XxxxxxXxxxxxxXxxxxxx

Chapter 3 - Concentration

The Doctor sat on the stone floor in the hallway upstairs. He used his sonic screwdriver on the edge of where the staircase began. Rose carried Samuel up the stairs.

"Baby? What are you doing?"

He smacked the screwdriver that had stopped making noise. "Putting a force field here so he won't fall down the steps."

She smiled, "That's so you."

"I don't want him to fall." He insisted as he stood up and put the screwdriver in his pocket. He held his hands out and Rose handed the baby to him. He kissed Samuel's face. "So you finally woke up, huh? You sleep as much as your Mum."

Rose giggled and walked into their bedroom, "Ress says he has been playing with Arles and crawling all over the place."

He smiled at him and followed her, "Yes. I want to see this crawling, Samuel."

Samuel held his hands to his mouth and laughed.

Rose pointed out, "You will have to sit him down for him to do that."

He kissed his face, "Maybe in a bit, then."

Rose laughed. "What's the matter with your screwdriver?"

"Ah, it's just a fuse. I have some more on the ship. Not a big deal. I've had to replace it already."

She nodded. "I'll be straight back."

She walked into the loo and closed the door. The Doctor lay down on the bed and lay Samuel next to him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He opened his photos and held them so Samuel could see them with him. He showed him a photo of Rose. "This is Mum. Can you say that?"

Sam coo'ed.

"Oh, you can. You can talk where I can understand you. It's time you started speaking where she can understand you."

"Ahhh." Sam cried.

"Ahhh…" his father mocked him. "Try, Samuel. Here. Who's this?" He pointed at a photo of Rose.

Sam coo'ed.

"Yes. But, say it where she can understand it. Mum. Mum. Mumma. Mummy. I'm not sure what English children start out saying. Let's try this. I'm Dad. Try that."

Sam kicked his legs and chewed on his fists. The Doctor looked back at him. "So, that's no?"

Sam laughed.

He rolled his eyes. "Rotten children. But, I suppose you are right. Mum. Try that. You should be able to say that. Look, at the photo. This is Muuummmm."

"Mmmmmm," Sam said.

He smiled and looked back at him. "Yes. That's it." He pointed at her photo again. "Mum. Try it. Mum."

Sam whispered, "Mum."

He whispered back to him, "Yes, that is perfect. Say it again."

Sam whispered, "Mum."

The Doctor's smile spread slowly across his face. Rose walked out of the loo. "Baby, Lance says there is a Peducko game tonight? Is that what I heard?"

"Ah, you know these guys. Hey, come here a tick."

She smiled, "A tick? I've never heard you say that."

"I'm trying to fit in with this."

She stood at the end side of the bed, between his legs that hung off of the bed. He looked back at Sam and pointed at Rose. "Now. Tell me Samuel. Who is that?"

Sam chewed his fists and laughed.

Rose looked confused, "He knows who I am-"

He waved his hand. "Hang on. Samuel. Come on then." He pulled the baby's fists down from his mouth and pointed at Rose again. "Stop chewing your hands. Who is that?"

Sam looked at Rose and blew his tongue at her.

Rose blew her tongue back at him and laughed. "What is this?"

The Doctor groaned. "Rotten children are all the same. Samuel." Then he said something Rose recognized as Gallifreyan to the baby.

Sam kicked his legs and laughed, "Mum. Mum. Mum."

He laughed proudly at the baby. "That's it."

Rose covered her mouth. "He said, 'mum'."

He looked up at her proudly, "He said, 'mum'."

She laughed, picked Samuel up off of the bed and kissed him. He laughed. The Doctor sat up and rubbed her leg, "I told him it was time to start speaking where you could understand him."

She wiped tears from her eyes. "He's growing up so fast."

"They do that."

She kissed Samuel's cheek and then pointed at the Doctor. "Now, do you know who that is?"

Sam looked at the Doctor for a few moments. He sat on the bed smiling back at his son. "Who am I?"

Samuel blew his tongue at him and laughed.

The Doctor tossed his hand up, "Well, there you go. At least we have Mum in the young man's vocabulary."

Rose kissed Samuel again. "I'm so proud of you."

Samuel laughed, "Mum. Mum. Mum."

Rose looked back at the Doctor. "Do you want him to call you Dad?"

"Why wouldn't he?"

"Well. What do Gallifreyan-"

"I don't want him to call me that. Dad is perfectly fine." He insisted.

She nodded her head. "Alright."

He could feel she was concerned she had upset him. He stood up and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. I'm not cross. I didn't mean to be….snappy."

She smiled at him. "I shouldn't have asked-"

"You have every right to ask. Thank you. It was very considerate. I'd prefer to be Dad this time. Well, or Daddy. That's what Genie calls me." He held Samuel's hand as he coo'ed at him.

"Like John?"

He looked back at her and took a deep breath. "I have been thinking about that. You are the only one who even calls me Doctor anymore."

"Would you prefer me to call you John?"

He smiled at her. "You can call me anything you like."

"Well, except your proper name-"

He chuckled, "Yes. Except that." He leaned down and kissed her lips.

She whispered, "I haven't forgotten about our secret meeting."

"Mmmm…." He hummed to her and smiled. "Yes, ma'am. Whenever you have time."

She giggled and walked out of the room with Samuel. "Fix your screwdriver."

He exhaled slowly, took the transport remote out of his pocket and mumbled, "I'd prefer you to fix my screwdriver, woman."

He pressed the button and disappeared.

XxxxxxxXxxxxxxx

The Doctor could hear swearing before he even reached the hanger on the ship. He walked in and found Legate sitting on top of the Corvus, wearing goggles and holding a welding torch. "Damn it. This is just like him. How could this activate a self destruct?"

Exton stood under the ship. "Because you have damn blow torch. Isn't that how someone could cut their way in?"

Legate took off the goggles and nodded his head. "We've done enough. Corvus. Cancel the self destruct. I'll bring Poltious up here to see you."

Corvus spoke. "The self destruct has been cancelled, Legate."

Legate threw the goggles to Exton and grumbled, "This is some shit."

The Doctor chuckled, "Problems?"

Legate looked over at the doorway where he stood. "Nah. Just….Poltious and his….." Legate climbed down and looked up at the ship. "Lady."

Exton laughed, "You're one to talk. I just walked by yours and it told me it was going to blow up the hanger."

Legate laughed, "Yeah. It's a problem in our family. I'm just going to tell him to come up and, I don't know. Just tell him she's here."

The Doctor crossed his arms. "How about tonight? Let's have the Peducko game up here. In the Top Observation Deck. He can come down afterwards to see her."

Legate nodded his head. "That works. Maybe she'll behave herself until then."

The Doctor laughed, "I hope. I'd prefer to keep my hanger in one piece."

Legate and Exton laughed.

He walked over to Tony's room and opened a cabinet. As he pulled out the box of tiny fuses, Friday spoke. "Doctor, there is a call for you."

He didn't look up, "Right. Put it on the screen in here for me."

Pete Tyler walked into the room just as Queen Ashena's image filled the screen. She smiled and relaxed, "John. You have made it home alright."

He smiled, "We have. Rose was surprised to see me."

"So, she wasn't told about the events?"

"Nope. She doesn't need to know. How is your Primus this morning?"

She laughed under her breath, "I understand he's a bit ill."

He didn't look up from the box and smiled, "Good."

She nodded, "There has been a development with the Jeclaonides."

He took apart his screwdriver as she spoke to him, "Yeah?"

"They are saying that you hired them to come aboard and kill your father in law who was present."

He stopped working on his screwdriver and looked up at her. "Seriously?"

She nodded her head. "Only Summus and I are aware of their claim. Their rights give them permission to contact their homeworld and demand to be sent back there."

He went back to work on his screwdriver. "This is really beginning to irritate me. What else is going on? Are the Baumeisters back in that system, yet?"

"They are on their way. They left this morning. I'm having second thoughts about this."

He put the screwdriver back together and looked up at her, "It's wise, Ashena. The only way to control the spread of this virus, it to eliminate any contact to it. It will be tricky, but the scientists are working with Tectus to ensure everything will be safe."

She nodded, "You are right. It needs to be secured. It's such a dangerous situation though. I'd feel better if we knew more about it."

He nodded his head, "I understand."

"Could I ask you to come out and supervise this? You are the only one I really trust with something this dangerous. I'm worried this will blow up in our faces if we're not careful."

