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Chapter 11 Chapter 11 - Brooding

Arles stood at the cooker inside of his and Samuel's flat inside of the school in New York. The grey stone walls were arched around beautiful tiles and ornate wood. A kitchen island, with beautiful granite tops that matched the cabinets perfectly, sat in the middle of the room. A fireplace sat up about waist level in a on the other side of the kitchen. The fire burned and warmed the elegant room. Outside of the arched windows, the snow blew heavily. On one side of the island sat three tall chairs to reach the bar. Silver appliances looked as though they had been built into their respective places in the kitchen.

On the other side of the kitchen, was the sitting room. The walls were painted beige with arched doorways and windows. Two leather cushioned sofas sat around a flat screened telly that hung on the wall playing the news that was muted.

The aroma of the dish he was cooking filled the entire flat. He opened a cabinet to pull out some spices just as he heard the door open.

Samuel stormed into the flat and slammed the door behind him. "Are you here?"

Arles tasted his creation. "Yeah. Kitchen."

Samuel sat down at the bar. "Smells good, man. What is it?"

"An idea gone very wrong." Arles insisted as he turned off the cooker and sat the pan in the sink. "I'll sort that out later. It needs to cool."

Sam ran his hands through his hair. "Legate will probably like it."

"I, doubt it. It was….really terrible. "

Sam nodded his head.

"Grandfather brought us our identification and such. It's just there." He pointed to two manila envelopes next to Sam. "And if Grand asked, he only had one."

Sam grinned in spite of his anger. "Three?"

"Four." Arles chuckled. "Apparently, we're in time for a wedding. I didn't know him and Grand got married during this time."

Sam ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "I've never asked."

He looked at him, "What's with you?"

Sam propped his head up on his fist. "Ugh. Dad."

"Oh. Well, that only took a week."

Sam shook his head. "I swear. Does he think I'm thick?"

Arles leaned on the counter and crossed his arms. "I don't think so-"

"I think he does! And you know, it's mad! For some reason I thought we could actually get along. You know. Back in this time!"

"He's the same guy." Arles reasoned.

"And I'm still the same….thick…..ugh!"

"What happened?"

Sam was clearly frustrated. He propped his head on his fists. "Just….more of the same."

Arles nodded his head in understanding.

"Arles. I've spoken to Legate. We're going to be stuck here a long time. Tony isn't coming back."

"He will-"

"Not for a while. Why didn't he talk to us about this? We could have gone with him to help."

He shrugged his shoulders. "You know how he is. He was there. He had a ship. He knew where they were. He probably didn't think about needing help."

"That's it! He doesn't think! And who does Dad believe is thick?"

Arles rose his eyebrows at his brother. "Sammy. You and Dad are always arguing. Mum says you are too alike."

Sam was looking at the ceiling and shaking his head. "This just sucks, man. Being stuck here."

"This time period? Or …."

"On Terra. We had already planned to leave! Then they had to go and get themselves kidnapped."

Arles nodded. "Yeah."

Arles opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. He handed it to Sam.

"We could continue with that plan." Sam told him as he opened the water began to drink it.

"Believe me, brother. I've thought about it."

"And?"

"We can't go now. Leave Genie during this time? I mean, yeah, she has Legate but….she needs us. We're all she has."

"She has the entire family!" Sam shouted as he held his hand out.

Arles shook his head. "You know that doesn't count. I mean, people that actually know her. With Tony gone, it's all on us. What if this shit with Legate doesn't work out? She's going to need us, and you damn well know it."

Sam closed his eyes and groaned. "Damn it. You're right."

Arles watched Sam rub his face in defeat. "She was just here, looking for you."

"What did she want?"

Arles grinned. "A biology professor."

Sam looked up at the ceiling and laughed. "Oh, my personal Hell! I can't believe this!"

Arles chuckled, "There are worse things-"

Sam shook his head. "How does this shit happen to us? We're good people! What did she ask you to do?"

"I get my pick." He grinned.

"Maths, then."

Arles rubbed his hands together. "Maths!"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Freak."

He sat down next to him and pat his back. "Sam, this isn't all bad."

Sam continued to rub his face. His muffled voice groaned, "Give me a few reasons why. Good reasons, Arles. I really need to hear this."

