MY SKIN

It was rather quiet. Dr Smith didn't say a word as he drank his tea and Tosh didn't dare say anything as she looked down on her own cup. It was their last chat of the year and she won't see him till January however despite that she found herself incapable of telling him her problems. The office was decorated for the season with beautiful Christmas cards and sparkling tinsel Dr Smith himself even wore a Father Christmas hat.

"Got everything ready for Christmas?" Dr Smith asked cheerfully once he finished his tea.

"No" Tosh whispered. "We're too busy to get the tree and decorations"

"Shame that, one of the best parts of Christmas is decorating the tree" Dr Smith said offering a plate of mince pies to her. She shook her head and he put the plate down. "Rose, a good friend of mine gets ecstatic round this time of year. She decorates, attempts to cook and does loads of little Christmassy things, last year she dragged us round the town in the freezing cold to sing Christmas carols"

"Your friend sounds nice" Tosh said softly.

"So do your friends" Dr Smith said encouragingly. "Gwen, Ianto, Andy, Jack and especially Owen"

Tosh's grip on her cup tightened. "Did you tell Owen about...me being a patient here?" she asked firmly.

"Yes, I was worried and knew Owen would look out for you"

"So he was friends with me out of pity?"

"I don't think so" Tosh looked up at him questioningly. "He already seemed to care for you deeply before I told him. I know you care for him too, up to the point of jealousy if your sadness for seeing him kissing that other girl a few weeks were to go by"

Tosh's cheeks flushed pink. "I...I...I...I"

Dr Smith sighed and picked up a picture, looking down at it fondly. "Every year I take two weeks off round Christmas to be with my family. My step-brother and step-sister and Rose...i have to hide and pretend I don't love Rose" Tosh looked up with wide eyes. "It hurts a lot Toshiko, don't make my mistakes. You should go out there and grasp your chances; I think Owen likes you a lot"

"I-I-I will try" Tosh said. "I will try something"

Dr Smith smiled sadly. "Good and may you be more successful than I'll ever be"

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

"Dr Davis to emergency ward six, I repeat Dr Davis to emergency ward six"

Owen sat there in the waiting room, hands curled into fists and eyes wide as he concentrated on the floor, watching feet run past him. He could barely hear the world around him; he was so frightened, so angry at himself, so deeply sad.

"Owen!"

Owen looked up to see Jack and Mrs Harkness running towards them. He stood up to greet them and was immediately enveloped into Mrs Harkness' arms and she hugged him tightly.

"Oh my darling! How horrifying for you" she exclaimed. "How is your Nana? Did the doctors say anything?"

"Mum let Owen go before he dies of lack of oxygen" Jack said rolling his eyes.

"Nana will be fine" Owen said once he was released from Mrs Harkness' strangle hold, shooting a grateful look at Jack. "The doctors said she slipped a disc in her back but she hadn't broken any bones. We're looking about two, three weeks in hospital and a carer at home afterwards"

"What a relief" Mrs Harkness said clasping her chest. "I was so scared for you Owen. What are you going to do by yourself?" Owen shrugged. "Well I know what you're doing, you're spending Christmas with us, darling Joe has already agreed and I can't leave you all on your own"

"Thank you Mrs Harkness" Owen said he turned to Jack. "Where's Alice? I thought you planned to spend every waking minute with her until school comes back"

"She's asleep" Jack said grinning. "It is rather late you know Harper, you call at the most inconvenient times. Now how about we go back to yours, clean it up, pack your stuff and head over to mine. Had you have dinner? Because we could al..."Jack trailed off as he spotted someone over Owen's shoulder. Owen blinked and turned round to see Tosh standing there with worry written all over her face. "Mum, let's go to the canteen I hear they do a nice cake there" Jack said tactfully grabbing his mother's arm.

"But I wanted to see if that's Owen's girlfriend, she's very beautiful"

"Another time Mum" Jack promised.

Tosh blushed heavily. "I...I heard the nurses talking" she admitted quietly. "I was worried..."

"It's all right, I'm fine and Nana will recover, in a couple months it'll be like nothing had ever happened" Owen said quickly.

"But you're upset!" Tosh cried out. "Dr Smith said you shouldn't cover up when you're upset, you got to tell someone"

Owen smiled weakly. "I got Jack, he might not seem much but he'll be there. I'm spending Christmas with him"

"I-I-I'm sorry for my outburst" Tosh blurted out. "I was afraid you were friends with me only out of sympathy...and...Well...I...I like you a lot, you're a good friend"

Owen felt the tips of his ears burn. "Not really...I'm sorry I hurt you but I really do care about you" he added hastily. "It's just...you should open up a bit more. Cry in front of people when you're upset, get angry and lash out once in a while. Listen to Dr Smith, he knows a lot"

"Friends?" Tosh said smiling shyly.

"Friends" Owen agreed he then pulled out a small box. "I...err...got you a present...haven't wrapped it...sort of kept it in my pocket since I got it...trying to work up the guts to give it to you..."

"Thank you" Tosh said quietly accepting the box and opening it. She gasped, inside was a small silver chain with a simple flat circular locket with the letter T engraved in. "it's too much!" she protested.

"It's not, seriously it didn't cost much I just thought you'd like it. You don't wear jewellery and I thought something pretty..." Owen flustered as he flapped his arms about in explanation. Tosh quickly hugged him and pulled away causing both of them blush a bright red.

"Thank you" she said again. "I also got you something...but well...it's not much...and it's at home..."

"That's ok" Owen said smiling. "Wanna get a hot chocolate? I hear the cake in the canteen is good"

Tosh giggled as she followed Owen out of the corridor. Owen smiled, he knew his Nana will get better, she just had to and with Tosh here there was even more reason to smile.

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