Ianto lay on the autopsy table, the cold metal seeping through the folded blanket that Owen had tossed over it, feeling vaguely guilty. Horribly guilty. Nothing had happened. The team had been fine. They'd caught one of the weevils without them, but he had managed to take two members of the team out of commission, and something might have easily happened to the other three without them there. Or to Owen because he stayed behind. Maybe they would have caught all three weevils if Ianto hadn't managed to screw up so royally.

And Jack, Tosh and Gwen hadn't even been mad. That was the worst part. They were all concern and worry and not the slightest hint of anger or disappointment. They just manhandled the weevil into the back, and piled into the SUV. Not even an 'I told you, you weren't eating right!' from Jack. Nothing but caring and support, and doe eyes from Gwen. Owen's snarling insults and verbal abuse was rather soothing compared to the overwhelming kindness of the rest of the team. At least Owen was acting normal.

When they got back to the hub Owen had spirited him off to the autopsy bay, warning off the others, and diving into a series of exams, tests, and vials full of drawn blood. With orders to Ianto not to sit up, the ceiling was rocking slightly anyway, he had gone off to do…something. Ianto hadn't really been listening, but it had been awhile.

A wave of nausea rolled over Ianto and he levered himself up just as Owen came back down. He was carrying a stack of papers and two Styrofoam cups. "Stay still you idiot. Results are back. Just as I said you're anemic."

Owen made his was down the stairs and waited to make sure Ianto wasn't going to fall over before continuing. "I'm going to give you a very long list of instructions and I expect them to be followed. I don't seriously expect you to suddenly start cooking, God only knows if you actually go home anymore, but you're going to order healthier choices, take vitamins, and make an effort to eat a more balanced diet to make up for the lack of meat."

Ianto opened his mouth, and Owen talked over him. "You can't live off of cheese pizzas and coffee. You'll also be taking Iron and Vitamin C pills for the time being. And if you don't listen to me and be a good little patient, I'm telling Jack you have an eating disorder and let him coddle you to within an inch of your life."

"...You are a very evil man Owen."

"I know." Owen grinned and plopped one of the Styrofoam cups into Ianto's hand. "You need to drink. It will help with your iron levels"

The label on the side proclaimed it to be Juicy's Organic Smoothies, Gwen occasionally brought in some drink from the fruit and juice bar. He preferred coffee himself. Ianto studied the drink suspiciously, and then sniffed it. Chocolate. He gave Owen an odd look and took a tentative sip. "It's not bad, but how is it supposed to help?

Owen grin grew even wider, and Ianto felt suddenly very worried. He put the drink down. "What?"

" Brownie Batter Blitz. Carob, Yogurt, Dates… and Spinach."

Ianto didn't quite manage to stifle a gagging noise.

"Drink, or be coddled to death. Spinach is high in Iron and you liked it fine before you knew what it was. The others are waiting in Jack's office ready to pounce as soon as I tell them it's ok. And Gwen's dying to know why I sent her out for smoothie in the middle of a 'medical emergency' as she put it."

Ianto groaned and sipped at the drink, repressing a shudder. It was wrong for something so against the laws of nature to taste so wonderful.

"Get used to it. It's eat meat or have a lot more things like that." Owen paused and tilted his head at the cup. "Or start cooking your own meals and buy cast iron pots and pans. That can help too. Just shut up and enjoy your smoothie!"

Ianto lifted the Styrofoam in a mock salute, and tug another large swallow.

Owen raised the other cup, drinking his own, garishly orange, drink.

"Don't suppose the rest of you can suffer too?"

Owen held up and shook his own cup. "What the hell. If I have to force-feed you, I might as well torture us all in one go. Share the pain and all that. Already got them lined up for physicals."

Ianto snickered wondering how their other teammates were taking that news.

Owen seemed to read his mind. "Jack doesn't care, he'll put anything you put in front of him in his mouth, Gwen and Tosh think it's a good idea, so really only you and I are suffering. So expect me to be extra evil to you. Misery loves company."

Ianto narrowed his eyes, and then grinned. "Well it wouldn't hurt you to eat better. I've seen the way you drink, might as well make up for that a little...and try to get a few extra calories. I'm fairly sure the human body is supposed to have something between the skin and bones."

Owen snorted. "Of course Doctor Jones. Where exactly did you study medicine, again? I keep forgetting."

Ianto reached over and poked Owen in the side. "I can feel ribs."

Owen swatted his hand. "Stop that. I'm not under weight."

Ianto pulled his t-shirt up. "And see ribs. That is, by any standard, too thin."

Owen smacked his hand again. "I can still sic Jack on you."

"As I can sic him on you. And I can show him bones sticking out, to go with my story of." Ianto cleared his throat and when he spoke again he sounded deeply worried. "Jack, I'm worried about Owen. Have you...noticed anything about him lately? I just happened to catch him in the locker room the other day...he's looking i awfully /i thin. Do you think he might be ill? Or even...an eating disorder?"

"Oooh you evil little bastard!" Despite his words, Owen had a grin on his face.

Ianto shrugged, leaning back and tipping the last bit of smoothie into his mouth. He decided that he was just going to blame the teasing mood he found himself in on iron deficiency. Not too far off actually. Owen had said it would take a few days to get all the cobwebs out. "If you're going to torture me with vegetables, then I'm going to return the favour... and maybe some weight gain powder or something." He poked Owen in the side again, this time with the straw he had just finished licking, hoping to keep his fingers out of smacking range. "Maybe start going to the gym too...you could do with some exercise other then running after aliens, gasping for air like a fish out of water."

"How did this go from your lack of iron in your diet, to you giving me orders about mine?"

Ianto shrugged.

Owen rolled his eyes and took a swallow of his drink. "I'm going to go tell the others you're going to live. It was a simple lack of iron, and we've already made changes to fix it, so no need to worry." He recited. "Just behave your self or I'm taking that back, and having them coddle you to death!"

"As will I." Ianto said serenely, flopping back down on to the table to contemplate the gently swaying ceiling. After a moment, he frowned and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out the slip of paper from his fortune cookie. He read it again and shook his head with a quiet laugh. Never could tell could you?