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Chapter 4 – Sandwiches and Spiders

The Doctor stood outside in the garden behind Lenox's home. Summus and Jack stood next to him. The garden was full of children. They were all playing, laughing and eating their noon meal together. Rose and Genie still slept in the shuttle that Jack had brought down for them in the field. Lenox carried Samuel around, who was laughing and clapping his hands.

"This will be told as a problem, not of the Quauhtin people. This didn't happen there, it happened just outside of the system." Summus told Jack and the Doctor.

Jack held out his hand, "That's nuts. The castle was damaged."

"It was under repair."

Jack shook his head. "Quauhtin were lost."

"Drones. Stark had programmed them all the week before. No loss of life for them. Lartius lost another decoy. I hear you fell for that, too."

The Doctor stood with his hands in his pockets. "How many times has he fooled you with that? Be honest."

Summus held up two fingers. "Twice. I didn't believe it the third time, even though they had already sent for Lenox. He arrived and announced that Lartius had told him he'd be right back."

Jack shook his head. "I think it's how he entertains himself."

Summus nodded. "Yes. Poltious has done it a few times, too. They had Lartius' father convinced both of them were dead for over a week. I paneled Poltious for that. But, I couldn't do anything with Lartius."

The Doctor chuckled. "That guy. I have to admit, he's far more mischievous than his counterpart is in the Prime Dimension."

Jack nodded, "Yes. Poltious is a bad influence, huh?"

"Oh, yes. It's amazing what a difference one person can make in someone's life."

Summus nodded, "I'll take your four prisoners back with me and we'll charge them with the others. Ashena and Lartius had already worked it out before this happened. There will be no mention of your presence, or involvement. The story is Mageer captured these four and handed them to me. Then he blew up the Arions' ships along with his own to avenge the death of his son."

"That sits over there with those other children." The Doctor added.

They looked over to see Soli sitting at a table with five other children, laughing and playing a game. Summus crossed his arms. "That's him?"

The Doctor smiled proudly, "That's him. I've made him an honorary Quauthin. That young man saved my daughter's life during this thing. Not to mention, protecting Pepper from the evil dark figure that slipped into her bedroom one night and tripped over the bed. He gave Tony a nice black eye."

Summus laughed. "We can do better than an honorary Title for him."

The Doctor nodded. "Lartius thinks so, too. But, him and Poltious are busy at the moment."

Jack asked, "Doing what?"

Summus chuckled, "Gosh. Don't ask. The less you know what those two are up to, the better. It was a quiet 80 years, but I am pleased they have mended their friendship."

He felt Rose's warm presence and turned around. Jack had already picked Genie up and kissed her cheek. "Are your eyes less sleepy?"

She wasn't fully awake yet. She lay her head on Jack's shoulder and started to go back to sleep. She mumbled, "My eyes are still sleepy."

Jack laughed at her and kissed her forehead. "I'll take her over here. Morning Rose."

Rose had wrapped her arms around the Doctor's waist, and his arms were around her shoulders. She smiled at Jack. "Afternoon."

The wind blew in their hair. Summus smiled at Rose. "It's nice to see you. I must return to Ashena now. I'll extend your greetings."

Rose smiled as she held the Doctor. "Thank you."

Summus pat the Doctor on the shoulder and walked away. "Tell Pete I miss seeing him. Bring him out here."

"I'll do that." The Doctor kissed Rose's forehead. "Get some sleep?"

"I was exhausted. I have no idea why. I'm still tired."

They walked slowly together to a tree in the front of the house, away from the wildness of the children and everyone. She laid her head on his shoulder as his arm wrapped around her waist.

"Getting back at four in the morning didn't help. Did you go back to sleep when we were in the cavern?" he asked.

"No."

"Ah. Too creepy."

"I was watching you sleep."

"What did I talk about this time?"

"You said simply, 'Amazing' after you passed out." She giggled.

He laughed, "Joined Climax is what that felt like. Now, I know how that feels for you."

"Nice, huh?"

"I don't think I've ever slept that well."

"I hated to wake you. At four in the morning. It seemed cruel."

He smiled at her as she turned to face him. "But, I love how you did it."

She smiled proudly, "You always do."

He kissed her quickly. "That's the reason you are so tired."

"Has Soli been up since then?"

"Yes. I don't know how he's still going. I don't think he's slept, at all. Lenox said the children camped out last night. Well, some of them. He was in on that. I'll get him to sleep when we are on our way back. Man, I miss our little brother. He would love this."

"When are we going?"

"Soon. I want Genie to be able to play some more."

"Baby, I think she is spent."

He nodded, "She played hard yesterday. Probably so. Listen. I got a call from Tony."

She yawned. "He's there alright?"