He sighed and nodded his head. "Let me talk to Rose about it. I can defiantly send someone out to supervise it for me."

She smiled, "Thank you, John. Let me know what you decide."

She ended the transmission.

He finished putting his screwdriver together and pressed the button. The familiar sound was heard as he pressed the button. He put the lid back on the box and put the fuses back in the cabinet.

Pete walked in. "Hey, son."

He smiled at him. "I imagine you caught all of that."

Pete nodded, "Yeah. Is it safe to be that close to that virus?"

He sighed, "As safe for us as it is for the scientists and such we've asked to go out there."

Pete crossed his arms and shook his head. "I'm still not comfortable with it. The way you have talked about it, I'd prefer to avoid the entire thing. Have my family avoid the entire thing."

The Doctor smiled upon realizing that Pete was calling him one of his family. He nodded his head and smiled. "See, that's exactly what I've done for so many years. Maybe it's time I faced it."

Pete groaned and sat down on a stool on the other side of the table, "You are your own man, son. But, that's how I feel about it. So, something happened while we were gone? I haven't heard."

"Lance took care of it. A kidnapping plot."

"Who were they planning to take?"

"The girls. Rose, Genie, Jackie."

Pete groaned and covered his face. "Oh wow. And they don't know?"

He shook his head, "They have no idea."

"Why wouldn't Jake have told me?"

He pointed at him, "Jake doesn't know. Granted, he's staying tight lipped about shit lately."

"Yeah? Keeping stuff from you?"

"Oh yes. I've been told that he knows that Dorian Idles not only is alive, but has tried to contact me three times in the last week."

Pete shook his head, "Nah. That's not possible."

"That's the word. I plan to talk to him about it."

Pete nodded, "Right. This is news to even me. You think he would have told me, at least."

"Well. You've been…sick."

"Yeah. We'll say that. Ugh. Me and my damn head. Anyway. So… kidnapping. Lance stopped it."

"Well. Yeah. He says that the men responsible for it…dissolved."

"Dissolved."

"Yep." He popped.

Pete nodded his head, "I see why you haven't mentioned it to Rose then."

He put his screwdriver back in his pocket. "Yep. I need to tell her, but…."

"Yeah, I get that. I needed to talk to you."

"About this?"

"No. Son. Jackie and I have been talking. I've spent the majority of my life building the Vitex company. Working. Being away from her. Well, the other Jackie. The other me, really being away from her."

He nodded his head, "Yeah."

"I want to retire."

"Retire?! Pete you are a young man!"

Pete laughed, "Thank you for that. I'm really not, but alright."

He groaned. "Retire. Like, completely?"

"No. I would go mental staying around the house all of the time after all of these years. But, I would like to slow down. I tried to do it before, but you roped me back into this damn Director thing."

He smiled proudly, "Yes, I did."

Pete groaned and shook his head. "That's a job I really don't want to continue. All of the calls. Violence. Sleepless nights. It's not something I'll miss. I've just never had the stomach for it."

He leaned on the table. "You've really thought about this."

"I have. I'm talking to you about it, because you said that it was too big of a job for one man. And I have to say that I agree with that. Who do you feel I should have take my place? I would have picked Jack-"

"Jack's an idiot-"

He pointed his finger, "But, he has done it for years in the other Dimension. He would have been perfect for it."

He groaned. "Yeah, he really would. If Jake doesn't shoot him."

"He's going to return in…what? A year?"

He shook his head. "More than that. This can't wait?"

"I don't want it to. I would prefer to just manage the other two companies. I'm grateful you handled selling those bars and hotels for me. Thank you. Hell of a deal, son. That was a brilliant idea."

He smiled, "Managing two huge companies is your idea of retirement? You're something, Pete."

Pete chuckled and scratched his chin. "I'm working on something else, but….I don't want to talk about that at the moment."

He smiled, "What is it?"

Pete bit his lip. "I shouldn't have said anything. But…"

He looked at Pete and rose his eyebrows. "Oh, come on. Tell me."

Pete laughed, "I really shouldn't. But, you'll love it. You can trust me on this."

The Doctor rolled his eyes at him.

Pete laughed, "So, what are you thinking?"

He groaned, "So, two companies, and something else-"

"That we're not talking about."

