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Chapter 37 – The Clock Starts

Rose woke up the next morning to the cool, salty air blowing in her face. She felt completely relaxed and rested in her silk nightgown. She smiled, knowing she was back in her and the Doctor's island bedroom. She stretched out her hand to rub his chest, and only felt the empty, silk sheets.

She opened her eyes and sat up. The room was lit from the sunlight outside. The doors to the balcony were opened, and welcomed the breeze into the room. She looked around and saw no sign of the Doctor. She rubbed her face and tried to remember what happened the night before. Weren't they at a hotel? How did she get home?

She rolled over to get her phone that sat on the bedside table. On top of the phone, she saw a small, blue box and an envelope. A vase of red roses sat behind it. She smiled and whispered, "That man."

She took the box and sat it on her chest, leaned back and opened the envelope to read the note he had left her.

Dearest Rose,

Please forgive me for leaving before you woke up. I wasn't sure how long you would sleep and didn't want to disturb your rest. I know you have a lecture today that you will be brilliant at. I'm sorry to miss it. Lance will keep you safe. You can trust him. Jake, I'm not sure about.

She smiled.

You've ask me a question recently about how long I was apart from you. It's only a number. But, I knew you were curious, and perhaps you are bleeding into me enough that I became curious, too. I was surprised to find the answer, and believe you will be as well. One day, I'll even tell you how I happened upon it. But, you can trust it's a reliable number.

"Well how long was it?" She asked the letter.

I'm sorry our night was cut short last night. I'm not sure what you will wake up and remember, but Rose, just know that I love everything about you. Except the fact that you're not here with me. I can still feel your love no matter the distance we are apart. I'll return home as soon as I can. I knew I loved you when "home" went from being a place, to being with you. Three days. And the clock is already running.

Since I've been here with you, everything has changed. Who I was. The purpose of my life and yet, I feel more me than I have ever been. I have never been at peace with my own reflection, until I saw it in your eyes. Thank you, Rose.

She smiled as she saw some odd circulator symbols at the bottom of the page. "Gallifreyan. Baby, I can't read that."

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" She called as she folded back up her letter and put it on the table next to the bed.

Lance popped his head in the door. "And good morning!"

Genie opened the door and skipped into the room. She jumped onto the bed and kissed Rose's cheek. "Good morning, Mummy!"

Rose smiled, "And good morning to you!"

Lance carried a breakfast tray into the room with tea, some rolls, assorted cuts of meats and fruits.

Genie sat next to Rose and pointed it out as Lance sat it in the bed with them. "Daddy made you breakfast before he left. He said you wouldn't want a full English like you normally do."

Rose smiled, "He's right. I don't."

Lance smiled. "John knows you well. He told me you had woken up. He asks for you to have breakfast, get dressed, and then give him a ring."

Rose held Genie, "Win a bet?"

Lance rocked on his feet and smiled proudly, "Still on my winning streak. Oh yes."

Rose looked at Lance and laughed. "Well done then."

He laughed and pointed to her. "I'll be just downstairs. Take your time. I'm playing cards with Poltious."

"Thank you, Lance." Rose smiled to him and watched him walk out of the door.

Genie picked up the small blue box that lay on Rose's chest. She sounded out the word written on it. "Who is…..Tiffany?"

Rose giggled, "The company your Daddy buys all of this jewelry from. I think he is trying to spoil us."

Genie nodded her head and laughed. "Yes. He gave me some ear rings. See?"

Rose looked at the small gold hoops that Genie wore. "Oh. Those are lovely."

"Daddy told me to be careful with them. He was worried I would get my hair caught in them, so he braided it before he left."

Rose smiled, "He did a nice job."

Genie smiled. "Thank you. What's in your box?"

Rose opened her box to reveal a beautiful ring. It was a gold band that didn't come together as most rings did. It reminded Rose of a cork screw. As she turned it in the light, the two stones at the ends changed colors. The longer Rose held it in her hands, words appeared that said, "You will forever be my always." There were Gallifreyen symbols behind the words 'you' and 'my'.

