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Chapter 7 - Whiskey with Howie

The Doctor's ship was well on its way back to Earth. It was late at night. Pete and young Tony had retired to their suite together. The Doctor sat in his suite with Genie sleeping on his lap. Rose sat next to him holding Sam. Tony Stark sat in the chair next to them with his feet propped up on the table. He was holding a glass of whiskey in his hand while listening to Howie Shepherd who sat across from him in another chair. Jack Harkness lay on his stomach in the floor. Sam's blanket covered his head.

Howie leaned up and refilled his glass and the Doctor's and Tony's. "Rose?" He offered.

She shook her head. "No, thank you. That stuff is not my favorite at all. I have my tea just there."

The Doctor looked back at her curiously. "It's alright if-"

She pat his thigh. "Completely alright. I would have already told you."

Howie laughed and pointed at the Doctor. "If he's above snakes, then he's going to need a drink of something. He has allot upon him."

Tony sipped the whiskey and chuckled.

Howie smiled, "I'm sorry we had to fly out so soon. I'm sure we would have had a hog-killin' time had we stayed. They were right finical, with everything that had happened. John, I'm really grateful you talked us out of bedding down those aliens. I really was going to fight for that option once we got out here."

The Doctor ran his hand through Genie's hair as she slept. "I always want to see that as the last option."

Tony propped his head up on his hand. "Am I the only one that can't understand him?"

Jack's muffled voice spoke from under the blanket. "I can't understand him either. It was taking too much brain power."

The Doctor laughed, "More than you are equipped with, huh?"

Jack mumbled, "At the moment, yes."

Rose put her foot on his bum, "Then go to bed."

His muffled voice spoke, "Oh, she's touching my ass. I love it."

Genie's sleepy voice muttered, "That's a swear."

They all looked at her in surprise.

"I thought you were sleeping." Rose told her.

"She was playing 'possum." Howie teased.

Tony stood up and picked her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and didn't open her eyes. "I'll take her to bed." He told them.

"No. No. No." Genie told him without opening her eyes.

"No?" He asked her and sat back down in the chair. She snuggled into his shoulder and held him tightly. He rubbed her back and sighed. "Well, now I'm stuck with a Lizard on me."

Rose giggled at him. "We should take a picture of that."

"Ah. She's warm. I was about to get up and get a blanket."

The Doctor stood up and spread a blanket over her and Tony. He refilled Tony's glass and handed it to him. Tony thanked him. He looked back down at Genie and mumbled, "Don't drool on me, Gene."

She smiled without opening her eyes.

Howie sipped his whiskey. "I'm glad I have you here, Tony. Is it alright to call you that?"

Tony nodded his head. "Sure."

Howie continued, "Well, any friend of John's is a friend of mine. I am curious. I had an interesting meeting this morning. Highly classified stuff. What is your security clearance?"

Tony looked over at the Doctor. "Uh. Well-"

The Doctor smiled. "He has top security clearance. Go on, Howie."

Howie pointed at Genie. "Is she sleeping?"

Tony looked down at her, "I don't know. Looks like it."

The Doctor smiled. "She's sound asleep. Dreaming about something that's making her happy. Go on."

Howie sipped his whiskey. "I need a cage. Something a tank couldn't get through. What do you think? Could you three eggheads come up with something?"

Tony nodded his head. "A cage? What are you hunting?"

Rose looked surprised back at him. "An alien?"

Howie shook his head. "No. Some guy from Earth. It's on the verge of spinning out of control. The Joint Chiefs want him locked up, but I think the best idea is to just let him continue living the way he is. He believes he's hiding."

The Doctor sighed and put his arm around Rose. "In my experience, someone like that tends to behave better when they don't want to draw any attention to themselves. It would be safer to leave him alone and watch him from a distance."

Tony agreed, "Maybe have things in place close-by just in case. Without him knowing. Plan B."

The Doctor rolled his eyes, "Plan B."

Tony pointed at him, "Hey. Say what you want. Plan B is always a good option."

The Doctor smiled at him and teased. "Stark Industries. Plan B."

