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Chapter 28 - Up in Rings of Smoke

The Doctor, Lance and Jane all left after a few hours and returned to Earth to retrieve Rose and the children. Lance took baby Arles insisting that he had missed him and wanted to continue training him how to pilot the Asclepius.

The ones who stayed behind spent the remainder of the day rafting and swimming in the river. The weather was perfect. Samuel had remembered sun cream this time, but had also insisted that Tony and Pete also use it. No one had mentioned Karen, although Samuel had been unable to keep her off of his mind. He found himself daydreaming about what she might be doing.

The Doctor promised that he and Sam would have a proper sit down once he returned from Plentitude. Although, neither of them knew how long he would be there. Even if he had actually found himself looking forward to another chat with his Dad, Samuel couldn't help feeling as though he had escaped somehow. Arles told him it was just habit for him to be nervous about having the dreaded "talk with Dad."

After they returned that evening to the home, Tony and Poltious got a notification that a ship they were looking for had been spotted. They left nearly immediately, Pete completely dumbfounded as to why. Nevertheless, he hugged his son and wished him the best of luck at whatever it was that he was doing. All of them agreed that he wouldn't have been so quick to dismiss Tony's lack of explanations had Poltious not also been with him.

After dinner that evening, Pete and Lewis excused themselves. Pete insisted that he had to get some work done and ring Jackie, while Lewis simply stated that he had a headache from being in the sun all day.

Samuel and Arles found themselves back out on the balcony, smoking the joints that Scott had given to Samuel.

"You talk to Karen?" Arles asked.

"Nah. She said it wasn't a good time. Her Mum and her were…shopping." Sam told him as he blew smoke rings and passed the joint. He wore a dark, baseball cap that had the New York Yankees emblem on it.

"Shopping, huh?"

"Yeah, I'll ring her later."

Arles closed his eyes and slowly exhaled. "Oh, I love that shit. Can you get some more of it?"

Sam inhaled the last of the joint and tossed it over the edge of the balcony into the darkness. He grunted, "Yeah. You and Tony smoked all of the joints I had but…..well…..I have one more."

"And that bag." Arles told him as he relaxed in the chair. "Oh wow. I'm so….relaxed. Vesuos could come here, right now, and I'd just…..voluntarily go. Fuck the fight."

Samuel laughed, "A Quauthin saying, 'Fuck the fight.' I didn't know your mouth could even form those words. What would Papa say?"

Lewis spoke up, "He'd probably start with, what are you lot smoking?"

They both looked behind them. Unheard, Lewis had walked out to the balcony and was currently standing looking at both of the boys with hands on his hips.

Arles stood up. "Ummm…Papa. Didn't hear you come out-"

"Yeah. I imagine not. Couldn't hear me through the smoke, huh?"

Samuel laughed, "I couldn't."

Lewis shook his head. "Pete! Come see this."

Arles sat down, "Oh shit. Grandfather is walking this way."

Samuel told him. "At least it's not a Vesuos!"

They both laughed hysterically just as Pete Tyler arrived.

Lewis shook his head in disapproval. "And this is how I found them."

Pete surveyed the scene. "I knew this laughing shit wasn't natural."

Arles coughed, "Begging your pardon, but Samuel said it was….organic-"

"Oh shut up." Pete insisted. "Where is it?"

Arles pointed at Samuel who was holding up the last, unsmoked joint. "Last one."

Pete rose his eyebrows and looked back at Lewis. "It's a holiday."

"Are you serious?"

Pete took the joint from Samuel and sat down in front of him. "Pass me that lighter."

They all watched as Pete smoked the joint and relaxed in the chair, "Oh wow. It's been years." He coughed, "Lewis. Bring your ass out here."

Lewis laughed under his breath, "Getting high with my sons. This is not something I ever foresaw happening." He slapped Arles' feet out of the chair in front of him and sat down. Pete handed him the joint.

Arles looked back at Samuel. "Is this really happening, mate?"

Samuel was laughing so hard he could barely speak. "I might piss myself."

Pete laughed at him, "And he needs a break. Do you have anymore of this?"

Arles handed his grandfather the bag.

Pete took a hit off of the joint as he looked at the bag and thought. "And, I can work with this." He handed the joint to Lewis.

Lewis grinned at Pete as he got up to walk away. "Where are you going?"

Pete smiled. "To make something to smoke that in. These idiots didn't think this out."

Arles laughed, "Do you hear this shit, Samuel?"

Sam relaxed in the chair and pulled the cap over his face, "I can't hear through the smoke, man."

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After a surprisingly short period of time, Pete returned from the hanger where the ship was docked below them in the mountain. He had fashioned them something to smoke the loose weed from the bag that Samuel had purchased. After Pete educated all of them how to use it, they were all finding everything funny.

