Ficlet: Team Effort
Title: Team Effort
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Jack, Owen, Tosh, Mickey, Andy, Gwen, Ianto.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: The Torchwood team need to work together if they’re going to save themselves from a fate worse than death.
Word Count: 870
Written For: Prompt 142 - Teamwork at fandomweekly.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters. They belong to the BBC.
As soon as they’d all arrived, Jack gathered everyone together in the boardroom, taking his place at the head of the big table, although he didn’t sit down. Instead, he placed his hands flat on the tabletop, supporting himself with his arms as he leaned forward, staring intently into the faces of his team, one after another.
They all shifted uncomfortably in their seats, looking back at him, waiting to hear whatever he had to say.
“Okay, I shouldn’t need to tell any of you why I’ve called you in; we all know what’s at stake here and we know what we need to do.”
Owen made as if to speak, but Jack cut him off before he could say a word.
“I know you don’t want to do this, none of us do, but we don’t have any other choice. I’m not gonna lie to you, it won’t be easy, it’s a big job and we don’t have a lot of time. But we’re a team; if we work together, back each other up wherever necessary, we can do it. It’s not like it’s rocket science.”
“No, but I wish it was,” Tosh muttered under her breath. “I have a feeling rocket science might be easier.”
In the silence of the boardroom everyone heard her, and Jack smiled kindly. “You’re probably right, and any other day I’d be happy to debate rocket science theory with you, but it’ll have to wait for another time. Right now we have something far more important to deal with.”
Gloom seemed to settle over the boardroom.
Jack took a drink from his water glass. “Okay, assignments are as follows. Tosh, archives. You know better than any of us where things belong down there; anything you’re not sure of, leave it on the worktable and I’ll take a look later if I have time. When you’ve done all you can down there, see what you can do about the tourist office.”
Tosh nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. Owen, autopsy bay; I want the whole place gleaming. When you’ve finished with that, kitchen. Dishes properly washed and put away, surfaces wiped down, floor swept, and don’t forget the inside of the microwave. Oh, and the fridge. Throw away anything that’s out of date and clear out anything that shouldn’t be in there.”
“Why do I have to do all that?” Owen grumbled.
“Who was it made most of the mess? That alien was your responsibility!”
“I thought it was dead!”
“Well it wasn’t, was it? Not until later. Your alien, your mess, you deal with it. What’s left of it. Where was I? Oh yeah. Mickey, SUV, inside and out, and the garage. Don’t forget the boot. And make sure the drains don’t get clogged with muck; I don’t want those backing up again. You weren’t here to see what happened last time.” Jack pulled a face, remembering. “It wasn’t pretty.”
“Got it, boss.”
“Gwen and Andy, you get the main Hub. Workstations cleaned and tidied, bins emptied, everything dusted, floors vacuumed or swept. Pay particular attention to the break area, under the sofas as well, and give the coffee table a good polish. After that, see what you can do in here.” Jack gestured at the table, covered in sticky marks and half buried under an assortment of empty pizza boxes and takeaway cartons. “I want to be able to see my reflection in this table.”
“What about you?” Owen grumbled. “While we’re doing all the work, I suppose you’ll be supervising?”
“Wrong! I’ve assigned myself the cells, Myfanwy’s nest, my office and bunker, the shooting range, and the armoury. Anyone who completes their assignment can help out elsewhere. Understood?” When there was no reply, he slapped one hand on the tabletop. “I said, do you understand?”
There was a ragged chorus of “Yes, Jack.”
“Good, then let’s get to it! Ianto will be back in a few hours, and you know what’ll happen if he comes in and sees all this mess.”
“He’d probably have a nervous breakdown,” Owen joked.
“Not funny, Owen,” Jack glared at the medic. “More likely he’d put us all on cheap instant decaf for the rest of our lives.”
Everyone looked at each other and shuddered.
“Teamwork, kids,” Jack reminded his team. “If we all work together, we can avoid a fate worse than death!”
“You know this is all your fault, right?” Owen shoved his chair back and stood up, scowling. “You’re the one who let Teaboy take a week off!”
“And you lot are the ones who didn’t follow the cleaning rota he left for us,” Jack snapped back. “I’ll never understand how he manages to keep this place organised all by himself. When he gets back, I’m giving him a raise. And an assistant, someone he can train to keep the place running smoothly when he’s not here.”
“That might be the first sensible decision you’ve made since… forever,” Owen muttered, stalking out of the boardroom with the rest of the team trailing behind him.
Jack slumped into his seat and drained his water glass. “I just wish I’d thought of it before sending Ianto on vacation,” he muttered to himself.
