Chapter 2: Even the Strongest Fall

Notes: This deals with substance addiction which was my hurt/comfort bingo prompt and is my first Owen/Tosh.

I still don't own Torchwood if I did Ianto, Tosh and Owen would still be alive.

"How could I have missed this? Have I really been this blind to the needs of my team?"

Ianto Jones was surprised that his boss would direct the broken plea at him, a part of him, the bitter part of him was shocked that Gwen hadn't dragged Jack away up into his office for her to offer him his shoulder to lean onto. A snarky remark lingered on his tongue that if they weren't Gwen Cooper they were lucky to get a glance from Jack but Ianto held his words there would be time for them later, right now helping Tosh should be their priory.

"We've all missed something when it came to Toshiko." Ianto murmured in a soft tone his eyes never leaving the huddled form of Tosh who was currently battling her next round of shivers and shakes and he cursed himself for being so wrapped up in Lisa that he didn't notice that the only one who actually cared about him was in trouble.

"No, Ianto, you noticed. You noticed before anyone of us." Jack itched to reach out and touch Ianto to draw the younger man into his arms and offer him comfort and seek his own but he and Ianto were still on shaky ground since the fallout of the Cyberwoman and Jack knew he was in part to blame in how he handled that event, he should have never ordered Ianto to kill her that was not only heartless but downright cruel as well.

"I know that it seems like I have been so wrapped up in Gwen and that I don't notice you were slipping into the shadows your pleas for help going unanswered and Tosh's silent screams for help going unheard." Jack felt like a failure as he slid down the steps and rested his head in his hands.

He looked so broken and Ianto's heart thawed towards Jack and he found a little more of the anger he had been holding onto melting as he sat down beside Jack. "It wasn't your fault Jack. I'm not going to lie to you, it hurt to be overlooked while you bent over backward to make sure Gwen was included in everything and received a warmed welcome while I was forgotten unless you needed a coffee or a grope. None of us saw Tosh slipping away from us. I knew she was hurting from finding out about Owen and Gwen's affair and Mary using her to gain access to the Hub might have just been the camel's back. Tosh is strong she'll get through this we just have to remind her that she is not alone that we are here for her. We need to let it be a new beginning for all of us." Ianto told Jack gently.

Reaching out Jack took a chance and took Ianto's hand in his and was pleased when it wasn't rejected. "You're right Ianto we need to remind Tosh that we love her and even the best of us sometimes fall but it's when we pick ourselves back up that we show our true strength."

Ianto breath caught he knew that Jack just wasn't talking about Tosh and he found himself linking his fingers with Jack's.

'How could I have missed this? I'm a doctor for bloody sakes I know the signs.' Owen Harper grumbled to himself as he ran his hands through his hair as he studied Tosh's blood work cursing at the mixture of alien drugs in her system.

"I'm sorry Owen."

The quiet cry from the bed broke the heart he didn't think he still had as he turned around to face the shaking form of Tosh.

"Oh, darling it's not your fault. I'm going to be right here every step of the way, supporting you. You'll get through this Tosh, I know you will. Besides the Tea-Boy, you are the strongest person here." Owen didn't think he still knew how to comfort someone, that had always been Katie's job but he found he wasn't too rusty at it as he stroked her arm.

Tosh gave a weak smile. "I don't feel very strong right now, I feel so foolish. After everything that went down with Mary I just wanted to feel something anything but an utterly failure so after I had my talk with Jack I came back here and found one of the drugs that I knew you kept on hand that wasn't deadly but would make me feel something," Tears pickling at her eyes Tosh pleaded with Owen the best she could for him to understand why she did this, why she got hooked to the alien drugs he kept locked up.

Owen wasn't as blind as everyone thought he knew full well about Tosh's feelings about him but he was too damaged for someone like Tosh, she deserved someone who could give her the world. He knew sleeping with Suzie and now Gwen would hurt her deep but he needed her to see that he was no good he never meant for this to happen. "I'll be here for you Tosh helping you every step of the way," Owen vowed. Maybe it was time to start seeing what Tosh saw in him if she and Katie could find something in him to love then maybe he wasn't that bad.