Samuel shook his head and passed the device back to his Grandfather. "Oh, I need to stop."

"Shit, me too. I don't think I can stand." Lewis insisted.

Pete pointed to Arles. "You pass it to the left."

"Yes, sir." Lewis groaned as he passed it to Arles who blew smoke rings a few moments later.

Samuel looked back at his grandfather, who was sitting with his feet propped up in the chair Sam sat in. He wore a dark blue oxford and seemed relaxed. As much weed as he had smoked, Samuel wasn't surprised to see him lay his head on the rail behind him and sigh.

"Sam. That is the best I've ever had. Amazing stuff." Pete moaned.

Lewis chuckled, "Lance is laughing his ass off at me. He says talking like" and he said something in Quauthin.

They all looked at him and laughed hysterically.

Lewis laughed, "What did I even say?"

Pete wiped the tears from his eyes. "I don't know."

Lewis threw his head back and continued to laugh. "This is worse than an oxygen high. I wonder what that would be like together?"

Sam shook his head. "No. That's simply too much."

"You've done this?" Pete asked.

"No, sir." Sam smiled. "Legate did something similar. He said to stick to one. Not both."

Lewis nodded, "Yeah. I can see that. I can't take my ass down the ship anyway. So, forget that."

Arles shook his head. "And I'm not completely surprised by Papa…"

Lewis coughed and passed the device to Pete.

Samuel pointed at Pete. "But, Grandfather?"

Arles looked back at his brother, "Right?"

Pete smiled up at them. "Where do you think I got all of my ideas?"

They all laughed hysterically again.

Pete sat the device in the floor and rubbed his face. "Oh, we all need to stop. Can anyone walk?"

Lewis sighed as he sat with his head lying on the rail behind him. "I need to remain."

Arles laughed, "This was us out here last night. Tony Tyler-"

"Tony smoked with you lot?" Pete asked.

Sam coughed as he relaxed in the chair. "That bag used to have a lot more in it. Tony rolled …..I don't know how many. I had thought about telling you it was his."

"Well, he needs to relax. He is hell bent about finding that ship isn't he?"

Lewis nodded. "Yep."

"Why? He said he couldn't tell me."

Arles pointed at himself, "Then, what makes you think we can tell you?"

Pete grinned, "Because I'll tell your Grand you are both smoking weed if you don't."

Lewis looked back at Pete. "Empty threat. Jackie would kick your ass harder than theirs."

Pete groaned, "Yes, she would. Damn it."

Samuel and Arles laughed hysterically.

Arles shook his head. "Can you imagine Grand smoking?"

Samuel laughed, "No way."

Samuel's phone rang in his pocket. Shook his head to focus his eyes as he held it in his hand, "It's Karen."

Arles grinned and teased, "Karen."

Lewis laughed, "The girlfriend."

Pete lay back and coughed. "Good luck with that, son."

Sam started to stand up and realized he couldn't. He fell back in the chair and dropped his phone on the floor.

The three men laughed at him. Pete picked up the phone and handed to his grandson. "Stay seated, light weight."

Lewis suggested, "Think….sober thoughts."

Arles laughed, "I wouldn't answer it."

Samuel accepted the call. Karen's image filled up the screen. She was lying on a bed wearing a grey sweatshirt with her brown hair in a long braid that hung on her shoulder.

"There you are." She smiled.

"Here I am." He grinned. "I'm going to warn you, straight away, that I'm not by myself out here."

She laughed, "Then, hello Arles. I know he's there."

Arles leaned over and waved. "Hey, Karen." He nearly fell out of the chair and all of them laughed at him.

Karen laughed with them. "Careful, Arles."

Samuel helped push Arles back into his chair next to him. "Sorry about that. Ummm…. he's a bit….."

She smiled. "I'm not even going to ask. I can't see you, Samuel. Can you take off that ball cap?"

Samuel took off the cap and tossed it to Pete. Pete grinned back at Lewis and put it on. "He has a skinny head."

"I don't know where he's hiding those brains." Lewis insisted.

Arles laughed with them.

Samuel ran his hand across his hair. "There. Better? My hair is probably everywhere."

She smiled, "But I can see your face. Your sunburn looks good."

"Completely fine." He smiled. Stoned or not, he was thrilled to see her.

"Who is there with you?"

Samuel smiled, "Arles, Papa and Grandfather. We're just sitting out here, looking at the stars."

Arles said quietly, "Through the smoke."

Lewis laughed as he continued to lay his head on the rail with his eyes closed.

Pete adjusted the cap and pulled it down on his face. He propped his feet up in the chair and Samuel grunted. "Grandfather is trying to take over the chair I'm sitting in." He looked back up at Pete. "I am occupying this space."

