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Chapter 27 -

Jane, after Lance's insistence that he was really alright, took a quick shower and changed into a pair of her jeans and a lovely, light blue blouse. She pulled up her hair and walked barefoot down the steps of his flat. She could hear the radio playing, The Bravery's song Believe, quietly. Lance sang along to it, messing up the majority of the words.

She laughed as she rounded the corner and walked into the kitchen. There was a beautiful spread of pancakes, sausage, porridge, toad-in-a-hole, and fruits on the table. Her mouth dropped open. "You made all of this?"

Lance looked back at her and smiled. "No way. I don't like to cook. I have a food replicator here. See?" He pressed a button on a device that was built into the wall. "Jane's tea."

It appeared on the small platform. He picked it up and handed it to her. "And there you are."

She looked at him in confusion. "That's what you used for Arles' bottle that morning."

He looked at it and nodded his head. "I use it for everything. I'm telling you, I don't cook."

She sipped her tea. "Oh. That's really good!"

He smiled. "I programmed that as soon as I figured out how you took it. To use it, you just hold down the button, and ask for what you want. If you get something strange, don't eat it. English, isn't its first language."

She laughed. "We have something in common then."

"All of us." He laughed with her.

They sat down at the table next to one another. "I wasn't completely sure what you would like, so I just asked for a bit of everything I could remember….you know. What it was called."

She sipped her tea. "It all looks lovely, Lance. I didn't realize how hungry I was."

He clicked the pain blocker on his shoulder and grimaced. "I'll never understand why you have to reset these things."

She put her hand on his thigh as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Maybe we need to ask John for something else."

He shook his head. "He's bringing something."

She sipped her tea.

"So, good shower?"

She nodded her head. "Yes. I feel much more like myself, now."

He looked back at her, "You look beautiful."

"Did I not before?" She teased.

He laughed. "You did. Imagine me, waking up and seeing you. I couldn't imagine anything better."

She giggled as he leaned down and kissed her lips quickly.

The pain blocker beeped on top of the sling he wore. He groaned and took it off, reset it, and put it back on his shoulder. "Oh, these damn things."

She started to put food on her plate and then stopped and looked back at Lance. "You need help."

He shook the sausages he had stabbed with his fork, to get them off. One flew off and hit the wall. He sighed and looked at her. "Okay, I need help. Could you, just….get me some of everything?"

She giggled and took his plate. She put some fruit salad on it and handed it to him. "Start with that. I'll get the rest of this sorted." She handed him another fork, "Your weapon, Quauthin."

He laughed under his breath and started to eat while he watched her cut up the sausages, pancakes, and everything so he only had to use his fork. As soon as he had finished the fruit salad, she was done preparing his plate. "Do you want syrup?"

"What is that?"

"You put it on the pancakes."

He looked confused, "I've never done that."

"You eat them…plain?"

"You're not supposed to? I like them that way. It just…tastes like nothing."

She giggled. "I'll get you some syrup. Does the food thing have it?"

"I don't know. Do you want me to-"

She shook her head. "You need to eat."

She walked over to the food replicator and asked for some syrup. It appeared in a small, warm container. She picked it up, and brought it back over to the table. After she poured a small amount on his pancakes, she sat down and smiled at it. "Now, try it like that."

He tasted it and nodded his head. "I think I like that better."

She giggled. "Eating plain pancakes. Lance, I need to save you from yourself. Food is supposed to taste good."

He laughed and continued to eat his pancakes. She watched him pick up the syrup and pour it on his eggs, sausages and everything. He tried it and nodded his head. "I really like that. Syrup?"

She giggled at him. "Okay, you might be taking it too far."

He put his finger in the top of the syrup container. "Hang on. Let me see."

She looked back at him and grinned as he rubbed his syrupy finger across her lips. He leaned in and licked her lips, slowly. She sat her tea on the table and held his face as his tongue came into her mouth. She could taste the sweetness from the syrup as he kissed her.

She smiled as she looked into his eyes. "You seem to be feeling better."

"With each moment. Maybe we should see what else this syrup is good for."

She giggled. "You read my mind."

He wiped his mouth with his napkin and laughed. "Oh! Lewis is at the door."

She sipped her tea and smiled, "Come in, Lewis!"

Lewis walked into the flat. "Where are you?"

