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Chapter 24 - Chapter 24 - Departure

Samuel woke up warm under the quilt in Karen's bed. He rolled over on his back and rubbed his face.

Karen spoke quietly, "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

He looked up at her sitting at the desk wearing his blue, silk oxford. The glow of the laptop screen reflected into her beautiful blue eyes looking back at him.

He stretched out his hand to touch her knee. The tingle started in his hand and slowly crept up his arm. "No. I'm still asleep."

She giggled, "You look awake."

"Not awake." He told her as he rolled closer to her. The gold necklace he wore reflected in the computer's light against his skinny but muscular chest.

It was 4:52 am. The street light outside illuminated the parking lot, showing that it had finally stopped snowing.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

She turned off the computer. "I couldn't sleep, so I got up to check my e-mail. I couldn't remember the exact time Mom and Dad are getting on the Bullet."

He yawned. "When are they going back?"

"So you can return." She slowly climbed on top of him as he rolled onto his back. He ran his hands under the shirt she wore and found she was without her knickers.

He was so tired, his eyes burned when he opened them. He had only been asleep for 42 minutes. He had watched her sleep until he had drifted off. He felt her kiss above his eye where the tree limb had hit him earlier. It was as if a sudden sliver of electricity had touched him. "That looks like it hurts."

"It's fine." He told her. And indeed it didn't really ache. Her touching him had made the electrical feel return and he knew he would forget it within moments.

He grinned. "I like your shirt."

She smiled at him, "It smells like I guy I like." She leaned down and kissed him. He could taste toothpaste in her mouth, or maybe it was a mint.

"You taste good." He told her as he grabbed her bum.

"You do too. Why?"

"Something about my saliva cleaning my teeth. It's a thing I know I can do."

"That would be amazing."

"You kissing me is making it clean yours. The more we kiss, the more it will work."

"Really? Or is this just a way you trying to talk me into kissing you some more?"

He grinned with his eyes closed, "Do you really need any reason?"

She giggled and rubbed his chest, slowly. It made his stomach feel as though butterflies danced inside of it. The sensation spread through his entire body the more she touched him.

She asked him quietly, "Are you awake? I want to tell you something."

He didn't open his eyes. "It is possible that I'm talking in my sleep."

She giggled, "Do you do that?"

He didn't open his eyes. "If I do, I've always slept through it."

She lay down on top of him and laughed. He continued to stroke her bum and hips with his fingertips. Savoring the feeling it sent into his body, and knowing he wouldn't be able to enjoy it for a few days.

"Samuel, I wasn't completely honest with you earlier."

He opened his eyes and looked at her beautiful blue eyes. "You have a boyfriend?"

"Just you." She laughed.

He continued to run his fingertips across her body, "You, have gotten distracted by a boy who isn't very cute?"

She kissed his lips, "That's totally not it. He's completely handsome."

"Then tell me. It's alright." He said as he relaxed and closed his eyes again.

"You. There's only ever been you, Samuel."

He opened his eyes in surprise and grinned, "What?"

"There was never another guy. We dated, but we never did…..anything like this."

He rose his eyebrows and sat up. "Really? So, I'm your first?"

She smiled and continued to rub his chest, "I didn't want to tell you in case I was terrible-"

"Oh, wow. Karen." He laughed under his breath, "That's something you never should never worry about."

She blushed, "So, not bad?"

"Amazing. And to know that…" He shook his head and looked in her blue eyes. He became lost looking at her. "Karen. Your eyes are my favorite color in the universe."

She whispered, "Your brown eyes are my favorite, too. I could look at them all day."

He realized what she had said. "Well, wait a minute. Why, me?"

"Why you, what?"

"Why….would you…."

"It felt right. I can't explain it."

He smiled, "It does feel right, doesn't it?"

She giggled, cupped his face with her hands, and kissed him. He lay back on the bed and ran his hands up the shirt she wore. The sensation grew stronger.

She moaned. "More, Samuel."

A ding that notified him that he had received a message on his phone. She sat on his waist, reached over for the phone.

He rubbed his eyes. "Read it for me. I'm not awake."

She looked at the phone, "From Arles. It says, 'Wake up call. Might want to kiss her bye and get your ass home. I packed your stuff, so just go straight to the ship.'"

She sat the phone back on the desk. "A ship? Are you riding on a Zeppelin?"

He began to run his fingertips across her bum again. "Ugh. I don't want to go on this trip."

She continued to sit on his waist. "I wish you didn't have to leave. Promise me that when you return, we'll spend an entire day together."

"Clothing is optional." He teased. "Yes, and we'll work on Latin."

She groaned. "Latin."

He chuckled and said something to her that she didn't understand. She looked confused at him. "What is that?"

"I said that I'm looking forward to studying Latin with you. Do not drop that class until you have one more exam."

She held up two fingers, "Two. I'll know then."

He smiled, "Two. Alright."

He could see a pained look on her face as she leaned down and ran her fingertips through his hair. He took her hands in his own and kissed them. The electrical current seemed to dance slowly through his body. "What's wrong, Karen?"

"I'll miss you. I know I've only known you for two days, but I feel like I've known you forever."

He smiled and grabbed her bum again under the shirt. "That's how I feel. Since the first time I saw you."

She rubbed her nose to his. "You'll call."

"Or I'll text. Probably easier." He kissed her as he sat up and held her tightly.

She moved over so he could sit on the edge of the bed. Their clothes were tossed all over the tiny room. He grabbed his pants and slipped them on.

