XxxxxxXxxxxx

Chapter 28 – The Night Club

Licis, Lewis and Timon joined Rose, the Doctor, Tony and Pepper as they walked into a fancy night club in New York. The DJ was playing 'Bebot' by the Black Eyed Peas. Celebrities and their bodyguards were everywhere you looked. The atmosphere was charged. Blue lights illuminated the place, while chandeliers hung with beautiful paintings all through. Even though the club was crowded, no one seemed to notice that Tony Stark and Rose Tyler had walked in.

Tony led them all upstairs and held the door opened to a room with glass walls and white, leather sofas along the walls. A table sat in the middle of the room that contained bottles of champagne sitting in a large ice bucket, surrounded by glasses. Transparent, white drapes hung over the windows with red lamps that hung to give the room more light than was downstairs. Through the windows, they could see down on the dance floor. The music was muffled as Licis closed the door.

Tony quickly pointed at Lewis. "Bullet proof glass, man. I checked. It's alright. I come here all of the time."

Lewis nodded his head. "Good stuff. Can they see in?"

The Doctor put his finger to the window and shook his head. "Nah, it's a mirror on the other side."

Rose walked over and put her hand in his. She whispered, "Can I have a quick word?"

He looked back at her. "Sure, Rose."

She led him to a small restroom that was in the back of the room. As they walked inside, he closed the door behind him and rubbed his head. "And we're in the loo, again."

Rose giggled as she stood in front of him. "Baby, it's not what you think. I need some help."

He looked surprised, "What's wrong?"

"I am so uncomfortable."

"What, with this? I mean, it is a night club. You're safe though-"

She rolled her eyes at him, "No." She put her hand on her face and smiled embarrassingly.

"Then, what is it?" He smiled at her.

She bit her lip and smiled, "When you trimmed me today, I believe you got a bit close."

He raised his eyebrows, "Oh."

"It isn't comfortable. It's as if it's….burning-"

He nodded his head. "I know how to fix this."

He dug in his pocket and pointed to the cabinet behind her. "Sit, just there."

She pulled off her knickers and sat on the cabinet. He took a small tube out of his pocket. She felt him rub something on the sore area that caused it to feel better immediately. He went ahead and rubbed the rest of her sensitive area between her legs. She smiled, "Oh, I'm enjoying that."

He continued to put it on her. Moving it around slowly, then teasing her with his fingers as he rubbed it into her skin. He whispered, "Better?"

She smiled as he looked at her. "That feels so much better. What was that?"

He smiled like a loon and showed her the tube. "Chapstick!" He put some on his lips and laughed.

She giggled. "You are mad."

He reached down and pulled her knickers back up on her. "There. Alright?"

She stood up and held him around the neck. "Yes. Thank you."

He rubbed her cheek with his thumbs and looked into her eyes. "May I?"

She smiled, "Of course."

His lips met hers. She ran her hands through his hair as he leaned over to get closer to her. He held her face as he snogged her proper.

'I love kissing you.' He told her in her head as his tongue circled around her own.

'You're welcome to do more than that.' She teased him.

He smiled and looked at her. "Let yourself heal a bit first."

She groaned and shook him. "Damn it. Really?"

He whispered, "We have later. We have nothing but time. And I want to spend every moment I can showing you how much I love you."

She smiled at him and whispered, "Baby, I love that plan."

He kissed her hands, "Let's get back to our friends. We can continue this later, when you've healed and will be able to enjoy it more."

She sighed, "Alright."

They walked out of the restroom together. Tony pointed at them and started to clap. Lewis laughed as Licis cheered, too.

Rose and the Doctor looked at one another and laughed in disbelief. Rose covered her face. The Doctor pointed at Tony. "It's not what you think."

Tony laughed, "Sure, it's not. Lucky man."

Rose sat down on a sofa and smiled. The Doctor sat down next to her and put his arm around her. "How's this for normal?'" He asked.

She giggled and shook her head. "Posh."

"Have you been here before?" he asked.

"No. I've been invited several times, but haven't came."

Pepper sat down next to her. "That's right. I've invited her at least twice."

The Doctor chuckled as he looked back at Rose. He rubbed the side of his head and sighed.

A waitress had came in the room. Tony stood with her near the door. He turned behind him, "John. Beer, right?"

The Doctor didn't open his eyes and nodded his head. "Yes. Two, please."

"Rose?"

"White wine." She said.

Pepper smiled, "We'll share a bottle. That sounds good. Get that sort we had last time."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Like I can remember shit like that."

Pepper shook her head at him. "You can remember the atomic mass of all of the elements, but you can't remember what kind of wine I like?"

