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dru_evilistaGwen chewed on the end of her pencil, staring at the screen of her laptop and the email she was composing to Dr Sandburg. It had been a stroke of luck catching him online, and they had been playing email tag for the better part of an hour.
A quiet curse made her look up. Rhys shrugged apologetically, shaking out his hand, where apparently he had burned it, again. “Remind me to get Tosh some pots with insulated handles” he groused good naturedly, before going back to the soup.
Gwen smiled from her spot at Tosh's kitchen counter, and spent a moment watching Rhys cook. She had to be the luckiest woman on earth. A loving fiancé, who not only put up with her job and it's crazy hours, but also helped at the drop of a hat, and stayed to cook for her friends. Gwen had only meant to get Rhys to drop off the groceries. She was planning to cook herself, but she had gotten to involved in trying to get some answers out of Dr. Sandburg, that Rhys just started cutting the veggies and preparing the soup himself. Tosh had told Rhys to make himself at home, and set herself up at the counter beside Gwen, researching something.
She heard the bedroom door open and leaned over to see Jack peeking out of the bedroom. Jack looked around,then came out, closing the door after him, padding softly to the kitchen.
She gave him a small shaky smile. "Hi Jack. How are Ianto and Owen uh... doing?"
Jack scowled at Rhys, glanced back at her and scowled more. "Sleeping. We still can’t get Ianto to wake up.” He turned his attention to Rhys, subtly maneuvering himself to be between the other man and the bedroom door. “What are you still doing here? I thought you were going?"
Gwen bit down a smile. Not really the time to be smiling, although protective Jack was just too adorable. "He was. I was going to make you guys some soup, then I got the idea to try emailing Dr Sandburg, and Rhys offered to do the cooking."
Jack studied Rhys more, eyes narrowed, then snorted, turning his attention to back to Gwen. She decided to take that as a sign of, reluctant, approval.
Gwen glanced at Rhys and lowered her voice to barely a whisper. "This probably isn't the best time to ask, but should we be um..worried? Are we in danger, from Ianto's...um power?"
Jack rubbed his eyes, looking tired. He grabbed a handful of cherries from the fruit bowl and propped his hip against the counter. "You saw that thing on his temple?” He popped the small piece of fruit into his mouth, chewing and swallowing quickly. “It's a shield. Telepathy blocker, but a really primitive one. It blocks everything, me and Owen included. Ianto needs to feel us, that's why I haven't used it before. But right now I can't think of anything else, so at least we'll all be safe for the time being."
"It's a torture device.” Tosh added, turning her laptop so Gwen could see a semantic of the device. "I looked it up in the database. It was used to keep prisoners from communicating, and in some races a sudden break in a telepathic link can cause pain. The…prisoners would do anything to get that link back"
Rhys' spine stiffened, and Jack winced again. Tosh continued. "I've trying to figure out a way to let you and Owen in, but I don't think it's possible."
Jack leaned against the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room, and sank down to the floor. He rested his face in his hands, looking the picture of exhaustion, and misery.
Gwen felt a stab of pain and concern and put down her pencil, walking over to rub Jack's shoulder. "We'll find a way though this Jack. We're all here for you. There has to be something we can do."
Gwen glanced up at Rhys and he slightly tilted his head towards the pot on the stove and raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Jack? You think you could eat some soup? Need to keep your strength up."
Jack seemed to consider the idea for a moment, until his head suddenly shot up. Cocking towards the bedroom, with the look Gwen knew meant he heard something. "Owen." He was up and back in the bedroom, like a shot.
Rhys looked after him for a second, holding a freshly labeled bowl of soup. "Everything ok?"
"Yeah, he must have just heard a noise. Owen must be awake or something."
"I didn't hear anything..." Rhys mutter quietly, turning back to the stove. " ...my soup doesn't look that bad... does it?"
---
Tosh slowly eased the bedroom door open and peeked in. The two sentinels were curled around their guide. She moved slowly, trying to not make any sudden moves or sounds, treating the situation like she was dealing with skittish wild animals. She wasn’t sure if they were asleep or just standing guard.
"Jack? Jack, are you awake?" Tosh whispered while she moved towards Owen. She pulled the empty bag off the coat rack, and eased the doctor's arm out from under the blanket so she could detach the tubing from the port.
"Yup. How’s Owen?" Jack's eyes didn't open, but he didn't sound surprised she was there, or sleepy.
Tosh dropped the used bag into the trash, and ran a scanner over Owen. "Looks good. Vitals are all better, blood pressure is almost back to normal. I think he’s just sleeping it off now.”
Jack frowned slightly from the other side of Ianto. "Tosh...scan Ianto. He’s warm."
Tosh moved the scanner, leaning over Owen so she could run it over Ianto. Frowning, she put the scanner to the side and placed the back of her fingers against Ianto’s forehead. "Hmm..."