"Well, no one knows us here. None of that, 'Oh look. It's Sam and Arles Smith.'"

Sam looked back at his brother. "That's true."

"That should be worth at least, five reasons just by itself."

He groaned. "You're right."

Arles stood up and clapped his hands together. "Let's go out! Tonight!"

"What?"

"Hell, yeah! No Quauthin! Just us. Genie said her and Legate had a date. He'll think you are in here brooding about you and Dad fighting."

"That is my current plan."

"Phhhh. Come on. No one knows who we are. Let's go! Dance at a club. Do something like that. We've never been out, like normal people. Come on, I'm know you are dying to try it. Hell, we might even find some trouble to get into."

Sam laughed under his breath and rubbed his face, "This is such a bad idea."

Arles grinned proudly, "Oh, yes it is! You have ten minutes to get ready, loser."

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The Doctor sipped the tea he held in his hand as he looked at the wall that displayed dozens of complex medical read-outs and test results. The lights in the med bay had been dimmed so he was able to see the screens better.

The doors hissed open and Rose walked in.

"No problems?" He asked her.

She walked over to join him. "No. She didn't even wake up when Lewis laid her in the bed."

He sipped his tea and continued to look at the screens. "Hmm…"

She crossed her arms. "You could have taken back, you know. I'm not cross anymore."

He looked back at her. "You weren't really cross before. But, I can feel you are now. So much for shagging-"

"Well, what the hell was that with Sam?"

He sighed. "I knew that was why you were angry."

"That's your son!"

He turned and looked at her. "I know that. But, he can still be mistaken about this."

"Genie holding her breath until she passes out? Children do that."

He shook his head. "Nah. My Genie wouldn't do that."

"Why wouldn't she?"

"Well, it's like lying. Genie doesn't lie."

"She is half human. She's perfectly capable of telling a lie. And it's not even like she's admitting that she's doing it."

He looked at her. "Thank you for waiting to do this."

"Do what?"

"Confront me. About this. If Sam knew you were on his side about this, that fight would have been much worse."

She rubbed her face. "I'm not on either side. I'm just trying to understand."

Friday spoke. "The results are ready, Doctor Smith."

"Damn. That took long enough." He groaned as he sat the tea down on the desk and looked at the results that displayed on the screen.

"Huh." He said as he looked over everything.

Rose looked at the screens. "What does it say?"

He pointed at one side. "This is our Genie, who is a young girl. She's 44% human and 48% Rixalarian. The remainder is undetermined. But, this is the older Genie. Who is 98% Rixalarian and 2% undetermined."

Rose grinned. "Sam was right."

The Doctor groaned. "He was right."

Rose crossed her arms and grinned at him. "And….?"

"Well! I mean, he's a young kid! He could have gotten it wrong!"

She shook her head. "Boy, you really hate being wrong, don't you?"

"He's 18. A Doctor. With a big 'D'. How? That makes no damn sense."

"He's your son! What the hell do you expect from him?"

"More." He said.

Rose looked shocked. "More? Is that what this is about?"

He sighed. "No. It's not. He's…."

"He's what?"

He looked painfully back at her. "I really don't want to talk about it."

Rose nodded. "Okay. Work on that. Explain this with Genie."

He crossed his arms and shrugged his shoulders. "I really can't. According to Sam, she had Sluyahiri."

"If he says she had it, then she did. Bottom line." Rose insisted.

He sighed, "There was an outbreak, and the hospital kept it from me. Sam and Arles were with her when the hospital tried to reverse their treatment. That, nearly killed her."

Rose covered her mouth. "My God. Then what?"

"Sam says you did something. And apparently, it's something we've never really told him you could do. He didn't even know about Jack."

"Does he know about you?" Rose asked.

He looked back at her, "I really don't know."

"Why wouldn't we have told him? That doesn't make any sense."

"Ah. He's a kid! It's not something you really talk about. Maybe we just kept putting it off, and now we're at the end of that."

She turned and faced him. "Baby. He's a teenager."

"So, he's going to be a pain in the ass-"

"No. He's trying to figure out how he fits in all of this. What his purpose is. If we haven't told him this, what else have we kept from him?"

He sighed. "You're right, Rose."

She hugged him and he wrapped his arms around her. "We just need to talk to him. Probably all of them, and explain everything."

