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Chapter 53 - Pete's Dream

The Doctor walked down the hall with Sam the Quauthin at the hospital. He had given Rose his football shirt and had sent everyone back to their flat. Shakes, Jake and Jack had assured him that they would keep an eye on things so he could go visit Pete as he had promised he would.

As he walked into the hospital room, he saw Jackie sleeping in the corner. He sat down on the edge of the bed and put his hands on the sides of Pete's face.

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The Doctor found himself standing beside a swimming pool. He looked around and rolled his eyes. Pete was in the swimming pool with at six beautiful women. Some of them were topless. The Doctor rubbed his face in embarassment.

"Oh, geez. Pete!" he said, interrupting a lively volleyball game in the pool.

Pete looked over at the Doctor and blushed. "Well, you said I could make it anything I wanted! Thanks for not having Rose come in here."

The Doctor ran his hand through his hair and laughed. "Oh, wow! Well, mate. It's your dream!"

Pete laughed as he got out of the pool and wrapped a towel around his waist. He walked over to the Doctor and they sat down in pool chairs as the girls continued to play their volleyball game. Pete drank something from a coconut with a small umbrella.

The Doctor looked at him and laughed. "Wow! Living it up, huh?"

Pete pointed at him, "You said to relax. I'm relaxing. Jackie can't come in here and see, and I know you won't tell her. If I've got to be in a damn coma. I'm going to make the best of it."

The Doctor tossed his hands up. "Fair enough! I'd do the same thing, mate! You're only human."

Pete smiled at him. "How many girls would you have in that pool?"

The Doctor bit his lip. "Never getting that number out of me. Give it up."

Pete laughed and patted him on the back.

"So, what have I missed today?" Pete asked.

"I nearly punched out Thomas. Lots of damn paperwork. We had Daleks come shoot up Torchwood. I had them destroyed."

Pete nodded his head. "Which lead to more paperwork. It's never ending. What's a Dalek?"

"Something terrible. It's been handled though. Don't worry about it. I'm not letting them here. We also had someone fall out of the Void. An old friend of mine and Rose's."

"Oh! I bet you are happy about that!" Pete said.

"Yeah. I just don't know how I'll ever get him back. I know he will have to return because I knew him when he was much older. At least, I think it was him. It's something I'm working on."

Pete shrugged his shoulders. "Ah, you'll figure it out. Don't sweat it too much. What else is going on? How's my Tony?"

The Doctor smiled and told Pete about the football game they had been to. He smiled as he learned about the ceremony that Harriet had had them do before the game started.

"Damn. And I missed it. I bet he was so excited!" Pete said.

"He will have a hard time going to sleep tonight. I imagine he will still be up when I get home. It was amazing. Rose popped back to get Jackie."

"So, at least she saw it." Pete asked.

"Yeah. She did. She's here now. Sleeping in the chair in the corner. I can't imagine she's comfortable."

"Wake her up and make her go back to your flat and sleep. Tell her I know she wants to be here when I wake up, but she needs to take care of herself. There's nothing she can do and there are bodyguards and nurses everywhere. She has a son who needs her." Pete said.

The Doctor raised up and put his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands together. "You know how she is. I'll try. But, I'm not promising I can get anywhere with Jackie Tyler. I want to go home and take Rose someplace first, then I'll come back and get her."

Pete laughed. "That's all I ask. How's everyone else?"

The Doctor rubbed his head. "Everyone is fine. Jake is working all the time. I gave him a raise. I knew you wouldn't mind. He has almost moved in with me and Rose. He's always there with us and Tony. He's keeping an eye out for the children tonight so Rose and I can go out. I've done something I need to tell her about and I think it will go over better with wine and candles."

Pete looked surprised. "Married two days and already in trouble. Has it been two days?"

The Doctor laughed. "Yes, I think. It was a great business opportunity. You would approve." The Doctor explained what he had done and Pete was very pleased.

Pete asked him, "How are you doing? Are you alright? This is a lot you have taken on."