Tony raised his eyebrows and sipped his drink. "Exactly."

Rose shook her head, "That sounds like a ticking bomb to me. Just watching and hoping it doesn't blow on your watch. A cage for a tank? Is he that dangerous?"

Howie sipped his whiskey. "The intelligence we are getting believes so. You guys have a look at it and see what you think. I'll get you the information. I value your opinion on this."

Tony asked, "Well, why is he hiding? What did he do?"

"He threw three tanks at some of my army personal. Destroyed a military base out in… New Mexico. He was working on something there that went bad."

Jack pointed his finger, "I can understand Howie. Am I dreaming?"

Tony chuckled. "I think he's just really into what he's telling us, man." Tony sat down his glass and picked up a stuffed animal of Sam's that lay on the floor. He tickled Genie's cheek with the hairs of it. She scratched her cheek in her sleep. Tony smiled.

Howie continued. "The video was frightening. Thinking about it sobers a man up a piece."

The Doctor sipped the remainder of his whiskey. "Tell me about the Vice President. What's going on with that?"

Howie pointed at him forcefully, "I really think the entire election process needs to be rethought. That man has had it out for me for years. Now I have proof! I can't believe that entire thing operated under my own nose for so damn long!"

Tony tickled Genie's ear with the stuffed animal. She scratched her ear and turned her head over on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead. "Go on to sleep, Gene. It's alright." He told her.

Rose rolled her eyes at him and smiled. "You two."

Tony smiled. "Tell me, Mr. President. How would you run an election if you had the choice to change it?"

Howie refilled his glass. "Well, this business of the loser getting a position is just shit. There should be two or three people running. The person running should get to choose their Vice President and complete cabinet."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Makes sense."

"And you are going to think I'm shot in the neck, but seriously. They should lower the time a president serves in office. Seven years is too much."

Tony nodded his head. "How long would you recommend?"

"Four. Maybe five. But four is my bed-rock term." Howie stated.

Tony sipped his whiskey. "Well, I have a radical thought. With this stuff happening with your Vice President, there is going to be a special election now. Right?"

Howie nodded his head. "Unfortunately. Who knows who I'll end up with."

"Change it. Propose it to Congress, or however it's done. I confess that I don't even really know." Tony admitted.

Howie nodded his head. "The Constitution will have to be amended. And oddly enough, this was discussed towards the end of Washington's time in office."

The Doctor nodded. "The Dimension we're from, it passed."

Howie looked surprised, "Really?"

Rose shook her head. "I honestly don't know. He would."

The Doctor smiled. "It did. Howie, Tony has a good point. You're running again, maybe change everything during this term. Everything about this."

Howie nodded his head. "Makes sense. Tell me, Tony. As one of two Americans in this room, what would you think about that?"

Tony looked surprised, "Who else is an American in this room?"

Jack let out a groan from under the blanket. Rose giggled and propped her other foot up on his bum. "You make a nice foot rest, Jack."

Jack mumbled, "I love you, too. And I'm not an American."

Howie chuckled, "I had forgotten he was down there. I was talking about John. I've decided to offer him a citizenship. If he wants it."

The Doctor looked shocked. "What? Me?"

Howie added quickly, "I'd appreciate your vote."

The Doctor laughed, "What about Rose?"

"She would be an American by default because you are married."

He looked surprised back at Rose. "How about that?"

Rose smiled proudly, "Dual citizenship. Might be useful for things."

He kissed her forehead, "Might be."

The Doctor rolled his eyes around, listening to something. Howie noticed. "What's with him?"

Rose explained. "He's talking to one of the guys."

Howie nodded. "Telepathy? Yeah. Pete told me he could do that."

The Doctor relaxed and rubbed Rose's thigh. "Poltious says we're well on our way and should be there in a few hours. The planets are closer together this time of year than they normally are."

Tony chuckled, "Man, I wish I could do that. Talk to people in my head. I wonder if I could make something for us…..mortals?"

