FIC: Cure The Soul (Torchwood 43/61, Jack/Owen/Ianto)

[dru_evilista]

Owen sat at the counter, eating some of the left over soup Rhys had made, Jack next to him doing the same. Neither had bothered to heat it up, choosing speed over taste.

They'd managed to wiggle away from Ianto and call the girls.

("We've got the it!"

"Is it a super weevil?"

"How do we tell?"

"Check the inside of its lip."

"...no fucking way.")

Now they were just waiting for them to get back. Ianto hadn't woken up, but they didn't want to leave him alone too long.

They looked up as the door opened, letting Gwen and Tosh into the flat. Tosh cradled a tray of coffees in one hand.

"Hey, how did it go? Is Ianto okay? Where is he?" Gwen demanded looking around, as if expecting him to be hiding under the couch.

"It worked, he's back, but he's wiped out. He's sleeping. He's okay. You can swarm him when he wakes up." Jack tried to answer all of the questions he knew Gwen would ask.

"He's really okay? You got him? Nothing went wrong?"

"Well...his power's are still screwed up, but other then that..."

"His powers?"

Jack made an affirmative noise around a mouthful of potato and carrot.

Owen sighed. "He sort of gave him self brain damage. Broke his powers. We were trying to fix them, but we decided it was more important to get him home right now. Ta." He took the coffee from Tosh, breathing in the rich warm scent.

"What?!"

Jack pressed his hands against his ears as both woman howled, outraged.

"Ianto is fine." Ianto muttered, yawning as every head in the room swiveled to stare at him.

He snorted and limped past all of them, opening the fridge door and sticking his head inside. He looked awful. Like he hadn't slept or shaved in a week, after a month long drinking binge. His bandaged feet and twisted pajama bottoms didn't help any.

"Oh, precious! How are you feeling Luv? What happened? Are you okay?" Gwen asked, hurrying over and stroking his shoulder comfortingly..

Ianto jumped, banging his head on the corner of the open refrigerator, the pulled back, eyeing Gwen, with a roll stuffed into his mouth. He closed the door, chewing before speaking. "I'm fine Gwen. Still more then a little tired, famished. Head hurts now. But I'm alright."

"Owen said you have brain damaged!"

Ianto winced. " ...only a little."

"Oh sweetheart..."

"Really Gwen, I'm fine. I just can't...feel anyone. Toshiko, I'm really really sorry for all the trouble we've put you though. Taking over your flat and all..."

"It's no trouble. You know, you're family." Tosh hugged him carefully.

Ianto rubbed his eyes and leaned against the counter. Owen reached over to stroke his hair, trying to smooth down an errant curl. "You really need a shower. And a shave. You look like a bum."

Ianto snorted. "I love you too." He ran his hand over his chin, and made a face as he felt the short scratchy hairs. "I'm not sure whether to be grateful or embarrassed that someone apparently gave me a bath."

"That was me." Jack said helpfully, leering. "It was my pleasure."

Tosh giggled and gestured towards the bedroom. "The bathroom is though there, if you want to take a shower."

"Bath" Owen interrupted, "And try to keep your feet out of the water."

"-Bath." Tosh agreed. "We bought over some of your stuff. Clothes and toiletries and such."

Ianto flashed her a smile. "A long bath sounds very good. Tosh, you are a life saver. Thank you." He popped the last bite of roll into his mouth and headed back though the bedroom doors. He made it as far as the couch before doing a swift about face, hobbling back to the kitchen. He dove into the fridge again, coming out with a hunk of cheese, a small bunch of grapes and another roll.

He seemed to consider something for a moment and then quickly snatched Owen's coffee, making his getaway at a fast limp. Owen balled up his paper towel and threw it at Ianto's retreating back.

The group watched him go, and waited until the bedroom door was closed to speak. "He- He's going to be okay, though, right? You said brain damaged, he seemed okay, not...brain damaged." Gwen asked Jack worriedly.

Jack shrugged helplessly. "We just don't know yet. He broke the dial, and so far we haven't been able to reattach it, we're hoping to try again after Ianto's more rested and on his feet." Jack took another bite of soup. "figuratively."

Tosh slumped down next to Jack. "God, this is all so....strange. And stressful."

Jack wrapped a arm around her shoulders. "It'll be fine. We'll work everything out, Ianto will be fine, we'll all be fine. Perfectly fine."

