XXXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxxXxx

Chapter 32 - Focus

It was late that evening. Pete, Jackie and Tony had decided to stay the night in the island home. Zeus had been brought by one of the Quauthin, but hadn't been seen for a while.

Rose, carrying a sleeping Sam in her arms, closed the door to Genie's room. Jacob was sleeping in her room on a roll out bed. Completely worn out from their adventures, they were both sound asleep.

Rose looked in Tony's room. Pete lay in the bed holding Tony. They had fallen asleep reading a book together. Rose smiled at them.

Rose continued to walk down the dim hallway of the island home. She climbed the stairs to the top floor to find the light on in their bedroom. She walked in to find the Doctor lying in the middle of the bed, reading something on his tablet. He had taken off his jacket and vest and tossed them on a chair in the corner. He was wearing his glasses. Zeus lay next to him on the bed, and he was absentmindedly running his hand through his fur. It was clear he was totally engrossed in whatever he was reading.

Rose smiled at him and said quietly, "You're back."

He didn't look up, "I'm back."

"Everything taken care of then?"

"Yep." He popped. Still distracted, he continued, "They are handling it themselves. One less one for me to deal with."

Rose giggled, "That doesn't sound like you."

"One dead body? No one knows why? Nah, let someone else have that. I have enough problems without that one, too."

Rose walked over and sat next to him. He still had not taken his eyes off of the tablet.

"And you have new glasses." Rose noticed the thinner, wire frames he was wearing.

He nodded his head, still distracted, "Yeah, I popped by the office and picked up some stuff. These finally came in."

Rose watched him run his hand through Zeus' hair and study something on the tablet. She watched him continue to be totally preoccupied with whatever he was looking at. After a few minutes, he looked at her and smiled. "I'm sorry. What?"

She smiled at him as she patted his thigh. "One might accuse you of avoiding your mother in law."

He smiled, "No. I was protecting Zeus from the madness of children." He whispered to her. "He's hiding out."

She giggled, "Right. I'm sure."

He laughed. "It's true! You can ask him."

Zeus laid his head on the Doctor's leg and whined.

The Doctor said, "I believe you, Zeus. Don't worry."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Okay, you two are hiding out. One from a mother in law, and one from mad children."

He sat his tablet down next to him and took off his glasses. When he looked at her, he noticed she was still holding Sam. He held his finger up and said, "Hang on." He took off his shirt.

Rose looked confused at him as he took Sam and laid him high on his bare chest. He kissed the top of his sleeping head as Sam fussed. "I know you were comfortable. Daddy is here. Shhh…." He told him. He took his oxford and laid it back on Sam. He kissed the top of his head over and over.

Rose smiled as he settled back down in the bed with Sam. He rubbed his lips across Sam's thin hair. Rose held the Doctor's thigh. "What did you have for dinner?"

He groaned, "A hamburger and chips. I always want one when I first return to Earth. That, or a steak. I don't know why. What did you have?"

"Mum made Shepherd's Pie. It was a frozen dinner, thing. Shakes ran out to get us all pizza."

"Protecting the family from Jackie's cooking! That's our man!" He teased. Rose smacked him playfully.

"Rose, I had a think about this break from drinking thing. I really don't think it was that bad. I think that maybe you have the wrong impression about this entire thing."

Rose shook her head. "I've not ask you to quit, I've asked you to take a break from it. There is a difference. You can find some other ways to relive stress during that time."

He sighed and brushed his lips across Sam's head again. "Like what? I'm open for suggestions."

"You holding Sam like that is probably helping." Rose smiled. "It makes me melt seeing you like that."

He smiled. "He has such thin hair. Plus, he smells so proper lovely. It's odd, Rose. His presence is just….. soothing."

Rose smiled. "It's because he's a baby. Aren't all babies like that?"

"Was Tony like that?" He asked her.

Rose thought for a moment. "Tony has always been a live wire. I don't think soothing would ever be used to describe him."