Genie looked at it with Rose. "That is lovely. What makes the diamonds change color like that?"

"I don't know. I've never seen anything like it."

"Do you like it?"

She smiled and slid it onto her finger. "I love it. I wonder what these symbols mean?"

Genie looked at it. "That's Daddy's language. He's been showing me how to read some of it, but I'm not sure what that is. Well, no…. that is a five."

She laughed and looked at Genie, "You can read Daddy's language? Really?"

Genie nodded and smiled proudly.

"You are so clever."

"That's what Daddy says. I'm going downstairs to help Grand." She kissed Rose's cheek and ran out of the room.

Rose looked at the ring and sipped her tea. She picked up her phone and pressed a few buttons. The image of the Doctor filled the screen. He looked surprised at her, "You've finished breakfast already?"

She rolled her eyes. "Bossy. I'll ring you when I'm ready."

He laughed, "Yes, ma'am. Get your letter then?"

She could see he was in the control room of the ship. The lights around him were dimmed and the big screen to his side showed the streaks of stars passing by. He seemed kicked back in a chair.

"Yes. It was very sweet. I love that you leave me letters like that."

He smiled, "So, I'm forgiven? In my defense, I kissed you good-bye."

She smiled, "How many times?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I lost count. My lips are telling me about it now."

She watched as he applied chapstick to his lips and wagged his eyebrows at her. "My favorite flavor."

She giggled, "I love my ring. I can't read some of it though."

"The words appear when it gets warm."

"Very Lord of the Rings." She teased.

"The ring to rule them all. Ha!"

She rolled her eyes. "You are mad. What are these symbols? Genie said this first one is a five."

He smiled, "That's the answer to your question. How long we were apart. You waited for me for five years. I put the five behind the word 'you'."

She nodded and looked at the ring. "Okay, then what's behind the 'me'?"

He smiled. She could feel his playful attitude. "I just told you, five."

"You know what I mean."

He smiled, "Twenty-two."

She looked shocked, "Twenty-two?! Twenty-two what? Months?"

He shook his head. "Oh, I wish. No. Years. Twenty-two years. That is what I was told."

Rose looked down at the ring and was speechless. "I can't even imagine waiting that long."

He smiled at her. "That's the reason the prize is so grand to me. You are worth it."

She smiled.

"So, do you remember anything from last night?"

She thought, "I remember the umbrellas, taking our picture on the balcony and seeing a vision. You hit Genie's boyfriend? Is that what we saw?"

He nodded his head. "Apparently. And I maintain, he deserved it."

"You nutter! How can you say that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Ah. Just a feeling I have."

"Who is it?"

"I don't know. But, I plan to train with Licis before I drop him off. I need to remain in top form if I'm going to have to start beating off suitors in a few short years."

"You need to trust her."

He sighed, "Can we fight about this later?"

"We're not fighting."

"We're headed there. We'll continue this conversation in about …. Fifteen years. But, I'm right."

"Whatever. Fine. How is Dad?"

He rubbed his face, "He's good. Exactly where I want him to be."

She smiled, "Yeah?"

"I'm keeping an eye on everything from up here. I could wake him in about an hour, but…he's asked me to let him remain where he is. He's really enjoying that."

"Dare I ask what he's doing?"

He bit his lip and smiled, "You can ask, but I won't tell you."

"Dreaming of Mum?"

He looked away, "Something like that. Anyway. We'll be at picking up Summus and Logan in about two hours."

"You've been gone that long?"

He nodded, "Yep! Tony flew us out here. But…" He panned the camera around and Rose saw her little brother sleeping at the controls. "I think we need to review operational guidelines of a star cruiser with our little brother."

Rose covered her mouth and laughed.

"Ah, he's a good sport. He did everything. I'm just keeping an eye on stuff. One of the guys always flies us out here. Since you remained behind, I decided to take the helm. It's the first time I've really flown the ship. I like it. I like my TARDIS more, but this one is nice. Oh! That reminds me. I need you to spray the TARDIS. Just once a day while I'm gone. Also, change the channel on the telly down there to football. The playoffs are tonight. She'll want to see that."

