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Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 - Cell Key

Rose sat on the sofa in the sitting room of the island home, holding baby Samuel who was sleeping in her arms. The rain outside was beating against the windows. The palm trees outside danced in the gale. The lights in the island home were on because the dark skies there made it seem as if it were night.

Jackie Tyler walked into the room, with two cups of tea, and sat down next to her.

"Do you think he needs a blanket?" She asked Rose.

Rose nodded. "He does feel a bit cold."

Jackie sat down the tea and walked over to the other sofa to pick up Samuel's favorite blue blanket. She brought it back and Rose handed the baby to her Mum.

"And there we are. Come see your Grand. Oh, I just love you so much, Samuel!" Jackie kissed the baby's forehead and smiled at him.

Rose took her tea and sipped it. "Oh, Mum. It's already been a hell of a day."

Jackie watched Samuel sleep. "Yeah? Children giving you a hard time?"

"Oh, you have no idea."

Jackie teased. "Well, good! That's what they are for."

"What?"

"Oh, it is. You and Tony work my nerves enough. And see, now that's what these are doing to you." She kissed baby Samuel's face again. "And Grand loves you even more!"

Rose rolled her eyes and groaned. "Thanks, Mum."

The Doctor and Lewis popped back into the island home. Lewis was rubbing his hands together. "And my training for the day is done!"

Rose turned around and laughed at him. "I'm so glad to see you back to yourself, Lewis."

They joined them in the sitting room. Lewis jumped over the back of chair and sat down with a huge smile on his face.

Rose laughed at him. "And I know that look. It must have been a good fight."

Lewis smiled. "It was. Even if he got away."

The Doctor sat next to Rose and put his arm around her shoulder. He tossed the file from Torchwood on the table in front of them, then kissed her forehead quickly. "How is he?" He looked at Samuel.

Rose sighed. "Exhausted. Did you know? "

He shook his head. "No. It never entered my mind."

"He's probably the same now, what with Jane."

The Doctor nodded. "Probably so. Aemilius is there with them now. He's going to send him in here so we can get this Vesuos thing…sorted."

Rose put her hand on his thigh and spoke in his head. 'Should we send Mum to the nursery? The bigger children are about to come back in here, aren't they?'

He looked up at Jackie and propped his head on his fist. "Jackie Tyler."

She looked up at him. "Just noticing I'm even here?"

He smiled, "Not at all. Lewis, Rose and I have to chat with a few of the guards about some things going on."

She stood up with Sam in her arms. "Well, I'm going to take my grandson someplace quiet, where he can sleep then!"

The Doctor smiled. "Thank you, Jackie. That's exactly what he needs right now. His Grand."

Jackie teased as she walked by him, "Make no mistake about it! All of these children just need their Grand from time to time."

They watched her walk out of the room.

Samuel, Arles, Tony Tyler all popped in with Exton and Arcite.

Arles held up his hands. "Forgive us for just popping inside. It's raining like mad out there."

The Doctor pointed at the sofa across from them. "This is your home. I don't expect you to knock. Hell, no one else does."

Lewis held his hands up. "I live down the hall. What the hell?"

Rose laughed.

Everyone took a seat, except Arcite who elected to stand behind the teenagers with his arms behind his back.

"How are you, Samuel?" Rose asked her teenage son.

He looked up at her. "I'm good, Mum. Why?"

The Doctor asked, "How's Lance?"

He sat back and rubbed his face. "The same. Anyway. What's this about?"

Lewis sat forward and rubbed his hands together, energetically. "Alright. We have a few things to talk about."

The Doctor grinned and rubbed the side of his head. He had missed his friend being so sick for so long. Lewis seemed like a live wire that could barely sit still in the chair at his new, found health.

Lewis began. "Alright. A Vesuos gets into Tony's penthouse. Explain."

Sam sighed and looked at Arles. "Take this one, will you?"

Arles smiled and began to explain as Sam laid his head on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. "We've heard the story of the Vesuos who came into Stark's penthouse and destroyed it many times. We knew it was to happen that night."

