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Chapter 29 - Chapter 29 - When It Rains...

Arles quietly slid the glass door open to Samuel and Karen's flat. The telly was on in the sitting room and the lights where dimmed.

He whistled gently and saw Samuel's hand wave him in.

He closed the door behind him. He walked into the sitting room and saw Samuel reclined in the chair. Karen lay next to him, asleep on his shoulder, with his arms wrapped around her. He had covered her in the familiar quilt.

"How is she?" Arles whispered.

Samuel kissed the side of her head and said quietly. "I gave her something to make her sleep."

Arles sat on the chair next to them, "Really?"

"She asked me for it. She didn't feel like she would be able to stop crying, otherwise."

Arles nodded. "What can I do?"

Samuel shook his head. "I don't know. Tell me what do to."

Arles sat on the edge of the chair and rubbed his hands together. "Brother, you're doing it. Let her cry. Hold her. Tell her it's alright to be upset."

Samuel kissed the side of her head. "How is Anne?"

Arles sighed, "She went to bed. Well, went to take a long bath. Then she said she was going to bed. She told me she appreciated me being there, but she really wanted to be alone. Tomorrow will be a long day."

Samuel looked back at the telly. "I thought if I turned this on, I'd go to sleep."

"Not working, huh?"

"No. I can't turn off my mind. Arles, whoever did this could be at the funeral."

Karen took a deep breath.

Arles tapped his lips as she stirred.

Samuel held his lips to her head. "Do you want me to take you to bed? Are you comfortable?"

She hugged his chest, "Stay with me."

"I'm not going anyplace. I'm here, Karen."

She relaxed and drifted back to sleep.

Arles looked back at his brother. "Want anything to drink?"

"The less liquid in me, the better."

Arles grinned. "Got to piss?"

"So bad." Samuel told him and closed his eyes.

Arles grinned. "Alright. Well, I can't piss for you-"

"We really don't have to talk about it."

Arles smiled, "So, I'll just go home. Good night."

Samuel rubbed the side of his head. "Night."

Arles walked into the kitchen. He went to the fridge and pulled out a water bottle. He opened it and slowly poured it into the sink.

Samuel heard the water pouring into the sink and groaned quietly, "I fucking hate you, Arles."

Arles laughed hysterically and silently.

He put the lid back on the empty bottle and went back into the sitting room. He playfully smacked Samuel on top of the head with the bottle and whispered. "And don't say I never did anything for you."

Samuel took empty bottle in his hand. "Cheers."

Arles laughed as he walked back out of the flat.

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The Doctor tapped his knuckles on the door of Lewis' flat.

Within a few seconds, Lewis opened the door with a look of surprise on his face. "There you are. You've been quiet."

He groaned. "I know about Genie and that Legate."

Lewis stepped back. "Come in. I'll get you a drink."

The Doctor closed the door and followed his friend into the kitchen. "Where is Arles?"

Lewis tapped his lips as he sat another glass on the bar. "Sleeping. There in the bedroom. I figure someone should use the bed."

The Doctor poured himself a drink in the glass as Lewis came to sit next to him.

"You're not using the bed?"

Lewis sipped his drink and shook his head. "So, you know. Samuel tell you, then?"

"No. Genie did. Oh, she's the most….stubborn, strong minded …."

Lewis grinned, "She's you. What do you expect?"

"Not this! I'm her father-"

Lewis nodded, "Yes. And wow. I can see it with her. She is a female version of you. Hard to believe she's adopted. She's. You." He pointed at him with his unsteady hand.

The Doctor rose his eyebrow at his friend. "How many have you had?"

"Enough. This will be my last one for the night. So, tell me. Did you hit Legate, again?"

"No." He groaned. "Although, Rose thinks I did."

Lewis laughed under his breath. "Where is Rose?"

"Oh, she got enough of us arguing and just….popped away. I'm so cross I can't even feel her. I think she's blocking her emotions from me."

"You need to calm your ass down before-"

"Damn it, I didn't even think about that." He confessed as he drank his Damn Whiskey and poured himself another glass.

Lewis leaned against the wall and propped his feet up behind where his friend sat. "You were alright with this-"

He pointed at him. "That was when it was just going to happen. I should have been a part of it! Why would they do it like this?"

"It would seem, they feel that they are on their own here."

"Us versus them?"

"Something like that."

He rested his face on his fist and sighed. "Why would she do it like this? Damn that Legate. This is him."

"I don't think it is." Lewis told him and sat down his empty glass.

The Doctor groaned, "Our Sammy has done the same thing. Why wouldn't they want us to be part of something like that?"

"Some people are private."

"Some people like to do the opposite of what their King orders them to do!"