Rose shook her head. "The playoffs?"

He nodded, "Yes. Well, that and the British Bake Off. She likes that, too. It makes me hungry."

"I'll take care of it. You are picking up Summus?"

He nodded, "Yes. He is …. Ummm… helping us with a surprise for Poltious. We need to go back out and test for the plague where Clagl's ship was destroyed. The Baumeisters are ready to start working on the space station already. I need to give them the okay. Hopefully, we won't run into anymore rogue Jeclaonides."

Rose looked confused, "Remind me. Jeclaonides?"

He rolled his eyes. "You said they looked like demons."

She nodded her head. "Right. Those. Just call them that!"

"But, that's not what they are!"

"Ugh. I've got a million things to do today. I need to get started, I've slept too long."

"I almost had Lance go to wake you, but I didn't want you to break his arm."

She smiled, "Are you ever going to forget that?"

"It's not the sort of thing a man forgets."

She groaned, "I miss you. Please, be careful."

He smiled. "You too, sweetheart."

"Ring me later."

He smiled at her and waved. She ended the call.

He turned and looked at Tony Tyler. He was leaning oddly to the side of his chair. The Doctor chuckled, "And in….. 3….2…1…"

Tony leaned too far over and fell into the floor. "What? What did I hit?"

The Doctor laughed, "The floor, Comrade. You fell asleep."

Tony rubbed his face. "Right."

"Go lay down in the flat and I'll finish all of this."

Tony stood up and stretched. "I'm fine, Brother. Besides, you need the help."

Licis walked into the room and pointed at Tony at the controls of the ship. "Teach them young. I love it."

Tony yawned as Licis pat his head.

Suddenly, the ship was rocked by a loud explosion.

The Doctor was knocked out of his chair. Licis quickly ran to the panel and pressed some buttons to stop the ship. The stars became small dots in the sky instead of the long streaks.

"Friday. What did we hit?" Licis asked.

Friday replied, "There was no collision-"

The Doctor picked himself up off of the floor, "The collision alarm would have sounded. Tony had the forward shields up."

Tony put his hands on his hips. "I'm a good pilot. This isn't me! Friday, were did the explosion come from?"

Friday spoke. "The aft position of the hanger bay."

The Doctor and Licis exchanged a look. "Tony's room?"

Licis looked shocked. "What happened?"

"Tony, stay here with Licis. I need to go see what happened."

Tony immediately protested, "But-"

The Doctor rushed out of the door. "Stay!" The door slid shut behind him.

Tony collapsed back into his seat and crossed his arms. "This is bollocks."

Licis shook his head.

The Doctor ran as fast as he could to the hanger. Legate caught up with him as they went through the hallways.

"An explosion? Is that what that was?"

"Yes. Licis has us stopped."

"Is Tony onboard?"

"I have no idea."

They arrived in the hanger and Luce was already in the bigger than the inside room that had been made for Tony Stark. He had a fire extinguisher and was putting out the small flames that burned around the room. The wall was cracked and parts of one of Tony's suits appeared to be stuck into the surrounding computer screens.

The Doctor looked around and shouted, "Tony?"

Legate rushed over to the desk that Tony often worked at. It had been flipped over in the explosion. Debris was everywhere.

"Looks like one of his suits exploded." Legate observed.

The Doctor looked at the ceiling and saw what appeared to be a deep indention of a large circle. He walked, carefully on top of fallen screens and such until he arrived under it. He picked up screen and found Tony lying unconscious under it.

"Got him!" He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and scanned Tony just as Legate joined him.

"Is he alright?"

Just as he said that, Tony woke with a start and gasped. "Shit!"

Legate and the Doctor quickly pushed him back down on the ground.

"Hold still." Legate told him as the Doctor finished scanning him.

"What the hell are you two doing?" He looked seriously at them, "Nobody kissed me, right?"

Legate laughed. "No one kissed you. Relax."

The Doctor rolled his eyes and declared. "He's fine."

They helped him to his feet.

