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Chapter 17 – Nebvan's

Samuel and Karen arrived at the restaurant Nebvan's, and were seated on the balcony that overlooked the city. The small table sat in front of them, and the chairs were rather close together. Karen was grateful she didn't have to sit so far from him because of a table. He held her chair out for her, and then sat down beside of her.

The stars twinkled in the sky and the buildings around them where lit up in various colors. Above them, in the distance, Karen saw a long line of lights.

She pointed at it. "What is that?"

Samuel glanced back, "Cars. Traffic."

Samuel ordered something for them, speaking an odd language, and the waitress disappeared through the small doorway.

Karen sat wearing her brown dress, with a light jacket they had just purchased for her to wear. The small, odd floral print on it made her look stunning. Samuel had told her, several times that evening that she was glowing. "Clearly the most beautiful woman on this planet, or any other."

Samuel propped his head up on his fist and looked back at her. "Are you alright? How are your feet?"

The waitress returned and poured them both glasses of some sort of liquid.

Karen waited until Samuel had thanked her and had left before she answered. "I'm grateful I took a nap today when I did."

Samuel teased. "Yeah, I saw the photo of you sleeping with another man."

She sipped her drink and laughed. "Hardly. So, we're to think of him as your brother?"

Samuel took a deep breath. "Yes. My brother. That's what the letters said. I can live with that. I have a little brother. Who is me."

Karen grinned. "You know, I love this."

"What exactly?"

"This crazy life of yours."

He smiled. "Really? So, if you had actually known who I was, that night in the club, would you have still bought me that drink?"

She grinned, "Probably not."

"What? Why?"

"Because, I would probably be too scared. I mean, everyone knows Rose Tyler. Pete. And….then you?"

He nodded. "You see why I tried to keep it secret for so long."

"Arles told me it was because of something someone said, as they broke up with you."

He sighed. "He's right."

"And I swear, Samuel. If I could just meet this girl in a dark alley-"

Samuel laughed. "She's probably an infant currently. I think you could take her. The PR department at Vitex would have a hard time with that. Keep it in mind."

Karen groaned and sipped her drink. "You know what I mean. Samuel, what did she say?"

"Ah. It's hardly worth repeating."

"Something tells me it is. Would you please tell me?"

Samuel sat back and rubbed his hands on his trousers. "She told me that no one would ever want to be with me, once they actually discovered who I was. Or knew who I was. Gotten to know me. That sort of thing."

Karen shook her head. "What a cruel thing to say."

"Well, we've established that she wasn't the nicest person."

"Samuel. I know who you are. I feel like I actually know you better than a lot of people do. Especially here. Even your parents. Sadly."

Samuel sighed. "You're right about that. Genie had a good point last night. It does feel…I don't know."

"Like all you have left is her, Legate and Arles?"

"Well, and you."

"And I'm not running away, Samuel. Except to her crib possibility to dump her on her head."

They both laughed.

Samuel sipped his drink. "Thank you for that. I think I did need to hear it. It's something that has…rather….chewed away at me. Especially, these last few days."

"Well, Genie saying what you are all probably feeling, just brought it to the surface."

"Yeah. I did. These. Changes. I'm grateful for the letter. Your advice was…..needed. And really put my mind at ease more than I would have thought."

"What did I say?"

"Well, you told me that I would need to sort out how to use all of these things that I can do. And that you would help me. It also said that our, children, are as mad as me."

She smiled slowly. "Children? So, more than one?"

"It said children."

"How many?" She smiled.

"It didn't say. A brood? How many is that? I'm not familiar with strange, American terms."

"More than two. On goodness. You poor man."

"Me? How about you? I'm not the one actually growing these children. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

She smiled, "I'm alright. I'm tired."

"We'll get something to eat and go back to the ship. I ordered appetizers like you asked. But, if you want something more."

"Gosh, I really can't even think about eating. That Postronoe was amazing. I can't believe I ate so much of that."

He crossed his arms and smiled. "Halley will change your mind in a bit."

Karen giggled. "Yes, she will. I feel like I eat all of the time. I'm worried I'm going to weigh a ton."

"Eat what you want."

"And I want to talk to you about that. Arles said you see the future."

"In small bits. And I can't look for something specific. It's….annoying."

"But, I'm not a huge cow?"

He grinned, "No, Karen. You look like you do now. And I would still love you even if you turned into a cow."

She giggled. "Careful what you say, Angus."

He smiled at her. "I'll rub your feet when we get back."

"Or my back."

"Is it hurting now?"

"No." She smiled. "It's just…a back rub sounds heavenly."

He smiled and leaned on the table. "Whatever you need. Seriously, please just tell me if something hurts. I don't want you to be in pain."

She smiled at him. "After you finish with your patient, Doctor Samuel, you can rub my back."

He grinned. "Yes, ma'am. I'll do it."

She smiled. "I've not had the chance to tell you my good news."

He looked surprised. "Good news?"

She giggled. "Yes! Actually, three things."