The Doctor looked down and rubbed his hands together. "I keep myself busy. It helps. I won't lie, it's... difficult. But, I'll be alright. Rose and Genie are amazing. Makes everything worth it."

Pete looked at him. "Are you sure? I'm worried you are doing exactly what I do."

"What's that, Pete?"

"Keep yourself so busy that you don't face your problems." Pete told him.

The Doctor smiled and looked down. "Maybe. I've not thought of it that way. Rose might say the same thing. She's already fussing at me for not sleeping."

"You need to sleep."

"Nah, not as much as you do. But, here lately...I've not slept at all. I managed to fall asleep on the couch today as Rose and Jack where talking. I was asleep for about an hour. Tony jumped on me to wake me up! I found that Genie had taken a pen and drew on my arm! Jack had them both do it."

Pete laughed. "I like this guy already!"

The Doctor smiled. "He's something. I'll be glad when you can finally meet him."

Pete sat down his drink. "Okay. I've asked how everyone else is. How am I?"

The Doctor nodded. "The same. But, your brain activity is looking a lot better. I can tell your pain level has gotten a lot better, too. You seem to be resting finally. Not having all of those broken bones can only help this situation. It was your liver that was punctured. So, they have had to keep a close eye on that. One of your lungs had several punctures in it. It collapsed, but is doing better. You're going to be very sore when you wake up. It's going to hurt. You also lost your spleen. They just couldn't get the bleeding under control so they removed it. It's a common thing that happens. You can live without it, but it will make it a bit harder for your body to fight off infections. You will probably get sick more often than you used to."

"Ugh." Pete moaned. "Right as I have one about to start school. They bring everything home. You haven't told me what you are doing with Genie regarding that."

The Doctor continued to sit with his elbows on his knees and rub his hands together. "You probably won't agree with it, but Rose and I have decided that we will educate her. That way we can tailor her education to her, travel, not worry about the school run. Oh, there are a million reasons."

Pete sat back. "Really? Have you ever done that before?"

The Doctor nodded his head. "I honestly have. Several times. I don't want to go into it, but I feel like I could do a better job than what she would get in any school here."

Pete looked surprised. "Have you ever had any children in schools here on Earth?"

The Doctor looked at him and considered for a moment.

Pete held up his hands. "Sorry. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it."

"Nah, it's alright. But, yeah, that's what we're doing." the Doctor told him.

"Hell. I should have you teach Tony, too! You've already taught the boy to read. What four year old can recite Hamlet's soliloquy?"

The Doctor smiled. "He knows Polonius' soliloquy now as well."

"'This above all; to thine ownself be true.' Yes. The best advice a father could give a son. And he'll probably never forget that. Thank you." Pete told him.

"Shakespeare wrote that play in memory of his son, Hamnet. He died when he wasn't much older than your Tony. I have always thought that bit of advice was meant for him. Lots of good stuff in there. He's doing maths with Genie now. They are doing wonderful. You'd be so proud."

Pete smiled. "Oh, I am. He's a smart boy!"

"Just like his sister! They are both so very clever. I wouldn't be surprised if he is nominated for a Nobel Prize one day!"

Pete chuckled. "You never know! Tell me, any closer to finding out what happened at my hotel?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No. Ryan has been helpful and that damn weapons developer has offered to help. I might let him. Anything that might help with this I'm open to. Jake said they should have the body identified in a few days."

"What about the Quauhtin? Do we need to do anything about that?" Pete asked.

"No. We shouldn't even mention it. Their customs are very different than humans about death. Especially concerning warriors. They see their death as a huge honor. They will do their own ceremony, which they have already probably done. It's not something they ever let outsiders see. It's like a ...umm... sacred thing. Very private."

Pete sighed. "I'm ready to be done with this now. I want to wake up. I miss everyone."

"Don't rush this. It will happen naturally. But, it can take time. If you rush it, it will be so much worse. Please, listen to me about this."

Pete nodded. "Alright. Come see me again tomorrow if I'm still sleeping. Update me on everything, alright?"

"I certainly will. I'll let you get back to your volleyball match. Enjoy that, mate!" the Doctor chuckled as he disappeared.

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