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Chapter 37 - Deep Pockets

The adult Samuel and Arles materialized inside of Anne's sitting room. It was noon, and the smell of something delicious was coming from the kitchen over the lovely salt air that the open windows invited in.

"We're here!" Arles shouted.

Karen rushed into the sitting room to meet them. "Shhh….we're trying to get her to sleep."

Arles grit his teeth. "Sorry."

Samuel pat his brother on the back and smiled. "Great job, Papa."

Arles rolled his eyes, leaned down and kissed Karen's cheek in greeting. "I'll so see if Anne needs any help."

He left the sitting room just as Samuel held out his hand to Karen.

She giggled as they embraced one another.

"How did it go?" She asked.

"Really good. Dad is staying with Legate. Arles or I will go find Genie later."

"She really wouldn't want to know?"

"Well, Dad thinks we're being foolish, too. But, she already knew this was going to happen. She told me not go looking for her, and just to do it."

She leaned on one foot and rose her eyebrow, "And you think it's alright to let your Dad stay with him-"

"Of course." Samuel grinned. "He rather feels bad for clocking him now."

"Did that cause it?"

"It certainly didn't help."

She shook her head as he rubbed her arms.

"Besides, Tony and Pepper showed up just as we were leaving."

"Were they okay?"

He grinned, "I'm sure it's fine. They needed to speak to Dad. It's nothing that concerns me."

The familiar electrical sensation began to move from his hands and up her arms.

"And how are you?"

"I'm fine." She smiled. "This patch your Dad is having me wear is annoying."

He pulled the back of her blouse down and saw the patch that stuck to her skin on her shoulder. Blinking blue lights showed that it was working. He kissed next to it. "It won't be for long."

She sighed. "I have no idea why I passed out. Is it something we should be worried about?"

He pulled at his jumper so she could see his shoulder. A matching patch was present on him. "He's having me wear one, too. He has a theory that he's not sharing with me at the moment."

She grinned, "Annoying, isn't it?"

"Nah, I'm used to it. That's just how Dad is. But, if anyone can figure it out, he can. And, also….I have a pain blocker."

She smiled. "So, your back?"

He held her waist and danced as he told her, "No. More. Pain."

She giggled as he leaned in and kissed her lips. "Oh, Samuel. That's terrific news!"

"It was a simple, small injection to put it in. Took about ten seconds. Well, 4.7 to be exact."

She kissed him and suddenly remembered. "Oh! I can't wait for you to see what Halley is doing. You'll never believe it."

Samuel stepped back and took off his jumper. He laid it on a chair and ran his fingers through his hair. His grey t-shirt seemed a bit tight on his chest. "Already playing softball is she?"

Karen's eyes had spotted his chest. She put both of her hands on his shirt. "This looks different. What did you do?"

He glanced down. "Ah, nothing."

"You have. You've done something."

"I may have put on your shirt." He teased.

She giggled, "It looks like it."

He smiled and shook his head. "Now, show me what our Halley is doing."

She took his hand and led him through the hallway to the back deck. As they passed a photo on the wall, Samuel stopped to look at it closer. Karen looked back at him. "What is it?"

He grinned at the photo. The young girl had two braids on either side of her head. She held a softball bat and had on a blue digital camouflage cap that mostly covered her eyes. She was laughing at some joke, long forgotten. "Is this you?"

Karen smiled. "That's me. Yes. Dad's cover. Hat. That's what the Navy calls a cap. A cover."

Samuel glanced back at her and smiled.

"That's one of my first memories. Dad had just returned from…someplace, and all of the enlisted men played a game against the officers. The enlisted men won, but-"

"It was a bad call." Samuel finished her sentence.

She looked surprised. "It was. How did you know that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Arles must have told me about it-"

"Samuel." She wasn't convinced.

He cleared his throat. "Okay, so I've seen it. I have no idea why."

"I thought you only saw the future."

"Maybe, I'll have to go to this point in time one day."

"Why?"

"I have no idea."

Karen looked at the photo, and then at Samuel again. "Who else was there?"

He took a deep breath. "There was another little girl. She looks just like this one."

"Halley, or…"

Samuel shook his head and smiled. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I don't understand it, and now I've caused you worry. Forget I said anything."

"I'm not worried. Just interested."

He sighed.

She looked at him through her eyebrows and teased. "Just one of the brood?"

"And how many is that? A brood?"

She laughed and took his hand again. "Samuel, I have no idea. Oh! Halley! Come and see."

She led him outside on the back deck. There, Arles held Halley in his arms while he sat next to Anne. Halley was busy having a feed from a bottle.

"A bottle? How did you do that?" Samuel asked in shock.

Arles grinned proudly, "Because, I'm Papa."

Anne smiled as she rose her coffee to her lips. "A little bit of sugar on the nipple."

Halley was going to sleep as she continued to drink from the bottle.

Samuel smiled proudly at her and leaned down to kiss her head.

