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Chapter 28 – The Interview

The news reporter, and his cameraman, arrived at the house and was greeted by Pete and Harriet Jones.

"It's nice to see you again, Madam President. Mr. Tyler. Thank you for agreeing to this interview."

Pete laughed, "I still can't believe I agreed to it."

The reporter smiled, "Oh, this promises to be interesting."

Harriet nodded her head. "I assure you will have great ratings from this! John has had to speak to both of us regarding this interview prior to doing it. It will answer a lot of questions the people have. I think it's a marvelous idea."

The reporter's eyes lit up. "Oh, I'm thrilled to do it! Where is Doctor Smith?"

"Right here! Sorry to keep you waiting!" The Doctor walked down the staircase and shook the reporter's hand and then his cameraman's hand. "Welcome to the Tyler Mansion. Thank you for coming out."

The Doctor was wearing one of his new, tailored, three piece suits. The reporter stepped back and looked at him. "Wow. That's a nice suit."

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Rose sent someone from ummm….what is it called, Pete?"

Pete shook his head. "I can never remember. I have a few of them myself. They are over there on ummm…. Savile Row? Right?"

The Doctor nodded his head. "Yeah, that sounds right. You'd have to ask Rose. She keeps up with that sort of thing."

Pete held out his hand, "Come into the less formal sitting room. We're going to be in the gardens. When you need us, just send for us."

They walked away. The Doctor looked up and saw Rose walking down the steps. She was wearing a beautiful, blue dress that appeared to be wrapped around her. Her make-up had been done by the designer's make-up crew already and she wore her hair down. The Doctor looked up at her and said something in another language.

She laughed as she put her hand in his. "I always know I've picked a good dress if I have no idea what you are saying when you see me in it."

He kissed her hand. "Stunning. How am I supposed to even think with you looking like this?"

She smiled at him. "That suit is amazing. Genie said it was her favorite one."

He smiled, "I'll let her wear it sometime then. Are you alright? Lollipops working?"

She nodded. "I've just finished another one."

"I have some in my pocket if you need some. I'll try to keep blocking the nausea as much as possible. Has it been better since this afternoon?"

Rose looked surprised. "That's you doing that? I've wondered. I've felt better today than I have felt in days. Thank you."

He kissed her quickly. "It's small thing. You are the one doing all of the work. I'm glad I can help do something."

Rose looked at him, "Are you sure about this?"

He sighed, "Yes. I'm sure. I've thought about for a very long time. It's not a decision that was met with any haste. Whatever I say in there, just go with it. Alright?"

She looked surprised, "That's all the prep you're going to give me?"

He smiled and told her. "It's all you need. This is for me to worry about. Not you. You're busy enough with Junior."

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The Doctor and Rose sat on the sofa together. The reporter sat across from them. The Doctor wrapped his arm around Rose and kissed the side of her head. She laid her hand on his thigh. He propped his head up on his fist.

The reporter smiled at them both. "Okay. We're just going to do this as a casual chat. Sound alright? Just answer the questions, and forget the camera is even there. Alright?"

The Doctor nodded and put his hand down from his face. "Right."

The reporter said, "Alright, let's get started. First of all, I'd like to thank you both for welcoming me to the famous Tyler Mansion here in London. We have a lot to discuss, but I suppose the first thing on everyone's mind is why you have finally agreed to an interview? The Tyler family has always been extremely private."

The Doctor smiled and nodded. "That's very true. But, there comes a time when you have to explain a few things. Especially for us. We live so much in the public eye, whether we like it or not, that misunderstandings can lead to dangerous situations. People are frightened of what they don't understand. It's just human nature. I hope we can clear some things up here tonight."

The reporter nodded his head. "I understand. Now, you…. Doctor Johnathon Smith."

The Doctor nodded, "Yes."

"How do you tie into this Tyler family?"

The Doctor looked over at Rose and smiled, "I'm married to Rose Tyler."

