Rain
He was stuck at home again. Well, if you could call it home, he hadn't been back properly in weeks. The only visits he made was to wash a bag of clothes, grab some more, sleep for a few hours and maybe use the facilities. The Rift had thrown out so much debris the past few weeks everyone had been pulling...well what's the collective term for four weeks worth of shifts in a row? He didn't even know. Yet another bag of clothing, he had already emergency ordered a load of new outfits just in case he ran out.
He was getting too old for this. Everyday a new piece of shit thrown at them, overlapping the last piece of shit they had to deal with. Even Ianto was faltering, that cool façade was fading. Instead of rushing around with coffee he was seen sleeping on the sofa at points, running after the latest rogue alien or having massive fights with Jack over nothing. Gwen and Rhys were at breaking point. He understood her job was important, but the four week shifts were getting ridiculous. Toshiko was pale and withdrawn, hardly eating and mumbling to herself when she thought no-one was looking. He had prescribed her some strong sedatives, she refused to sleep unless drugged. Owen himself was looking thinner than ever, his pale skin almost transparent in the Hub's constant glow, bags under his eyes enhancing his gaunt look. Jack was...handling things. That's all he could say. Jack usually would flounce around and be boisterous. All he talked about now was the latest case, starting arguments with Ianto and apologising in the most pathetic manner around an hour later.
"How the mighty hath fallen," he mused to himself as he listened to a message on his answer-phone. Just some bird that he had banged two months ago informing him she wasn't pregnant, that was good news. He deleted it and ran a hand over his stubble, what was the point in shaving, no-one seemed to care. He laughed to himself when he thought about seeing Ianto with 5-o-clock shadow in the morning. Something had to give soon and Owen betted it would be Gwen and Rhys, or himself.
Just as he was taking a last look around his scarily clean apartment he saw the water dribbling down his full length windows. Rain. The first downpour in weeks. He smiled to himself. Maybe he would stand in the rain for a second before screaming away in his Boxster S. He smiled and reached for the door handle, his phone rang. The called I.D was Torchwood, great. Something else to add to the shit stew.
"Owen! Don't bother coming in. Toshiko cracked that code, Gwen finished all those reports and is at home, Ianto archived that last piece of tech and your autopsy can wait. Looks like the rain has disturbed play. I'm putting a ban on entering the Hub for the weekend. You all deserve a break. If anything comes up, I'll call." Jack didn't wait for his response, he hung up and left Owen listening to the empty line.
He dropped his bag where he stood, padded to his sofa and collapsed down. He stared into space for a few seconds, then laughed. Hard and loud.
In the end, rain washes away the hassle and the pain. In the end, they all got some rest before it all started again.