The End
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Jack, Owen, Tosh, Mickey, Andy, Gwen, Ianto.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: The Torchwood team need to work together if they’re going to save themselves from a fate worse than death.
Word Count: 870
Written For: Prompt 142 - Teamwork at fandomweekly.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters. They belong to the BBC.
As soon as they’d all arrived, Jack gathered everyone together in the boardroom, taking his place at the head of the big table, although he didn’t sit down. Instead, he placed his hands flat on the tabletop, supporting himself with his arms as he leaned forward, staring intently into the faces of his team, one after another.
They all shifted uncomfortably in their seats, looking back at him, waiting to hear whatever he had to say.
“Okay, I shouldn’t need to tell any of you why I’ve called you in; we all know what’s at stake here and we know what we need to do.”
Owen made as if to speak, but Jack cut him off before he could say a word.
“I know you don’t want to do this, none of us do, but we don’t have any other choice. I’m not gonna lie to you, it won’t be easy, it’s a big job and we don’t have a lot of time. But we’re a team; if we work together, back each other up wherever necessary, we can do it. It’s not like it’s rocket science.”
“No, but I wish it was,” Tosh muttered under her breath. “I have a feeling rocket science might be easier.”
In the silence of the boardroom everyone heard her, and Jack smiled kindly. “You’re probably right, and any other day I’d be happy to debate rocket science theory with you, but it’ll have to wait for another time. Right now we have something far more important to deal with.”
Gloom seemed to settle over the boardroom.
Jack took a drink from his water glass. “Okay, assignments are as follows. Tosh, archives. You know better than any of us where things belong down there; anything you’re not sure of, leave it on the worktable and I’ll take a look later if I have time. When you’ve done all you can down there, see what you can do about the tourist office.”
Tosh nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. Owen, autopsy bay; I want the whole place gleaming. When you’ve finished with that, kitchen. Dishes properly washed and put away, surfaces wiped down, floor swept, and don’t forget the inside of the microwave. Oh, and the fridge. Throw away anything that’s out of date and clear out anything that shouldn’t be in there.”
“Why do I have to do all that?” Owen grumbled.
“Who was it made most of the mess? That alien was your responsibility!”
“I thought it was dead!”
“Well it wasn’t, was it? Not until later. Your alien, your mess, you deal with it. What’s left of it. Where was I? Oh yeah. Mickey, SUV, inside and out, and the garage. Don’t forget the boot. And make sure the drains don’t get clogged with muck; I don’t want those backing up again. You weren’t here to see what happened last time.” Jack pulled a face, remembering. “It wasn’t pretty.”
“Got it, boss.”
“Gwen and Andy, you get the main Hub. Workstations cleaned and tidied, bins emptied, everything dusted, floors vacuumed or swept. Pay particular attention to the break area, under the sofas as well, and give the coffee table a good polish. After that, see what you can do in here.” Jack gestured at the table, covered in sticky marks and half buried under an assortment of empty pizza boxes and takeaway cartons. “I want to be able to see my reflection in this table.”
“What about you?” Owen grumbled. “While we’re doing all the work, I suppose you’ll be supervising?”
“Wrong! I’ve assigned myself the cells, Myfanwy’s nest, my office and bunker, the shooting range, and the armoury. Anyone who completes their assignment can help out elsewhere. Understood?” When there was no reply, he slapped one hand on the tabletop. “I said, do you understand?”
There was a ragged chorus of “Yes, Jack.”
“Good, then let’s get to it! Ianto will be back in a few hours, and you know what’ll happen if he comes in and sees all this mess.”
“He’d probably have a nervous breakdown,” Owen joked.
“Not funny, Owen,” Jack glared at the medic. “More likely he’d put us all on cheap instant decaf for the rest of our lives.”
Everyone looked at each other and shuddered.
“Teamwork, kids,” Jack reminded his team. “If we all work together, we can avoid a fate worse than death!”
“You know this is all your fault, right?” Owen shoved his chair back and stood up, scowling. “You’re the one who let Teaboy take a week off!”
“And you lot are the ones who didn’t follow the cleaning rota he left for us,” Jack snapped back. “I’ll never understand how he manages to keep this place organised all by himself. When he gets back, I’m giving him a raise. And an assistant, someone he can train to keep the place running smoothly when he’s not here.”
“That might be the first sensible decision you’ve made since… forever,” Owen muttered, stalking out of the boardroom with the rest of the team trailing behind him.
Jack slumped into his seat and drained his water glass. “I just wish I’d thought of it before sending Ianto on vacation,” he muttered to himself.
The End