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Chapter 16 – The Solar Storm

It was very early in the morning. The Doctor was in his suite bouncing Samuel as he walked around and popped his mouth playfully. Rose made them both a cup of tea and smiled as she listened to him speak to the baby.

"And then tell Daddy what else you saw." He asked the baby.

Samuel raised both of his hands and pulled his face to him. He leaned in and laid his opened mouth on the Doctor's cheek.

The Doctor laughed, "That's not kissing, Samuel. But, Daddy loves you, too."

Rose sipped her tea and giggled, "Is that what he's doing? He did that to me last night."

The Doctor laughed, "Yes. He's kissing. This is kissing, Samuel. See?"

The Doctor playfully kissed Samuel's face. He covered it with his tiny hands and laughed. "He has been seeing visions, and he didn't understand what it was. He saw me get electrocuted. He kept telling me that I was lying in the grass."

Rose looked confused, "But, he wasn't there when that happened. How did he see it?"

The Doctor looked back at Samuel. "Oh, that's true. Huh. Could you? No…."

She rose her eyebrows, "Could he, what?"

"Seeing visions when you aren't there makes you a …..ummm…. word problem here."

She waved her hand, "Something different. Something strange."

"Daddy likes strange!" The Doctor smiled at Samuel and playfully kissed him again.

Rose laughed at them as Lance and Legate walked in. Both were wearing jeans and were casually dressed.

"And good morning to you!" Lance told them.

Rose smiled, "I have tea if you guys want any."

Legate was already in the kitchen. "Coffee is what I need this morning. Has anyone heard from-"

Tony walked in the room rubbing his hands together excitedly. He was also wearing jeans with a black t-shirt and a jacket. "John! I think I might have you beat. Tell me a number!"

Rose looked confused, "What is he talking about?"

Legate laughed under his breath. "I know it's higher than mine if we are counting the last week-"

"No! The last…umm…what time is it?"

Lance sipped his coffee, "7:21 am."

Tony clapped, "Okay, the last 4 hours and 21 minutes."

Rose pointed at him, "I think I know what this is about. And you need a hobby." While she was fussing at Tony, the Doctor stood behind her and held up one finger.

Tony smiled, "You're right, Rose. Yes. You have tea or coffee?"

She walked back in the kitchen. As her back was turned away from him, Tony held up four fingers so the Doctor could see it.

He gave him the thumbs up. "Well done." He mouthed at him. Then he pointed at Sam and shook his head to tell Tony that Samuel had woken up early to prevent his number from going any higher.

Legate rolled his eyes. "This is madness. So, I take it that you are feeling better, Tony?"

Tony sat down at the bar. "I'm fantastic, boys! I'm ready to go put those thermal imaging devices on those ships so we can get the hell out of here. How is Lewis?"

Lance smiled, "He's good."

The Doctor asked, "Tony, Palladium levels?"

"14%. Just checked it."

He nodded, "Good. Take your medicines with you and-"

"Always keep it in your pocket." He said as he patted his jacket's pocket. "Right there next to my anti-rejection."

The Doctor smiled at him. "Good job. You never know."

Lance smiled, "You seem very excited to go get your ship."

"Well, it's that. It's some other stuff that I can't talk about. Just, trust me….we're going to need some champagne for our ride back."

The Doctor handed Samuel to Rose. "What's going on, Tony?"

Tony sipped his tea. "I. Can't tell you that. But, it's champagne worthy. Yes!" He jumped out of the barstool, "Who's going to Andromedea with me this morning? Let's get this show on the road!"

Lance laughed at his excitement. "I'll ride over with you. Legate?"

Legate shrugged his shoulders. "John? Do you need me?"

"Go on. Summus mentioned that Logan is thinking about riding back with us."

Legate nodded, "Alright. I'll go. We'll be…what? Five hours or so?"

Rose smiled, "Just be careful, guys."

The Doctor walked with them, "I'll go to the Control Room. Rose?"

She smiled, "It's fine. Will Pepper be in later for breakfast?"

Tony smiled proudly, "It might be closer to lunch. She was….really tired."

Rose held her hand up, "Please. Spare me the details."

Tony laughed as they all walked out of the door together.

