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Chapter 46 - Skinned Up Knee

Genie was sitting on the kitchen counter. She was holding her Goofy doll and crying. Rose was cleaning her knee. As soon as the Doctor walked down the hall, Rose started laughing at him.

"What in the world have you been into? You look like you lived through an explosion." Rose laughed.

Genie saw him with his black face and wild hair. She stopped crying and laughed at him.

"Oh, it's not that bad, is it?" he asked them.

Tony was doubled over in the floor laughing. "Wow. I didn't think your hair got that crazy!"

He took a kitchen towel and wet it. Rose took the towel from him. "My gosh. You look so funny. I did not expect you to pop back like this." She wiped the darkness off of his face. Genie laughed at him.

"Oh, and you think it's so funny. Daddy getting blown up." he teased Genie as he leaned down to kiss her forehead.

Genie laughed at him. "Your hair looks crazy."

He took the towel and rubbed it through his hair as he walked around the kitchen. Tony ran down the hall and returned with a brush. He handed it up to the Doctor who immediately started working on his hair.

"Zeus is the only one not laughing at me. You all are just mean." the Doctor complained.

Tony laughed. "Zeus probably is laughing at you, too. You just aren't tell us."

"Phhhh... you lot." the Doctor shook his head.

Rose put a bandaid on Genie's knee and kissed it. "How many were there?"

"Six." the Doctor told her.

"How many are there now?"

"None. I'm serious, Rose. I'm not letting them here." he told her. She could feel his determination. He tossed the towel into the sink and picked up Genie.

"Are you alright, little one? You scared your Daddy to death. Do you know you are screaming where Rose and I can hear you?" he asked her.

She shook her head as she held her Goofy doll. Rose felt him relax as he put his forehead to Genie's. He sighed. "Don't worry about it, little one. I'll help you with that. Are you alright?" he asked her.

She kissed him on the end of the nose. "I'm alright. Your hair looks better."

He smiled. "Well, alright then. Go play with Tony and Zeus."

He sat Genie down and she thanked Rose as she ran off.

Rose wrapped her arms around the Doctor. "You look like you have really been through it. Did she scream in the middle of you fighting Daleks?"

"Yes. Jake had to push my head down to keep it from getting blown off. Girls are just so different. Let's hope this stage doesn't last long. I don't know if I can take it. I'm too old." he told Rose.

Rose laughed at him. "No, you're not. You can do this. Just have some of that damn whiskey to calm your nerves and go deal with your next problem. I'll stay with this lot. Dad is still sleeping. Something you need to probably do."

He smiled down at her. "Alright. I'll try to sleep tonight." He rubbed his face. Rose could feel his exhaustion.

"Go lay down now." Rose told him.

"Nah, I've got to go back to Torchwood and sort this mess out. I'll be back as soon as I can, though." he told her.

Rose smiled, "Right 'o, Director Smith!"

He rolled his eyes at her and smiled.

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