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Chapter 58 – The Game

Rose walked downstairs to the sitting room. She was wearing jeans and a light blue blouse. The game was already well underway. She saw most of the Quauhtin, Tony Tyler, and the Doctor watching on the projection that appeared on the wall. The players appeared to be life sized.

Pete sat at the bar watching the game, with Genie and Jacob. They were all eating the small meat pies that were laid out in an impressive spread. As soon as Genie saw her, she jumped off of the bar stool and ran over to her. "Mummy! Daddy said you were awake."

Rose picked her up and kissed her. "What are you eating?"

"Football food. That's what Grandfather calls it."

Pete held up a small meat pie in his hand. "These are the best I've ever had. Arla got them from someplace."

Rose sat Genie down just as the men watching the game let out a loud cheer. Pete laughed as he wiped his hands on a napkin. "Tony is so excited. I'm worried he's going to shake your husband's brain out of his head."

Rose looked to see Tony gripping the Doctor's shirt tightly. He shook him violently when he would shout at the screen. The Doctor stood up and flipped him over his shoulder. He carried him into the kitchen to the bar. Tony shouted. "John! Let me down!"

The Doctor smiled at Rose. "Hi. I didn't hear you come down."

Rose smiled at him as he leaned in to kiss her quickly. Tony was appalled. "Gross! And now I have to see kissing. Dad! Help me!"

Pete laughed, "You got yourself in that situation, son. You know how your brother is."

Genie stood up on her knees in the chair. "Daddy. We are bored."

"Bored? Is that what you said?" He asked her.

Genie shook her head. "No. I didn't mean that word, Daddy-"

"I love hearing children are bored! I can give you something to do!" The Doctor smiled back at her.

Genie shook her head. "Hang on. Wait a minute. That's not the word I meant to use-"

He sat Tony down. "Bored. I heard it. My daughter thinks I'm a cruise director."

Genie was already out of the chair. "Nope. Daddy. That's not what I meant to say. Jacob and I are going downstairs to play. We're fine-"

"No, you said you were bored." He told them as he picked up a meat pie.

Genie and Jacob ran out of the room.

Pete laughed, "What were you going to make them do?"

Rose laughed, "Whenever Genie tells him she's bored he makes her do schoolwork, clean the house or something like that."

He nodded his head. "I didn't have anything she could do at the moment. I imagine I could have had her sweep the floor in here."

Pete laughed, "That's clever."

Tony ran back and jumped on the sofa to watch the game. Poltoius saw him and put his arm around the small boy.

Rose looked around. "Where is Sam?"

Pete pointed up, "Upstairs. Jacks just took him up."

Jack and Jake popped in. Jake had an envelope in his hands.

Pete noticed, "What do you have there?"

Jake smiled proudly and handed it to Rose. "Ashena's papers. Did them myself."

Rose smiled, "Thank you, Jake."

The Doctor looked around. "Where is she?"

Jack laughed as he picked up a meat pie. "With Logan. Where else?"

Jake chuckled, "Are they dating now?"

The Doctor growled. "They better not be."

Rose rolled her eyes. "They are of age. Let them have their fun."

"Ugh. They better not be having….. fun." He complained.

Jack smiled at his reaction. "Have you seen them? They are cute together."

"Not helping." He pointed forcefully at Jack.

Rose covered her mouth and giggled.

Pete laughed, "What is that about?"

Jake smiled, "Apparently there is a thing about royalty not dating anyone but royalty where she's from."

The Doctor continued. "Her father will return to check on her and be proper pissed if she's dating Logan. Oh. Alright. Legate says he's with them. I'm not going to worry about it. I'm going to watch the game." He growled and walked away.

Jack leaned over and said quietly, "$100 says Legate is all by himself at Space Traffic Control. Who's in?"

Pete smiled. "I'll get in on that. I think he's honest. Couldn't the Doctor tell anyway?"

Rose smiled, "He can't tell that. Genie could."

