Dreams of a Tea Dragon Challenge # 1 Redisourcolour

[zazajb]

Title: Dreams of a Tea Dragon
Author: zazajb
Rating: PG-13, some mild references to drugs, occasional language
Pairings/Characters: Jack, Ianto, Owen
Spoilers – none
Summary: We don’t always realise the effects of alien tech on frail humanity!
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters - just like to dabble with them from time to time

A/N Written for Dreams: challenge #1 Redisourcolour
 

Dreams of a Tea Dragon

Ianto leant over. It smelled vaguely of spice...like cinnamon, he thought. It reminded him of Christmas as a child.

It looked fairly innocuous, but he’d long since learnt that appearances were sometimes deceptive. He ran the scanner over the shell. Nothing. He touched his comm. unit, “Jack, it’s totally inert – nothing on the scanner so I’m going to box and tag it and come down...” He listened to the reply and grinned, glancing around him before responding. “Yes, the view’s lovely!”

Shaking his head, he reached out carefully and picked up the silvery shell. It was smooth and cool to the touch and heavier than it looked. He settled it into the containment box and was about to secure the top when a faint light caught his eye and he pulled the lid back off.

The shell was glowing now, almost pulsating. He ran the scanner again. It now registered off the scale. Closing the lid hurriedly, he noted the date and time on the tag and began the long climb down, cursing the idiotic alien race who’d decided that the top of an electric pylon was a good place to land.

As he climbed lower, his thoughts drifted. He was thirsty. He really wanted a cup of tea...actually, he really, really wanted a cup of tea! He climbed faster, wishing he could fly...it would be good to fly – like a bird, no, like a dragon – a big red Welsh dragon!

He jumped the last six feet and landed in a heap with his nose inches away from Jack’s boots. He thrust the box at him. “It’s gone off the scale!” he said, giggling. “Can I have a cup of tea now?”

“Ianto?”

“Yes, Jack! I want to be a dragon!” He passed out, Jack catching him before he hit the ground.

Touching his ear, Jack called Owen...

                                                                 ~*~*~*~*~*~

He shifted restlessly under the thin cover, mumbling to himself in his sleep. Owen leant forward to listen, managing to make out a few words.

“Tea, need tea, got to have tea...dragons can’t fly without tea!”

Owen grumbled loudly as he made his way to the kitchen. He was a doctor, not a bloody teaboy! It was fine for Jack to say give him anything he asked for...but tea? I don’t make tea, he huffed as he poured boiling water into the mug and stirred. He chucked a couple of spoons of sugar in as an afterthought. Tough if he doesn’t like it!

When he got back to the sofa, the teaboy was still tossing and turning uncomfortably, a frown on his pale face.

Owen laid a hand lightly on his shoulder. “I made you some tea...”

The Welshman’s eyes flew open. “Tea!” he said delighted. “I like tea!”

Owen pushed the mug into his outstretched hands and he sipped the steaming beverage appreciatively. “Tea...” he sighed.

His eyelids drooped and he sank back onto the sofa, the mug tipping dangerously in his hand. Owen rescued it before it spilled and plonked it on the floor, resuming his pacing as he watched the sleeping man shifting restlessly as he dreamt.

Ten minutes later, Jack returned. He joined Owen to stare down at the young man. “How is he?”

“Restless, keeps mumbling about tea and dragons... I made him tea – and he hasn’t drunk it! I actually made him tea and he can’t even be bothered to drink it...” he grumbled. “Did you manage to retcon the witnesses?”

Jack chuckled. “Yea, made them a cup of tea! Left them sleeping like a baby – shame we can’t do that for Ianto!”

“What happened?”

“The shell is an alien equivalent of LSD and its hallucinogenic properties were activated by the ion emissions from the pylon. He’s going to have some pretty exciting dreams until he sleeps it off! He told the electricity board contractors that he’s a magic Tea Dragon!”

“Oh, I am going to have so much fun holding this over his head!” the acerbic doctor chuckled loudly as he disappeared back down to autopsy.

Jack crouched down by the sofa and stroked Ianto’s hair softly. He opened his eyes. “Jack?”

“Hey! How are you doing? Owen made you tea..he’s a bit upset because you haven’t drunk it.”

Ianto’s face lit up. “I like tea!”

“I know!” Jack smiled. “Now, please. Sleep and dream - for me? And drink the rest of that bloody tea! “

Ianto’s eyes closed. “Tea Dragon’s like tea!” he murmured settling back down.

Jack picked up the mug and drank the murky lukewarm tea. It was disgusting! At least Owen was a better doctor than he was a teaboy! He settled on the floor with his back against the sofa, preparing for a long night watching over Ianto as he dreamt wild tales of tea and dragons.

Due to popular demand..the sequel: Morning after...the tea before!
http://zazajb.livejournal.com/9225.html