Pink was Her Color 1/1
Pink Was Her Color
McRaider
Summary: No one understands-but Jack does.
Author’s Note: This is an assumption, but I believe the colors are the same across the world and not just in America-though I could be wrong. If I am, I’m sorry. Also this is sometime during second season.
This was written for the
horizonssing community challange day 5
In the month of October, Ianto wore a pink tie. It was automatic-not every day of course, that would just be unhygienic. But for at least fifteen of the days in October, he wore a pink tie. Gwen hadn’t noticed it the year before, but her second year with the team and she found it slightly odd. She’d asked Tosh, but the young woman only shrugged and smiled. “It’s just something he does-has since before he got here I imagine.”
“But why?”
She gave Gwen a half smile, unsurprised that the Welsh woman hadn’t really taken the time to get to know Ianto much better. While he was a man of many secrets and privacy, he shared when you asked-Tosh had asked on the third day of October the first year he arrived here.
“Tosh, ready?” Ianto questioned coming out of Jack’s office.
“Always, love.” Tosh replied, watching as Jack stepped out as well, to most eyes no one would have noticed the little pink ribbon pinned to his chest, but as he put his coat on it disappeared. Smiling he gripped his lover’s hand then looked at Tosh.
“All right then-Owen, Gwen we’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Wait where are you going?” Gwen asked.
Owen glanced up from his desk and smiled, “Have a good time-oh, here.” He handed Ianto a couple bills. “Sorry I can’t be there this year.”
“Somebody has to watch the hub,” Jack offered as Ianto accepted the money.
“Wait-what’s going on?” Gwen demanded to know again.
“We’re off to go walk a few miles, have a good time, and interact.” Jack replied as Toshiko took his other hand and they made their way out of the building.
o0o
The Race for My Wife and Race for Life walk wasn’t necessarily one that had to be attended by just people walking for wives. Ianto had explained that early on-and they rarely walked the entire thing, Ianto usually walked for a few hours, then donated a set amount of money each year. When he’d explained to Jack that his mother had died of breast cancer and that he wore the tie to support it, and that he donated his time and money every year-Jack had asked if he’d be welcomed, he’d lost an old friend to it as well. Then Toshiko had asked about it shortly after Jack. Turns out one of her aunts had died as well. So now all three friends walked, donating their time and money for a good cause.
Jack was aware, on some level that people, who knew, probably recognized the three members as Torchwood. A part of him thought maybe that was a good thing. Maybe people would see they weren’t all rough around the edges, but that they truly cared for people. And they did. Jack knew that in the year 2135 breast cancer would no longer be a real problem, but rather a rarity that was quickly destroyed through treatments. He knew that by 2200 the cure for nearly all cancer was found and used as a vaccination on babies. But Jack also knew it was because of these walks, because of people coming out and standing against an invisible enemy fighting them day after day, that helped get money to fund such projects. These people, standing in the streets by bucket loads, were the reason people fought so hard to find a cure for cancer. Jack was just proud he could do a little to help.
During the walk they met all sorts of people, including a few from the Cardiff area that Ianto knew personally. They chatted and laughed with some older ladies-Jack held back on the flirting, after all this was serious. As promised a few hours later they disappeared from the crowd, but not before Jack spotted Gwen off in a corner-looking a little surprised. Good-she should be. She didn’t have a clue about their lives, she presumed no one else had a life outside, but they did. Ianto had had a mother, who had died tragically of breast cancer, who’d fought twice to beat it. He had an older sister who’d already had it and survived-she participated in these walks every year in Liverpool. They all had lives, even Jack, who could remember Louise when she’d died in 1980s of it, how heart wrenching it had been to watch something kill her that had been so very normal when they’d worked a job that hadn’t been.
“Hi Gwen,” Ianto offered as the three made their way back towards the SUV.
“You come to the breast cancer walk?”
Ianto studied her for a moment and smiled. “Every year since I was fifteen Gwen, and I’ll do it next October, perhaps you’d like to come-although you may have to beat a spot out for Owen, he lost some family members as well and would prefer to be here than in the hub.”
Gwen shrugged. “I never lost anyone to it.”
Tosh had to resist rolling her eyes but smiled all the same. “Count yourself lucky then-shall we finish our afternoon off with a bang?”
“Sounds lovely Tosh, call Owen tell him the usual place.”
“Someone has to stay at the hub,” Gwen replied unsure what was going on.
“You’re right Gwen, thanks for volunteering.”
“But I-“
Ianto smiled as he looked at the young former investigator. “Pink has lots of meanings Gwen, in the month of October it means breast cancer awareness month. I know you haven’t lost anyone, but death is still death no matter how you look at it. It’s painful and sad.” Ianto handed her a pink ribbon. “Pick someone, whether it’s you, or family, or even my family, and wear it in honor that they never find out they have breast cancer. Walk to prevent it from happening. Have a good rest of your afternoon, Gwen.”
Without another word the threesome got in the car, leaving her slightly stunned as she looked down at the pink ribbon, sitting there in her hand. Such a simple sign, but as she glanced up at the thousands of people walking across the street, she realized it was bigger than she’d ever imagined. It was a race for a cure, one she hoped they’d find. Smiling down at the pin she snapped it on her shirt color and made her way back to the hub, deciding to let Owen off and have a good time.
The End.