Owen just carefully moved his bowl out of the way and thunked his head against the counter.

---

Owen poked his head into the bathroom, then stepped in an smirked down at Ianto, asleep in the tub, feet sticking over the lip of the tub.

He knelt down, and threaded his fingers though Ianto's wet hair. "Raise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. The girls are having fits worrying, time to go let them coddle you for a while."

Ianto gave him a sleepy scowl. "I'm comfy."

"You're lucky you didn't sink under the water and drown your self." Owen snorted, still stroking his hair. "Besides the water’s gone cold. Come on. Up you go." Owen helped Ianto out of the tub, and tossed a towel over his head.

Ianto laughed. "What? You're not gonna help dry me off?"

Owen rolled his eyes, and kissed Ianto. "Hurry up...and shave. You look like a caveman."

Ianto smirked, scuffing his beard against Owen’s cheek. "I don't know...I was thinking of keeping it. You know, for a change."

"Well, you'll certainly scare all the prospective tourists off. Possibly get arrested for being homeless."

Ianto rolled his eyes, and gave Owen a shove out of the bathroom, to finish cleaning him self up.

Tosh and Gwen's eyes shot to Owen when he came back into the living room. "He's fine, he's finishing up and should be out here in a few more minutes."

"You're sure? Maybe you should stay with him. He's still weak, he could faint or something." Gwen said, chewing on her thumbnail, looking worried.

"Who's the doctor here, huh? He's okay, Gwen. I swear, he's going to be fine. You'll see for your self any minute now." Jack reassured her.

Gwen sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I know. I know. I just- I'm worried. Ianto's one of my best friends, we got close, while you were...um away. And seeing him like that..." Gwen shivered and wrapped her arms around her self.

Jack pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "We know. We all feel the same way. None of us ever want to see Ianto like that again, and hopefully we never will."

Gwen sniffed and wiped at her eyes with her fist, and Jack reached out pulling Tosh and Owen into the hug.

"...am I interrupting something? I could wait in the other room if you want?" Ianto's voice sounded amused, and he was leaning casually against the door frame, smiling at the group hug.

Tosh and Gwen pulled away from Jack and Owen, and rushed over to Ianto, gently tugging him over to the couch, settling him down. "Oh Ianto... how are you feeling? Do your feet hurt? Maybe Owen should change your bandages. Does anything else hurt?" Gwen questioned stroking his damp hair off his face.

"Are you still hungry? I could get you some more food." Tosh offered, sitting on the edge of the seat, ready to leap up to get him anything he wanted.

Ianto hook his head, smiling slightly. "I'm fine. Really, I am. My feet are fine, I'm still a little hungry, but I'm not starving anymore, there's no need to worry."

"Worry...oh god!" Gwen leaped back, eyes the size of dinner plates. "Oh god, Ianto are you okay?! We're worrying near you! I remember how much that hurts you..."

Ianto shook his head. "Gwen, my powers....are well gone. I can't feel a thing. Worry away. But really, there's no need. I'm fine."

Owen pushed over and sat down at Ianto's feet with a medical kit. "Oh yeah. You're the picture of health. Wanna go for a nice long run now?" Owen's voice was dripping with sarcasm as he started undoing Ianto's bandages.

Ianto scowled and leaned forward to swat Owen. "Hush. So I'm not back to perfect shape, but I'm not on death's door step and like everyone keeps acting."

Jack leaned down and kissed the top of his head. "We know, but we still worry. You've put us though the ringer for the last few days. Let us coddle you for a while, huh?"

Ianto sighed, but smiled at Tosh when she bought him a warmed bowl of soup, and more rolls.

"I figured you're still hungry, and you need to recover lost stores, get some vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, and things, so eat up." Tosh told him, placing the breakfast tray over his lap.

Owen looked up from his cleaning and bandaging job and nodded his approval. "Need to get your strength back. After you eat, you should go back to sleep for a while. You'll need all the energy you can get if we're going to get to work on fixing your head."

Ianto sighed, nibbling on a roll. "Owen-"

"Don't make me break out the restraints, in a non-kinky sex way."

Ianto rolled his eyes laughing. "Fine, fine, fine. I'll behave and rest and everything, but after that..."

"Yeah, yeah, we'll back off when you stop looking like you're going to pass out at any second."

Ianto settled back on the couch, relaxing with his food, content surrounded by the people who loved him.