Tony looked around the room. He was still wearing one of the flight stabilizers on his hand. "Well. Damn. Sorry about this, John."

The Doctor shook his head, "It's alright. I'm glad you aren't hurt."

Luce sat the extinguisher down and looked around. He said something in Quauhtin and nodded his head.

Tony held his head. "What?"

Legate looked at him, "He asked what you were doing."

Tony groaned. "Working on something. I came up here because I needed a computer that ran faster than the one in New York. While it was working out something, I decided to change the flight stabilizers on the suit. I must have fallen asleep."

The Doctor looked at him. "Are you alright?"

Tony looked seriously at him. "You just scanned me with your magic wand, Bibbety Boo. Everything sounds like it's in a drum."

The Doctor smiled, "Noise Induced Hearing Loss. It's temporary. You're lucky you were wearing your bracelet. That's probably what kept you from getting hurt."

Tony nodded, "Right."

Legate pat Tony on the shoulder. "I'll take a ship out and have a look outside."

The Doctor nodded, "That's a good idea. Be sure to tell Tony Tyler that it wasn't an alien attack. Well, it sortof was."

Legate laughed and walked out with Luce.

Tony looked around. "John, I'm sorry man. Did I break the ship?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I doubt it. I put a force field on this room when I built it. Otherwise, you would have probably blown a hole in the side of the ship."

Tony took off the flight stabilizer he wore on his hand and tossed it on the floor. "Well, lucky you did that. I can't believe I did this."

"What were you dreaming?"

Tony rubbed his head. "Ugh. It's not important. It was just a dream."

The Doctor put his hands on his hips, "How long have you been up here?"

"Since we left the bar. John, can I level with you?"

The Doctor turned and faced him. "Sure. What's up?"

"I think that fighting program might have done something to my head. I'm…. seeing things that aren't there."

"Like what?"

Tony shook his head and put his hands on his hips. "Images. Overlays. Things that…just doesn't make sense."

The Doctor looked concerned. "Let's go up the med bay and let me run a scan to make sure everything is alright."

Tony ran his hands through his hair. "I'm not arguing with that. Lead the way."

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Tony sat on the side of the bed in the med bay. The screens behind him were lit up with all sorts of stats. He wore a dirty t-shirt and jeans. The Doctor stood looking at the screens, wearing his glasses.

"John. My ears are beginning to ring. "

"That means they are getting better." He assured him as he looked at the displays. "Tony, this all looks normal."

Tony shook his head. "John, I don't think it is."

The Doctor crossed his arms. "Alright. Walk me through this. What were you dreaming about?"

Tony sighed, "I was back in the cave. When they had me. I've dreamed of it before, but not for a while. I woke up and I had shot the guy in my dream. Only…."

"It was the suit in real life."

"Good to know I can blow one up with another one."

"Arc reactor explosion." He insisted as he took off his glasses and leaned against the cabinet, "Well, Legate says everything is alright. Licis and Tony can't detect any hull breaches. I'm really glad I put a force field on that room."

Tony shook his head, "I really can't believe I did that."

"Let me get this straight. You've been up here since you left the game at the bar?"

"Yeah. That was just… what? Last night?"

The Doctor chuckled and shook his head. "No. That was several days ago."

Tony rubbed his head. "Oh. Well, that explains a few things."

"Such as?"

Tony looked at him seriously. "John, I can't explain this. Are you certain?"

He pointed at the computer screens. "This all points to normal. I could look and see what you saw. But, I really believe what you are dealing with can be solved with a shower, something to eat, and some sleep."

He groaned and stood up. "You're probably right. I'll take a shower and go back to New York. Pepper is probably pissed that I lost track of time."

The Doctor smiled, "Yeah, about that."

Tony turned around as he reached the door. "What? Did she call you?"

He chuckled, "We won't be back in Earth's orbit for about three more days."

Tony turned around and started back down the hallway. "This is some shit! I've been abducted by aliens yet again! Damn it, John!"

The Doctor leaned against the cabinet, smiling at his friend's grumbling.

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