"That we're not talking about."

Pete counted on his hands, "I need to help Howie get re-elected, and apparently, I'm getting married. I've told Jacks to just tell me what to wear and where to show up, but she's wanting more from me on that."

The Doctor laughed, "I'm so grateful Rose didn't want a big thing."

"Oh, you would have done the big thing for her."

"In a heartbeat. Yes. So, how can I help with the Torchwood thing?"

Pete sighed and rose his hand, "I honestly, have no idea. I wish you would just do it."

The Doctor shook his head. "No. I'm not here enough."

Pete grinned at him, "And, let's face it, you really just don't want to."

"I'm just not comfortable in that position. Not with all of this uncertainly of who I can trust and who I can't. It's too much like a….war. I've frankly just had enough of that."

"Well, I can't blame you for that." Pete insisted as he crossed his arms.

The Doctor snapped his fingers, "I have an idea. How do you feel about putting a Quauhtin in that position?"

"Well, I haven't thought of that. Hmmm. Legally, it could be done. Hell, I put you in that position. You are a Quauhtin. Who do you have in mind?"

He leaned on the cabinet. "I don't know. That really opens the realm of possibilities, doesn't it?"

"I'd pick Lewis in a second. Do you think he would do it?"

"I don't know if he would. He has a lot on his mind at the moment. Have a think on it…."

"Yeah. That's a really good idea, son." Pete nodded his head. "I really like that idea. Or Lance. Poltious. Damn, any of those guys would be brilliant."

"Oh yes. I'd love to see Jake's face."

Pete laughed.

XXXXxxxxxxxxXxxxxxx

The lift's doors on the Penthouse opened and Happy walked out. "Stark?" He shouted.

He didn't hear any reply. He groaned and walked downstairs to the shop. He punched in the code on the keypad and the door opened. He walked in and saw Tony and a young, skinny boy playing basketball and laughing. He put his hands on his hips and looked confused. Who was this boy? Just as he took a breath to yell to Tony, he was tackled to the floor. He felt a knee in his back as his face was smashed onto the floor.

"And who is this?" He heard whoever had him pinned down ask.

"Happy." He told him with his mouth mushed against the floor.

Tony and Velt stopped playing and looked back at them. Tony laughed, "It's alright, Timon. You can let him up."

Timon helped Happy up. Happy turned to get a good look at who had tackled him.

Tony, completely out of breath, walked with the boy to the small fridge in the wall. He pulled out two bottles of water and handed one to Velt.

"Have a seat and catch your breath. You're pretty good at that."

Velt drank the water and sat down.

Tony walked over to Happy. "What are you doing here?"

Happy looked back at Timon. "Getting my ass tossed on the floor. Who is this?"

Tony pointed at him, "Timon. He's one of our bodyguards."

Happy nodded and shook his hand. "Right. Nice to meet you."

Timon nodded. "Do you need me-"

"We're good. He's a friend. Thanks, Timon."

Happy watched Timon walk over and kneel down in front of Velt to speak to him. "Who's the kid?"

Tony shrugged his shoulders, "What kid?"

"What kid? Fucking, that kid! Over there. The one you are playing ball with."

Tony looked back at Velt and smiled. "He's a friend. I'm glad you stopped by. What's this I hear about you kissing Pepper?"

Happy crossed his arms, "Who told you that?"

"I have my sources. Are you trying your shitty moves on her?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "She's a free agent-"

"She's not."

"Who is she with?"

"Me."

Happy looked him up and down. He smiled, "No, she isn't-"

"Oh, she is. She hasn't said?"

"Nope. You're full of shit."

Tony bit his lip. "Maybe."

Happy narrowed his eyes at him. "You're serious."

Tony pointed at himself. "I am."

Happy crossed his arms. "Huh. Does she know about this?"

Tony rolled his eyes.

Happy smiled, "Look. Man to man. If you are interested, I'll back off. I've known you a long time, Tony. I don't want to wreck a friendship over a girl."

Tony nodded his head. "I appreciate that."

Happy nodded his head, "So, who's the kid? Yours?"

Tony groaned, "That shit isn't even funny."

Happy laughed as Pepper opened the door and walked into the shop. She was carrying a white shopping bag. "Happy. I hadn't expected you."