Lewis smiled and looked into his glass. "He's so much like Poltious. Although, he had permission."

The Doctor sighed, "Rose will not be pleased. I think that's the reason she's blocking me."

"Well, let's try to see it from their point of view. They left a world where they had lost their grandparents. They were coping with that, and then arrived here. John, you know how it felt when you first arrived here…."

He groaned, "Yeah. Rose has said the same thing."

"Sam told me that Genie feels that she only has her brothers and Legate."

"Not Tony?"

"I don't think they get on."

"Maybe there was a fight?"

"I don't know. But, if she feels that way, the others probably do, too."

He sipped his drink and nodded. "Complex creatures. It's so hard to get to know….children. Grown children, who let's face it, don't really even know who they are."

Lewis grinned. "Yes. It is true."

The Doctor ran his hand through his hair and looked back at his friend. "Lewis, why aren't you sleeping?"

"I sleep. Just not a lot-"

"I mean in the bed."

Lewis poured himself another drink and took a deep breath. "I haven't. Since Arles was born. Just, doesn't feel right."

"It's not the same bed-"

"It doesn't matter." He sighed. "It's just….an odd thing."

The Doctor nodded. "Anything hurt?"

Lewis shook his head sadly, "Nothing that can be fixed with medicine."

"Lewis. It gets easier."

Lewis sipped his drink. "I spoke to Arles, the older Arles, about her."

"Really?" He asked in surprise.

"I know it's against tradition, but she wasn't Quauhtin. I thought about it and if it had of been me, I would want her to tell him about his father."

The Doctor propped his face on his hand and looked at his friend. "I understand."

Lewis sipped his drink and rubbed his face.

"How did it go?"

"He told me that I had never spoken to him about her. I couldn't believe that. In all of those years. Never. I think that woke her from her rest. She would not have been pleased by that. She would have, complained to me in that crazy language of hers and I wouldn't have understood a damn word she said."

"I don't think she would mind. She would want Arles to know about her. Humans don't have that tradition of not speaking of the dead."

He shook his head. "It's….strange though. Something you've been told not to do your entire life. A basic, belief. Then you met someone who makes you question that. She told me it was rubbish. Showed me this diagram that she had of her family."

He grinned, "It's a thing of pride here. Some people feel like it makes them…immortal. They live on. Even great leaders will sometimes have statues and artwork created years after they die."

"After?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"That is the maddest thing I've ever heard." Lewis insisted.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Everyone is different."

Lewis drank the last of his drink and pushed the glass away from himself. "And that's it for me."

"Does it help?"

"No." He confessed. "Well, maybe a bit. I just have to deal with the damn headache later."

The Doctor poured him another drink. "Yeah. Come find me, and I'll sort that out-"

Lewis hung his face in his hands. "Nah. I feel like it's her telling me to stop drinking. It's fine."

The Doctor sipped his drink.

Lewis' muffled voice could be heard behind his hands. "The Bad Wolf told you that she picked Legate for Genie."

The Doctor groaned. "She is neither her mother, and certainly not her father. I hadn't given my consent. And neither has Rose."

Lewis took his hands off his of his face and looked back at him, "You're going to argue this with the Bad Wolf herself?"

"I'm going to argue it with anyone! Lewis, we told them no-"

"And when do children always do what their parents ask? Particularly, these children-"

He groaned. "What did you tell Sam?"

Lewis pulled his glass back to himself and pointed at the bottle. "Refill them both. 'Absacker' as she would say."

The Doctor rose his eyebrow and did as he asked.

Lewis sipped his drink. "I had a long chat with our son, Arles."

"Yeah?"

"And our son, Samuel, seems to be a bit of a daredevil. Stark has only encouraged him, which is what's worse."

"What is he doing?"

Lewis shook his head and lowered his glass. "Gosh, name it. Racing cars, racing in those damn suits, cliff diving, surfing, rappelling, jumping out of Zeppelins, jumping out of helicopters, total thrill seeker. His excuse is that he can heal fast. But, it's not always what has saved him."

"The bracelet?"

Lewis shook his head. "No. An odd, yellow light. It's appeared several times. Arles has seen it. Samuel hasn't been told about Rose and her strange thing she can do, so he thought it was him when he was small. As the years went on, he only became more reckless."

The Doctor groaned. "Secrets have nearly killed this guy. And his back. I'm certain it was broken. Well, you saw it-"

"I don't know anything about that. Arles didn't say. But, I have told our son, Sam, that he is to keep his personal shield to 30%. At all times. And to 100% if he's doing something….interesting."

The Doctor shook his head. "Oh, that's just a waste of time. He won't agree to that."

Lewis finished his drink. "And you forget. I had time to think this out. I ordered him as a Primus to do this. If he wants to use his title to get what he wants, then so will I."