He closed his eyes and sighed. "I was so certain I wasn't going to do such a terrible job this time."

She looked up at him. "This isn't you, this is us. We haven't finished. We're just at the beginning. There's still time to fix this."

He kissed her head.

She let him go and put her hands in her jeans pockets. "So, coming home?"

He picked up his tea mug. "I'm going to write a letter to the future me."

"Talking to yourself?" She teased.

"I need expert advice here." He grinned. "No, I need to try to get some clarification. Jack is back. It might help with this."

She nodded and looked back at the screens. "And then what?"

"I need to go look at the TARDIS and get a very clear idea of what we're looking at with the children being here. I have….theories…..but, if we're going to come clean with all of this. Might as well, give them some more bad news."

She agreed. "I think that's wise. How can I help?"

He took her hand in his own. "Go home and hold Samuel the baby. Rock him as he sleeps. It is what both of you probably need right now. If nothing else, it will make me feel better."

She grinned. "That actually sounds perfect right now. I love that little boy more than I can even describe."

He smiled proudly at her. "It's because you are an amazing mum."

She shook her head. "No. It's because he reminds me of the love we have for one another. We love one another, so much, that we created a life where there was never one before. I see him now as this grown up. So troubled. Not knowing how he fits in."

"All teenagers feel that way."

"Yeah. But, he has a reason why."

She turned around and walked away without kissing him. The Doctor noticed it was the first time she had ever done that since he had been in that dimension. "Rose?"

The doors hissed open as she approached them. She stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

He decided not to say anything about it. "Never mind."

She looked confused and left the med bay.

He grumbled to himself. "Stupid. Stupid Doctor. You're going to lose this one, too."

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Legate and Genie walked into a restaurant. The woman who seated them, seemed to know Legate, and greeted him by kissing both of his cheeks. Speaking a language that Genie recognized as German, he introduced Genie as, "Sara."

The woman smiled back at her and said in a heavy German accent, "It is so very nice to meet you."

Genie smiled, "And you."

The woman led them both up some stone steps to the roof of the restaurant. A band played in the corner. The weather was cold, but with the heaters between the tables, Genie felt comfortable in her long burgundy chiffon dress that nearly came to the floor. The sides split along the sheer edges and sleeves.

Legate wore a grey suit with a blue tie, and held the chair for Genie as she sat down. She smiled up at him.

He ordered them something as he sat down across from her at the small, round table and the woman rushed off to fetch it.

Genie looked around. Lanterns illuminated the roof top where they sat. Legate sat, as he always did, with his back against the wall. She suspected he had asked for this table because it was in the corner and close to the door in case there was trouble. Some things she had accepted as habit for him.

"This is a beautiful place. New Germany?"

Legate leaned on the table and nodded. "Yes. You've never been here."

"Why?"

Legate drummed his fingers on the table. "Well, sadly…it doesn't exist in our time."

The woman returned with two glasses of red wine. She left the bottle for them and some bread.

Legate held up the glass. "To a date. Returning to a new sort of 'normal'."

She clanged her glass to his and giggled. "Normal. Indeed."

He sipped his wine and nodded. "Yes. This restaurant doesn't exist anymore. I don't exactly know what happened. But, it burned down. Well, a few years from now. A kitchen fire or something?"

"That's sad, Legate."

Legate sat down his wine. "But, that's not why it's special."

She rose her eyebrows at him. "The suspense is killing me."

He crossed his arms and chuckled. "What do you know about Arles' Mum?"

"She died when he was very small. I barely remember her."

Legate ran his hand through his hair. "That's right. You knew her. Yes."

"What about her?"

"This is where she worked. Lewis used to come here and….attempt to speak German to her. Sam. Not your brother, the Quauhtin he's named after-"

"The one who saved Mum."

"Yes. That's him. Do you remember him?"

She shook her head. "Not really."

He nodded. "Well, he was Lewis' best friend. He kept it quiet that Lewis and Arla were meeting up and sleeping with one another, for months."

Genie shook her head. "Papa would never do that."

"Your Papa didn't even know that woman's name. Your Dad had to ask her."

Genie laughed. "That's absolutely mad. I don't believe it."

"Oh, the things I can't tell you about Lewis. Maybe one day. And what do you mean, you don't believe it. You can tell if I'm lying."

