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Chapter 12 – A Sick Time Lord
Rose lay on the bed in their suite with Sam. He laughed loudly as she leaned down and kissed his cheeks. She never heard the door open and the Doctor return. He leaned in the doorway and watched them for a few moments. He smiled as she blew bubbles on Sam's stomach, causing him to laugh again.
Rose noticed him standing there when he chuckled at them. "11:32 pm and he's wide awake."
"How long have you been standing there?"
He smiled as he walked to the closet and pulled on a jumper. He rubbed his arms, "Not long."
Rose watched him as he stood and rubbed his arms. "Are your teeth chattering?"
He put his hands in his pockets and nodded his head, "Probably."
Rose picked Sam up and laid him in the cot. She turned on a music box that hung on the side of the cot and Sam coo'ed at the lights.
She walked over and wrapped her arms around the Doctor. She rubbed his back to warm him up. He closed his eyes and laid his forehead on hers.
"Sweetheart, you are cold. Well, cooler than normal." Rose told him.
He didn't open his eyes. "I'm getting sick. Damn it. I don't have time for this. My temperature is already down 4 degrees. My potassium and sodium levels are down, too. I'm tired."
Rose continued to rub his back. "Maybe a hot shower would help?"
"Problem with that, I have to get out of the shower and I'll get cold again. It just has to run its' course." He told her.
Rose held him and looked up in his eyes. "I have an idea. You can do that detox thing that you told me about. Would that work? Push it out of your system?"
He nodded his head. "Probably. I'm not contagious. Don't worry about that."
"Oh, I don't. Remind me what you need, something salty….what else?"
He held her, "Some protein and then a big shock. But, if you have on your mind to hit me, just let me be sick. That wouldn't be a big shock."
Rose took his hand and led him into the sitting room. He collapsed on the sofa and rubbed his face.
Rose spoke quietly, "Friday, turn the lights up in here 25%."
Friday's voice spoke, "Certainly, ma'am." The room got brighter.
She went over to the food replicator and asked for some things.
"Genie give Lewis and you any problem?" he asked her.
"No. He brought her right in and put her to bed. Arla was already in here with Sam. She had fallen asleep, so Lewis woke her up to take her back to their room."
He rubbed his face, as he told her. "I'm surprised she's not started to question that yet. Has she mentioned anything to you?"
Rose brought a tray over of things and sat it on the table in front of the sofa. "No. It's only been a week since you found out. Give it time. Time Lord." She teased.
"Rose. I really hope this works." He groaned.
Rose sat down and rubbed his thigh. "Me too. But, I have a Plan B if it doesn't. Let's try this first. Okay. I got you olives and anchovies for your salty thing."
He nodded his head and looked at the tray. "Salmon and cheese for protein. Good idea. Thank you, Rose."
"Do you need Ginger Beer? Didn't you tell me that?"
He shook his head as he rose up and started to eat off of the tray. "I had some just before I came in here. Well, right after the beer from Plentitude."
Rose watched him eat the olives, anchovies, salmon and cheese and made a face of disgust. "Oh, that's just gross. All of that together."
He smiled, "Salmon has more protein that anything else you can eat. That was a great idea."
Rose smiled, "I looked it up after you told me you could do that. I thought it would be a good idea to be informed."
He shivered and continued to eat a bit of everything as Rose sipped the tea she had made for herself. She sat back on the sofa and watched him.
"Could this be why you are eating ice cream? The cold from it?" Rose asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. I've never done that before. Well, that I can remember. I don't think it's connected."
She held her tea. "Clagl go back to his ship?"
He shook his head. "Nah. Ashena wanted to have a talk with him about something. I don't know what. He's in her room with her now."
"Where are the guys?"
"Everyone is playing football. Well, except Tony and Timon. They are taking apart one of the smaller ships. Tony asked Timon to explain to him how it works. Those two get on really well."
Rose smiled, "Tony has changed a lot since you two started hanging out. He used to be so hard to get along with. He's softened so much."
He nodded as he tossed an olive in his mouth, "Our Genie has softened him. I believe he sees himself in her. Have you noticed how he is around her?"
Rose smiled proudly, "Oh, I have. I would have never dreamed it."
He continued to eat, "Jake and Jack are having a ….. spat."