The reporter couldn't help the shock in his voice. "Are you really? Is that true, Miss Tyler? Is the most eligible lady is off the market?"

Rose looked at the Doctor and smiled, "Yes, it's true. We've been married for about a month. Has it already been that long?"

The Doctor nodded his head. "I think so. Wow."

The reporter became excited. "Wow! Congratulations! Rose, you have just broken the hearts of millions, I'm sure."

Rose and the Doctor looked at one another and smiled.

The reporter nodded. "Now, you and Rose announced your engagement at the State Dinner at the White House just two months ago."

The Doctor nodded, "Yes, that was right after that misunderstanding when people thought that Rose had been killed. Terrible situation."

Rose smiled, "Yes. We decided to just have a private ceremony. Free from the press."

The Doctor smiled. "Yes. It was very small ceremony. Just her family there. The Shepherds. Harriet. Our bodyguards."

The reporter asked, "Do you live here at the mansion with Pete and Jacqueline Tyler?"

The Doctor smiled and shook his head. "No, we live close by in our own place."

The reporter nodded his head. He looked at his paper. "I suppose, the main question, right out of the gate should be…. Where did you come from, Doctor Smith? No one has ever heard of you."

The Doctor held up his finger to make a point. "No, we should start with where Rose came from. That will explain me better." He turned to Rose, "Do you want me to tell this or do you want to?"

Rose looked at him. "You go ahead. You're on a roll."

He chuckled, "Yeah, it's clear I like to talk. Okay. Rose Tyler is the daughter of Pete and Jacqueline Tyler. Completely true. I've talked to Pete about this a lot, and told him that they just needed to come out with the truth. They had planned to do it four years ago when Rose turned 18. But, well, that was my fault of why they didn't. We'll get into that in a minute."

The Doctor continued. "See, Rose was born right as Pete's business took off. It became very clear to him and Jacqueline that Rose was going to be thrown into the spotlight. He was worried it would make her the target of kidnappers demanding ransoms or worse. So, she was kept hidden. Jacqueline and her spent a lot of time in a small village in France, out of the public eye."

The reporter nodded. "That explains those pictures you sent to the studio."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Yes. Pete worked and built his empire while Jacqueline spent as much time as she could with Rose. Growing up in France, Rose was safe. Pete and Jackie hated every moment of it, but felt it was necessary."

The reporter was shocked by his admission. "So, she attended school there? Just had a normal life?"

The Doctor looked at Rose. "I won't call it that. Would you?"

Rose shrugged her shoulders. "I guess."

The Doctor explained, "No, she had a private tutor and was educated at home. She didn't really come to England much at all because of the fear for her safety."

The reporter nodded his head. "I see. So, why this terrible cover story of her being a long, lost relative?"

The Doctor pointed at himself. "That was my fault. I came up with that. I was working with President of Great Britain as an advisor, at the time. I recommended they put that story out after Jackie was injured during the Cyber invasion. With the President being killed in this mansion, I didn't know how Pete and Jackie's daughter suddenly surfacing would work. The story didn't help and Rose was still the victim of several kidnappings and attempts on her life. I worked closely with President Harriet Jones and Pete Tyler. Recently, Pete and I decided we really just needed to be honest about the entire thing."

The reporter shook his head. "You were an advisor to the President of Great Britain. That was your story?"

The Doctor nodded. "Yes. You can confirm that with President Jones. She's cleared me to discuss it."

The reporter pointed at them both. "But, now you are married. I suppose I need to ask, now. How did that happen?"

The Doctor looked back and Rose and smiled. "That is a crazy story. Before I was an advisor here in Britain, I worked for several nations doing many classified things that I'm still not cleared to talk about."

"Nations? Well, are you British?" the reporter asked.

The Doctor shook his head. "No. I have many citizenships. In many countries. The reason is classified, but I can tell you it was because of my employment."

"That you can't talk about." The reporter added.

