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Chapter 23 – Lance's Rice Dilemma

Lance sat on the balcony at his home on Caihiri. The weather was beautiful and he sat at a glass table wearing a pair of football shorts and a long sleeved t-shirt. He had only been there a few days, but the beard he had grown might have made one think he had been there much longer. He blamed it on the coffee that Jane had made him.

He watched the birds fly beneath were he sat with his feet propped up in the chair next to him. The balcony of the home that was built into the side of the mountain side, was the only thing that might have hinted that there was even a home there. The large water fall underneath them hid the large opening to a hanger where he had piloted the ship, and parked it.

All around the canyon where he overlooked everything, he saw mountains and trees with golden and red leaves. The sun reflected the afternoon sun and the three moons were visible through most of the day.

The home, inside, looked very similar to a modern home back on Earth. Shiny white floors and walls that cleaned themselves, with lovely, yet modern furniture throughout, decorated the home that was situated so high in the hills.

Jane, in a lovely red dress that hung to her knees, walked barefoot through the sitting room, and out to the balcony. Lance seemed to be daydreaming.

She sat down a glass of some sort of blue liquid that bubbled in next to him. He looked up at her and smiled as she sat down across from him and sipped the glass she held.

"Oh, that's nice. Try that." Jane told him gently.

He sipped the drink. "Oh, that is good. What is that?"

She giggled. "That odd blue drink you like…"

He drank some more of it. "And something else."

"Champagne. A bit of your world, and mine." She smiled as she sipped her drink.

He nodded, "That might be how we drink it from now on. What did you call it?"

"Well, I couldn't remember what you had called the blue drink."

He smiled at her.

"So, I just called it 'azul'. That means 'blue'. It would have been 'blue liquid', but, I…..let go of the button before I should have."

He smiled proudly at her. "Inventing drinks."

"And you cooking. Who would have ever thought?" She teased.

He crossed his arms, "I've always hated cooking."

"You seem to like it, now."

"I don't think that is actually called cooking."

"Well, let's talk about that." She smiled and sat down her drink. "We're in the kitchen."

"Yes."

"We're….preparing food."

"Yes."

"And we eat afterwards. That sounds like cooking."

"Well, yeah. That part. I'm talking about while it's cooking."

She smiled, "My favorite part."

"Mine, too." He ran his hand through his hair. "I'm going to return a fat Quauthin."

She giggled.

On the table sat a large tube that had managed to keep Lance's attention the majority of the time they had been there, when he wasn't with Jane. Complete with odd wires and such, it was nearly as long as his arm. Jane hadn't asked what it was feeling that he would tell her if he wanted to later.

Next to that, sat a bowl of dry rice and a straw. That had her attention. "So, did you do your rice and straw?"

He groaned and looked at his injured hand. "I think it's much better."

"All of the feeling back?"

"Not completely." He told her as he crossed his arms again.

"Then, you need to do it."

He sighed. "Putting rice. In a straw?"

She sipped her drink. "Great for fine motor skills."

He looked back at her. The sunlight reflecting off her of dark hair made his heart skip a beat. She looked up and smiled at him. He had to remind himself to start breathing.

He cleared his throat. "Yes. Fine motor skills."

She took the straw and held it in front of him. "I'll hold it. You just put the rice in the top."

"Then, it will just go on the table." He complained. "And then I'll have to pick it up again."

She smiled at him. "I like the beard."

He rubbed his face. "It is itchy. I was thinking about shaving tonight."

"Then shave. You're so handsome either way."

He smiled and then looked back at the straw and groaned. "I think I'm good, Jane."

"Lance. Samuel is coming tomorrow. There is no way you have had some…amazing recovery in that time."

He nodded his head stubbornly. "I could have."

"Samuel said you need to work on this."

He cut his eyes back at her. "I worked on it."

"Today?"

"I think this morning. All of the days have run together."

She nodded. "I see. Well, let me help you. The first day we were here, you showed me where the bedroom is."

He looked back at her. "I know what you are doing."

"And we stayed there until the next evening, so you didn't do the rice thing."

He looked back at the view and grinned. "Then we bathed in the waterfalls."

"That is still my favorite place."

"You shouting. The echos. That was nice." He rubbed his beard as he remembered.

"Then, the kitchen."

"That's been daily."

She smiled, "Yes, it has."

He blushed and continued to rub his beard. "We should do it in the pool. Before they arrive."

"Yes. But, you are forgetting something."

"What?"

"We haven't done it out here, either."

He looked around and grinned. "That's true."

She held the straw in front of him. "Come on. I'll count. Then we'll do it out here."

Lance looked back at her and considered. "Or, we can just go to the pool. Forget the rice thing."

She smiled, "Lance. You've only done this twice."

He shook his head and crossed his arms. "I'm fine, Jane."

She put the straw back in the bowl. "Have you spoken to Lewis?"

He nodded, "Yes. Arles is sleeping terribly. He didn't tell me about it those first few days, but he finally has let me know."

"Why? Is he ill?"

"He is cross. John says he misses us and wants us to come home."