"Well, we saw that coming. How long do you give that relationship?"
He smiled, "Oh, I already have money on it with Lewis. What do you say?"
She smiled at him. "I don't know. Jake is a very independent person. Although, Jack in a kilt. He really likes that."
The Doctor stopped eating and closed his eyes tightly, "I might have just vomited a bit in my mouth."
Rose laughed, "Sorry."
He grabbed a napkin off of the tray and wiped his hands and mouth. He nodded his head and looked back at her. "Alright. That should do it. Now I just need a shock. What do you have?"
Rose smiled. "Okay. I've been saving this just for an occasion like this. You're not going to explode or anything are you?"
He smiled, "No. It's really not a big deal. Go on."
Rose looked down at her tea. He could feel her become nervous. "Alright. I probably should have told you this before. But, I know you will just become very angry."
He shook his head. "I won't be angry."
Rose looked at him and said seriously, "You can't say you won't be. I know you. This is really going to wind you up."
He sighed, "I probably already know about it then. Go on."
Rose pointed forcefully at him. "Do not shout when I tell you this and wake up Genie."
He rolled his eyes. "Ugh. Whatever, woman. Tell me."
"Princess Ashena is pregnant with Logan's baby." She told him.
"THE FUCK?! ROSE!" He stood up and ran both of his hands through his hair. He started to speak in a language Rose couldn't understand. Unsurprised at his reaction, she went back to sipping her tea. Then suddenly, he stopped speaking and took a deep breath. Rose watched as he lifted his head up and white smoke forced its way out of his mouth. Rose sat down her tea and watched as he coughed and fell onto the sofa. He took a deep breath and said breathlessly. "Oh wow. I'm going to kill that damn man. Clagl doesn't have to worry about this, I'll do it myself. What the hell was he thinking?"
Rose put her hand on his thigh. "Okay. Just wait a bit before you do that."
He rose up and put his elbows on his knees. He ran his hands through his hair. "I'm going to kill that man. I just spent over an hour telling Clagl what a great guy he was. I know I'm getting sick to have missed this. Oh, this is just…..oh, just my damn luck. Of all of the shit…." He mumbled.
Rose put her arms around him and held him. "Baby. Calm down for five seconds and listen to me. What I am about to say is way more important."
He sighed, "Alright, Rose. Okay."
"Do you need to do anything else for this detox to work? Are you finished?"
He shook his head. "Nah. That's all over now. Good shock. Really? How long have you known about this?"
Rose grabbed his face in both of her hands and pulled his face to hers. "It's not true. I knew you needed a shock."
His mouth dropped open. He pointed at her, "You?! You lied to me?"
Rose laughed and picked back up her tea. "You needed a shock. I knew that would work better than anything. No need to go kill Logan."
"So, there's no baby. Ashena isn't telling her father that?" he asked.
Rose shook her head and smiled, "No baby. In my defense I'll remind you that all is fair in love and war, and detoxing a sick Time Lord."
He sat back dramatically on the sofa and coughed, "Damn."
Rose went back to sipping her tea as she pulled her feet up underneath her. She watched as he rubbed his face and groaned.
"You feel more alert." Rose told him.
He sat up and took the tea she had brought him off of the tray. "I think it worked. My temperature is back up to normal. Potassium and sodium levels are normal again. I'm not as tired. My blood pressure is high though."
"I imagine your blood pressure will come down in a bit after the shock has worn off."
He chuckled as he sipped his tea. "Oh, that was a good one! Thank you, Rose. I do think those two have something going on. I'm not completely convinced, but…well…what do you think?"
"Tell me why you think that and I'll tell you what I've heard." Rose said.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "What have you heard?"
"Ah. Nope. That wasn't the deal."
He sighed as he propped his arm up across the back of the sofa, "Right. Well, it's probably just a coincidence….but, nah….tell me what you have heard."
Rose giggled at him. "You're ridiculous."
He moved closer to her so he could put his arm around her. He kissed her lips quickly and whispered. "Be my informant to this top secret information. Go."
"You aren't supposed to tell me what to do unless you are naked." Rose reminded him.
He looked at her seriously. "Alright. I'll take everything off. Right here and ask you again. Fat lot of good it will do though. I'll forget what the hell I was on about."