Jack's eyes shot open. "What? What is it?!"
Next to them Owen shot up, inadvertently burying his face into Tosh’s breasts before she could jump back. "What?!” Owen asked franticly. “What's wrong?!"
Tosh made quick soothing noises. "It's fine, Ianto just has a low grade fever. He's just getting a little sick. Not at all surprising, with how long he was out in the rain, freezing. And you said he’s not been eating well."
Owen snatched the scanner out of Tosh's hand and ran it over Ianto him self.
"See? No need to panic. Just a little cold. He'll be fine. When he wakes up, we'll give him some cold meds and tea.” Tosh gave them a little smile, hoping it would help if someone stayed positive. “Now that you're both awake, how about I bring you some soup? Especially you Owen, you need to keep having fluids." Tosh said gently.
Jack scowled. "Tosh, now is not the time for soup. Ianto is sick!"
"It's barely high enough to be called a fever yet, and we’re all here to watch him. He'll be fine. You two still need to eat. Owen's still recovering from massive blood loss remember?" Tosh felt slightly bad over using Owen to manipulate Jack, but not that bad. From what Owen had told her, he had actually died. It wasn’t something to take lightly.
Jack's eyes shot to Owen, filled with worry again. "She's right, you should eat something."
Owen glared at Tosh. "I'm fine. And if I have to eat, so does he."
"Fine, fine, Fine! We'll both have some fucking soup, ok?!" Jack snapped rubbing his face. "...are you sure Ianto's ok?"
"Yes Jack. He's fine." Tosh said patiently. "I'll go get you that soup now. ...and a few bottles of water for you, Owen. Remember to keep drinking."
Owen scowled at Tosh, and then turned back to stare intently at Ianto, as if he could see into Ianto and find and fix what was wrong with him. He reached out, brushing his fingers through Ianto’s hair.
Jack looked up at Tosh, with pleading eyes. "I don't supposed you've thought of anything ? Anything at all?"
Tosh bit her lip, thinking. Her mind drifted back, thinking about all the other times Ianto had zoned, during meditation, or if some thought or emotion had taken him by surprise. "I- uh I assume you've tried everything that's worked in the past, right?" That usually meant talking him out of it, but they had had some luck with shocking him with a sudden noise, smell, or even one of his sentinels yelping in pain from a smashed finger or stubbed toe.
“I'm sorry Jack...I don't know." Tosh winced when she tasted blood, and stopped biting her lip. "Maybe....try stimulating his senses? Smelling salts, taste, something like that? I- I just wish I could think of something Jack. Ianto's my best friend. I want him back as much as you two do."
Jack and Owen exchanged looks, and Owen held out his hand towards Tosh, wiggling his fingers in a 'come here' motion.
Tosh stepped closer and Owen grabbed her hand pulling her down to sit on the edge of the bed. "Look, I'm sorry about the attitude I've had. I just... I hate being out of commission, and I'm worried sick about Ianto. But I shouldn't have been taking it out on you. You're doing everything you can to help, and my treating you like shit isn't helping."
Tosh's eyes widened. Owen Harper was not known for apologies.
Jack reached over and held Tosh's hand. "Thank you for all the help, taking care of Owen, letting us stay here. I don't know what we would have done without you."
Tosh smiled and wiped at her eyes. "You're my friends. My family. I couldn't not help you.”
They all exchanges shaky smiles.
Owen flopped back down in the bed, releasing Tosh's hand to rub his eyes. "So...smelling salts? Got any on you? Can't hurt to try...well hurt him. I might throw up."
Tosh stood and moved over to her dresser, she came back with a small bottle. "I have essential oils?"
"Like Owen said, can't hurt to try. Owen, hold you breath, turn your sense of smell all the way down, or something." Jack told him, hope coloring his voice. He put one hand over Ianto’s chest.
Tosh leaned over Owen, opening the bottle and waving it under Ianto's nose. All three of them held their breath waiting.
Nothing.
On impulse, Tosh reached over pinching Jack’s side. Jack yelped.
Ianto still didn’t move.
Tosh looked crushed and pulled back, closing the bottle, and dropping it on the night table. "I'm sorry..."
"Not your fault." Owen said quietly.
Tosh stroked her fingers though Ianto's hair lightly. "I know it was a stretch, but I hoped-" Tosh wiped at her eyes again.
Owen wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder lightly. "Hey, it was a try. Maybe the next idea will work. Maybe we can try feeding him something..." Owen smirked lightly. "Maybe I'll try threatening him with my coffee."
Tosh laughed and stood up. "I'll go get you your soup and water, and get back to researching. There has to be something." She waited until they settled down again, Jack leaning in to whisper something in Ianto’s ear before leaving.
