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Chapter 8 – Jack's Idea

Genie sat at the bar of Lewis' flat on the island drinking a cup of tea.

Lewis walked, with a pint in his hand, and sat down next to her. He propped his feet up in the chair she sat in and sighed. "What a long day."

Genie nodded.

"It's alright to be upset, Genie." Lewis told her.

She sipped her tea. "There's so much to be upset about, I just don't know what I should be angry about first."

Lewis sighed. "You make a good point."

A loud pop announced someone's arrival. Genie didn't look up. "And you are early."

Arles walked into the kitchen. "I didn't realize I was expected. Is there tea?"

Lewis looked surprised. "Where's Karen?"

"Her Dad has told me to take some time for myself." He told him as he made himself a cup of tea. "This 'One' business rather sucks."

Lewis nodded. "Then you're doing it right, son. How is she?"

Arles sipped his tea. "At the moment, hysterical. I don't think she's properly stopped crying since it happened."

Genie wiped a tear from her eye. "I regret everything I've ever said about her."

Arles looked up at Genie in surprise. "Karen is perfect for Sam. We just need to get him back here for her-"

"Don't think he's not coming back!" Genie shouted.

"I don't think that!" Arles shouted back.

Genie covered her face and cried.

Lewis rubbed her back. "Shhh….Genie. Arles, what the-"

Genie shook her head. "No. He doesn't think that, Papa. It's alright."

"I love how you are fussing at me, Papa." Arles pointed at himself.

Lewis groaned and sat back with his beer. "You two! Don't….make me shout. It's been a shit day. A shit week! I have zero problems shouting at you both." He swore in Quauhtin.

Genie looked back at Arles, and they both laughed under their breath at Lewis.

He looked warningly at both of them. "Shut up. The pair of you."

Genie leaned over and kissed Lewis' cheek. "Oh, I love you Papa."

He rolled his eyes and drank his beer.

The door opened and Legate's voice was heard. "And I'm here."

Genie smiled back at him. "You're just in time to hear Papa shout at me and Arles."

Lewis insisted, "They need it."

Legate looked at Arles in surprise. "Where's Karen?"

"With her Dad. Ah. It's alright. I'll be back there in a while. Any update here?"

Lewis shook his head. "No. John has been asleep all day. I really hope he wakes up with a really good idea."

"Is he still ill?" Arles asked.

Genie nodded. "Yes. Mum was just down here. She wants to go see Karen, but I told her that she was in class."

Arles sipped his tea. "Yeah. She was. Today is not a good day."

Legate rubbed Genie's back.

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The Doctor woke up and groaned. He was still ill, but had managed to sleep all day. He looked out of the windows to see that it was evening. He could feel that Genie and Sam were happy and safe. His heart sank as he remembered that his Samuel was still missing. He rubbed his face and sat up. "Oh, this shit sucks. I thought I was supposed to be well by now."

He stood up and stretched his back. Rose spoke in his head. 'There is soup down here. Shall I bring it up to you?'

'No. I need to get up and move. I'll be down in a bit.' He told her as he slipped on his robe.

He groaned, "Damn, I needed to go see Karen. This shit….ugh! I don't have time for this!"

He walked downstairs and coughed as he arrived in the sitting room.

Jack stood at the bar and smiled at him. "And you look like shit."

Little Genie jumped off out of her chair and ran up to him. "Daddy!"

He picked her up and kissed her cheek. "How are you?"

"Are you still not feeling well?"

He smiled at her. "Seeing you makes me feel much better."

She kissed his cheek and he sat her down in the chair.

Rose stood at the cooker. "And there is soup-"

"Who made it? One, Jacqueline Tyler?" He asked as he walked over to kiss Rose.

She laughed, "Yes. She did."

"I'll pass. I'm on the mend! And I don't need anything setting me back!" He insisted.

Rose looked back at him and put her hand on her hip. "I dare you to ring her and say that-"

He pointed at her as he made a cup of tea. "And you win."

Genie giggled, "Daddy. Are you frightened of Grand?"

He didn't look up. "I am not frightened of Grand."

Genie giggled.

Rose laughed back at him. "That doesn't sound like she believes you."

He sipped his tea and pointed at her. "You, young lady, are due for a chat with me."

She giggled and started to eat her soup again.

The Doctor looked up at Jack. "And what's the update?"

He shook his head, sadly. "No change."

The Doctor sighed.

Rose handed him a bowl of soup. "Although, Jack had an interesting idea."

"I don't think he's going to go for that." Jack insisted.

The Doctor sat beside of Genie and started to eat his soup. "Well, let's hear it so I can say no."

Jack took a deep breath. "Well, this didn't happen in the line of events where I came from."

The Doctor didn't look up and sampled the soup. "Okay."

"So, I could pop ahead and see where we find them at. Come back and-"

"No. That won't work."

"Why not?" Rose asked.

He looked up at them. "It creates a paradox. There is a reason that he has to be there-"

"There's a better reason why he needs to be here!" Rose insisted.