Tony bit his lip, "Didier Dagueneau Silex for the ladies. 2008, if you have it."

Pepper mumbled, "I knew he knew that. He's just being a pain."

The Doctor looked at Pepper, impressed. "French wine from the bearded wildman of the Loire.That is a good one."

Tony yelled, "Lewis! What are you drinking?"

Lewis sat down next to the Doctor on the arm of the sofa. "We'll all have a beer. Well, Timon wants…."

Timon smiled, "Beer is fine with me, too."

The Doctor turned his head to Lewis, "Thanks for coming tonight. You could have told me you lot were there."

Lewis laughed and shook his head, "Oh, but this was much more fun. Can I have a quick word?"

"Sure." He said as he stood up.

Rose overheard them and told him quickly in his head, 'Don't use the same chapstick if you've been trimming Lewis.'

He looked back at her and rolled his eyes. "He has to use his own."

Rose giggled.

Lewis shook his head. "I really don't want to know what that is about."

"No, you don't, my friend. What's up?" The Doctor asked as walked with Lewis to the back of the room. Licis went to look out of the window at the dancing.

When Lewis and the Doctor got to the corner, Lewis put his hands on his hips. "I don't know where to start." He said quietly.

"Most people start with an introduction. What are we talking about?" he asked him.

Lewis pointed at him. "You. Have you been mucking around with time?"

The Doctor narrowed his eyes at him. "Why would you think that?"

Lewis rolled his eyes. "Oh, I knew it. You sent Jack and Jake….." Lewis stopped and thought for a moment, "You know what. I don't want to know. I know it had to do something with those files."

He nodded his head. "Yes. One more is in the 'Sorted' category."

Lewis crossed his arms and smiled, "I heard about the shot. That's not like you."

The Doctor rubbed the side of his head and groaned. "See, that's what I thought you would want to talk to me about."

Lewis laughed under his breath. "Hell of a shot. Times four I hear."

The Doctor crossed his arms and sighed. "I really don't want to talk about that."

"Something is up with you. I know Pete has caved on the entire psychologist thing-"

"But."

"I think it would be good for you to go."

He was already shaking his head. "Absolutely, not. Forget it. I went through the trials and had to tell you and Summus things I had done before. I'm surprised you, of all people, are surprised by this."

"You're not surprised?" Lewis asked him quietly. "This isn't war."

The Doctor sighed and put his hands in his pockets. "When it involves someone shooting my child, it is! I'm not going to allow that to happen. She's a Primary with the Tyler family. I was doing what I have sworn to do both as a father and a Quauthin. If I'm not able to take the shot to protect her, what makes you think any of the rest of the guys will? If Lance had done this, you wouldn't be having a discussion with him, or demanding he see a damn psychologist. Tell me I'm wrong."

Lewis looked him up and down. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm out of line."

"No, you aren't out of line. The day this sort of thing happening doesn't demand a discussion between Primuses will be a sad day indeed. Agreed?"

Lewis shook his head. "You're right." He nodded and shook his hand. Then he chuckled. "Lance is full of it. 400 meters?"

The Doctor groaned, "It's not important."

"Has Rose asked?"

The Doctor looked back at Rose. She was laughing as Pepper poured her a glass of wine and Tony was in the middle of some story. He looked back at Lewis. "I plan to talk to her later about it."

Tosh and Malcolm walked in the room with Lance. Rose stood up as soon as she saw them. "Tosh! Malcolm!"

Tosh rushed to Rose and they embraced one another. Malcolm walked over as if he was walking on eggshells. He pointed at Tony Stark. "You're….." He began.

Tony stood up and held out his hand. "Tony. Tony Stark."

Malcolm fainted and fell in the floor with a loud crash.

Tony looked back at the Doctor. "If you say I can't laugh at that shit, we can't be friends."

XxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxxx

Licis and the Doctor had helped Malcolm into a chair and gave him a glass of cool water to sip. The Doctor pat him in the chest and chuckled, "You need to lighten up, Malcolm. You're too high strung. Relax a bit."

Tony laughed, "He's drinking the wrong thing to relax. Hey, waiter!"

A young man who was delivering their drinks looked up and smiled, "Yes, Mr. Stark."

"Bring this guy a…." Tony looked at the Doctor for help.

Malcolm shook his head. "I don't normally drink. I don't like the taste."

Tony thought of it. "I've got it! A pina colada for this guy." Tony pointed at Malcolm. "Pina colada's taste like suntan lotion. You'll be fine."

The waiter laughed and left the room.

