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Chapter 18 - Genie's New Roommate

Jack walked into the Doctor and Rose's suite, hours later. The Doctor still sat on the sofa with Rose's head in his lap. He had covered her in a blanket and dimmed the lights. He watched a football match on the telly with his feet propped up on the table in front of them. One hand remained on her face, while he had his chin propped up on his other fist.

Jack walked over and sat down on the arm of the sofa. "And we're at Jupiter. Refueling."

The Doctor turned down the telly, "Yeah, Lewis let me know. It's a good idea."

"How is she? Pissed?"

"We had a good chat."

Jack pointed at him, "Let me guess. You were a dick."

He nodded his head. "More or less."

Jack smiled at him. "Eight hours on the sofa. How's your back?"

The Doctor groaned and rubbed his face. "I'm trying not to think about it."

Jack looked down at her, "Yeah. I'm finding that I need a briefing. Explain to me what's going on with everyone. I'm rather confused."

The Doctor filled Jack in on all that had been happening. When he was finished, Jack crossed his arms. "Damn. I got back at a good time. Lewis wants to take over as Director?"

"He's considering it. According to my notes, I need to convince him to do it. He could really help Jake. Rose said she spoke to Jake. He feels as if he has to rebuild the entire thing all on his own. And with you gone…."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. I get it. Well, I have an advantage. I know how it ends up running, so I can help him steer it in that direction now. Hell, it might give us something to talk about."

"Why is he pissed at you?"

"Phhh…..he…well…I was a bit of a dick. We're in the same boat here."

The Doctor looked back at the telly, "Yeah."

"I think that's what we're fighting about. I actually can't really remember."

The Doctor rolled his eyes and laughed. "That sounds about right for any of your fights."

Jack sighed, "Yeah. Trouble is….without really being able to remember, I'm not sure…..how I'll even talk to him. This is going to take some time to sort out."

"I've not told him that you are back. Take some time to organize your thoughts, and then go see him."

Jack nodded, "That's a good idea. No rush. Maybe I'll be able to remember. Maybe, I can just get Rose to talk to him."

"Fight your own battles, man. Rose doesn't have to do everything-"

He rolled his eyes. "Alright, whatever. Damn it."

The Doctor sighed, "Can you tell me just one thing?"

Jack grinned, "Maybe. I think I know what you are going to ask."

The Doctor thought. "Nah, I don't want to know. Nevermind."

Jack laughed as he stood up. "I'll go back and help Lewis. Do you want a drink? Anything?"

"Nah. I'm going to go ahead and wake her. We're close enough to home."

Jack nodded. "Alright. Good luck with that then." He walked out of the room.

The Doctor looked back at Rose's face. Sensing she was dreaming, he stepped in her dream with her.

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Rose hung upside down in a yoga swing. She was dreaming she was on the ship, in the work-out room over the bit of floor that Timon had turned the gravity down for. She hung there not seeing that The Doctor stood behind her, out of sight, watching her. He rubbed his face as he took in the scene.

"And I know you are there." She told him.

"I'm that oblivious, huh?"

She giggled and flipped herself back up into a sitting position on the swing. He walked over to her and put his hands on either side of the swing.

"A yoga swing. Is this what Timon has done?" He asked.

"Yes. Well, without the swing. I'm planning on getting one when we get back. I was thinking about it, and well…."

He smiled, "And then you were dreaming it. Yes. That's how it works."

"I've also been thinking about this…entire problem between us."

He nodded as he looked away from her. "Yes. I have too."

"I am trying to control you. Control what you do."

He looked surprised, "I don't see that-"

"Baby, I do. You want to do this, and I really don't want you to. But, I realize it's not something I can keep you from doing."

He shook his head. "No. You've ask me not to. I won't. It's as simple as that."

"But, it's not. You've clearly done it already."

He bit his lip as he shook his head. "No. I will do it sometime in the next 300 years. Or maybe not. It could be you that puts that on the TARDIS. I've already agreed that I won't. In fact, there's no way I can."

She looked confused, "Why?"

"I went back to look at your notes about it, and all of the notebook pages are blank. I didn't tell you that before."

"Blank?"

"Completely, as if someone wiped away all of the notes in there. There's nothing for me to follow."

Rose smiled, "Well, that's one way to stop that from happening."

He bopped her on the nose. "It is. And, I'm sorry." He put his hands back on either side of the swing and leaned into her face.

She smiled at him. "I feel I should be much more cross about this-"

He smiled, "Oh, I do, too. You're still dreaming, so your head isn't very clear."

"You're probably still blocking stuff-"

He shook his head. "I'm not blocking anything."

She smiled at him, "You would probably agree to anything I would ask of you in this moment, wouldn't you?"

He thought, "Probably. But, don't I normally agree to anything you ask me?"

