XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 38 - The Grant

Samuel lay in the hotel bed with his arm propped up behind him. It was the middle of the night and his thoughts had kept him from sleeping any. Karen slept next to him, snuggled up this chest. Her mind was untroubled by thoughts that wouldn't stop.

She had fallen asleep shortly after the second time they had made love that evening since they had returned from dinner. He smiled remembering how she had told him that he was her Samuel. If she had known who he was from the beginning, would it have made any difference? He didn't think it would have. He thought back to his letter from himself telling him about the one who he would find during this time. He looked back at her and smiled, knowing without any doubt, that he had found her.

The feeling of comfort and safety washed through him as she continued to sleep against him. He was so relieved that she finally knew who he was, and was alright with it. He had left the part out about his Dad and Papa being aliens. He figured, one step at a time.

He reached over and grabbed his phone off of the side table. He looked back at the photos they had taken that night. Both of them stood in front of Times Square, lit up in lights, with Tony and his Dad on the big screen behind them advertising their appearance on Top Gear.

They had taken a carriage ride through Central Park as it snowed. Karen told him that it made it feel like Christmas. He smiled remembering how her face had lit up as she experienced it.

Then finally, they had eaten at the Empire State Building's restaurant. Taking their time to get warm after their ride through the park. Timon had brought them back to the hotel in the limo. As soon as Samuel had closed the door to the Penthouse, she had her arms wrapped around him. They snogged all the way to the bedroom. The electrical sensation screaming at them both, making them desperate to get undressed so they could enjoy one another's bodies.

He tapped his bracelet and copied a few of the photos to it. He had rarely used that feature before, and regretted it now. The only photo he had from his own time was the one he carried in his wallet. He laid the phone back on the table and closed his eyes. He had to get some sleep. 27 minutes later, he rolled over to lie in front of Karen, and decided he would just watch her sleep.

After 43 minutes of watching Karen sleep, his attention turned to her necklace that she wore. The same necklace that she had put on his neck when he had went to Caihiri. It hung just before the cleavage of her breasts started. He found himself to be envious of the small lighthouse pendent.

His Dad had told him that he thought he might be telekinetic, like Rose. He had never moved anything with his mind. Well, except anytime he was working to repair someone's body. He looked at the thin necklace and imagined it being a small vein. He could move those so easily.

He concentrated on the necklace, and nothing happened. He propped his head up on his fist and ran his fingertips, gently across it. Touching her sent a shiver into his finger. She must have felt it, too. She seemed to relax and stretched her hand out to his waist as she slept.

He glanced back at her to make sure she was still asleep. Remembering what the necklace felt like, he imagined it move gently up her chest. Then, it did.

He grinned. He practiced moving the necklace she wore as she slept. It must have started to tickle her with its dancing about because she jumped straight up and put her hand on her chest. "What is that?"

He sat up next to her. "What is what?"

She scratched her bare chest. "I don't know. It was like…"

He rubbed her back. "What, Karen?"

She looked back at him. "Were you doing something?"

"Watching you sleep."

"Was that all?"

"I touched your necklace. Ran my finger across it. Shall I not do that?"

She shook her head. "No, that's alright. It just felt…strange."

Had he moved her veins or something he shouldn't?

He held his hand inches from her chest. "May I?"

She slowly smiled, "May you what?"

"Touch you."

She lay down and giggled, "You don't have to ask, Samuel. Of course you can."

He propped himself up on his elbow and slowly moved his hand down her chest. Everything seemed to be in the place it should be.

Karen pulled down the duvet to expose her bare breasts to him. "And?"

He glanced back at her and smiled as he continued to touch her softly. "It was me. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

She relaxed on the pillows. "It's alright. I thought it was….an insect or something."

He laughed under his breath and leaned down to kiss her lips. "I'm sorry. I'll let you sleep."

"Samuel, it's okay to touch me when I'm sleeping. I'm not going to get angry with you over something like that."

He smiled like a loon. "Alright."