He looked around to make sure they wouldn't be overheard. "Yeah, they are fine. He was asking about the food they had brought to their room. If it was safe for Pepper."

"Yeah?"

"They had….umm….well, it's a traditional Quauthin treat for when someone….gets….."

"Engaged?"

"Married."

Rose rolled her neck back and looked shocked at him. "Are you saying-"

"I have no idea." He laughed. "That's what it was though; I got a very good look."

"Do you think, they have already done this?"

"They went back down to the castle together. Supposedly, to look at the Room of the Life Promise."

Rose nodded, "Maybe they did more than look?"

"Use your booga power and see."

She sighed and rubbed her face. "I'm not going to do that. It's their business, not ours."

"You don't want to know?"

"I do. But, you know, for someone who is so against that sort of thing, you are really quick to ask me to do it."

He crossed his arms and looked at her. "Huh. You're right."

She pointed at him, "Repeat after me. It's none of my business."

He nodded, "Right. None of my business."

She turned and walked back towards the garden. Behind her, out of her sight, the Doctor silently swore and threw his hands up.

Phipps saw Rose walk back into the garden. She smiled warmly at her. "Rose. I have you some lunch. Just sit down."

Rose smiled, "Thank you, Phipps. I can help you-"

"Not at all. The children are bringing it."

The Doctor sat down next to Rose and rubbed his face.

"Tired, baby?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. It's contagious."

A little boy of about ten years old, brought Rose a plate with some sandwiches. She smiled and thanked him.

He sat across from them. "Doctor? Could you tell us that story?"

"Which story, Lucas?"

"The one you told the other time you came. About the spider and the food."

He propped his head up on his fist. "How did that one go? I know a lot of stories."

Rose looked back at him and smiled.

"There was a spider that invited a turtle to eat with him."

"Oh. Right. That's a good story. I know another one about that spider."

"Oh! Tell that one. Let me get the children!"

He jumped off the bench and ran to gather the children.

The Doctor looked at Rose, "And I've had a request of a story."

"Let's hope you're better at it than you were last night."

He laughed.

Rose kissed his cheek. "I'm glad your focus was on something else."

He sat up, slapped the table, and said loudly, "Oh yes! It really was!"

Rose blushed and went back to her sandwich just as all of the children in the garden surrounded the table. Jack brought Genie to the Doctor. She sat on his lap and he held her while he told the children the story.

"Alright. Once upon a time, there was a spider. He lived in a forest, but it hadn't rained in a very long time. The trees had stopped growing food and he was hungry. Everyone in his village was."

Rose looked back at him. "I've never heard this story."

Genie yawned, "I have. It's a good one."

The Doctor kissed Genie's forehead and continued. "So, the spider decided to leave his village to find something to eat. He walked and walked until he came to a village that was strange. There were sausages. Walking around like people. Even small, children sausages!"

The children laughed.

"They saw the spider and said, 'Oh, you look so hungry. Would you like to eat us?'"

The children laughed again. Even Genie giggled. Rose shook her head. "Possibility the maddest thing you've ever told."

He smiled and continued. "They asked, 'Would you rather have us boiled, baked or fried?' The spider decided he wanted them fried, of course. They lay down on the fire and cooked themselves. Just as he sat down to eat them, he saw smoke from a fire not too far away. He left the sausages and went to see what it was. And there he found….ummmm."

Jack sat on the table top behind the children. "Potatoes."

The Doctor nodded, "I think so. He found potatoes. They were walking around like people."

The children laughed again. Lenox had noticed them gathered around and sat down next to Jack on the table top, still holding Samuel in his arms.

The Doctor continued. "They saw the spider and asked, 'Would you like to eat us? Would you rather have us boiled, baked or fried?' The spider decided he wanted them baked, of course. So, they lay down and baked themselves in the stove, then climbed onto his plate. Just as he sat down to eat them, he saw smoke from another fire over a hill. He left the potatoes and went to see what it was. And there he found….." He looked at Genie who was smiling at his story as she laid her head on his chest.

"He found bananas!"

He laughed. "Yes! Bananas. His absolute favorite thing!"

Genie giggled, "Like Daddy."

He kissed her again and laughed, "Just like me. My favorite thing to eat. Yes! They were walking around like people. I have to admit, that would rather strange wouldn't it?"

The children laughed.

Rose had stopped eating her sandwich and sat listening to his mad story. Jack was smiling like one of the children. "And they asked him, 'Would you like to eat us?'"

The Doctor laughed, "Yes. Then they said…."

All of the children, and Jack said together, "Boiled, baked or fried?"

