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Chapter 44 - Christmas Day

Rose walked back into the suite. The lights were still dimmed due to the time. Sam and the Doctor were both asleep. She could feel they were both resting comfortably.

She walked into the bedroom and the clock on the wall showed it was 6:04 a.m. She looked into the cot at Sam. He was sleeping with his arms above his head. She smiled and pulled the thin blanket back over him.

She sat down on the side of the bed and took off her shoes. The Doctor sprang straight up and looked at her. She nearly screamed.

"Damn it! Stop doing that!" She fussed at him as she picked up her pillow and threw it at him.

He caught the pillow and fell back into the pillows on the bed. He rubbed his head. "I was having a mad dream."

She held her chest. "You gave me such a fright."

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry." He mumbled to himself, "It was just a dream."

She lay down on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. "What are you dreaming about that is tormenting you so?"

He took down her pony tail and ran his hands through her hair. "Nothing. How are you this morning? Did you go for a run?"

She smiled at him. "We had a conversation about that. You don't remember?"

He looked surprised. "We did?"

She giggled, "You must have been talking in your sleep."

"I don't talk in my sleep, Rose."

She rose up and smiled at him. "That's what you think, Time Lord."

He groaned, "Oh phh…"

She walked to the doorway of the bathroom, "I'm going to take a shower, if you want to join me."

He pushed back the duvet and climbed out of bed quickly. She laughed as he fell out of the bed onto the floor. "You are so clumsy."

He stood up in front of her and smiled like a loon. "Ah. Just getting my space legs. I'm fine. Lead on."

She giggled as she took his hand and they walked into the bathroom. She whispered, "You are lucky you didn't wake Sam."

He stepped in the shower and turned on the blue light and the hot water. He rubbed his face as he leaned against the cabinet.

"You must have been out. I've never felt you so relaxed like you were this morning." Rose told him as she undressed.

He watched her and rubbed the stubble on his face, "Yeah. The next few days are going to be hell. I doubt I'll get much sleep during the search. I had a drink before I went to sleep. I think it helped."

She stepped in the shower. "Just one?"

"No. Several. I stayed up talking to Summus, Lewis and Lance." He slipped off his pants and t-shirt and joined her.

She stood under the water. He ran his fingers through her hair. "Summus is joining us to help us search for Clagl. We'll pick him up in several hours."

He leaned down and got her shampoo. He felt her relax as he washed her hair for her. As she rinsed it, she felt his hands on her breasts. He gently massaged them. "Do you still feel alright?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I do. No pain at all."

He continued to massage her breasts. "Something is strange here. You're not making milk anymore."

She looked down, "Are you serious?"

He nodded his head as he rubbed his face under the water. "Yep. It's stopped."

She threw her hand up. "Well, what the hell?"

"It's that medicine. I can keep giving it to you, but your body sees it as I'm damaging it. So, it's repairing itself. I noticed last night when I scanned you."

He could feel her disappointment. "Well, damn. Hang on, you scanned me?"

He looked seriously at her. "Yeah, we probably need to talk about that."

She rubbed his chest. "I know what happened last night, although I don't remember any of it."

He rinsed the soap out of his hair and looked at her. "Then, how do you know what happened?"

"Tony talked to me about it this morning."

He looked confused. "Huh. Well, how does he know?"

"Apparently, all of the Quauhtin do."

He nodded his head. "Yeah, they would. We had a…..meeting about it last night."

She closed her eyes tightly. "I hate this-"

"It was just to inform them what had happened. I had to explain where the prisoner had gone."

She sighed, "Tony says I should start talking to you more. About this."

He nodded his head. "I wish you would. I know it weighs on your heart. It has to."

"Did I really…."

He kissed her forehead. "Yes. You did."

She looked up at him. He could feel her fear. "And, you're ….."

He smiled as he caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. "I don't see you any differently. I never will. You are so precious to me."

He felt relief wash over her as he leaned down and kissed her. He tasted the spearmint toothpaste in her mouth as they snogged. She must have brushed her teeth before she had gone for her run. He slipped his hands down her body and pressed her closely to him. The water ran in their face as they kissed.