"Just, don't tickle me." She insisted.

He laughed. "Promise. I don't know what I was thinking. I apologize."

She stretched, "What time is it?"

He lay back down and propped his head on his fist. He looked at his bracelet. "5:14."

"Why do you wear a watch if your bracelet tells you the time?"

He smiled, "You are full of questions tonight."

She turned towards him. He felt her hands begin to rub his chest. "Have you slept?"

"I can't sleep. I've just been laying here."

She kissed his lips. "Worried?"

"No. I just can't sleep." He told her quietly as he began to caress her cheek.

"Do you not sleep well?"

"Until I met you, I rarely slept in a bed. I usually, fall asleep watching telly. Sitting up on the sofa."

She kissed his lips, "It's all of that tea."

He smiled, "Maybe so."

She giggled and snuggled back into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head as she went back to sleep.

XXXXXXXXXX

That morning, room service had brought up breakfast. Lance and Arles both sat at the table in the Penthouse with Samuel. All of them were dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts. Karen was still asleep in the bedroom.

Arles had a stack of pancakes and sausage. "This is such an American breakfast."

Lance pointed at the syrup. "That is wonderful. Have it with that."

Samuel sipped his coffee. "Lance? You've poured syrup all over your eggs?"

Lance looked up at Samuel. "Yeah. Why?"

"Phhh…." Samuel shook his head. "You're strange."

Lance looked back at Arles. "Why is that strange? It's brilliant."

Arles shook his head. "He's just pissed he didn't think of it first. Hand it here."

Lance sipped his coffee. "So, she knows?"

"Yeah. It mostly just came out last night. I didn't tell her about the space bits."

Lance wanted to be sure. "And she was alright with it-"

"Completely. I was surprised at first, but she figured it out. Even the time thing."

"Well, that's strange." Arles insisted.

"No, not really." Samuel shook his head. "I remember Dad saying that some of the people he encountered figured it out. Like Shakespeare."

"Shakespeare." Arles rolled his eyes.

Lance rubbed his hands together and danced happily in celebration.

"What's with you, man?" Samuel asked.

Lance smiled like a loon. "I had a bet about how she would react with my Jane."

"You won?"

"No." He laughed, "I lost. I can't wait to tell her!"

Samuel shook his head. "Glad to help there, mate."

Lance nodded his head. "But, it is totally a step in the right direction."

"How long does she sleep?" Arles asked.

"How long did those two girls you were with, sleep?"

Lance choked on his eggs. "Two? The fuck?"

Arles pointed at himself. "I left before people got sleepy. Onto the next one."

Lance looked back at his nephew and shook his head in disbelief. "Bullshit."

Samuel shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure I believe it either."

Arles tossed a bit of bacon in his mouth. "Shall we ask the Interrogator?"

Lance chuckled, "Genie broke some guy's nose last night. Over at Torchwood. Pete offered her a job."

"Where was Legate?" Samuel asked.

"Oh, he was there. He broke the guy's jaw." Lance told them. "Lewis just found that out. He's going to talk to him to find out why he exploded like that."

Arles and Samuel looked at one another.

"Is he?" Samuel asked.

Lance sat down his coffee. "You two know something. What is it?"

Arles looked back at Samuel and rose his eyebrows. "Well?"

"I told Mum-"

"Bullshit! I did-" Arles insisted.

"Well, I'm not saying-"

"SAMUEL!" Karen shouted from the bedroom.

All three of the men jumped out of their chairs and ran as fast as they could to the bedroom. Samuel opened the door to find Karen sitting in the middle of the bed, wearing a robe, looking at her phone. "I got the grant!"

Samuel rose his hands over his head and cheered. "You got the grant!"

Arles and Lance laughed as they walked away.

Lance pat Arles' shoulder. "I love problems like that."

Karen hadn't noticed Arles and Lance had even been there. She continued to read the e-mail on her phone. "I can't believe this!"