She giggled, "I think that I was exhausted. Baby, you have honestly…worn me out the last few days."

He smiled proudly. "Need a breather, huh?"

"I didn't even think about it before. But, seriously. You are…"

He continued to smile proudly at her. "Oh yes. I am. And seeing you in this swing, isn't helping." He leaned back and looked at it. "I think we should get one for the bedroom, too."

She teased. "Think of a few uses for it, huh?"

He smiled back at her. "Yes. Oh wow, yes."

"I would fall out of it and break-"

He shook his head. "I wouldn't let you fall. Get us one."

She smiled, "Alright. As soon as we're back."

He leaned in and kissed her lips. He wrapped his arms around her and just as she thought, she nearly flipped forwards as he snogged her. They both laughed as he caught her. "This is odd. It will take some practice."

She laughed, "Yes, it will."

He laid his forehead to hers. "We're back home."

She smiled at him. "And everyone is safe."

He nodded and smiled at her, "Everyone is safe. Are you ready to wake up?"

"Kiss me." She said.

He held her in the swing and snogged her. She held onto his back tightly as she felt herself begin to wake up. Instead of sitting in the swing, she felt she was laying someplace, cozy. She smelled the cool sea air and the Doctor's aftershave. She could feel his fingertips caressing her face as she lie on her back. He rose up and looked at her. "Welcome home."

She smiled at him. "How did we get back in the bedroom?"

"Lewis transported us down. I thought this would be safer, in case you woke up and wanted to punch me." He sat back, "And I deserve it. So, go ahead. Punch me, if you like."

She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not going to punch you."

"You're not?"

"No. But, I don't even want to talk about this right now. I'm so tired."

He nodded his head. "Alright. We're not talking about it. Rose, I don't think this is a healthy optio-"

She pointed threateningly at him.

"And that's fine with me. When you are ready, we'll talk about it. Right." He insisted.

Someone knocked at the door.

The Doctor stood up and groaned as he stretched his back, "Come in, Jack."

Jack walked in, "And everything is good?"

"Yes. Lewis has taken charge of everything on the ship. He'll bring the children down shortly."

Rose shook her head. He could feel she was annoyed.

"Jack. Give us a bit."

"Right." Jack shut the door.

He sat back down on the side of the bed. "Rose."

She wouldn't look at him. "I'm not able to get angry. Do you know how hard this is going to be?"

He took her hand in his. "You can get cross, just not….furious. It seems to be what triggers-"

She rose her finger. "I still don't think that is right. There's something else that is triggering her."

He sighed, "If I have the opportunity to talk to her, I'll ask. But, for right now….this is our only theory."

"But, I could have really hurt-"

"You didn't. Everything is fine."

She groaned, "I feel like a ….ticking time bomb."

He kissed her forehead. "Sweetheart. We'll work this out. Together. Alright?"

She sighed. "Alright. I need to check on the children. Samuel is really upset."

He grinned, "Spotted that too, huh? Ress is bringing him to you."

She nodded as she watched him stand up and stretch his back again. "Have you heard from the guys?"

He nodded, "They are there. They are safe."

Jack knocked on the door again.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Come in, Jack."

Jack's head appeared around the door. "And, I have no idea where you have this TARDIS hidden. Let's go."

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The Doctor took Jack to the small cupboard in his workshop, where he had the TARDIS. The TARDIS appeared to be fine, but following the directions he had sent himself, he turned down the growth acceleration.

Jack looked around the small room as the Doctor worked. "This is a cupboard. I didn't know this is where you had put her." He pointed at all of the porn movies. "Oh! I had forgotten about this. This is before Tony….nevermind."

"Please tell me that's Stark and not Tyler."

Jack laughed, "It's Stark. And I've already said too much."

The Doctor, wearing his glasses, was busy at the computer. "Yeah." He said absentmindedly.

Rose stepped into the doorway, holding Samuel. "Is she alright?"

He looked back at her. "She seems fine. I've slowed down the growth acceleration though. As per my instructions." He tossed the paper next to the computer.

"Maybe it's a better idea to turn it completely off." Rose suggested.

Jack crossed his arms and looked back at Rose. "Personally, I think it's a better idea to move her into the house. She has always had a problem with the telepathic connection with you, Doc'. It's as if, she needs…..time to herself. If she's growing up in a cupboard, that could explain why."

The Doctor shook his head, "She's not safe in the house-"

"Who is going to see her?" Jack insisted.

"Who is going to know what she is?" Rose asked.

The Doctor groaned.

Rose nodded. "She needs to know she's loved. You wouldn't put a child in a cupboard." She kissed Samuel's head. "Your Daddy wouldn't put you in a cupboard, would he?"

Samuel coo'ed.

Jack teased, "Yeah, Vernon Dursley."

The Doctor rolled his eyes.

Jack winked at Rose. "Put her in the bedroom. It will see some love in there. Oh yeah."

Rose inquired, "So, that's not gross anymore?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "300 years with you guys, I've grown used to it. Whatever."

The Doctor looked back at Rose and smiled.

Jack pointed at the Doctor. "Seriously though. It needs to be out of here. Why don't you want to put her in the house?"

"I just don't feel that she will be safe. I don't want anyone to know I have her."

Rose handed Samuel to Jack. "Could you give us a bit?"

Jack whistled, "And I know that tone of voice, Sammy. I'll catch your head when it rolls out, Doc'."

"Cheers." The Doctor told him as he walked out of the door.

Rose moved to stand in front of him.

He leaned on the desk and braced himself for what she would probably say. "Alright. Let me have it. You've still not properly shouted at me about putting you to sleep and the research-"

"Oh, there's still time for that."

He nodded, "Oh good. Something to look forward to then."

She watched as he closed his eyes tightly, dreading what she might say. "Baby. Let's think of this…logically. Who all knows she's even here?"

He counted on his fingers, "Us." He stopped and smiled at the word, "Genie, Pete, Tony, Lewis-"

"Basically everybody."

He shook his head. "No, that's not everybody."

"We could put her in the bedroom."

He shook his head, "I don't know about that. I've never heard of a TARDIS growing up….you know…..around….mating-"

She laughed, "Mating? That's your word?"

"English, is very hard-"

She laughed, "Well. Mating, then. It's natural-"

"Yeah, but it's still not something I could be comfortable doing in front of a growing TARDIS!"

Rose crossed her arms, "You are worried that she's so impressible now, but not concerned with keeping her in this cupboard-"

He rose his finger to argue when Jack popped his head back in. He was holding Genie in his arms. "Excuse me, Mum and Dad. Genie wanted to say, 'Good night.'"

Rose looked confused, "Where is Sam?"

Jack smiled, "He's fine. Relax. Mum."

The Doctor smiled and held his hands out to take her. "Come here, my child."

She held his neck and kissed him. "Are you and mum fighting?"

Rose rubbed her back. "No, Genie. We're trying to figure out a situation to a problem."

"Sounds like fighting." Genie told them.

The Doctor kissed her cheek. "We're not fighting. Everything is alright."

Genie pointed at the growing TARDIS. "Good, because she doesn't like you to fight. She says that you need to be nicer to one another."

Jack smiled, "That's a vote to put her in the bedroom."

Rose smacked Jack in the chest.

The Doctor looked at Genie. "Hang on. You can hear her, now?"

Genie nodded her head. "Of course I can. She's singing. Can't you hear her?"

The Doctor looked at Rose. "Have you heard her since we've been in here? Tonight?"

Rose looked concerned, "No. What does that mean?"

Genie hummed a tune that the Doctor recognized as a Gallifreyan song that he had never sung to her. "That's nice. I love that."

The Doctor's eyes lit up. "I have a brilliant idea! Genie. How would you like to have a roommate?"

Genie smiled, "Do you mean your strange plant? In my room?"

Jack nodded his head. "That could work!"

The Doctor smiled. "Yes. I can move her in there with you. But, you must never play with her or-"

Genie rolled her eyes. "Daddy. I know the rules. I could read her stories and play the piano for her!"

Rose took Genie into her arms. "I really like this idea. Let's try her in there. Or we could move her to the ship-"

Jack looked concerned, "No. Never the ship. Trust me on that."

"Spoilers?" The Doctor asked.

Jack held his hands out, "I've already said too much."

Rose laughed, "Good meeting, boys. I'm taking this one to bed."

Genie smiled back at them. "Night!"

The Doctor leaned in and kissed her face playfully. "Good night, my Sara Gene. I'll be in to check on you later."

She giggled and looked at Jack. "I'm so happy you are back, Jack."

He smiled at her. "Uncle Jack loves you, Princess. Good night." He kissed her cheek and watched as Rose walked out of the room with her. When he turned back around and sighed. "That's so much harder than I thought it would be."

The Doctor shook his head. "It's something I try not to think about. Please, don't put the thought in my head."

Jack sighed again. "Right. Sorry. Ugh. So, I come back in….what?"

"The best I can tell, at least a year."

Jack rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Brilliant. A year. Another year during this time. It was one of the best! And I'll get to see some of the stuff I missed! Like your…" He stopped and laughed. "Oh yes. That I get to see. Hell! I get to do that!"

"My what?"

He laughed and shook his head. "Rose will kick my ass….HARD…if I spoil that." He put his finger over his lips. "Nope. Nevermind."

The Doctor shut down the computer. He tapped the glass of the tank where the TARDIS sat. "I'll move you in the morning. Alright? Last night in the cupboard. Look up at the stars, and dream of visiting them someday."