Lewis rubbed his hands together. "Protocol states that you are to inform me or John if you know of an impending attack."

Exton nodded. "Yes, sir. Arcite reminded us of that before…. Praetor Legate informed us that he was better informed and was thus was to lead the defense."

"Praetor?" Lewis asked in surprise and looked back at the Doctor.

The teenagers nodded.

Lewis looked back at the Doctor's surprised face. "Someone has been busy."

"Indeed." The Doctor agreed. "Where the hell is Praetor Legate now?"

Exton crossed his arms. "He's on the ship, with Genie, altering the flats the children are staying in."

"What? What is he doing?" Rose asked.

Arles shook his head. "He's sorting it out. Don't worry. He took two flats that are unoccupied, next to one another, and put them together. That way we can all be together. It's that way in the future. It's alright."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Okay. Going back to this Vesuos…."

Arles nodded. "Yes, Dad. He was the same Vesuos that had fought Poltious, Lance and Legate earlier that day. He was taken to the ship's brig, but killed the other prisoner and escaped."

Lewis sat back and pointed at the Doctor. "That's the part none of us can figure out. How he got out. Stark and Timon even went to look at it."

The Doctor sighed and rubbed his head. "He's a Vesuos! He's micro chipped with a Cell Key!"

Tony Tyler held his hand up. "A what? Did you say a Cell Key?"

The Doctor nodded, "Yes. It's a tiny microchip that fits under the skin. Usually on your hand. You put it on the panel, and it will trigger it to open."

"I've never heard of this." Lewis admitted.

"They are probably rather new here."

Tony looked back at Sam. He was sound asleep with his head lying on the back of the sofa. "Phhhh…Sammy. A Cell Key. John, Legate has one of those."

Arles looked back at Tony. "Does he?"

Lewis pointed at the Doctor. "I just told him to get his butt down here. Now."

The Doctor smiled, "It's so good to have you back, Lewis."

Lewis smiled and pointed behind where the Doctor sat. "And there they are."

The Doctor stood up and saw Legate standing with a beautiful, adult Genie. She wore a long braid and was even more beautiful than his visions had prepared him for. She seemed to glow with happiness as she let go of Legate's hand, smiled and ran to him to embrace him. "Daddy!"

He held onto her tightly and laughed in relief that she was finally in his arms. Safe. He kissed her cheek and looked at her. He couldn't help the huge smile on his face. "Oh wow. You are really here."

Rose wrapped her arms around her daughter and tried to keep from crying. She held her tightly and then the Doctor wrapped his arms around them both. He kissed the top of both of their heads and laughed with them.

Tony Tyler groaned on the sofa. "Why does Genie get such a warm welcome?"

Arles nodded his head. "I know, right? Somethings never change."

"Some shit is just unfair." Tony insisted.

Lewis pointed warningly at them.

"Well, it is Genie." Legate insisted. He smiled and shook the Doctor's hand. "It's nice to see you, John."

The Doctor laughed at Legate's ponytail. "I'm not sure if I like this long hair."

Genie looked back at Legate and laughed. "It's terrible when he doesn't have it up. At least it looks neat at the moment."

Rose hugged Legate. He kissed her on the cheek and smiled. "It's so good to see you."

Genie covered her mouth, "You both still look….exactly the same."

Tony smiled. "I know. Isn't it odd? Tony and Pepper are so young."

Lewis pointed at himself. "What about me?"

Arles winked at him. "You decide to grow your hair long like Legate, Papa."

He threw a pillow at his son, "Oh, I do not."

Arles laughed and looked back at Tony. "Could you imagine?"

Tony laughed, "Long haired Lewis! I'd pay good money for that."

Lewis smiled at their cheek and watched as Genie sat down with Rose and the Doctor on the sofa.

Sam continued to sleep.

Genie laughed and pointed at her brother on the other sofa. "He's asleep?"

Arles rolled his eyes. "You know how he is."

"Get him still…" Tony started.

"And he's out." Arles insisted.