"Three? How long was I asleep?"

She teased as she sipped her drink. "I should make you guess."

"Oh, please don't make me. It's been a hell of a day."

She laughed. "Okay, well first of all. I actually spoke to my Dad."

"You spoke to John? He's alright?"

She smiled. "My Mom told me about the Commander coming to see him. Samuel why didn't you tell about that? I understand why you were so worried now."

"I didn't want to wind you up about it. But, I should have told you. I'm sorry."

She took his hand, "Samuel. I trust you. You need to know you can tell me things like this. It doesn't matter if it will upset me."

"This though. Karen. I feel like they will be back. I don't want your Dad to be on his own."

"Dad is fine."

"Your Dad, isn't safe. These guys won't take no for an answer-"

"Samuel. Dad has known this Commander forever. He has known me forever. If he had wanted to take me, why wouldn't he have done it before?"

"Karen, I don't know. But, that's just how I feel about it."

"I think that perhaps, your mind goes…just straight there."

"I can't help it. It's reasonable-"

"Samuel. Everyone is not out to do you harm."

"I have to think they are! How can I keep you and Halley safe, otherwise?"

She smiled, "I know. Samuel…"

"But, you spoke to him. Okay. What did he say?"

"That he had been working. A lot. Sleeping on the ship there. Then some more stuff happened that demanded his attention. It's just been one thing and another."

"I know how that is."

"I told him that you had gotten hurt, but were better."

"Completely better. Actually, let me tell Arles this. He was going to look in on him for me."

"You're sending your brother out to check up on Dad?"

Samuel quickly texted his brother. "I am. He had to sober up a bit before he was going to be able to phase, but…." The phone beeped back a message. Samuel grinned. "Arles says he just took your Dad back to the island. He's with Anne."

He tossed the phone on the table and sighed in relief. "Oh, that's good news. John is alright."

Karen looked at him in surprise. "Wow. He really had you worried."

"Karen. I know you think I'm mental. But, I feel like these guys will be back."

"Samuel, do you see what I'm saying?"

He sipped his drink and nodded. "Yes, that my environment has made me completely mental-"

"Didn't say that." She sung.

"Karen. Seriously. Ugh. This is actually, something I know about."

"Okay, now you're winding me up."

He held out his hands. "Anyway. It's over. I'll stop. My apologies. Umm. You were saying you told him I got hurt?"

"And he said he was going to chew you out later about it. And how you need to be more careful."

"Well, Papa has beat him to it."

"That was why you two were so-"

Samuel nodded. "Yeah. He knows about Genie and Legate. Knows that I did it. He has ordered me, as a Primus…do you know what that is?"

"Like an Admiral is how they explained it to me."

Samuel pointed at her and took a deep breath. "I don't know. I'm not familiar with Navy ranks."

Karen smiled. "The highest you can achieve is a Fleet Admiral. Just below that is an Admiral. Which is my rank with my Dad."

"And then a Commander?"

"Oh no. I'll make you a chart. That's rather far down on the list. Dad is a bit further down."

Samuel nodded. "Thank you. I need some help with this. American. Navy. Learning curve."

Karen sipped her drink. "You can't know everything. Anyway, so Lewis is a Fleet Admiral?"

"Basically. A Primus. Apparently, the same sort of thing. And I'm a….well, what's the lowest you can be?"

"A recruit. A seamen recruit."

"Seamen?"

She pointed at him. "Do not start. I've heard every snotty thing anyone has ever said about that."

He grinned. "I'm a rank above that."

The waitress returned and sat some plates of odd appetizers in front of them. Samuel thanked her, and she left them again. Karen recognized the odd purple fruit that he had given her that morning for breakfast.

"Oh, I love these! They are so good." Karen said as she ate the fruit. "But, going back to this. You're actually in this Quauhtin thing?"

"Yeah. I am. And I'm not. To marry them, I used the title. It got me what I wanted. So, Papa is using his title to get what he wants."

"What is that?"

"He demands that I keep my personal shielding at 30%."

"Well, I agree with that."

He sighed. "30%. Karen, that's hard to hide."

"Oh, come on." She told him.

He held up a finger. "Watch this, Karen." He took a piece of the fruit, tossed it in the air to catch in his mouth. As it flew inches from his mouth, the field activated and the fruit bounced off of it and fell onto the floor.

"See?" He insisted.

Karen shook her head as she ate some more of the appetizer. "He was angry. Let him cool off and speak to him about it in a few days."

He sighed and took an appetizer.

She grinned, "That looks like shrimp."

"This is shrimp. It's not unique to Earth."

She smiled. "Alright, second thing. I am a student again."

He looked surprised. "You are? Where?"

She giggled. "On the computer. Your Dad and my Mom talked about it today. He made a few phone calls and I'm enrolled in some online courses at Cambridge."

He laughed proudly. "Really? Still majoring in history?"

"Yes! And the look on your Dad's face. Oh, he moaned and groaned about that. I knew you would have enjoyed it."

