Anythingdrabble Challenge 196 - Needle in a haystack

[m_findlow]

Title: Needle in a haystack
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Gwen, Rhys
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 196 - Needle at anythingdrabble
Summary: Gwen needs a hand finding something she's lost.


'Bollocks,' Gwen swore as the tip of the needle pricked her finger and she dropped it. She couldn't see it anywhere, not without its trail of grey cotton which she'd been trying to thread.

'What are you doing, Gwen?' Rhys asked.

'Looking for a needle.'

'What, in that?' he replied, pointing to the shag rug under their coffee table.

'Yep, thought I'd give myself a challenge.'

'What the hell d'you have a needle for anyway? And why is Jack's coat hanging off the end of our sofa?'

'Because I was repairing it.' Or trying to, at least.

Rhys laughed. 'Sewing? You?'

'Shut your face. Just help me find it. Before Anwen steps on it and hurts herself. Or one of us.'

Rhys joined her down on hands and knees as they ran their hands through the thick shag pile. 'Bloody nightmare, this,' Rhys grumbled. 'Thing traps everything, like a rubbish tip,' he added, finding all kinds of crumbs and dirt. 'Eh, found a skittle though,' he said, popping it in his mouth.

'Oh, that's disgusting. God knows how long that's been in there.'

'Last week,' Rhys confirmed. 'Or six months ago. Tastes okay.'

Gwen just cringed.

'So, tell me again why you were trying to repair Jack's coat?'

'Because Ianto's still recovering from that alien fever thing. He doesn't even want coffee so you know it's knocked him for six. I was just trying to help Jack whilst he's not around.'

'Patching up Jack's clothes? Just how well trained does he have you two, anyway?'

'It's not well trained, it's just…' God, Rhys was probably right. It was one thing that Jack had Ianto wrapped around his little finger, even if sometimes it felt like it was actually the other way around - with Jack trailing after Ianto like a puppy - but now he had Gwen wanting to sew up his coat for him. It wasn't like Jack having a tear in his cosat would make any difference, even if maybe to the trained eye he looked a little shabby. Maybe he just wanted Ianto to think he'd been okay looking after himself. Whatever it was, Gwen realised she'd been taken hook, line and sinker. She didn't know the first thing about sewing. She could fix on a button if needed, but she was no Ianto. She didn't even know how he knew how to do it, and didn't plan on asking.

'Found it!' Rhys cried, holding up the thin, metal object. 'Bloody needle in a haystack, that.' Then he grinned at her. 'What would you do without me, eh? Saving your bacon again. Guess you won't have time for a thank you, will you? Not with all that sewing you've got to do.'

She took the needle from him and very carefully stuck it into the arm of the chair so she wouldn't lose it again. 'Oh, I don't know, Rhys Williams. I reckon I could find time to remind you why we bought this rug in the first place.'