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Chapter 55 - Wrists and Bones

The Doctor and Tony Tyler appeared on the transporter platform on the Doctor's ship. Timon greeted them. "Well, hello there!"

The Doctor smiled and walked over to shake Timon's hand. "It's nice to see you. Thank you for bringing my little brother out."

The Doctor held Tony's hand. Timon smiled down at him. "He was a great help. Did you tell him you helped us pilot the ship out?"

Tony shook his head. "Nah. I just pressed a few buttons."

The Doctor smiled down at him. "It's still piloting it. Well done!"

Tony beamed.

"Any problems with the Hamlet?"

Timon shook his head. "Nah, it was a simple fix. She's running great now. No problems at all. As for your ship, there's not many things left to do up here. Poltious and Lance expressed to me your concerns, so I'm keeping an eye and out and looking over everything."

"Am I being paranoid? Be honest."

Timon shook his head. "You're being cautious."

Tony pointed at the Doctor. "That's a nice way to say you're being paranoid. Relax, John."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "One day, you'll understand why I carry the weight of what I do."

The door opened and Leontes, Oberon and Tony walked into the room. Tony smiled, "Well, Mr. Tyler! Welcome aboard!"

Tony smiled, "Mr. Stark. It's nice to see you." They shook hands.

Tony smiled back at the Doctor. "Jacob didn't come?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Nah, Howie needed him for something. Jack is with Rose."

Stark pointed at young Tony. "Guys, this is my associate, Tony Tyler. Tony, this is Leontes and Oberon. They are Quauhtin like the rest of the guys."

Young Tony shook their hands. "Pleased to meet you both."

Leontes seemed impressed. "What a polite young man. You know there is a playroom for the children at the castle?"

Tony nodded his head. "Yes, sir. I'm aware of it. Genie is there now. I came to see my brother though. I'll probably go there when he attends his party later today."

Leontes nodded his head. "Right then."

Leontes and Oberon transported back to the surface. Tony decided to remain with the Doctor and Tony Tyler.

The Doctor held Tony's hand as he walked with him and Stark through the hallways of the ship.

Young Tony observed, "John. This is strange. The ship is so quiet."

"She's in a space dock. The engines are turned off. They had to make some repairs."

Stark smiled, "Yep. Your brother found someone to shoot at him."

He glared at him. "But, we're fine."

"Cool, John! I'm sorry I missed that!" Tony exclaimed.

Stark smiled back at him. "He's a little boy. Why wouldn't he like that?"

The Doctor rolled his eyes, "She took good care of us."

"John. Why do you call your ship a 'she'? Is she a girl?"

Stark became excited. "Oh! I know the answer to that one!"

The Doctor looked surprised at him, "You do?"

Stark nodded his head. "It's from Latin. Has to be. Now, John will explain why."

He laughed at him. "Terrible explanation, man. But, you are right. The early term for a ship, specifically in Latin, was the word "navis," which was a feminine term which translates as "ship." By extension, when referring to a sea-going vessel, crew and captains came to use feminine pronouns when referencing the ship directly. So, rather than a gender neutral pronoun like "it," the ship became "she." This translated later into English as a simple tradition, though potentially because English was once also known for having a number of gender specific nouns for objects."

Stark held up his hands, "See! Latin. Got it right!"

Tony rolled his eyes. "I think John got it right. Nutter."

Friday's voice came through the Doctor's bracelet. "You have a call from Lewis, sir."

He stopped walking and looked around. "Ummm… Hmmm…. Route it through the Control Room's office. We'll take it in there."

Within a few moments, they had arrived in the Doctor's office. The two Tony's sat on the sofa on either side of the Doctor.

Lewis appeared on the screen sitting next to Steve Rogers. They both smiled as the connection was made.

Stark pointed at his friend. "Steve! Lewis keeping you busy?"

Steve smiled. "Oh, we're getting a lot accomplished here. John, Pete told us that you had been informed about the Vice President."

He nodded his head. "I have. Can Mr. Tyler be present for this meeting?"

Lewis smiled. "Sure! He might be helpful. Hi Tony. Have a good trip out?"