Jack watched the Doctor's face break into a wide smile. He looked back him, "And she's humming in my head again. She's happy to be moving into the house."

Jack stood aside and watched as the Doctor closed the door. "I need to go to New York and check on Pepper. I promised Tony."

They walked through the shop. Jack stopped and looked around. "Where is everything in here? It's so….."

The Doctor, put his glasses in his pocket and looked back at him. "What's missing?"

Jack ran his hand through his hair. "There are two …..you know. Nevermind. Anyway. Let's go to my flat. Offer still stands, right?"

"Of course."

They walked out of the shop and together, moved to the row of flats that sat behind the Doctor and Rose's island home. The full moon lit their sandy path. Jack looked up at the lighthouse and chuckled, "Has Legate put the Batman symbol up there, yet?"

The Doctor laughed, "No. Not yet."

"Good, I'll help him with that then. It really cheeses Jackie Tyler off. Oh wow. I get to see Jackie again. This will be wonderful. Are her and Pete married yet?"

The Doctor put his hands in his pockets as he walked along. "No. They are planning it right now. You made it in time."

"Brilliant! I can help with that. I'm amazing as a wedding planner!"

The Doctor laughed at his friend. As they walked along, the Doctor noticed a light coming from Lewis and Arla's flat. He pointed at it. "This is odd."

They walked up the steps and found the door open. Jack opened the door and poked his head inside. "Hello?"

Adriano came around the corner holding Samuel in his arms. "Hey! It's only us in here. Come in."

Jack held his arms out to take Samuel, which Adriano handed to him.

Jack held Samuel in his arms and laughed. "You are so small! You are such a big guy where I'm from."

The Doctor smiled at him, "Really?"

Jack smiled, "Well, he's about three inches taller than you. But, I'll warn you. He's just like his mother when it comes to trouble."

The Doctor rose his eyebrows. "And I've been warned." He pointed at his son, "Rule One is 'Don't Wander off.' Dad means it."

Jack laughed and kissed Samuel's face. "Don't worry. Uncle Jack is with you through-"

"Now, that worries me!" The Doctor insisted. "Rule Two Samuel. If Uncle Jack says, 'yes'…then the answer is 'no'."

Samuel clapped his hands together and laughed with Jack.

Adriano laughed at them. "He was wide awake and Arles went to sleep. I didn't want to wake him, so I brought him down here. Lance asked me to get a good look at what we're going to have to move into the house, and what we need to probably get rid of. It's not as much as I thought."

The Doctor nodded. "Rose said that Lewis has picked out a flat he wants. I'm not familiar with it, so you'll have to ask her. There are already several rooms that are prepared to copy a flat into them, there in the house. It won't take long to copy the flat, then move all of this in there. Well….and Lance's stuff, too."

Adriano nodded as he picked up one of Arla's jacket's that hung on the back of a bar stool. "This is going to be too hard for Lewis. I'll help Lance take care of it. What do you think we should do with her things?"

"Store them. For the time being. We'll sort it out." The Doctor insisted as he looked around the flat.

Jack kissed Samuel, "Let me help you with this, Adriano. This is completely different in the future."

Adriano nodded and looked around. "Alright. Several of the guys have offered, too. I guess another coat of paint should change it enough that he can come in here and it won't be so hard for him. I'll speak to Rose and we'll get that sorted. It would be nice to be done with this before Lance returns."

Jack shook his head. "Don't worry. It will be one of his favorite places when we're done." He kissed Samuel's face and laughed, "And yours too! I'm going to warn you both. Samuel is a hell of a Peducko player, but nothing like that damn nephew of Lance's."

The Doctor smiled proudly, "Well. That doesn't surprise me at all. Both of my boys." He said as he gently bopped Samuel on the end of the nose.

Samuel laughed at him and held his arms out to his Daddy. The Doctor took him and kissed his face. "And would you like to go someplace with Daddy?"

Samuel clapped his hands and laughed.

The Doctor looked back at them. "I'll be back shortly. I just need to check in on a couple of people." He tapped his bracelet and then typed in something on the display of his arm. He pointed at Jack. "Jack. I don't mind where you sleep-"

"As if I'm going to sleep. Adriano needs my help. Want to get started now?"

Adriano looked surprised, "Certainly!"

"You aren't going to see Jake tonight?" The Doctor asked.

"I need to work up my nerve with that guy. Besides, he's probably asleep." Jack insisted. "Yeah. We're going with that explanation."

The Doctor nodded, "None of my business."

"We'll keep it down, John."

"See that you do." He popped away.

Jack mocked him, "See that you do. Ugh. Come on, I'll show you were we copied most of the stuff over from Vegas. You'll love it."

Adriano nodded his head. "Let's get started. Brilliant!"

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