The Doctor looked puzzled and returned to kissing Sam's head. He whispered to him, "Daddy loves you, Sam. You are precious to me."

Rose smiled at them. "Okay, holding a baby will help with your stress. What else?"

"I honestly don't know if it helps or not. I find I block my stress when I hold him. As if I'm putting it on hold. What else do you suggest?"

"You're THE DOCTOR. You don't know of some things you can do?" She asked him in disbelief.

He rubbed his face and shook his head. "I'm at my limit already tonight. Just tell me what works for you."

Rose smiled with her tongue in her teeth and slowly ran her hand to his groin. She gently palmed him through his trousers. "There's always sex."

He smiled, but tried to remain serious. "There is that. Clinically speaking, of course."

"Yes. Just for medical purposes. I've heard that drinking an excess of alcohol can cause you to ummm…."

"Me to what?" he asked her as she continued to tease him.

"Well, men to ummm. Be unable to perform due to not being able to get hard-"

He laughed at her. "I've never had that problem. Well….. there was that one time. Well… that was an old body. Well….. not too old. Well…. I was trying to get out of that, too. Nevermind. Rose, that's not something you need to worry about. I'm fine in that department."

Rose giggled at him. "There is also meditation."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not doing that. That just seems…."

"What?" Rose asked him.

"Alien." He said.

Rose rolled her eyes. "I know you didn't just say that."

"It doesn't seem alien to you?" he asked.

Rose picked up Sam off of his chest and put him in his cot. The Doctor threw his arms out in protest. "Well, the hell? I had just gotten him comfortable."

"He was comfortable from the moment you lay him on your chest. I could feel that."

He sighed as he lay back on the bed and ran his hand through his hair. Rose sat down next to him, and held out her hands.

He looked at her questionability. "What?"

"I'll meditate with you. Have you ever done it?" Rose offered.

"How about sex? Is that an option at this point?" He asked her as he sat up.

Zeus jumped up and ran out of the room.

They both laughed at his reaction.

Rose smiled at him. "Last time I had sex with you, you nearly passed out. I think you should wait for a bit."

"That's because you are so good at it. What do you think?" He teased her as he rubbed her thighs.

She laughed quietly, "Lewis is on his honeymoon. He's the only one I would even feel comfortable calling if you actually did pass out while we were having sex."

He dramatically dropped his head. "Rose, I'm really alright."

"We're not completely sure. You say your senses are all back, but you would tell me that anyway." Rose insisted.

He looked away and nodded his head. "Damn. I would have to marry a clever woman. Alright, fine. Have it your way. But, I'm maintaining that this is weird."

Rose smiled as she laid her legs on top of his and moved closer to him. She wrapped her legs around his back. He bit his lip as he looked at her and continued to rub her thighs. "Oh, yes. This is nice."

"Friday, play my music, please. Quietly, I don't want to wake up the baby." Rose asked.

"Certainly, ma'am." Friday said. "Fade into You" by Mazzy Star started to play.

The Doctor put his hands on her cheeks and kissed her. What Rose thought would have been a quick kiss, turned into a long, passionate snogging. He sucked her bottom lip, causing her to moan. When he stopped, he rubbed her shoulders, "Are you sure the sex is out?"

Clearly dazed, she pointed forcefully at him. "Focus. We're meditating."

"Right! Meditating. To relieve stress. Alright! Show me how you do this."

She took his hands off of her shoulders and held them. "Alright. First, you need to close your eyes."

She smiled as he closed his eyes in front of her. "Then, I want you to clear your mind."

"All I can hear at the moment is how handsome you think I am. Are your eyes closed, or are you looking at me?" He asked her.

"I'm looking at you." Rose smiled as she whispered to him.

He whispered to her. "If you are looking at me while you are making me meditate, then I should be able to do something. It's only fair, Rose."

Rose could feel his mood. She giggled, "What do you have in mind?"

"I won't open my eyes, just let me touch you." He asked.

"You are holding my hands-"

"Don't play woman. You know what I mean." He smiled at her.

