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Chapter 62 - A Sad, Little One

The Doctor walked down the hall. He was wearing his jeans with a blue t-shirt and a brown oxford. He was rolling the sleeves up on the oxford to mid-arm. He could hear a flurry of lively activity in the living room. He could smell something cooking that made his stomach growl.

As he walked in, he saw Jake was bouncing a football off the top of his head to Poltoius, who would bounced it to Tony. Tony would catch it and toss it back to them to bounce off of their heads and laugh. Jack was wearing his new dark green cargo pants, black jumper and boots. Jack saw the Doctor and said, "Hey, morning there, dear! Made you some coffee!"

"Dear." the Doctor mocked and rolled his eyes as he walked over and took the mug from Jack. "Thank you."

Poltoius , Tony and Jake saw him and said together, "Morning, Sinatra!"

The moaned, "Converted my Comrade? You guys."

Jack leaned against the cabinet. "Rose wearing you out enough to sleep? I've never known you to sleep."

He smiled at Jack. "Good coffee. Thanks!"

Jake smiled, "Harriet rang and said the game is on this afternoon if we're up to it! Coach Tony says he's good with it."

Tony turned and said, "What do you think, brother?"

The Doctor looked outside as the rain was finally clearing off. "It's been raining for four days. That pitch is going to be muddy. What do you think, Poltoius?"

Poltoius smiled, "A little mud doesn't scare me at all! Sounds more fun!"

The Doctor smiled and drank his coffee. "My thoughts exactly! Jake? Are you up to play today, or is your shoulder still aching?"

Jack questioned, "His shoulder?"

Jake bounced the ball off his head. "I dislocated it in our last game. It feels fine, but I'm worried I might fall on it again. I'm going to sit this one out. Jack might play."

Jack waved his hands. "No way! I'll watch. I might play another time."

The Doctor asked, "Have you been up all night? Are you still doing All Nighters?"

Jack smiled and drank his coffee. "I had a handful of them in my pocket when I fell in the Void. I gave one to Jake. We've both been up all night."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Please, no details. There's nothing like All Nighters, here. There won't be for nearly 200 years. You need to start weaning yourself off of that. It will harder to stop if you have to do it suddenly."

Jack nodded. "Oh, I know. I just had to have one more last night. I'll start sleeping tonight. Try to stop cold turkey now."

Rose walked into the room. She was wearing a white, sleeveless sundress. It was a V-neck with a dramatic high-low hem with a ruffle front. Jack saw her first. "Wow! Now, that's a beautiful dress."

The Doctor turned and looked at her. "Oh, wow! That is very lovely."

Rose stopped and spun around once she walked down the hallway. "I love it! I have no idea where it came from. I found it in the closet."

The Doctor smiled at her. "I got you that! When we went to Disney the other day! It's a Disney dress, even though it doesn't look Disney to me. But, wow. Yes. Lovely!"

Tony called across the room. "You got her that doll, too. Remember?"

He rubbed his face. "I sure did. Where did I put that? I've got too much on my mind." He snapped as he remembered. "Ah, right!"

He pulled a bar stool over to the cabinets and stood on it to reach a bag that Rose hadn't noticed. He brought down the bag and walked over to Rose. "Sorry about that. I completely forgot. That was a crazy day."

Rose smiled as he pulled a stuffed Simba out of the bag and handed it to her with a smile. "There! The first Disney movie you made me watch. I know that it's your favorite."

Rose smiled, "It is. Thank you!" She leaned in and kissed him quickly.

He smiled, "Ah, it's just a little thing."

Jack rolled his eyes at them. "Ugh. Gross. Gushy. I'll never get used to seeing this. Anyway. Rose, tea?"

The Doctor drank his coffee as Rose walked into the kitchen and took her tea from Jack. She thanked him as she felt the Doctor become concerned. He sat down his coffee and rubbed his beard.

He put his hands on his hips and sighed. "Ugh. It had to happen at some point. Zeus. Come here, boy. I need you."

Rose was confused. "What's going on?"

The Doctor answered quietly. "Genie is upset. I can feel her crying. She's homesick for her mum."

Jack asked quietly. "How the hell do you know that?"

Rose looked at him questionability.

He looked at both of them and rubbed his head. "Um... I'll explain later. Give me a bit. I'll be back. Zeus. Let's go."

Rose asked, "Do you need me to come with you?"

"Nah, I'll handle this." he told her as walked down the hall with Zeus.

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The Doctor knocked on the door to Genie's room. Zeus ran and jumped into the bed with her and lay down. Genie turned quickly against the wall, her back against the Doctor.

The Doctor rubbed his beard and closed the door. He walked over and sat on the side of the bed, behind her.

"Genie, it's alright to be sad." he told her.

"I'm not going to be sad. It will make you sad." she told him as she stopped crying.