Genie took her Daddy's hand. "Who are you lot talking about?"

He glanced back at Rose and Jack. "Hmmmm. Someone, you don't know."

She groaned and sat back. "Daddy. Just because I'm a child, doesn't mean I don't know people. I might be able to help!"

He grinned, "I really wish you could. If I think of something, I'll ask."

She pat his hand and started to eat her soup again. "And I do know who you are talking about."

He sighed. "Doctor Sam."

She looked up at him, "Did he run away because you were so cross with him?"

The Doctor kissed her head. "He did something extremely brave. It had nothing to do with me. Absolutely, nothing."

Genie nodded and returned to eating her soup.

He looked up in time to see Rose's disapproving glance. "You…..ugh."

The Doctor looked up to see Jack's wheels spinning in his head. "She's right. She might be able to help. She can talk to the TARDIS."

"The TARDIS is broken." The Doctor said flatly.

"But, it's hers! You don't see that?"

The Doctor rose his cup of tea and coughed. "It's not hers. Just because she can speak to it-"

"No! You don't understand. There are several in the future. I didn't see it until now. That first one, it belongs to her!"

Rose looked confused, "Can that happen? She's not a Time Lord."

"TT Capsules pick their pilots." Jack insisted. "That's the reason that the TARDIS, the other one of his, was so damn moody when I flew her."

The Doctor laughed, "No, that's because of your piloting skills."

Jack threw his hands out. "I'm serious. What if we put all of those numbers into the TARDIS? The ones for both of the guys' teeth transmissions, the arm transmissions, and the bracelet. Even the missing ship! Not to mention Poltious' bracelet! She could find them!"

"She's proper cross. This may be the worst idea you have ever had." The Doctor insisted.

"But, it's worth a try! We've told Karen that we're doing everything we can. That's not true if we don't at least try this!" Jack insisted. He looked back at Rose. "What do you think?"

She crossed her arms and looked at the Doctor. "Oh, he knows what I think."

He sighed. "Okay. Arles and Gen-" He looked back at little Genie. "Les and Sara are with Lewis. Legate, and they, will need to approve of this before I agree to anything."

Jack clapped his hands together in excitement. "Yes! Hell let's try it."

The Doctor looked back at little Genie. "Still want to help?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Sure!"

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Back in Lewis' flat….

Legate laughed at Lewis. "And you were smoking with them?"

Lewis grinned, "I wouldn't say no to it now."

Genie rolled her eyes. "Oh, Papa. I've not laughed this much in days. You are mental."

"Well, I know why. It's clear that you lot had a hand in making me this way."

They all laughed with him. He rolled his eyes around his head. "Hang on. John is awake. He wants to see you. All of you."

Legate pointed at himself.

"Yes." Lewis told him as he stood up. "And he doesn't know about Legate going to Kaitos. I'm going to tell him, after Genie has her talk with him." He pointed to her. "This needs to happen, young lady. Soon."

She sighed. "Yes, Papa."

He pat the bar. "Alright. We are needed in the shop. Lead the way, Arles!"

They all walked out of the island home and along the path to the Doctor's shop. They were all surprised when they arrived to find him wearing his jim jams and a robe. He was pulling wires out of the TARDIS and attaching them to a computer on the desk.

Genie put her hands on her hips. "Will you put on some clothes?"

Little Genie spun around in the chair at the desk. "I asked him the same thing."

The Doctor continued to sort through wires and disappeared back into the TARDIS. "Jack! I need another extension."

Rose smiled, "Genie, meet Sara and Les."

Genie smiled, "Sara! That's my name, too!"

The older Genie rose her eyebrows. "It's a good name. Don't you think?"

Little Genie giggled. "I prefer Genie. But, Uncle Tony calls me Gene. He thinks I'm a boy."

"Better than a lizard."

"Boy, that's the truth." Little Genie insisted.

The Doctor reappeared out of the TARDIS. "Arles! Why aren't you with Karen?"

Lewis waved his hand. "It's alright. He's been relieved….temporarily."

The Doctor looked confused. "I meant to come see her today."

"Today wasn't a good day." Arles insisted.

The Doctor sighed. "No?"

Arles shook his head. "No. It wasn't. What are you doing?"

Lewis groaned, "And I'm with Gen-….umm.. Sara. Will you put on some clothes?"

The Doctor held up his finger. "Jack has had an idea. But, it involves the TARDIS who is already very cross."

Little Genie jumped out of her chair. "Oh yes, she is. She wants to know what you are doing."

He looked down at the child's face. "What? Now?"

She nodded. "Yes. She says she needs all of those wires and bits. Are you going to hurt her?"

He knelt down to speak softly to little Genie. "I would never hurt her. I need you to tell her that. Alright? She's very important to me."

Jack came out of the TARDIS with armfuls of wires. "I'll hook these up. I've put the numbers in."

The Doctor stood up and took little Genie in his arms. She laid her chin on his shoulder and looked back at the TARDIS.

"Okay. This is Jack's idea. He's put all of the numbers and information in for them. We can use the TARDIS to search for them. She can feed the information into the computer out here. But, she's already proper cross-"

The TARDIS made an odd noise.