"What is this?" She asked as he felt her fingertip on his back. He closed his eyes tightly. She had seen the scar from the gun shot.

"That's just a scar. It's alright." He told her as he pulled on his jeans.

"What is it from?"

He pulled on his t-shirt and lay back on the bed in front of her. "It will cost you."

She grinned, "What's the price?"

He tapped his lips.

She smiled, leaned into him, and kissed him slowly. He held her face in his hand as he felt her tongue wrap around his. The electrical charge pulsed through his body.

She smiled at him, "And?"

"I love that feeling." He took her hand in his and kissed it. "Let me explain that, when I return."

She sat back and tapped her own lips. "It will cost you."

"I'll gladly pay." He grinned and kissed her slowly sending the shockwaves through his system again.

His phone rang. He sighed and answered it. "Yes. I'm awake. I'll be there shortly." He ended the call.

Karen stood up and pointed at the shirt of his that she wore. "You'll have to come back for this."

He smiled, "Keep it. It looks brilliant on you."

She pulled out a file from her desk. "Here it is. And I don't want you to grade it."

He opened the file and looked it over. "What is it?"

"The paper you asked to see. The one that might be published. I'm serious, teacher-boy."

He chuckled at his new nickname.

"I don't want a grade, but if you get bored on your trip."

"I teach science." He told her as he closed the file. "This will be interesting to read. Thank you."

He sat back on her bed and pulled on his trainers and jacket.

She crossed her arms. "Well, hopefully when you return, it will be in my new apartment."

He stood in front of her, holding the file. "I'll send something to make it brighter."

"Send yourself. But, please do remember to call."

They wrapped their arms around one another. He laid his forehead to hers. "I'll call."

She playfully slapped him on his bum. "You need to go. You're going to be late. Arles is probably about to call again."

He leaned down and kissed her. He looked in her eyes and smiled, "I'll return. In just a few days."

She whispered back. "I already miss you, Samuel."

"Your libido misses me." He teased.

She giggled. "Yeah, it does."

He asked her quietly, "Could you get a place with a larger bed?"

"Oh geez. That reminds me!"

"What?"

She opened the desk drawer and took out the box of condoms. "You should take these, to avoid an awkward conversation when I'm moving."

He looked in the box. "There's only one."

She looked into the box along with him. "There were twelve in there!"

He chuckled, "It's been a hell of a couple of nights."

She blushed and covered her face. "Eleven times? No. Samuel, that's not right."

He put the box in his pocket. "If you find out it's not, don't tell me different." He kissed her lips quickly again and winked at her.

She blew him a kiss and watched as he closed the door. She stood for a bit and suddenly remembered something she wanted to say to him. She quickly opened the door and only saw darkness. She stepped out of her bedroom and looked around. "Samuel?"

There was no answer. How had he disappeared like that? She didn't even hear the door to the dorm open. She rushed over and opened the door to look down the hallway. The lift's doors stood open, but no one was inside.

She shook her head. His sudden disappearance was strange. Maybe she had been standing there staring at the door longer than she had thought.

Uneasy, she walked back into her dorm and closed the door.

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Lewis sat at the navigation controls of the Asclepius with baby Arles in his lap. He pointed at the lights on the panel. "Do you see this?"

Arles, not quite ready to sit up yet, sucked his fingers.

Lewis pointed at it. "This is where we are. That's Terra. Just there. And we're going to see Lance. He's on Caihiri."

Arles looked up at his Papa and laughed.

Lewis smiled proudly at his son. "You'll be flying soon. Papa has a ship that we need to name. But, it has to be something that will annoy your Dad."

The baby coo'ed at him.

Lewis laughed and kissed Arles' face. "I'm taking all suggestions, son. Especially, from you."

The Doctor walked into the control room of his ship rubbing his hands together. "Alright. I think we're ready."

Lewis cleared his throat, "Friday, list everyone who is presently aboard."

"Primus Lewis, Doctor Johnathon Smith, Arles, Les Smith, Samuel Smith, and Peter Tyler."

Lewis looked surprised at the Doctor, "Rose isn't going?"

The Doctor collapsed in a chair next to Lewis and pressed a few buttons. The ship turned and jumped into light speed. "Nah. She decided to stay home with the younger lot."

"You two still….?"

The Doctor looked back at his friend, "We'll getting on fine, mate."

"Just seems strange…."

He sighed, "It was her choice. I would rather her come, but…"

Lewis nodded his head. "Well, Arles…or Les….said that the older Sam didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

"Why?" He asked as he crossed his arms.

"No idea. Maybe, cross-?"

"Oh, hell. I doubt that was it." Remembering the visit from the Bad Wolf, he asked. "Do you know anything about Samuel and a girl?"

Lewis looked surprised. "What? A girl? No. What have you heard?"

"You and I have a lot to talk about on the way there. And Arles. Wow."

Lewis rose his eyebrow at his friend. "What are we actually doing?"

"The plan is to get me and Samuel together, so we can have a chat."

Baby Arles grabbed his Papa's finger and pulled it into his mouth.

Lewis asked, "We can't do that at home?"

"Why, Lewis? Not up for a trip?"

Lewis grinned, "Oh, I'm always up to go someplace. Especially, when I need to have a think."

The Doctor coughed, "What are you thinking about?"

Lewis grinned, "I have a ship to name."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "I already know what you are thinking-"

"And it has to be good. I'm thinking-"

He pointed at him, "Shut up-"

"Incest-" He whispered.

"You suck-"

He teased, "Brotherly Love-"

"Oh, hell-"

Lewis laughed hysterically.

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