He sighed. "Little one. You can tell when I'm sad. I've been very sad for a long time. You have asked me about it ever since you came to live with me, remember? But, you being here with me makes me very happy. You know that. I know you can feel it. It's alright to be sad. Sad things have happened to you. Your mum was amazing and I know you miss her."

Genie turned around and looked at him. "Doctors are rotten people."

He looked at her, surprised. "They are? Why?"

"Mum was hurt in a car accident, right?"

"Yes. She was." he told her.

"Then why didn't the doctors save her? Make her better?"

He shook his head. "Oh, you ask hard questions." He held his arms out to her. "Come here. Let's sort this out together."

She let him pick her up and he sat down with her in his lap in the rocking chair. He grabbed a blanket and covered her up as he held her and rocked.

"Sometimes, no one can do anything. Things just happen. And I know that's not a good explanation for what has happened, but you just have to trust me about this. Even if you had a time machine and could have went back and warned your mum about things, it would have still happened."

"Really? Why?" Genie asked him.

"Some things have to happen in order for other things to happen. It's like stones in a river. You have to walk on each one in order to get to the next one. If you skip over one, you fall in the river. Into the unknown. Your mum's accident was one of these things that could not be changed."

He held her close as she held her Goofy doll.

He continued, "I'm so sorry this happened to you, but I'm so glad you are here with me. And Rose. We love you so very much and promise to take care of you. We are all a family. And I'm so happy you are part of this with me."

"Did you cry when your family died?" Genie asked him.

He took a deep breath and rocked her. "It doesn't matter what I did. We're talking about you."

"No, we're talking about you, too. Did you?" Genie asked him.

He looked at her for a moment and considered. He took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I did."

Genie shook her head. "No, you didn't. I can tell you aren't telling me the truth."

"You are too smart for your own good, little one. Ugh, okay, I didn't. But, that doesn't mean you can't."

She shook her head. "I'm not going to cry. It will make you cry."

He ran his hand through his hair. "You are such a stubborn woman. Like my Rose. Ugh! My work is cut out for me!"

She smiled at him.

"That makes you smile? That you frustrate me?" he asked her.

"No, that face you make. It's funny." Genie told him.

He rolled his eyes at her. "Tyler women are strange. You know, Zeus agrees with me."

Genie looked at him. "About what?"

"That you would feel better if you would talk about it. Or cry. I mean, it won't make the hurt go away." he told her.

She tossed her hands up, "Then, what's the point?"

He laughed, "Gosh, now that is like me! Alright. Listen little one. This is hard stuff you are dealing with. You don't have to do it alone. You have me and Rose to help you. Alright?"

She looked serious and said, "Alright."

He rocked her and said, "Okay, got that sorted. Sortof. Genie, tell Zeus what sort of person your Daddy is."

Genie looked confused at him. "What are you on about?"

"Come on. Tell him. He can understand what you say. And I can understand him." the Doctor smiled.

Genie shook her head. "You are a nutter. You can understand what a dog is saying?"

He smiled and nodded. "I can. I speak a lot of different languages. I'll teach you some. I probably can't teach you dog, though."

"Why not? That would be neat!" Genie asked.

He smiled and bit his lip. "I'm sure that reason will come up in the next few years. Just trust me, probably not. But, I can tell you what he says. I'm a wizard, remember?"

Genie smiled at him. "A nutter wizard."

Zeus raised up and barked.

The Doctor pointed at Zeus. "Hey! You are supposed to be on my side!"

Zeus wagged his tail and panted. Genie asked what he said.

"He said he agrees that I'm a nutter."

Genie smiled.

The Doctor continued. "No really, little one. There's no wrong answer, and I won't get cross about anything you say. Tell me, how would you describe me to someone you just met?"

Genie thought for a moment. "Well, how would you describe me?"

He nodded, "Fair point. I would say you are a beautiful, very clever, very strong young lady. Someone who is meant for something amazing in life. Someone who brings a smile to everyone's face, and a great friend. Someone you can never forget after you have met her. Someone you can't imagine you ever lived without."

Genie smiled. "That's so nice."

The Doctor chuckled. "It's all true. Don't forget it. Now, me. Introduce me to Zeus."

Genie giggled, "Oh, this is mad. Okay. This is my Daddy. He's a very nice man. He hunts monsters, and I think he must be pretty good at it because I never see them. Although, I have seen him come home looking all blown up."

She laughed at the memory.

He laughed as rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Oh, Tyler women. Always giving me a hard time."

She continued to laugh at him. "That was so funny. Your hair was all... puff!"

"Puff?!" he asked.

"Oh, yes! It really was." she smiled.

He smiled at her. "This might sound silly to you, but I have something I want to ask you to do. Do you remember my plant I'm growing?"

"Your monster hunting plant? The one you're going to feed to a monster?"

"No! I'm not going to feed it to a monster! No! It's going to help me ...ugh. I need you to talk to it for me. Could you do that?" he asked her.

She looked surprised at him. "You are a nutter. You have me talking to dogs, and now your plant."

