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Chapter 52 – Jackie's Cooking

The Doctor appeared in the island home. It was afternoon and as soon as young Genie saw him, she ran and jumped in his arms. "Daddy!"

He laughed as he held her close to him. "My Sara Gene! Your Mum has been telling me how helpful you have been with the babies."

Young Tony Tyler sat at the bar eating something from a bowl. "The babies. Ugh."

Zeus barked as he sat next to Tony.

The Doctor sat Genie down on the floor. "You were having a good time, too. I heard about it."

Tony grinned. "Samuel is mad. He doesn't walk! What's wrong with him?"

Genie insisted, "He runs."

The Doctor smiled, "He's in a hurry."

Rose and Jackie Tyler stood in the kitchen, in front of the cooker. Jackie tossed Zeus a biscuit.

Rose was stirring something in a pot. "Samuel in a hurry? That's what I told them."

The Doctor grinned at Genie, "Maybe, he'll slow down as he gets older."

Jackie grumbled. "Ha! I don't see any evidence of that."

The Doctor groaned.

Tony laughed, "He's mad, John. Seriously. He ran straight across the floor and into me. I thought about stepping aside and letting him crash into the wall. Maybe that would slow him down."

Jackie put her hand on her hip. "Tony. You will stop being cheeky-"

"I'm not being cheeky-"

She pointed at him. "I'm going to smack the hair right off of your head."

Tony rose his eyebrows.

The Doctor walked over to Rose and smiled at her. "Everything here good?"

She smiled, "Sam and Arles are asleep in the cot just there together. Did you see this transmission?"

He nodded as his lungs filled with the smell of something wonderful cooking on top of the stove. "Yeah, it's….what is that smell? What are you lot cooking?"

Jackie held her hand out. "Ha! I'm not telling you wish of us are cooking. So, you have to taste it, and tell us honestly if you like it or not."

The Doctor rose his eyebrow and looked at Rose. "Really?"

Rose laughed, "I'm not telling you who made that."

"What is it?" His stomach rumbled to remind him he hadn't eaten anything all day. He lifted the lid of the pot and saw a lovely sight. Bubbling away in the huge pot was beef stew and dumplings. He groaned. "Oh, that looks good."

Genie climbed back into her chair at the bar, next to Tony Tyler. "Try it, Daddy."

"Ah ha! I know how to do this!" He insisted.

Rose laughed, "I've already told Genie not to tell you."

The Doctor leaned on the cabinet. "Genie. Just answer the question."

Genie giggled. "Daddy. Mummy told me I can't answer any questions. Sorry."

"You can….nod your head? Come on, help your Dad. Please?"

Genie laughed, "I'm sorry, Daddy."

He looked back at Rose and Jackie, who were both looking smug with themselves.

Jackie pointed to it. "Fancy a bowl?"

Rose smiled, "What do you say?"

He crossed his arms. "Ummm…. Can I ask some questions about this-"

"No." Rose and Jackie both told him.

"What if I drop dead?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "You're not going to drop dead over a bowl of stew."

"Because you made it? Or Jackie?"

Jackie crossed her arms and glared at him.

He stared at her and tried to read her expression.

She smiled. "You can taste it, tell me you hate it to annoy me. But, if I didn't make it, it's going to annoy Rose."

The Doctor groaned, "You two women are clever. Damn clever. This is one of my favorites."

Rose grinned, "I know it is."

"And….I've not eaten anything today."

Jackie groaned and spooned him out some into a bowl. "Oh, just try it and tell us what you think."

He took the bowl and smelled of the contents. He closed his eyes. "Oh, that smells….."

Rose grinned and handed him a spoon, "Good?"

He took the spoon and looked back at both of the women.

"Umm. What's in it?"

Rose shook her head. "We're not answering."

"Well, it's just….Logan is back on the island. If there are carrots-"

Jackie complained, "Oh hell, you can look to see if there are carrots or not."

He sighed and spooned some of the stew out of the bowl. He held it to his nose and smelled of it as he watched both Jackie and Rose to see if he could figure out their reactions, and which one of them made it.

It was useless.

He finally put the spoon in his mouth and tasted it. It was brilliant. He closed his eyes and quietly groaned.

Rose smiled, "He likes it. I can tell."

Jackie leaned against the cabinet. "Have more than one bite."

He shook his head. "More than one may kill me."

Tony and Genie were both laughing at him.

"Or more than one may fill you up." Rose teased with her tongue in her teeth.

He smiled as she looked at him like that and took another bite. "Oh, this is good."

Rose laughed, "And there you have it. He likes it."

He complained. "Even if I kill over dead in moments."

Genie and Tony laughed.

He continued to eat the stew. "Lewis left."

Rose nodded, "He told me he was going to. So, we have Arles?"

"Lance will be by later today to get him." He told her and continued to eat the stew.

Jackie busied herself making a cup of tea.

Rose took his arm and led him over to the other side of the room, away from the others.

He shook his head. "Tell me who made this."

"No way!"

"It's not you."

She grinned, "Why not?"

"You don't cook!" He told her and ate another bite.

She laughed.

He moaned, "Oh. This is so good. I'm starving though."

Rose grinned. "You are such a brat. What are we going to do about this….war?"

He shook his head. "Lewis is working on it. I have a war of my own."

She crossed her arms. "Genie?"

"And Arles." He told her and continued to eat the stew. "Oh, this is brilliant. How are there no carrots and it-"

"Stop asking questions and just eat."

He continued to eat the stew. "If I die from Jackie's cooking, I've already filled out my will. Everything goes to you and the children."

She grinned and shook her head. "What's going on with Arles?"

"Oh, he's going out on his own to see some girl."

"Without Quauhtin?"

He nodded and continued to eat. "Lewis doesn't seem to think it's that big of a deal because he can speak to us in our heads."

Rose considered, "Well, I don't like it."

"Neither, do I. Jake is working on a background check on his girl he's seeing."

She grinned. "The one that was in the graveyard?"

He nodded, "Boy, that's a terrible way to meet someone, isn't it? What was her name?"

"Kelly."

He continued to eat and nodded, "Kelly. That's it. Karen and Kelly. What is with all of these K names?"

She smiled, "Maybe it's a Florida thing."

He hummed as he continued to shovel the stew in his mouth.

"I want a meeting with these children. Older children."

He nodded, "I have to make peace with Genie, first. Otherwise, she'll be 'busy.'"

He finished his bowl and smiled at Rose. "And, I've finished the stew. Who made it?"

She took the bowl from him. "Want another-"

"Who made it?"

She smiled as she stood in front of him. "You really liked it. I can tell."

He put his hands on his hips and sighed. "I did. I really liked it. Okay, I admit it. I'm still standing upright, so….who made it? Come on, Rose."

She pointed at him. "If I tell you, you'll go see our daughter-"

"The very next thing-"

"Promise-"

"Promise. It was lovely. Who made it?"

Rose's face spread into a proud smile. "I did."

He threw his hands out. "Well! That's the reason I'm still alive!"

Jackie rolled her eyes as she leaned on the cabinet. "What?"

Rose laughed at him. "You better run-"

He laughed as he typed in a number on his bracelet and disappeared.

Rose turned her head and smiled at Jackie. "I told him."

Jackie nodded.

Just then, the Doctor popped back where he had been standing, in front of Rose.

Rose jumped just as he grabbed her head and kissed her quickly.

She looked at his face. "Wow."

"Me and you. Date tonight?" He asked.

Rose smiled. "You must have really liked it."

He grinned. "I did. Thank you for not letting me eat Jackie's cooking."

Rose giggled.

"Date?"

She rocked on her feet and caught her tongue between her teeth. "Sure."

He smiled and popped away.

Rose turned to her mother. "Mum. What are your plans tonight?"

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