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Chapter 32 - Chapter 32 - Help from the Unexpected
The Doctor and Lewis sat in the Control Room of the ship in orbit under Earth. The lights were dimmed and the Doctor sat with his feet up in the chair beside of him.
Lewis broke the silence. "So, Genie's primary is no longer Legate?"
"I don't want him around our daughter." He grumbled.
Lewis nodded. "I understand."
"How could this even happen?"
"Well, Poltious and his wife-"
"I should have seen it coming. Their little 'ice cream' dates. You know, Lewis, that's a good thing about these older children being here! I know where I go wrong!"
"Man, you have to let this go." Lewis rubbed his eyes. "Rose still sleeping?"
"Yeah." He sighed. "I'll go back to the island and wake her."
"You're going to have to tell her about Jackie."
The Doctor looked back at him. "When should we let everyone else know?"
Lewis shook his head slowly. "Not up to me. May want to ask Pete-"
"Pete's in no state of mind to make any decisions."
"Well, neither are you." Lewis told him, matter of factly.
He looked back at him. "I'm fine-"
"My ass you are."
The Doctor sighed. "It's a terrible time for a recall to the home world. I can't believe Lartius has decided to call everyone back now."
Lewis nodded. "It's voluntarily."
"Which usually follows with an order to do it."
"Nah. I think most of the Guard will go. These attacks are frightening."
"Yeah. I'm glad Tony Tyler is back at least. I'm going to keep his ass tied to the bed in the med bay to keep him here."
Lewis chuckled. "Good luck with that."
The Doctor rubbed his face. "His arm and shoulder was in bad shape. I'm keeping him sedated. That will help with his 'doing a runner' problem. I doubt Stark noticed his injury."
"He may have damaged it some more. Arcite transported the ship over to the island. Stark has it now."
The Doctor nodded. "It's been a hell of a day. I'll need to go to Florida with Anne and help with the funeral arrangements for John."
Lewis sighed. "I'll remain here. Keep the scans going."
The Doctor sighed. "Who were these people?"
"What people?"
He looked back at him. "That we fought yesterday. The ones that killed John-"
"That's all over-"
"Like hell! I can't believe you would say that."
Lewis groaned. "I spoke to Anne and she showed me photographs. The Commander wasn't among the ones we fought."
"Damn it. That means he's still out there. He is going to return. He may be the one that took Jackie."
"It's not the same problem. No one can pop from Florida to London, but agents and us."
The Doctor glanced back at him. "What if it was one of the Quauhtin?"
"No. I trust my guys."
"We have to consider everything-"
"I am. It's not our guys, nor one of Pete's."
"Howie?"
"If the state department has worked out a pop watch-"
"I worked out the pop watch! It's technology that I gave to Stark!"
Lewis nodded. "Right. I'm not thinking straight tonight."
"What's really going on?"
Lewis shook his head. "This shouldn't have happened."
"Lartius?"
"He's all over my ass about it. And he should be. The threat was right in front of us. Sam did everything but beg us to keep an eye on this man. And we didn't."
"We're already spread so thin-"
"Lartius reminds me that is one man, versus the President, First Lady, First Son, and President Harriet Jones that we're not covering any longer. This was my fault, John. He doesn't have to yell about it. And you don't have to feel that you need to justify my mistake."
The Doctor crossed his arms. "What about Arles going to see this girl, Kelly?"
"I hate that."
"I seem to remember you were fine with it when it was Sam-"
"No. I hated it. But, I wanted him to be able to enjoy the last few days of not being known by anyone. Plus, I can speak to Arles at anytime through our telepathic connection. Sammy doesn't have that. I've spoken to Arles about it, and I have….assurances. And before you start, even my King is complaining about this."
"What are the assurances?"
"There are rules these children have lived by for years. They don't tell people, certain things. Security concerns. That sort of thing."
"Still doesn't make me happy-"
"I can't demand him to remain on the island forever. I don't even ask Sam and Karen to do that."
"Maybe we should. Especially with this Commander looking for her."
Lewis groaned and rubbed his face. "And if he finds out that she's pregnant…."
"Yep." He popped.
"Karen is human, right?"
"Yes. I've looked at her medical files that Samuel has been working on-"
"How did you do that? Has he not locked them?"
The Doctor grinned. "My ship. My rules."
Lewis chuckled. "Wow, man."
"To me…and Samuel has probably figured it out already, but I'm not sure if he's told Karen or not, she's completely human. However, someone has messed with her DNA."
"What does that mean?"
"Like Stark-"
"Oh. Really?"
The Doctor bit his lip and nodded. "Yes. Although, hers looks different. And it….changes."
"Changes?"
"I want to do some readings myself, but I think Samuel may have found him someone just as damn strange as I have."
Lewis chuckled. "I'm willing to put money that it's the Bad Wolf that's mucked with her DNA, not a human. Talk to Karen about this-"
"Nooooooo." He insisted. "Sammy told me that I never approved of the way he practiced medicine, and it lead to many arguments."
"But, it's Karen-"
"And Halley. That makes it worse."
Lewis sighed. "So, you have to make up for arguments you haven't even had yet?"
"Well, and this one with Genie and that Legate. You don't think they would do a runner, do you?"