She sipped her wine. "You believe you're telling the truth. But, I don't believe it."

Legate crossed his arms and grinned at her. "I'll tell you something else you won't believe. Rose and John….I don't remember what it was about….but he bet her he wouldn't get on stage and sing to her. And he did." He pointed, "Right up there on that stage."

Genie laughed hysterically. "You are completely mad! Daddy would have never done that."

Legate pulled out his phone. "Lewis sent me the video. He still had it!"

She took the phone and watched the video of the Doctor singing 'Witchcraft' to Rose. Genie covered her mouth and laughed at the video. "He looks so happy."

"He looks so drunk. I bet he was completely pissed that night."

Genie handed him back the phone. "Did he do that sort of thing a lot?"

"No. He's not too different at all. That's the thing about John….he's consistent."

She sat down her glass. "Consistent? What happened?"

Legate sighed. "Him and Samuel had a….disagreement."

"Well, that's them."

"Yeah, but I feel badly for Samuel. He really seemed to take it hard this time."

Genie shook her head. "I don't know why they are like that. It seems, that's all they do. Argue with one another. I wouldn't be surprised if Sam just gets enough one day, and well…I hope he doesn't leave."

"Has he talked anymore about it?"

"No. But, I know it has to be on his mind after this. I'll speak with him."

"Sorry." Legate appeared to be listening to something in his head.

"What is it?"

"John says that Rose has sent you a text."

"I left my phone at home."

"Right." He listened again. "He says there is a family meeting. Tomorrow morning at Sam and Arles' flat. At the school."

"Breakfast. Okay. I'll have coffee and tea ready."

Legate shook his head. "Well, enough of that. Something to dread. Round Two of John and Sam."

She nodded. "Thank you for telling me about that. I'll look in on Sam in the morning, before this meeting."

"Not tonight?"

She sipped her wine. "He's going to need a few hours to cool off. I know my brother."

He refilled her wine. "So. I have things to talk to you about. But, you said you had something to tell me. So, you go first."

She smiled and looked around. "This is so nice. No one has recognized me. I love it."

Legate looked over to the side of the restaurant. "There's a guy over there that keeps looking at you. But, I think that's because of that dress."

"I'm covered in the places I should be." She teased.

He smiled at her as his eyes caressed her body. "It's beautiful. You're beautiful in it. Or out of it. I'm anxious to see how it looks on the carpet of the new flat."

She giggled at him. "Well, it will be in celebration of something."

"It will?" He rose his eyebrows hopefully.

She grinned. "Samuel and Dad ran all sorts of tests. I'm completely well."

He smiled at her. "Completely?"

"Dad said there is no sign of Sluyahiri in my system. None at all."

Legate smiled. "That's wonderful news. And I'll confess. I did hear that. That's what they were arguing about. That, and some other stuff."

Genie shook her head. "What other stuff?"

"I don't even remember, and I probably shouldn't say anyway."

"Because, it involved me."

"It did." He nodded, "There's no point to lie about it."

"Quauhtin Oaths?"

"Not really. I just think, John and Sam need to tell you that."

"Phhh…." She sipped her wine. "Dad said you went to see Lewis."

"I did. And I don't even know where to start with that."

"He knows?"

"No. I managed to dance around that. He guessed it, but…."

She smiled proudly at him. "Managed to be like Poltious. Slip right out of the strategic masters' grasp."

He looked at her and grinned. "Oh yes. Poltious is extremely proud."

She laughed.

He shook his head, "He's been in my head all day. Well, him and Lartius."

"Lartius?" She asked.

He looked seriously at her. "And you kissed Legate the Second."

"I thought he was you!"

He chuckled. "He is so wound up about that. Apparently it was rather good."

"Gosh. It was so embarrassing. And I know you remember it."

"I really don't. That never happened."

"No?"

He shook his head. "Believe me. I would have remembered that. He said it was….magical."

She smiled. "Magical?"

"Being kissed by a beautiful woman. Genie, do you even know how lovely you are?"

She sipped her wine and whispered to him. "I love you, too."

He cleared his throat and sat up. The waitress had joined them. Legate looked back at Genie. "Hungry?"

"Not really. Maybe something to go with the wine?"

Legate nodded. "That sounds good. Just…something."

The waitress smiled. "Of course, Legate."