The Doctor smiled.

"It worked. He was cross, but he's safe. I told him that if he didn't keep it there, I would revoke this Right of Patriarch that he has used."

"You can't do that."

Lewis grinned. "Not as a Primus. But, as a Prince, I can."

The Doctor couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You would reclaim the throne of the Quauhtin over this?"

"Legate doesn't want to do it. Lartius knows. I've spoken to him about it a great deal."

"Well, if you become heir, Legate could marry our Genie."

Lewis nodded. "Yes. Let's hope that Samuel doesn't work that out. He's clever, like his Dad-"

"Hell, like his Papa. Wow."

Lewis grinned. "Legate and Genie could wed, and Prince Legate would be able to rejoin the Guard. Just like nothing had happened. Although, Legate from the future would probably have to have another identity."

"I can't believe this. You would do this?"

"I would do anything to keep my son safe. If that's what it takes."

The Doctor covered his mouth in surprise. "Lewis, my friend. You have clearly had too much to drink."

Lewis laughed and held up his glass for them to clang together.

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Adriano walked into Pete's office at Torchwood. "And Tony is awake?"

Pete held his phone to his ear. "And fed. He just stepped into the loo to wash his hands."

Pete held out his phone and ended the call. "Jacks must have given up on us and went to bed."

Adriano looked concerned. "Problem?"

Pete shook his head. "Bassanio is with her. I don't see any reason to worry."

Adriano nodded and put his hands in his pockets as young Tony Tyler walked in.

"I'm all washed up, Daddy." He smiled.

"Washed off your sleep. Are you going to be up all night now?"

Tony laughed. "I think one story will do it."

"Think so, huh?" Pete grinned and stacked back up some files on his desk. "And I'll handle that in the morning."

Tony leaned on the desk and looked up at Pete. "May I come back tomorrow?"

"Sure. If your Mum says it's alright."

"Brilliant! I'd like to go downstairs again and train with the agents."

Pete closed another file and smiled proudly at his son. "I think that sounds brilliant. I'll have to raise their pay if you're going to babysit you every day for me."

"I'm not a baby." Tony laughed as Pete playfully smacked him on the top of his ginger head with the file.

Pete looked back up at Adriano. "What has you so quiet?"

Adriano held up his finger. "I need you to stay here."

Pete nodded and smiled back at Tony. "You know, you drooled all over my sofa."

Tony laughed. "It happens."

Pete pointed back towards the loo. "Happen to find a towel and sort it out while we're waiting."

Tony busied himself with that and Pete walked to stand closer to Adriano. "What is going on?"

"Bassiano has gone silent. Aemilius has been sent to see….hang on-"

"What is it?"

Adriano looked up at Pete. "Bassiano has been found. He has been shot."

"Where is Jacks?" Pete asked quietly.

"Aemilius is popping about. Lewis and John have been informed. John is there now."

Pete glanced back and saw young Tony tidying up the sofa. He rubbed his lips. "Can I go to help?"

"No. You have to stay here. It's secured."

Pete sighed just as Tony bounced back over to him. "And I'm done!"

He smiled at him.

Adriano tossed Tony's hair. "We're still on hold."

"Why?" Tony asked.

Pete attempted to play it off. "Ah. Security. Protocol. You know how it is, son."

Adriano pointed out the window. "Will you go count the Zeppelins? Let me know how many you see?"

Tony rose his eyebrow. "Just tell me to get out of your hair, Adriano."

Pete looked at his son and smiled. "Get out of my hair, Tony."

Tony saluted his Dad. Then walked away to count the Zeppelins.

Pete took a deep breath and was becoming more anxious for information with each passing moment. "Please tell me some good news."

Adriano shook his head. "They are still looking for her. John has taken Bassiano to the ship. Lewis has called everyone who can come."

"Then go."

"No. I'm to stay with you."

Pete sighed. "I can send agents. Ask Lewis if he wants them."

Adriano rubbed his chin and listened. "Lewis asks for agents. Yes. Armed."

Pete pulled his phone out of his pocket and put it to his ear. "Jake. Lewis is at my place in London and needs agents there now."

Adriano nodded as Pete put his phone back in his pocket. "Okay. John wants me to bring you and Tony to the ship until the situation is sorted."

"Where is she?"

Adriano put his hand on Pete's chest. "I'm going to help put eyes on her."

Pete took a deep breath.

Adriano looked seriously back at Pete. "Get to the ship, and send Tony to play on the Observation Deck. As soon as we know something, I'll be the one to tell you."

Pete was fighting tears back. "Thank you."

Adriano clapped his hands together. "Tony! Come on. We're going to the ship!"

Pete put his hands on his hips and took a deep breath.

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