Samuel jumped next to her on the bed and kissed her cheek as she continued to read. "It says that they would prefer if I took a semester off, to pursue and expand my research. I need to write a proposal and they are willing to sponsor a dig with whatever I want!"

She looked back his smiling face. "I can't believe this!"

He laughed proudly, "I'm so proud of you."

She dropped her phone and kissed him. The excitement seemed to rush from her and into him. He laughed under her kiss as he fell into the pillows, taking her with him.

She laughed loudly with him. They kissed one another for several minutes. Samuel rubbed his nose against hers. "I am so happy for you. It's a hell of a paper. I see why they offered that."

She lay back on the pillows and covered her mouth as she laughed. "I'm in such shock!"

"Why?"

She was speechless. "Well…."

"Karen, you are brilliant. Absolutely, amazing."

She smiled, "Thank you, Samuel."

He bopped her on the end of the nose. "I'm going to tell you that, everyday. You should know that."

She giggled.

He stood up next to the bed. "Call your parents. They should know."

She picked back up the phone. "You're right. I can't even think."

"Hang on. Use my phone. That way you can read the e-mail to them." He told her as he handed it to her.

She smiled. "Thanks, Samuel."

"Do you want, coffee? Breakfast? I'll bring it in here to you."

She took his hand and pulled him closer to her. He leaned on the bed and she kissed him again. He was sure his hair stood on end from the excitement that flowed from her. He smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Anything?"

She thought. "Coffee. Toast? Is there toast?"

"Toast! Yes. Butter?" He clapped his hands as he slipped off the bed.

She laughed. "Please."

"Right then." He started out of the bedroom and then turned back around. "Coffee. How do you take it?"

She smiled, "Two sugars, bit of cream."

He smiled, "That's how I take it. Right. Be straight back."

Karen's Mom, Anne, filled the screen. "Oh, I didn't recognize the number."

"This is Samuel's phone-"

"Are you wearing anything?"

"Mom! I just woke up. I have on my pajamas." Karen lied.

"Lucky it's me answering and not your father."

Karen rolled her eyes. "Mom. I have an e-mail to read to you."

Karen had finished reading the e-mail to her Mom just as Samuel came back into the room with the coffee and toast on a tray. He sat next to Karen and Anne saw him.

"Oh, hi Samuel." She greeted him.

He smiled at her. "Hello, Anne. I'm trying to get Karen to eat some breakfast."

"Coffee and toast. That's about all she eats when she first wakes up." Anne told him.

He smiled, "Noted. Thank you for the advice."

Karen giggled.

He stood up to leave, "And I'll let you and your Mum have some privacy-"

Karen grabbed his hand and pulled him back next to her. "You can stay. It's alright."

He sat down next to her and sat the tray in his lap. "If you want me to."

Karen pointed at the small glass of orange juice. "Why did you bring this?"

He looked surprised at her. "I thought all Americans drank orange juice at breakfast."

Karen giggled. "Not this one. But, thank you."

Samuel shrugged his shoulders and picked up the juice. "Well, you learn something new everyday."

Anne laughed, "She's lived most of her life in Florida, where the best orange juice in the world is made, and I've never been able to get her to drink it."

Samuel sat the empty glass on the tray. "Ugh. I understand why. Tastes like…"

"Wax." Karen and Samuel said at the same time.

Samuel looked surprised back at her. "Really? You think that, too?"

She giggled, "I've never liked orange juice."

Anne rolled her eyes. "Orange juice does not taste like wax. Both of you are strange."

"I've never really had it. Oh. That's really…."

Karen laughed and handed him her coffee. "Do you want some of this?"

"Probably not the best to follow that with." He relaxed and thought, "You know, Legate loves this stuff. That should have told me to avoid it."

Anne laughed, "You two are made for one another. It's like talking to two Karens. So, tell me about this grant. Who do you send this proposal to?"

Karen read over it and sighed. "I didn't read that far. Well, Mom. I'm sorry."

Samuel looked back at her. He could see disappointment all over her face. "What's the matter?"