The Doctor and Licis walked past the table and picked up a beer each. Licis walked back to look out of the window at the dancing, while the Doctor sat down next to Rose. Tony sat in the chair next to him and pointed at Malcolm. "Is he going to be alright?"

The Doctor looked back at Malcolm. He had laid his head on the back of the chair he sat in and closed his eyes. "He'll be fine. Leave him alone for a bit."

The Doctor put his arm back around Rose. She was busy chatting with Tosh and Pepper. All of the ladies were drinking wine.

Tosh smiled, "Do you have a picture of him?"

Rose turned to look at the Doctor. "May I borrow your phone?"

He smiled and reached in his pocket to get his phone. He handed it to Rose. She brought up a picture of Sam and showed it to Tosh and Pepper.

Tosh covered her mouth, "Awwww…. He is adorable."

The Doctor put his hand on Rose's thigh, "Be careful swiping those pictures."

Rose looked confused back at him, "Why?"

Tony and Lewis laughed quietly at the look on Rose's face as she swiped a few images. "This is me! I was sleeping!"

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't help myself."

Rose blushed as she looked back at him.

Tony rose up and held his hand out. "I know a way you can hide those. Let me show you."

Rose handed him the phone. He sat back and started swiping the pictures, "Oh yeah."

The Doctor snatched the phone out of Tony's hand. "There's no way you can hide those! You are just looking at them."

Tony sipped his Scotch and shook his head. "Oh well. I got to see a few before you realized that."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "I'll slap him for you later, Rose."

Lewis laughed and poured himself some more beer.

The Doctor laid his arm across the back of the sofa and rubbed his forehead.

Tony noticed, "Optics bothering you, man?"

The Doctor shook his head, "I don't have them in. I'm alright."

Tony asked, "So, Tosh. You work with John at Torchwood?"

Tosh smiled, "Yes. Malcolm and I both do."

"How are you enjoying the Expo? John told me sent a couple of people."

She smiled, "There are some amazing things here."

The Doctor pointed at Tosh. "Tosh and Malcolm have helped Rose with some stuff over the years. Brilliant people."

Malcolm was handed a pina colada.

Tony nodded his head. "Did you bring anything to show? Or are you just checking it out?"

Tosh shook her head. "My ideas are unfortunately steps off of other ideas. I don't think it would be appropriate to take credit where it wasn't completely my own idea."

Tony propped his head up on his hand. "Really? That's interesting. Like what?"

Pepper sipped her wine. "Don't badger her, Tony-"

"I'm not. I'm curious what she has in mind."

Tosh looked at Rose, who encouraged her. "Well, it actually was something I thought about after you came by today, Doctor."

The Doctor opened his eyes, "Yeah?"

"Well, all of this going on with President Shepherd made me realize how many people are still waiting on an organ. There should be a way we can grow our own instead of waiting for them to become available."

Tony looked shocked, "How the hell can you do that?"

The Doctor rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes again. "You're talking about stem cell research and growing spare organs inside of animals."

Tosh shook her head. "No. I'm not. What if you took the technology that will regrow skin from your device, hook it to a 3D printer, and simply print out the organ you need?"

The Doctor dropped his hand and looked back at Tony in surprise.

Tony asked, "Could you do that, John?"

He seemed shocked. "Yeah. You could."

Rose asked, "Well, you would have to make it different blood types and such, wouldn't you?"

The Doctor shook his head. "All blood types can accept O+ blood. Wow. That could work! Hell of an idea, Tosh. And no, that's your idea. Not mine."

Tony sat back and sipped his Scotch as he laughed. "What it's all about!"

Tosh smiled embarrassed. "There's so many things that will have to be worked out."

The Doctor smiled back at her. "That's with anything. I'll explain to you how that device works and we'll put our heads together on that. Pete will love it! Tosh, you're quitting Torchwood and coming to work for me and Pete."

Tosh rolled her eyes, "I already work for you and Pete Tyler."

Rose smiled back at her friend.

Pepper asked Rose, "Rose. I've been meaning to ask all night, why are you wearing tennis shoes?"

Rose smiled as she looked down at her feet. "I turned my ankle this afternoon." And Rose was off telling them about her fall down the steps and how the Doctor doesn't like for her to wear heels. Tony got up and went to look out of the window at the dance floor with Licis and Lewis.

The Doctor continued to rub his forehead until his bracelet lit up. He groaned and looked down at it. Realizing it was telling him there was a phone call for him, he took his phone out of his pocket and smiled.

Rose noticed, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's Tony. I'll take it over here." He told her as he answered the phone and walked to the back of the room. Tony Tyler's small face looked back at him on the screen.

"Hey, Comrade. It's late. Why aren't you asleep?" he asked.

