Title: Caramel Macchiato
Author: halfspokenwords
Pairings: slight Tosh/Kathy Swanson
Rating: G
Spoilers: None

***

As if it wasn't bad enough that nothing was going well this morning, she'd had to resort to Starbucks for coffee (and Ianto would never forgive her, although she felt confident that having the day off worked in her defense), and then she'd managed to pick up the wrong order.

Tosh sighed and looked at the paper cup in her hand. Instead of something decadent and candy-flavored, she was faced with coffee that was very strong and very dark.

She searched the crowd for whomever had been before her in the queue, her gaze settling on a black woman in a smart business suit who had stopped by the door. Tosh hurried up behind her. "Excuse me," she ventured, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind one ear. As the woman turned around, car keys jangling in her hand, Tosh recognized her immediately.

"Fantastic," said Kathy Swanson finally, as she rolled her eyes, her initial annoyance quickly becoming general distaste. "No, don't tell me. There's something suspicious in my drink."

Tosh, who had managed not to recoil, smiled as apologetically as she could muster, and answered, "Only caramel syrup." She held out the cup, then glanced between it and Swanson as though she didn't know what to do next. "I think you've got my coffee."

"Oh." The look down was sheepish if not quite pleasant, and Tosh had to admit that even that made a nice change. "Right," Swanson said, and with only a slight hesitation they made the switch back.

"I took a sip," Tosh said, mild, to break the silence, when neither of the moved. And though she wasn't sure, she suspected it might have been a non sequitor, so she ploughed on. "It's how I knew. But I can buy you another. I don't mind."

"No need." Swanson took a long, appreciative drink. "Coffee's coffee, right? And I'm on the clock." Her body posed defensively, she continued to look at Tosh appraisingly over the brim, then said, "Torchwood. I'm surprised you'd bother."

"Of course," Tosh answered, surprised. She switched the cup to her other hand and offered a handshake. "And it's Toshiko Sato. I don't think we've been properly introduced."

"Kathy Swanson," was the curt reply, her grip firm. "But no doubt you knew that already."

Tosh nodded, mentally making a note of Swanson's order. She still felt badly, though she couldn't place why. "Next time we liaise with your department, detective, I'll get you one." Tosh smiled, hoping the suggestion went over as friendly and not presumptive, and added, "For my conscience."

"Liaise?" Swanson snorted derisively. "Is that what you lot call it?" When Tosh didn't laugh also-- and although her smile froze, it didn't fade-- the detective sobered and seemed to seriously consider the offer. "Well, it beats the sludge they make at the office," she concluded, and spared a tight smile. "All right, Toshiko Sato. Why not?"

Later, when Tosh realised that her spirits had lifted, she would credit the caramel macchiato.

***