Rose laughed as she laid her hand inside of his thigh. "Okay. Last night, when you lot were watching the game, Legate and Logan were together."
He nodded his head. "Yeah. They were handling Space Traffic Control."
"Why wasn't Thomas doing that?" She asked.
"Ugh. That's involved. Anyway… So they were there together…."
"Me, Jake and Jack bet Dad he wasn't really there. Don't kill him, but Jake popped to Legate and Logan wasn't there. Legate was all alone."
He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Oh, I bet Logan wasn't alone. I went this morning to ask Ashena if she wanted to come with us. She had clearly just got out of the shower. We walked down the sand to Logan's flat-"
"And he had just gotten out of the shower?" Rose guessed.
"Yep. Right in one. And Legate stalled us getting to him. This is Lewis and Sam all over again. Oh, I'm going to kill that man." He grumbled.
Rose rubbed high on his thigh to get his attention. "Don't kill him. He's only doing what every man on this ship has done at his age."
"Well, that's true. Something really stupid that will probably get him killed."
"And we don't know for sure if they are together or not. Like you said, this could all be coincidence."
He nodded his head as he sipped some more of his tea. He sat it down on the tray and rubbed his face.
"You feel so tired. Baby, you need to sleep." Rose said gently.
He chuckled. "I need to get up and change a nappy."
Rose smiled, "You go do that and I'll be in there in a bit."
Just as he got up to walk towards the bedroom, Sam started to cry. "Daddy hears you, young man. I'm on my way."
Rose put the tray back on the food replicator and it disappeared. She looked in on a sleeping Genie and kissed her forehead, then walked into their bedroom. She found the Doctor lying on the bed, with Sam positioned on his chest. He was pulling Sam's favorite blanket over him. Sam, wearing only a blue diaper was snuggled on his Daddy's bare chest. The Doctor kissed his tiny head and spoke to him quietly.
Rose smiled as she looked at them. "Why do you lay with him like that?"
"Like what?" He asked as he moved his finger close to Sam's hand so he would grip it.
Rose smiled, "You always take off his clothes and put him on your chest."
He looked confused at her. "That's what Daddy's are supposed to do."
She sat down on the bed and faced him. "I've never seen a Dad do that."
"Really?" he seemed surprised.
"No." She smiled, "But, I think it's sweet. He seems to sleep better when he lies on your chest."
He kissed his tiny head, "He's like his mum."
Rose smiled. "That he is."
"Tell me Rose, how many times have you counted these tiny fingers?"
She smiled, "Probably as many times as I've looked at you in amazement that you are here with me."
He nodded his head, "I can accept that answer. You know, when I first got here, it was so strange."
"What was strange?"
"I was….ummm….let me think of the right words. I was stunned that I was here. I had been banished, without a TARDIS, yet again. I knew I would be alright, but I knew I didn't want to do this on my own. I didn't want to be alone anymore. And that you were here, was like a dream. I kept expecting myself to wake up."
Rose rubbed his thigh. "You were frightened?"
"A bit. I was dying then, and I knew I didn't have a lot of time. I wanted to make sure everything would be perfect. That you would be taken care of. I had screwed up your life so much-"
"Ah. We're not talking about that anymore." Rose told him sternly.
He smiled as he kissed Sam's head again.
"And then you got shot." Rose continued.
"Well, even before that. I began to find my way. But, looking back on it, I really don't think I could have done that without you. You took me home and trusted me as soon as I got here. We slept in the same bed from that first night."
Rose smiled as she continued to rub his thigh, "I knew you. It's not like we hadn't shared a bed before."
"You were incredibility brave. I thought so then. Standing up to Thomas. Doing what you felt like had to be done. You say that Tony has softened, I feel that you have softened since I arrived. Have you?"
She smiled, "I had to be tough before. Now, I have you to protect me."
"You took such great care of me. Especially after I broke my hand and everything. Well, even before then. Even now. I don't tell you how much I appreciate that. Thank you."
Rose continued to rub his thigh and smiled. "It's my job. I love you. We take care of one another."
He took her hand in his and raised it to his mouth to kiss it. "Tell me. Do you think I could take the President of the United States out into space without anyone noticing?"
Rose looked surprised, "Well, that was random."