All of them laughed. The Doctor continued, "The spider decided he wanted them fried because it made them so, so much sweeter. Like sweets. It's lovely. So, they lay down on a fire and fried themselves. Then they climbed onto a plate for the spider. Just as he started to eat them, he saw the smoke of another fire through the trees. He left the lovely bananas and went to see what was awaiting him. After all, he had already found sausages, potatoes and bananas. It had to be something really good, right?"

A little girl nodded, "Right."

"Instead, he found his own village. There was still no food. There he was, hungry, with nothing to eat. He told the others of the villages that he had seen on his journey. They sent other spiders out to find them and they never did. So, what do we learn from this story?"

The children looked at one another and mumbled.

Jack and Lenox watched them, smiling.

Soli shook his head. "What?"

"To always eat what you are given. Sometimes, something better, is just smoke."

The children clapped and then ran off to play. Genie even climbed out of the Doctor's lap and ran off with the others.

Rose began to eat her sandwich again. "That, was a good story."

He looked back at her. "I'm not so distracted. Maintaining focus."

She giggled.

Lenox shook his head and laughed as he carried Samuel out to the field with the rest of the children.

Soli sat down across the table from them.

The Doctor smiled at him. "Tired, Soler?"

Soli shook his head. "No."

"We'll be leaving in a little while."

Soli nodded and yawned.

Jack sat down next to him and put his arm around the little boy. "And Soler! I have a ship just over there. It's cool inside with a bed that you can rest on."

Soli shook his head and leaned against Jack. "I'm not tired."

Jack smiled. "Not tired. Alright. Well, I'm going to talk to the Doctor and Rose. You sit here and help me not fall off the bench."

Soli nodded his head with his eyes closed. "Alright, Jack."

Jack held him around his shoulder to keep the boy from falling off the bench. He looked up at the Doctor and Rose. "And Lewis?"

Rose shook her head. "What about Lewis?"

The Doctor rubbed his hands together. "He's really done it to his leg. Licis got cracked in the head when the castle was hit. He was unconscious and Lewis carried him to the ship they left in. He thankfully listened to me and went to the hospital there on Jalipko. He's torn his muscle away from the bone."

Rose groaned. "Oh, my God. That sounds painful."

"He's done a good job. They have reattached it, but he's going to have to stay off of it. He's not going to be a happy man. Oh no. He's already complaining how much he hates crutches. I might have to sedate him just to get some peace." He groaned, "And there is again."

Rose shook her head. "We've got to find some way to keep him off his feet."

Jack laughed, "Good luck with that."

"Well, damn it, Jack. You remember how we did that-"

He shook his head. "I was gone during this time. That's the reason I can come back now. But, I do remember him complaining about it years from now. So, apparently it left a mark on his memory."

Rose shook her head, "But, this entire thing didn't happen….Lewis and Pepper-"

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "It's odd how things still happen. He completely tore the muscle away from the bone. Doc' fixed him up, but he had to stay on crutches. Same injury, just a different way."

The Doctor leaned on the table and nodded his head. "It's a fixed point. He has to be injured like that for some reason."

Rose rolled her eyes. "I'll never understand that."

The Doctor looked back at her, "Fixed. It can't change. It has to happen-"

She waved her hand. "Whatever."

The Doctor looked at Jack, "Explain this to her."

Jack shook his head. "Not getting involved in it."

Rose smiled, "Wise move there, Jack."

Jack laughed, "He said he read a lot. To Arles and Sammy."

"What did he read?" The Doctor asked.

"The classics. He said Tony had given those to him."

The Doctor nodded. "Better that what you lot gave me."

Jack smiled, "What are you on about?"

Rose mouthed, "Porn."

Jack laughed, "Oh, that's right. Hell, maybe have him start working his way through those. You never know. Knowledge is power."

Rose pointed at Soli, who was sound asleep against Jack with his mouth open. He snored, which made them all laugh.

The Doctor took out his phone and put his finger to his lips. "Hang on. I'll send this to Tony."

Jack was in the frame of the video. He waved, "Hey Tony and Pepper. In case you are wondering if Soli is having a good time here with the rest of the children….."

The Doctor panned the camera to Soli just as he let out a loud snore. His head slid down Jack's side towards the table. Jack laughed and caught his head before it hit the edge of the table. The Doctor panned the camera back to Jack who said, "I don't think you need to worry. He's clearly got energy left for another few games."

Jack laughed with them and the Doctor ended the video. He sent it to Tony. "And that will do."

Jack picked Soli up. "I'll take sleepy head to the ship and stay with him. Timon says the ship is warm so whenever you are ready. No rush."

The Doctor smiled, "Cheers, Jack. I'll bring the rest up on the shuttle. Don't worry about it."

Jack nodded his head and took the transport trigger out of his pocket. He winked at them and disappeared.

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