"Your skinny bum doesn't take up that much room."

"Must you put both of your feet up here?"

"I dare you to try to get up again." Pete grinned.

Lewis and Arles laughed.

Samuel rolled his eyes and laughed. "Anyway. Nevermind them."

Karen smiled. "I love their accents."

Lewis coughed, "I'm speaking English. I don't have an accent."

Pete laughed, "Yes, you do!"

"Do I?" Lewis asked.

Arles laughed, "Seriously, Papa. What do you think you sound like?"

"Oh, shut up. Both of you. Let me see this girl."

Samuel shook his head, "I'm sorry about this."

Karen giggled. "It's alright. Go ahead."

Samuel handed the phone to Lewis. "And hello, Karen, is it?"

Samuel couldn't think straight. He sat in the chair and used the time that Karen was speaking to the others to try to catch his breath and sort himself out. It didn't help.

Lewis passed the phone to Pete who smiled at her, "Hello, Karen. I'm Sam and Arles' grandfather, Pete."

"It's nice to meet you."

Pete smiled back at her and handed the phone to Sam.

Karen smiled, "Arles looks like Lewis-"

Lewis clapped his hands together. "Thank you! I like her!"

They all laughed.

Karen giggled, "You are all so silly. You sound like you are having a good time. I won't keep you."

He smiled. "It's alright. We're leaving…when Papa?"

Lewis rubbed his face. "In the morning."

Sam grinned, "Brilliant. I should be back about lunch."

"I have a lecture to attend, but I'll be back about 1."

Pete pointed at Samuel. "Ask her what lecture?"

"Grandfather wants to know which lecture?"

"Oh, this satellite lecture that they are broadcasting. Rose Tyler talking about General Physics. Looks interesting."

Samuel looked back at Pete, who rose his eyebrows and mumbled, "Small world, son."

"Alright." Sam nodded. "Parents still there?"

"Dad left today. Mom is leaving tomorrow. I'm not sure when. She says the morning, then she says the afternoon. She has an open ticket on the Bullet, so I don't believe she's decided."

"All moved in, then?"

"Yes. It was just the stuff from my dorm. There wasn't much. I wanted to call and thank you for my flowers."

Pete and Lewis looked impressed. Pete gave Samuel the thumbs up.

He grinned, "So, they got there."

"Yes. That was so sweet, Samuel."

He smiled and repeated quietly, "Samuel."

Karen laughed, "I'll see you tomorrow then? Dinner?"

"Dinner sounds good. Yes. Tomorrow."

"Okay. I'm sorry to interrupt you being with your family-"

"My mad family. It's alright." He chuckled.

"Good night."

He grinned, "Good night." And ended the call.

Lewis insisted, "She clearly is perfect. The only person who has ever said that Arles looks like me, and not Lance."

Pete laughed and looked back at Lewis from under Samuel's cap. "I caught that, too. I think he looks like you."

"Phhh….how could you? He looks exactly like Lance! I have a mirror."

Pete crossed his arms and continued to look at Lewis. "Well, maybe he just has some strong genes."

"That's Lovell's damn strong, Quauthin genes. They both look like him! I'm going to need to smoke some more. Hand me that thing." Lewis groaned.

Pete handed him the device and looked back up at Sam. "Your Dad was talking about this girl this morning."

Samuel laid his head on the back of the chair he sat in and groaned, "He doesn't approve-"

"He never said that." Pete insisted. "And you should thank Jane. She really went to bat for you."

Samuel grinned, "That's Jane. She always does. What did she say?"

Lewis coughed, "Do I not get some credit? I did tell John he was mental."

Samuel chuckled, "You're always telling Dad that."

Lewis laughed. "Damn. Still true. But, Jane. I want to start a bet now."

"About what?" Arles asked.

"I think, she's going to hit someone. She's….a female Quauhtin."

Pete grinned, "Like punch someone being daft?"

Lewis nodded. "Yeah."

Pete laughed, "I had to go get her from jail already for sending a guy to hospital. She kicked him in the balls. Severe testicular trauma."

Arles and Sam both groaned uncomfortably.

Lewis laughed. "Already had forgotten about that. Okay, she's going to hit someone else."

Pete laughed, "She broke that guy's nose. He has a weird name. Friend of Stark's."

Samuel guessed, "Happy?"

Pete nodded, "That's the one. Punched him. I don't know what about."

Arles laughed, "He needed it. I'm sure."

Pete continued, "Nah. Jane is worried about you and this girl. She brought up a lot of points, but seems to have your feelings in her consideration. Impressed the hell out of me. Not many people would talk to John or me like she did. I like her."

Samuel smiled, "She's brilliant, she is."

Pete continued, "She did say that this Karen would have to be really special to not be pissed when she finds out who you really are."