He chuckled at her. "Oh, life with me is crazy. I promise you that. But, it's never boring. Lots of adventure and madness. It's so much fun. Will you talk to my plant? Explain that I'm a nice person? It's scared of me, and I don't want it to be. It's not good for anything to be scared."

"Sure. Why not? Where is it?" Genie asked.

He sat her on the floor and stood up. He took the box out of his pocket and sat the box on the floor in front of Genie and himself. Genie's mouth fell open. "That was in your pocket?"

He smiled, "Yep! I'm a wizard. Remember? Lots of mad stuff happens around me!"

He sat down and patted the floor. Genie sat down as he took the lid off the box.

He looked back at her, "Can you hear it?"

Genie smiled, "Sure, I can! It's a pretty song."

He smiled at her. "Good. Tell my plant who you are."

Genie smiled and said, "My name is Genie. I'm here with Daddy."

He smiled. "What is your Daddy's name?"

"John. Doctor John." Genie said.

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Close enough. Am I nice person?"

Genie smiled, "Yep! He is very nice. He makes banana pancakes and likes to dance. Oh, and don't even get him started on football. He's wild about that!"

He laughed at her. "Cheeky. What do I do?"

"You're a monster hunter. But, not really. Not anymore. You are a Doctor. But, one that helps people and makes machines."

"Have you ever seen any monsters?" the Doctor asked her.

"No, you are a good monster hunter and keep them all away from me."

"Am I ever going to let a monster get you?"

"Never. I'm safe here with you." Genie told him an put her hands over her face and giggled.

"How about my plant in the box? What am I going to do with it?"

"I'm not sure. It's supposed to help you fight monsters."

He rubbed his chin and said, "My plant will grow up and I'll take it on adventures. I won't let anyone hurt it. Eat it, or damage it if I can possibility help it. It's a child, like you. Like my child. I want to protect it as much as I want to protect you. Does that make sense? That's why I have it in a box and carry it around in my pocket all of the time. I don't want anything to happen to it. I don't trust it with anyone except my Rose. She feels the same way and wants to protect it, too."

Genie nodded her head. "Yeah. That's weird though. Why?"

He rubbed his beard, "Ummm. It's hard to explain. Me and this plant are from the same place. I want to make sure it grows up to be healthy and safe. We can help take care of one another."

"So, it's because it reminds you of where you are from?"

He snapped and pointed at her. "Yes! That's it! Sortof."

Genie nodded, "Okay. Well, when will you let it out of the box? It probably feels trapped."

"I'm building a place, far from anyone that might hurt it When it's finished, I'll put it there. We will all live there, together. Like we do here. Until then, I want to keep it in the box and carry it in my pocket. I always have it with me. I'm always protecting it. But, I can't hear it. I don't know if it's happy or not. I don't know if it likes the box. I would like to chat with it myself so it can tell me these things. But, I think it's hiding from me because it's scared. I'm the oldest person in this family. I think it likes you because you are the youngest. This plant takes a long time to grow up. This one won't take as long."

Genie put her hands in his. "So, let me get this straight. You only want to talk to the plant so you can see if it's happy. You only want to protect it, and you promise to never feed it to a monster."

He laughed, "I will never feed it to a monster. I don't know where you got that from."

"But you can't talk to it because you are too old and it's scared of you?"

He nodded his head. "Yes, my Sara Gene. That's exactly it!"

Genie stood up and looked down in the box. "You crazy plant! You need to talk to my Daddy! He only wants to help you! He's not going to feed you to a monster!"

He laughed at her. Then he heard the unmistakable hum of the TARDIS in his head. He stopped laughing and looked at Genie, the biggest smile spread across his face.

Genie smiled back at him. "Is it humming for you now, Daddy?"

He grabbed her and pulled her into his lap. He kissed her on the forehead. "Yes! Oh, thank you! You are brilliant, you are!" She laughed at him. Zeus barked excitedly.

"Well, you shouldn't hear it anyway!" the Doctor fussed at Zeus. "Oh, I can't wait to tell Rose!"

He closed his eyes and tried to not be too excited, 'Rose. Can you come in here a minute?'

'Sure.' he heard Rose's voice in his head.

"Okay, Rose is on her way!" he told Genie as he excitedly kissed her again.

Rose opened the door and walked in. "Okay, what's going on? I can tell you are so excited."

Rose sat down on the floor as the Doctor continued to smile like a loon. "Your idea worked! Genie chatted with my plant and I can hear the hum now!"

Rose laughed and covered her mouth. "Brilliant! Oh, I'm so happy!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him quickly. Then she kissed Genie on the cheek.

"Genie, you have no idea how happy you have made your Daddy!" Rose told her.

Genie turned around and wrapped her arms around the Doctor's neck as Rose wrapped her arms around both of them.

The Doctor laughed as he said, "Oh, I love my crazy family!"

Genie said, "And a crazy plant!"

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