She smiled as she leaned back and looked at him. "Sit down. I need to get clean."

He looked behind him and sat down on the bench in the shower. She took the sponge and put soap on it. She smiled back at him as she lathered up her body, paying close attention to her breasts. He sat and watched her as he smiled like a loon. "I love this."

She giggled as she turned around and lathered up her bum. He rubbed his face and was clearly enjoying it. "Do you need any help?"

She turned back to him, "No. Just enjoy the show."

"Oh, I am. Oh wow. Yes."

She put the sponge away and rinsed all of the soap off of her. He watched her as she closed her eyes and wet her hair under the water again. He quietly joined her, wrapping one arm around her and rubbing between her legs with his other hand. His lips met hers again as she sucked his bottom lip. She wrapped her leg around him as she began to moan. He kissed her neck as he slipped inside of her. He whispered something between their kisses. She suddenly couldn't think. She couldn't stand. She only could feel the overwhelming pleasure he was giving her. He held her up, against wall in the shower and growled as he thrust inside of her roughly.

'I can't.' she told him.

'You can.'

His lips met hers again. She moaned loudly as her lip quivered. He let out a monstrous growl as she grabbed his shoulders and shouted.

He smiled as she opened her eyes and looked at him. "I love shower sex."

She smiled at him. "I love any sex with you."

He took the sponge she had used and cleaned them both up. "Yes. I agree. I've never had any bad sex with you."

She wrapped her arms around him. "Even when you hurt yourself?"

He looked embarrassed. "Well, that was the closest thing I suppose. But, that wasn't your fault. That was me being an idiot."

She giggled.

He suddenly looked like he was thinking rather hard. She recognized the look as the one he got when he was listening to the Quauhtin.

"Police scanner?"

He nodded. "Summus has arrived. I need to shave and get to the Control Room." He kissed her lips quickly. "Are you finished in here?"

She nodded as he turned off the shower and stepped out. He wrapped a towel around her and then took one for himself. She smiled, "You always do that. Aren't you cold?"

He smiled as he ran the towel though his hair. "Yeah, but I'm sure you are, too."

She wrapped her arms around him. "I adore you. You treat me like I'm the most important person in the universe."

"Well, to me, you are." He told her. "One day, you'll see that. Until then, I have just have to convince you every day."

They held one another, "Can we just stay in the bed all day and shag? It is Christmas."

He ran his hand through her hair. "Oh, I love how you think. I have some gifts for Genie and Sam onboard. Take them up to the Top Observation Deck after they have had something to eat. Well, it's whatever I had onboard. There is a rather large pile for them back home, too."

She giggled, "You spoil these children."

He smiled like a loon. "Just a bit."

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The Doctor stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. He had just finished shaving and was wiping off his face with a fluffy grey towel. He wore his jeans.

Genie ran into the room. She was wearing her purple night robe and pajamas. She smiled at him. "Good morning, Daddy!"

He smiled as he tossed the towel to the side. He picked her up and kissed her all over the face. She laughed as he sat her on the cabinet. "You are just in time. I needed some help." He took his aftershave and put it in her hands. She rubbed them together and patted his face for him.

"Ahh." He told her. "Right then. How does that look?"

She looked at him and nodded. "Handsome. And you smell lovely. You need a shirt though."

He put his hands on his hips and looked at her. "Maybe I don't want to wear one."

"You do. Don't be silly." She giggled.

He laughed as he took her hands in his. "Wash this off your hands before you wipe it in your eyes. It will really sting."

She lathered her hands up with his and they washed their hands together. He took the towel and dried them for her. "There. Now. A shirt. Are you certain I have to wear one?" He teased her.

She giggled. "Of course you do."

He laughed as he looked back in the mirror and ran his hands through his hair. "Alright. Go pick me out one and I'll put it on."

She jumped off of the cabinet and ran out of the room. Rose stepped inside. She was holding Sam in her arms and wearing a pair of jeans and a jumper.

"She's in a hurry." She said as she looked back at Genie.

"She's helping me get ready." He explained as he looked back at her. She had pulled up her hair and had just finished putting on her make-up. She wore the ear rings and necklace that he had got for her before they left Earth.