Legate went to Arcite and Exton, and shook their hands in greetings. "So, what was it that you needed us for?"

"A Cell Key." The Doctor said. "Tony says you have one."

Legate nodded his head. "Yes, I do. It's here."

He rose his sleeve and pointed at this tattoo of the lighthouse on his forearm. "It left a mark when they put it in, so I had the tattoo put on top of it to mask it. Most are getting them put in the hands, so I think that's where they will look if it's suspected."

Lewis looked confused. "Why the hell do you need one of these?"

Legate grinned, "Do you really want to know, Lewis?"

Lewis shook his head. "I don't. Nevermind."

Genie and Rose held hands as they sat next to one another on the sofa. The Doctor smiled back at them and wrapped his arm around them both. He could feel their happiness.

Lewis continued. "So, Lance is injured now….and it was a different Vesuos."

"So, there have been two?" Legate asked.

"Wasn't there two before?" The Doctor asked.

Legate shook his head. "No. There was the one. Can I tell the story? I mean without it messing anything up?"

The Doctor nodded his head. "It's a fixed point now, what happened at Tony's. So, you can say it."

Legate crossed his arms, "Well, the night, after the party. Tony, Pepper and Soler returned to their penthouse. While they slept, the Vesuos came in. Arcite and Exton fought him, but….well…."

"You can say it." The Doctor told him encouragingly.

"Arcite was killed that night. By the Vesuos. Soler and Tony helped in the fight and it was Soler who finally defeated him. That was true in this case, too. He became very frightened though, and I haven't spoken to Tony to see if he's alright."

"He's fine. He was here this morning." Rose told him.

Lewis dropped his hand. "The problem we have now is that someone has sent this Vesuos today, and the one in New York last night, to capture and bring Soler to someone."

Legate looked confused. "No. That's not what happened."

"What happened?" The Doctor asked.

"Originally, the Vesuos in New York was defeated. Ashena was still in orbit, is she still here?"

The Doctor seemed to listen to something, "Yes."

"Summus, took the Vesuos to the brig on her ship. He got out there and killed many. Including Summus."

"Where is Summus?" The Doctor asked Lewis.

Lewis held up his hand, "Hang on…..he's….training Logan. They are fine."

"Summus was notified of the attack immediately. Exton was just following protocol. Lewis was injured and couldn't help. John was….drunk?"

The Doctor held up his hands, "It was my party!"

Legate grinned, "Oh, I remember. Since Summus wasn't notified this time, he wasn't involved."

Lewis sighed, "So, now we have two Quauthin that we would have lost last night."

The Doctor nodded, "Spotting that, too?"

Arcite spoke. "Sir-"

The Doctor groaned.

Arles laid his head on the back of the sofa to look at Arcite. "Don't call him 'sir'. He doesn't like that."

Sam spoke in his sleep. "Don't call Dad, 'sir'."

Rose looked at the Doctor just in time to see him roll his eyes at her.

Arcite began again. "The Vesuos will be back for the boy. Every precaution should be taken."

Lewis nodded his head. "Indeed. That's my assessment as well. Stark has Soler on the island now. He has a bracelet and we're protected by a dome field here. He's as safe on this island, as he would be on John's ship."

Arcite nodded. "I understand, but has Stark been made aware of the seriousness of this situation?"

Lewis looked at the Doctor. "Do you want to tell him?"

The Doctor sighed, "One of us should."

"Not it!" Tony insisted.

"Not it!" Arles said quickly.

The Doctor shouted, "Not it!" at the same time that Rose and Genie did.

Lewis laughed and shook his head. "Legate. You're it. Inform Stark and help him with anything he needs. I understand you are a Praetor now."

Legate nodded. "Yes."

Lewis stood up and stretched his back. "Then, he's in good hands. Inform him, but your primaries are the teenagers still. I want them to remain on the island. Especially with this Vesuos problem. We need to get that sorted before I want anyone to go too far."

Legate agreed, "Understood."