Tony Tyler's worried face said, "Brother. Is Rose dead again?"

The Doctor smiled, "No. She's completely fine. Do you want me to show her to you?"

Tony nodded his head.

The Doctor walked over and leaned over the back of the sofa. "I'm sorry, Rose. Your brother needs to see you for a bit." He told her as he held the phone down where Tony could see both of them.

"Hi, Tony. Why aren't you asleep?" Rose asked.

Tony crossed his arms. "That's what John asked me! Why aren't you asleep?"

"I'm a grown-up." Rose told him.

Sensing the beginning of what promised to be an epic argument, the Doctor took the phone and walked back to the other side of the room. "Anyway! See Comrade, she's fine. She's with me."

Tony noticed him standing in the corner and walked over and took the phone from his hand. "Mr. Tyler!"

Tony laughed, "Mr. Stark!"

Tony pointed at the screen, "Get your ass to bed, Mr. Tyler!"

"I'm going to tell Genie you are swearing at me."

"Oh, I dare you, kid. Do you your worst. When are you coming to work on this damn glider thing with me?"

Tony shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not sure. Have your people, call my people."

"Good deal. I'll go talk to my people now." He handed the phone back to the Doctor. Tony rolled his eyes and laughed. "Smart ass. I like him."

The Doctor smiled, "Good night, Tony."

Tony Tyler smiled, "Night, brother."

He ended the call and rubbed his eyes.

Tony was standing next to him. "Tired?"

He shook his head. "I'm alright."

Tony nodded his head, "I had an idea. Tell me what you think about this. Have you seen that movie, The Matrix?"

The Doctor smiled, "We're not plugging people in to use them as batteries-"

Tony rolled his eyes. "No. Do you remember that thing that they did where they plugged the guy into the computer, and downloaded information into his head? Then all of a sudden, he knew how to fight?"

"Where are you going with this?"

"Your machine, back on Plentitude. It rewrites neural pathways. You could copy that part of someone's brain, and paste it into someone else's. Say, Lewis' badassness into Logan's head."

He looked surprised, "Lewis? Not me?"

He laughed, "Sorry, I had to. But, that could work. Couldn't it?"

The Doctor rubbed his chin. "It could."

"We'd have to go back to Plentitude-"

He was already shaking his head. "No. I have one on the ship."

Tony smiled, "Oh, hell yeah."

Rose walked over and put her arms around the Doctor. He kissed her head and held her.

"Are you alright?" she asked him.

"I'm fine." He told her.

Tony pointed at him. "He keeps rubbing his head."

"It's just a bit of a headache. I'm fine."

Rose rubbed his back. "It's more than that. I can tell. I've already told everyone our goodbyes. Let's go back home."

Tony held his hands out. "You didn't tell me bye. What the hell? I was going to ask you for a dance."

She smiled, "Next time then."

Tony smiled at her. "That's not no."

XxxxxXxxxxxxx

Rose and the Doctor popped back to their bedroom on the island. Rose let go of his hand and pointed to the bed. "Lay down. I'll get something cool for your head."

She flipped on the lamp next to the sofa, as she walked through the dark room.

He took off his jacket and tossed it on the back of the chair. He lay down on the bed and kicked off his shoes just as she returned and sat next to him. He had let his shields down now that they were home and Rose could feel how much pain he was in. He closed his eyes as she laid the cool, wet washcloth on his forehead.

"Thank you, Rose." He said quietly.

"Baby, how long as your head been hurting like this?"

"On and off all day."

"Why haven't you said anything about this?"

He smiled, "I seem to remember asking you the same thing, earlier today."

She rose her eyebrows at him.

"You were having a good time, I didn't want to spoil anything. You need to get out more. Be around your friends."

Rose unbuttoned his vest. "Our friends. And baby, if you are not feeling well, you need to tell me. I don't want you to be miserable. Please don't shield things like that from me."

"Yes, ma'am." He told her without opening his eyes.

He took a deep breath as he lay on the bed. Rose rubbed his hip and told him quietly, "I'm going to go change."

He grabbed her hand and held her tightly. "No. Please just stay here with me."

"Of course, I will."

He loosened his tie and took it off. She unbuttoned his oxford to help him get more comfortable. She felt him start to relax as she rubbed his chest.

"This seems to help." She whispered.

"You being here with me is helping."

She asked him quietly, "Why haven't you taken anything for this?"

"I won't help."

"Why?"

"It's … these damn visions. I don't want to look and they have built up."

"They will make you sick if you don't look at them?"

He sighed, "When there are several, they will." He pulled the washcloth onto his eyes.

"Will looking at them give you relief?"

