Drabble meme, for quietbutbrainy The Best of Times
The best of times is now.
What's left of Summer
But a faded rose?
The best of times is now.
As for tomorrow,
Well, who knows? Who knows? Who knows?
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last
Because the best of times is now,
Is now, is now.
"Oh you complete--! Do you have any idea how long that took me? How many hours it's going to take to get it up and running again?"
"Ohhh get off your high horse, Tosh. Live a little. Or can't you remember how?"
"Stop being a prat, Owen, leave her alone. He's sorry, Tosh, aren't you, Owen. He didn't mean to, we were just playing."
"Well play somewhere else, not by my computer!"
Jack stands up from his desk and paces to the doorway to watch the unfolding argument. He doesn't do what most bosses would though, or perhaps more accurately what bosses should. He doesn't go and break it up or offer assistance, he just watches. He stands and leans against the wall with his hands in his pockets and smiles at his team. His brilliant little team.
They don't look at him, they likely don't even notice he's there, and he likes it that way.
A phone rings and Gwen dashes away from her game of chase with Owen to answer it.
"Yes, I know I said I would. Yes I know. I'm sorry, love, just-- well you know how it is, something came up and I have to--- well we can do that tomorrow can't we? No! Actually tomorrow I've got-- Thursday, we can do it Thursday? Why don't you call Dav, go out for a pint? No? Yes? Yes I'll tell him, yes, I'm sure he's very sorry. Rhys. Rhys, Rhys love, look, I've got to go, okay? I'll let you know when I'm going to be home. Love you too, alright."
Jack watches the whole one-sided conversation with a barely veiled smile on his face that comes out more like a smirk. Over the other side of the Hub the argument between Tosh and Owen seems to have turned the corner to teasing, and either way, she's smiling, so that must be okay.
Gwen passes Jack as she slips the phone back into her pocket and she half smiles at him.
"Rhys says to tell you next time he sees you he's gonna have your head. This is the third time in a row you've stopped me being home for curry night and he's starting to think you're doing it on purpose. Just thought you might like to know."
He laughs and glances down, opens his mouth to say something when an alarm sounds and the cog door rolls open.
"Pizza!"
Ianto stands in the doorway triumphantly holding a pile of boxes, and the rest of the team's attention is quickly turned and rapt. Gwen departs from Jack's side and over to the couch where Owen is already making himself comfortable. Ianto places the boxes down and they pounce on them like vultures. They chatter and Jack listens, but he doesn't listen to the words, they don't matter, it's the actions he cares about, the camaraderie which he just watches with that same half veiled smile.
"You going to join us, Jack?"
Tosh's voice rings out above the chatter, and Jack lifts his head and stands up straight. And he's struck with the realisation that his team, this wonderful group of people, they're his team. And he's part of that.
And that's pretty wonderful.
"Oh you betcha! Hey, nobody better be eating my mushroom!"
He fixes a wide grin on his face and steps over to join his team, to join the conversation and to take part in the laughter. Ianto places a bottle of mineral water into his hand which he takes without even looking. He spares a smile to him and a smile to them all.
They fit, all of them.
And as Jack reaches over to bat Owen's hand away and grab a slice of pizza, he smiles. He smiles a smile he can't and won't explain.
But he's part of this, and though none of them know what the future might hold, there's one thing Jack can be certain of. This, right now, this is perfect.
Word count: 664
What's left of Summer
But a faded rose?
The best of times is now.
As for tomorrow,
Well, who knows? Who knows? Who knows?
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last
Because the best of times is now,
Is now, is now.
"Oh you complete--! Do you have any idea how long that took me? How many hours it's going to take to get it up and running again?"
"Ohhh get off your high horse, Tosh. Live a little. Or can't you remember how?"
"Stop being a prat, Owen, leave her alone. He's sorry, Tosh, aren't you, Owen. He didn't mean to, we were just playing."
"Well play somewhere else, not by my computer!"
Jack stands up from his desk and paces to the doorway to watch the unfolding argument. He doesn't do what most bosses would though, or perhaps more accurately what bosses should. He doesn't go and break it up or offer assistance, he just watches. He stands and leans against the wall with his hands in his pockets and smiles at his team. His brilliant little team.
They don't look at him, they likely don't even notice he's there, and he likes it that way.
A phone rings and Gwen dashes away from her game of chase with Owen to answer it.
"Yes, I know I said I would. Yes I know. I'm sorry, love, just-- well you know how it is, something came up and I have to--- well we can do that tomorrow can't we? No! Actually tomorrow I've got-- Thursday, we can do it Thursday? Why don't you call Dav, go out for a pint? No? Yes? Yes I'll tell him, yes, I'm sure he's very sorry. Rhys. Rhys, Rhys love, look, I've got to go, okay? I'll let you know when I'm going to be home. Love you too, alright."
Jack watches the whole one-sided conversation with a barely veiled smile on his face that comes out more like a smirk. Over the other side of the Hub the argument between Tosh and Owen seems to have turned the corner to teasing, and either way, she's smiling, so that must be okay.
Gwen passes Jack as she slips the phone back into her pocket and she half smiles at him.
"Rhys says to tell you next time he sees you he's gonna have your head. This is the third time in a row you've stopped me being home for curry night and he's starting to think you're doing it on purpose. Just thought you might like to know."
He laughs and glances down, opens his mouth to say something when an alarm sounds and the cog door rolls open.
"Pizza!"
Ianto stands in the doorway triumphantly holding a pile of boxes, and the rest of the team's attention is quickly turned and rapt. Gwen departs from Jack's side and over to the couch where Owen is already making himself comfortable. Ianto places the boxes down and they pounce on them like vultures. They chatter and Jack listens, but he doesn't listen to the words, they don't matter, it's the actions he cares about, the camaraderie which he just watches with that same half veiled smile.
"You going to join us, Jack?"
Tosh's voice rings out above the chatter, and Jack lifts his head and stands up straight. And he's struck with the realisation that his team, this wonderful group of people, they're his team. And he's part of that.
And that's pretty wonderful.
"Oh you betcha! Hey, nobody better be eating my mushroom!"
He fixes a wide grin on his face and steps over to join his team, to join the conversation and to take part in the laughter. Ianto places a bottle of mineral water into his hand which he takes without even looking. He spares a smile to him and a smile to them all.
They fit, all of them.
And as Jack reaches over to bat Owen's hand away and grab a slice of pizza, he smiles. He smiles a smile he can't and won't explain.
But he's part of this, and though none of them know what the future might hold, there's one thing Jack can be certain of. This, right now, this is perfect.
Word count: 664