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Chapter 14 - The Link

It was late at night. The island bedroom was lit dimly. Sam slept peacefully in his cot. Rose lay next to the Doctor and watched him sleep. She whispered, "I should have asked you if there was something else I could do."

He didn't move.

The wind outside picked up and lights from a thunderstorm flashed across the room. Rose got out of bed and walked to close the door to the balcony just as it started to rain. She wore her long, silk gown and climbed back onto the bed. She caressed his cheek and teased his sideburn with her fingers. He turned his head towards her.

"Rose." He said quietly.

Her heart leaped nearly out of her chest. She smiled. "I'm here."

He rolled over on his side to face her. "My head feels strange."

"Would you like something cool for it?"

"That might help." He said without opening his eyes.

She got up and went to the bathroom to wet a small towel. She returned and laid the towel on his forehead. "How's that?" She whispered.

She could feel him relax, but couldn't feel anything else from him. She wondered if he had completely woken up or if he was talking in his sleep. Then she remembered what Tony had told her. "Listen to me, Doctor. You are not well at the moment, but you are going to be alright. Rose alright, very soon. Just rest."

He didn't move and continued to sleep. She rubbed his chest gently and felt him relax.

"Rose."

She whispered, "Yes."

He said something in Gallifreyan.

She smiled, "I love you, too. Rest. I'm right here with you."

Rose slipped into a restless sleep. The storm outside raged.

Meanwhile, the Doctor continued to dream. A woman with ginger hair was walking away from him. He called her name and she continued to walk away. He could tell she was cross by how she moved. He was confused and sat down on the bench. He looked around and realized he was in a beautiful park in the middle of a small town. It was a lovely spring day and the flowers were blooming all around him. He sat back and crossed his arms. "This entire thing is just so strange."

"Grandfather. You always think that."

He looked beside of him and saw Susan sitting there.

A smile spread across his face. "Well, hello my child. I didn't know you were here."

She giggled and took his hand. "I slipped up on you."

"That was always your favorite game as a child, too."

She giggled at him. "I believe all children enjoy that."

He laughed, "I suppose they do. Genie and Tony jump enjoy jumping out and giving us a fright. It's all good fun."

Susan sat back and smiled. "Genie reminds me of my Barbara. She has a similar personality."

"A strong personality. She'll be a leader one day. Just like your Barbara."

She smiled, "Barbara always had to be that way. Growing up with three brothers."

He smiled. "I suppose so. I haven't thought of it in a while."

"And now it's something on your mind."

"I have so much on my mind. Susan, I fear I might have taken on too much. Rose tells me I've passed out, and I can't find anything wrong."

"You probably just need to sleep, Grandfather. Even your body needs rest."

He groaned. "I think it's more than that."

"Like what?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure. It's strange."

"You said you had married this human. Did you really do that? It just doesn't sound like you at all."

He smiled and looked back at her. "People change. No one knows that more than us."

"Grandmother always complained that you wouldn't talk to her about things. Maybe that's something you can do better this time."

He looked down at his shoes. "Maybe it is."

A loud crack of thunder shook the house. The Doctor opened his eyes and saw Rose lying in front of him. He rolled over and sat up slowly. The movement woke Rose. She sat up quickly. "Take it slowly."

He groaned. "I'm alright."

"You're not. You are in pain. Everywhere."

He lay back on the pillows and ran his hand through his hair. "Damn this."

She sat next to him, "What can I do to help you?"

He closed his eyes, "There's nothing you can do. He's regenerated. That's what is going on. I think the link between us is coming apart."

She took his hand, "I'm here. Just relax and rest until it's done."

"It's just going to take a bit until he has completely finished. I feel….sick. This feels like he has burnt his entire body. What the hell did he do?"

Rose put the cool towel back on his head. "Something that he had to. Something you would have probably done in his place. Try to rest."

She rose up and poured him some water in a glass. He sat up and sipped it as she held it for him. He collapsed back onto the pillows. "Rose. I feel as if I'm on fire."

