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Chapter 18 - Chapter 18 - Caihiri Dreams

The Doctor was met by Licis and several more Quauhtin as he walked down the gangplank of Poltious' ship. He carried a small bag on his shoulder.

Licis grinned as he pointed at Poltious' ship, "That's where that ship was. I guessed he had sent it with Legate."

The Doctor shook Licis hand. "It's DNA encoded. I couldn't fly her."

"Well, that's true. So, the other Legate…?"

"Yeah, he's in there."

Licis rose his eyebrow, "Is he…any different?"

The Doctor sighed, "This one is engaged to my daughter."

Licis laughed, "Yeah, I heard about that. At least you didn't toss him out a window. Lartius is grateful."

Arles and Karen walked down the gang plank together. The Doctor turned and took Karen's hand. "And this is Karen. Karen this is Licis."

Licis smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you."

She looked surprised at him. "You look like…"

He smiled, "Lewis. Yes. We're brothers. And how is my nephew? Wow. You really do look like Luce."

"Luce, huh?" Arles smiled and shook his Uncle's hand. "Anxious to see Sam, Licis."

Licis smiled, "Come on. I'll take you lot up there. We're pointed towards Plentitude. Lewis says he's already there. He says the ladies are taking him shopping."

The Doctor grinned, "Sounds like them."

The huge hanger door closed behind them. The Doctor put his hands in his pockets as they walked together into the hallway of the ship. The walls were white and trimmed in grey. The floor appeared to be white tiles. Whenever they passed someone in the hallway, they were greeted warmly, although Karen had no idea what they said.

Arles took her hand in his. "It is the language of the Quauhtin. They are saying, 'Welcome.'"

She smiled back at him and realized for the first time in her life, she was surrounded by aliens. In fact, she was the only human on the ship that she knew of. If that's what she even was. She gripped Arles' hand tighter.

As they walked past a window, she noticed the stars began to streak past again. They had returned to traveling at light speed.

The Doctor asked, "So. His levels sound good."

"Only two in the red. He's improved a lot since we first found them. Tony, oh he's cross."

The Doctor chuckled.

They stepped into the med bay, which lead into a hallway of rooms on either side. Licis led them directly to the room where Samuel lay in a bed. He seemed to be sleeping and even thinner than Karen remembered. Her heart leapt as she realized it was really him. Arles squeezed her hand.

Tony Tyler looked up from the chair he sat in, still with his hand in Samuel's. "John!"

The Doctor pat him on the shoulder. "How are you, brother? Injured?"

"I might say yes if Sammy ever lets my hand loose." He grumbled.

Arles laughed under his breath. "Not letting go, huh?"

"Ugh. It's been hours. I don't even feel it anymore." Tony insisted.

The Doctor used his screwdriver and scanned Samuel.

Tony pointed at her, "So, this is Karen?"

Arles nodded. "This is Karen Bennett. Samuel's…..girlfriend." He looked at her to make sure that was alright. "Yeah?"

She hadn't taken her eyes off of Samuel. He slept peacefully, but bruising could still be seen on his chest, long lines of purple bruising ran down both of his arms, wires ran from someplace unseen under the sheet that covered him, and a tube was giving him oxygen under his nose.

She asked, "May I touch him?"

The Doctor looked up at her as he put his hands on the side of Samuel's face. "Let me tell him we're here, first."

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Samuel stood on the balcony of Lance's home on Caihiri. He leaned against the railing as he watched the rather large storm cloud on the other side of the mountain. The rain had created a dark area underneath it. The yellow trees danced under it as the wind blew in his hair.

He felt anxious, and couldn't figure out why. He was so confused. Just as he started to go over in his head again where he was and what had happened, someone tapped on his shoulder.

He turned quickly, fist drew back ready to strike whoever it was. The Doctor smiled at him. "Relax, son. It's only me."

Samuel sighed and dropped his fist. "Dad. What are you doing here? What am I doing here?"

The Doctor smiled and embraced his son tightly. "Everything is going to be alright."

He felt Samuel relax. He looked at his face. "You're safe, Samuel."

"Dad. I'm so confused. What has happened?"

The Doctor crossed his arms and leaned against the railing to look at him. "Tell me what you remember."

Samuel ran his hand through his hair. "It's….all…..confusing. I remember being on Caihiri. We stayed up all night with Lewis and Grandfather."

The Doctor nodded. "Alright. Then what?"

"I woke up that morning. I think we left, so…I don't understand why I'm still here."

"You don't remember coming home?"

Samuel's eyes grew huge. "Something happened. That's the reason you are here. Is Arles-"

The Doctor held out his hand. "Everyone is alright. Well, mostly."

"Please, Dad. Just tell me what happened."

"You, Samuel-"

"You don't normally call me 'Samuel'-"

He grinned, "Karen told me you preferred that. Anyway, Samuel, you're in a healing coma."

"So, I'm hurt." Samuel realized. "Why? What happened? Did we crash the ship?"

"No. You made it back and was there a week."

"Karen." He realized. "Is Karen alright?"

The Doctor looked up at someone that Samuel couldn't see. "Go ahead and take his hand."