Tosh closed the door again as she left the room, wishing there was something more she could do to help them.
A quiet curse made her look up. Rhys shrugged apologetically, shaking out his hand, where apparently he had burned it, again. “Remind me to get Tosh some pots with insulated handles” he groused good naturedly, before going back to the soup.
Gwen smiled from her spot at Tosh's kitchen counter, and spent a moment watching Rhys cook. She had to be the luckiest woman on earth. A loving fiancé, who not only put up with her job and it's crazy hours, but also helped at the drop of a hat, and stayed to cook for her friends. Gwen had only meant to get Rhys to drop off the groceries. She was planning to cook herself, but she had gotten to involved in trying to get some answers out of Dr. Sandburg, that Rhys just started cutting the veggies and preparing the soup himself. Tosh had told Rhys to make himself at home, and set herself up at the counter beside Gwen, researching something.
She heard the bedroom door open and leaned over to see Jack peeking out of the bedroom. Jack looked around,then came out, closing the door after him, padding softly to the kitchen.
She gave him a small shaky smile. "Hi Jack. How are Ianto and Owen uh... doing?"
Jack scowled at Rhys, glanced back at her and scowled more. "Sleeping. We still can’t get Ianto to wake up.” He turned his attention to Rhys, subtly maneuvering himself to be between the other man and the bedroom door. “What are you still doing here? I thought you were going?"
Gwen bit down a smile. Not really the time to be smiling, although protective Jack was just too adorable. "He was. I was going to make you guys some soup, then I got the idea to try emailing Dr Sandburg, and Rhys offered to do the cooking."
Jack studied Rhys more, eyes narrowed, then snorted, turning his attention to back to Gwen. She decided to take that as a sign of, reluctant, approval.
Gwen glanced at Rhys and lowered her voice to barely a whisper. "This probably isn't the best time to ask, but should we be um..worried? Are we in danger, from Ianto's...um power?"
Jack rubbed his eyes, looking tired. He grabbed a handful of cherries from the fruit bowl and propped his hip against the counter. "You saw that thing on his temple?” He popped the small piece of fruit into his mouth, chewing and swallowing quickly. “It's a shield. Telepathy blocker, but a really primitive one. It blocks everything, me and Owen included. Ianto needs to feel us, that's why I haven't used it before. But right now I can't think of anything else, so at least we'll all be safe for the time being."
"It's a torture device.” Tosh added, turning her laptop so Gwen could see a semantic of the device. "I looked it up in the database. It was used to keep prisoners from communicating, and in some races a sudden break in a telepathic link can cause pain. The…prisoners would do anything to get that link back"
Rhys' spine stiffened, and Jack winced again. Tosh continued. "I've trying to figure out a way to let you and Owen in, but I don't think it's possible."
Jack leaned against the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room, and sank down to the floor. He rested his face in his hands, looking the picture of exhaustion, and misery.
Gwen felt a stab of pain and concern and put down her pencil, walking over to rub Jack's shoulder. "We'll find a way though this Jack. We're all here for you. There has to be something we can do."
Gwen glanced up at Rhys and he slightly tilted his head towards the pot on the stove and raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Jack? You think you could eat some soup? Need to keep your strength up."
Jack seemed to consider the idea for a moment, until his head suddenly shot up. Cocking towards the bedroom, with the look Gwen knew meant he heard something. "Owen." He was up and back in the bedroom, like a shot.
Rhys looked after him for a second, holding a freshly labeled bowl of soup. "Everything ok?"
"Yeah, he must have just heard a noise. Owen must be awake or something."
"I didn't hear anything..." Rhys mutter quietly, turning back to the stove. " ...my soup doesn't look that bad... does it?"
---
Tosh slowly eased the bedroom door open and peeked in. The two sentinels were curled around their guide. She moved slowly, trying to not make any sudden moves or sounds, treating the situation like she was dealing with skittish wild animals. She wasn’t sure if they were asleep or just standing guard.
"Jack? Jack, are you awake?" Tosh whispered while she moved towards Owen. She pulled the empty bag off the coat rack, and eased the doctor's arm out from under the blanket so she could detach the tubing from the port.
"Yup. How’s Owen?" Jack's eyes didn't open, but he didn't sound surprised she was there, or sleepy.
Tosh dropped the used bag into the trash, and ran a scanner over Owen. "Looks good. Vitals are all better, blood pressure is almost back to normal. I think he’s just sleeping it off now.”
Jack frowned slightly from the other side of Ianto. "Tosh...scan Ianto. He’s warm."
Tosh moved the scanner, leaning over Owen so she could run it over Ianto. Frowning, she put the scanner to the side and placed the back of her fingers against Ianto’s forehead. "Hmm..."
Jack's eyes shot open. "What? What is it?!"
