Chapter Twenty One

The Doctor and his family laughed at the shocked expression on Dory's face when they finally found the badgers in the London Zoo.

"Now you know why we kept referring to you as a badger," Jack said.

"This is amazing," Dory said, staring at the badgers in the enclosure in front of them. "Legends say our people evolved from a lower species but I never thought I would actually find something that resembles us. Perhaps the legends are true, after all. All the animals we've seen so far are nothing like the ones we had on Amalshia."

"Same here," the Doctor said. "It's one of the reasons why I love the Earth so much and…AH!"

Everyone jerked their heads over and noticed the Doctor was grimacing while he held his left hand over his chest.

"Love, what is it?" Rain asked.

"Slight pain just now. Right here," the Doctor said, pointing to his breastbone.

"Did something sting you?" Rain said as she turned him so she could take a look.

"Dunno, just this sharp pain that flared up for a moment and now it's gone," the Doctor rubbing the area where he felt the pain. "Odd. Well, if we're finished here, maybe we should go on to the recital."

"Wait!" Alan said, holding up his hand. "We haven't gone by the giraffes yet."

"Oh crap, will you come on and forget about ass-kicking the giraffes?" Rain said, grabbing Alan's hand while everyone laughed. "That joke grew old centuries ago."

"But I must have my revenge!" Alan said as Rain pulled him past everyone. "That furry stork impugned my honor and I need to exact my vengeance upon him and his kind!"

"I'll exact vengeance when I take your little rat dog and throw it at one of them. Maybe the giraffe will eat it!"

"Oi, lay off Speck, you fiend!" Alan said as everyone else followed along behind him.

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Once they were back inside the TARDIS, Chaska went to his room to get ready for his recital. His bedroom had been decorated with posters of Gallifreyan sports stars and music groups. His bed was a twin bed with oak bed frames. It had a bright red duvet on it and a red pillowcase and sheets. There was an oak bedside table beside it with a gold lamp that had a white lampshade on it. Across the way was a dresser with a small TV and combination DVD/VCR on top of it. Beside the DVD/VCR were a few DVD's of his favorite movies. Chaska had brought his violin case, robes and skullcap on board with them and he was currently adjusting the silver skullcap on his head when he sensed someone staring at him.

"You look handsome, my son," the Doctor said to him as he came inside the room.

Chaska blushed at that as the Doctor came to him and smoothed out his robes. He smiled at the red color.

"This was the color of my robes. Scarlet was the color of the Prydonnian chapter. It's nice to see you in them even though the Prydonnian chapter no longer exists."

"I'm proud to wear them, Daddy," Chaska said.

The Doctor smiled at that and kissed his forehead.

"You make me proud, Son, every moment of every day. I'm just glad that I was able to come back over here and see you tonight. It wouldn't have been the same seeing it on video."

Chaska hugged him tightly.

"Daddy, I wish you didn't have to go back," he said while the Doctor held him.

"I know, Chas,I don't wanna go back either but at least I don't have to wait three hundred years to interact with you," he whispered as he held him. "You have to be strong for me, Chas, you have to be the man of the house and look after your mum and sisters when I can't be here. Okay?"

Chaska nodded as the Doctor pulled away and he smiled as he laid his hand on his shoulder.

"You'll do fine, Chas. You have my genes inside you so I know you'll make it through this just like everyone else will. In the meantime, just don't worry about me having to go back, concentrate on tonight and making your old dad proud, okay?"

Chaska smiled and nodded. The Doctor laid his forehead against his son's for a moment before he patted him on the shoulder and walked back out.

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A few hours later, the Doctor and most of his family were sitting in the academy auditorium listening to the Gallifreyan Student Orchestra play. The Doctor smiled while he kept his eyes squarely on his son who was in the front row directly to the left side of the conductor. Occasionally, Chas would look out and lock eyes with him while he was sitting in the third row and smile at him. The Doctor winked back and put his arm around Rain who was sitting to his right. While Rain sat beside him, the Doctor suddenly felt an odd sensation all over his body. Rain glanced at him when he got up and noticed the confused look on his face.

"Doctor?" she said in a loud whisper. "Honey, what is it?"

"I feel a bit off, it's fine, just go ahead and watch the recital," he whispered back to her.

Rain, Alan and Rose watched as he walked out of their row and hurried up the aisle.

"Is he alright?"Rose whispered.

Alan shrugged.

"I hope so," he whispered.

"You don't think he's sick from the regeneration, do ya?" Rose whispered to Alan.

They watched as Rain got up and headed towards the aisle. Alan and Rose glanced at each other and followed her.

The Doctor was sitting on a cushioned bench just outside the auditorium doors. He sighed when the double doors opened and Rain, Alan and Rose came outside.

"It's nothing, really. I'll be fine, just go watch Chas," he said to them.