Lance laughed, "Kitchen. Come have some breakfast."

Lewis walked into the kitchen rubbing his hands together in excitement. He was wearing his football shorts and a t-shirt. "Good morning to you both."

Jane looked up and smiled. "Good morning, Lewis. Have some breakfast with us."

"What are you so happy about?" Lance asked.

"We're having a special training on the football pitch in a bit." He told them as he made himself a cup of tea. He pointed at Lance. "And I need you there."

"Hell, I can't play. I can't even put on a shirt." Lance groaned.

Lewis turned and looked surprised at Lance. "You're wearing a shirt."

Jane shook her head. "I'm sure we'll have to cut it off of him later."

Lance laughed under his breath. "Yes."

"You, need to be there so the rest of the Quauthin can see you. According to Praetor Legate,-"

Lance held up his hand. "Hang on. Legate is Praetor? How long was I out?"

Lewis laughed as he sat down across from them. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that finds that surprising. How the hell did he jump up so quickly?"

Lance looked back at Jane. "Praetor is a rank."

"Your rank." She smiled.

He looked surprised, "Now, how did you know that?"

She smiled at Lewis. "We had quite the chat last night."

Lewis grabbed a toad in the hole and put it on his plate. "Yes. See what you sleep through, Lance?"

Lance handed Lewis the container of syrup. "Try this, Lewis. I love it."

Lewis picked up and smelled of it.

Lance sipped his tea and looked back at Jane. "I worry what else he might have said about me."

"Nothing too unbelievable." Jane smiled.

Lewis pointed at him as he poured the syrup on his toad in a hole. "I'm your brother, and I told her she could believe what I said."

Lance nodded, "That's true. Whatever he said, is probably fact. You can believe him."

Jane laughed, "Damn. I wish I had something outlandish to ask now."

Lewis winked at her. "We'll chat again, later."

Jane laughed.

Lewis ate his toad in the hole and nodded his head. "That's great. What is it?"

"Syrup. Isn't that right?" Lance asked Jane.

She giggled. "Yes. Have you had ketchup?"

Lewis nodded. "I like that, too."

"Ketchup." Lance thought. "Have I had that?"

Lewis shook his head. "Red? Made out of potatoes?"

"Tomatoes." Jane giggled.

"Oh. Maybe I'm not thinking of the right thing." Lewis said.

Lance sipped his tea. "Thank you, for keeping Jane company last night, Lewis."

"It's no problem. It gave us a chance to get to know one another. Anyway, Legate!" He slapped the tabletop.

Lance held his tea up, "Praetor Legate. Wow. That's strange."

"Yes, my ear on the ground tells me that everyone is now frightened of this Vesous problem we have because of what has happened to you. So, I just need you to show up at the training. And just be seen."

Jane smiled, "So they know you are okay."

Lance nodded, "I can do that. Walking is no problem."

"And officially, you are injured so you can't be on duty."

Lance groaned and shook his head. "Oh, I hate this."

Jane rubbed his thigh.

"Believe me, Lance. I know how you feel." Lewis told him.

"Well, there are a few things I would like to do. I already know I'm going to look at this damn pain blocker." He insisted as he took it off of his shoulder and reset it again.

Someone knocked on the door and walked in at the same time. His booming voice let them know who it was immediately. "So, is Lance still laying his lazy ass around?"

Lance laughed, "He's having breakfast."

Tony Stark walked into the kitchen. "Hey! You look a hell of a lot better than I thought you would have."

Lewis turned to look at Stark. "That's the consensus that I'm getting from the entire Guard. Arcite asked if your arm had been pulled off, Lance."

Lance groaned as he sat the pain blocker back on his shoulder, "Feels like it."

Jane sipped her tea. "Get something to eat, Tony."

Tony waved his hand and sat down next to Lewis. "I will in a bit. So, Lance. Jane must be a great nurse."

Jane sipped her tea and smiled back at Lance. "Make no mistake about it."

"I was told that she wasn't letting anyone in to see you-" Tony teased.

"That's completely untrue-"

"Because she was busy kissing every inch of your body." Tony teased.

Jane looked back at Lance's surprised face.

"That, will happen a bit later." She smiled.

Tony laughed. "You're welcome, Lance."

Lance laughed and rose his eyebrows. "Nice."

Jane giggled.

"Damn. I'm sorry. I should have made you coffee." Lance realized.

She smiled, "It's fine. Thank you, Lance."

Someone else knocked at the door and walked right in. "Hey! Where is everyone?"

Lewis rolled his eyes. "Kitchen, John."

Tony got up and made himself a cup of tea. "The party is in here, man. Tea?"

The Doctor walked into the room and looked around. "So, this is where everyone is."

Tony handed him a cup of tea and they both sat down at the table.

The Doctor sat three injectors in front of Lance. "And as promised." He pointed at each one as he explained. "This one is for pain. This one is for a lot of pain. Use it only if you can sleep right after you take it. It will probably knock you out."

"For how long?" Lance asked.

"You? Maybe an hour. Two? And this is Ariditate Monticuli."

Lewis looked impressed. "Is it really?"

Lance held the injector in his hand. "Where did you get it?"

The Doctor smiled. "You really don't want to know."

Tony didn't like not being able to follow the conversation. "What does it do?"

All three of the other men immediately said, "Ummm….."

Jane giggled. "In stereo."

The Doctor pointed at it. "Well."

Lance smiled, "It…well…"

Lewis rolled his eyes. "We're all adults here. It keeps Lance from fathering any children."

"Oh!" Tony grinned. "Well, now I have this image in my head. Sorry about that."

Jane threw her napkin at Tony. "Oh, shut up."

Tony laughed.

Lance looked at it. "How long do I have to take it before it works?"

"24 hours." The Doctor smiled.

Lance nodded.

"And I gave you some last night about 7:00 pm."

Lance grinned. "Brilliant. Thank you." Lance looked back at Jane and smiled.

Lewis looked at Tony. "You should probably get some of that."

Tony shook his head. "Nah. That's not something I worry about."

"So, how's the shoulder?" The Doctor asked.

"It would be a lot better if this pain blocker worked better." Lance groaned as the Doctor scanned him with his screwdriver.

Lance took the pain medication and sprayed some into his neck.

The Doctor looked at the reading on his screwdriver. "Try some cooling gel, it might help."

Lance groaned, "I hate the smell of that stuff."

Tony nodded his head. "I second that. Nothing quite like….old, man, ass….smeared on your body."

Jane smiled, "And how would you know what old, man ass smells like?"

They all laughed.

Jane teased, "Now I have this, really disturbing image, in my head. Sorry about that Tony."

Tony playfully threw the napkin back at her. He looked back at Lance, "So, what are you doing today? I need you for a bit. Jane can come, too."

Lance sipped his tea. "What do you need?"

"A bodyguard. That's why I need Jane."

Lance looked back at Jane and rolled his eyes.

"I'm having lunch, late lunch with someone."

The Doctor looked surprised, "Who?"

"Someone, anyway." He sipped his tea.

The Doctor groaned. "Fine. Keep your secrets. I need to borrow something."

Tony coughed. The tea was too hot and he hung his tongue out of his mouth. "Rose throw you out? Need a couch?"

The Doctor laughed under his breath and rubbed his face. "Oh, she's completely pissed at me. So, I'm going to say 'maybe' on that."

Lewis looked at him in confusion. "What have you done now?"

He sat down his tea and rubbed his hands together. "Oh, it's all under control gentlemen. No, I need to borrow your ship, Tony."

Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Sure. Take it." He mocked his British accent, "Just bring it back with some petrol from the garage."

"Phhh…." The Doctor groaned.

Lance looked back at him. "Where are you going?"

"He's running away from Rose." Tony teased.

He smiled and shook his head. "No. I'm not running. I'll be back this afternoon. It's just a quick trip to Plentitude. I have to sign some stuff."

Tony pushed his tea away. "Oh, that's just not good this morning. Ummm….John. Do me a favor then."

"What?"

"Take Soli with you."

"Take Soli?"

"I'm going to be busy all day, so is Pepper. I know he's safe with you. I don't want him down here with these Vesuos looking for him."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Sure."

"When are you leaving?" Lewis asked.

"In a few hours. I want to give Rose a chance to wake up. I need to….apologize to her."

"Sounds like you're in deep shit." Tony insisted.

The Doctor tapped his face under his eyes. "About to here, mate."

