Genre: Is angsty humour a genre? It is now!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Torchwood characters, I'm only borrowing them, and I promise to return them in minty fresh condition when I'm finished.
Notes/Warnings: No spoilers, a bit of swearing, but no more than the show would have. Unbeta'ed and written between midnight & 1am...which may explain a lot!
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Ianto held tightly onto Jack's hand as the waves of pain swept over him. "Oh God," he gasped, "I didn't...I never thought it would hurt so much..." Beads of sweat trickled down the side of his face as he lay on his side facing Jack.
"Ianto, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," said Jack, gently stroking the side of Ianto's face. "This is all my fault, I'm so sorry..." He bit back a yelp as Ianto's hand tightened convulsively on his. If only he could take all of Ianto's pain on himself he would have done it in a heartbeat. But all he could do was be there for him, lending his strength, if not physically then at least emotionally. "It's going to be all right, you are going to be all right..."
"Doesn't...doesn't feel like that..." Ianto must have seen the look of anguish on Jack's face. "Jack, don't...it...it's not your fault...I chose this...always remember that this was my choice...and I don't regret it for an instant..." His face twisted in pain and his eyes closed as he bit down on his lip to stop from crying out.
"Ianto?" Jack was growing more and more frantic. Turning to Owen he yelled, "Dammit Owen, hurry up and do something!"
Owen rolled his eyes and said to nobody in particular, "See now this is why blokes have no place in a delivery room. No offence Ianto." He finished his preparations and turned to his patient. "Okay Ianto, this is gonna be just like I explained it to youze. The local anaesthetic I gave you should have kicked in by now, so you'll just feel a bit of pressure when I insert this in your back." He held up a large needle. "Get the epidural sorted and you won't feel a thing, I promise. But you gotta hold still, 'kay?"
Ianto nodded, "Just...just do it..."
Owen nodded to Jack, "Hold him still," he ordered.
"As...as if he needed an excuse to grab me!" muttered Ianto through gritted teeth.
Jack just smiled at Ianto and shifted his grip to steady him as much as possible. He glanced over at Owen, willing his hands to remain steady.
"Yeah, and that's how you got into this state in the first place," Owen rolled his eyes before settling down to focus on the task at hand. There was silence in the room for a few minutes until Owen finally taped off the catheter and set the drugs flowing. "Right," he said, "All done. Soon as the drugs kick in I'll get started on the c-section. And don't worry Ianto, I'll try not to leave too much blood for you to mop up." He looked up just in time to see a very pale looking Jack crumple to the floor in a faint.
"Fuck," said Owen, "Now who's gonna mop my brow?"
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Ceindreadh (apologies for not putting an m-preg warning, but I didn't want to spoil it)