"Who is with us?"

"I need you to relax."

"Karen-"

"She's fine. But, you have to let go of Tony. You have gripped onto his hand so tightly that he can't get away from you."

Just as he said that, Samuel felt the familiar sensation of comfort as if Karen had taken his hand. He looked down at it and smiled. "Karen is here."

The Doctor smiled. "She has your other hand. Relax, and release Tony."

Samuel realized his other hand hurt. Meanwhile, the electrical current had begun to creep up his arm, to his shoulder and into his chest. He looked back at his Dad's smile. "Every level just went in the green. I think you were just waiting on Karen."

He shook his other hand. "This really hurts."

"You've been holding onto Tony for hours." He looked up again, "Karen, take his other hand, too."

Samuel began to feel the same sensation in his other hand. Karen must have been rubbing his hand. His forehead suddenly felt a burst of tingle.

He looked up at his Dad and smiled. "She just kissed me. I love that feeling."

The Doctor smiled, "He can feel it Karen. It's helping."

Samuel looked down at both of his hands and smiled. "Karen is here. And she's alright." He closed his eyes and groaned. "Dad! She wasn't supposed to know about any of this."

The Doctor chuckled. "You are a bit behind on the times, son. She knows about everything."

"Everything?"

"Yep." He popped.

"And….she's…..Well, how is she?"

The Doctor pointed at him. "She is brilliant. One hell of a catch. Even if she is an archeologist. I've tried to talk her out of that."

Samuel sighed and shook his head. "Dad."

The Doctor chuckled.

"But, she's alright?"

"She's fine. A bit tired. Arles has taken great care of her in your absence. He's here, too."

Samuel nodded. "And he's alright?"

"Yes, he's fine. Poltious and Tony are both here, too. Poltious needs my attention, but you seem to be healing fine. You just need to sleep. It's going to really hurt when you wake up."

"Why?"

The Doctor explained everything that was wrong with Samuel to him. Samuel crossed his arms and groaned. "I'm not even going to be able to move for a while."

"Sam. It was incredibility brave what you did."

"What did I do?"

The Doctor grinned. "Made me extremely proud. Know that, and never doubt it. Now, rest. We'll chat more later."

Samuel nodded his head and looked back at the storm cloud. The lightening traveled through the clouds and looked frightening.

"What is that? If I'm unconscious, why is there this storm cloud?"

The Doctor looked back at it. "That, is some of your injury. You were electrocuted several times. Hit with an EMP tranquilizer. There is probably other things, but I'd rather go over that later with you when you wake up. I want you to rest now. Okay?"

"I'm glad you're here."

"Everything is going to be alright. What do you want me to tell Karen? She's sitting right here."

"Gosh, I don't even know."

The feeling continued to run up his arms and sooth him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Oh, that's really helping." He mumbled.

The Doctor nodded. "I'll tell her to keep doing that. Rest. I'll come back and talk to you after I go see Poltious."

Samuel ran his hand though his hair. "Tell her that I'm sorry. Tell her that I'll see her soon."

The Doctor grinned and pat his son on the shoulder. "I'll tell her that. Rest. Don't try to wake up. Watch the cloud, and don't get close to it."

"Alright."

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The Doctor took his hands off of Samuel's face and sat back. He looked at Karen. She held Samuel's hands in hers. Arles stood with Tony, who was shaking the blood back into his hand after the long, tight grip he had endured from Samuel.

"What did he say?" Arles asked.

"He has a bit of memory loss. I didn't see that coming." The Doctor admitted. "He doesn't remember coming home from Caihiri."

"So, us going to New York?" Karen asked.

"Has no memory of it. But…."

Karen kissed Samuel's hand.

"But, he's asleep. It's as if….he's dreaming. He may wake up and remember everything. It might take him a few days, or…."

"He may not remember at all." Karen finished.

The Doctor nodded. "He did ask me to tell you that he is sorry. And he'll see you soon."

Karen's face slowly spread into a smile as a tear rolled down her cheek. She looked back at him and whispered. "Thank you."

"I'm going to look in on Poltious. Karen, keep doing that. He said it was helping."

Karen nodded, sat on the side of Samuel's head, and kissed his forehead. "I'm here. Just rest."

The Doctor turned his head. "And Tony."

Tony rubbed his hand. "Yeah, John?"

"Thank you for bringing him back to me."

Tony groaned. "I should have-"

He closed the distance between them. "What happened, had to happen. I'm not cross. Not at all. I'm extremely proud of you, brother. Four Vesuos?"

Tony relaxed and grinned, "Yeah."

The Doctor pat his chest. "Hell. Bets Poltious' record. I don't want details."

Tony put his hands on his hips and smiled as he looked at the floor.

"I need to check and make sure you're alright-"

"I'm fine, John. Bit bruised, but fine. Get Poltious and Sammy sorted."

"Alright. I'll check on Poltious, then you." The Doctor insisted.

Tony and Arles watched him walk out of the room. Karen continued to sit on the side of Samuel's bed not letting go of his hand.

Tony sighed. "Well, this is some shit."

Arles walked over to the other side of the bed and pointed at Tony. "Lady is present."