Rose unbuttoned her blouse and brought his hands to cup her breasts. He smiled, then forced himself to become serious. "Meditation. Right. Serious stuff." Then he mumbled breathlessly, "Oh, this feels like a sexy bra."

"Focus." Rose demanded.

"Focused! Yes ma'am. Now, what should I do?"

"Tell me something that is causing you stress." Rose told him.

He opened his eyes and looked at her, "Now, how the hell is that supposed to help?"

Rose pointed forcefully at him. "Listen, Time Lord! You know that I'm here to help you. I'm part of you now. Being honest with yourself, or your spouse, is the first step at releasing stress."

"Says who? I've never heard this?"

Rose rolled her eyes and groaned, "You are the biggest pain in the ass. Will you just try this?"

He sighed and closed his eyes again. He held her hands. "Alright. Things that cause me stress. A dead alien on the resort island."

Rose spoke softly to him. "Someone else is handling that, you don't need to worry about it."

"Three crashes to Earth since we've been gone. That's one a day in the same place. What the hell caused that?" he sighed.

"There is an entire team working on that back at Torchwood. I'm sure. Let them do their jobs. You do yours. What else?"

"This beautiful woman with me, she's being a bit demanding." He smiled.

She leaned in and kissed him quickly. "Keep talking. What else?"

"We left Plentitude just in time. There is a huge outbreak of a contagious strain of….umm… something similar to the flu. There's a few people hospitalized now that are not doing well with it at all." He sighed.

She kissed him and rubbed his chest. She whispered, "We are all safe. If we need to go back, we can be there in nine hours. What else?"

He opened his eyes and rubbed his face. He sighed, "Howie. He really doesn't need to continue to be President. Did you know they are President for seven years? He can't do that another seven years. The stress alone would kill him, not to mention this damn problem with his heart."

He lay back in the pillows.

Rose lay down on top of him. He wrapped his arms around her. "Howie is a young man. He has years ahead of him if he will take care of himself. He needs to step away from this. How long does the British President serve?"

"Four or five years. I'm not certain." Rose said as she teased his chest with her fingertips.

"Howie is a very stubborn man, but I don't believe he realizes what is at stake here. He has a very weak heart. I've seen all of the tests. That heart attack should have done him in. He was just too damn stubborn." He complained.

"You will have to talk him out of it. But, it's just not up to you to do that. You're not alone in feeling this way about it."

"What do you mean?" He asked her.

"Dad feels the same way. Maybe you two can speak to him together."

He sighed, "That might work. Maybe he'll listen to Pete."

"I can feel you are more at ease. I know you are worried about Tony's leg. He's fine. Dad made him lay down so he wouldn't try to walk on it tonight."

"Oh, he'll be fine. The other Tony has me worried. He is on the ship tonight with Timon working on that suit. They are planning on transporting him straight into Afghanistan tomorrow morning. He's going to get his ass killed doing that. I wish I could make him see that."

"It's not up to you to tell everyone what to do."

"People's lives would be so much easier if they would just listen to me. Like Malcolm for example. I've reread his proposal again tonight. Does he just not see what he's going to do? Why is he so obsessed with this? How well do you know him?"

"I know him really well. Let me talk to him about this. Explain what is at risk."

He shook his head. "Rose. I don't need you to fight my battles for me."

"This is not fighting battles for you. I don't know of you realize this or not, but people like options. Let me give him some options, instead of you just making demands."

He smiled, "'Good cop, bad cop' as Tony would say. Makes sense. Alright, have a go at him, Agent Tyler. I'll kick if we move to a shoot-out."

Rose giggled, "You and football. What else is going on?"

He sighed, "I think that's it. Feels like there is more."

She smiled as she rose up and looked at him. "And you feel better. I can feel that."

"I still want a drink." He complained.

Rose smacked him playfully across the chest. "Focus."

"What? We're not mediating anymore. Stop hitting me woman."

Rose smiled at him. "Now, you are supposed to ask what is bothering me."