Happy smiled, "Tony had asked me up here a few days ago."

Tony rubbed his sweaty face. "Yeah, but…then I had to… you know…"

Pepper finished his sentence for him, "Go out of town with John. Right."

Happy nodded his head. "I've not met this John Smith. Seems pretty cool."

"Well, of course he is. He's hanging out with me." Tony insisted.

Pepper smiled, "We'll have to introduce you sometime."

Happy nodded. "Yes. I'd like that. Well, excuse me. I need to get back downstairs. Tony. Sorry."

Tony nodded, "We're straight, man."

Happy walked out of the door.

Pepper turned to Tony, "What was that about?"

"A misunderstanding. We're good." Tony told her and drank his water.

She shook her head. "Velt. I had some clothes brought for you. Tony said we're going back to see Rose and John tonight."

Velt ran over to her and looked in the bag, "Thank you. When will we be departing?"

Tony pat him on the back, "Go jump in the shower and get cleaned up, we'll leave in about….well, whenever we all get ready. Will that work?"

Velt suddenly looked worried, "Just bathe? Or cleaning?"

Tony looked confused. "Ummm….what's the difference?"

Pepper smiled at him. "Just use the water and soap to wipe the sweat off of yourself. Then, you can change into these clothes I brought, if you like. It will make you more comfortable."

Velt nodded, "Oh. So, no cleaning. Just… bathing."

Pepper looked at Tony, "Umm… I guess."

Tony snapped his fingers, "This must be a word the Universal Translator has messed up."

Velt asked, "Will I be coming back here tonight?"

Tony looked at Pepper. "Is that alright with you?"

Pepper nodded, "I don't have a problem with it. He can sleep in my old room."

Tony clapped his hands together and smiled, "Yes."

Pepper laughed at Tony's reaction. "What did you boys eat for lunch?"

Velt looked confused. "For what?"

Tony rubbed his face. "We….got busy."

Timon laughed, "I had a sandwich."

Pepper groaned, "He's a little boy! You have to feed him."

Velt looked confused, "What is she talking about?"

Tony explained. "We didn't eat something in the middle of the day."

"I only eat once a day." Velt told them. "More than one meal is not allowed."

Pepper looked at Tony. "It's not?"

Tony pat Velt on the shoulder. "Go bathe, we'll see John and Lewis in a bit. Timon will show you how to work everything."

Velt and Timon went back up the stairs together.

Pepper looked back at Tony. "What is that about? He can't eat but once a day?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "The more he says, the more pissed I get at whoever had him. Pepper, something isn't right there. This father is….just….a jackass."

"Maybe it's his culture?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. I need to talk to John. Timon says he's not familiar with it."

She smiled, "You really care about this little boy."

"I care he doesn't continue to be mistreated. He…..needs someone."

"It looks like he found someone." She smiled.

He groaned and leaned on the table top behind him.

"Oh, I got your message. You want two Bowler Wildcats?"

He nodded as he drank his water and held up two fingers. "One for me and one for John. We can ride them on his island. It would be….epic. But, I'm not riding with Poltious. Hell no."

"What did he do? Are you ever going to tell me?"

Tony considered, "Well. You remember the dune buggies?"

"Yes."

"Let's just say he uses the roll cage rather literally."

"He does what?"

"Bat shit crazy. I'll never ride with that idiot."

She laughed, "Alright. Well, I put in the order. You don't want to know what they cost."

"I don't care what they cost. Tell me, why haven't you told anyone about us?"

She groaned, "Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Maybe. Well. Yeah. I-"

"Let me stop you there. You need to get cleaned up and we'll talk about this later."

He dropped his head dramatically. "So, you are postponing this-"

"I'm saving you from saying something you are going to regret. Go, get ready. We don't have a lot of time, and John said you couldn't be late." She turned and walked up the stairs.

He shook his head, "I don't understand that woman."

XxxxxxXxxxxxxxx

Rose and the Doctor popped onto their yacht on the sea. "And we're finally away from …..everything." He declared as he laughed and sat down on the sofa with his arms outstretched. "Brilliant."

"Finally. Our secret meeting." She giggled.

He smiled as she straddled his lap and kissed him. "We can't be long. We are expected on the ship-"

"Shhhh….just…worry about that later. Focus on this now."

He smiled, "Right. Sorry."

She felt his hands go up her skirt and hold her bum. She put her hands on his face and kissed him. He grabbed her tightly.

She rose up and looked at him. "What's that?"

He smiled at her, "Seriously? You don't know?"

"Not that." She sat back and looked at him seriously, "You feel so…"

He rubbed his face and groaned, "Sometimes, this isn't…"

"Apprehensive. What is wrong?"

He shook his head and smiled at her. "Nothing."

She held her hand up to his chest. "Something is."

He groaned, "If I promise to talk about it later? Rose, we don't have a lot of time here."

She smiled and pointed at him. "Then you better keep the drinking to a minimum."

He lay down on top of her and began to kiss her again. "Not a drop tonight. I promise."

She felt him unbutton her blouse and rub her breast as he continued to kiss her. She reached down and unbuttoned his jeans. "John?"

He stopped kissing her and looked at her in complete surprise. "Alright. That's weird."

She hadn't expected him to react that way. He sat up and rubbed his head, looking back at her.

"So, we have our answer then. You don't like that."

He shook his head. "I just wasn't expecting it. It's alright. I can….do this. Yes. John."

She laughed at his reaction. She took off her blouse and tossed it on the floor, then slid her skirt off and stood in front of him.

He rubbed his face and looked up at her. "In this moment, I kindof miss the heels."

She laughed as she bent over and turned on the stereo. He had a brilliant view of her bum in the thong she wore. He rubbed his chin as he took in the view. He exhaled slowly, "Heels. Yes. That would be nice here."

As she straddled him again, 'Dissolving Time' began to play by HUVA Network, "Heels? You are full of surprises."

He smiled at her as he looked into her eyes. "Rose. I've not told you how much I love you today."

She began to kiss him again, pinning his head to the back of the sofa. She felt his hands tightly grab her back as he picked her up and lay her down on the sofa. She felt him take off her knickers and tease her between her legs. He rose up and she laughed at his hair sticking up all over his head like mad. He slipped his jeans down and laughed, "Keep running your fingers through my hair. I love that, Rose."

She giggled as he leaned back down and slipped inside of her. He moaned and asked her in her head, 'How are you this beautiful?'

She continued to run her hands through his hair as he stroked inside of her slowly. His tongue continued to dance in her mouth. 'Is this alright?' He asked her.

She smiled, "Yes."

He moaned and began to kiss her again. 'We can't keep at this long-'

'Take your time. I've waited for this all day.' She told him.

Sweat soaked his t-shirt he still wore as he continued.

She moaned, 'And next time, I'll bring heels.'

He rose up and sighed. "And that did it. Damn it, Rose."

"I'm sorry."

He leaned down to kiss her again. "Ah. I knew I wouldn't last long."

She returned his smile, "Too much at once, huh?"

He sat up and slipped back on his jeans. "I was….thinking about this and-"

"Baby, I'm sorry."

He shook his head at her. "There's nothing to be sorry for. This was me. Too much on my mind." He insisted. "I need to actually talk to you about a million things. I just…."

"Can't keep your clothes on long enough?" She teased him as he walked into the loo and brought back a towel to her.

He laughed, "I don't want to keep them on long enough to talk." He leaned down and met her lips again with his. She put her hands in his hair and snogged him back.

'Baby.' He heard in his head. He continued to kiss her.

'I just. Want to do this.'

She pushed him away from her. "Okay. We really need to talk. You are never this bad. What the hell is going on with you?"

He groaned.

She handed him the towel. He walked back to the loo and tossed it someplace Rose didn't see. As he returned to where she sat, he picked up her knickers and spun them on his finger. "And the question now is, do I give these back?"

She stood up and put on her skirt. "No, the question now is, how are you going to do with this card game tonight knowing I'm not wearing knickers."

He cleared his throat and slipped the knickers in his pocket. "Oh, I have concentration you wouldn't believe, Rose."

She rubbed her breasts to tease him, "Yeah?"

He looked at her breasts and nodded, "Yes."

"What's 20 plus 2?"

"47." He answered quickly without looking away from her breasts.

She laughed and buttoned up her blouse. "Oh yes. This game will be good tonight."

XxxxxxXxxxxxx