Howie smiled. "The CIA played with that back in '53."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Project Moonstruck. It was 1952. Yes. Very dangerous. It started out with the people being told that is what it was for. It evolved into the CIA wanting to control the mind and thoughts of the people. Turn them into a remote control. Very similar to a Cyberman. Psychiatrists experimented with drugs, narcoleptic trance, electronics, and electroshock to create "cyborg" mentalities. The experiments involved "remote control" such as VHF, UHF and modulated ELF broadcasts were used for E.D.O.M. (Electronic Dissolution of Memory). Very dangerous."

Howie nodded. "Yes. That was one of the first documents I read once I got my Top Secret Clearance rating. It was right as the entire Lumic thing started to come to light. Pete told me everything because he was right in the middle of that. Hell of a position for him. I'm amazed he walked away from it. I contacted the President of Britain and told him that what Lumic was doing was not a good idea and sent him the documents. I don't know if he ever reviewed them before he was killed."

Tony looked surprised. "Pete did what?"

Rose explained. "Dad bought stocks into Lumic's company so he could be informed of what was going on. Lumic knew Dad was clever and thought he might have him help with some of….the business sides of whatever."

Howie spoke up. "He knew ole Pete was well connected and it would get his patents pushed through and things bypassed so he could do what he wanted without anyone telling him no. I couldn't believe he did it, but he was in a really dark place then. Him and Jackie had separated. She was just a mean old hen. Very cruel to him. I knew he was headed for the divorce lawyers, and she was going to take his ass to the cleaners. After he saw that Lumic had been successful with his design, which we found out later wasn't even his design…"

The Doctor nodded his head. "Cybermen."

"He knew he couldn't let that continue. He would speak to me on a coded frequency. MI-6 and the CIA worked together with that, but Pete was our guy on the inside. Bravest man I've ever met. He told me that he had always fancied the idea of being a soldier and helping his country. After he broke his leg so badly, he would never have been permitted to be a soldier. But, what he did was an amazing thing. He was a great help to not only his country, but to the world."

Rose smiled proudly. "That's my Dad."

The Doctor looked back at her and smiled. "I see where you get it from."

Tony shook his head. "I have never heard of this. 1952? How would they have had the technology to even do this?"

The Doctor raised his hand, "How did you lot put men on the moon in '68 with the limited technology you had? The human race as always fascinated me. It's always been my favorite out of the entire galaxy. Someone tells you that you can't do it and you laugh in their face and manage it. Brilliantly. But, your curiosity also is your weakness. Even if you don't understand something, you still rush headlong into it. Hell with the consequences."

Rose rolled her eyes. "And here we go."

He looked back at her in surprise. "What? It's true."

"You are the last person to talk about curiosity being someone's weakness. You are the first one to go into a situation you don't understand."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it's fun."

Tony continued to tickle Genie with the stuffed animal. He tickled her neck and she scratched it. "What's your problem, Gene?" He asked her. She continued to sleep.

Rose laughed silently at them. "That's just mean."

Tony kissed Genie's head. "So, Howie. How did Caroline react to you leaving to go to an alien planet?"

He chuckled. "Ole' Pete is my oldest and dearest friend. He needed me. It was that simple. Believe it or not, it was all beer and skittles at home. I've never been one to slangander my friend. Not at all. I just have never believed in that. Pete called me to tell me what happened and I popped right to him. Jackie was pissed. Right savagerous."

Rose's eyes got huge. "Mum knows?"

Howie nodded his head. "Oh yes. She knows more than you think. And I'm just happy to say, I'm not you at this moment."

Rose groaned, "Oh no." She looked back at the Doctor. "What are we returning to?"

He smiled at her. "We'll face it together. Try not to worry, sweetheart."

Jack groaned under the blanket. "Gross. Sweet talk in my presence."

The Doctor put his foot on his bum. "Then go to bed, Jack."

"I'm cozy here. And I've drank too much."

Tony laughed at him.

Rose groaned. "I'm taking Sam to bed. You lot say up as long as you like. Don't worry about me."

The Doctor looked up at her. "Are you alright?"

She kissed his lips quickly, "I'm fine. I'm just tired."

He ran his hand through his hair. "Right. I'll be in later."

She stood up and walked out of the room. The men all told her good night as she left.