Genie giggled. "You came here a lot."

"I'm surprised the other Legate isn't here. Tell me, did you ever hold your breath until you passed out?"

She giggled. "Oh yes. A few times."

"That was what it was! Damn you frightened the hell out of all of us."

She grinned. "I remember that Mum told me that Dad was going to have to draw blood to find out why I was passing out so much, and I didn't do it anymore."

He laughed, "I can't believe you. That's a lie!"

"I never said I wasn't doing it. No one asked!"

He pointed at her. "Further proof that I need to keep two eyes on you."

"At all times. And maybe it's the Rixalarian in you that causes you to be such a trouble maker."

"Nah. That's Poltious. Quauhtin. 100% a Quauhtin trait. The only Rixalarian in me is my looks." He grinned.

She giggled at him. "I've missed seeing you in a suit. You are so handsome."

"Trying to complement a lady as lovely as yourself, requires a lot of work on my belief."

She sipped her wine. "The lady truly appreciates it."

He tapped his knuckles on the tabletop, "They have excellent beer here. I remember that."

"Ask for one when she comes back."

"I'm drinking with you. I'll have one later."

"And so, Lartius. What's he on about?"

He sighed. "You should know. Lewis has managed to sort it out. I went to Lewis to tell him that I have to stay with you older lot as per the agreement with the older Lewis, who sent me back here."

She nodded. "Okay. But, Lartius."

"He sees it as having a spare to rule the kingdom. He….did something stupid with Poltious. Big surprise. And Martiea has started to question his, dedication to his role."

"So, they want you to rule."

"Yes. But, I've explained to them I can't."

"Lenox wants to anyway-"

"No. Not anymore that I'm here. He finds that he agrees with Martiea."

"What does that mean? Will you have to leave?"

"I quit."

"Quit?"

"I went to Lewis, and told him I could no longer serve as a Quauthin."

"Are you mad?!" Genie sat her wine down on the table.

Legate held his hand up to her. "No. This was brilliant. Poltious recommended it. If Lewis had found out about us, I wouldn't have gotten into trouble because in that moment, I wasn't a Quauthin. See?"

"Technically. But….."

"And, Genie. Lartius was ordering me to return. As the King, I have to obey him. So, I resigned."

"Legate! I can't believe this!" She crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Wait! Not finished. Lewis didn't accept it, but he understands why. Well, with as much information as I would give him."

"Poltious' help again?"

"Yes. So, Lewis has put me on a Special Assignment. I'm in charge of all security at the school, scout and trainer for any students who might be Quauhtin material."

Genie grinned. "That would work."

"And it's what I already do. Kept the rank and everything."

Genie sipped her drink. "My heart is racing. You were headed for a smack."

"A smack doesn't frighten me at all. That, I might have to sleep in my own flat…"

She looked at him seriously. "It wasn't that serious."

Legate chuckled at her.

The waitress brought back a plate of cheese, grapes and rolls. Legate thanked her and smiled at Genie.

Genie leaned back on the table. "There is…something else….that I want to talk to you about."

He tossed some cheese in his mouth and rubbed his hands together. "Yeah? What?"

"I talked to Dad, and he seems to feel we're going to be here a long time. Everything he said to me about the school, and such….it's apparent, but he's also said it plainly to me."

He nodded and sipped his wine. "We talked about it, too."

"And Uncle Tony makes a very good point. I don't want anything I do, are we do, to hurt you."

"What are you saying, Genie?"

"Well, it's like you said. When I look at my life. My future, you're there. So, if it will keep you safe, and….."

Legate held his breath and his eyes were as large as saucers. He held out his hand. "I want to be clear. You're saying yes? Actually saying yes? Is that what I'm hearing?"

Her eyes met his from across the table and her face spread into a wide smile, "Yes."

Legate shot out of the chair and threw his hands up. "YES!"

The entire restaurant looked back at him. He pointed at Genie. "She said yes!"

A general mumble turned into understanding. The entire restaurant cheered and broke into applause. Genie stood up in front of him. He picked her up and spun her around. She had never seen him so happy. Both of them laughed as he excitedly kissed her.

The band started to play Sinatra's, 'I've Got You Under My Skin' as the restaurant celebrated with them. Legate held her close to him as they began to dance where they stood.

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