Rain sat down next to him.

"Honey, how long have you felt this way?" she asked him.

"Since this afternoon when I got the sharp pain in my chest," the Doctor replied.

"So you don't think you're getting sick because of your regeneration?" Rose asked as she came up to him.

"What? No, no, I haven't had any side effects from that. This started right after my chest pain."

"Do you think something stung you and you're having an allergic reaction to it?" Rain said.

The Doctor shrugged.

"Dunno, the only thing I'm allergic to that's from Earth is aspirin."

Rain made him shift so he was facing her. She unbuttoned the top of his shirt and opened it up so she could look at his chest while Alan and Rose bent over and looked with her. Rain shook her head.

"I don't see any bite marks anywhere. I was thinking maybe a little spider might have bitten you but I don't see any redness. Was the chest pain inside or outside your body?"

"Outside, on my skin."

"Alan, what do you think?" Rain said to him.

"I don't think it could be a spider bite or wasp sting, our immune systems are strong enough to counteract the effects of the venom. I agree, I don't see any redness or swelling or anything. I have no clue what caused the pain, Brother, but maybe you should check it out in the TARDIS when we go home. How are you feeling now?"

"A bit funny."

"Funny in what way?" Rose said.

The Doctor frowned.

"Like I'm slightly confused, my mind's a bit foggy," he said to them.

"Hon, maybe you should go home and lie down and see if you feel better," Rain said.

"I will but first I wanna watch Chas finish his recital and then watch Donald. I promise if I feel worse, I'll leave but this is important to me."

He looked over when the doors opened and Clara came out.

"Merzet, are you alright?" she said, walking over to him.

"I'm fine, Mum, just feeling a bit under the weather is all. Something stung me in the chest this afternoon and I think it's caused me to be a bit ill. It'll be alright."

He stood back up and put his arm around Rain as he smiled at everyone.

"Trust me, If I'm dying, I'll let you lot know in advance. But I feel a bit better now so let's go back in and watch Chaska finish his recital," he said as they headed back to the doors.

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After the recital, the Doctor relaxed on his sofa while Rain went to make him some tea. He still felt a bit funny and the feeling was increasing but he kept silent, not wanting to worry his family. He smiled at his son when he, Christopher, Sokanon and Namid walked up to him.

"I'm proud of you, Chas. You were brilliant," he said as he lay on the sofa.

"Thanks, Daddy. Are you alright?" Chaska asked.

"Yeah, I feel a bit under the weather but I'll be right as rain in an hour or two. Get it? Weather, rain, no?" he said while they giggled.

"Do you want us to leave you alone, Daddy?" Namid said.

"For an hour or two, just until the queasy feeling passes. Plus, I still have quizzes to grade, gotta make sure those students get those back."

He smiled when Elizabeth and Anne came up to the sofa, rose up with their paws beside his body and sniffed at him.

"And you and your sister will have to go to obedience school sometime," he said to them. "I need to do that as well, but for the moment, I need a lie down. How about you take Dory around and let her meet the rest of the family and explain why she's living with us now."

"Okay, Daddy," Sokanon said.

"And don't worry about me," he said as Rain walked up and sat a cup of tea down on the table beside him. "I'll be fine. In fact, Latara, why don't you and Alan and Rose go somewhere for awhile so you can relax and not worry about me? And later on, we can have a romantic moonlight dinner on our balcony, sound good?"

"Sounds wonderful," Rain said.

"Come here then and snog my brains out!"

He and Rain laughed when the children darted away.

"Knew that'd get em," the Doctor said, winking.

He looked back at Alan who came up beside the sofa.

"Brother, you and Rose take my wifey-poo somewhere for awhile while I have a kip, okay?"

"Why? Are you afraid she's gonna drag out a big bass drum and walk around the house beating it while you're trying to sleep?" Alan said.

"No, I'm afraid I won't get much rest because she'll be here looking stunning as usual and the temptation to snog her will be too great. So if you'd be so kind…"

"What about my chewie wooie?"

"The chewie wooie as you put it…will be going to obedience school along with our dogs."

"Can you tell the obedience school staff to teach her to ride in pockets?" Alan said.

"No, that's something you can do to occupy your time. I'll be satisfied if Speck of Dirt doesn't pee all over my carpets."

"Oh like the tailless wonders wouldn't," Alan said.

"Rain, take the pest and his wife and go somewhere far, far away. I'm sleepy," he said to his wife.

Rain chuckled and kissed his lips.

"Have a good nap," she said.

"I will, try not to get into trouble the moment you step out of Daisy," he said.

"We'll try our hardest so you won't have to cut short your nap to come save us."

She gave him another kiss and he winked at her. He watched as Alan put his arms around her and Rose and when they were out of sight, he sat up, took his jacket off, wadded it up and put it under his head before he shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep.