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Chapter 23 – The Hyenas

Legate walked into the flat he was sharing with Genie, Tony, Arles and Sam. His arms were full of clothing. "Hey!" He shouted as he came in.

Sam walked around the corner and spotted him. "Hey. Oh hell, let me help."

He wrapped his arms around the top of the pile of clothes, and helped Legate take a large armful to one of the three sofas that sat around the telly in the sitting room. They tossed the clothing there and looked impressed at the huge pile. "Damn. Legate. You are quite the clothes horse-"

"Oh, shut up. This isn't all from my place."

"Does my sister know about this?" Sam teased.

Legate smiled, "I don't think there are many secrets between us."

Sam pointed at him. "Bordering on being gross. Just saying."

Legate nodded, "She told me that you know."

Sam smiled and nodded his head. "I do."

"I…feel like I should have told you-"

"No. But, if you're looking for my permission….I've had time to think about it…..and I think it's brilliant." He said sincerely.

Legate smiled and shook Sam's hand.

Sam started to go through the clothing on the sofa. "There is a lot here!"

Legate shouted up the stairs. "I brought some clothes!"

Arles came out of the kitchen from around the corner. He had a towel on his shoulder. The smell of something lovely was cooking. "Clothes? Where did you get clothes?"

"Well, some are mine." Legate told them. "But, most of this is from the guys. Everyone is happy to see you lot, so they tossed in some clothes."

Genie walked down the stairs with Tony Tyler. "Well, I doubt anything for me will be in there."

Legate rolled his eyes. "That's what she says now."

Sam looked back at him. "We should probably just take all of this up to her room."

Legate chuckled.

They all stood around the sofa and looked through what Legate had brought. Every jumper they found, Genie held up to her and smiled. "Oh, I love this one! And this one!"

Legate laughed, "I didn't realize you liked jumpers so much."

"Just these sort, with the hoods on them."

Sam put a grey one on. "Well, this one is mine."

Legate smiled. "That's one of Logan's. I think. He had a lot of jumpers in here."

"Is Logan still here?" Genie asked. "I know he came with Ashena to Dad's party."

Legate nodded, "Yes, he is. He's bringing Ashena down to meet all of you tonight."

Arles pulled out a football shirt. "Hey! I like this one!"

"It might help your game, man." Sam teased.

Arles laughed. "If that's what it takes, then I'll be a good sport and hand it to the one who really needs help in that department." He handed it to Sam.

Sam rose his eyebrow. "Really?"

Arles laughed as he walked back into the kitchen.

Tony Tyler smiled, "See, I keep waiting for someone to booga some actual football skill into this family."

Genie giggled, "I have plenty of skills without need of booga powers."

Tony agreed. "That you do."

They all continued to go through the clothes.

Sam found a brown leather shirt and held it up in front of him. "What do you say, Legate? Pirate enough?"

Legate groaned. "I can't believe you said that, Genie."

Genie smiled, "Have you seen yourself?"

He looked at the suit he was wearing. "What of this looks like a pirate?"

"The hair?" Genie suggested.

"The brown colour?" Tony remarked.

"The nutter in it?" Sam insisted.

Legate rolled his eyes. "Phh….I'm not a pirate. Is this going to become a thing again?"

Tony laughed, "I didn't realize it had ever stopped."

Genie giggled.

Sam continued to look at the shirt. "I like it."

Tony Tyler shook his head. "Looks like a stripper from Plentitude to me."

Arles walked into the room right as Tony said that. "I knew you went over there!" He doubled over laughing.

Sam smiled at Tony. "He's working nights. In the bubbles."

Genie covered her mouth and laughed.

Legate teased, "I thought you looked familiar-"

"You guys suck. I'm not doing that." Tony smiled.

The entire flat was laughing hysterically. Someone knocked at the door.

Genie continued to laugh as she went to open the door. The Doctor was standing there. "And good evening."

She took his hand and pulled him into the flat. She was still laughing so much she couldn't speak. As soon as he touched her hand, he felt her happiness. She felt safe, loved and playful.

"What are you guys in here doing?" He asked them.

Tony shook his head. "Just…going through clothes."

Legate wiped his tears from laughing so hard. "The guys are so happy we are here, they went through their closets and sorted us out."

The Doctor put his hands in his pockets and smiled proudly. "That's wonderful."

Genie smiled. "It will be great to take a shower, and put on something new tonight."

The Doctor shook his head. "Michelle didn't-"

Sam pointed at this Dad. "Oh, she is amazing, that woman. We got about four boxes of stuff. EACH!"

Genie smiled, "I even got a purple bathing suit, Daddy."

"A bathing suit?" Legate asked.

She looked back at him and nodded. "Yes. Why?"

"You should come surfing with me-"

"I'm not going surfing with you." Genie insisted.

Legate laughed. "I'll have to go get my shorts from my flat. OH! And my board! I have that old one I used during this time!"

The Doctor smiled at Legate. "Yeah, I suppose you have all of that stuff already."

"I rang myself, and we chatted." Legate told the Doctor. "And let me tell you, John. That was the strangest experience of my life."

The Doctor laughed, "Been there. What did Legate say?"

"Well, we both agreed that he can be helpful to Lenox right now. What, with those children there. And he told me to help myself to whatever here. I mean, it's…ours. Is this supposed to feel this weird?"

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "You get used to it."

Arles walked back into the sitting room and stood next to Genie.

"I started you a pile here."

Arles picked up an oxford and nodded his head. "Nice."

"I know what you like." Genie found another jumper and held it up to herself. "Oh! I love this one!"

"That is much too big for you, Genie. Let Arles have it." Sam told her.

Genie looked at it and agreed. She handed it to him. "Do you want it?"

"Only if you don't."

Genie smiled, "We can share it!"

Sam teased, "It's so big you can wear it at the same time."

Arles and Genie smiled.

The Doctor rose his eyebrow. What had Sam meant by that? Just as he was about to ask, Sam handed Tony Tyler the leather shirt that had caused them all to laugh so much before. "I'm sorry, mate. Here's your lovely shirt. It managed to fall into my pile."

Tony took the shirt and shook his head.

Arles pointed at it. "You know what that needs?"

"What?" Tony asked.

"Bubbles!" Sam insisted.

Arles and Samuel started to laugh so hard they couldn't stand up.

Genie shook her head. "Oh no."

"And here we go." Legate shook his head.

Arles retreated into the kitchen where they heard him to continue to laugh. Samuel sat on the sofa and covered his face.

The Doctor smiled and shook his head. "You lot are mad."

Genie nodded her head. "Yes, Daddy. They are. This is them, all of the time."

He looked back over at Samuel, who still had his face covered laughing.

Arles called from the kitchen. "Shut up, Sam!"

They both started laughing hysterically again.

Legate laughed. "They keep me young."

Tony explained. "They are mad. If one of them starts laughing, the other one will start. They do this all of the time."

Sam shouted. "Stop! I can still hear you!"

Arles' voice from kitchen called back. "But can the Bubble Boy?"

They both started to laugh again.

Genie rolled her eyes. "Tony. Smack them."

Tony Tyler grinned. "Nah, I've missed this."

Sam dropped his arms. "Oh! I can't breathe." He wiped his tears from his eyes and seemed to settle down.

Genie asked. "How's Lance, Daddy?"

"Lewis says he's sleeping still. I was about to go over there…what is that smell?"

Legate pointed towards the kitchen. "Arles is cooking."

The Doctor walked into the kitchen. Arles stood in front of the cooker and wiped his eyes with a towel. "Oh man. That was good."

"What are you making? It smells great."

"I have no idea."

Legate smiled, "Arles is an excellent cook. We never know what it is, but it's amazing."

Genie teased, "And it's nothing weird. Like Legate cooks."

Legate pointed at himself. "You liked my eggs and olives."

She shook her head. "No, I didn't."

"Next time, I'll put chocolate sprinkles on top. You'll like it better."

Genie grinned, "No, I won't!"

Samuel got off of the sofa and walked into the kitchen with his Dad and Arles. Arles handed the Doctor a bowl of food, which he was blowing the steam off of.

Sam leaned on the doorway. "What is it?"

Arles shrugged his shoulders. "Rice, green peppers, sausages, shrimp, tomatoes and…. Some beans. Spices."

The Doctor nodded his head. "It's really nice. Wow."

Sam suggested, "Make another bowl of it and I'll take it to Jane. She needs to eat something."

Arles pulled another bowl out of the cabinet. "Good idea." He put some in the bowl and handed it to Samuel.

Samuel looked at it and asked, "No bubbles?"

They both started to laugh hysterically again.

Genie groaned from the sitting room. "You guys!"

Tony Tyler shook his head. "Like a couple of hyenas."

Legate laughed under his breath as he watched them.

The Doctor smiled. "You two are mad."

Sam stood in front of his Dad with the bowl. He smiled and wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve. "I'm sorry, Dad. Did you need me for anything?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No. I just wanted to pop over and see if you lot had gotten settled in. If you needed anything."

Arles walked out of the kitchen. "You know what else pops?"

Sam and Arles said at the same time. "Bubbles!"

Arles collapsed across the sofa and laughed hysterically.

Sam sat the bowl on the table and covered his face. "Oh man. Why? Arles!"

Genie giggled. "You two are terrible. You're both going to be sore from laughing again."

Legate chuckled, "Ah, let them. I've not seen them like this in about a week."

Tony Tyler smiled. "Yeah. I was beginning to miss it."

Genie walked over and picked up the bowl. "Daddy. I'll walk over to Jane's with you and give her this."

He had finished his bowl. He walked back into the kitchen and sat it in the sink.

Sam leaned on the back of a chair. "Oh, I'm already sore. Arles. What were you thinking?"

Arles pointed at him. "Tony in a bubble!"

Arles and Sam began to laugh again.

Legate shook his head. "And there they go again."

Tony sighed and smiled. He sat down the clothes he was holding and walked over to Arles, who lay on the sofa. "You are so silly!"

Arles grabbed Tony, pulled him down on the sofa, and hugged him. "I'm so sorry. Tony, you know we love you."

Sam wiped his tears. "I will never be able to wear that shirt. You should take it Arles."

Tony grinned and pointed at Arles. "So, he can wear it on Plentitude!"

The three of them began to laugh hysterically together.

Genie held out her hand to the Doctor. "Come on, Dad. They will suck you in."

He turned around as he walked out of the flat and smiled back at the silly teenagers. Legate was standing at the sofa, holding a shirt and laughing under his breath. The Doctor closed the door and laughed.

"They are always like that?" The Doctor asked Genie.

"Always. Completely barking. One will start something like that, and they will all just….get on it and roll. Soli is the worse to keep it going."

"And they aren't drinking?"

Genie laughed, "I'd hate to see them drinking when they are like that. No, Dad. Neither one of them drink. Sam says it makes his head all noisy and Arles just….doesn't like the taste. Now, Tony…he drinks from time to time. In fact, he's had some tonight. But, I'm not sure how much."

The Doctor took the bowl from her and offered his arm to escort her to Lance's flat. She smiled and held his arm.

They walked slowly along the path.

"So. Five of you lot, in that flat. Do you think you'll have enough room?" He asked.

"Well, only four of us actually sleep. Sam usually falls asleep, sitting upright, watching telly. It's a nightly thing with him."

"Really?"

"He can't shut his mind off. He says he can drown out his thoughts by laughing like that, which gets everyone going. Or by watching telly. He's always been that way. Since he was….about ten?"

The Doctor nodded his head. "That's interesting. I'll have to talk to him about it."

She smiled. "He is the best brother, ever. Well, they all are. We're all very close."

"Even you and Arles."

"Of course." She shrugged her shoulders. "Soli and Jake are usually with us. I miss them so much. If they were at home when we left, they would have been right with us."

"Where are they?"

"Well, Jake…is in Florida. Training to fly a ship. He's an astronaut and a mathematician. He comes to the school to speak to my students."

"Your students?"

She smiled, "I don't know how much of this I should tell you Daddy. I don't want to mess anything up."

He shook his head. "Just….major things, where I have to….."

They stopped walking and he faced her as he thought. "You know, Genie. You can tell me, anything."

"Are you sure, Daddy? I really don't want to mess things up."

He pointed at her. "I'm your Dad. But, I'm also a Time Lord. If it…gets….too spoilerly-"

"Spoilerly? Daddy, that's not a word."

"I'll go back and speak to Noah Webster about that. Start a list."

She giggled.

"Genie. You are a little girl right now. Six years old and absolutely the most precious thing in my life. But, you are also a young woman. Standing here in front of me. Still, my little girl, and the most precious thing in my life."

Genie's eyes filled with tears. "I love you too, Daddy."

"I haven't read this file, yet."

Genie wiped a tear from her eye. "Daddy, this has been so hard. Tony, will never be the same."

"What happened?"

"Sam has told me not to talk about it to you, but I couldn't anyway. Everything is in that file Sam gave you."

He sighed.

"Be with Mum when you read it. But, don't let her know. Daddy, Tony needs you. He needs us all. He's so…angry and hurt. He killed that Vesos without a thought. I spoke to him tonight, just before you came to our flat. He has been drinking which is the only reason he's probably even smiling. Well, and Sam….you can't help but be in a good mood around him."

The Doctor nodded, "He can change your emotions."

"Without even trying. Grand called him her 'Little Ray of Sunshine.' He's what Tony needs right now. He's devastated. He told me tonight, that any alien not allied with you, should die. I worry what he's turning into."

The Doctor sighed. "I'll read that file tonight."

"Block Mum from your emotions-"

He shook his head. "Not just-"

"It won't work to just shield her. She's probably already too powerful for that. You have to cope with this before you help her with it. Daddy, I remember when you told me that she couldn't control it in the beginning. We're there, aren't we?"

He nodded his head. "Yes. It's just….she's beginning to use it. She's not comfortable with it, but….."

"She'll grow more comfortable with it in time. But, even at home, it's something she can't control completely."

He put his hands on his hips and dropped his head. "I had hoped it would be different."

"One day it will be. You tell us that all of the time. We're only 18 years away from home." She smiled. "That's not a long time at all."

He looked at her and smiled. "That's true."

They started to walk on the path again. She hugged his arm.

"So, I'm curious." He began.

She smiled, "About what?"

"You have a school?"

They walked up the steps of Lance's flat. She smiled at him. "It's getting too spoilery. I'll explain that later, Daddy."

He laughed and held the door open for her. She thanked him and walked into Lance's flat. They walked up the stairs, quietly and the Doctor knocked gently on Lance's bedroom door.

Jane sat on the small sofa with Lewis. They were laughing about something Lewis had just told her. She smiled at them. "John! Genie!"

The Doctor smiled at her. "Hello."

Genie turned around and picked up the bowl of food that Arles had made. "Arles is cooking and we thought you might enjoy this."

Lewis took it and handed it to Jane. "That looks really nice."

Jane thanked her and tried it. "It is brilliant! Wow. Is Arles a chef?"

Genie smiled. "He's an amazing cook. We just let him do whatever in the kitchen. As long as Legate doesn't….try to improve it…..it's always great."

Lewis stood up and held his hand out to offer Genie his seat. "Oh yes. Although, I like the biscuits and salsa."

Jane looked back up at Lewis. "Salsa and biscuits? That sounds gross."

Genie sat down next to her. "Oh, it is. Anything that Legate ever tries to feed you….just…..don't."

The Doctor walked over to Lance and scanned him with his screwdriver. He gave him an injection of something in his neck. "He's doing a lot better. Less pain."

Jane visibility relaxed.

Lewis pointed at his brother. "He moaned about an hour ago, and looked like he was hurting. Just the look on his face. I turned up the pain blocker on his shoulder."

The Doctor nodded. He took off two of the pain blockers and sat them on the table. "I'll leave the one here on his shoulder. That seems to be the worst of it."

