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Chapter 37 – A Narrow Escape from Rose

Tony Stark stood in the hanger beside of Lewis. They watched the beautiful, silver, oval spacecraft slowly glide in and land. The large hanger door began to close as Lewis clapped his hands together and exclaimed. "Alright! Headed back home!"

Tony looked back at Lewis in surprise. "Home? I thought we had to go get John?"

Lewis held his hands out. "Rose has demanded we take her back to Earth because Genie is ill. Her words were, 'John can find his own way there'."

"Trouble in paradise. Should we send a shuttle?"

Lewis shook his head they both started walking towards the shuttle. "Nah. He says he's fine. Although, I'm not asking what the hell he's done to make Rose so cross."

Tony chuckled and rubbed his face. "I hear that. I have my own problems."

The door to the side of the shuttle opened just as they arrived. Samuel stepped out and turned to help Rose and Pete.

"Well, good morning everyone." Samuel smiled.

Lewis grinned. "Morning indeed."

Pete asked, "What time is it?"

Samuel looked at his Grandfather. "5:23."

Pete pat Samuel on this shoulder. "A walking clock, like John."

Lewis crossed his arms. "Everything alright?"

"Yes, Papa. We had to go around another solar storm, which is why we are a bit delayed. Chiron is a brilliant pilot. I am impressed."

"Noted." Lewis shook hands with Pete and embraced Rose.

"How is my Genie?" Rose asked him.

"The older Genie is onboard, and I'll take you to her. The younger Genie has a cold. Sam treated her only hours ago, and she's back on the island with Jackie. She's sleeping peacefully. Adriano says there isn't any fever or coughing."

Rose nodded her head. "Thank you, Lewis."

He took her hand in his. "You forget, this is my little girl, too. It's early, and Legate says that she's awake. Let's get you a cup of tea with her. How does that sound?"

"Lovely." Rose smiled.

Arles climbed out of the shuttle holding Soli in his arms.

Tony looked surprised, "Is he okay-"

"He's asleep." Arles smiled. "Not a scratch on him."

Arles put Soli in Tony's arms and ran his hand across the boy's hair. "He only just went to sleep a bit ago-"

Sam leaned down and looked at Soli's face as he propped his head on Tony's shoulder. "39 minutes and 11 seconds."

Tony rolled his eyes. "We're going to talk about rounding, John, Jr."

Samuel laughed. "Yes, sir. I'll remind you."

Lewis whistled and motioned to have Samuel join him and Rose. Samuel looked back at Tony. "Excuse me."

Tony watched him jog over to join the others. Arles stood next to Tony. "Pepper here?"

"Yeah, she fell asleep so I didn't want to wake her."

Arles nodded.

Tony looked back at him. "Should I ask about my ship?"

Arles grit his teeth. "Umm…what sort of mood are you in?"

"You have me at a bit of a disadvantage, Arles. You've known me a hell of a lot longer than I've actually known you."

Arles nodded, "That's true-"

"So, just fucking tell me."

The young man sighed. "Damn it. It would be me that would have to do this-"

"It's….gone. Right?"

"Completely destroyed."

Tony sighed. "Damn it."

Arles explained what happened as he walked with Tony to his suite onboard the ship. As they arrived, Tony's focus was already on something else. "What did John do to piss off Rose-"

"I really, don't know. I'm not getting involved in anything between Mum and Dad. Oh, no way." He insisted.

Tony chuckled.

Arles pressed the button to open the suite's door for him. "Thanks, Arles."

"I'll catch you up later." Arles smiled. He gently pat Soli's back. "Good night, buddy."

Tony walked inside, still carrying Soli. He took him to his bedroom and tucked him in. Tony sat on the side of the little boy's bed and watched him sleep.

"There you are." Pepper said quietly as she walked into the bedroom. She was wearing a grey t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants.

He looked up at her. "I didn't want to wake you."

"He's alright?"

Tony smiled as he looked back at the little boy. "He's exhausted. Sam says he's fine. Not a scratch on him."

Tony rubbed his chest and took a deep breath.

Pepper stood in front of Tony, "Are you alright?"

"I carried him up here from the hanger. Just a little out of breath."

Pepper knelt down next to the bed to look at Soli. A smile spread across her face. Tony watched her as she kissed Soli's forehead and whispered, "You're back home, little boy. Sleep, and then you can tell me all about your adventures."

Soli didn't move as he continued to sleep. Pepper stood up, took Tony's hand in hers, and walked into their bedroom. Tony took off his jacket and slipped off his shoes. Pepper climbed back into the bed.

Tony sat down on the side of the bed and took off his watch. He leaned over and took another slow, deep breath.

"Okay. Tony, what's wrong?"

He turned and looked at her. "How can you tell something is wrong?"

"Are you still having trouble catching your breath?"

"I'll be fine."

She lay back on the pillows and smiled at him. "Come here, and tell me what's on your mind."

He slipped off his trousers and lay down in her arms. She ran her fingers through his hair as he relaxed. "I really think I'm broken."

"You're not broken."

"Something is wrong with me."

"Tony, why would you think that?"

He didn't look up at her. "When I first heard that the ship was being followed, I really didn't expect to ever see him again. And now he's here. He's alright."

Pepper kissed the top of Tony's head.

Tony sat up and looked at her. "You'll be honest with me. Is there something wrong with me?"

"No. Tony, everyone you have ever loved, you have lost. Now you love this little boy-"

"And you." He continued to look at her.

"And I think that terrifies you. The possibility of losing us."

"God. I wouldn't survive it." He insisted as he pulled the duvet over the pair of them. She lay down in his arms.

"Tony, I need to tell you something."

He kissed her head and held her tightly.

"One day, you will lose me. Or I will lose you-"

"We really don't have to talk about this-"

"Oh, we really do." She insisted and sat up to look at him.

He took a deep breath and rubbed his chest. "Why?"

"It's just how things are. But, I want to tell you now. If, you lose me, don't go back to the way you were. Find someone that makes you as happy as I do."

He shook his head, "There's no one that makes me that happy. Why would you even think there is?"

"You know what I mean. I need you to know that's what I want."

He sat up and held out his hands. "This is the craziest conversation I've ever had in my life. Why would you even say that?"

"Because, I remember how you were when Rhodey died. You still blame yourself for-"

"It was my fault!" He pointed at himself.

"It was not! You did everything you could, even illegally, to keep him out of that situation. Have you stopped to think that maybe that's what he would have wanted?"

"What? To die!? In the damn desert full of gun shots?"

She took his hands in her own. "Look. Rhodes was a soldier. That is what he had trained for-"

"No! He didn't. He trained to keep that from happening!"

"But, it happened!"

He shook his head and sat up on the side of the bed. He leaned over again and started to take slow, deep breaths. "I'm not talking about this."

"Well, I am." She insisted.

Tony turned around, trousers in his hands, and looked at her. "Well, you're going to be talking to yourself, lass."

Pepper rose her eyebrows at him, "Where are you going?"

"Away from this conversation." He said as he stood up and pulled on his trousers.

She held out her hand. "Hang on, Tony."

He shook his head as he fastened his trousers and then rubbed his chest. Pepper didn't notice he grimaced. He was beginning to have a harder time catching his breath.

"Look. I was just trying to tell you what I want. I didn't mean to upset you."

He stood beside of the bed and shook his head. He bit his lip and sighed. "Nah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so….damn…..about-"

"You have every right to be. It's not something most people even want to think about."

He rubbed his face and groaned. "Oh, this sucks."

"What?"

He closed his eyes and knelt down on the floor, holding onto the side of the bed. "Oh, damn it."

Pepper rushed to the side of the bed and pulled his hands around her waist. The color drained from his face as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Oh my God." Pepper could see that he was having a panic attack.

He held onto her waist tightly and laid his head in her lap.

"Tony. Breathe. Focus on that. Nothing else. Just breathe. Deep breath."

He gripped her waist in his fists as he took a deep breath.

"Okay, Tony. Out." She blew out with him. She was frightened, but didn't want him to know that. It wouldn't help him at all in his current situation. Tears rolled from her eyes as he gripped her waist tightly.

"Tony. Is it like before?"

He nodded to let her know it was.

"It will be over in a few seconds. You're going to be okay. Breathe. I'll do it with you. In."

He took a deep breath.

"And out. Do I need to call Samuel or John?"

He shook his head and took another deep breath.

Unseen by him, Pepper wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

As she coached him through breathing for several minutes, he started to return to his normal color. Sweat covered his face. He climbed into the bed and lay in her arms. She kissed his head and held him tightly. Her hips ached from how hard he had gripped them.

"Rest Tony. We won't talk about it."

Exhausted from his ordeal, he grunted with his eyes closed.

"Shhh….sleep." She told him as she held him tightly.

Still, with one leg hanging off the bed, he fell into an exhausted, uneasy sleep.

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Meanwhile, Legate, fresh from the shower, pulled on a t-shirt as he rushed into the sitting room of his suite. He wore a pair of football shorts and his wet hair was all over the place. Genie laughed at him from the doorway of the spare bedroom.

He turned and pressed the button to close his bedroom's door.

"Tea?" He asked her.

Genie, wearing Legate's t-shirt and a pair of his grey jogging pants walked into the sitting room with him. She sat on the sofa and wrapped herself in a blanket. "Sure. I wish you had a dressing gown."

He grit his teeth. "Yeah, I don't. Hell, I don't even have one at home."

"I'm going to get that sorted. Purple."

"Just put your name on it, then."

She laughed.

He made them both a cup of tea. As he sat down on the sofa, and handed her cuppa to her, then sprang straight back up. "If you were sleeping in the spare room, I better muck up the duvet!"

Genie held her cup in her hands. "I already did."

He nodded and grabbed his Batman comic that Genie had found earlier. As he sat down on the other side of the sofa, he looked back at Genie. "Good?"

Genie sipped her tea and smiled. "Good."

Just as he looked back at her beautiful face, the door chimed to alert them that someone was there. Legate called, "Come in, Lewis."

The door opened. Sam and Rose walked in with Lewis behind them. "And I've brought them, Legate."

Legate sat the comic down and nodded. "Good. Because I'm certain she had a nightmare."

Genie shook her head. "I don't think that was it."

"Then why are you up at this hour?" Rose asked as she sat down between Legate and Genie and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

Genie relaxed in her Mum's arms. "Oh, Mum. I don't know. I just don't want to admit that I might be getting sick again."

Lewis handed Rose a cup of tea and sat down in the chair next to Legate with his own. "Maybe, Samuel needs to look at you again."

"It wasn't a nightmare." Genie told him.

Lewis sipped his tea. "That's interesting, Legate. How would you know she had a nightmare?"

Legate shook his head. "She was sweating when she woke up. She looked, startled-"

"That's a nightmare, Genie." Sam insisted.

Genie shook her head and handed her tea to Rose. "I really, just want to get back to bed."

Rose sat the tea on the table. "Then, you don't need to be drinking this. Are you warm enough?"

"I am."

Rose held her forehead to her daughter's cheek. "Forgive me. I'm used to being Mum to a much younger version of you."

Genie looked back at Rose and smiled. "Thanks, Mum."

Rose sat back a bit, "Well Genie. You are an adult. This is completely up to you. You are the only one that knows how you truly feel."

"I believe I'm fine. When is Dad going to be back?"

Lewis shook his head. "Not for a few days."

Legate held his hand out at Samuel. "Genie, Samuel is completely qualified to look at you-"

Genie shook her head. "I can wait on Dad."

Legate groaned.

"Is your hair wet, Legate?" Lewis asked.

Legate ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah."

"Another shower?"

"I just finished training."

"Training?"

"Yeah. I worked out a bit in here…..and I have a pull up bar in the doorway over there."

Lewis nodded his head. "Oh."

"I worked up a sweat. Genie was still sleeping then, so I jumped in the shower for a quick rinse. Now, training for the day is sorted. Time management at its best." Legate grinned proudly.

Lewis picked up the Batman comic and chuckled, "Batman! I remember this story, Legate."

Sam grinned, "Which story is that?"

Lewis smiled, "Legate's last evening with some girl he was seeing before he came to Earth."

Legate shook his head. "That's not a story that should be told in mixed company."

Lewis laughed, "That's very true."

Sam nodded his head. "Fine. Genie, how about you go back to bed and I'll come back and check on you a bit later. I'm still running some tests. Maybe we'll have some answers in a few hours."

Genie groaned at Sam.

Rose kissed the side of her head. "I'll come and be with you if you like."

"Thanks, Mum. But, I think I would really rather wait on Dad."

Sam bit his lip. "Ummm. They are in the middle of a ….."

"What?" Genie asked.

"A disagreement."

"Oh, God." Genie groaned. "I apologize, Mum. I'll just….wait."

"What is that about?" Lewis asked.

Sam shook his head. "We can't talk about…..."

"It's a rule." Genie insisted.

Rose giggled at the children's insistence.

Sam waved his hand, "Plus, we don't want to talk about it. Or even think about it. Oh, how gross."

Genie grinned at her brother. "You're not even a year old."

Sam pointed at his sister. "Don't make me be sick all over Legate's suite."

Genie laughed.

Lewis looked at Legate. "Do you know what that's about?"

Legate held up his hands.

Rose covered her mouth and laughed. "Oh, you children make me laugh. Okay, Genie. Completely up to you. You can wait, unless you get worse."

Genie looked at her Mum. "Okay. If I get worse, I'll tell Sam."

Rose kissed her daughter's forehead. "That's all I ask."

Sam pointed towards the bedroom. "Go on, sis. I need to give Legate some instructions."

Genie stood up and walked into the spare room with the blanket still wrapped around her.

Lewis rubbed his lip. "Wearing your clothes, Legate?"

Legate looked back at Lewis. "Yeah, and they are too big. But, she didn't have anything up here. We left in such a hurry."

Lewis nodded his head. "Well, that's true. Her and Pepper are about the same size."

Legate snapped his fingers. "I didn't think about that. She borrows Pepper's clothes back home all of the time. I should have suggested that."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Genie borrows everyone's clothes. Even yours' Papa."

"Mine?"

Legate and Sam nodded together.

"She likes this jumper you have." Legate grinned.

"And that raincoat." Sam added.

Legate nodded. "Yeah. Forgot about that."

Lewis sipped his tea. "How are you keeping an eye on her from in here?"

Legate pointed at the doorway. "I'm in there, too."

"Oh." Lewis leaned up and pat Legate on the knee. "Good man, Legate. Cheers, I'm going to the Control Room. Rose, Adriano says Genie is still sleeping."

"I believe I'll take my cuppa up to the Observation Deck." Rose stopped in the doorway of the room Genie was in, "Good night, darling. Feel better."

Lewis and Rose walked out of the suite together.

Samuel looked back at Legate after the door hissed shut. "So, just in time?"

"Boy, you have no idea." Legate told him as he got up and made Samuel a cold, orange and yellow drink.

He laughed as Legate handed it to him. "Cheers."

Legate sat back down. "If I hadn't been awake…."

Samuel sipped the drink and sat it on the table. "Arles said he thinks he can get the school finished within a few hours of us being home."

"Good." Legate insisted. "This shit is getting too close."

"You're getting sloppy! Seriously man."

"I'm good."

"Papa is sniffing really close. And you know that man. He's going to figure it out."

"He will be talking to John, soon. And I can't wait to hear what he says about that."

"About what?"

"John thinks Arles and Genie have something going on."

Sam rose his eyebrows at Legate. "I think I might have thrown up a bit in my mouth."

Legate laughed, "He asked me about it just a bit ago."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that it's against oaths for me to discuss anything of that nature."

"And left it at that?" Sam asked in shock.

"Yes. Let his mind work on that for a while. Keeps him off of my case."

Samuel sipped his drink. "Just buying time, and I wonder what the price will be?"

"My money is a right hook in the face. That tends to be his explosion of choice."

Sam shook his head. "Dangerous game, man."

Legate rubbed his chin. "He's going to hit me anyway. I don't really see any way to avoid it if I'm honest. I mean, this is Genie we're talking about."

"So, you've already decided he's not going to approve-"

"Would you? Believe me. I've given this a lot of thought."

"Hell man, I think it's brilliant."

"But, you are her brother. Not her father."

"And yet….?"

Legate rubbed his lips. "It's worth it. Completely. Maybe an upper cut to the chin. I've had worse."

Sam shook his head. "You're mad."

"Anyway, what happened with John and Rose?"

Samuel pointed at Legate, "Don't change the subject. I'm not getting involved Mum and Dad's madness."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. They will kiss and make up within ten seconds of seeing one another. They are ridiculous. It's not a concern of mine. This, with Genie, is."

"Now, what are you talking about?"

"She said you're taking some medicine."

He nodded, "I am."

"Are you being as sloppy taking that-"

"Now, hang on a damn minute."

"She feels odd. Something is off. It's clear you two are….'training' together."

Legate grinned and rubbed his face. "Yeah."

"You do know how people become pregnant?"

"She's not. I'm certain of it."

"Sure about that?"

"Completely sure. We've been careful. I'm taking that medicine, and before…we used…stuff. Do you realize the shit storm if that happened?"

Sam thought, "Yeah-"

"I don't think you do. It's a rule among Quauhtin. But, Lartius wouldn't approve of that, either. I can get out of a lot of stuff, but….that? Oh wow. Disowned by the royal family."

"Well, he would get off your case about taking over the throne."

Legate sipped his tea. "Huh. That's true."

Samuel looked seriously at him. "This, illness. Legate, she told me that you blame yourself-"

"I had just left Nimiset. I knew there was an outbreak. I should have contacted you lot and told you. I thought, with John doing what he did, he would have known."

"They, the hospital there, should have told Dad. And they shouldn't have thought they could manage it without him."

He sighed and shook his head. "It is something I hope she can forgive me for-"

"What happened at that hospital was not your fault."

"Needles and endless tests on her. All because they felt they could fix it before John got there?"

"Arles stepped in."

"And got arrested for it." Legate grit his teeth. "Hell, I'd broken their arms, too."

Samuel sipped his drink. "Seven arms in less than two minutes. I imagine it is a Quauthin record."

Legate grinned, "Lewis' son. Lance's temper. Wow."

Sam shook his head. "See, everyone says that. I've never seen Lance's temper."

"Maybe it's mine. I'm not sure."

"See, now you're just talking madness."

Legate sat up and waved his hand. "That was a whole other lifetime ago. Anyway, did the medicine they gave her, hurt her? Permanently?"

"I'm running tests to see now."

"She was able to connect, telepathically to me, just before you lot returned tonight."

Samuel smiled. "That's wonderful!"

Legate grinned. "I wasn't sure if we would be able to or not."

"How long did you speak to one another?"

"Not long. Just a few words to see if we could."

Samuel sipped his drink. "Brilliant. Take it slow with that, otherwise she'll have headaches. You, too most likely."

Legate nodded and sipped his tea. "Okay."

Samuel pat the arm of the chair he sat in. "Alright! Well, let me know if you need something to aid with your 'training.' This is going to be known one day by everyone, and I want to make sure my ass doesn't get chewed as much as I fear it will. I've done the brother thing now. I mean, this is my sister we're talking about here."

Legate rose his eyebrows. "Threatening me?"

"Nah. I have Arles for that. Besides, Genie can take care of herself." Sam grinned as he stood up. "I'm going to the med bay to look over something I was working on. If you need me…"

Legate sipped his tea. "Yeah. Thanks, Sammy."

Sam left the suite. Legate rolled his eyes and sat down his tea. He stood up and walked into the spare room with Genie. He leaned in the doorway. "Do you have everything you need?"

Genie rolled over and looked at him. "No."

He smiled, "What do you need?"

She extended her hand and he walked over to the bed and lay down with her. She turned around and lay her head on his chest and started to go back to sleep.

"I'm going to have to take another shower." He mumbled as he held her in his arms.

"I'll make it worth your time. Just let me sleep a bit, first."

He kissed her head. "Just being here with you is worth it. Rest."

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The Doctor had finished his meeting with Tuwo Wenck's people at the hospital on Plentitude. He walked along the hallway, wearing his suit, with his hands in his pockets to the transport point.

"Doctor Smith." A voice called for him.

He turned around and saw a lovely woman with brown hair and a white suit rushing to him.

"I'm sorry, yes."

She offered her hand. "We haven't met. I'm Naxie."

"Naxie?" He asked and shook her hand. "What an interesting name."

She smiled, "It's short for….well, something very long. I had expected you to bring your wife."

"Ugh. Well, our daughter is ill. Back home. She departed to be with her."

"Oh, I see. I didn't know you had children."

"Yes. Several, in fact."

"Well, I had planned to ask you out for an afternoon meal. I suppose it wouldn't be appropriate without your wife present."

"Umm… well…"

"I would like to discuss some things with you. It's my understanding that you have now taken over Tuwo Wenck's position."

He nodded his head. "I have. Yes."

"Well….another time-"

"No. It's fine. We'll go now before I depart. Do you like hospital food?"

She smiled. "As long as there is cake."

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The Doctor and Rose, and all of their friends return in Book #9 in the series, Caihiri.