous. 'Hell of a job interview.'

Ianto shrugged. 'Usually is. Not what you'd call a conventional job.'

'So, keep my shit together and not freak out is all I have to do?'

'That and not die. The not dying part is important. Unless you're Jack.'

'Jack?'

'My boss. You met him. Tall, charming, handsome...'

'Oh. Your boss. I thought maybe you two were... doesn't matter.'

'No. Right now it really doesn't.'

'And this is all part of the job you want me to say yes to?'

Ianto lifted the bottom of his trouser leg and removed a small stun gun. 'I worked on the assumption you'd already started. Here, take this and try not to shoot any civilians.'

Comments

[jo02]

Loved this very, very much :)

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

Thanks! One day I will eventually come back and expand this into the whole story of how Jez ends up at Torchwood.

[jo02]

That would be fantastic.