Title: Sharing Nightmares
Summary: Jack and Tosh are trapped in a cave-in and talk about their secret fears
"Jack?"
"Jack! Can you hear me?"
"Jack, if you're dead you better come back to life right now!"
groan
"Jack?"
"Hmmph... Tosh? Wha.. wha... happennn..."
"We were investigation a rift fracture when it caused a cave-in. We're trapped."
"Ohhhh. 'Anto?"
"No, Ianto, Gwen and Owen were in the other tunnel. They're trying to dig us out now... Jack, I'm trying to move some of this debris so I can get to you. Jack?"
"Hmmm..."
"Jack, are you hurt? I need to know how badly you're hurt so I can tell the others."
"Hurt? No... 'm fine..."
"Right, of course you are. Can you get up? Help me move these rocks?"
"Mmm... no..."
"You can't get up? Did you break something?"
"No...I'm pinned under something... a lot of somethings... can't even get to my gun."
"Gun? Why would you need to... Oh, Jack... It's okay that you're hurt. You don't need to kill yourself just so you'll heal."
"Promised I'd look after you..."
"You have Jack, and you will. But sometimes we want to be able to look after you too."
"Oh..."
"Now tell me how bad you're really hurt."
"Not sure. Head's bleeding bad. Concussion, maybe skull fracture? 'M dizzy and tired..."
"What else?"
"I... I'm not sure. Broken a couple of ribs. I can't feel much below my chest."
"Oh Jack..."
"M'sorry."
"What are you sorry about? Getting hurt? Or getting trapped?"
"Sounds stupid... when... when you say it like that..."
"Well, I wouldn't have quite worded it that way."
"No... guess.. not..."
"Jack? Stay with me Jack. Jack?"
"Ahh 'm here."
"You have a head wound, you can't fall asleep. You could slip into a coma and die."
"Dying's not so bad..."
"Stop talking like that. Jack, I need to you to stay awake and keep talking to me, okay? Please?"
"You need... oh, wait...claustrophobia?"
"Yeah, just a bit. Please, Jack."
"I'll try."
"I feel silly being afraid like this, I can face down a Weevil but get all wobbly in the knees in a small dark place?"
"Weevils are cuddly... in their own way."
"Oh haha. I know it's an irrational fear. I know that. I just can't quite..."
"S'okay Tosh. Everyone's got something they're afraid of."
"Even you?"
"Even me... 'specially me. A'least yours is pretty common..."
"What are you afraid of?"
"Gas masks."
"Gas masks?"
"World War II style gas masks... give me nightmares."
"Gas masks."
"Long story."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Might give you night...nightmares..."
"That's okay."
"So...wanna hear about the gas mask people?"
"Love to."
GASP
"Jack? It's okay Jack. I'm right here."
"Tosh? What happened?"
"You passed out right before the others broke through to us. We tried to be as gentle as we could, but you died while Owen and Ianto were carrying you out."
"Where? We're in the back of the SUV?
"Yes. You know you didn't finish your story."
"My story..."
"About the gas mask people, you passed out before you finished it."
"I did?"
"The bomb was about to fall and you were surrounded by the gas mask people and your mysterious friend was explaining how DNA was being rewritten by nanogenes..."
"Oh."
"You don't have to...or, umm, you could ret-con me, I mean, if you hadn't meant to share..."
"No. I just... No. Where are the others?"
"Now that they rescued us they're back dealing with the mess the rift fracture left behind. We probably should lend them a hand now that you're back."
"Oh. Right. Probably should. Give me a minute to warm up first though."
"Want a coffee? Ianto brought a few, he figured you'd want one once you were on your feet again."
"Ahh coffee, I really could have used some that night. Grab one for yourself and sit. I was just about to get to the good part... So there I was... bombs falling all around... and I was standing there realizing I'd screwed up so royally I might have doomed the entire human race when..."