Jake shook his head. "Legate is an honest man, but he's also best mates with Logan. He's going to lie for him. I say he's alone."

Rose smiled and shook her head. "I'm with them, Dad."

Pete rubbed his face. "Jake. Pop over and see who's right."

Jake smiled. "With pleasure." He popped away.

Genie ran back into the room. "Grandfather! I didn't tell you! Guess where I went today?"

He smiled at her. "I have no idea, sweet girl. Where did you go?"

"Disneyworld! My Tony took me!" Genie beamed.

Pete raised his eyebrows. "Really? Tony Stark?"

Genie shrugged her shoulders. "Who else? I lost my Goofy doll they gave me when Daddy took us. So, Tony took me to get another one today. Wasn't that nice?"

Pete smiled, "That was very nice. I'll have to call and thank him later."

"Get him to tell you about the coaster! It was so much fun! It went really fast! I helped him fix it so we could ride it over and over. Daddy told me not to let him ride anything that would get him excited, but he told me he would stay calm."

Rose laughed quietly and covered her face. "Oh, Genie. Oh wow."

Genie smiled, "I'm going back downstairs with Jacob."

Pete smiled and watched her as she ran off. "Now I know why he wasn't at the debriefing. And damn that Director Smith knew it, too. I'm going to kick his ass."

Jake popped back with a huge smile on his face. "And…?"

Rose laughed, "Who was right?"

Jake laughed as he grabbed another meat pie. "We were. Pete loses. He didn't see me. He was sitting in the room, watching the game, all alone. Logan and Ashena are nowhere to be seen. Ooooooo! I love it when I'm right!"

Rose covered her mouth. "Oh my God. Do not tell him. He will be so pissed."

Pete groaned as he opened his wallet and paid each of them $100 each. "Damn it. Hanging around these Quauhtin has made me want to bet on everything."

Rose looked over at Jack, "You're being very quiet."

He looked at her, "I'm sorry, I'm watching the game. What did I miss?"

The room erupted in groans. Tony threw his hands out. "What the hell was that?"

Pete yelled across the room, "Tony! Language."

Pete heard Tony's voice. "Aww! John! Don't thump me in the head!"

"Then don't swear. It's that simple!" he told him.

Pete rolled his eyes. "He's gotten bad about that. Thank God Jacks hasn't heard him. What would she say?"

Rose smiled, "I know that one. Once, she caught me swearing. She made me sit in chair with a bar of soap in my mouth. Oh, it was terrible. Blah."

Pete laughed, "Did she really? How old were you?"

Rose shook her head, "I'm not sure. A bit older than Tony. Maybe the same age. I barely remember it. Mickey's grandmother used to slap him. Hard."

Pete chuckled, "Maybe it's an age thing with the Tyler children."

Jake suddenly remembered. "Oh! Director Tyler. Your package, sir." He reached into his jacket and handed him an envelope.

"What is this?" Pete asked as he opened the end of it and looked inside. He saw all of the watches. "Oh. I'll give this to the Doctor. I don't want to keep up with it. Are they all there?"

Jake nodded his head. "Yes. I counted them three times."

Rose sipped her soda. "What is it, Dad?"

"The watches from the agents at Torchwood. Until we get everything sorted out, I'm not comfortable with anyone using them." He told her.

Rose nodded, "I think that's a very good idea. It makes me feel better to know that. I've been thinking, should we talk to Tony about making all of the guys bracelets like the Doctor and I have?"

Pete smiled, "You do have a bracelet like his. He told me that today."

Rose smiled and held out her wrist to show him the thin bracelet. "Yes. It's a tiny thing. I've worn it for weeks. I don't even notice it anymore."

Pete laughed in relief as he looked at it. "That makes me feel better knowing you have that. What all does it have?"

Rose tapped it. "I really don't even know. I use it mostly to check my e-mail, messages, calendar, summon Friday with. It's convenient. I really like it."

"You don't use it to chat on the phone?" Pete asked.