Rose looked at Samuel. "Your Uncle is a pig. If he messes this up, I'm going to kill him."

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The Doctor sat in a chair in the Control room with Samuel standing on his chest. Rose had brought him to his Daddy. He was holding him up. "These legs are getting strong, little boy. You'll be walking around in no time."

Samuel chewed on his fist and bounced on his Daddy's chest.

They were still hiding in the nebula. All of the repairs had been made to the ship. On one screen, a muted football game played. The beautiful clouds of the nebula could be seen outside of the main window.

"Friday. List all contacts."

"Doctor. There are no ships in the area." The Hamlet had left just moments earlier.

He nodded and kissed Samuel's head. "That's what Daddy likes to hear. No one can see us in here. Even if they use their radars. We are invisible."

Samuel laughed.

"Yes, we are."

Samuel started to bounce on his chest again and laugh.

Lewis walked into the Control Room. "I just can't even believe this shit."

Samuel began to chew his fists again and stopped bouncing. His Daddy sat him down on his lap and kissed his head. "And Papa Lewis is cross about something."

Lewis sat down in the chair in front of the Doctor. "Tony and Legate have just finished making a sweep of the entire planet and…."

"No Arion ships."

"No Jeclaonides, either! How could I have been wrong?"

"Well, Lewis-"

"It's this damn injury is what it is! Are you sure my head didn't get scrambled?"

"You just had a cut on your head, Lewis-"

"Then how am I wrong about this?"

"Did they scan the entire plan-"

"They did! And there's nothing there." He sighed. "I know I'm not wrong about this, John! You would tell me if I was, right?"

The Doctor leaned up in his chair and took his friend's hand, "Lewis. Sometimes the injury isn't one we can see. You have got to give yourself some time to heal from this. Pretending it never happened is not healthy."

Lewis closed his eyes tightly, "John. You are my One. And my Primus Partner. Be honest with me."

"I'll never be anything but honest with you, my friend. Lance says Summus believes your theory and is continuing to patrol the planet in an effort to find them. Lewis. This makes complete sense. Just because they aren't there now doesn't mean they won't be. It makes complete sense."

Lewis nodded his head. "Summus doesn't think it's mad."

"It's normal to second guess yourself. Especially with everything that has happened."

Lewis sighed and crossed his arms. "When you got hurt, I couldn't call to anyone. It was just….gone. John. If Tony and Pepper hadn't showed up when they did, you simply wouldn't have made it."

"No. I would have. I would have regenerated. They just prevented me from doing that."

"I'm having thoughts. Thoughts I shouldn't have. Pete has spoken to me about taking over at Torchwood in his place."

"I don't think you are ready for that. I think you need to give yourself time to heal."

"I'm so sick of hearing that. It's not like it's going to help. I agree with Rose. I need to come back now. It's time to rejoin everyone. Even if it is on a 'day by day basis' for a while."

"Lewis, I'm so sorry this happened."

"I can't even remember it happening. It's as if, that entire day has been taken from me, too. If I at least knew what we last spoke about. What even happened. Why the hell I took off my bracelet, it might be easier."

"It wouldn't be. Trust me."

"If I had been wearing the bracelet, the field from it would have probably saved her and both child-"

He shook his head, "No. Lewis, you don't know that. The field isn't that large. It wouldn't have helped. You probably wouldn't have been hurt-"

"And the bubble would have prevented the car from crushing her. John. Lance told me that's what happened. Is it?"

He took a deep breath. "Yes. But, it is impossible to know that for su-"

"I have no idea why I took that damn thing off! I look at the one I'm wearing now and ask myself that. It's a consent reminder of the question. Why?"

"You might never know. There was a good reason, Lewis. Trust yourself that much."

Lewis rubbed his face and sighed. He looked up at his friend's face. "John. I'm seriously thinking about stepping down as Primus."

The Doctor pointed at him immediately, "No, you are not!"

He nodded, "I am. I can't phase."

"I can't phase!"

"I can't justify sending any of these guys into a situation that I'm not sure of."

"Hell, there's no way to be sure about that. We just do the best we can!"

"John-"

"NO! You are going to listen to me. I'm your One, and I will not allow you to do this. You are going to be alright."

