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Chapter 47 – Tony Meets the Boy

Tony sat in the chair on the med bay ward with his feet propped up on the chair. He mumbled at the television. "Huh. A Bowler Wildcat. I need two of those. That looks like fun."

He glanced back at the boy who lay in the bed. His bruises appeared to have almost completely disappeared. Tony sighed. "Friday. Call Pepper."

"What would you like me to call her, Mr. Stark?"

Tony rubbed his face. "Damn, British aliens." He took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. Pepper's image filled up the screen.

"Two phone calls in one day." She teased.

He smiled at her, "How about that?"

He could see she was sitting on the sofa in the New York penthouse. The flowers he had sent her sat next to her on the glass table. She had her hair tied up and appeared to be wearing a dressing gown.

"What time is it there?" he asked her.

"Late. I should really get to bed. I was just watching the news."

Tony nodded his head. "The stocks, I'm sure. How did we do?"

She smiled, "Up 18 more points today."

He smiled, "See, I know what I'm doing with this Expo."

She rolled her eyes, "Well, that and Rose mentioned it during a public appearance earlier today."

He looked surprised, "She did? What did she say?"

"That is was interesting. They keep playing it over and over on the news. That her and John plan to return before it closes, but….well, you should watch it."

He nodded his head, "And just like that, it's up 18 points. Remind me to send her something nice."

She smiled, "I already did. So, you didn't say earlier. I assume you are off with John, again."

He nodded his head. "Pepper, I'm sorry."

"What have you done, now?"

He rubbed his eyes, "I am off with John again….but…."

"Don't tell me. On the ship?"

"Yeah. We won't be back until sometime tomorrow."

She nodded her head, "I kindof put that together."

He looked confused, "You did?"

"This isn't the first time you've done something like this. I knew you weren't here. And the background didn't look like Malibu."

He rubbed his eyes, "Yeah, I was in my suite on the ship."

She saw that he sat in the dimmed room. "One day, I'd like to see that room."

He smiled. "Sure."

"Where are you now?"

"The med bay. I'm keeping an eye on someone for John. He's picked up a stray."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to ask."

"That's probably best."

She sat back on the sofa in New York. "Tony. What's wrong? You seem….odd."

He shook his head. "I need to tell you something and I don't know how….to say it."

She relaxed, "Then maybe it needs to wait until you return?"

"Nah, I think it would be easier if I'm not there."

She nodded, "Okay. Then what it is?"

He bit his lip and shook his head. "You know. Maybe you are right. Can I tell you when I return?"

She laughed, "Yes. Of course. When are you getting back tomorrow?"

"Ah, John is at some damn party. I'm not sure…but he said we're leaving tomorrow. I'm not sure when."

"Then we'll talk tomorrow. I'll make some coffee, and take off from work when you get there."

"You work on Sunday?"

"Tomorrow is Wednesday, Tony."

"Oh. Time change, you know. Between here and there."

She smiled. "Good night, Tony. I'll see you tomorrow."

He smiled and ended the phone call.

He looked back at the bed to see the little boy's eyes had opened and he was looking around. Tony stood up and took the little boy's hand. "Hey. How are you feeling?"

The little boy slowly raised his other hand and rubbed his eyes.

Tony asked Friday, "Friday. The Universal translator is on, right?"

"It is now, Mr. Stark." Friday replied.

Tony groaned and spoke to the boy again. "I said, hi. You are safe. How do you feel?"

The little boy spoke, "Sleepy."

"Sleepy, huh?" Tony asked as he pressed a button on the wall behind the boy to manage his pain. "Anything hurt?"

The boy took a deep breath. "No. Am I dreaming?"

"No. I believe it's safe to say that you are awake."

"Everything feels….tired."

"Your body has been working hard to get better. Do you remember what happened?"

"No. Are you a doctor?"

Tony smiled, "Well, yes and no. I am a doctor, but not the sort that takes care of people."

"Then why are you here?"

He smiled, "I didn't want you to wake up and be alone. Your doctor will be back in a bit. I'll stay with you until then. Do you want something to drink?"

Tony pressed a button on the side of the bed and the top of it rose up. Tony looked at the boy, "Drink then?"

The boy nodded and rubbed his eyes. "Yes. Please."

Tony asked, "Friday, is there anything this young man can't have?"

Friday answered. "Apples would not be a good idea with his body chemistry at this time."

Tony clapped his hands together in excitement. "Alright. You need a milkshake."

The boy looked confused, "A what?"

He went over to the food replicator. "A milkshake. They don't have those where you are from?"

The boy looked confused, "What is it?"

Tony walked over to the bed and handed him a glass. "A vanilla milkshake. Simple. And perfect." Tony told him as he took the cherry out of his own and ate it. He sat down in the chair next to the bed and sipped it through the straw. The little boy watched him and drank his own milkshake. He looked surprised at it and smiled, "This is really good."

Tony smiled. "Yeah? Like that, huh?"

"And I can have this?"

Tony nodded, "Well, yeah. But, sip it slowly. I don't want it to make you sick."

"Am I your prisoner?"

Tony shook his head. "No. I'm a friend. No one here is going to hurt you. I'll make sure of that."

The boy relaxed and looked around the room as he drank his milkshake, "Where am I?"

"You are onboard a ship. Your Doctor's ship. He'll return after he is finished with his party on the surface."

The little boy looked confused. "He must be important."

"He thinks he is. The Queen Ashena threw him a party. He's the new Primus. No. Wrong word-"

The little boy's eyes lit up. "He's a Primus?!"

Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah. So? There's another onboard, too. Lewis is a Primus."

"Lewis the Primus is here?" The boy asked.

Tony looked surprised, "You know Lewis?"

The boy shook his head. "No. I've never met him. But, I've heard stories. I didn't know he was real."

"Oh, he's real. He threatened to beat me up last night."

The boy laughed. "Lewis wouldn't do that."

Tony smiled. "If I'm honest about it, I probably deserved it. Would you believe that?"

The little boy smiled. "Who is the other Primus?"

"John. Doctor Johnathon Smith."

The little boy looked confused. "I've never heard of him."

Tony continued to drink his milkshake. "He's with Lewis. They are in charge of the ….. um….. Prime Guard of Terra."

The little boy looked confused. "But, he's a Doctor?"

Tony nodded, "Yeah. He's my friend. He's your Doctor."

"So, what are you? A Quauhtin?"

Tony shook his head and sat his glass back on the food replicator. "Nope. Not a Quauhtin. I'm just …. A person. Human. From Earth. From Terra."

He looked confused. "I've never met someone from there. What are you called?"

"Tony. They call me Tony. Some people find that hard to remember."

"Ton-key."

He smiled and shook his head. "No. Tony. Like your knees. Ton-knee."

The little boy smiled at him.

"What do they call you? Do you remember?"

He nodded, "Yes. I'm called Velt."

Tony nodded, "Velt. Well, it's nice to meet you. Where I'm from, we shake hands when we meet." Tony held out his hand to the boy. The boy looked at him and seemed to be deciding if he should trust him or not.

Tony continued to hold his hand out. "It's alright. I promise that I won't let anyone hurt you. Alright?"

"You'll keep me safe?" He asked.

"That's what adults do for children on Terra. Alright?"

The little boy shook his hand. "Thank you, Tony."

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The Doctor and Rose, and all of their friends return in Book #7 in the series, Vigor. Go ahead and Favorite it as I'll be updating it as soon as this is published. Thank you for all of the warm reviews and kind words. I hope everyone continues to enjoy it. I love writing this FanFic! Granted, it's taken on a life of its own.