"Nah, I prefer to use the phone still for that." Rose smiled.

Jack took another meat pie. "These are really good. Where did they come from?"

Pete nodded as he took another one. "Arla got them someplace."

Rose sat down her meat pie. "I'm sorry. Sam needs a bigger bottle. I'll take one up to mum." They watched as Rose walked over to the food replicator and asked for a bottle. The Doctor walked over to the bar.

"Rose?"

Pete pointed at her.

"Ah. Cheers, Pete." He said as he walked over to her.

Pete smiled and shook his head in disbelief. "How do they do that?"

Jack sipped his beer and explained as he watched the game. "They are joined. All three of them. They can sense when he's unhappy, or hungry, hurt. Anything like that. It's part of a marriage bond."

Pete nodded, "He had explained that, but not explained that."

Jake laughed, "Like most things with him."

They watched as Rose walked out of the room with a bottle. The Doctor walked back to the bar and took another meat pie. "I've got to stop eating these. I have a date later with Rose, and I'm going to be sick."

Jack smiled, "Oh yeah, what are you doing?"

"Not saying. It's a surprise." He teased Jack.

Jack looked back at the game. "I still say you are lying about earlier. That doesn't happen. It's a myth."

The Doctor groaned. "I'm not talking that with my father in law sitting here."

Pete looked at both of them. "I have no idea what you two are on about, but I'm sure I don't want to know."

"You don't." The Doctor insisted. He pointed at Jack. "But, I'll point this out. That happened five hours ago. What has Rose been doing since then?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea."

"Sleeping. Think about that." He insisted.

Jack looked back at him. "Damn. You just suck, man."

The Doctor laughed, "Ha! Told you."

Pete shook his head. "I really don't want to know about this. Anyway. What did you find out from the damn dentist?"

Jack shook his head and continued to watch the game. "Another dead end."

Jake sighed, "That Rixalarian you have, what is her name?"

Pete smiled, "Pat."

Jack looked surprised, "That's not a Rixalarian name."

The Doctor explained, "It's short for Patusudeo."

Jack nodded, "That's very Rixalarian. Yes."

Pete looked back at the Doctor. "That's what our Genie is, right?"

The Doctor nodded. "Yes. Halfway."

Pete nodded.

The Doctor ate another meat pie. "Pat couldn't get anything out of him?"

Jake shook his head. "Seems to be a victim in this. They took him… threatened to kill him if he didn't pull each one of their GPS'ed tooth out."

Pete shook his head. "Well, maybe he is."

"Nah… I don't believe it. They have killed everyone but him. There's more to that." The Doctor said as he looked back at the game. "But, I did get confirmation. Hammer is part of the crater. I can't wait to tell Tony when I see him in a bit. In fact…." The Doctor tapped his bracelet and typed in a message.

Pete shook his head, "I thought you were going on a date with Rose?"

He smiled, "I am."

Jake looked curiously, "Why are you seeing Tony, then?"

Jack sipped his beer. "Probably taking his suit out for a spin. I would love to do that."

"Nah. I'm about seven inches taller than he is. I can't fit in it."

Jake smiled, "You should get him to make you one. That thing is badass."

The Doctor shook his head. "He offered. I don't want one. Too much like a gun. I'd never use it."

Jake held out his hands, "Even to fly? That would be ace. I would love that."

"Let's get him to make you one then, Jake. You like to shoot. You would be perfect for that." He insisted.

Jake chuckled, "Oh, I would love that shit. Except. Well, that wouldn't work."

The Doctor looked surprised, "What? Why?"

Pete chuckled, "You still haven't sorted that out? He's afraid of heights."

Jake held out his hands. "A lot of people are. It doesn't affect my job."

Pete laughed proudly, "That it doesn't."

Jack looked surprised at him. "You're afraid of heights? I didn't know that, man."

Jake rubbed his face. "Oh God. What sort of shit are you going to do to me now?"