Arles looked up at him. "And if you wake her up, Daddy-"

"She's not properly sleeping!" He insisted as he held out a chair for Karen.

Arles grinned as he looked at Halley in his arms. "And are you going to sleep? You were hungry weren't you?"

Halley pulled her hair.

Arles took her hand out of her hair and held it. "Stop that. It hurts. Trust me."

Halley continued to drink and her eyelids became heavier.

Karen took Samuel's hand as he sat down next to her.

Anne asked, "Is Legate alright?"

Samuel smiled, "He is, ma'am. Resting."

Anne shook her head. "Brain surgery is frightening. I hope he's alright."

Samuel poured a cup of coffee for Karen. "It's really not that big of a deal. Dad was there with me. We were able to get him sorted rather quickly."

Arles looked over at Anne. "Dad is the one you want if it's something serious."

Samuel looked insulted. "I can handle-"

"I didn't mean that, Sammy. I'm just saying. It's Dad!"

Samuel nodded, "Well, that's true. Would you rather have 'A Doctor' or 'The Doctor'?"

Anne looked confused, "I don't understand."

Samuel shook his head. "It's alright. I thought I smelled something as we came through the kitchen."

Karen pat his hand. "Oh, it's on the stove."

Anne smiled, "Vegetable soup. There was a chill in the air this morning, and it's what I wanted."

Karen asked, "Shall I get you a bowl?"

Samuel shook his head. "Perhaps later. I can fetch it."

Arles sat back and reached into his pocket. Whatever he was looking for, he was having a hard time finding it. Halley had fallen asleep in his arms, and the bottle fell out of her mouth as he continued to search for the item in his pocket.

Anne took the bottle and sat it on the table. "You are going to wake her up."

"Nah, she's out." Arles grinned, "Ah. Found it."

To their surprise, he pulled a pink baby blanket out of his pocket and spread it over Halley.

Anne sat back in surprise. "Okay, where were you hiding that?"

Arles tucked Halley into the blanket. "Just in my pocket. There is a chill in the air, isn't there?"

Karen's eyes were wide in surprise, too. "Arles. You just pulled a blanket out of your pocket."

He put his hand back in his pocket to begin searching for something. "I have a jumper in here. I think. Do you need it?"

Samuel rolled his eyes. "Would you stop it?"

Arles chuckled.

Samuel sat back. "Arles has….interesting pockets. They don't know about this?"

Arles popped. "Nope."

Samuel groaned.

Karen asked, "Okay. Explain what this is about."

Samuel explained. "It's dimensional. He has another dimension in his pockets. He's able to put anything he wants in there and carry it about."

Anne asked, "Isn't that heavy?"

Arles shook his head. "No. I don't feel it."

Samuel shook his head in disapproval. "How many trousers have you done that to, mate?"

Arles smiled at Halley. "Just these. I forgot how much I loved it."

Samuel teased, "And next he'll have a drum set in there again like he did back home."

Arles laughed under his breath. "Nah, makes too much noise when I walk."

Samuel teased, "Like a bottle of pills."

Karen still wasn't sure about this. "Hang on. So your pockets? They just…they are a different dimension?"

Arles nodded, "Yes. Dad does it with his."

Samuel added. "Dad carries around a cot, a quilt, tack for a horse, gosh, what else, Arles?"

Arles grinned, "Hell, I don't know anything he doesn't carry around. Remember the cricket bat, Sammy?"

Samuel grinned, "And the spare tires for the car? Oh yes."

Karen and Anne laughed.

Anne asked, "Samuel, you don't do this to your pockets?"

Samuel shook his head and grinned. "No, ma'am. My pockets are normal."

Karen rubbed his thigh. "That's rather interesting."

Samuel added, "It's rather strange."

Arles smiled at his brother. "Sammy has always done everything he can to be normal. What he doesn't realize, is that he will never be that."

Samuel insisted, "I am that. I am normal."

Arles rose his eyebrow at him. "Really?"

"I'm a father. A husband." He quickly looked back at Karen. "Well, sortof."

Karen gripped his hand tighter.

"Arles, I'm normal. What I've wanted my entire life. Just….a normal human."

Arles rolled his eyes. "Who can put people back together when they get hurt? Who can see the future? Who can-"

Samuel groaned. "Don't you have something to do?"

Arles laughed. "I do. Dad wants me back on the ship. Anne, I apologize for leaving before I have had a chance to try that soup."

Anne held her hands out as Arles stood up and handed Halley to her. "It's quite alright, Arles. Come back later for dinner if you like."

Arles smiled at her. "Thank you, but don't expect me."

Karen asked, "Have plans?"

Arles shook his head. "No. Just….leaving my evening open."

Samuel grinned at his brother. "He has an appointment with a psychologist."

Arles shook his head in confusion. "Why are you on about that? That's the second time you've mentioned it."

Samuel threw his head back and laughed.

Anne spoke, "He's a young man. He should have plans. Arles, it is fine. But you know that you're always welcome."