Lewis nodded. "Hell, I would if I was in his position-"
"Shit. Rose will blame me if that happens."
"My advice?"
He closed his eyes and sighed. "Get over it."
"Get over it, mate. Legate is a great guy!"
"That Legate is-"
"And stop with that Legate. You trusted him with the younger Genie-"
"Which I shouldn't have-"
"Legate wouldn't have done anything!"
"He clearly did!"
Lewis threw his hands up. "Ugh! John! Perhaps Rose can talk to you."
"Doubt it." He grumbled. "Gosh, we need some good news. I don't know how to tell Rose about her Mum. I don't know how I didn't trigger her to change yesterday. I'm still just….cross."
"Are you sure she didn't? From what you've told me, that other woman is rather…."
The Doctor pointed at him and nodded. "Mind your words, that's a very powerful entity who could destroy the universe as we know it-"
"That you're sleeping with. Please keep her happy. It's been a hell of a day, already."
The Doctor propped his hands on top of his head. "Will you go?"
Lewis looked back at him. "To the home world? Nah."
"No?"
He smiled, "And miss Round three between you and Legate? Hell no. I've got money on it. A lot of money."
The Doctor swore and rubbed his face. "Well, there's that."
Lewis shook his head. "I should have told you-"
"No. I'm glad you didn't. I would have had to plead temporary insanity."
"John, this entire thing is just…."
The Doctor rose his eyebrow at him. "What?"
"Come on, man. You had to know they were sleeping together."
The Doctor groaned and closed his eyes. "Not helping."
"Seriously. From the moment you saw them snogging-"
He held out his hand. "I'm trying not to think about it."
"She's happy. She's safe. She's with a Praetor! Or former Praetor. He was prepared to leave the Guard for her."
The Doctor dropped his hands. "You're right. I need to get over this."
"Soon! Before they decide to do a runner. It has to be on their minds."
He nodded. "You're right. I'll go see Genie. But, I still don't want that Legate-"
"Again with that Legate-"
"I can't help it. I don't want him around the younger Genie. Will you agree with me on that?"
Lewis held up his hand. "It makes life a bit easier for everyone involved."
"Except Genie." The groaned.
"How are we going to tell Genie? Young Genie?"
He sighed, "I'll handle it."
Lewis nodded. "Alright. Well, when you need me-"
The Doctor stood up and pat his shoulder. "I know. Cheers, mate."
Lewis watched him walk out of the door and continued to run scans on the computers.
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The Doctor transported into his island home. It was raining outside and the house was dim even though it was morning. He put his hands in his pockets and walked down the hallway to the bedrooms. He heard the sounds of the children playing as he passed the nursery.
Genie sat in the floor with baby Samuel who was clapping and laughing at her playing peek a boo. The nanny, Cressida, laughed with them as she rocked baby Arles.
After a quick hello, and kisses from the children, he went to wake Rose. He could tell she was still sleeping through their connection.
He slowly opened the door and found her sitting on the side of the bed, looking at him. "About damn time you came home. Time Lord."
He closed the door and looked back at her in surprise. "Rose, you're asleep. I can feel that."
She stood up and walked over to him. She rubbed his chest and kissed his lips quickly. "She's asleep. I'm not."
He grabbed her hands and groaned. "Not this! Woman, do you have any idea the night I've had?"
The Bad Wolf put her hands on her hips. "I've been here the entire time. At least you didn't hit Legate this time."
"Oh, I should have." He complained as he sat on the side of the bed.
She climbed on top of him and began to kiss his neck. "Oh, I've been waiting for you."
He managed to climb off of the bed and get away from her. He held out his hands. "Ah! No. Rose would not like this."
"We are the same-"
"Oh, you're not."
She rolled her eyes as they flashed yellow. "Damn it, Doctor-"
"That's it! She has been calling me John. How long have you been here?"
"Long enough. Listen idiot."
"I don't want to get into this with you about Genie and-"
"Jackie is fine. Do you think I'm going to let my mum get hurt? Are you thick?"
He rose his eyebrows. "Apparently. Where is she then? We're running every scan we can-"
She tossed her hands up. "Where would Dad put something he wants to keep safe?"
"Can we please stop with the damn riddles for-" Then he realized where she was. He typed a number on his bracelet frantically and popped away.
The Bad Wolf smiled as she lay down on the bed and went to sleep. "And you're welcome."
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The Doctor popped into the Tyler mansion. Lewis transported with Pete Tyler and met him there.
The Doctor ran with them through the hallways and down the steps to the basement. "Jackie is in the safe!"
Pete ran with them. "There isn't enough oxygen in there for her to be in there this long!"
They arrived in the room with the safe. Pete rushed to the safe and immediately put his hand on the panel to open it.
Lewis bounced on his feet. "We found Bassiano in here. No one looked in the safe."
Pete growled, "Come on! Slow bloody thing!"
The Doctor shook his head. "The metal would have blocked her bracelet. I didn't think of this. Damn it."
The door sprang open and Jackie was lying on the floor, unconscious.
"Jacks!" Pete shouted as they all ran to her. Pete dropped to his knees as slid up to her, taking her head in his hands. "We're here. Jacks."
The Doctor had his screwdriver out, scanning her. "Let's get her to the ship."
Lewis transported them all away.
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