Tony glanced back at Karen. "I apologize."

She laughed under her breath. "It's alright."

Tony continued. "I think Sammy must have been out of his mind on that ship."

Arles sat back and rested his hands on top of his head. "What was your first clue?"

"He kept talking about Karen…"

Arles held his hand out as if he was presenting Karen to him. "Yeah. His beloved. You should hear how he speaks of her when he's at home."

Karen looked up at Arles and smiled.

"Ugh." Tony groaned, "And then he told me some shit about Genie and Legate being engaged."

"I'll tell you one more." Arles grinned.

"What?"

Arles laughed. "Actually, new plan. I bet you that that's not the most shocking bit of news you have missed during your time away."

Tony crossed his arms. "Well, that's rather shocking. What have I missed? You decided to date one girl?"

Arles shook his head. "Let's not go completely mad, here."

Karen laughed, "Samuel, you should hear this."

Tony held his hands out. "Then what? There's nothing that would shock me more than Genie and Legate. That shit was right under our damn noses! How did we miss that?"

"I know. Ugh."

Tony sighed. "Alright, what news do you have?"

Arles laughed. "What do you want to bet?"

Tony crossed his arms. "Hell, I don't know-"

"I bet that you will come back home-"

"We're talking about Earth? Or the future? Neither one is really that appealing to me-"

"At least long enough to see Grand and Grandfather. They are on Plentitude with Papa."

Tony sighed. "That's not my Mum and Dad."

"Oh, come back just to tell Jackie Tyler that. I dare you, mate."

Karen continued to hold Samuel's hands and watch their argument.

Tony groaned and shook his head. "Mum….she….will demand I return. I don't want to do that."

"Then, what do you want to do?"

"What do you think I want to do?" He insisted. "I want to go find the rest of these damn Vesuos! Find this fucking buyer that wanted Soli so bad."

Arles looked back at Karen, "Excuse him."

"He's always been a swearer, hasn't he?" Karen teased.

Tony groaned. "You know I'm right. They won't stop until they get him."

"Dad already destroyed Uncle Tony's ship to create the illusion that Soli died."

"Well, the news of that happening hasn't arrived to the buyer. This shit is just going to continue. Soli is a little boy right now, not the huge Quauhtin we left. What happens when they get him? Because this entire thing is….it's no longer hypothetical. It's now just a matter of time."

Arles bit his lip and nodded. "That's true."

Tony sighed, "This shit. I don't even know what they did to him. They kept him unconscious the majority of the time. He was only awake maybe….fifteen minutes a day. If that. I know they beat the hell-"

Arles held up his hand to stop his words, "Ah! Karen is present."

Karen kissed Samuel's hands that she held in both of hers.

Arles crossed his arms and propped his feet up on the side of Samuel's bed. "See, this is the problem with your plan, Tony."

Tony groaned, "And you're going all Lewis on me."

"It's my nature. Tell me, what do you do once you have eliminated the buyer?"

"Eliminate the next one."

"And-"

"The next one-"

"And eventually, you run out of targets. Then what?"

"I'll come home. He'll be safe."

"Revenge only fuels more vengeance. You know that from all of the stories Dad has told us-"

"Fairy tales." Tony groaned. "Bloody fairy tales and shit. I'm not comparing that to this."

Arles shrugged his shoulders. "Even fairy tales have a point. And you know what Uncle Tony says about this sort of thing."

"We make our own demons." He nodded.

"There's a lot of truth to that. Particularly in this case."

"I've got to stop that from happening-"

"We have-"

"Then how can I still remember it-"

"Stop!" Karen insisted. "Both of you. If you want to argue and shout, take it someplace else. I'm not going to allow it in here with Samuel."

Arles nodded. "You're right, Karen. Sorry."

"No. It's all me. I apologize, Karen. You're right." Tony told her. "Umm…want to talk about this some more-"

"Not really. Seems like a pointless thing to discuss with you. Besides. I need to remain with Karen."

"Phhh. Why? No one is going to bite her."

Arles grinned at her. "Maybe I'm worried about everyone else."

Karen laughed under her breath and ran her hand through Samuel's hair. He took a deep breath and seemed to relax under her touch. She smiled and kissed his forehead again.

Tony shook his head. "I can't take you at the moment, Arles."

He stormed out the room.

Karen looked back at Arles. "He's…."

"Hot headed. Yes. That ginger temper. But, he's only gotten worse since he's been out here."

"What did he mean that those aren't his parents?"

Arles looked up and considered telling her. "Do you think we need to lift the bed up a bit? Sammy never sleeps lying down."

Karen nodded. "We can try."

Arles pressed a button to lift Sam's upper body up. He continued to sleep.

Arles looked at him. "I'll go get that dermal regenerator from Dad. I can go ahead and sort out this bruising while we're here."

Karen watched him leave the room and looked back at Samuel. She ran her hand through his hair and felt the familiar tingle that came when they touched.

"Samuel. You're safe. I know everything you didn't want to tell me, and it's completely alright. Sleep, Samuel. I'm right here and I won't leave your side."

He squeezed her hand that she held.

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