The older Genie spoke to her. "Sweetie. Everything is alright. Let's hear his idea before we say no."

Little Genie spoke over her Dad's shoulder. "That's right. Hear the entire idea before you say it's mental."

The Doctor rose his eyebrows and looked back at them. "But, I will not do this unless you lot agree. It's very possible it will damage it even worse. She's weak."

Arles realized, "But, we could find Sam. Bring him home."

"Maybe." Jack insisted.

"It's just a theory. She's the most powerful thing we have. If she can't find them…"

Rose sighed, "Thank you for not finishing that sentence."

The Doctor nodded. "What do you say? Legate?"

Legate shook his head. "Sam would do it for me. Tony, probably not."

Genie looked back at him. "He would! And yes. If there is a possibility that this will work…"

Arles nodded excitedly. "Yes. What do you need me to do?"

The Doctor pointed at the computer. "Keep your eyes on that. Jack, go inside and make sure everything….does its thing. Genie."

The little girl he held looked back at him, "Yes, Daddy?"

He looked back at her. It was clear he had meant the older Genie.

The older Genie smiled. "Think happy thoughts, huh?"

He kissed the little girl's cheek. "Tell the TARDIS we need to get Doctor Sam back."

Lewis joined Arles at the computer. Rose stood next to the adult Genie, they held one another's arms as the Doctor shouted to Jack, "Alright. Give it a go!"

Little Genie cheered. "Come on! Find Doctor Sam!"

The adult Genie encouraged her, too. "Come on, Sweetie. You can find him." She whispered, "Oh, please find him."

Rose covered her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.

The computer screen that Arles sat at began to get a load of information. It printed all over the screen at lightning speed. "Getting something."

The Doctor grunted, "Come on! Come on! Come on!"

The TARDIS tone changed and then the cupboard behind where she sat became visible.

"No!" The Doctor insisted. "Don't do that! Stay here!"

She appeared again solidly. And then completely disappeared.

The Doctor sat little Genie down. Almost dropping her as he walked over to where the TARDIS had sat only seconds ago. "She's gone."

The adult Genie looked on in surprise. "Dad?"

Legate sighed and put his hands on her shoulders. He told her quietly, "It's alright."

Rose covered her face. The shock she was feeling from her husband told her what had happened. The TARDIS had grown cross, and left.

There he was again. Sand on his feet and the roar of the ocean in the distance, looking at where his TARDIS had just disappeared without him. His shock and disappointment overwhelmed him. He punched the cupboard, denting the door. "Damn it! I can't believe this."

Lewis walked over and picked up little Genie. He kissed her forehead. "Sweet girl, how does ice cream sound?"

"But, I didn't help Daddy. Why did it disappear?" She asked.

He looked in her eyes. "What happened, happened. It was not your fault, or anyone else's. It's important you know that. Do you understand?"

Little Genie began to cry. She held Lewis' neck tightly. "Papa…"

He kissed her head. "John, I have this one." He took Genie out of the shop.

The Doctor threw his hands up. "I can't believe this!"

Rose pointed at him. "You…control your temper."

He grit his teeth. "Rose-"

"Do not make me do something I can't control at the moment."

He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Calm down, Doctor. Calm the hell down."

Legate dropped his head as Genie still looked on in shock. "Dad?"

The Doctor threw his hands in the air again. "And now JACK HARKNESS IS OFF SOME DAMN WHERE IN MY FUCKING TARDIS!" He shouted.

Rose shook her head. "I'll be in the house. I can't deal with you with….all of this!"

He turned and kicked the same cupboard. "DAMN IT!"

Legate took Genie's hand and they followed Rose into the house.

The Doctor turned to look at the spot where the TARDIS had disappeared.

Lewis walked back into the shop. "Lance has Genie."

The Doctor ran both of his hands through his hair and looked positivity terrifying. He was furious.

Lewis pointed at him. "Man, you need to calm down."

"Explain to me, Lewis, how being calm in this situation is going to fix anything?"

Arles rose his eyebrow, "So, completely coming unglued will?"

He closed the gap between himself and Arles. Lewis instinctively moved in front of his son and put his hand on the Doctor's chest. "It's clear to me you need some time to cool off."

The Doctor growled. In that moment, Arles realized why he had been called the Oncoming Storm. He had never seen his Dad so angry.

Lewis didn't flaunter. "John! It didn't work. We'll find another way. Okay? I'll help you find him. I'm not giving up, so don't you dare. You got it?"

The Doctor bit his lip and nodded as his eyes filled with tears. "I knew that was going to work."

Lewis pat his shoulder. "It's been a long few days. Emotions are running high. Arles and I will see if any of this data is helpful. Go in the house and get yourself a cup of tea."

The Doctor took a deep breath. "Alright."

Lewis pat his chest. "We're going to find him, John."

The Doctor nodded and sighed. "Thank you, Lewis. Arles."

They watched as he walked out of the shop into the darkness.

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