Jane continued to eat. Lewis looked at her. "That really looks good. I didn't realize how hungry I was. Genie. Take Papa to get something to eat."

Genie stood up and smiled. "Daddy, I'm see you a bit later."

He looked up and smiled at his daughter. "Love you, sweetheart. I'll see you in the morning. You're waiting for me to come read a story to you."

She smiled. "My favorite time of the day when I was a little girl. Good night, Jane. If you need anything…we're just down the path."

Jane smiled, "Thank you, Genie. Tell Arles this is amazing."

Genie smiled and said something in Spanish to Jane. Jane looked surprised and replied in the same language.

Lewis pointed at Jane. "Ring if you need me. Otherwise, I'll be back in the morning."

She smiled, "I will. Thank you, Lewis."

They walked out of the room. The Doctor sipped the screwdriver back in his pocket. "Well, he's on the mend. He'll probably sleep a bit longer and really be sore."

Jane sat her empty bowl on the bedside table. "That was amazing. Arles is a great cook."

He smiled, "I had some myself just before I came out there."

"And Genie can speak Spanish?" Jane asked.

He smiled, "That's the first I've heard her do it."

Jane smiled, "She's amazing. You should be very proud."

"Oh, I am." The Doctor sat down on the sofa next to her. "How are you, with all of this today?"

She sighed, "I've missed him so much today. Even though he's right here. I can see him. I know he's going to be alright. I just want him to wake up and speak to me."

"Then you know he really will be alright. I understand that."

"He just looks….so hurt."

"He is hurt, but he's going to be alright."

She sighed. "The guys moved…sorry…no….copied this sofa in here. I'm glad because I don't want to leave his side. I imagine I'll sleep here, on this sofa, tonight. That way I can be close to him if he needs me. It's much better than that chair that was in here."

"He's hurt, but you can lie next to him."

"That won't hurt him?"

He shook his head. "No. I imagine he will relax even more knowing you are there. I know you have to be exhausted."

She sighed, "It's been a very long day."

He stood up and took her hand. He pulled down the duvet and helped her into the bed. She lay down and sighed. "I didn't realize how much I needed this."

He sat back down on the sofa and smiled at her. "Do you want me to stay?"

"I don't want to ask you to do that. You have things to do-"

"Jane. Forget that. If you want to be alone, I'll go. If you don't. I'll stay. I don't mind either way."

She closed her eyes and thought. "Leave on the lamp, but I think I'll go to sleep. I am really tired."

He rose his eyebrows. "So…me?"

"You can go, John."

"Sure?"

She smiled. "I am. I have had someone here with me all day. Everyone has been great. I'm really just exhausted from everything."

He stood up and smiled at her. "Alright. If you need me, for anything, just touch your bracelet and ask for John. No matter what time."

She smiled. "Thank you. Good night."

"Good night, Jane." He pat her hand and walked out of the room.

She rolled over on her side and faced Lance. She rose up and looked at him. His injured arm was on the opposite side of where she lay. His good arm lay to his side. She wrapped her arms around his good arm and closed her eyes. As she relaxed, she inhaled his scent. She felt more comfortable than she had all day.

She kissed his arm and whispered, "I love you, so much Lance."

He continued to sleep.

She relaxed and within moments, seemed to drift off into an exhausted slumber.

Meanwhile, Lewis and Genie walked back into the flat the children were sharing. They walked in and heard a song playing with laughter coming from the sitting room. Arles was dancing with Queen Ashena. The Revivalists' song, 'I Wish I Knew You' played loudly.

Lewis wouldn't have recognized Ashena had it not been for her glowing, white hair. She wore it in a long, simple braid. She wore a pair of white trousers and a dark blue oxford, probably of Logan's, tied up to fit her form closer. She looked more relaxed and comfortable than Lewis had seen her in months. He smiled as he realized, she was the same age as these teenagers.

Genie laughed and clapped her hands together. "Oh, I love this song!"

Logan and Legate stood together, near the door, and smiled at them both.