He looked at her and sighed, "Seriously, what do you think? You know these people."
"Tony Stark is out here with you. Again. Does Pepper know where he is?"
"No, I'm sure she doesn't. He took a phone call from her just a bit ago and told her he was at our home watching Top Gear."
Rose giggled, "That is believable. You, Tony and Lewis do that all of the time. Even the ones you've already seen. I never knew you were such a petrol head."
He grinned proudly, "Yeah. My favorite show on the telly."
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "The next thing I know, you're going to start collecting expensive cars. You and Tony should go on that program."
He teased her, "Maybe I'm already on it. I could be, the Stig."
Rose rolled her eyes. "I really doubt that."
"We should go on it. I would totally beat him in the racing bit."
She replied seriously, "Or not."
"I don't think Pepper knows I'm not from Earth."
She giggled. "Yeah, you probably need to ask him what he's told her. You don't want any surprises."
He kissed Sam's head again and closed his eyes as he relaxed.
Rose smiled, "You are so tired. I can feel that. Get some sleep. I'm going to take a quick shower."
He ran his hand through his hair and mumbled sleepily. "Right."
She rose up and kissed his cheek. He smiled, "I've got the baby." Then he mumbled something in Gallifreyan as he drifted off to sleep.
Rose left the room and went to take her shower. She dressed in her jim jams and soft t-shirt of the Doctor's and walked back into the bedroom. He had dimmed the lights in the sitting room and in the bedroom. She smiled as she realized that Genie had came into the bedroom and was cuddled up with him in the bed asleep. She took her phone and quickly snapped a picture of him laying there with Sam and Genie. All three of them sleeping peacefully without a care in the world.
She sat beside of him on the bed and put her hand on his head so she could enter his dream.
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Rose found herself on a sailboat, out at sea. The sun was bright and the ocean breeze blew her hair around her head. She couldn't see anything but the bright light for a bit. Her eyes adjusted and nothing but sea could be seen for miles in every direction. The sea tossed the small boat around.
"And what is this?" A man with a heavy German accent asked.
Rose turned to see Albert Einstein smoking a pipe and looking at her in complete surprise. The Doctor had been lying back on the chair talking to him. He sat up as soon as he saw her and took her hand.
"This is Rose, my wife!" He gently pulled her down to sit beside of him.
Einstein nodded his head. "Ahhh…. The lovely Rose. I knew a Rose once. She wasn't as lovely as you are."
The Doctor looked back at him, "Easy there, mate. Rose, this is my friend, Albert."
Rose laughed in complete disbelief. "You are dreaming of this?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me why I dream what I do-"
"The Doctor always thinks his life is a dream. He will not stop to think that it might be reality. But, is it really reality or just what is relative to him at the time? Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts."
Rose nodded her head. "We should really have a chat there, sir."
The Doctor moaned as he put his arm around Rose. "Oh, that would be very bad for me. Anyway. Is everything alright?" He asked as he moved a hair out of Rose's face and tucked it behind her ear.
"Everything is fine. I was going to put Sam in his cot, but knew that you got so upset about that when I did it before."
He cleared his throat. "Right. Thank you for the warning. I'll be alright."
"Who is this Sam? Your dog?" Einstein asked.
The Doctor groaned, "No. He's our son. He's only a few weeks old."
Einstein nodded his head and looked sadly back at him. "How old was the other one?"
The Doctor pointed forcefully at him, "We're not talking about that."
Rose watched as Einstein lifted his hands and nodded his head. The Doctor gripped her hand tightly as she looked back at his face. She could feel his mood and decided to change the subject.
"Genie is sleeping next to you, too." She told him.
He rubbed his lip with his finger and smiled. "Yeah, she came in right after you left."
Einstein asked, "Who is this Genie? Your cat?"
Rose giggled as the Doctor said, "No! Genie is our daughter."
He turned back to face Rose and shook his head. "Mad old man."
Rose pointed at Einstein who continued to smoke his pipe. "He wasn't really like this, was he?"
He smiled as he looked back at him. "Oh, he was. Granted, this is my memory of him. He knows what I do because this is my dream. Things on my mind will come out of his mouth if I'm not careful."
Rose teased, "That could be interesting."