"Why wouldn't he tell you that?"

"He said he didn't want to spoil our holiday."

Jane shook her head. "Well. How is he? Right now?"

Lance listened. "Lewis says he's eating. They plan to bring him tomorrow with the others."

"We're going to have a houseful." She smiled and sat back. "And this place is huge. It's like, a castle. I doubt I've seen half of it."

He smiled at her. "It was intended to mirror the castle, on the homeworld. One day, I'll take you there. The castle is in repair from a few battles, and being renovated. I would rather you see it, in its beauty."

She smiled, "You know, I would love that."

He looked back at her. "Maybe, you could show me this, Venezuela."

She sipped her drink and shook her head. "I would prefer to not to go back there."

He turned and looked at her. "I've upset you."

"No, Lance. You haven't."

"You're certain?"

She nodded. "I'm certain. I just, don't want to return."

"Too hard?"

She nodded. "Yes. So, Arles will be here. Both of them?"

He rubbed his beard. He could tell she didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Yes. Both versions. Samuel and John are arguing and Lewis tells me that Rose is sending them in hope they will, work it out."

She sipped her blue drink.

Lance looked back at her. "Do you want to go back?"

"No. But, if they are only going to be here a few days. Maybe we should plan to leave when they do. I do need to return. Pay some bills."

"Phhh…." He insisted. "That's the worst reason to return someplace."

She rolled her eyes. "I live in the real world, Quauthin."

He looked back at her and grinned. "That's not the reason you want to return."

"Lance, you love that little boy so much. This has to be hard on you."

"The thought of him being so upset. It's terrible."

She nodded, "I know. Well, you'll have to go shave."

He grinned and stroked his beard, "Don't think he'll know me?"

She laughed, "I wouldn't know you."

"I think I could convince you that it's me." He grinned.

"If you turned around and put on some tight jeans. I'd know you." She teased.

He laughed at her. "All about my bum."

"Don't even toy with me. I've seen how you look at mine."

He smiled and rubbed his beard. "It's nice."

She giggled and sat back. "Alright. I've not ask the entire time we have been here. What is this tube thing?"

He took his feet out of the chair and leaned on the table. "This. Is something for you."

"For me?" She smiled.

"Yeah. I was curious if I could do it. I believe it's working."

"What is it?"

"This is a lens. There are people who live here, but they are far away. Very primitive people. With this, you might be able to see them. I know you will be able to see the birds in the trees and more of the wildlife." He picked it up and looked through the end. The smile on his face made her heart leap.

He walked over to where she sat and put it in her hands. She looked in the end of it and laughed in surprise. "I can see….for miles with this!"

He kissed her neck as she looked through the lens.

She laughed. "Lance! This is amazing."

He knelt down next to her showed her a button on the side. "This is a force field, so you can set it on the table, and it won't shake. Think, invisible legs."

She giggled. "Wow."

He pointed to the side. "And this, you can attach your camera to it. That, wire that attaches it to the laptop."

"So, I can photograph what I see?"

He smiled, "I can't wait to see the photos you have already taken."

She covered her face and laughed. "I love this! Thank you!"

He laughed under his breath and then became serious as he looked at the view again.

She noticed his serious look. "Lance, what is it?"

He looked like he wanted to say something, but then decided not to. "Ummm. Nothing. Go get your camera, and see how you like it."

She leaned down and kissed him. "Thank you, Lance."

He stood up and watched her bounce away in excitement. He looked back down at his injured hand and rubbed his fingers together slowly. He walked slowly back to the railing of the balcony. Becoming annoyed with his lack of improvement, hit the top of the railing with his fist.

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The Doctor looked around the familiar barn with the sandy floor. He wore his long, brown trench coat on top of his suit like he used to wear.

Like the other Doctor wore.

He became angry. He took off the trench coat and threw it against the wall.

The Bad Wolf spoke from behind him. "Woo, that temper."

He turned and pointed at himself. "I do not wear this!"

She grinned, "So, go naked. It really wouldn't bother me." She stopped and looked him up and down. "Not. At. All."

He put his hands on his hips and groaned. "What do you want?"

She stood up, "I need to talk to you about the children."

He nodded, "Yeah, Genie. Who is this guy?"

"Oh. He's someone you've known a long time. Someone you trust her with."

He crossed his arms and thought. "Someone I trust her with. That's a lot of people."

She pointed at him, "And as pissed as you get is as happy as you will be. That's all I'm saying because Rose already knows."

"Rose knows? Now?"

She laughed, "Oh yes. And she's having a great time tormenting you about it."

"So, she approves? Damn it. Who is it?"

She became serious. "I shouldn't have told you that." She looked up at him. "Never mind, you won't remember that part. Anyway. Just know that I've picked him. Just like I've picked this girl for Samuel, now."

He rose his eyebrows. "What? Samuel?"

She looked seriously at him. "Yes. She's exactly what he needs. Otherwise, he's going to steal a TARDIS, and run very far away. Like someone else I know."

He put his hands on his hips. "Samuel wouldn't do that."

