Title: Line Of Fire
Author: badly-knitted
Characters: Owen, Ianto, Tosh, Gwen.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 973
Summary: During a field mission, Ianto gets shot protecting Tosh.
Spoilers: Set between End of Days and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Warnings: Injury and medical treatment.
Written For: schweinsty's prompt 'Torchwood, Ianto Jones(/Jack Harkness) + Owen Harper, Ianto takes a bullet for someone else,' at comment_fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters.
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"What the fuck were you thinking?" Owen demanded, pressing a thick pad of something against the bullet wound, making Ianto bite back a yelp as red-hot pain lanced through his side. "Were you even thinking at all?"
Ianto wasn't sure how to answer that last bit, because honestly, he hadn't had time to think, just to react. "Tosh was right in the line of fire," he ground out between clenched teeth. "Couldn't just stand by and let her get shot… God, are you trying to shove that right though me?"
"Gotta stop the bleeding," Owen muttered. "Only way to do that is by applying pressure. Can't have you dying on me before I can drag your stupid arse back to the Hub."
"It's not that bad," Ianto insisted. Although, from the way Owen was acting… "Is it? Thought it just grazed me."
"If by 'graze' you mean the bullet went right through you about an inch above your hipbone, then yes, it's just a graze. Count yourself lucky you've put on a few pounds recently, otherwise it might've hit something that matters."
"Oh, well that's good."
"Good? You've got a bloody great hole in your side and you're losing blood. It's a good thing I'm a doctor, or you'd really be in trouble."
"Mm, I should probably thank you."
"Don't bother, just don't die."
"Wasn't planning on it."
"Could've fooled me. You're not Jack fuckin' Harkness, just a regular mortal like the rest of us! You could've got yourself killed, and what good would that have done? We're already one man down since our fearless leader swanned off to who knows where." Keeping pressure on the wound, Owen dug one-handed in his medical bag. "Always knew you were a few sandwiches short of a picnic."
"Tosh was in danger; it was her or me."
"So what, you figured you'd just sacrifice yourself?"
"It wasn't like that, just… she's more important to the team than I am. She's the computer and tech expert, I just make coffee and keep you all from drowning in your own mess. That makes me more expendable."
"Don't have a very high opinion of yourself, do you?" Owen busied himself with a roll of medical tape, securing pressure dressings over both entrance and exit wounds.
"It's not my opinion, it's yours; I'm just paraphrasing what you told me this morning."
"Oh." Owen looked vaguely embarrassed. "You do know I didn't mean it, right?"
"You meant it, you always do. Whenever you're hurting, you lash out at whoever's closest, usually me."
"Only 'cause you're always sneaking around."
"There's a reason for that. The girls don't deserve to feel the sharp edge of your tongue. I've got a thicker skin; I can take it."
"So you get between them and me to protect them?"
"When I have to."
"Bloody martyr, you are." Owen checked Ianto's blood pressure with the portable monitor. "Okay, let's get you in the car. Gwen, you're driving, and for pity's sake try to avoid the bloody potholes. I've got the bleeding under control for the moment, but the last thing he needs is to get bounced around."
"I do know how it feels to get shot," Gwen snapped.
"No you fuckin' don't, you got peppered with buckshot, that's not even close to 'aving a bullet punch right through you. Tosh, luv, give me a hand with Teaboy? Can't expect me to do everything myself."
Tosh hurried around to Ianto's uninjured side, helping Owen ease him to his feet and into the SUV's backseat.
"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing her friend's hand. "I owe you."
"No you don't. We're even." Ianto squeezed back, doing his best to smile at her, although he was fairly sure it was more of a grimace.
"Right then, let's get you back to base and patched up." Owen slid in beside Ianto, leaving the front passenger seat for Tosh. "Sooner that's done, the sooner I can 'ave a beer or ten, maybe a shot of something stronger."
"Not going to demand coffee?" Ianto gritted his teeth as the SUV jolted into motion.
"Not from you. You won't be doing anything that involves lifting, carrying, or moving for at least a week; you so much as try, and I'll tie you to the bed. You've got a soddin' great hole right through you. Even using the tissue regenerator that won't heal overnight, and in the meantime, the rest of us are going to be stuck doing your job. That's what your heroism's got us, more work. Think about that the next time you get the urge to throw yourself in front of bullet."
Ianto closed his eyes, letting Owen's angry tirade wash over him.
"Oi!" The medic pinched Ianto's leg, hard. "You'd better not go passing out on me!"
"Wouldn't dream of it. I'm just ignoring you."
"Well don't. Keep talking, so I'll know you didn't drop dead."
"Fine. Tosh, I'm putting you in temporary charge of the archives; if you don't know where something belongs, ask me, or just leave it on my desk, and I'll get to it later. Owen, you get to feed and clean out Myfanwy, and the residents in the cells. Gwen, you can do the shopping, the cleaning, fetch coffee, and arrange lunch deliveries. Any questions?"
"Just because you got yourself shot doesn't mean you get to boss us around," Owen complained.
Ianto snorted. "How will you know what to do if I don't tell you?"
"Shut up!"
"I thought you wanted me to keep talking."
"I've changed my mind."
"Well, that's a relief." Closing his eyes again, Ianto felt Owen take his wrist, checking his pulse, and tried to keep his breathing shallow to avoid aggravating his injury. It hurt like Hell, but as long as Owen was yelling and berating him, he knew he'd be fine.
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The End