XXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter 54 - Malcolm's Experiment with the Void

The Doctor, Pete, Legate, Lewis, Bassanio and Aemilius popped into The Doctor's office at Torchwood. Lewis immediately pointed at Legate. "Get over to the next building and make yourself extremely familiar with everything. Call whoever you need. Find where a shooter would set up."

"Yes, sir!" Legate nodded and popped away.

Pete looked surprised at Lewis' words. He looked at The Doctor. "You agreed to that?"

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Not much I can do about it. I've seen it happen. But, it didn't feel like it was soon. Does that make sense? I'll be alright. Don't worry about me, Pete."

Pete tossed his hand up. "I hope you know what you are doing. I've got some stuff to take care of. Maybe about an hour? Then we'll head over to Japan for that meeting. Good?"

The Doctor nodded. "That sounds good. We'll have lunch over there."

"Do you like Japanese food, son?" Pete asked him.

He smiled and shook his head. "Not at all. You?"

Pete laughed and shook his head. "No. But, I do know of a good hamburger place over there in Tokyo. Let's eat there."

The Doctor shook his head in surprise. "Hamburgers in Tokyo? Sounds fine to me. Will you tell Michelle I'm in on your way out?"

Pete was already through the door. "Good morning Michelle! I've been asked to summon you."

Michelle smiled as she took her notepad and walked into the office. She found The Doctor standing in front of the big window, rubbing his beard and looking at the other building.

Michelle spoke, "Hello there, Doctor Smith."

He turned around and smiled at her. "Hi there. How long as it been?"

"A week? How is Rose doing?" Michelle asked.

The Doctor walked over in front of his desk, held out a hand to invite Michelle to join him, and sat down in a chair in front of his desk. Michelle sat in the other chair in front of him. The Doctor smiled. "She's fine. She's really doing great."

Michelle smiled, "Sam is adorable. Thank Rose for the pictures she sent me. We're keeping that quiet, right?"

He smiled, "Yeah. No one needs to know about him for the time being. He's really a good baby. Sleeps good, doesn't really fuss a lot at all."

Michelle smiled. "My Logan was like that. Got enough nappies?"

He smiled, "I don't think you ever have enough nappies. Order us some more. And juice boxes. Tony keeps drinking them."

"Tony Tyler?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah, him too. I can't keep them in the house. Double whatever you have been getting us. Legate likes them as well." He told her as he looked back at the building outside the window.

Michelle didn't notice. She was busy making notes. "Just send everything to the flat, right?"

He rubbed his beard, still distracted by the window. "Yeah, that's just easier. Half of the guard lives over there so they just bring whatever to us. It has turned out to be a good arrangement."

Michelle nodded. "I have just a few things before your meeting that we need to cover. President Jones' office called. They are starting a big campaign trying to get children to stay in school and take their A-Levels. They are interested in having you or Rose be the face of that."

He shook his head and laughed. "I'll talk to Rose and see if she wants to do it. Next thing."

"Ryan Ard from the CIA wants five minutes today. He said to call him or go to him if it's easier. But told me it was extremely important that it was today."

"Fine. Work him in someplace." He waved his hand absentmindedly.

Michelle looked at him curiously, then went back to her list. "The new psychiatrist, Pat, is working out great."

He nodded his head. "Good. A Rixalarian should always be in that position. We're lucky she needed a job."

Michelle smiled, "Indeed. Do you still want to do this interview with CNN?"

He sighed. "I've not spoken to Rose about that. I honestly had forgotten about it. Ask me about it tomorrow. I need to discuss it with Lewis, and see what he thinks."

Michelle nodded. "Understood."

He rubbed his face. "Tell me something going on with you. I need a break from my own thoughts at the moment. How are the boys? What are they up to?"

Michelle looked surprised. She laughed. "Seriously?"

He nodded. "Yes. What's going on with your lot?"

Michelle smiled. "Logan is off to Basic Training with Torchwood this week. He's excited to hopefully become an agent."

"He's such a good footballer, I'm surprised he didn't try to get into a university on that."

"He didn't want that. He made up his mind on being an agent. I suspect you had something to do with that."

The Doctor smiled, "I think I've gotten to know Logan fairly well over the past few months. We had a long chat about it. He knows what he's getting into. He's a very clever young man. It's not something he entered into lightly. I honestly tried to talk him out of it."

Michelle sighed, "So did I."

"That's one. What about the others?" he asked her.

"They are fine. All in school. Just doing normal, kid things." Michelle told him.

"Like what?" he asked.

She smiled at him. "Sam, Jim and Ben have all started a band with the instruments you got for them. It's completely terrible, but I'm trying to be encouraging. The twins, Riley and Peter, have decided they are going to be the lead singers. It's madness. I wear earplugs at my house."

He laughed, "I imagine I'm not your favorite person."

Michelle shook her head. "You are their favorite person. And they are happy, so I'm happy. And they aren't watching telly."

"Sounds like they need lessons. Find them someone to train them. I'll pay for it. I imagine it's cheaper than paying for your therapy." He teased her as he stood up.

Michelle stood up and laughed. "Well, that is a thought, Doctor Smith. I'll send Malcolm in as soon as he gets up here."

"Thanks." He told her as she walked out of the door.

He reached out to Rose. 'How are things there?'

'You just left. I'm capable to handling two children here on my own.' Rose fussed at him.

