Owen took a sip from his mug of coffee and froze. Ok, so it was just a cup of coffee, but hell Ianto never made a good, bad or indifferent cup of coffee; it was always bloody fantastic and today this one was not. He looked up and quietly watched as the 'Tea Boy' mechanically made his way up the steps and out of the autopsy bay. Owen took a second sip, very definitely not up to par. He frowned, something was wrong and he cursed himself when he realised it was a bad cup of coffee that finally made him take notice.
Ianto had not uttered so much as three syllables in as many weeks. The Hub though clean didn't seem quite so tidy and on closer inspection neither did Ianto. Owen got up and followed his younger colleague into the main part of the Hub. Watching him from behind Owen took in the slightly hunched shoulders, the way the jacket of Ianto's suit was no longer fitting him so well, more like hanging. How the skin of his hands and face seemed whiter, slightly drawn and finally on watching Ianto pass a cup of tea to Toshiko (who didn't even look up) his hand shook. Having delivered everyone's drinks in silence Ianto headed back up to the kitchen area to tidy up. H was loading the dishwasher by the time Owen got there.
"Have you got any biscuits in here Ianto?" Owen asked. It was purely an exercise to get a better look at the Welshman's face, but Ianto didn't so much as glance in his direction. He just bent down and pulled a packet of chocolate hob nobs out of one of the cupboards and passed it to Owen with out a word or making eye contact.
Owen attempted a smile. "Cheers Ianto." He replied as he opened the packet and took two out. He handed the pack back to Owen. Owen dithered there in the doorway coffee in one hand, biscuits in the other.
"You not having anything?" he ventured when he realised had made nothing for himself.
Ianto just gave him an empty look that almost made Owen flinch. "Didn't feel like anything." Came the monotone reply. "Is there anything else you wanted?"
Owen shook his head. "Na, cheers mate." He retreated back to the autopsy bay.