The Doctor chuckled as he rubbed his face. "Oh, this could be very bad."
Rose noticed as Einstein crossed his legs and sat back in the chair. He relaxed and smoked his pipe. "He's not wearing socks."
The Doctor chuckled, "Yeah, Albert never wore socks. There was a ….. thing about that. Why don't you wear socks? I forgot."
Einstein smiled, "It creates more laundry."
The Doctor nodded his head. "And now we know."
Rose giggled. "This is just mad."
Einstein pointed at the Doctor again with his pipe. "My friend here tells me that he doesn't believe in magic. Only science. I tell him that one day, he will."
Rose smiled at Einstein as the Doctor sighed. "That sounds like him. When will he believe in magic?"
Einstein answered her seriously, "When he means the right woman. Then he will believe. It's all relative."
Rose looked back at the Doctor who was rolling his eyes. "Oh, geez." He mumbled.
"How is it that I feel like the boat is rocking so much? The ship wasn't rocking back and forth like this." Rose asked him.
"I remember sailing with Al this way. It made me sick a few times. Genie loves it when we sail together and ship rocks like this."
"I would like you to take me sailing when we get home."
He smiled at her. "Of course, I will. I'd love to."
Einstein spoke to Rose again. "My dear, this man is one of my dearest friends. I worry about him though. He always seems to be in such a hurry for everything."
The Doctor shook his head. "Nah, he's learned to slow down and live on the slow path. You don't need to worry about me, mate. I'm fine."
"I often worry about his intelligence as well."
The Doctor mumbled, "Oh, bollocks."
Rose laughed at him as Einstein continued, "He knew you for how many years and let you slip away?"
The Doctor pointed forcefully at him, "We're not talking about that, neither!"
Einstein held his hands up. "We're not talking about anything, apparently!"
Rose took both of his hands and looked at him. "Sweetheart. I'm not going to bother you-"
"You're not bothering me." He insisted as he leaned in and kissed her proper. Rose was surprised how enthusiastic he was in front of his friend. He held the back of her head with one of his hands and her cheek with his other. He licked her lips and she opened her mouth to allow his tongue to dance with hers. She could feel his emotions clearer than she normally would be able to as they kissed. His love for her nearly overwhelmed her. It was as if she was being enveloped into an awesome wave that pushed her back. He moved his hand to her back to keep her from falling off of the chair where they sat, and continued to snog her.
After a few moments, he leaned back and looked at the dazed look on her face. She opened her eyes and looked at him smiling at her. "That's probably how I looked when you kissed me on New New York that time."
"That wasn't me! You loon. Ugh." She fussed at him.
He continued to smile at her. "Oh, you liked it."
Rose rolled her eyes as she looked back to see that Einstein had disappeared. "Where did he go?"
"I had to refocus my mind. He disappeared. I had to stop dreaming about him. Too many thoughts were coming up to the surface."
"Too many things you don't want to tell me?"
"Too many things I'd rather just not think about. I'm asleep and trying to rest here." He corrected her.
"Right. I talked to Dad just a before you came in. He says you are still not wanting to go to the psychologist."
"I don't need to go talk to anyone. I have you. You are who I talk to." He insisted.
Rose looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "Really? That's what you're going to say?"
"Yep."
"Baby, why are you so against-"
"Rose, she's a Rixalarian. There are things I just don't want to talk about, nor do I feel like I should. I've lived this long being able to talk my way out of anything. I'm completely capable of continuing to live without going to see this damn Doctor. It's just a way Pete can punish me for shutting down Torchwood and show everyone he's really the one still in control of everything."
"You sound like the old you here." Rose teased him.
"Me. With the big ears."
Rose smiled at him. "And the handsome, blue eyes."
He looked seriously at her. "You don't like my…what are they?"
"Brown. I love them." She smiled at him as she leaned in to kiss him.
He held her hand and smiled at her. "Christmas is in a few weeks. What would you like?"
She smiled, "I have no idea."
"Think about it while we are here. Well, on Plentitude. I'm giving you one of your gifts tomorrow night. We're going on a date. I've already worked it out."
She smiled. "I can't wait."
He smiled as she leaned down and kissed him again. "I'm going to sleep. Wake me before you leave in the morning."
He smiled at her. "Of course. Good night."
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