He smiled, 'Of course you are. Sorry. I need Genie in a few minutes. Would that be alright?'

'Another date? I might get jealous.'

He smiled, 'No. I want to take her to see Jacob. It shouldn't take long. She needs to get out of the house and it will help break up her day a bit.'

'That's fine with me.' Rose asked him.

Malcolm walked in the office with Jack.

'I'll pop back to get her in a bit, Rose. Jack's here now.' He told her.

"Malcolm! Have a seat." The Doctor held his hand out.

Malcolm looked so nervous, The Doctor was sure he might just pass out if this meeting lasted very long.

Jack sat down in the chairs next to Malcolm. The Doctor sat on the top of his desk and crossed his arms. "Okay, where do we start? Wait, where is Jake?"

Jack sat down, "Firing range. He wanted me to be sure to tell you that."

The Doctor looked seriously at Jack. "Good." He looked at Malcolm. "Alright, Malcolm. How did a Dalek get into Torchwood?"

Malcolm took off his glasses and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. "I only opened the Void to test a theory I had been working on. That was it. It was only for ten seconds."

The Doctor held his hand out and looked at Jack. "I knew it. That's where the last one came from."

Jack shook his head. "Malcolm. You look like you are going to pass out, man. The Doc' isn't going to chew you up. Calm down."

"Malcolm. Ugh. I'm only going to say this one more time. Do not open the Void. No matter what."

Malcolm looked at Jack. "But, I think I might have found a way to get him back. That's what I was testing."

Jack looked surprised. "Really? Did it work?"

Malcolm shook his head. "No. Unfortunately, no. Rose Tyler could figure this out. But, I'm not Rose."

Jack couldn't help himself. "And the Doctor is probably grateful for that, man."

The Doctor rolled his eyes at Jack. "Malcolm. I can appreciate you working on this, but it is really just too dangerous. The Void is full of terrible things. Each time it's opened, it can release whatever is in there on this world or another one. Not to mention, it tearing holes in between the walls of reality."

Malcolm nodded his head, "I understand. When they came through the Void-"

"They?!" Jack and The Doctor said at once.

Malcolm looked at them both. "Yes. Two of those…. What do you call them?"

The Doctor looked at Jack. "You said there was only one!"

"That's all we saw. There's another one someplace." Jack said.

The Doctor ran both of his hands through his hair. He complained in another language. He suddenly heard Rose in his head. 'Are you alright?'

He gritted his teeth, 'Counting to ten. Ask me in about 34 seconds, love.'

He pointed at Malcolm. "You! On suspension, after you help Jack and Jake track down this damn Dalek! Do NOT open this Void again! No matter what!"

Jack was already standing up. "What do you want us to do with this Dalek?"

"Destroy it! Quick as you can." The Doctor ordered. "Take three teams. This is top priority!"

Jack crossed his arms. "How about the crash site from last night? You got that call, right?"

He nodded his head. "That's under control. Malcolm, this chat isn't over. Go deal with this, now. Lewis! Send Jack some help. At least one man so I know what the hell is going on."

Jack and Malcolm left the office quickly to The Doctor swearing loudly in several different languages. He walked over and kicked the side of his desk. The force field from his wrist band prevented him from striking it. He shook his head and mumbled some more complaints.

XxXxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxx

The Doctor popped back into the island house. Rose was sitting on the sofa feeding Sam. "And welcome back, cross husband of mine." She teased him.

He shook his head, "Oh you just don't know, Rose. Damn Malcolm opened the Void and now I've got a Dalek on the loose. What is it with humans? There's something dangerous sitting in front of them. Do they listen to me when I tell them not to mess with it? NO! They just go poke it with a stick!"

He tossed his hands in the air. "Damn it. This could be really bad."

Rose looked surprised at him. "Why would Malcolm open the Void?"

"He thinks he can get Jack back. He was testing a theory he had. He thinks you could figure it out."

"Then bring me the research. I'll look it over. I wonder what he has in mind." Rose told him.

The Doctor put his hands on his hips and bit his lip. "No. You lot don't need to be messing with the Void. No way."

Rose could feel his determination. She smiled at him. "I can't get up at the moment. Can you please come here?"

He looked surprised at her. "Sure, Rose. What is it?"

She motioned for him to bend down. Thinking she was going to kiss him, he smiled and leaned down close to her. She grabbed the front of his suit, wrapped his tie around her fist and told him, "Stop treating me like a child or I'm going to punch you out."

His eyes got huge. He turned his head and yelled, "Genie!"

Rose let him go and pointed at him. "I mean it. I'm just about over that shit."

He straightened back up his clothes as he looked surprised at her. "Damn. Ugh. Alright. Ugh."

Rose narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm serious. I know you can tell. I've not been myself for nearly five months, but this shit of you making decisions and keeping stuff from me is done. I can appreciate you don't realize it, but that's not how this works. Not at all. "

He looked shocked at her. He ran his hand through his hair. "We'll talk about this later."

Rose nodded her head and laughed, "Oh, I assure you we will."

Genie ran into the room right as the Doctor turned to yell for her again, "Gen-"

"Daddy. Stop yelling. I'm right here." Genie told him. He picked her up and kissed her cheek quickly. "Ah! My Sara Gene! I'll have her back in about thirty minutes, Rose. Alright?"

Rose smiled at him. "That's fine. Think about what I said."

He popped his watch and disappeared out of the room with Genie.

XxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxx