**A Day Hidden in Shadows**

Prompt: Jack harkness wakes up sick and hides it from Ianto, Owen, Tosh and Gwen. Jack pushes himself to help his team find a lost weeble, but he nearly faints doing so. The team realises that jack is sick and together they take care of him.

The morning light filtered through the blinds of the Hub, casting stripes of warmth on the hardwood floor. Jack Harkness stirred, the remnants of sleep tugging at the edges of his consciousness. As he opened his eyes, a thick haze settled over him, the weight of fatigue pressing down like a heavy blanket. He frowned, pushing away the disorientation, but pain throbbed in his temples, and he felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cool morning air. “Just a long night, nothing more,” he muttered to himself, wincing as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He wasn’t accustomed to feeling this way. He was the immortal one, the ever-strong leader of Torchwood, not someone to cower at the first sign of illness. But as he stood and his vision swam, he felt the urge to collapse back onto the mattress. He clutched the side of the bed to steady himself. “You can do this, Harkness.” He forced himself to take a deep breath, shaking off the exhaustion as he dressed quickly. Today wasn’t about him; today was about the team, and they needed him. A short while later, he shuffled into the central area of the Hub, where his team was gathered, scanning the screens for any leads on a recent strange occurrence. The sight of Ianto pouring coffee and Owen sorting through paperwork brought him momentarily out of his haze. “Morning, Jack!” Gwen called out, her smile brightening the room. She was radiating energy, as usual, ready for another day of adventure. “Morning,” Jack replied, his voice hoarse. He plastered on a grin, brushing aside the tightening in his chest. “What’s on the agenda?” “Lost weeble,” Ianto replied, pouring a cup of steaming coffee and passing it to Jack. He took a sip, almost grateful for the bitter warmth, but the burn in his throat reminded him uncomfortably of his current state. “Should be easy enough,” Owen chimed in, looking over the data they had gathered. “Just needs a bit of tracking. But the last sighting was near the old warehouse by the docks.” “A nice little detour,” Jack said with a forced enthusiasm. He knew the docks would mean long stretches of walking and, by the looks of his team, he couldn’t afford to show weakness. “Let’s get moving, team!” They rallied together, heading out in two vehicles, Jack forced to play the part of the energetic leader while inwardly, he struggled against waves of dizziness and a creeping nausea. Ianto shot him concerned glances, but Jack waved him off with a smile, assuring him with a lighthearted comment that he was doing just fine. The drive to the docks was filled with lively chatter and jokes, but all Jack could focus on was how heavy his eyelids felt and how breathless even the simplest movements became. As they arrived, he leaned against the car for support, hoping that the brisk air would help clear the fog from his mind. “Right! Time to split up and search,” he said, raising his voice to rally the team. They dispersed, searching the vicinity for any sign of the elusive weeble. Jack trudged forward, his heart racing with each step, forcing himself to believe he could still keep up. A short distance from the others, he stumbled upon what seemed to be a trail of small crumbs — a possible lead. He crouched down to examine it more closely but felt the world tilt dangerously. The darkness edged in on his vision, and he barely managed to catch himself against a nearby wall before it could swallow him whole. “Come on, Jack. Focus!” he urged inwardly. But the illness tightened its grip, and he found himself swaying slightly. Just as he steadied himself, the sound of footsteps approached. His stomach dropped as he turned to see Gwen and Ianto coming his way. “Jack!” Gwen exclaimed, rushing up to him. “You look pale. Are you okay?” “I’m fine!” Jack insisted, straightening up with a smile. It was far too shaky to be convincing, but he couldn’t let them know. “Just looking at the floor, got a bit dizzy. You know how it is.” “Yeah, sure,” Ianto replied, his brow furrowing with deep concern. But Jack couldn’t afford to linger. “Let’s keep searching,” he said, trying to inject a sense of urgency into his tone. But though they moved on, Jack felt the weight of their scrutiny. He pushed himself harder, his determination mingling dangerously with light-headedness. The sensation of spinning was relentless, and every muscle in his body screamed in protest. Despite his resolve, the world around him started to fade in and out, each blink feeling like an eternity before bursting back into focus. It was while he was attempting to squint through the haze that it finally happened — his vision blurred beyond recognition, and he felt gravity pull at him like a magnet, forcing him down. “Jack!” The voice was a distant echo, but then he felt strong arms wrapping around him, cradling him as he slumped to the ground. “Stay with us, Jack!” Owen was there, their faces blurred but his concern palpable. “What the hell is going on? You’re burning up!” “Just… just need a moment,” Jack mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper as he wrestled against the darkness threatening to claim him. Together, they helped him sit, Ianto hurriedly pulling out a water bottle while Gwen and Owen checked his pulse and temperature with practiced urgency. Tosh called for help, using her phone to alert the medical team back at the Hub. As they gathered close, their faces reflected both worry and determination. Jack forced a smile despite the pounding in his head. “It’s just a little bug,” he said weakly. “Jack, it’s not a little bug,” Owen retorted, furrowing his brow as he monitored Jack's condition. Ianto squeezed his hand, offering silent reassurance, while Gwen hovered protectively over them. With a mixture of tenderness and insistence, they banded together, taking care of him as only a family could. The helpless leader found comfort in the bond they formed, realizing this was exactly what he needed — the strength of a team that would carry him through the shadows when he couldn’t walk on his own. “Just rest,” Gwen instructed softly, brushing Jack's damp hair from his forehead. He surrendered to their care and the warmth spreading through his chest, comforted by the knowledge that though he hated being vulnerable, he was not alone. Together, they would find their weeble and overcome whatever challenges lay ahead.