Rose asked. "How are we handing the older children with the smaller ones? Genie and Tony are bound to bump into them. And, I'm sure that Soler will figure this out."

The Doctor rubbed his lips. "Well, there's no way to know how long we'll all be together. The reapers are not an issue…..let me have a think on this. Until then….just avoid your other versions. Alright?"

Just as he said that, young Genie walked into the room. She was cross. "Daddy!"

He sighed, "Or….we'll sort that one next."

Genie walked in front of Lewis, who playfully grabbed her and lifted her into his arms. She giggled as he kissed her face playfully. "What are you trying to be so cross about, young lady?"

She laughed, "Lewis. You are so silly. Where is Legate?"

"I haven't seen him."

Genie crossed her arms and shook her head. "That's not true, Lewis. Where is he? He's been gone all day!"

Lewis pointed at the future Legate. He stood there, wearing a brown suit without a tie. His hair in a long ponytail and very tan skin. He waved at the little girl and smiled.

Genie looked at him and shook her head. "That's not Legate. That looks like a greasy pirate!"

The room laughed at her remark. Legate shook his head and groaned. "And I'll go talk to Stark." He typed something on his wrist and popped away.

Exton and Arcite left with Legate.

Genie held Lewis' face in her hands. "Are you better?"

"Completely!" Lewis laughed.

Genie clapped her hands, "Wonderful! Oh, Lewis. I've missed you!" She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Rose held the adult Genie's hand, and couldn't help the smile on her face.

Lewis carried Genie out of the room. "Good meeting team! I need to go play in the playroom with this cross little girl."

Genie laughed, "I'm not cross!"

Lewis tossed her over his shoulder and spun around as he walked out of the room, causing her to laugh loudly again. "Lewis!"

Rose smiled back at the adult Genie.

"Papa is still like that." Genie grinned.

Arles stood up and Sam slid down the sofa and landed on his face. Still asleep.

The Doctor watched the boys and smiled.

Rose sighed, "Oh, just leave him there."

Arles shook his head. "We can't do that. He will be seen."

Tony pat Arles on the chest. "It's my turn, mate."

Arles chuckled. "What are you going to do?"

Tony Tyler leaned down, put his nose in Samuel's ear and snorted loudly.

Samuel jumped up, "What?"

The Doctor laughed.

Genie sighed, "You guys." She stood up and offered her hand to her brother. "Samuel. You're sleeping again. Come on. Let's go let you take a nap."

Sam rubbed his face as Genie typed something on her wrist.

The Doctor pointed at her. "Stay, on this island. Are we clear?"

The teenagers popped away.

The Doctor looked back at Rose. They were alone in the sitting room. "Those are your children."

She laughed, "I love them more than I could imagine. It's amazing to see them like this. I love how close they all are. We're not messing anything up are we?"

He turned and put his hands on her face. "It looks like we might have done, something right."

She relaxed. "I love you."

He smiled like a loon, "And I love you."

"How are you with your caffeine high?"

"It's….leveled out."

She smiled, "We can go upstairs….for our party."

He groaned, "Oh yes. I have to read that file, but….yes. We could first do tha-"

Her lips crashed into his. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and continued to kiss her. He felt her hands inside of his shirt. "Oh, I've wanted this for a while."

She smiled and they continued to kiss one another. Rose felt him unfasten her jeans. She moaned as he sipped his hand into her knickers and tease between her legs. She was already so wet.

She lay down on top of him and as they snogged. His hands grabbed her bum, under the material of her knickers.

"There are children in this house!" Jackie Tyler barked.

They stopped and both looked at her. She was standing in the hallway, glaring at them with her hands on her hips.

Rose groaned. "Mum-"

"You two need to remember that! What if I had been Genie? Or Tony?"

"Mum-" Rose started.

"You're right, Jackie. Sorry about that."

She shook her finger at them. "You lot need to learn some self control…." She busy telling them off as she walked over to them. The Doctor quickly typed in something on his arm, grabbed the file and popped himself and Rose away.

Jackie stood there alone. "Damn it. Well, they know I'm right."

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