He nodded his head. "But, I don't want to see them. If I fall asleep, I'll see them."

Rose rubbed his hip, "Well, baby. It would seem that you are in quite a pickle then."

"This is just…..rubbish. I hate this."

She threaded her fingers through his. "I'll look at them with you."

"I'm worried about what is there. I don't want to upset you."

She smiled, "I don't want you to be in pain. I can't fix this. You need to look, but you don't have to see it on your own. I'm here with you. I'm not going anywhere."

He exhaled slowly, "Are you sure?"

She said quietly, "I'm not going to let you do something like that on your own. I know how you feel about it." She kicked off her shoes and straddled his waist. He smiled as she rubbed his chest and leaned down to rub her nose to his.

She whispered, "Just lay there and relax. I'm here with you. You are alright. We're going to be alright."

He smiled, "I love you, Rose. Thank you."

"I just need to kiss you, right?"

He nodded his head, "I'll probably pass out as soon as all of them are shown. Don't be alarmed, alright?"

She felt his hands go up her skirt and rest on her bum. He quickly moved the washcloth off of his eyes and looked at her in surprise. "Are you really not wearing knickers in this short of a dress?"

She laughed, "It's a thong, you nutter. How have you not noticed that tonight? Your head must really be a state. Focus."

She cupped his face and rubbed his beard with her thumbs. He relaxed and closed his eyes again. She began to kiss him slowly. He licked her lips as she opened them and his tongue slipped into her mouth. As she snogged him, she could feel his pain. It felt like an intense pressure was pressing against both sides of his head. The feeling of anxiety was high.

Rose felt his hands hold her tightly under her dress. Without warning a bright, white light seemed to flash in front of her.

It was dark. Rose could hear water running. She was underground with metal pipes running overhead. She ran to the end of a hallway with her heart in her throat. That's when she saw him. The Doctor was holding a small, blond haired boy tightly in his arms as he sat in the floor. The little boy wasn't moving and she could feel fear rising in both the boy and the Doctor.

The Doctor spoke to him. "Sam. You're going to be alright. Don't relax. Don't go to sleep. Listen to Daddy. Fight this! You are strong. Like your mum. You can do this. Daddy is here with you."

Rose covered her mouth as Sam started to glow and regenerate.

The light flashed in front of Rose's eyes again. She was sitting around a dining room table inside of the Tyler Estate. They were enjoying a lovely feast. Pete made a toast, "I don't say it often enough, or even much at all. It's just not what an Englishman usually does." He pointed at a red-haired teenager who sat next to a blond haired little boy. Both were laughing at Pete.

"I love you all. So, very much. And I can't imagine my life without any of you in it. I'm the luckiest man in this entire world." He said.

She felt the Doctor take her hand as they all shouted, "Here, Here!"

The light flashed again. Tony Stark was sitting in a chair, reading from a notebook. He had a black eye, held an ice pack to his head, and had one of his arms in a sling. "This shit makes no damn sense. And it's not often I'll say that. What the hell was Rose thinking doing this? This should have killed her! How did this bomb not go off?"

The light flashed again and Rose was looking into the Doctor's face. His eyes were as large as saucers. "Rose. Do you have any idea what this is?"

She giggled at his excitement, "No, what is it?"

"The Hand of Omega! This really shouldn't be here. How is this here?"

The light flashed again.

Rose was standing inside of the TARDIS. She could feel the familiar hum in her head. A man with a large chin, an old fashioned suit, and eyes that couldn't look more shocked, looked down at her and helped her up.

"Rose?" He asked.

Just then, she saw her Doctor stand up behind him. He tapped on the other Doctor's shoulder.

A light flashed again.

Rose looked up at the tree of silver leaves that she stood under. The red sky above it reflected against the leaves and made them appear as if they were on fire. She turned around and brushed her hair from her face. The wind blew the red grass around her feet.

The Doctor stood next to her, hands in his pockets, with a look of complete disbelief on his face. "This isn't possible. How are we here?"

"Because it wasn't destroyed! I've been trying to tell you that!" A man with a Scottish accent shouted at him. "It was hidden! I've never noticed I'm this thick. Maybe, it's because I'm so young in your form?"

Rose saw her Doctor roll his eyes. "I have no problem punching you again. None. At. All. I'm not you. And that fact alone, makes me very happy."

Rose saw another bright white light flash. She was back in their bedroom. She felt the Doctor's breath against her lips as he relaxed into the pillows. He had passed out just as he had warned her that he might.

She could feel the pain was gone from his head. She took off the cool washcloth and kissed his forehead as he slept.

"Rest, sweetheart." She whispered.

XxxxxxXxxxxxxx