"NO! Shit! I can't believe I did that! Damn it! Shit!" Sam covered his face and shook his head. "No. Damn it."

Arles laughed.

Pete looked back at Lewis. "What is this?"

Sam groaned, "I showed her your face! She knows who you are! Pete Tyler!"

Pete shook his head, "I don't think she saw me. I was wearing the cap-"

"She….looked at you. You told her your name!" Sam insisted.

"I didn't say Tyler." He looked back at Lewis. "Did I?"

Samuel already had the phone back out.

Arles grabbed it from him. "You're not ringing her-"

"I am, too!"

Arles shook his head. "What are you going to say? Did you notice that you spoke to Pete Tyler?"

"She had to! She saw his face."

Lewis leaned up and took the phone. "Let me have the phone. Everyone shut up."

Samuel nearly stopped breathing. Had he totally blown it in that moment? Lewis rang her back and smiled when she accepted the phone call. "Hi, Karen. This is Lewis. Sam's Papa."

Sam sat with his hand over his face and mumbled. "This is so bad. Damn it."

Karen asked, "Is everything alright?"

Lewis continued, "Everything is fine. I'm sorry to bother you, but I just realized that I said we're coming home tomorrow by lunch…"

"Yeah."

"Well, Sam's grandfather had asked him to go to lunch with him, and I had just thought about that. Can I send Samuel to you later in the day?"

"Of course, that's fine. Where is Samuel?"

"He stepped in the house, and doesn't realize I'm ringing you. I realize that's odd. I apologize."

She laughed, "It's completely fine. I appreciate you calling me to let me know. It was nice to meet you and his Grandfather. I'm sorry, I didn't catch his grandfather's name. The phone did a thing."

Lewis smiled, "Pete. His grandfather's name is Pete."

"Pete. Alright."

Lewis looked up. "Okay. I'll let him know that I've contacted you, and he'll see you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Lewis." She smiled.

Lewis ended the call. "She doesn't know. You're good. She didn't see his face."

Pete took a hit off of the device he had made and coughed. "I believe we're in the clear."

Sam relaxed. "Oh my God. Papa. You're a freaking genius-"

"Yes, I am." Lewis grinned proudly.

Samuel covered his face and moaned, "Oh my, that was close."

Arles looked back at his brother. "It's called, 'Voice Mail'."

"Yes! I'm not answering that damn phone again." Sam insisted as Pete laughed and relaxed in the chair.

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Rose walked beside of the Doctor, who was holding baby Samuel in his arms. They had just come aboard the Doctor's ship. Genie and Tony Tyler ran in front of them, excited to get to the Zero Gravity Room.

"So, I think it went well." Rose smiled.

The Doctor smiled at Samuel, who put his hand in his Dad's mouth. "I think so."

"And you were so worried."

The Doctor kissed Samuel's hand. "I was known as the Oncoming Storm. Apparently, he's seen that too much."

"All I could think of was how much I want you two to get along. It's so important. He's out of his own time, and has to feel lost."

"We're here. Why would he feel lost?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "When I first came here, I felt that way. My Dad was here, but….it was a different world. I remember you telling me that you felt the same way."

He kissed baby Samuel's forehead. "I did."

"I think that it's humorous. The man who can stand up to a Dalek army, was frightened of speaking to his own son."

"Well, that relationship is much more important." He told her.

Baby Samuel clapped his hands, "Da! Da! Da! Da!"

"And I'm happy to see you, too." He smiled at the baby.

Rose rubbed the Doctor's back. "I might need to you speak to Genie next."

He groaned. "Why is this suddenly, my job?"

"Because you're good at it." Rose insisted.

He sighed. "I hope it pays well."

Rose stopped walking and looked at him with her tongue in her teeth. She could feel his emotions change from annoyance to lust as he looked at her. She teased, "You know what your payment will be."

She turned and continued to walk down the hallway.

The Doctor nodded his head. "I can do that."

He called to Rose, "Okay, what is going on with this daughter of ours?"

She laughed, "Oh, so much. But….first of all, she hasn't gone to speak to her Grandparents. I think she should."

He nodded, "Well, when do you think would be best to talk to her?"

"Let's go on this trip, and if she still hasn't gone to see them, talk to her. I feel that she's keeping herself busy to avoid it. It's not healthy."

"You're right, it's not."

"Said 'The Doctor.' So, work your treatment plan there." Rose laughed.

He smiled at her playful mood. She turned and looked back at him. "I'm going to the Zero Gravity Room to play with the children. See you later?"

He laughed. "Sure. Samuel needs a nap."

Samuel waved his hands and complained.

"Well, you do." The Doctor insisted.

Rose leaned up and kissed his lips. "I'll see you a bit later."

He watched as she walked away from him.

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