m_findlow

Title: Jarring entrance
Character: Jack, Owen
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 300 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 649 - Jar at tw100
Summary: The latest rift arrival proves to be a difficult customer. A triple drabble.

‘Oh great,’ Owen muttered as he and Jack pulled up at the rift alert location, seeing a blowfish huddled at the end of the alley next to a dumpster. ‘I hate these things.’

Jack grimaced from the driver's seat. ‘They're not exactly my favourite either, but we both know how much trouble they can cause. He pulled his webley before getting out of that car. Stay sharp and don't hesitate to shoot. Anywhere below the waist will do.’

‘Anywhere?’ Owen asked, which earned a smirk from Jack.

Jack strode down the alley, gun trained on the blowfish. ‘Don't move.’

The blowfish hissed angrily at him. ‘Go to hell.’

‘Been there, done that. You know who we are?’

The blowfish twisted its face in disgust. ‘Torchwood,’ it spat.

‘That's right. Now come along quietly and me and my friend here don't have to shoot.’

‘Can't.’

‘Won't,’ Jack argued, scowling at it. He wasn't in the mood for it being difficult. ‘Get up.’

‘Can't,’ it repeated. ‘My ankle is broken. Your stupid rift dumped me here. I must have dropped twenty feet. Filthy planet.’

Jack gave Owen a wary glance to go inspect it, but to keep his guard up in case it was a ruse. It wouldn't be the first time one had tried to cut their numbers in half using a trick like that. A wounded animal was always dangerous.

Owen bent down to check it. As he touched it the blowfish hissed in pain. ‘Not broken,’ he reported. ‘Only a jar or sprain at best.’

‘Thought you guys were all hard outer shell?’ Jack said. ‘What kind of giant seafood jars an ankle?’

‘I'm not the disgusting half-breed with all the soft bits on the outside,’ it snarled back. ‘You're the ones missing your skeletons.’

‘But much better looking.’