She smiled at him. "I can feel that."

He laughed at himself. "Sorry. I just." He bit his lip and shook his head. He held his hands out to take Sam from her.

She looked him up and down and asked, "Baby. Have you done something?"

He bounced on his feet while he held Sam. "You're going to have to be more clear, Rose. I'm not confessing to anything you might not know about."

She rolled her eyes. "You look different to me today."

He walked over to her and kissed her lips quickly. "That's because you love me more today than you did yesterday." He carried Sam with him into the bedroom. "Come on, son. We'll find you a bottle. My Sara Gene! What did you come up with?"

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The Doctor, wearing a white t-shirt and a blue oxford with his jeans and trainers, walked into the Control Room. Summus, who stood with Lance and Licis, turned to face him with a smile. "Doctor! It's wonderful to see you!"

The men embraced one another and smiled.

Summus continued, "Lucky for us you guys came out here."

"Problems?" The Doctor asked.

"The Hamlet is operating on secondary systems. I'm not sure what's wrong."

Lance added, "Her shielding isn't up to 60%. If it's alright with you, I think we would send Timon with them."

The Doctor nodded. "Yes. Get you lot back to Earth."

Summus shook his head. "We have come to help search for King Clagl-"

The Doctor shook his head. "No. Not with a plague out there and your shields not working properly. Summus, you are welcome to stay with us and search. I value your help, but the Hamlet can't do this. She needs to get back to Earth, or a space port, before she gets worse."

Summus nodded his head. "Yes. Timon could get it sorted, I'm certain. I'll remain with you and help with the search."

The Doctor pat him on the shoulder and led him over to a station in the back of the room. "Cheers. Poltious has been working over here with all of the information that the Andromedaens have sent us.

Summus shook Poltious' hand and stood and looked at the screen. "This is the Sodraomia System." He pointed out.

Poltious clicked a few things. "They were on their way to the Jafrualara System. This is where they were lost and stopped transmitting."

Summus nodded his head. "There is an electrical storm over on the edge of the Sodraomia System. Near the gas giants there."

Licis nodded his head. "Yes. That's the reason we are looking here first. The storm could cause some problems."

"Interfere with the sensors searching." The Doctor reasoned.

Summus tapped his lips with his finger. "Our work is cut out for us, gentlemen. I'll assist Poltious."

The Doctor pat Lance on the shoulder. "My watch starts in an hour up here-"

Lance rolled his eyes. "It's a holiday. Stay with your family. We'll handle it up here."

He put his hands on his hips. "Lance. I ask you lot to do too much for me."

Licis shook his head. "I'm not leaving now that we're almost to the area. Go ahead and spend time with the children and Rose. You can return later and help when we need another set of eyes."

"You're sure?"

Licis pointed to the door. "Beat it."

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The Doctor walked into the Top Observation Deck. Legate sat with Ashena next to Rose and Tony. Logan held Sam in his arms and smiled down at him as he walked around. Legate played the guitar softly.

"Hey, there you lot!" The Doctor said cheerfully as he walked over to join them. They all greeted him.

He stood next to Tony. "There's a ship leaving for Earth parked alongside us. You can get a ride back if you want-"

"Fuck that! I heard about that busted ass ship. Timon can fix nearly anything, but I'm happy to stay here. Logan and I have a project to complete."

Logan looked at Tony and nodded his head as he bounced on his feet holding Sam.

The Doctor looked at Ashena. "May I have a quick word?"

She nodded and walked with him over to the play system on the other side of the room.

The Doctor looked at her. "Summus has joined us. He is helping Poltious now configure the search parameters. We should be in the system where your father's ship lost contact within a couple of hours."

She looked painfully. "This is so unlike them. Why wouldn't he take Quauhtin? He always does."

He shook his head. "I can't answer that. I have no idea."

"And honestly, how could a plague survive the cold of space? Are you certain?" She asked.

He sighed, "It's complex. That's the reason I had the computer run a simulation because I don't even trust myself to pick up all of the variables that would have to go into play here. They had to be in a certain position, for a certain amount of time, in a particular place in space that is warm enough. They refueled off a gas giant at the same time the ship carrying the plague did. Million to one chance."