"Well, that's Genie!" Logan smiled. He was wearing a pair of football shorts and a dark red jumper.

Genie walked over and held out her hand. Logan smiled and kissed it. "It's so nice to see you, Genie." He looked up and offered his hand to Lewis. "Hello, Lewis. How's the leg?"

Lewis shook his hand. "Completely well."

Logan smiled, "That's great!"

Genie giggled at him. "And here you are in a jumper."

"Yep." Logan said. "I don't wear them anywhere but here."

Legate asked, "Why not?"

Logan smiled, "Well, I'm always dressed in a suit on Andromeda. Well, unless I'm training. We went to Nimiset for a conference. Shen had to do a thing. I wore a jumper there. Like this one, with a hood. The media there thought I had a hump on my back. It was all over."

They laughed.

"So, Shen asked me to stop wearing them for that reason." Logan explained.

Arles shouted, "Genie! It's one of your favorite songs!"

Tony Tyler came over and took her hand. "Excuse me! I'll dance with my lovely, niece."

Genie giggled. "Excuse me, gentlemen."

They all smiled as they watched Tony take Genie into the sitting room and begin to dance with her. Sam, danced in a goofy way down the steps, and joined them. They all danced and laughed together.

Logan smiled. "I'm planning on going surfing tomorrow with my mate, Legate!"

Legate laughed. "He said that's the reason he returned."

"Well, that and Ashena needed to get away. John's party came at the perfect time."

"How long are you here?" Lewis asked.

"Well, we're not even really here. We're staying on the ship. It's right next to John's. She still has to work some and Summus is keeping me busy. But, when I have liberty."

Lewis laughed and crossed his arms. "Yes. Summus the trainer."

"I feel sorry for you, mate." Legate insisted.

Logan grinned, "It's really not been that bad. Summus is tough, but he's fair. I respect that."

Lewis smiled. "Quauthin training is tough. But, with Summus….."

Logan nodded, "It is. But, I can honestly tell you that football prepared me for more of that than I would imagine."

Legate smiled. "Football is part of all Quauhtin training in our time. Lartius saw us playing it….I suppose it was around this time."

Lewis looked impressed. "I didn't know that. It makes sense. I've spoken to Summus, and we're going to do some training down here in the morning. I want you in on that. Both of you."

Logan smiled, "I look forward to it. I hope it's on the football pitch!"

Lewis smiled. "That's a good place for it. Yes."

Legate tapped Logan's chest. "I actually need a favor, Logan."

"Anything, Legate. Name it."

Legate smiled. "Thanks. Hmmm….but Ashena and all of my Primaries here. Ummm…Lewis?"

Lewis smiled and put his hands in his pockets. "Go on. I'll keep an eye out here. I want to get a bite to eat anyway."

"Arles has made something great." Logan suggested.

Legate agreed. "Yeah. You should try that."

Logan called, "Ashena."

She was dancing with Sam and smiled back at Logan. "Are you ever going to come out here and dance?"

He laughed, "Perhaps later. Legate needs me to help him with something."

She walked over to where they stood. She was sweating and waved her hand in front of her face. "I might need a break from dancing. Woo."

Lewis smiled at her. "I can stay with you here, Ashena. This area is protected by a force field dome, and you are quiet safe."

She smiled. "Thank you, Lewis. Well, I'm going to take off my shoes so I can dance some more. I'm worried I might step on someone's feet. No one is wearing shoes here but me."

"Let me give you a hand." Logan knelt down and helped Ashena take off her shoes. When he rose up, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

She smiled at Logan. "This is the best holiday I've ever had."

"Dance all night, Shen. We are here so you can relax."

"Logan." She said.

"Yes, my dear." He smiled.

"Stay out of trouble." She teased. "I know this friend of yours."

Legate held his hands out in mock surprise. "Oh, come on."

She laughed and skipped back to dance with the rest.

Lewis laughed at her words and pointed at Legate. "And see? Now, I don't have to say it."

Logan put both of his hands on Legate's shoulders, who groaned as they left the flat together.

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