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Chapter 54 - In the Forest

When he was certain Genie was in a deep enough sleep, he slipped out from under her. He wrapped the blanket around her as she lay on the couch. His head had mostly stopped spinning from the damn whiskey. He was nearly in a panic and had to know for sure if he had lost his telepathic ability.

He walked, nearly ran, into the bedroom and lay down next to Rose. She was sound asleep. He lay his hands on the sides of her face and closed his eyes.

He was in a forest, standing on a trail. A gentle stream ran next to the trail. He was wearing his jeans and jumper from earlier that night. He looked around trying to find Rose.

He walked down the trail. He called to Rose, and heard no reply.

He ran both of his hands through his hair. "Ugh. What does this mean?" he grumbled.

He looked over at the trail that went up a small hill and turned. He ran up the hill to get higher, so he could take a better look. Just as he nearly got to the top, Rose came running from the other side and crashed into him. The two of them tumbled into the small river with a loud splash.

Rose's head popped up out of the water and looked around. The water that went up to her waist.

Within a few seconds, the Doctor's head popped up about four feet from her. He looked around wildly.

Rose rushed over to him. "Are you really here? What the hell are you doing?"

He visually relaxed when saw her. He threw his arms around her and held her tightly.

Rose was confused. "What is wrong? You're shaking."

He started to laugh in relief. "Oh thank god. I was so sure I had lost it, Rose."

He grabbed her face in of his hands and kissed her. When he pulled his head back to look at her, she saw that he had the biggest smile on his face.

"Oh, Rose. Do I ever have something to tell you." he laughed.

He took her hand, and walked out of the water with her. Once they reached the trail, he looked her up and down. She was in her running clothes. He rubbed his beard.

She noticed his eyes. "Old man! Leave me on enough clothes that I don't catch a cold."

He laughed under his breath and shook his head. "I couldn't do that to you anyway. It's your dream."

She pointed at him, "Oh, but you thought about it."

"Oh, yes I did." he told her seriously as he looked at her body again. He rubbed his beard with one of his hands on his hip.

She rolled her eyes at him. "What on earth are you doing? Are you still awake?"

He snapped out of it. "Yes. Right! Sorry! Genie woke up and was upset. I heard her crying, and found her. She's back asleep now. She's laying on the couch in the sitting room."

"Is she alright?" Rose asked him.

"Yeah, she's alright. She's something." he smiled with pride.

Rose smiled at him. "That's so sweet. I see it all over your face."

He looked up at her. "What?"

"You love another girl, besides me." she teased him.

He turned his head away and laughed. "It's true. And she calls me, 'Daddy'." His smile overtook his face. He put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet. Rose had never seen him look prouder.

Rose laughed at him. "Does she really? When did that start?"

"She said she doesn't like doctors. I can't say I blame her, I've never met one I like either. And that's counting myself. So, I asked her if she would rather call me John. She said she hadn't had a Daddy in a long time, so she preferred to call me that. I've never been called that in any of my lives, Rose." he danced around with his excitement.

Rose was happy, but confused. "But, you have been a Daddy before." she laughed.

He shook his head, "No. Children on Gallifrey call their parents something else completely. Isn't that something? I'm Daddy. But, you are still Rose. Apparently, she doesn't know how thorny roses are and they can stick you, too."

Rose put her hands on her hips. "I'm a bit unclear. Should I be insulted?"

"No! Ugh. Rose!" he grumbled as he came over and took her hand.

He looked at her, and then looked at himself. It was as if he just noticed they were both wet. He started laughing. "Sorry, I knocked you in the water."

Rose started laughing with him. "What on earth were you even doing? I didn't even know what happened until I stood up in the water."

He looked surprised. "You dream about running?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "I suppose you will start dreaming about football now."

He snapped as he pointed at her. "Hey! That's a great idea!"

He looked around and took in their surroundings. "Rose, this is lovely. Is this a real place?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I doubt it. I normally just look at the trails as I run. I like the sound of the water though. I used to use one of those sound machines that help you sleep."

"When? Since you have been here?" he asked her.

"Yeah. Now, I always seem to have a river or an ocean in my dreams."

He took both of her hands in his and kissed them. "Are the dreams with the ocean in them good or bad, now?"

She smiled at them. "Good. I've not had any bad dreams in days."

He smiled at her. "Oh, that's wonderful. And I have something to tell you that I just found out."

He continued to hold her hands. "I know why Melissa made you Genie's guardian."

Rose looked at him. "Are you going to make me ask? You feel like you are about to bounce out of your skin from the excitement."