Jack looked serious. "Nothing. I just didn't know. You know what? I'm finally putting something together in my head. Mickey, I knew him for years after he left here and went back to the Prime Dimension. He always read Shakespeare. Everyone of these Quauthin are named something similar to a Shakespearean character, aren't they?"

Pete turned around and looked at Jack. "I didn't know you knew him."

Jack nodded his head. "Yeah. Hell of an agent. Married another agent of mine. They were amazing together. But, anyway. I'm right aren't I?"

The Doctor thought, "Yeah. Everyone of them."

Jack nodded his head. "Right. He told me once it reminded him of here. When he missed everyone, he would read Shakespeare. I suppose it was because of the names."

Pete nodded his head. "I guess it was."

The Doctor's bracelet lit up. He looked down at the message and nodded his head.

Rose walked back into the kitchen. "Alright. Sam is officially on an 8 oz. bottle. That child can eat. Good grief!"

Pete chuckled proudly, "Must be growing."

The Doctor held out his hand and she walked over to him. He pulled her close as he sat in the barstool and kissed her cheek. "I think this game is already won, if you want to go ahead and go out."

Rose smiled, "You would leave your game for our date?"

He smiled, "Of course I would. I can't keep my focus on it anyway. I just want to look at you."

Rose smiled, "That's sweet."

Jake smiled, "That is sweet." He punched Jack in the shoulder. "Dude. Why don't you say stuff to me like that?"

Jack looked away from the game and teased. "Because there is a game on! The hell?"

Pete, the Doctor and Rose laughed.

Jack pointed at the Doctor. "You want me to act as disgusting as him? I could do it."

Jake didn't have time for a reply. Jack grabbed him quickly and kissed him. "Jake, I can't keep my eyes off of you. This game is great, but you are so much better."

Jake pushed Jack off of him and laughed. "Forget I said anything. My God."

Rose stood up and laughed with Pete and the Doctor. "I'll go upstairs and get my trainers."

"No heals. Just trainers. Yes. Comfortable. Could you get my jacket?" He asked.

"Sure. Do I need one?"

"Probably. Go ahead and bring one."

Rose smiled and walked away. Pete sipped his drink. "I'll see that Genie gets to bed in a bit."

The Doctor smiled. "Thanks. I've already told her we were leaving for a bit tonight. She shouldn't give you any problem. She might want you to read some of the Harry Potter book to her."

Pete shook his head. "That is the strangest book ever. I can't believe it's getting so damn popular. Everyone is reading that."

Jack asked, "What? Harry Potter? Is that here?"

The Doctor smiled. "Yeah. It just came out."

Jack smiled, "Hell yeah! Those books are the shit! Jake. Have you read them?"

Jake shook his head. "Nah, man."

"We'll go pick them up. They are brilliant."

"Oh! Your watches." Pete handed the Doctor the envelope full of watches.

"Oh. Good. All of them here, Jake?"

Jake nodded his head. "Yep. I have a thought. Could that dentist be a non-human?"

Pete looked back at him. "Why?"

"Well, Rixalarians can usually sense when they are being lied to. What if the dentist was something where Pat couldn't tell?"

"Like a telepath?" The Doctor asked.

"Like anything like that. Just a species like that. What if had been someone like that all along? A sleeper inside of Torchwood?"

Pete rubbed his forehead. "This mess has me seeing enemies in my sleep. Check on it, Jake. That's a good idea."

Rose returned right as all of the guys stood up and cheered again. She brought the Doctor his jacket and he slipped it on.

Rose turned to Pete and smiled. "I'm going on a date. Try not to call him away."

Pete smiled. "Have a good time, honey. Jacks and I are staying here tonight with the children. Don't worry about any of them. It's not been that long since I had to change a nappy. I still remember how to do it."

Rose smiled and kissed his cheek. The Doctor took her hand and they popped away.

Jake rubbed his chin. "We should bet on where they went."

Pete laughed, "I was thinking the same thing. These Quauhtin have warped our brains."

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