Howie smiled at Tony. "I don't know a lot about you, Tony. Tell me. Are you married?"

Tony shook his head, "No. I'm not."

"Got a lady back home?"

"That's complicated."

Howie laughed and sipped his whiskey. "How is that complicated? Either you do. Or you don't."

Tony rubbed his face. "Ugh. John?"

The Doctor smiled, "He is at the very beginning of a relationship-"

"If that's what it is."

Howie nodded his head. "I see."

Jack's muffled voice spoke, "That's the best time! I loved that."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Go to bed, Jack."

"And miss you feeling of my ass? Never!"

The Doctor looked back at Tony. "Do you see what I put up with?"

Howie chuckled at them. "Don't pay any mind to these guys, Tony."

Tony smiled. "Oh, I don't."

The Doctor filled in, "I've told him he needs to just talk to this lady. Be honest with her. She doesn't have any idea he's out in space."

Howie looked surprised. "This is your best friend! Does she know he's not from Earth?"

Tony shook his head. "It hasn't came up."

Howie laughed and rolled his eyes. "I'm not one to meddle in another man's love life, but son. You might be doing this wrong."

The Doctor held his hand out. "See!"

Jack groaned under the blanket. "I don't agree. Are you getting laid?"

Tony nodded his head. "Well. Yeah-"

"Then he's fine. Ignore these guys." Jack told him.

The Doctor explained to Howie. "His girl lost a lot of people in the Cyber Invasion. He doesn't want her to know because of that. You know, how do people know that was even aliens? Doesn't Lumic get the credit for that?"

Tony shook his head. "No. It was made public it was alien. You can thank Howie for that."

The Doctor looked surprised back at Howie. "You? You are the one responsible for that?"

Howie groaned and sat down his drink. "Son. I lost four brothers in that. If anyone has a reason to be pissed, I surely do. And I'm not. There was so many lost. I felt like the people deserved the truth at how their loved ones died. Harriet disagreed, but after I made it public knowledge, she had no choice but to agree."

Tony held his hand out. "And forced me to regret not voting for the guy. Honestly, Howie. That took balls."

Howie held his glass up to Tony. "Well, don't make that same mistake twice, son."

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The Doctor walked into his bedroom. Rose was already asleep wearing her silk gown. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back. She took a deep breath and rolled over. He smiled at her.

"You are drunk, Old Man." She told him.

"Not as bad as Howie. He's asleep on our couch."

She giggled without opening her eyes. He caught her lips with his and kissed her. "Rose. I love you."

She put her hand on his cheek and looked at him. "Baby, I love you."

He looked deep into her eyes. After a few moments, she rubbed his chest with both of her hands. "What is it?"

"I love this part of us. I love that there is an 'us'. I want you to be happy and feel safe."

She smiled. "You are completely trashed."

He smiled, "Maybe so. But, seeing Tony now. I remember being there. It was hell. I am so glad I finally told you how I feel."

"Made your move." She teased him.

"You like my moves." He smiled back.

"Oh, I really do."

He kissed her again. "Forgive me. You need to sleep. I'll just lay here with you." He put his hand on her hip.

"You are so drunk, Old Man. You should sleep, too."

He smiled as he closed his eyes. "I'm fine. I'm building a tolerance to the Damn Whiskey."

She moved closer to him and rubbed his nose with her own. He smiled and grabbed her bum. She kissed him and it turned into a proper snogging. After a bit, she smiled at him. "Tell me, how long of a snogging was that?"

He laughed, "Are we trying to break our record? We've never set one. We should do that."

She smiled as he caressed her cheek. "How long?"

"4 minutes and 48 seconds."

She giggled. "We can do better than that."

"Trying to wear out my lips, again?" He asked her. "Tell me, why aren't you sleeping?"

"Someone was kissing my back." She smiled at him.

He held her tightly and she lay down on his chest. "You are so tired. I can feel it." He kissed her head.

She groaned. "We have to deal with mum now."

"Well, we don't know what she knows. Let's worry about this when we know what we're worrying about."

She sighed. "Alright."