She laid her forehead to his and closed her eyes. "Listen to me. You are here with me. You are safe. You are not burning." He closed his eyes and her voice seemed to get further away. "We are back at the mansion in London. It's just snowed."

He stood outside in the gardens at the mansion. A fresh blanket of snow covered everything he could see. The cold air cooled his skin and made him feel better. He put his hands in his pockets and smiled. "This is so peaceful."

"Does that help?" Rose asked.

He turned and saw her standing next to him. He smiled at her. "It does. Thank you. My entire body feels….completely better. No pain. No burning."

She took his hand in hers. "The cold from the snow helps."

He kissed her hand. "You are blocking my pain while I sleep. I can tell. How long have I been asleep?"

"Just a few hours. I've handled everything. Don't worry about anything and just rest."

He looked confused. "What's to handle?"

She smiled at him. "Returning the car, getting Mum to bring Sam home, Dad has Genie."

"Who has the sweets?"

"That's what you are worried about?"

"Well, you said you handled everything. That's part of it."

She rolled her eyes at him, "I married the oldest child in the history of time."

He laughed, "Yes, you did."

She looked back at him. "Tony and Pepper were attacked tonight, in New York."

"Are they alright?"

She put her hand on his chest. "They are both fine. It happened just before they came to check on you. Pepper told me that Jake was handling it."

He nodded, "Good. Maybe Jake will have someone to question about this."

He felt her mood and turned to look at her. "What?"

"I think Tony killed them both."

He sighed. "Oh geez. Well, tell me. Is that what you would have done?"

She looked surprised at him. "Why would you ask me that?"

He closed his eyes and rubbed his chin. "I'm not trying to be …"

She put her hands on her hips. "What have you done?"

"It was Tony's idea."

"Surprising how many of your sentences start with those words."

"Seriously. It was. He said you and Logan were tough when you sparred him."

She smiled at the memory and nodded proudly. "Yeah, we were."

"He asked me to copy the fighting program into his head."

She bit her lip and looked at him. "The one you put in Logan's head? From me?"

He chuckled at her proudly, "My dear, I had no idea what a-"

"These next words need to be chosen with care."

"Ummm…. amazing woman. No, that's not true. I knew that. Ummm. Give me a minute. My head is still….. confused…."

She laughed at his words and wrapped her arms around him. "They are alright?"

"They are. Pepper is shaken, but they are both safe. They went back to New York, but Tony told me he will be back here in the morning. Exton is with them. Well, near them. I don't understand that."

He nodded his head. "I can hear Exton, again. They are safe. Rose, I don't think I'll sleep much longer. Everything seems…..well…..strange."

"Can you still feel him?"

"Exton? The link isn't like that."

"No. The Doctor from the Prime Dimension."

He held her as he seemed to listen. "Yes. He's really….. wound up about something. He has to do something in a hurry. It's…..like he's in a panic. But, trying to remain calm."

"Maybe you aren't separating from him."

He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. "I wish I would. I could have been wrong about that. I hate that he still has that glimpse into our lives. I don't know. Maybe it's something that will always be there. It would make sense. I'm now the spare."

"You are not a spare! You are your own person. Don't talk about yourself like that."

"Rose, there are things I've never told you. Things I can't. But, he has to continue to live. If he doesn't, then there is now me. Maybe he is starting to think of a way out of his responsibilities and dumping them all in my lap. Oh, that would be so him. Damn, I'd love a way back there just to punch him. Once. That's all I want. One good go at him."

Rose rolled her eyes. "It's really not worth that. Just-"

"Right in the nose. I've always hated getting hit there. Hurts like hell and your tears blind you-"

"Doctor!"

He looked back at her. "What?"

She bit her lip. "I don't even know what to say."

He let go of her and ran his hands through his hair. "Rose. It's….something that will be very tempting for him to do. Especially now."

"Because of me."

"Because of everything. He's lost you again. He's certainly lost Donna by now. Something has hurt him bad enough for him to regenerate and he's still wound up about something. One day, he might just decide to stop."

She shook her head. "He wouldn't do that. And I'm sure of that because you wouldn't do that. You are the one that continues when everyone else stops. No matter what."