"John, you don't know that-"

"I do! I've seen it! I've had visions of us in the future. Lewis. I can't tell you that everything comes back, but I can tell you that you are going to be alright."

Lewis sat back and crossed his arms. "I'm ready to get there already. This waiting around is intolerable."

The Doctor was reminded of himself. He handed Samuel to Lewis. "Here. Go see Papa Lewis. He needs your help to feel better."

Lewis took the baby in his arms and helped him stand up in his lap. "Hey there, Little Man. Oh, you are getting so strong."

Samuel grabbed Lewis' face and "kissed" him.

Lewis rose his eyebrow. "Kissing? Is that what he thinks he's doing?"

The Doctor chuckled, "Yeah. It's a thing most human babies do."

Lewis laughed and kissed the baby, "Samuel. You always make your Papa feel better."

A beep sounded in the Control Room. The Doctor leaned back and pressed a button and Legate's image was displayed on the main screen. He was sitting next to Logan in his ship.

"And hello, Legate! You lot have been gone for six hours and seventeen minutes. Find something fun to do?" The Doctor teased.

Legate smiled, "Tony was thorough with the ships. Summus has several patrollers now that are equipped with his device. They are continuing to run scans throughout the section."

The Doctor nodded, "That sounds good. Tony piloting his ship?"

"Yes. He's flying her back with Lance."

The Doctor raised his finger. "No racing. Not yet. He's too new of a pilot and I don't want you guys drawing any attention to yourselves in that section."

Legate smiled. "You're the boss."

Lewis and the Doctor heard a loud pop and were briefly blinded by a flash of light. When the Doctor's eyes adjusted, Jack Harness was standing in front of him pressing buttons on the navigation of the ship.

"Jack?!" The Doctor asked in shock.

Jack looked at the main screen. "Legate. It's me. Tell me, who are you with?"

Legate looked beside of himself. "Logan. Tony and Lance are in the other-"

"Good. Tony's ship. Today is the day he gets that, right?"

Legate nodded, "Yes. He's on his maiden voyage back."

Lewis held his hand out in surprise. "Where the hell did he come from?"

Jack turned and looked at the Doctor. "Is anyone else out?"

"No."

"How far are they?"

"Two hours and eight minutes-"

Jack shook his head, "We can't wait on them. They will be alright."

The Doctor watched Jack plot a course back to Earth. He also noticed Jack was wearing clothing from the future, and not what he had disappeared in just weeks ago. He knew something had to be very wrong for him to come back to this point and take over as he had. He stood up and gave Jack the chair where he sat.

Jack nodded his head and sat down. "Thanks. Legate. I need you to find a hole and pull a rock over your head for 48 hours. You are about to be in the middle of a mess. Check your radars at 42 minutes."

"Copy that."

Jack pressed a few more buttons. "We are headed back to Earth to avoid it, and we've got our own problems we have to sort out. But, you guys can make it there in those."

Lewis protested, "Tony is a new pilot-"

Jack didn't look up. "He has Lance with him. He'll be fine. We'll see you boys in three or four days. Stay safe."

Jack pressed a button, and the ship jumped to life.

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Meanwhile in Legate's ship, he looked back at Logan's frightened face. "So, what the hell was that about?"

Legate held a button down. "Lance. We need to speak over the com so Tony can hear us."

Lance's voice came across the speakers. "Okay, you're on."

"Jack just popped in and told us that we're headed for some trouble at 42 minutes. Can you see anything on your radars?"

"Stand by."

Legate pressed a few more buttons to display different readings on his screens, "That's it." He pressed the button, "Lance, I've got it. The computer is reading it as a solar storm. I've never seen one that big though. We can power down and let it pass-"

"I'm not comfortable with that. There's nothing to anchor to out here." Lance insisted.

"Agreed. Stand by." Legate turned in his seat and typed in some information on a star chart behind him. Logan watched as the computer seemed to plot a solution. Legate smiled, "Brilliant!" He turned in his chair and pressed the button. "Tony. I'm sending you a flight plan now. As soon as it downloads, you need to apply it and launch."

Tony's voice could be heard. "Got it."

Logan looked up at Legate. "Where are we headed?"

He smiled as he pressed another few buttons, "Small detour."

Both of the ships disappeared in a flash of light.

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