Tony smiled. "Yes. And I even went down to the other planet, Lewis! But, I didn't see any aliens."

Lewis laughed, "Sure about that?"

Tony rubbed his chin. "No. I'm sure I didn't."

Stark leaned down and whispered to him. "How about the one sitting next to you?"

"Oh hell. He doesn't count!" Tony insisted.

The Doctor put his finger over Tony's lips. "Don't swear." He looked back at Lewis. "Alright, what's going on, gentlemen?"

Lewis laughed under his breath, "Anyway. Yes. Security has been increased on the two primaries. As you requested. Who have you received this warning from?"

He shook his head. "It's complex. I can't go into it now."

Steve returned to his paperwork. "Alright. Well, I just had a few questions for you if you have a minute."

"Sure. Go ahead."

"Lewis has filled me in on your origins and such, so feel free to be straight with me." Steve told him.

The Doctor looked back at Stark. "Well, he's to the point isn't he?"

Stark nodded. "Oh yes. You are dealing with the original Boy Scout there."

Steve rolled his eyes. "In the report, the incident at the ballet. You sent the children away before anything happened. Did the children see the attackers?"

"No. They were gone for several minutes before they came onto the balcony where we were. Sam and Legate remained with us."

Tony filled in. "John saw some guy wearing a tux and it made him nervous. Tuxs frighten him. So, Daddy tells everyone not to wear them."

The Doctor laughed as he looked down at Tony. "Does he really?"

Tony nodded his head. "He just tells them to be more casual."

Steve smiled at Tony. "Alright. That part was a bit vague. Lewis didn't remember."

"Lewis returned with the children. I think. Wasn't that right?"

Lewis shook his head. "I honestly don't remember. Do you remember, Tony?"

Tony nodded his head. "I have no idea."

Steve looked at the paperwork. "Ah, it doesn't matter. This incident at Camp David. Can you describe the attackers?"

The Doctor thought for a moment. "Not really. I could probably pick them out of some pictures."

"Did anyone else see them?"

"Hmmm… Jake did. And Lance. Lance could probably ID them."

"You didn't report that?" Steve asked.

"Nope. Lewis has probably explained why."

Steve looked back at Lewis. "Yes. But, Lance didn't report it either?"

"Understand this Steve. There are several things operating here. There is Torchwood, which I'm the Director of. And then there is a unit of Quauhtin, which I'm a Primus of. I ordered both of the men, not report it. The only reason I've told Lewis to inform you about it now is because of this you have put together against the Vice President. I feel like he was probably behind it as well."

Steve nodded his head. "I understand. Lewis has briefed me on Quauhtin and your position."

Tony smiled at him, "Pretty neat, huh?"

Steve smiled at the little boy. "It's a lot to take in. But, yes. Rather swell."

Stark looked back at the Doctor. "Swell. This man is so damn old fashioned."

Steve closed his file and looked back at Lewis. "That's all I had."

Lewis asked, "When do you expect to return?"

"The Feast is tonight. The repairs are nearly complete to the ship, so I imagine we'll be underway in the morning. That will put us there by tea."

Steve looked confused, "What time is that?"

Lewis chuckled, "In the afternoon. Is Stark staying out of trouble?"

Steve laughed, "Ha!"

Stark shook his head. "Now that's just being rude. Why do you assume such about me?"

Lewis smiled at them. "Mr. Tyler!"

Tony sat up on the sofa, "Yes, Lewis?"

"Have a good time, young man. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon with a tall ice cream cone. Sound good?"

Tony smiled, "Thanks, Lewis."

The transmission ended. Stark pat Tony on the knee. "Let's go look at this crazy thing this engineer is building for your sister. It sounds cool."

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The Doctor walked into the suite back at the castle. "Rose?"

She walked out of the bedroom with her finger over her lips. "I just got back. Sam is asleep."

He had felt Sam was sleeping. He shook his head. "Sorry. I knew that."

She walked over to him and he wrapped his arms around her.

He smiled at her. "Where did you go?"