He looked back at her and put his hands in his pockets. "That's me. But, who I'm describing was also me. Rose, you have been there. It's a dark place. It's hard to see anything good when you that far down. It has to be something on his mind."

"Why? Because it's something on yours?"

"Why would it be something on mine? He's the one that carries that responsibility. Not me. My responsibility is to my family. To you. To this Dimension. My purpose changed completely once I arrived here. Still the Doctor. But, also….. John."

"John?"

He smiled like loon, "That's so strange to hear you say that."

She rolled her eyes. "Doctor. You're not making much sense. Are you thinking clearly?"

"Nope!" he popped.

She rolled her eyes. "Clearly."

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Tony stood at the bar of his New York apartment that morning. He leaned against the counter, drinking coffee. Pepper came downstairs wearing a brown dress suit with her hair pulled up in a ponytail. She walked into the kitchen and saw the same look as she had seen the night before on Tony's face as he daydreamed. She poured her coffee.

"How long have you been up?" she asked him.

He ran his hand through his hair. "A while. I had to go through this stuff from Howie."

"Homework, huh?"

He nodded his head and sipped his coffee. "Yeah. Something like that."

She watched him stare off into nothing as he had done the night before.

"You didn't play the piano this morning. Or did I sleep through that?"

He smiled, "You slept through it. I played for over an hour."

"What's on your mind?" She asked him.

"John." He confessed.

She sipped the coffee and faced him. "When are you going back over there?"

He nodded his head and sat down his coffee. "I need to take a shower first. You don't think he's dying, do you?"

Pepper could see the fear on Tony's face. She sat down her coffee and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her tightly.

She whispered, "Rose thinks he is going to be alright. I'm going to trust her on this."

Tony groaned.

She leaned back and smiled at him. "Tony. This is normal. You've lost so much and to see your friend like this is going to be hard. If Rose says he will be alright, then I think we should believe her."

He sighed and dropped his head. "Right."

They continued to hold one another. "It's normal to feel like this."

He nodded his head. "Okay."

She smiled and rubbed his stubble on his face. "I have to go to the office for a while today. And you need to shave."

He nodded his head. "That's the next thing I'm doing. A little, pencil thin beard. What do you think?"

She smiled. "Whatever you like."

"Don't you like it? It can tickle your thighs next time I'm down there."

She giggled. "I had fun last night."

"Opera? Dinner? Attempted kidnapping? Or something else?"

"I mean after we got back home."

He smiled at her. "Could this work? With us, like this?"

"I hope so. I like it so far."

He cupped her face with his hands. "Me too." He leaned in and kissed her.

Jarvis spoke. "A message for you, sir."

He didn't stop kissing her. She held the front of his t-shirt in her fists and pulled him closer to her. He slid his hands down her body and grabbed her bum.

Jarvis spoke again. "Excuse me, sir."

They continued to kiss. She wrapped her leg around his leg as he pulled her closer to him.

Jarvis spoke again. "Sir?"

They continued to kiss. He felt her hands inside of his t-shirt, rubbing his chest.

Jarvis let out an audible sigh. "And I'm ignored still."

They broke apart. Tony snapped, "What? Jarvis! I'm busy here."

Pepper looked at him in a daze. "My god. I could get used to that."

"I got a little carried away."

Jarvis spoke again. "Sir. Peter Tyler wants to bring young Tony Tyler but this morning to pick up his bracelet."

"We're going to have to work on your programming Jarvis. You have become annoying."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, sir. What should I tell Mr. Tyler?"

"When does he want to come by? Well, hang on. Tell him I'm going to John's. I'll bring it there."

"Very good, sir."

Pepper and him looked at one another. "I'll fix that, Pepper. It's a simple thing."

She felt his hands on her back.

He smiled at her. "That was fun last night. In our bedroom. Do you want to keep it there? Or should we try your room as our room next?"

She smiled, "Whatever you like. We can do that."

"Well, what are you doing in the next few minutes?"

