aviv_b_artwork | Recovery: Chapter 7

RATING: PG-13 for this Chapter for some swearing
WORDS: ~ 800
CHARACTERS: Ianto, Owen, Martha
SPOILERS: None, Not canon. This Chapter set during Series 1.
SUMMARY: Look who's talking...not.

Silence is as full of potential wisdom and wit as the unhewn marble of great sculpture - Aldous Huxley

Three weeks later Ianto came out of his coma. His lung had re-inflated on its own and the swelling associated with his skull fracture had dissipated. His right leg was healing well and his surgeon was confident that he would walk normally after some physical therapy. His hand which had been cleaned, debrided and stabilized was not showing signs of infection but would require several surgeries to restore even partial mobility. While he was in coma, there hadn’t been any way to assess any lasting brain damage, but now it was important to know exactly how severe the damage was. His doctors decided to wait another three weeks and see if they could wean him off some of the pain medication he was on so that it wouldn’t interfere with the testing.

On a beautiful August morning, Owen drove over from Cardiff to observe the testing. All things considered, Owen thought afterwards, it could have been worse. Ianto was visibly nervous, and the psychiatric social worker evaluating him had all the charm of a weevil. He sat outside the test area behind one way glass with the UNIT physician, Dr. Martha Jones. She had taken extra care in overseeing Ianto’s case and Owen told her how grateful he was.

“Dr Harper, I have to tell you that your young patient is quite a favorite around here. He’s having problems with his verbal skills, you’ll see that in a moment, but he still is able to communicate pretty well in his own way. And, he has a wicked sense of humor.”

Owen didn’t really understand what Dr. Jones was referring to, but he reckoned he see soon enough.

They turned their attention back to the test area as the social worker sat across a small table from Ianto, explaining that she was going to ask questions and he should answer as best he could. Ianto sat in his wheelchair and listened. He really didn’t want to be doing this. He was in a lot of pain due to reduction in his medication prior to these tests and the humiliation of having to be bathed, dressed, helped into the chair and wheeled to the session was almost unbearable.

“What’s your name?” Ianto stared at her.

“Let’s try that again…. what’s your name?” There was a dry marker on the table and Ianto motioned to her to give it to him.

“I will be evaluating your written abilities later. Now again, what is your name?” Ianto tried to grab the marker away from the evaluator. “You’re not getting this, so stop reaching for it,” she snapped.

Frustrated Ianto slammed his left fist on the table and pointed to the marker. The social worker pushed back from the table. “We’re done here, you are obviously too emotionally upset to be tested.”

Ianto wasn’t paying any attention to her. As she stormed out of the room he grabbed the marker in his left hand, pulled the cap off with his teeth and scrawled on the Formica table top:

I M IANTO F KIN JONES

The two doctors laughed as they read the upside down message. “Looks like he understands well enough.”

The evaluator confronted the two doctors as they left the observation room. “I’m a busy person. It’s unconscionable that you would even bother to have me come in to test someone who should be put in a psych ward…permanently as far as I’m concerned.”

Owen winced at that. The door to the test room was open and he knew that Ianto could hear every word. Owen and Martha pushed past the social worker to see how Ianto was coping.

Entering the room, they saw that Ianto had added something to his writing:

Is it somethin I said ?

Ianto grinned as both doctors laughed. Martha tried to put on a serious face but starting laughing again. “Ianto, you are a bad, bad boy,” she teased.

Ianto pointed at himself and raised one eyebrow. “Yes you. What ever are we going to do with you,” Martha quipped. Ianto pointed to his cheek. “Ok, I can’t resist.” She gave him a tiny peck on the cheek.

Owen could see what Martha liked about him. Even after all he’d been through and all he had left to deal with, not to mention the pain he must be in, he hadn’t let it defeat him.

“Yeah, Ianto, what are we going to do with you,” Owen repeated. Ianto pointed to his cheek again and winked at Owen. “Oi, what kind of guy do you think I am?” Ianto gave him an exaggerated pout. “Ok, a hug, you can have hug, but don’t be trying anything funny.” Still laughing, he walked over to Ianto, gave him a hug and patted him on the back.

Turning to Martha and Ianto, Owen remarked, “Seriously mate, I think we need to see if we can’t figure out why you’re not able to talk.”

Ianto nodded in agreement.

Chapter 8 is here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/3603.html