"Oh! Right! Sorry. Rose, I'm terrible at this. Yes. What is on your mind?" he asked.

She lay back down on his shoulder. "I worry about my husband. He seems to be having a hard time."

"You shouldn't worry about him. Your husband is an adult and has taken care of himself for centuries. He has a hard time letting go to let someone else worry about him. Not to mention, he's rubbish at relationships."

Rose giggled, "I'm determined to help him."

"He's a pain in the ass. I don't know if he's worth your time or not."

Rose smiled, "He is worth my time. He is dear to me. He did something strange this morning. Something I don't think he even realizes he did."

"Left the toilet seat up? I really try to remember about that. I hear it's annoying to all wome-"

"No. He called me 'Rose Smith.' I know he hates that." Rose told him.

He thought for a few moments. "I did say that." He said as he realized it. "Huh."

Rose sat up and looked at him, "Baby, you hate that."

He smiled like a loon. "Baby. No one calls me that. I love that."

"Focus." Rose said as she rolled her eyes and smiled at him.

"Right. Well, I have been saying it over and over in my mind. Even before we were married. Rose Smith. Rose Smith. I thought it might make it sound more, natural. I thought it first it sounded like you had married Micky. Micky Smith. I hated that. But, more and more people are starting to call me Smith. So, it's like you married me. We're together. Not you and Micky."

He threaded his fingers through hers and kissed her wrist.

Rose looked in his eyes. "That's why you hated it? Because of him?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Rose, I can't help it. I'm terrible at this stuff. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry for that. I didn't realize that's what it sounded like to you."

"You dated Micky, and thinking about that now just makes my heart ache. And that other guy who talked you into leaving school. I just want you to be happy and I know they were not good enough for you. I'm not good enough for you."

She kissed him quickly, "Don't say that. And don't think about these other guys. That's just weird."

"Yeah, I suppose it is. I'm still getting used to living in linear time. It's strange."

Rose smiled as she ran her hand through his hair. He relaxed in the mountain of pillows. "You feel so, relaxed."

He closed his eyes. "I am relaxed at the moment. You feel… umm…. Rather…. Sensual."

Rose laughed quietly at him. "Do I?"

He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "You really do." He kissed her hand and teased, "Sensual. Very lascivious."

Rose smiled, "I have no idea what that even means. But, I can guess."

He pulled her wrist back to his lips and kissed it slowly. "It is an adjective that means 'inclined to lustfulness. Arousing sexual desire.' See, and now you are up to the minute."

Rose ran her hand through his hair. "Up to the minute, huh?"

"Way too much CNN. I've been keeping a look out for aliens on there."

Rose rolled her eyes. "What were you reading on your tablet?"

"Reports from Torchwood. I did read your book. I've been meaning to chat with you about that."

She lay her head down on his chest and groaned, "Ugh. We don't have to talk about how big of an idiot I am."

"Oh! Wow. Quite the contrary! I've been blinded with science. Holy shit, woman. Really?"

Rose giggled at his excitement, "You feel like you are about to burst. You madman."

"I read that 32 times that night you first handed it to me. Wow. I could hear your voice in it. It was amazing. Wow. You understand all of that?"

"Well, duh. I wrote it, didn't I?" Rose told him.

He ran his hand through his hair. "Damn. Well, there are three things I want to say about that. First, brilliant. Absolutely, brilliant. It left me speechless. I can't wait to get my TARDIS ready so I can take you to meet Einstein and you two can discuss things." He looked at her and breathed out slowly, "Oh, you have no idea how hot you are to me-"

"Focus!" Rose laughed as she felt his hands rub her bum through her jeans. "You are so ridiculous."

"Right. Sex is out tonight. Damn. Alright. Are you sure about that?" He asked her.

Rose smiled at him and looked him up and down. She considered. "It's on the table for discussion."

"Yes! Alright. What was I talking about?"

"My book, you nutter."