She laughed, "I know what's on your mind. I need to go. I have meetings to get to."

He kissed her quickly. "Twenty minutes? Please?"

"Tonight. Stay out of trouble until then."

He groaned, "Okay. Tonight. Mortimer is going to stay with you today. He's probably downstairs waiting for you."

"I'm not going to leave the building. I just need to meet with a few people, then I'm done. I'll probably be back right after lunch."

He nodded his head and sighed, "Can you clear your schedule? The next few days?"

"Why?"

"I want to go somewhere. With you."

She smiled, "Where would you like to go?"

"No. You pick. Anywhere you like."

She smiled, "Alright. I'll think about it and let you know."

"These people could be in the building. Everything up here is locked out, but …. just….. be careful. Alright?"

She nodded her head and groaned. "And so it begins."

He shook his head. "It was always there. It's just more apparent to you now. And I promise you, it makes life a lot more interesting."

"You have lost your mind." Pepper told him as she walked away.

He laughed.

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The Doctor woke up with a jump. "Atraxi!" He shouted.

Rose sat up next to him. Her hair was all over the place. She didn't open her eyes. "What?"

He looked wildly around the room. He ran his hand through his sweaty hair. Then looked down at himself. He was wearing a t-shirt and his pants. He was completely soaked from the sweat.

Rose rubbed her face. "What did you say?"

He looked back at her in surprise. "Where is Sam?"

She fell back onto the pillows. "Mum has him. She told me to stay with you until you woke up. It was a long night."

He continued to look around the room as if he was listening for something. He got out of bed and rubbed his head as he paced the floor. "It's nearly lunch. Have I been out this long?"

"Since last night." She sat up and watched him walk around. "Does your head feel better?"

He continued to listen for something. "He's gone. I don't feel it anymore." He said quietly.

Rose could feel his relief and surprise. He looked back at her and a smile spread across his face. "Rose! He's gone!"

"What does that mean? Is he dead?"

He rolled his eyes and groaned. He pointed at the sun. "The stars are still burning, we're still here, reality is still…..real."

She looked confused at him. "One day, I want an explanation for what you just said."

He rubbed his face. "Oh, wow. I don't have to worry about that anymore."

She sat up and looked at him. "Doctor."

He was lost in his own thoughts. "Wow. I don't …. Huh."

Suddenly, he ran and dove in the bed next to her.

She laughed at his playful mood. "Oh goodness! You are mad!"

He lay on top of her and smiled like a loon. "Rose this is the best. Do you not see what happened?"

She smiled at him. "That you aren't connected to him. I heard you."

"No. The very last thing he felt from me was so much pleasure that it made me pass out. That's his last memory of me. That I have you and we're that happy." He stood up on his knees and shouted, "He can kiss so much of my ass!"

She laughed. "Now, I don't feel so bad about that."

He continued to smile at her. "I never want you to feel bad about that. I love that. I want you to do it all of the time to me."

She raised her eyebrows at him, "All of the time?"

He smiled. "Oh yes."

"Even when we're having dinner with my parents?"

He bit his lip. "Maybe not."

"When you're off with the guys?" She teased.

"No!" He said quickly.

She laughed. "I'm so glad you are better. You gave us all such a fright."

"I'm sorry. Thank you for taking such great care of me." He leaned down and his lips met hers. He kissed her and rubbed her breast through her silk gown. She giggled under his kiss at his enthusiasm.

He smiled at her. "What?"

"I just wasn't expecting you to wake up in this sort of mood."

He sat up and held his hands out to her. "Come take a shower with me. Please?"

She sat up and took his hands in hers. "Lead the way."

They wrapped their arms around one another and snogged as they walked slowly to the bathroom. Suddenly, he turned and walked to the sofa instead. Rose said nothing and just went with him. She didn't open her eyes and held onto him as he lay her down on the sofa and pulled up her silk gown. He reached between her legs and groaned when he didn't find any knickers on her. He teased her by rubbing her clit as he continued to kiss her. She bent her knee and ran her hands through his hair.

He rose up and looked at her. "Rose, I love you so much. There's just not words, in any language to express it."

