Owen had been left babysitting a five year old Tucker whilst Jack and Ianto had taken Griffin out to a football game, that was laughable in itself. He should have taken Griffin to the game, he was more sporty than Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones but he had work to do which Harkness had pointed out. The alien insect that they had recently found wasn't about to do its own autopsy or better yet, come back to life and tell Owen exactly what had happened to it and what species it was. Though Owen would have cashed in big if they were dealing with a talking insect.
He had left Tucker playing with one of Jack's rock things. Apparently to Harkness, it was harmless and not worth anything so his son could play with it for something to do. Until Gwen came back from her field project and a detour to a shop to get him some crayons and a colouring book that is. Tucker was in Owen's line of sight so he could work and keep an eye on the little boy at the same time. Everything was peaceful until a giant crash of a thunder cloud echoed through the hub.
Owen had forgotten that thunderstorms could be heard through the hub. They weren't that far underground to escape the loud noises of a thunderstorm but at least the lightning was unable to be seen.
Owen was still in mid thought and yelped as he felt something grab hold of his leg. He began to start shaking his leg to get the creature off him until he realised, quite sheepishly that Tucker was holding onto his leg for dear life, afraid to let go.
"Hey, its alright mate. Just thunder" Owen soothed, reaching down to try and extract the little boy from his leg with difficulty. Eventually prising Tucker's hands away from his leg, he quickly picked him up and held him on his hip. Not quite sure what to do.
"Thunder?" Tucker asked quietly, his little face full of fear. The little mite was terrified and Owen couldn't really blame him. The last time that they had had a major thunder and lightning storm was when Tucker was still a baby and wasn't affected by it. Griffin had been frightened it but Ianto had been there to soothe his eldest son. Why did Jack and Ianto make it look so damn easy?
"Yeah thunder. Nothing to be scared of Tuck. I'd worry more about the lightning since that can hurt you" Owen replied, then closed his eyes as he realised on what he had said. Sure, that was going to calm down a scared child wasn't it? Great going Owen! You've just signed yourself a contract to never do babysitting for Jack and Ianto ever again he thought to himself and strangely that bothered him.
Tucker's face screwed up as he took in Owen's words and starting to cry loudly. Where were the girls when Owen needed them? He didn't know how to deal with a crying child, if he smacked Tucker then he was bound to get it in the neck from his parents and that would seal his fate, he wouldn't see the boys ever again. He knew Jack well, that man was overprotective enough without going over the edge into mother hen mode.
"Hey now, little man. I'm sorry. Uncle Owen is a bad man. You're safe in here. Promise. I bet Daddy and Da are on their way back with your brother. They wouldn't leave you too long in a storm, you know that" Owen soothed, taking a sigh of relief when Tucker's crying ceased a little bit. "Good boy, you're alright. It's just the clouds having a fight that's all. It's just noise" he continued calmly.
Tucker whimpered again as another clap of thunder echoed through the hub, trying to cling back onto to Owen. "I want Daddy!" Tucker wailed.
"I know you do Tucker and I'll phone your Da and daddy in a minute. Look, what does Da do when you're scared?" Owen asked, completely at a loss of what to do. He didn't have any experience with small upset children whatsoever and he needed a little bit of help because there was no way in hell that he was going to manage on his own without it. If Tucker could give him a point in the direction, he would be eternally grateful and that's just what the little boy did.
"He reads me a story" Tucker replied quietly, still clinging tightly to Owen as if afraid that his uncle was going to leave him alone if he let go. "Ok. That's easy enough. Does Da bring your books with him?" Owen asked. "Yep. In Daddy's office. Aladdin?" he asked hopefully.
"Yeah I'll read you Aladdin. Come on then, I'll just go and get the book and then we can head to the nice hub sofa and I'll read to you until your parents and your big brother get back so I can do some work. That sound fair?" Owen reasoned. "Yep" came the reply causing Owen to sigh in relief. Reading a story, he could do.
When Jack and Ianto finally got back, letting Griffin run up ahead to go to the hub toilets whilst they carried in some takeaway food for them and the boys, briefly kissing each other as they headed into the hub to find Owen, they both stopped and looked at each other in amusement when they found Tucker and Owen. Tucker was snuggled up comfortably against Owen fast asleep, while the medic had a protective arm over his nephew also fast asleep.