He smiled, "Thank you, Anne. And if you need me, you know just to ring."

Anne laughed, "Oh, I'm fine. Now, go see what your Dad needs. But, do not do your disappearing thing out here. Gives me nightmares."

Arles chuckled, "Yes, ma'am."

He started to walk into the house.

Samuel called after him. "Can you find a transporter remote in those pockets?"

"Bite me, Sammy." He fussed.

Samuel laughed.

Karen squeezed Samuel's forearm. "Hang on, Arles. I'll go make Samuel a cup of tea."

Samuel started to get up, "Sweetheart, I can do that-"

"No." She smiled warmly at him. "I'll get it. I need to speak to Arles real quick."

Samuel stood up and looked at his brother curiously as he held the door open for Karen.

Arles replied with shrugged shoulders to let Samuel know he wasn't sure what she was on about.

The door to the house closed behind them and Samuel sat back down with Anne.

"Umm. I wonder what that's about." He said.

Anne tucked Halley's blanket in around her a bit more. "I wouldn't worry about it."

He sat back and crossed his arms. "Oh, I don't."

"Oh, you do." Anne insisted. "But, there's no reason to. Arles and Karen became very close while you were gone."

"That's what she has told me."

"Those days when you were missing, poor Karen was…just devastated. She stayed in her room a lot. Sat on the balcony up there and listened to the ocean. Arles would sit with her and hold her hand. Tony came everyday to sit with her. Everyone was so supportive."

Samuel signed. "I hate that I put her through that-"

"You saved her life. They would have taken you both had you not sent her away. I think the shock of just…appearing in some other place was as much as your disappearance."

Samuel nodded, "We've never really talked about this."

"We've never really talked about anything, Samuel. But, know that you can talk to me if you need to."

Samuel nodded and rubbed his stubble on his face. "Thank you, but I'm alright."

Anne looked back at him and rose her eyebrows, "Are you?"

He smiled, "I am-"

"I don't think you are. How could you be?"

Samuel sighed.

"And it's alright that you don't want to go into this. But, pretending that nothing is wrong will only make it worse when you do face it."

"What would you suggest then?"

"Admit first, that you are not this so called 'normal'. Samuel, you are amazing."

"I don't want to be amazing, Anne."

"Why do you think 'normal' is so much better."

"It just is. It's what Karen deserves."

"If that were true, do you think her father would have welcomed you and Arles into our family so quickly?"

Samuel sighed, "Karen has her own mind-"

"Yes, she does. Do you feel, in some way, that it is safer?"

"Without question it is."

"How?"

He considered, "Well, aliens wouldn't be coming and kidnapping people."

"Normal people have their problems, too. But, I'll agree with you that in that case, and for that reason, I will agree with you that I wish you and my Karen were normal. But, you're not. And I believe all of this wishing to be normal is just simply a way of you avoiding you facing the truth."

"Which is what, Anne?"

Anne groaned and picked back up her coffee. "Ugh. Samuel. Seriously. Just think about what I said."

Samuel watched Anne drink her coffee in a state of confusion. He knew he had to change the subject, "Ummm. Karen has spoken to me about something that is troubling her."

"What's that?"

"She doesn't feel as though she and I are married. I think she wants a ceremony."

Anne smiled, "All girls want a ceremony. They dream of it from the time that they are little girls and can put on a white dress."

"But, with John being gone now-"

"She would probably still want it. You should talk to her and see."

He nodded and took a deep breath. "Umm. Anne. John's not here for me to ask, but….and I realize it's late, but…"

Anne smiled, "You have my permission. Of course, Samuel. And John would have given it, too. I'm sure of it."

"Yeah?"

"He gave you and Arles his name. Bennett. I'm certain he would approve. He spoke very highly of you both. I only wish he had lived to meet this wonderful, young lady here." She beamed at Halley in her arms.

Samuel smiled. "Yeah."

Karen walked back through the door with a cup of tea for Samuel. He quickly stood up and smiled at her.

She grinned, "You don't always have to do that."

"Of course I do." He smiled as she handed him the cup of tea.

He thanked her as he held out her chair and she sat down. He sat down next to her, and sipped the tea.

Karen asked, "Is it right?"

He smiled warmly at her. "Perfect cuppa. Thank you."

Karen inquired, "So, what are you two out here talking about?"

Anne kissed Halley's sleeping head and spoke softly, "We were just talking about you two going out on a date."

Karen looked at Samuel in surprise, "Where you?"

Samuel didn't want to make it seem as this was not the case. "Umm. Yes! We were!"

Anne continued, "I have this one here, and you two need to go out and have fun."

Samuel sat the tea on the table top and pat the arms of his chair. "What do you think? A date? You and me?"

Karen covered her mouth in surprise. "Oh, I'd love to! Are you sure, Mom?"

Anne smiled at Halley. "Of course. Go and have a great time. Me and Little Halley will be fine."

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