"I am very grateful for all of your help, John. But, I feel that it's just too unbelievable that this could even happen. I'm holding out hope until there is none."

He nodded his head. "Nothing would make me happier to discover that I'm completely wrong and this is just a rescue operation to a ship that has a broken communication system."

She nodded, "Thank you, John. For everything you and your crew are doing. No matter the outcome, I and the Andromedaen people, are forever in your debt."

"Clagl is a friend of mine. I hope we find him well and ready for a drink. I have an entire case of whiskey in the hold just for him."

Ashena laughed, "He will love that."

He smiled at her as they walked back to the others. He clapped his hands together. "Seems that I am missing a daughter. Where is she?"

Tony pointed in the play system. "Gene! Your Dad needs you."

She walked out near the top of the system and leaned against the railing. "Daddy. It's Christmas."

"I told you there might not be any presents. We are traveling fast, my child."

She looked down at him and nodded her head. She was clearly disappointed. He put his hands on his hips and looked up at her. "My Sara Gene. You have forgotten about the magic you have inside of you. How much one thought can change your entire day. Your thoughts are extremely powerful. More than you realize now. Use them to make this day so much better."

She looked confused at him. "What do you mean?"

"Remember the story I told you about the 'Woman Who Walked the Earth'?"

Genie smiled at him, "She saved Spartacus."

"How?"

"She had all of those people think about him at the same time."

He smiled up at her, "That story is true. Thought is so powerful. We'll all think about it with you. Now, close your eyes and make a wish, my child."

Rose smiled at him as she looked up at Genie. The little girl closed her eyes tightly and whispered something. Just as she did that, a pile of packages around the tree the Quauhtin had copied to their island home appeared in the Observation Deck.

Tony chuckled quietly, "Nice one. Poltious?"

"Timon. He's in the transport room." He explained quietly. Then he yelled up to her. "My Sara Gene! Will you come down here and open these packages?"

She opened her eyes. As soon as she saw the tree and the packages, her mouth dropped open. "Oh my!" She exclaimed. "It worked!" She ran into the play system to get down the slide.

They all laughed at her excitement. The Doctor walked over and sat down next to Rose.

She asked, "Is all of this for them?"

He nodded, "Sam and Genie. Yes. I told you, I got out of hand a bit."

She smiled, "It's their first Christmas with us."

Legate played the guitar as Genie opened the presents. She was very helpful and opened all of Sam's, too. He seemed to love an elephant that looked like a big, grey, plush pillow. He held onto it and refused to let go. It was bigger than he was.

Genie got so many things; she didn't know what to play with first. Rose's favorite thing was a canoe that hovered about a foot off of the floor. There were two more for Tony and Jacob. Genie sat in the canoe and paddled all over the room. She also got a dollhouse to be kept on the ship. All of the dolls were different aliens.

Rose smiled, "I don't remember buying half of this stuff. You're going to have to make the children a playroom on the ship for all of this."

He rubbed her thigh. "Indeed. I'll probably do that while we're out. Genie. You'll have to find a place for us to put a playroom. Alright?"

Tony pointed at him. "And I want to help make that. I want to know how it's done."

Rose smiled, "Good luck figuring it out. It's complex. I don't understand it."

The Doctor looked surprised back at her. "You've helped me make one."

She giggled as she shook her head. "Baby, I had no idea what I was doing."

"Oh, there's nothing to it. I was making them when I was Genie's age."

Tony stood up and started with his terrible British accent. "Well, lovely time here, governor. I'm going to have a spot of tea, and then get back to work in the hanger. Rose, think about it."

"I'll talk to my Doctor first, if you don't mind." She told him.

The Doctor looked back at her, curiously. "What?"

She threaded her fingers through his as she held his hand, "Discussion for later."

He nodded his head. "Alright then. Genie! I need to go help Poltious in the Control Room. Can you help Mum with Sam?"

Genie laughed as Tony walked by the canoe she rowed and pushed it from behind. "Sure."

He pointed at her. "Wait until we get home and you see what your Uncle Tony has for you, kid."

She covered her face and giggled.

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