"Oh, yes! Your book. It's not a book, I read it as four separate books. You could elaborate in some areas to make it a bit longer if you wanted. I want to send it to the same publisher I've been working with Rowling. If you can water it down and make a children's version, you could do an entire set."

Rose looked surprised at him. "You're serious. You want to publish this?"

"Of course I do! Don't you?"

"I honestly haven't thought about it. I just wrote it to have something to do."

"Harry Potter is sitting on the table over there. I've already read it twice tonight. It's better than I remembered. Oh, wow. But, your book would blow some people's minds. The scientific world would be left speechless. I'm certain of it."

Rose laughed at him. "Speechless. Unlike you?"

"Well. I talk a lot. In every language. It's a problem with me. But, there was one problem I have to chat with you about."

Rose groaned and fell back in the pillows dramatically. "Oh, here it comes."

He smiled at her as he lay down and ran his hand across her cheek. He looked in her eyes. "No, nothing like that. I just feel that you need to hold off on some bits of it. It's something this time isn't ready for. It could be very dangerous in the wrong hands."

Rose looked surprised and continued to rub his bare chest. "Really?"

"Oh, hell yes. Einstein didn't see that with his theory. I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen. The atom bomb later, he wished he had taken my advice. Instead of me warning someone and them not listening to me, will you please just do me that one favor? Please?"

Rose smiled at him. "Of course I will. Don't worry about that."

He kissed her gently. She ran her fingertips up and down his back. He could feel her enthusiasm. He rubbed her nose with his. "You said, 'no'. I heard it plainly. This doesn't feel like 'no', Rose Smith. Should I stop?"

She pulled his head back to meet his lips. He moved his hand down to rub her breast. She unfastened his trousers and pushed them down with his pants. She stroked him in her hand.

He spoke in her head, 'This is really not feeling like no. Is this alright?'

'Of course it is.'

He laughed quietly in relief. He rose up to unbutton her jeans. "Good. Because I was about to call you an extremely, mean woman otherwise."

"Do not go weird on me! Are you sure you are you up for this?" Rose asked him.

"Not quite yet. Kiss me for 48 more seconds." He teased her. She pulled his head back down to meet her lips again.

She stroked him to help him get hard as they continued their snog.

Then his bracelet lit up. Friday spoke. "Sir. It's a call from Torchwood."

He rose up and looked at her. "I'm having this bedroom searched. I'm certain they have it bugged. Fucking hell." He complained.

He answered the call. "Jake. What's the problem, man?"

"Another spaceship on the ground. That's four in four days. I need your help on this one, man." Jake told him.

He dropped his head. "Ugh. Damn it. I was just in the middle of meditating."

Rose laughed and said in his head, 'Sure, that's what you're calling it.'

He pointed at her. 'Cheeky.'

Jake said, "I'm sending the numbers. We'll be on the scene in two minutes with a team. Rescue is already there, and there are no survivors. Seems the same as the last three."

"Right. Give me a bit, I'll be right there." He moaned as tapped his bracelet to end the call.

He pulled back on his pants and his trousers as he got out of the bed. Rose could feel his frustration. "Sweetheart. We'll finish this when you get back."

He stood up and ran both of his hands through his hair, sending it in every direction. "Ahhh! Damn it. In fact. I'll scan it now." He took out his sonic screwdriver and pressed a button on the side, then sat it on the bed. He rubbed his chest as listened to sonic's noise.

When it stopped, he picked back up the screwdriver and put it in his pocket. "Well, I was wrong. It doesn't happen often. I was due."

Rose rolled her eyes at him. "Do you want me to join you?"

He looked surprised at her. "Yes! Absolutely! That's a brilliant idea! Really? You want to go?"

Rose got out of bed and groaned, "Anything to get me out of this house. Grab my trainers and jacket. I'll take Sam to Mum."

He pointed at her as he pulled back on his oxford. "Right! And we'll return to our meditation, later. I can feel my stress level down already 34% just thinking about it."

She giggled at him as she carried Sam through the door.

XxxxXxxxxXxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx