Anythingdrabble Challenge 163 - Tender loving care

[m_findlow]

Title: Tender loving care
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Tosh, Gwen, Jack,
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 163 - Daydream at anythingdrabble
Summary: Tosh's mind is anywhere but at work.

‘Earth to Tosh,’ Gwen said, waving her hand in Tosh's face.

Tosh blinked and pulled her glasses off. ‘Hmm?’

‘I was asking if you wanted anything down to the shops. Jack's been a bloody nightmare without Ianto around to make coffee and feed him junk food so I thought I'd nip down there and save us all from a sugar crash induced temper.’

Tosh nodded. ‘That's a good idea. I think Ianto normally does a shop on a Wednesday so without him here we've probably run out of biscuits or something.’

Gwen gave her a funny look. ‘Are you sure you're okay?’

‘I'm fine,’ she insisted. ‘How is Ianto, by the way? I kept meaning to ask Jack. I mean, I assume he and Owen are both doing about the same.’

‘Have you spoken to Owen?’

‘Yes. I mean, sort of. Well, I mean I've called, and I've left voice messages,’ Tosh blathered, but he doesn't really answer or call me back. ‘I suppose he's just tired and the phone is probably too far away and he doesn't have the energy to go get it. That's what Jack said this virus does, didn't he? Makes you really tired?’

Gwen lowered herself onto the edge of the desk and folded her arms. ‘Is that why you've been a million miles away? Daydreaming about Owen?’

Tosh blushed furiously. ‘No! I mean, I've been thinking about him, sure. It's just that since they got sick, well, Ianto's got Jack to look after him if he needs anything, and Owen, he's got… well, I'm not sure what he's got. Has he got someone?’ It wouldn't have surprised her to be the last person to know if he did. He didn't really share personal stuff. Not with her.

‘You should go over there if you're worried. Jack says it isn't contagious.’

‘No, I couldn't. That would just be…’ What? she wondered. Too overbearing? Too intimate? Not that she hadn't been picturing herself doing just that, coming over with soup and a stack of DVDs, doing laundry and tidying up the place. It was just…

It was Owen. She didn't want him thinking she was… Even if she was.

‘Look,’ Gwen said, reaching out to touch her arm. ‘I don't really need to go to the shops. I can handle Jack. But you should go check on Owen. I can see it's weighing on your mind.’

‘You don't think that's too…’

Gwen smiled at her, knowing exactly what she meant. ‘Tell him Jack sent you over on express orders. And not to come back until you were satisfied he was taken care of.’

‘That's a little underhanded, don't you think?’

‘Jack!’ Gwen called out. ‘Don't you think Tosh should check up on Owen? He's not answering anyone's phone calls.’

Jack leaned out of his doorway. ‘Do it. I was just about to head over to Ianto's.’

Tosh smiled back at her. ‘Thanks, Gwen. I owe you one.’

She shrugged. ‘I don't know what you're talking about.’