Samuel laughed loudly. "Oh, that's bloody brilliant, it is! Seriously! That alone, has made my day."

"He paid for the entire thing. Insisted. Makes me crazy. I'm trying not to think about that."

Samuel grinned. "Don't think about it. Wow. So, what classes are you taking?"

"Well, Latin. I knew you would love that. And John insisted on that for some reason."

"Latin is also called Basic out here in space. Believe it or not, you will actually speak it traveling around out here."

She covered her mouth and smiled. "Oh, I'm going to need a lot of help then."

"I'm here for you. Anything." He smiled. "What else?"

"Math, oh that's just, too much right now for my pregnant brain."

He nodded. "I understand. Wait on that. Yes."

"And, history and psychology."

"Three classes? What about the dig?"

"Your Dad suggested I wait until Halley gets here, and hurricane season is over."

"Dad is clever. Yes. That is a great idea. I hadn't considered that."

She tried another appetizer that looked like cucumber and bacon wrapped around a pepper with a strange blue sprinkling.

Samuel told her quickly, "Careful, those are hot."

Karen sat it back down. "Thank you. I don't like hot things."

"Neither do I. Umm. Let me see. Umm." He pointed at the plate. "These, and those are brilliant. These are terrible. These are like cheese. Ignore that they are green. They are fine."

"Green cheese? I'm not eating that."

"You sound like Arles. And then these are very sweet. Similar to your purple cherries. And then, this. Well, it's better than alligator tail."

"When did you try that?"

"Yesterday. We were in Florida. That is terrible. Absolute rubbish. I would be offended if I was an alligator who had given up a tail for them to make that."

Karen rolled her eyes. "Geez. Tell me how you really feel."

Samuel seemed to become lost in thought as he ate some of the green cheese. "Psychology? Why are you taking that?"

"It's required for the major. How about that? I will have something to talk to Kelly about besides her and Arles."

"What is she saying about him?" He smiled.

"That they are just friends. But she enjoys hanging out with him."

"Phhh. I really don't believe they are friends."

"They can be!"

He shook his head. "My brother? And a girl? Nah. Well, hang on a minute! Kelly is going to school to do what?"

Karen laughed, "She's going to be a psychiatrist."

Samuel's expression was comical. He covered it with both of his hands and howled laughing.

Karen laughed at him. "I thought I had told you that."

He didn't uncover his face and shook his head.

Karen had time to eat several of the appetizers while Samuel laughed. He sipped his drink and took her hands.

She smiled at him, "What is this?"

"Please. If you never do anything else for me. Please, do not tell Arles about this."

"Problem with a psychiatrist?"

Samuel laughed, "Yeah. Well, the way Dad feels about archeologists, is how Arles feels about psychiatrists. Well, maybe he's not that bad. But, I feel like he needs one. Not trying to be funny. I think he does."

"So, you're fine with psychiatrists?"

He tossed some more shrimp in his mouth and nodded. "I'm a Doctor. I see the value in mental health. My brother, he's from the old teaching of just 'maning up' to get over your problems. Quauhtin. They are the worst about that. I fully believe sometimes you need help. And I really wish he would meet one he can get on with. It may change his entire attitude about that. This could be a perfect match."

"They are just friends."

"Friends. Ha! I still call shit on that." He pointed at her. "This is how this could be brilliant. He stays 'friends' with this girl. He finds that he can actually talk to her, maybe open up, and who knows? We may have a Quauthin on our hands who can phase without smoking weed."

Karen rose her eyebrow at him. "This is a terrible idea-"

"This is a brilliant idea. Trust me." He made the motion of zipping his lip and throwing away the key. "I never heard this."

Karen smiled, "I'm not getting into that at all."

He wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Right. So, your third thing. What is it?"

She looked up at him and smiled slowly. "Oh, it's the best."

He rose his eyebrows at her. "Saved the best for last then? What is it?"

She giggled and sipped her drink.

"What could be better than my brother sleeping with a psychiatrist?"

She shook her head and smiled behind her drink. "I don't think they are sleeping together-"

"My beautiful wife lives in the land of Denial. They are sleeping together."

She giggled at him.

He propped his head up on his fist. "You're killing me, woman."

She sat down her drink. "I have a bump."

"A bump?" He asked.

She rubbed her stomach. "It's small, but I noticed it today."

He opened his mouth in surprise. "Oh! A bump!"

She laughed. "Yes."

He leaned over and kissed her lips several times. She held his cheek and smiled. "I knew you would love that."

He smiled, "I do. I love you. May I?"

"May you what-"

He moved his head to kiss her stomach where she had pointed out where it had begun to curve outwards. "Mummy and Daddy are so proud of you Halley." He rubbed her stomach and smiled. "She's moving around."

Karen smiled. "She loves her Daddy. The gushy guy."

He sat up and held out his hands as he shook his head. "Totally not a gushy guy."

She giggled. "I love that you are a gushy guy."

He smiled and looked impressed with himself. "Well, maybe a bit of a gushy guy."

She laughed.

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