The Doctor nodded his head. "Yes. I had worked in the United States with then the Senator from Texas, Howard Shepherd years ago. It's no secret that Pete Tyler is well connected, and his best friend is Howie Shepherd. Pete and Howie were concerned for Rose's safety. Threats had been made against her life even then. We knew about it. We saw the danger. Pete asked for a personal bodyguard to be sent to escort Rose as she traveled. Howie sent me."

"So, you were her bodyguard?" the reporter tried to understand.

Rose nodded, "Well, it was more than that. He was like a bodyguard and a personal advisor. He had worked with people in the public eye for many years and knew the security concerns. I had no idea what I was getting into."

The Doctor nodded.

The reporter asked, "Well, you have the title, Doctor. Are you a doctor?"

The Doctor nodded. "I am."

"Can you tell me what sort of Doctor you are?"

He nodded, "Astrophysics and medicine."

"Both?" the reporter asked, stunned.

The Doctor nodded. "Yes."

"Wow! Where are you from? Surely, that's not classified."

The Doctor smiled, "It's not. I just have no idea. Sorry. I have no family. I came up in a children's home. I finished school when I was ten, and a kind man took an interest in me. He educated me further until it wouldn't be strange for me to attend a university because of my age. I had my first doctorate at 16 years old. Second at 19. I had to change my name and hide my identity because of my work. All of which remains classified."

The reporter couldn't hide the shock on his face. "What's your IQ?"

The Doctor blushed and rubbed his face. "I have no idea."

Rose rolled her eyes. "317. Off the scale. He won't tell anyone that."

The Doctor smiled at Rose. "Because, she always does!"

The reporter laughed. "Wow! Einstein's was only reported to be what?"

The Doctor said, "190. But, he always insisted he was just curious."

The reporter shook his head. "Wow! Revelations here, indeed! So, you were Rose's bodyguard. When did it change from being body guard to being married?"

The Doctor rubbed his face. "Oh, this is hard to talk about. After the Cyber Invasion, I was called to another assignment. I honestly knew how I felt about Rose then, but knew it was inappropriate and told myself to get over it. I left her with another bodyguard, and went on the other assignment. I had no idea she felt the same way. I was not able to be reached, and was presumed dead for several years. It broke Rose's heart. She hid away from the world that I had just lead her into. Pete tried to bring her out more, but she was just destroyed about it. It was entirely my fault. Completely. President Harriet Jones even took a special interest in her and tried to help. When my assignment ended, Howie contacted me immediately. I met Rose in Norway and she invited me to come back and stay with her family while my identity was re-established. I was told to tell everyone I was robbed of my identification. We began to date as I helped Pete at Torchwood."

The reporter was eating it up. "So, you were like a secret agent! No wonder Rose fell for you!"

The Doctor laughed. "No! Nothing that grand! I assure you."

The reporter laughed, "I see. Torchwood. Some of our viewers might not know. What is that?"

"It's all about research and development. Pete was the Director there when I first retired from my other work. He asked me to come and work with him."

The reporter smiled, "And now you and Pete have your own business, separate to Torchwood while you are the Director of Torchwood."

The Doctor nodded. "The Director at Torchwood job was meant to be temporary, but I've gone fond of it. I tease Rose that my life went from adventure, to me signing my name on endless stacks of paper."

Rose looked at him and smiled. "It drives him crazy."

The reporter looked at his paper. "Torchwood has a reputation for coming out with some of the most advanced technology the planet ever sees. Some people think it is under the influence of aliens."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Phhh…. That's just mad! Ever since the Cyber invasion, people see aliens everywhere they go. So many people were hurt and killed, it's really not a surprise. It reminds me of the period of time after the war. In the United States, and even here in Britain, people saw spies everywhere. Even Julia Child was a suspect! It's just the way of life. I've read in the tabloids that people think Rose, or even I am an alien. It's just madness. If I was an alien, wouldn't you think I'd call someone to come get me to take Rose someplace safe?"

