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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5 - Rocket Man

Karen was so happy. The sunlight was so bright that she covered her eyes. She held her long hair as the wind from the convertible she rode in, whipped it around. She laughed as she pulled down a sun visor to block out the Florida sun that shown through the car window. The radio played Elton John's song, "Rocket Man" as she looked back and smiled at Samuel. He wore a pair of sunglasses and sang along. His short hair danced in the wind as he drove.

"So, you're a Rocket Man?"

He glanced back at her and laughed. "They go fast!"

"What is the difference between a rocket and a ship?"

"One is loud." Samuel teased.

She laughed.

He began to sing along to the radio again.

"Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did…."

She laughed. "Maybe you should let Elton John sing this one."

He grinned. "You love my singing."

She giggled. "Because, I love you."

He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss. She could feel the electrical sensation rush through her hand and up her arm.

"Where do you think we should raise our children?" He asked her.

She grinned. "Well, not Mars."

He laughed and sang, "Because it's cold as hell…."

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Karen woke up. Her arm continued to tingle as if Samuel had touched her. The alarm on her phone had turned on the Elton John song that she had heard in her dream. She reached over, and turned it off.

The sun shone brightly outside and it looked to be a beautiful, spring day. She looked beside of her, expecting to see Samuel lying there. She covered her face and began to cry as the familiar heaviness returned to her heart. It had only been a dream. The electrical sensation faded in her arm, but never completely left her.

After a long cry, a longer shower, Karen dressed in pretty blue beach dress. She was determined that today, she was going to pull herself together. Samuel was coming back. Her crying and mourning wasn't helping anyone. She looked at herself in the mirror as she finished her hair and put on a little bit of make-up that she had there. Most of her stuff was still in New York.

New York. In that hotel penthouse. She sat her brush down on the cabinet and willed herself not to start crying again. She looked up in the mirror as she leaned on the cabinet. "Karen. You have got to pull yourself together. You are alright. He's coming back."

She sighed. "Karen, you are a mess." She said as she wiped her tears. Deciding that make-up might not be a good idea, she washed her face.

She looked back up at herself in the mirror. "Alright. Karen. You look….terrible. But, you'll do."

She left her bathroom and walked back into her bedroom. She sat down at her desk and opened a notebook her father had given her.

"Write to Samuel while he is gone. He can read everything once he returns." He had told her.

She sat and stared at the blank page. She couldn't even think of anything to write. She knew her Dad was probably right, and it might help at some point. Maybe, she wasn't there yet. After a few minutes, she gave up and closed the notebook. She wiped her tears that had formed in her eyes and decided she would go downstairs.

She walked barefoot down the bottom level of the home. "Good morning." She sang as she walked into the kitchen.

Arles jumped up from the table that sat in the corner of the room and sipped something in his pocket. "Oh! Sorry, I didn't hear you come down."

She shook her head. "It's alright. Where's Mom?"

Arles ran his hand through his hair. "Ummm… shopping."

"Oh. Is there any update?"

Arles sighed and shook his head. "They are using a different way to search, but…well….let me make you something to eat before that. What would you like?"

She crossed her arms. "I don't know. Coffee?"

"I have that. Yes. Have a seat."

She sat down at the table and looked out of the window at the sea. The small kitchen was light blue and gave the appearance that they lived in a lighthouse, even though they didn't. The walls were narrow and painted white bricks.

Arles brought her the coffee, "And toast?"

She sat back. "I don't know."

"Something different? I made your Mom 'Toad in a Hole' this morning. There are a few left."

"Okay. I'll try it. Well, wait. Is this something Legate likes?" She smiled.

He laughed. "That, is Genie's favorite thing in the world."

He stood in front of the cooker and put one on the plate for her.

She sipped her coffee and watched him. "Arles. What are they doing to search for him?"

He brought it over to the table and sat down across from her. "Dad put a tracking device in our arms when we were small. They are using that and a sensor in our teeth."

"In your teeth?" She asked in shock.

He nodded. "I knew about the arm, but I was surprised about the teeth. I have one, too. I didn't know about it."

She shook her head in disbelief. "Wouldn't the thing that would have damaged the bracelet have damaged that?"

"It's a working theory now. If he's with Tony. He has the same thing." He reasoned.

"Where in your arm is it?"

Arles pulled up the sleeve of the t-shirt he wore and made a muscle. He felt under his biceps and shook his head. "Somewhere, right in there. I don't know. I can't feel it. It's smaller than a bit of rice."

She sipped her coffee.

He drummed his fingers on the table. "So, you look nice today."

She ate the toad in a hole and nodded. "Thank you. Arles, this is really good."

He smiled. "Thanks. That's probably the first thing I ever learned how to cook."

She looked up at him as he sipped his tea.

"There was a girl who came by this morning to see you." He told her. "I told her you were sleeping, but I would give you the message."

"Really? Who was it?"

"Kelly. She wanted to know if you were going to be in town for a while."

"She wants me to play softball."

"She says you are a hell of a pitcher and she wants you for a game."

"It's a playoff game. She's bringing me in as a ringer. There are league rules about that. She's crazy."

Arles crossed his arms. "Yeah. I'm familiar with that. Our Grandfather owns a football team. There are ways around it."

She grinned, "I smell a conspiracy."

"If you bring in, two….it's less of a….situation. You see?"

"You want to play softball?"

"She told me that guys were in a league…"

"Do you know how to play softball?"

"It's like baseball, right?"

"Yes. There's just a larger ball."

"Oh. Well, in that case….no." He laughed.

She rolled her eyes. "Arles."

"She says you are good. Like, mind blowingly good. Imagine how much better you will look if I join in, too."

She sipped her coffee. "You are crazy."

"I think it would be a good idea." He shrugged his shoulders. "Get your mind off of everything. If even for….how long do these games last?"

"Arles. It's just like baseball."

"So, for….nine hours-"

"What crazy game have you been to?"

He smiled at her. "That's just how long it seemed. Lots of waiting around."

She sighed. "Yeah. That's what I've heard about it."

He nodded.

They heard Henry start to bark as Anne opened the door. Three Torchwood agents carried in the shopping for her.

"Yes, Henry. I'm here." She told the dog who jumped and ran back into the sitting room to return to his nap. She pat the cabinet and the thanked the agents for bringing in the shopping. Arles jumped up and started to put away everything.

She sat down next to Karen. "You look nice."

"I decided it was time to stop being a slob."

"You are allowed to be a slob. It's been a hell of a few days." She pat her hand.

"Thanks, Mom." She smiled painfully at her. "I'm thinking about returning to class."

Arles looked back at her. "Back to class? Really?"

"How will that work now?" She asked.

Arles continued to unpack the shopping, "Well, you and I will get a couple of Quauhtin, or maybe some Torchwood agents. I'll ask Papa and see what he wants to do. When were you thinking about going?"

"Is this afternoon, too soon?"

"No. I can work something out." He told her.

"I don't even have my books."

"No. They are upstairs." Arles told her. "I had the guys bring everything from the hotel here. It's in my room because I didn't want you to see it until you were ready."

She nodded. "Thank you, Arles. That was thoughtful."

He finished putting up the shopping and walked over with a small container of fruit salad. "Thank you for this, Anne."

"Phh…least I could do." She insisted.

Arles sat down across from Karen and ate the fruit salad.

Anne pat Karen's hand. "One of the guys brought some photos that someone took of you and Sam at the Expo. Or, before you went. They are beautiful."

She shook her head. "I'm not ready to look at those yet."

Anne nodded her head. "I understand. Umm… Your Dad called and has asked for a date."

"What?" She asked. "Dad?"

Anne laughed, "I have no idea. But, he wanted to know if you were available tonight for a date with him."

"Is he serious?"

"He's told me I am to go shopping." She laughed.

Karen smiled. "Sounds serious, then."

Arles finished his fruit salad and pulled out his phone. "Let me ring Papa really quick about the class thing."

"Arles. I don't want to be any trouble-"

"You're not any trouble, Karen."

"If today isn't a good time, it's okay."

Arles pointed at her. "You…worry about your coffee. It's my job to worry about everything else. Hey, Papa. Got a question."

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Lewis sat on the sofa inside of his flat. He held baby Arles on his lap and smiled at him.

"And you are so happy."

Arles smiled at his Papa and coo'ed.

"And I was beginning to worry you thought Lance was your Papa." Lewis smiled.

Arles kicked his legs and looked up at him.

Lewis bit his lip and looked at his son. "You know, everyone says you look like Lance, but it's not completely true. You look a lot like your Mum."

Arles stopped kicking and sucked on his fingers.

"Her name was…..well, one day I'll tell you. She was beautiful, and she would be so proud of you. Both you, and the older you. Being 'One' is a huge honor. Sam has put what is most important to him in the entire world in your care. That makes me proud."

The baby coo'ed and started to kick again.

Lewis wiped a tear from his eye. "She would be very proud, too. Never think otherwise."

Arles pulled his feet up to his mouth.

"Genie says I've never talked to you about her. Eighteen years is a long time. I know Poltious never speaks of Maria, either. Quauhtin are not supposed to speak of someone after they are no longer with us. It keeps them from their rest. But, maybe….just maybe….in this case. We should rethink that tradition. What do you think, Arles?"

Arles coo'ed and waved his hands around.

Lewis swallowed the lump that had grown in his throat and smiled at his son. "We're going to be alright. For her. We'll be….alright."

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