"Ashena took me to be fitted for a dress tonight. It's lovely. I can't wait for you to see it."

He could feel her happiness. He returned her smile and leaned in to kiss her.

She asked. "Where is my little brother?"

He let go of her and ran his hand through his hair. "Ugh! Tony, Genie and Tony are in the playroom with Legate, Jack and Logan. They are all trying out the trampoline. They are completely mad."

She laughed at his apprehension. "Is that why you are so nervous?"

He sat on the sofa and groaned. "It's so damn dangerous. I couldn't stay and watch them break their limbs. I told them to just come get me when I need to put someone back together."

She sat next to him and rubbed his thigh. "They could be alright. Can you relax for a bit?"

"Ha!"

She rolled her eyes. "Sorry. Forgot who I was talking to."

"The human body contains 206 bones. Three in the ear. You lot are a bit strange. The most common bone to break is the wrist. I just repaired Legate's wrist less than 48 hours ago."

"Well, Baby. There is a flaw in your logic here."

He was cranky and groaned, "Yeah? What's that?"

She moved to straddle his lap. "Legate isn't human."

He dropped his head on the back of the sofa. "You're right, he's not. He has even more bones to break. Rose, I'm losing my mind."

She laughed at him and ran her hands through his hair. She whispered, "Tell me why you are so wound up. Is something going on?"

He shook his head. "No. And it's strange. The first Christmas I've had in a few years nothing was going on. It's odd."

"It's New Years Eve. Christmas is over. I think you're fine."

She felt his hands under her dress, on her bum as she looked at him.

He looked up at her face. "You are beautiful. Have I told you that today?"

She ran her hand across the stubble of his face. "You are scruffy."

He chuckled at her as she leaned down and rubbed her nose against his. "Yeah, I need to get ready for this Feast."

He gripped her bum tighter and she kissed his face and neck. "Everything alright on the ship?"

"Rose, when I copy the flat into the ship, that office from our bedroom is completely yours. You need a place to work."

She smiled, "Found that huge stack of paperwork, huh?"

"I was looking for something else. You've been busy."

She smiled and kissed his lips. "I have."

He chuckled, "Forgive me, but I read a bit of it."

She ran her hands through his hair. "Did you?"

He smiled like a loon. "Oh, I did. Wow. Did you understand what you were writing?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "I wrote it didn't I? I was trying to explain it where someone Genie's age could understand it."

He rubbed her bum and smiled at her proudly. "Einstein said that if you can understand it simply, then you truly understand it. It was brilliant. I love it."

She leaned down and her lips met his. As they kissed, she spoke in his head, 'All of physics is either impossible or trivial. It is impossible until you understand it, and then it becomes trivial.'

He groaned under her kiss and held her tighter. 'Oh, I love this.'

She continued to kiss him, 'There are many ways of knocking electrons out of atoms. The simplest is to rub two surfaces together. What do you say?'

He became incredibility enthusiastic. He held her even tighter and continued to snog her. She ran her hands through his hair sending it into every direction.

Someone knocked at the door. He groaned and didn't stop kissing her. 'Send them away. Oh please.'

She smiled as she rose up. "Baby, that's probably for me."

He closed his eyes tightly and dropped his head on the back of the sofa again. "Damn it. Come in!"

A hand maiden walked in. "Ma'am Rose. The Princess has sent for you."

She kissed him quickly and whispered, "We'll continue this later."

He didn't ease his grip on her.

She smiled. "I'm serious."

He rose his eyebrows at her. "Eleven minutes? Please? It will blow your mind."

"It always does. Later, Baby." She blushed as she insisted.

He dropped his hands on the cushions of the sofa dramatically. "Fine. You've nearly worn my lips out anyway."

She giggled at him and kissed him again. "Baby, I need to go. Go shave. We'll continue this later."

"Promise?"

She stood up and laughed, "Of course. You probably need to go put some wrists back together."

He groaned. "Don't remind me."

As she walked out of the door, she turned and looked back at him. He put chapstick on his lips and smiled back at her like a loon. "My favorite flavor!"

She giggled at him.

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