The reporter smiled, "That's an excellent point. I've heard you have a daughter. Do you plan to keep her out of the spotlight as much as possible?"

The Doctor looked at Rose. "We adopted our daughter fairly recently. She was left in Rose's care after the death of her dear friend. I've spoken to Pete about it. Pete and Jackie have a young son, Tony, which has always been in the spotlight. They saw where all of that trouble they went through with Rose really didn't help at all. It probably made the transition harder. As for our daughter, we don't want to shelter her from it, but also we want to keep her safe."

"She's five. School aged. What school will she attend?"

Rose spoke. "He is educating her at home."

The reporter laughed. "With an IQ as high as yours, she's a lucky pupil!"

The Doctor smiled, "She's very clever. Her and Tony both. They are great."

"What's her name?"

The Doctor looked at Rose.

Rose nodded, "Genie. Sara Genevieve."

He smiled, "Yeah."

The reporter looked down at his paper. "What would you say your relationship is with the Tyler family, Doctor Smith?"

The Doctor looked over at Rose.

Rose spoke, "He's just part of the family. As you would expect. Tony's big brother, Pete's son who builds strange machines and gizmos with him. I think we all get on well together."

The Doctor nodded his head. "They have been amazing. Better to me than I ever deserved."

The reporter continued, "And Jackie Tyler? I hear she's a force."

The Doctor smiled and chose his words carefully. "Jackie and I have a good relationship. I think. Rose?"

Rose smiled at him, "Yeah. They really do. You always know right where you stand with her. He's no exception. They enjoy winding one another up about things. It's entertaining. She was fussing at him just today for tracking mud into the kitchen."

The Doctor blushed and rubbed his face. "Yeah, she was."

"Your machines that you make. The bone regrowth machine. The headache machine. Where do you get the ideas for that?" the reporter asked.

The Doctor smiled embarrassingly. "Sadly enough, it's because I'm a klutz! A couple of months ago, I broke my wrist. Badly. There was talk of having surgery on it. It was extremely painful. I knew the surgery would only do so much and I would never have a complete recovery, but I wanted to regain the use of my hand. So, I drew up the plans for the machine and asked Pete Tyler to help me make it. He agreed and the entire thing snowballed. Well, as most things do for Pete. He's an amazing businessman. I've never met anyone like him."

Rose rubbed his thigh, "You should tell them about that machine you used on Genie today."

The Doctor smiled, "Our daughter was playing and fell on the sidewalks here. She skinned her knees up. Of course, for a nearly, five year old, it was traumatic. While we were at the State Dinner, a friend of ours suggested I make something like this, and I've just gotten it to work. So, after I cleaned up Genie's knees, I used the new device and regrew the skin on her knees. She smiled and ran back off to skin them up again." He laughed.

The reporter was amazed. "Wow! That's amazing!"

The Doctor smiled, "It's going to help so many people. Imagine having surgery and not having to wait on the incision to heal. Or getting cut and not having to get stitches. Healing the long way round just stinks. I've done it. I hate it."

The reporter looked down at his list. "You seem to have another talent, Doctor Smith."

The Doctor looked confused at the reporter. "What's that?"

"Football! Wasn't it you that opened the Arsenal game with young Tony Tyler?" the reporter asked.

The Doctor smiled. "Yes! Oh that was fun! I love football! We have a small team. Our bodyguards enjoy it, too. Young Tony Tyler is our coach. We've honestly spent the entire day here at the mansion playing today! Pete and I were gone for a week on a business trip, so we're trying to relax a bit from that and spend time with the family. It's great fun."

The reporter laughed. "We have these pictures and video of a match that was played against the Secret Service from the United States."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Yes. They are very good. We had a great time! I hope we can do it again."

"There was a report you were injured at a game you played at recently."

The Doctor nodded, "Yes. That's true. The pitch was wet and I slid into the ball. A rock on the pitch cut my leg. It took, gosh, how many stitches did it take to close it up, Rose?"

Rose thought. "Sixty-one? Is that right?"

The nodded his head. "I think so. Sounds right. That was when I decided I had to make that machine I was telling you about."

The reporter looked down at his paper. "Is that the reason you sent Rose to the movie premiere without you?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I was out of town on business. A friend of ours called and asked if Rose and I would like to join him. She attended with some friends of ours."

He showed them a picture of Rose holding Jack's arm as they walked down the red carpet. Rose smiled, "Yes, that's Jack."

The Doctor smiled. "Yeah, he's an old friend of mine."

The reporter smiled, "A kilt. Scottish?"

The Doctor nodded his head. "Yes. From, ummm… he's told me before. Glasgow, I think."

"And of course, Jake Simmonds. The hero of the President's son's kidnapping."

The Doctor smiled, "Yes. And Tony was kidnapped in that as well. I don't think that was reported. Jacob and Tony were in the same bedroom that night. Both were taken. Jake and our bodyguard, Shakes, got them back unharmed. Amazing men."

"Was that before you got your daughter?"

"I think we got her that day. Is that right, Rose?" he turned and asked Rose.

Rose smiled, "Yes. That's the reason she wasn't in there with Tony and Jacob. She was in our room that night because she got scared and you stayed with her on the sofa in our suite."

He nodded his head. "That's right. Yes."

"Let's talk about these attacks for a moment. How dangerous is the situation?"

"It's a very dangerous situation. We have to be extremely cautious at all times. That's the reason I agreed to do this interview. Just yesterday, I was attacked while I was at Torchwood. I was held at gunpoint while I held my five year old daughter in my arms! I was called an alien, which of course scared her. She has only been with us for a few weeks and we're still getting to know one another. It led to an interesting discussion once we were safe. A lot of reassurance that her Daddy is not an alien. Neither is her Rose. Some people are just mad and will hide behind any excuse to hurt someone."

The reporter looked sad, "Sounds like she's really been through a lot already."

The Doctor nodded, "Our Genie has been through a lot. It's up to me to make sure she doesn't suffer anymore. I'm determined to give her the best life I can. She's lost a father. A mother. Her entire way of life. I can relate a lot to how she feels growing up all alone as I did. We talk about it a lot."

Rose spoke, "I believe it's been very therapeutic to both of them."

The Doctor nodded, "Oh, it has."

The reporter nodded. "So, seeing where you came from now, it's really no surprise seeing you hanging out with President Howard Shepherd or President Harriet Jones."

The Doctor shook his head. "They are just everyday people like everyone else. They just have very public jobs. Howie likes to ride horses and Harriet enjoys a good dance."

Rose smiled, "Caroline Shepherd trimmed John's hair last time we were at Camp David."

The Doctor ran his hand through his hair. "I need to go see her again. She's a fantastic hairdresser."

They all laughed.

The reporter looked at Rose. "Okay, changing gears. Let's talk about the Nobel Prize Nomination. Were you taken by surprise?"

Rose smiled, "Completely. I never imagined it."

"Knowing now what was really going on when you were working on your theory, is that how you credit why you worked so diligently on it?"

Rose nodded her head. "When John left, then we thought he had been killed, I couldn't think about it. I refused to believe it. Instead, I poured all of my attention and time into a theory he had once teased me about."

The reporter looked surprised, "Teased you. So, it was his idea?"

The Doctor shook his head and smiled. "No, not at all."

Rose smiled, "We were talking one day about the danger I was in because of the family I was part of. I hated everything about it. He jokingly told me that unless I could figure out a way into a parallel dimension where I was an unknown, shop girl, that I just had to get used to it."

The reporter laughed.

The Doctor smiled, "Yeah, who would have thought it would have lead to such a remarkable discovery?"

Rose took the Doctor's hand. "When we were apart, I read physics books. It reminded me of him. Once you get him alone and just let him open up and talk, he's brilliant. Often, he's simply hard to follow. I ended up educating myself to be able to talk to John once he returned. As time went on, I started to form theories of my own."

"So, you never doubted he would return to you." The reporter said.

Rose looked at the Doctor and smiled. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. On my days I was really down, I did doubt it."

"It's been reported that you are going to be awarded an honorary doctorate this fall." The reporter said.

Rose nodded her head. "Yes. I'll be Doctor Rose Tyler-Smith."

The reporter nodded, "Amazing story. I understand why you wanted to tell it. It does explain a great deal. Some people who came up in a children's home would probably be full of anger. You don't seem that way, Doctor Smith."

The Doctor shook his head. "People who grow up without a family are like that because of fear. But, if you are wise and very strong, then fear doesn't have to make you cruel or cowardly. Fear can make you kind."

The reporter smiled, "Indeed. You are a very kind man indeed. Disney stocks soared yesterday when it was announced that you had launched this new program of yours."

Rose looked at him surprised. "What is this?"

The Doctor looked over at Rose and smiled. Then he looked back at the reporter, "Well, I had a blast at Disneyworld. It was great to go, get away from everything for a day. Atlanta heat and everything! Mr. Holz there showed us a fantastic time. When I pitched the idea to him, he jumped on it. Turns out that Disney had been looking for something to get more involved in the community."

The reporter smiled, "For those who don't know, Doctor Smith and Pete Tyler have partnered with Disney with production of these machines that regrow bones, help cure headaches, and more. But have also launched a tutoring program that will bring in no less than five tutors into children's homes to help children there to get back on track with their education."

Rose smiled at him. "I didn't know about this."

He rubbed his face, "Someone took an interest in me. If it makes a difference in one child's life, it's worth the price tag."

The reporter raised his eyebrow, "It's a hell of a price tag!"

The Doctor held up a finger, "Every one matters. I've never met someone who didn't. These children need to know that they matter."

The reporter smiled, "Amazing. Let's go back to your employment as an advisor."

The Doctor nodded, "Alright."

The reporter showed him pictures of Pete and the Doctor walking around the White House lawn while the Doctor carried Genie who was sleeping on his shoulder.

The Doctor smiled at the picture. "Oh, that's just a picture of Pete and me walking around having a chat. There wasn't anything that compromised national security. That's the reason I'm holding my daughter, Pete's granddaughter. If I remember correctly, we were chatting about family matters at the time. Genie becoming part of the family. Tony being kidnapped the night before. Or day before. I don't remember exactly."

The reporter smiled, "The Tyler family has a very unique relationship with their bodyguards."

The Doctor smiled. "We do. Our bodyguards are a wonderful bunch of men! They have become part of the family. William Shakes, heads our detail here and was the man I left in charge of Rose when I went on my other assignment. I've known him for a very long time. He's an amazing guy. Several others of those men retired from work similar to what I did. They understand security better than most bodyguards out there."

The reporter smiled, "This has been amazing! I'm so grateful for you both taking the time out of your busy schedules to speak with us tonight. Thank you."

The Doctor smiled put his arm back around Rose. "The truth is always stranger than fiction. Some of this stuff, you just can't make up."

The reporter looked at his paper. "So, I guess the question now is what's in the future for the two Doctor Smiths?

They looked at one another. The Doctor rubbed his beard. "We've not really talked a lot about it. Well, I want to run a marathon."

Rose leaned back and looked at him. "You do?"

He laughed, "Sure! Don't you?"

Rose rolled her eyes, "You are full of surprises. I suppose so."

The reporter laughed at them. "You two are so funny together. What else do you think the future holds? Family?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Genie is our only child at the moment. She's amazing and better than anything we could have hoped for. I couldn't be prouder of her for how she's handled this situation. It's not easy losing someone you love, then coming to live with people you really don't know. I know. I've done it myself."

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