Chapter Text
Teddy Bear/Snack
Kate doesn’t know what to expect when she is spending the first night at his place.
Some were really into whiskey and scotch. Those men didn’t last long.
Benton had met Christofer the other night and thought he had staying power.
“Better than those two deadbeats of yourse. He seems good people, Katie.” John had said to her whilst Christofer had been in the toilet.
His flat isn’t much different than any other bachelor she had dated.
Christofer had a couple of different teddy bears on the sofa. The television was an older one but what intrigued her was the teddy bears.
Huggs, Teddy, and Chicken.
The names are written on gift tags and hung around their necks like a dog tag.
“Darling, red or white? I see you have met Huggs and his friends. ” He said, sitting down with the two wine bottles.
“Huggs? You don’t have a child-
“No. I kept Huggs when I first moved to Germany from Lebanon.”
“It’s a sweet name. Do you still sleep with him or was it just a phase?”
“He’s been on three deployments, survived a Dalek invasion and most importantly the Cybermen.”
“That’s sweet. White. We are having chicken. I’ll be there in a minute.”
It’s a tense situation as they watch the Catkind child cry.
Minka was scared, only six, and had been rescued from the old anomaly rift that was still high above the former sight of Torchwood One.
It had not been easy for Bravo Squad to say bye and hand her over to the eggheads.
She had been named Minka by Hazard and Ibrahim after arguing that the French name Petts had suggested, “Chat” sounded too much like shit.
Carter yelled at all of them to stop cursing in front of a child and covered Minka with his basha.
Nothing calmed her.
Not Kate.
Not Mel.
Not a single doctor.
She finally stopped when he walked back into the room with Shirley and Josh. Josh and Chris holding bags from Iceland’s.
Snacks? At a time like this?
“Who is? Colonel, she stopped crying. The minute you stepped in—
“I was the one who held her when we brought her in. I came to see how Minka was doing.”
“All you scientists have done is spooked her. She needs to be cared for.”
“I can’t believe im going to agree with them but yes, you lot have been awful to this sweet little Minka.”
“Papa!” The small girl yelled as she ran away from Mel and straight into his leg, claws sinking in and not letting go.
Chris hissed a little as he bent down and picked up the little catkind.
The scratches on his leg showed how scared she was.
“Minka, it is okay to be scared. It means you’re alive. I brought food and a friend.” Christofer said as he walked down to his desk.
It was similar to his flat.
Organised, Spartan and the complete opposite.
“What’s in the bag?”
“Some snacks. Crisps, they are delicious. Shirley, you remember her?” Chris asked as Minka sat in his arms as he pointed to her.
“She was the one who asked my name after those scientists kept prodding—
“I’m sure she gave them quite the lecture. She’s my best friend, one of them.”
“Hot Wheels Bingham, she gave them a lecture alright. She even stood for a minute, she was mad.” Carter said as he sat down opposite of the two of them and grabbed his packet of crisps.
Minka smiled. Her whiskers twitched as he handed her a packet of Walker’s crisps.
“The blonde pink lady is scary. Good scary I guess. She yelled a lot.” Minka said as she slowly opened the bag and tasted one, “this is so good. What is it?”
“Vinegar and sea salt. Why does the blonde lady scare you?” He asked, knowing full well it could be Kate or Ruby.
“She’s like the scientists—she looks at me like I'm not me.” Minka said as she ate another crisp.
Josh tossed another packet to Chris who handed it to Minka.
“She doesn’t. In fact, I was thinking about you and her whilst I was getting these crisps and a few other things with Shirley.”
Minka sniffled.
“You can color better than her.”
Kate scoffed as she finally walked over. She was perfectly capable of colouring. She had coloured with the Silurian child on the Thames they had found last month.
“That’s rich coming from you, Colonel.” Kate said as she joined them. She smiled briefly.
“How so?”
“You were a marine. I'm surprised you haven’t started eating the crayons.” Kate said
“That’s a low blow.” He said and whispered to Minka, “stay away from the red ones. They taste bad.”
The little girl laughed and it was the best thing to happen to Kate that day.
“I’ve got a small friend for you. He will keep you safe no matter what. If I have to go, he will be here.” Christofer said as he handed her a teddy bear that he instantly recalled.
Huggs. She saw the very same tag on his neck and everything.
“Like you?” Minka asked, looking.
“Exactly, he’s been watching over me since I was a kid. He’s a great friend that my Mutti gave me.”
The little child snuggles into him with her half-eaten snack and bear as she yawns, falling asleep in his lap.
“Here, they didn’t take the basha. You lot let her sleep or Uncle Josh and Aunt Shirley will thwack you. We know where all of you sleep.” Josh said as he pointed at everyone as he walked out with Shirley.
Who knew that the troopers would be so protective? So ready to bash a skull for a six year old? Kate knew the answer.
“She looks so comfortable in your arms. It is like she always belonged there.” Kate said, softly.
“It has only been a week Kate. I may want to adopt her if—
“If Minka can’t get back.”