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Chapter 84 – Dorian Ides
The Doctor walked into the large drawing room. Harriet stood there talking with a man in a suit. He was tall and had very Roman features. His hair was grey, even though he looked to be in his early 40s.
The Doctor saw them, held up both of his hands and said, "Sorry, Harriet. I was looking for someone. Didn't realize you were in here."
Harriet smiled, "Oh, not at all! You're not interrupting. Come and meet Dorian."
The Doctor walked over and held out his hand to greet the man. "Doctor Johnathon Smith. You are?"
The man had his left arm in a sling. He wore a glove on the hand. "Dorian Ides, Doctor Smith. I would have thought you would be in Princeton with Rose today."
The Doctor could sense deception, sadness and determination coming from this man. The Doctor held his hand shake longer than he normally would, probing his mind to see if there was anything he was planning. He seemed to be there for a social call with Harriet.
The Doctor shook his head, "No, I had to attend several meetings today. She wanted me to do that instead. I've spoken with her though, and she said there was a large crowd gathered to see her. She was rather, nervous."
Dorian smiled, "Yes, I hear that it's even being covered on the news channels in America."
The Doctor put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet. "Yes. Physics has become very popular all of a sudden."
Dorian chuckled.
Harriet spoke. "We were just about to have tea. Join us, Doctor."
"Oh, I'd love to. I never turn down tea!" he smiled.
They all sat down at the table Genie had been hiding under earlier. Harriet sat at the head of the table and the Doctor and Dorian sat across from one another. They each made themselves tea.
Dorian smiled, "So, very British. Every time I come here, I always manage to arrive at tea time. Is it a certain time of day, or is it just anytime you need a bit of caffeine?"
Harriet chuckled, "The latter, I'm afraid for me. Seems to happen more often lately."
The Doctor smiled, "Where are you from, Dorian? May I call you Dorian?"
Dorian sipped his tea and nodded his head, "Sure. I'm from….well….all over. I live currently in New York. Well, outside of the city."
The Doctor nodded. "Huh." The Doctor noticed Dorian had a very odd accent, the mark of someone who had traveled a lot through his life.
Dorian asked, "Do you enjoy, New York, Doctor Smith?"
The Doctor sat down his tea. "I do! I'm not there often enough."
Dorian shook his head. "Terrible shame about Pete. He was a good man."
The Doctor looked confused, "Still is a good man!"
Dorian looked at him, "I heard he was killed in an explosion."
The Doctor shook his head. "No. Pete Tyler?"
Dorian nodded, "Yes. The same."
The Doctor shook his head and sipped his tea. "No. Pete Tyler is on a holiday with his wife. I believe they went to, Australia. Isn't that right, Harriet?"
Harriet looked confused at the Doctor. "Yes. I believe that was right. Not completely sure."
The Doctor sat down his tea and crossed his arms, "Yeah, I'm not sure who you could be thinking about. I've not even heard of an explosion. Where was it?"
Dorian waved his hand, "Ah, apparently I have some bad information. Forgive me. I'm sorry. I should have checked my sources first."
Harriet looked at the Doctor and smiled, "Not at all."
The Doctor looked at Dorian. "What is it you do there? In New York?"
Dorian shook his head. "Nothing much, anymore. I'm retired."
"Wow! Retired at what….. forty….?"
"Forty-four." Dorian told him. "I own several companies that make Zeppelins still. My father owned a lot of oil companies. There are still many gasoline engines around. It pays the bills."
The Doctor nodded. "Interesting."
Dorian asked, "You, Doctor Smith?"
"Oh, I do a little this, little that. Odd thing here or there with Pete. Nothing really to brag about." He shrugged.
Dorian laughed, "I like you. You developed all of these amazing machines that will completely change the face of healthcare, and that's how you describe it?"
The Doctor crossed his arms and looked at Dorian. "Yeah."
Harriet smiled, "Dorian came today to see if I could arrange a meeting with you, Doctor. He was interested in the bone regrowth machine."
Dorian nodded, "Yes, indeed. I would like to purchase some and donate them to hospitals in Africa. I'm sure they could use them."
The Doctor looked confused, "Really? Africa? Why?"
Dorian reasoned, "There are some third world nations, there. They are usually the last to get anything like that. I want them to be some of the first. It could really help a lot of people there."
The Doctor rubbed his beard and considered.
Dorian continued, "Mostly for children's hospitals. I would like to help the children there. You understand I'm sure. You are a father. You have a daughter, right?"
The Doctor crossed his arms and cleared his throat. "Yes. I do. Do you have any children?"
Dorian shook his head. "Not anymore. I had always planned to take my boys on a safari there in Africa. Never made it. Ever lost a child, Doctor Smith?"
The Doctor continued to look at Dorian. "Yes. I have."
"Cyberman?" Dorian asked.
The Doctor rubbed his face quickly. "Something like that. I'd rather not talk about it."
Dorian nodded and pointed at the Doctor. "See, that's how I know that's true. No parent wants to talk about it. No parent should ever have to outlive their own child. Or in my case, children. You?"
The Doctor leaned back and looked the man up and down. "Children. Yes."
Dorian shook his head. "I am sorry, Doctor. It is truly the worse. You expect to be able to see them grow into men."
"Expectation is the root of all heartache." The Doctor told him.
Dorian nodded, "I suppose you are correct."
The Doctor looked back at Harriet, who seemed shocked at his admission. He cleared his throat. "I admire you want to help these children. How many are you looking to purchase?"
Dorian shrugged his shoulders as he handed the Doctor his card. "However many they need. I wanted to meet with President Jones first to see if she would be able to arrange a meeting with you. I had no idea you were even in London. Last I heard, you were in Atlanta."
The Doctor smiled, "Yes! Disneyworld! Promotional thing for my work. I'm still exhausted from it, honestly."
Dorian chuckled, "I would imagine so. I guess you would have had to catch the Bullet early yesterday to be back in time for that football match. I heard you got hurt."
The Doctor shook his head. "Nah, as you can see, I'm perfectly fine. Anyway. I'm curious. Will you be in Toyko in the next few days, for the conference?"
Dorian smiled, "Most likely, not. I have some work to attend to back in New York. I'm sure we'll cross paths again, soon."
The Doctor nodded. "Oh, I'm sure. What happened to your arm, if you don't mind me asking?"
Dorian looked down at his sling, "Oh, an old injury. It's acting up. It does that when the weather changes or I travel. Nothing to be concerned about."
The Doctor reasoned, "I am a Doctor, if you would like me to take a look."
Dorian shook his head. "I do appreciate it, Doctor Smith. But, it's really fine." Dorian stood up and shook Harriet's hand.
"Thank you, Harriet. Until next time."
He shook the Doctor's hand. "I'll be in touch."
The Doctor handed him a card. "Call my secretary. We'll work it out."
Dorian smiled as he walked out of the door.
As soon as the door closed, Harriet turned to the Doctor. "Okay, Cloak and Dagger. What was that about?"
The Doctor pointed at her, "You know, as well as I do, to keep your best cards hidden. Only show them what you want them to know."
The Doctor walked back to the table and poured him another cup of tea. "Sam, put a man in the shadows on Dorian Ides. I want to know what he's up to and where he is at all times. Also, have everyone stand down. Looks like we're all in the clear. Bring Howie, Caroline, Jacob and Tony back to the Palace. I need to see Howie in here immediately."
Harriet looked at the Doctor. "Who are you even talking to?"
He sipped his tea, "Hell is empty, and all of the demons are here. Don't worry about it Harriet. I have something else completely I need to discuss with you and Howie."
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