Next to them Owen shot up, inadvertently burying his face into Tosh’s breasts before she could jump back. "What?!” Owen asked franticly. “What's wrong?!"
Tosh made quick soothing noises. "It's fine, Ianto just has a low grade fever. He's just getting a little sick. Not at all surprising, with how long he was out in the rain, freezing. And you said he’s not been eating well."
Owen snatched the scanner out of Tosh's hand and ran it over Ianto him self.
"See? No need to panic. Just a little cold. He'll be fine. When he wakes up, we'll give him some cold meds and tea.” Tosh gave them a little smile, hoping it would help if someone stayed positive. “Now that you're both awake, how about I bring you some soup? Especially you Owen, you need to keep having fluids." Tosh said gently.
Jack scowled. "Tosh, now is not the time for soup. Ianto is sick!"
"It's barely high enough to be called a fever yet, and we’re all here to watch him. He'll be fine. You two still need to eat. Owen's still recovering from massive blood loss remember?" Tosh felt slightly bad over using Owen to manipulate Jack, but not that bad. From what Owen had told her, he had actually died. It wasn’t something to take lightly.
Jack's eyes shot to Owen, filled with worry again. "She's right, you should eat something."
Owen glared at Tosh. "I'm fine. And if I have to eat, so does he."
"Fine, fine, Fine! We'll both have some fucking soup, ok?!" Jack snapped rubbing his face. "...are you sure Ianto's ok?"
"Yes Jack. He's fine." Tosh said patiently. "I'll go get you that soup now. ...and a few bottles of water for you, Owen. Remember to keep drinking."
Owen scowled at Tosh, and then turned back to stare intently at Ianto, as if he could see into Ianto and find and fix what was wrong with him. He reached out, brushing his fingers through Ianto’s hair.
Jack looked up at Tosh, with pleading eyes. "I don't supposed you've thought of anything ? Anything at all?"
Tosh bit her lip, thinking. Her mind drifted back, thinking about all the other times Ianto had zoned, during meditation, or if some thought or emotion had taken him by surprise. "I- uh I assume you've tried everything that's worked in the past, right?" That usually meant talking him out of it, but they had had some luck with shocking him with a sudden noise, smell, or even one of his sentinels yelping in pain from a smashed finger or stubbed toe.
“I'm sorry Jack...I don't know." Tosh winced when she tasted blood, and stopped biting her lip. "Maybe....try stimulating his senses? Smelling salts, taste, something like that? I- I just wish I could think of something Jack. Ianto's my best friend. I want him back as much as you two do."
Jack and Owen exchanged looks, and Owen held out his hand towards Tosh, wiggling his fingers in a 'come here' motion.
Tosh stepped closer and Owen grabbed her hand pulling her down to sit on the edge of the bed. "Look, I'm sorry about the attitude I've had. I just... I hate being out of commission, and I'm worried sick about Ianto. But I shouldn't have been taking it out on you. You're doing everything you can to help, and my treating you like shit isn't helping."
Tosh's eyes widened. Owen Harper was not known for apologies.
Jack reached over and held Tosh's hand. "Thank you for all the help, taking care of Owen, letting us stay here. I don't know what we would have done without you."
Tosh smiled and wiped at her eyes. "You're my friends. My family. I couldn't not help you.”
They all exchanges shaky smiles.
Owen flopped back down in the bed, releasing Tosh's hand to rub his eyes. "So...smelling salts? Got any on you? Can't hurt to try...well hurt him. I might throw up."
Tosh stood and moved over to her dresser, she came back with a small bottle. "I have essential oils?"
"Like Owen said, can't hurt to try. Owen, hold you breath, turn your sense of smell all the way down, or something." Jack told him, hope coloring his voice. He put one hand over Ianto’s chest.
Tosh leaned over Owen, opening the bottle and waving it under Ianto's nose. All three of them held their breath waiting.
Nothing.
On impulse, Tosh reached over pinching Jack’s side. Jack yelped.
Ianto still didn’t move.
Tosh looked crushed and pulled back, closing the bottle, and dropping it on the night table. "I'm sorry..."
"Not your fault." Owen said quietly.
Tosh stroked her fingers though Ianto's hair lightly. "I know it was a stretch, but I hoped-" Tosh wiped at her eyes again.
Owen wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder lightly. "Hey, it was a try. Maybe the next idea will work. Maybe we can try feeding him something..." Owen smirked lightly. "Maybe I'll try threatening him with my coffee."
Tosh laughed and stood up. "I'll go get you your soup and water, and get back to researching. There has to be something." She waited until they settled down again, Jack leaning in to whisper something in Ianto’s ear before leaving.
Tosh closed the door again as she left the room, wishing there was something more she could do to help them.
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Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 12:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 11:32 pm (UTC)