She smiled back at him. "I love you."

He pulled up her gown and put his head between her legs. She bent both of her legs and moaned as he did his work.

Someone knocked at the door. She yelled. "We're up, but going to the shower!"

"I'm up. That's for sure." He mumbled.

Jackie spoke. "He's feeling better then?"

He rolled her clit with his lips.

She yelled, "YES! He's good!"

He mumbled, "Oh, more than you could know." He pushed down his pants and slipped himself inside of her.

"Alright then. I'll see you downstairs in a bit." Jackie yelled through the door.

He pressed himself in deeply.

Rose shouted, "ALRIGHT!"

"Damn. No need to shout." Jackie complained.

He laughed at her.

Rose smacked him on the shoulder. "Why do you always do that when she's talking to me?"

He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. "Oh, if only that were true."

She smiled. "Seriously."

"Just tell her the truth." He used a high pitched voice. "Mum. I'm having some rough sex with my brilliant husband. He's making me shout and I don't want him to stop."

Rose looked at him seriously. "I will never say that to her. And neither will you."

"I don't have a husband. No matter how much Jack begs."

She laughed at him. "You are cheeky today."

He put his hand on her the side of her face and looked in her eyes. "I'm so sorry I frightened you so badly. I'm sure you were upset."

"You're sure you are alright?"

"Completely. Better than I've ever been." He returned to kissing her and stroking. She pulled his t-shirt off of him and felt the sweat that had beaded up on his back.

He whispered to her. "I never want to stop kissing you. I never want to stop making love to you."

A little voice on the other side of the door said loudly, "Daddy! Grand told me you are up here."

Rose giggled at him as he rose up and closed his eyes tightly. "Um. Yes. Daddy is here. Go downstairs and ask Grand what she's cooking."

Rose pulled him close to her. She kissed his chest as he began to stroke again.

"Daddy." Genie started again.

Rose giggled at him.

"Yes, my child?" He called.

"Is Mum in there with you?"

He smiled at Rose. "She is. Can you go downstairs and I'll see you in a bit?"

Rose whispered to him. "I should totally do that to you right now."

He looked at her curiously. "Do what?"

Then he felt the sensation between his legs. Rose moved up and he slipped out of her. He laid his forehead on hers and took a deep breath. "Oh, that's just….brilliant." he moaned quietly.

"Daddy?"

He moaned in an odd voice. "Busy. Child. Downstairs."

"Grandfather brought this new game of yours. He says you can be red or black. Which one would you like to be?"

He couldn't think. He lay on top of Rose, unable to hold himself up any more. He rolled off of her and fell into the floor with a loud thump. "Mercy. Please have mercy on me, Rose."

She laughed and stopped the sensation. He panted and put his hand on his face. He whispered, "Oh the gods….. that's the best thing, ever."

Genie asked. "What was that noise?"

He groaned and said quietly. "Children. They are all the same."

Rose laughed quietly and climbed on top of him.

Genie asked, "Are you alright?"

"I stumbled over my shoes I left in the floor. I'm fine."

"And you wonder why surfing is not a good idea for you."

He rolled his eyes. "Tyler women."

Rose smiled at him. "There are so many things I could say about that comment right now."

He smiled at her. "Then go on."

She held his hands above his head.

He whispered, "I should have taken that gown off of you when I had the chance. The view from here would be brilliant."

Rose giggled.

Genie spoke again. "Daddy, when will you be downstairs?"

"Daddy is going to take a shower and I'll be right down to play."

Rose kissed his neck and chest.

"Okay. Red or black, Daddy?"

Rose bit his chest and he shouted, "RED!"

Rose giggled at the look on his face.

"Okay. See you in a bit, Daddy!"

He relaxed his head on the floor and tried to catch his breath. "Rose. That was mean."

She sat up and pointed at him. "That was getting even. And you liked it."

She stood up and helped him off of the floor. "No, Rose. I loved it."

He wrapped his arms around her again and they continued to snog all the way into the bathroom. He caught the door with the side of his foot and closed it.

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