Title: Softie Just Doesn't Cover It

Fandom: Torchwood

Rating: G

Prompt: "The family nobody wanted 166" from 500 prompts at my LJ

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I gaining any money for this work. I'm just trying to enjoy myself.

Summary: Owen just can't help himself.

Owen had just lost sight of a Weevil in a dark alley when he heard it.

A squeaking.

It was coming from a bin. A small, pathetic noise, like a plea.

Owen told himself to leave it, even as he lifted the lid and shone his torch in.

Four pairs of small, bright eyes peered up at him and the squeaking intensified. A tiny paw reached up to him.

Owen told himself not to bother, even as he picked up a nearby box and put the four squeaking furballs in it. He closed the box and tucked it under his arm as he walked back to the Hub.

"No one is to say a word." he barked as he walked past the others and down to the Autopsy Bay. Each of the kittens was healthy enough and had only just opened their eyes. Ignoring the others, who had now gathered around the railing to watch him, Owen deduced that he had three males and a female.

"How often do they need feeding?" sighed Jack, leaning heavily on the railing.

"About six times a day."

"I can do mornings." said Ianto, bring down a pile of blankets and a heated cushion.

"I'll do nights." said Jack.

"And we can do the shifts." said Gwen gesturing to herself, Toshiko and Owen and then pulling out the smallest bottles box, dropping four new ones into the steriliser. Owen nodded as the female batted at his thumb.

"Ok then."

"I'll fill out the forms." said Ianto, having settled two of the kittens in the blankets. "Names?"

"Zim, GIR, Dib and Gaz."

If the names threw Ianto, he did not show it.

"Noted. And I won't question why you watch a cartoon from 2001."

Jack chuckled as Owen glared after Ianto and GIR walked right off the table, only to be caught by Gwen. Jack was holding Zim in his huge hands and looked at Owen with a reproachful look.

"You gotta stop bringing in kittens Owen. We're running out of room."

Owen glared at him, silently deciding that within a week Gaz would become Ianto and Jack's equivalent of a baby. He could just see them putting her in a baby carrier strapped to Ianto's chest.

Actually… that was way too horrifying to even consider.

Concrit is appreciated

Night's Darkness