"Samuel just did that." She insisted. "A week ago? Crashed it in your shop. How soon you forget."

"Yeah, but that was because of this entire Pete and Jackie thing-"

"Well, that's true. But, it was also to get away from you. You two, somewhere along the way, have lost a way to talk to one another. The three of us are going to be together for a very long time. He's not like the rest of these….shooting stars."

The Doctor closed his eyes tightly as that phrase made him feel as though someone had kicked him in the stomach. That was exactly what it was like. Shooting stars. Only there in his life for a short period of time.

He cleared his throat. "Samuel hasn't met a girl."

She sat back on the hay bale and crossed her legs. "My Samuel, sorry, our Samuel. I know you are still on about that. Our Samuel, has met a girl who I have sent to him. They are already together."

"What? Now?"

She nodded her head and grinned, "Right now. Yes. And he's completely safe, so don't worry about that."

"This is too clear of a conversation for us."

"I'm talking about our children. I want to make sure this is crystal clear."

He rolled his neck back in surprise. "Really? What's Arles up to?"

She laughed. "Arles is amazing. The best brother that Samuel could have ever had. Especially in the next few weeks. And please, don't worry about Samuel then. He is, whether we like it or not, an adult. If you're not comfortable with that, just see him as an adult in training. But, please treat him as such right now. It will save so many lives of those around you."

"So, he's-"

"He's you! He will regenerate, but he doesn't want to do that right now. He's so young."

"You can't save him from this?"

"He needs to experience this. So that he knows what he is capable of. So, you know what he can do. Samuel doesn't understand so much about himself. His powers are in their infancy. Some of them are masked as other things. He needs you to help him through this."

"And this girl?"

"She's no threat to anyone. Welcome her, from the beginning. Believe me, she's going to be more frightened of our mad lot and wonder what in the hell she's managed to get herself into while processing demons of her own past."

"But?"

"And that Arles. She'll sort that guy right out. Geez. He's out of control. Two girls at once? Is anyone watching these children?"

The Doctor shook his head in surprise. "What? Arles and two girls-"

"I had nothing to do with that. But, damn it. He needs something to distract him before he gets himself into a lot of damn trouble."

"Well, I could sort that-"

"Ha! Arles is Lewis times 100. You have no idea." She laughed.

"So, let me get this straight-"

She shook her head. "Oh! You need to wake up!"

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The Doctor jumped awake. He was still lying on the bed next to Rose in the island home. He looked around the room and Samuel's cot was empty. Had Rose put the baby in the bed with them? He looked next to him and didn't see him.

"Samuel?" he called and looked around the room. He got out of bed and pulled on a pair of pants. He could feel that Samuel was a bit frightened, but also a bit excited. The Doctor looked around the room, frantically. Where was the baby?

Rose woke up. "What's wrong?"

His heart was in his throat, "Where is he? Samuel! Answer me."

He continued to feel the excitement grow.

Rose sat up, "Samuel, you answer your Dad right now-"

Baby Samuel babbled in the hallway.

The Doctor ran into the hallway to find that baby Samuel had pulled himself up on the railing and was already on the top step looking down. He looked back at his Dad and laughed. "Da! Da!"

The Doctor's eyes were as large as saucers from the fear. "Stop. Just, don't move."

Rose walked out into the hallway behind him, pulling on her dressing gown. She gasped as she saw where Samuel was standing.

The Doctor held his hand out and slowly walked towards his son. "It's just a game. See how still can you be. Daddy is going to grab you. Keep looking at Daddy, and remain still."

He held himself standing up by the railing at the top of the steps and laughed. "Da! Da! Da!"

The Doctor crept closer. "Keep looking at Daddy. Daddy sees you."

Samuel bounced. "Da! Da! Da! Da!" His foot slipped on the step and his tiny body fell right into Lewis' hands.

The Doctor relaxed and held out his hand to Rose. "He's alright. Lewis caught him."

Samuel laughed and clapped his hands. "Papa!"

Lewis held him close to his chest and finished walking up the steps. "Papa has you. What are you doing out of your cot?"

Rose rushed to Lewis, "He's alright?"

The Doctor sighed in relief. "He's fine. Lewis heard him talking and phased up here." He pat Lewis' shoulder. "Scared the hell out of me. I didn't know if he was going to fall before you became solid or not."

Lewis handed Samuel to Rose and laughed. "Makes two us, mate. Oh wow. Okay, well. I'm awake."

Rose kissed Samuel's face and held her forehead to his. "Samuel. That is naughty. You could have gotten hurt." She turned and walked back to the bedroom with him in her arms.

"Mum. Mum. Mum. Mum." Samuel said.

The Doctor looked at the ceiling and shook his head. "I'm too old for this."

Lewis laughed, "Ah. They keep us young. I'll go warm up the ship with Arles. Shorter version."

"Cheers." The Doctor coughed again.

Lewis smiled at him. "And John. Nice pants."

The Doctor looked down at his lack of clothing and laughed. "You're lucky I put on anything, mate."

"I'm grateful." Lewis laughed as he walked down the steps.

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