Lewis nodded his head. "Well, all of you can come help me train these guys." He looked down at his bracelet to see the time, "Which I need to get going."

He stood up and put his cup in the sink. "Lance. Just an appearance."

Lance nodded his head. "Alright."

Tony typed something in on his wrist. "Jane. Bring your camera over later today. If Pepper has the threat of photographic evidence, maybe she won't kill me."

"What are you doing?" The Doctor asked.

Tony shook his head. "Oh, something. It's cold in New York. Bring a …. Jumper." He teased as he popped away.

Jane sighed, "We probably don't want to know."

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Lewis and the Doctor, gathered the Quauthin on the outdoor football pitch on the island. The men all formed a circle around them as they stood in the middle. Logan and Summus were also present. They all wore football shorts and t-shirts. Legate ran to stand next to Logan, who smiled back at him and pat his shoulder.

"Alright, guys. After this training, we'll play some football." Lewis informed them.

The crowd cheered and applauded.

Lewis laughed and rubbed his hands together. "And I get to pick teams! Right. So, everyone has heard that we have a Vesuos problem."

All of the men groaned.

"A Vesuos, is a very tough opponent. That's the reason we're having this special training this morning. Summus, John and myself are the only ones among ourselves that I know of that has defeated one."

Exton held up his hand. "Excuse me. Before we get started, how is Lance?"

Lewis grinned and pointed behind where Exton stood. "Ask him yourself."

Lance walked onto the football pitch holding Jane's hand. His arm was still in the sling, but he looked perfectly fine. The Quauthin cheered at his arrival. He shook several of their hands.

Summus smiled, "Right then. Lance is in recovery, but he is alright. So, back to this. A Vesuos is not a member of one species. So, a blanket statement of what will work well with one, will not work well with another one."

Lewis nodded. "That's correct."

The Doctor stepped into the center of the circle. "The Vesuos we encountered yesterday attempted to transport away, while holding on to Lewis."

The group groaned.

"There was no warning about this, and I wouldn't have even known if John hadn't tackled me out of his hands." Lewis told them.

Legate held up his hand. "Could we scramble our bracelet codes to prevent that?"

The Doctor pointed at Legate. "Yes. And in fact, all bracelets are to be on scramble and full protection when you are off of this island. Is that understood?"

The group groaned in disapproval again.

Lewis held up his hands. "These things aren't going to ring you up to tell you they are coming. And they for sure, don't care about a fair fight. They care about one thing only. Their prize."

Jane stood next to Lance, listening to Lewis continue to speak to the Quauthin. She had never seen all of them in one place. She had to admit, they were exactly what she would expect. All of them very tough. Athletic. Handsome. Her eyes spotted the short Anov. He was standing with his arms crossed, listening. She tapped Lance's forearm. Lance leaned down to see what she was looking at. He smiled and pat her hand. He whispered, "I'll explain a bit later."

Lewis clapped his hands together. "Alright! So, the main thing to remember with these things is to: One, do not let up. If you let him catch his breath, he's only going to use that time to knock it out of you. Second, this one yesterday, was armed. Lance was shot several times. Primus John?"

The Doctor stood with his arms crossed grumbled, "I hate guns."

"But?" Lewis added.

He took a deep breath. "It's like this. I do not like guns, however, I'm not going to restrict anyone from carrying one. See Jake Simmons if you need a side arm. But, anyone that has one has to also go to the gun range at Torchwood, once a day-"

"A day?" Talbot asked.

"A day. If you are going to carry that, you have to know how to use it. And I do not want it around the children." He looked back at Lewis. "Can you live with that?"

Lewis nodded. "I can. Next. Everyone is joined. If one is encountered, it doesn't matter what you think your buddy is doing. Call for help. Everyone available is to stop and rush to the aid. I want answers of who has sent them, and why. The brig on the ship is being refitted today to hold them. Timon will inform us all when it's done."

Timon nodded. "It shouldn't be much longer, Primus."

Lewis pointed at Timon. "Good man. Alright. Summus will walk you through some exercises."

Summus took over the training.

Lewis walked over to Lance and Jane. "Thanks for coming. That's all I needed. They are all more at ease now."

Lance sighed. "Man, I wish I could play football. It will be a good game with this lot here."

Lewis looked back at them and smiled. "I'm looking forward to it. I haven't played….since….well, it's been a while."

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