"She can hear the TARDIS hum! She's telepathic! Just like Melissa was. Scared the hell out of me because I still can't hear it for some damn reason. I was so sure I had lost my telepathic ability that I ran in here and jumped in your dream to see if I could still do it."

"But, how is that even possible?" Rose asked him.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Was she pregnant with her when she was attacked?"

Rose shook her head. "No. She was attacked a long while back. Fifteen years ago, I think. She went to another planet to even learn how to use her ability."

"Really? How did she get there?" the Doctor was surprised.

"I don't know. I honestly never asked. She didn't talk about it much. She said she studied with the Rixalarians, but I don't know where it -"

"Jalikapo! That's where she went. Wow. I'm surprised she ever returned. That's a beautiful place. Well, at least it in the Prime Dimension."

"She returned because her husband. They got married after she came back. She never thought she would ever be able to have children, but then Genie came along. Then, her husband got sick. I don't know what he had, but died two years ago. It's only been very recently we have been friends. I honestly thought Genie was a boy for a while because I only ever heard her called 'Gene'. Although, I didn't even remember that until you said it tonight."

"How often did you see one another?"

"To be friends, we really didn't see one another that much. Most of our conversations were about work. She stopped talking about her family completely once her husband got sick. I worry what Genie has even been through before Melissa died. Melissa was always working."

He agreed. "Yeah, she was there all night when you were in the hospital. She went upstairs and integrated your kidnappers. That was in the early morning hours. I wonder who was with Genie then?"

Rose shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea. Maybe the neighbor? Surely, she wouldn't have left her alone like that. I mean, she would have been able to take care of herself more over those four days if it was something she was used to."

The Doctor pointed at her. "Very good point! There's no way she could have been on her own often. Not in the state she was in. Not the way the flat looked. I'll never believe that. And I honestly just can't even think about it. The entire thing is just so unreal to me."

"How is she telepathic then?" Rose asked him.

He tossed his hands in the air. "Who knows. She could be one of those rare humans who just are. Melissa could have been one as well before the attack and that's why she wasn't killed. I have no idea. I'd have to run tests, which I won't put her though with this ape technology. The TARDIS could scan her quickly and give us answers. I wish you would let me speed that growth back up."

Rose's face became serious again. "Absolutely not! We've talked about that!"

"Damn it Rose! You know I'm not going to run off-"

"I know you won't! But, no! You will kill it growing at a break neck speed like you want to do! The TARDIS always was breaking down and you had to fix it. Hell, I don't even think you ever even knew how to properly fly it. You are not going to be reckless with the only shot you have at this! I won't let you."

He rubbed his wet hair in frustration. "Ugh! That TARDIS was broken when I stole it!"

Rose looked surprised.

"You told me you stole the TARDIS back on the Empire State Building, too. Did you really steal it?"

He rubbed his head. "Ugh, nevermind. Don't change the subject."

"How old were you when you started being able to use your telepathy?" Rose asked him.

"Actually using it? A bit older than she is now. But, just hearing something like a TARDIS hum, babies can do that. That's not a big deal at all. It's a steady noise. Not like words that have different...um... pitches and tones."

He looked up at her, "Does that make sense? Feels hard to explain."

"I understand what you are saying. Don't worry." Rose told him.

He nodded. "But, Rose that's a Time Lord. She's human. It might be completely different. I don't really know. I honestly don't have any experience with this. At least, I don't think I do."

"You sound tired. Are you even sleeping? Have slept any tonight?" Rose asked him.

He waved his hand at her. "Nah. I'm fine. Don't worry about -"

He stopped talking and looked alarmed. He looked around as if he heard something.

"What's the matter?" Rose asked him.

He put his finger on her lips.

"Something is wrong." he looked into her face. "I'm sorry, I need to go check on something."

He disappeared in front of her. It caused her to wake up.

She rubbed her eyes and looked around as she saw the Doctor, wearing his robe, walk into the sitting room and look around. He walked over to the door, put his ear to it and listened.

Rose climbed out of the bed and stood in the doorway of the bedroom, watching him.

He walked quickly over to the couch and picked up Genie. He walked by Rose and lay Genie in the middle of their bed. Rose saw him take his index finger, and push the little girl into a deep sleep.

Rose lifted her arms to protest, but the Doctor quickly hushed her protests. He grabbed her hand, and said in her head, 'Stay here. Something isn't right.'

Rose became scared and watched the Doctor tie his robe tighter and go over to the door and listen again. He turned to look at her, and put his hand up as if to tell her again to stay here as he opened the door.

As soon as he stepped out in the dark hallway, a man grabbed him from behind and put a knife to his throat.

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