Anythingdrabble Challenge 131 - The little things

[m_findlow]

Title: The little things
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Tosh, Jack
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Amnesty & Challenge 131 - Sun at anythingdrabble
Summary: Tosh needs to take some time away from her job to remember why she's doing it.

Tosh didn't notice the gentle hand on her shoulder that attempted to shake her into wakefulness. She scarcely even noticed the hand when it began to shake her more vigorously.

'Earth to Tosh? Come in, Tosh?' The sound caused her to startle awake, bolting upright and nearly head butting the person who was doing the shaking. 'Relax, it's just me,' Jack said, his quick reflexes the only thing preventing Tosh from knocking out his front teeth as her head flew up. 'What are you doing here?' he asked.

Tosh rubbed her eyes and felt a distinct ache in her neck from where she'd dozed off. 'Just some research,' she replied.

'On the relative health benefits of sleeping on your desk?' Jack teased. 'Let me tell you, that research has been done to death and the conclusive answer is that there are no benefits. A nice spring mattress and a decent pillow are far more restorative on the human body. I tried a water bed once, but I couldn't get over the feeling of being permanently bobbed up and down like a buoy all night. That and they don't stand up to more vigorous activities, unless of course you like being soggy in the morning.'

Tosh massaged the crick in her neck. 'What time is it?' Now that Jack had started talking about soft, comfy beds, she didn't mind the idea of heading for her own.

Jack consulted his watch. 'A bit before dawn.'

'Dawn?' Tosh shook her head vehemently. No, that wasn't possible. She'd only closed her eyes for a moment. She still had hours of work to do and she'd planned on having it all done before Jack rolled in the next morning. These were the projects she was supposed to be doing in her own time. Knowing she'd wasted the whole night asleep was devastating. 'But I still have so much to do!' Tosh paused for a moment. 'How come you're here so early?'

Jack shrugged. 'To be honest, I didn't expect anyone to be here. I assumed you'd gone home last night. I only stopped by for a clean shirt.'

'And then what?' She wished she were bolder and could ask him where he'd been all night that necessitated needing a clean shirt. Clearly he hadn't slept.

He shrugged again. 'Go stand on a roof somewhere and watch the sun rise. You never realise how beautiful this planet is until you've seen it bathed in morning's first light. Wanna join me?'

Tosh looked dejectedly at her backlog. Who knew when she might get another evening off to pick it up again. She could probably snag another two hours before Jack needed her for official Torchwood business. 'I should try and get some of this done.'

'It'll still be there tomorrow. Come on. I guarantee this will put a whole different perspective on your day. We've got all day for the alien and the bizarre. Time to embrace what makes this planet so great to wake up to.'