"It's from UCLA." She told him.

"What's wrong with that?"

"They want to see me, in person. I'd have to….get a ticket on a Zeppelin out there."

"Why not the Bullet?"

Anne shook her head. "The Bullet isn't available in LA. Some…..hippie, health reason. I don't understand it."

"So, that's out. The ticket would be ridiculous-"

"Well, just stop." Samuel insisted. "You're saying you aren't going to accept this grant because you can't get to the university that's offering it?"

Karen sighed and nodded. "They have to be paying for that part. That just, doesn't make sense why they wouldn't. Mom, I'll read this over again, and get back with you."

Anne spoke, "Karen. We can get your Dad to put you on a military transport-"

"Ugh. It would take days to get there that way."

"But, you would get there. Karen. Don't tell them no. We'll work it out. I'll call your Dad right now."

"No." Samuel insisted. "Just hang on, Anne. Let her ring you straight back. Okay?"

Anne nodded. "Okay."

She ended the call.

"Samuel-" Karen began.

"You need to get there, right?"

"Yes."

"When?"

She looked at the e-mail again, "End of the month is the deadline."

He nodded. "Okay. Then we'll go. You and me."

"You really don't want to fly military trans-"

"Ugh. Karen. I can get us tickets, hotel, whatever you need."

"Samuel, I don't want to ask you for anything-"

"You're not. Karen, this is your dream. It's a huge honor and will help your career more than you can even realize."

She took his hand and he felt the familiar sensation.

"Karen, I love you. You are my dream. Let me help you reach yours."

She covered her mouth and a tear ran down her cheek. "Samuel, I just don't want you to think…"

"What? That you love me because of money?"

She nodded, "Yes."

He kissed the end of her nose. "I'll never think that. You might, love me because of the sex."

She laughed through her tears. "Thank you for not saying that in front of my mom."

He laughed with her as he embraced her. "Karen, I am your Samuel. It is who I am. This heart, my soul, it is who I am to love you. There is my heart, and then there is you. And I'm unable to see the difference."

She looked in his eyes and he wiped a tear from her cheek. "You always know just what to say."

"So, we're good?"

She wiped a tear from her eyes. "I just, it's the last thing I ever want you to think."

"I really don't. I'll never think that. Ring your Mum back, and tell her I'll sort it. And don't worry, I can get Genie to see it as a thing for the school so I won't even have to pay for it. Besides, I have a much better mode of transport than a damn Zeppelin."

"Another car?"

He grinned, "Something, even faster."

She rolled her eyes. "I might insist on a Zeppelin."

He groaned and shook his head. "I hate Zeppelins. So. Dangerous. I don't want you on one of those."

She giggled and took his hand. "Samuel. Thank you. Really."

He looked back at her and smiled. "It's my pleasure. Eat something, and ring your Mum. Arles and Lance are here, so…I need to….go deal with that."

She smiled. "Alright. What are we doing today?"

"I have, two errands to run. You are welcome to go with me to both."

"Alright."

"But, that's not until this afternoon. So, I'll get these guys gone, and we'll study Latin."

"I might need your help writing a proposal."

"I have no idea how to do that. But, my Aunt Pepper is brilliant at it."

Her eyes got as round as saucers. "Pepper Potts?"

"Potts. I forget that. Potts. That just sounds strange." He thought. "Yeah, I'll give her a ring and ask if she can help. Can I send her your paper?"

Karen was speechless. "Ugh….I suppose-"

"Great! I'll take care of that. I need to ring her anyway. I'll do that, now. Well…"

She handed him back his phone.

"I can use Arles' phone. It's alright." He told her.

"I'm done with it. I've read the e-mail."

He took it from her and sat back down so he could look into her eyes. "Karen. I'm serious."

She caressed his cheek. "How can I love someone so much that I've only just met?"

He took her hand and kissed it. "I was made to love you. And something that important I'll never take lightly. Ring your Mum."

Karen watched as he walked out of the room and winked at her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX