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Chapter 21 - The Blood Suckers
Tony walked out of his ship into the bright sunlight with Legate. He put on his sunglasses and looked around. A ship, four times bigger than Tony's, sat next to his and Legate's ships in the field.
"Man, that medicine. I slept through that landing?"
Legate looked at the big, silver ship. "Yep. Surprised the hell out of me, too. Come on. He can't stay long."
Legate pat Tony's shoulder and they walked to the outside garden of Lenox's home. There was a huge crowd and there seemed to be a feast going on. Most of the town's people were there to see the owner of the big ship. Logan played football in the field with many children.
Tony walked with Legate. He guided him through the crowds to a man with short, dark hair and a commanding presence. He wore tan trousers, a simple cream shirt and a brown jacket that came to his knees. Nothing about him looked out of place with the Quauhtin that Tony had ever met. He stood looking at the children play in the field.
Legate smiled, "Sir. I have brought someone to meet you. This is my friend, Tony. Tony, this is my grandfather, Lartius. King of the Quauhtin people."
Tony took off his sunglasses. Lartius shook his hand and smiled warmly, "It is my pleasure to meet you, Tony. I've heard such amazing things."
Tony smiled, "Wow. Forgive me, I'm not familiar with your customs….do I bow-?"
Lartius laughed, "No. Consider me a friend, Tony. Treat me as you do my family." He pat Legate on the back and smiled.
Tony grinned, "Oh. Good then. We're playing cards, later. Did you bring any money?"
Lartius laughed and looked back at Legate. "Oh, I really like him."
Legate laughed, "I knew you would."
"Come. Let us chat." He pat Tony on the shoulder and they walked out of the garden with Legate following them. They came to a stop under a beautiful tree that had white flowers blooming from it. It shaded them from the sun while providing them with a view of the children playing in the field.
Lartius crossed his arms and looked at the children. "They love this game. Do you play it?"
Tony shook his head. "No. I don't. Legate plays and is really good at it."
The King turned and looked surprised back at his grandson. "I didn't know this."
Legate smiled, "The Primus of Terra enjoys it. It's something we all do together."
He pointed at him, "It's good exercise for a Quauhtin. Keep at it. In fact, if you can get to the Academy, I would like you to teach them this game. It would be good for them."
Legate nodded, "Yes, sir. I would be happy to do that."
Tony couldn't help but think that the King looked even younger than Poltious did. Just as he was about to mention it, Lartius turned and looked at Tony. "My grandson, Lenox, has told me that you have given him and the Andromedan people, a sensor for their ships."
Tony nodded, "Yes, sir. These…ummm…help Legate."
"Jeclaonides. And Primus Lewis believes there are also Arions in the area, taking children again."
The King groaned and crossed his arms. "If Primus Lewis believes it's even possible, it's a threat."
Legate nodded, "Yes, sir. My father has departed to try to find the father of a child that Tony has. A Chaomlean named Mageer."
Lartius shook his head. "So dangerous. Mageer has a ship that is without equal. Poltious will have to be extremely cunning, or lucky."
Legate sighed and nodded his head. "Yes, sir."
The King looked back at his grandson. "And he is both. As well as wise. Try not to worry, son."
Legate smiled, "No, sir. I'm not worried. He will be fine."
Lartius smiled and pat Legate on the chest. "And, we were talking about this sensor, Tony."
Tony smiled, "Yes, sir. It reads heat. So, instead of them being invisible to ships in the area, you will read the heat coming from the ship. I've even seen people walking inside of them."
He rubbed his lip, "You're referring to your suit you have? You have this sensor in it as well?"
Tony looked surprised, "You know about my suit?"
"Yes. Legate has told me about this. Amazing. What species are you? Human?"
Tony nodded, "I'm a bit….different. I'm from Earth, but my father was a biochemist. He changed a lot of things about me when I was an infant."
The King pointed at Tony, "Indeed. Someone of your talents needs protection. I'm surprised no one has taken you for their personal interests."
Tony put on his sunglasses and cleared his throat. "Well, that has happened, but…I have a few Quauhtin that hang out with me-"
"You don't understand. I'm decreeing that you are of extreme importance to the people of Earth, and the galaxy. You have Quauhtin from the Prime Guard, but you need your own. I'm sending some more Quauhtin to Primus Lewis and Primus John and you will now be a Primary, under the protection of the Prime Guard. The Primus Partners there were very wise to give you protection."
Tony bowed his head, "Thank you. I'm sorry, this is just really surprising to me."
Lartius smiled, "It shouldn't be. Tell me about your life. You have this boy."
Tony smiled, "I have a girlfriend who lives with me. The boy is with her at the moment. He has told me that he is protecting my Princess in my absence."
The King smiled, "An honorable young man, already."
Tony smiled proudly.
The King nodded, "Lance has told me of your Princess. Her name is…odd. And she has, orange hair?"
Tony nodded his head. "And a temper to go with it. But, I'm a bit of a pain. We work well together."
He chuckled, "My wife would say the same about me."
Tony laughed.
"And the Quauhtin. I know that the Primus John is helping with the young man in your care."
Tony nodded. "John has been extremely generous-"
"As you have been. Not many people would willingly offer to my grandson, help to protect these children. These children are the hope of the Quauhtin people. My heirs to the throne, and rulers of worlds they have never heard of yet. We can't allow them to remain on our home planet in fear that someone will come and take them. Lenox watches over them for our people, here."
Tony nodded, "It is the right thing to do."
The King tapped his lip in thought. "I would like to humbly ask if you would come to our home world, and install these sensors on our ships. To help our world from falling into ruin. We are slowly rising from our ashes, but, make no mistake about it. It would be devastating for someone to attack us in this moment."
Tony took off his sunglasses and looked at Lartius' face. "Sir, I think you need more than just some sensors. Let me sharpen my pencil and make a list. My pal, John, will probably have some ideas, too. The safety of these children is priority, but, Legate and Poltious are also dear friends of mine. It would be my deepest honor to assist you in whatever you need. I'm your servant, sir. Just, name what you want. Hell, I'll even spot you on a card game later."
Lartius laughed and pat Tony's shoulder. "This is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Thank you, Tony!"
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Rose sat on the sofa in their bedroom with Genie in her arms. It was late at night and the room was dimly lit. She watched the television as she held her sleeping daughter. She smiled as she felt his presence closer to her.
"And I can feel you there."
He smiled as he sat down next to her. He was still wearing his three piece suit, without the jacket. He unbuttoned the vest as he sat down next to her. "How is she?"
"I'm not sure. She was really just….unsettled. She feels warm to me. Could she be getting sick?"
He loosened his tie, took out his screwdriver and scanned Genie.
"White blood cell count is up. Yes. She's getting sick. That explains a lot." He turned and put a blanket on her.
She could feel his sadness. "Sweetheart. She will be alright. All children get sick."
He nodded his head. "I know."
He continued to watch Genie sleep. She could feel how much his heart was aching.
Laying her hand on his thigh, she asked, 'Do you need a session with Doctor Helga?'
He smiled, "No. I'm alright."
"Baby, you're not."
"It's not something, I should-"
"Upset me with. I know what this is about." Rose insisted, 'She has a normal life span. That's what has upset you so.'
He sighed, "Jack said something about it being hard to see her. It just made me realize, that's only 300 years from now. How different everything is."
'How many people will be missing.' She added.
He nodded and propped his head up on his fist.
She rubbed his thigh. "Baby. Be here. Don't be there. Enjoy now, don't mourn then."
He nodded, "So much easier to say than to do, Rose."
Anxious to change the subject, Rose asked, "How did the interview go?"
He nodded, "Pepper thinks it went well. Have they played it yet?"
She looked back at the telly, "No. It's up in a few minutes."
"Probably editing the good bits. Want some tea? Anything?"
"No. I'm alright." She smiled.
"You? Turning down tea? Are you getting ill?"
She giggled. "Perhaps."
He pointed at Genie. "Want me to put her in her bed? She'll rest better."
"She's fine." Rose insisted.
He pulled Genie's feet into his lap and moved closer to Rose. He took off his tie and tossed it on the table in front of the sofa. He put his arm around Rose and she leaned into him. "I'm sorry. But, I haven't told you today. I love you," he kissed her head. "and you are precious to me."
She smiled, "I love that you do that."
"It was actually a promise in one of the weddings we had. I agreed to it, but you didn't. So don't feel that you-"
She smiled and looked into his eyes, "Baby. I love you, more than you will ever know. More than anyone ever could."
He smiled at her. "So, not cross with me about the kiss and knocking you out?"
"I've decided I need to just forget it and move on. I recommend you do the same thing. You may be right. I might be the one that puts that in the TARDIS. Although I can't see ever wanting to."
He kissed her head again and held his head against hers. "Oh, I love you. Your smell is intoxicating."
She rose her eyebrows, "And I have a child in my lap, so don't get any ideas."
He kissed down her to neck. He mumbled, "I can put that child in her bed, and put me in you."
Her mouth dropped open and she laughed.
He looked back at her and smiled, "What do you say?"
She smiled, "You're the Doctor."
He chuckled and quickly jumped up off the sofa. "And this one needs to get a good night's rest." He took Genie to her bedroom.
Genie's bedroom window was open and the sound of the sea could be heard outside. The moon hung low in the sky, and the stars twinkled.
The TARDIS sung in his head, causing him to smile as he tucked Genie in her bed. He turned to the TARDIS, which was encased in a large tank on the other side of the room. It had changed to look like a long, red, wooden block. Apparently, it had seen Genie's tower of colored wooden blocks that sat on the floor near the tank.
He smiled proudly, "I prefer blue, personally. But, red is lovely."
He felt the small TARDIS change her song and the block changed into a dark green color. The Doctor chuckled, "Colors. I'll have Genie work with you on your colors. Unless you are being cheeky. Which is it?"
The TARDIS continued to sing. He returned and sat on the side of Genie's bed to watch her sleep. He thought of what Jack had said and felt a knot rise in his throat. She lay on her side with her tiny hand in front of her face. He felt of her forehead again. He could feel her body fighting whatever small illness that she had managed to catch. She coughed in her sleep.
He pressed his hand on her chest and closed his eyes. He whispered what Rose had called "magic words" and his hand glowed as he healed the small sickness that was making Genie feel so feverish. After a bit, he opened his eyes and saw the glow of his hand fade. He leaned down and blew the sparkly mist away from Genie.
He felt of her forehead again. It felt normal. He pulled his screwdriver out of his pocket and scanned her. Everything read as normal. He rubbed her back as he smiled painfully and whispered, "Daddy loves you so much. He doesn't want you to be ill. Rest, my precious child."
Genie continued to sleep peacefully as he tucked her in.
He looked around and found her Goofy doll sitting on her piano bench. He put it in her arms and kissed her again. He whispered, "Friday. Lights."
The lights dimmed.
He walked back to the tank that held the growing TARDIS and put his finger over his lips. "And Rose never needs to know that happened, does she?"
He listened to the TARDIS' song.
He groaned and ran his hand through his hair. "Cheeky from the beginning."
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The Doctor walked back into his and Rose's bedroom carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. He sat down next to Rose and poured her a glass.
She smiled, "Thank you, Baby. Genie alright?"
He nodded as he sat back with his glass and sipped it, "She's fine. It took me a minute to find her Goofy doll."
Rose smiled at him, "That will help her sleep. How is the TARDIS?"
He smiled at her, "Cheeky. But, she's right where she can see everything. She seems happy. Singing a lot."
Rose giggled, "I know, I can hear her."
He looked surprised back at her. "Now?"
She nodded, "Yes. It's very comforting."
"She's just….what?"
"Singing. Like a hum in my head. Can't you hear her?"
He sighed, "No. Only if I'm close to her. Rose, I really think she doesn't like me."
"Baby, don't worry about it."
He drank some more of his wine and then looked at the glass. "This has such an odd taste to it."
Rose groaned, "You are still on about this?"
"I can't figure it out."
"You've sampled enough of it."
He smiled, "Apparently not. I'm going to figure this out." He sipped it again. "Oh, it's strange."
She giggled, "And you like strange-"
"Love strange. Yes!" He poured himself another glass as the interview started.
The reporter smiled at the camera. "And good evening. We're here tonight with Doctor Johnathon Smith and Pepper Potts."
The Doctor pulled the blanket back over him and Rose. She watched the telly as he wrapped his arm around her and started to kiss her face and neck again.
"I didn't know Pepper was doing the interview with you."
He sat down his wine and unbuttoned Rose's blouse, "Yeah. I asked her to go out there with me." He continued to kiss Rose as she giggled and lay down on the sofa.
"You're not going to watch this?" Rose asked as she felt him take off her bra.
"I've already seen it." he told her as he rubbed both of her breasts and kissed her neck. "You watch it though. I'll keep myself busy."
She giggled.
The Doctor on the screen smiled. "Yes. Tony is out of town. He asked me to come on and for him. He's had to postpone this interview, what did you say Pepper? Three times?"
Pepper smiled, "Yes. He's had a lot of unexpected trips lately."
"Business must be good." The reporter commented.
Pepper smiled, "He's just busy. Running in about twelve directions at once."
The Doctor on the screen laughed. "Yes. That's Tony."
The Doctor on the sofa unfastened the jeans Rose wore and kissed her waist.
"You are making this hard to concentrate on this." Rose teased. Then she felt him pull down her jeans. He rose up and pushed them to the floor. "The door is closed, right?"
He nodded, "Yes. Watch the telly."
The reporter asked, "So. You and Tony have been seen together a lot. Is it safe to say you are friends?"
The Doctor shrugged his shoulders, "Sure. My daughter calls him, 'Uncle Tony'."
"Genie. She is such a beautiful, little girl. Now, she's adopted?"
The Doctor pointed at himself, "I adopted her after Rose and I married. She was left to Rose after her mother passed away."
The reporter nodded, "But, you have a son together. Sam?"
He nodded, "Yes. Samuel."
"How is Rose recovering from her injuries?"
The Doctor looked back at Pepper and rose his eyebrows. He could see why Tony didn't like to do interviews. "Rose is fine. She's just stepping back from life in public. Her father doesn't like to do interviews, and she's a lot like him."
"And you are talking about Pete Tyler?"
"Yes."
"Let's go back to Genie. It was late, and you had her on stage tonight?"
The reporter showed the video from the Expo of the Doctor carrying Genie out on stage. "She looks so tired here."
The Doctor smiled, "She was asleep and had a bad dream. It had only just happened moments before I needed to on stage. So, I brought her with me. She was asleep again as the video played. She just needed to be held."
The Doctor on the sofa pushed Rose's knees up as he put his head between her legs. He gently took her clit in his teeth and hummed.
"Really hard to concentrate." Rose insisted.
He started to lick her most sensitive area. She ran her fingers through his hair as he ran his tongue deep inside of her.
The reporter continued, "So, you and Tony Stark."
The Doctor nodded, "Yes."
"He just calls you up to ask for a hand with something? Like a television interview?"
"He can if he wants. He knows I'll be right there to help. Pepper actually asked me to do the interview, well, not that's not true is it, Pepper?"
Pepper smiled, "He asked to help. Tony is so hard to plan things for. His schedule has gotten so chaotic over the past few months."
"Is that because of the Expo?"
Pepper shook her head. "No. It's just…."
The Doctor smiled, "It's just how life gets. It seems like when you are needed for something, everyone calls at once."
"But the video that was shown at the Expo?"
Pepper smiled, "That was made weeks ago. Our guys needed time to edit it."
The Doctor smiled back at Pepper. "Yes, our bodyguard, Legate, I believe was the one who filmed that. Right?"
Pepper shook her head. "I honestly don't remember. One of the guys."
The Doctor pointed at himself. "I just know, I wasn't in it. I was really surprised when Pete was. I must have been in the house, dealing with the children…or something."
Pepper turned back to him and laughed, "Ice cream was probably involved."
He laughed, "Probably was."
The Doctor on the sofa with Rose stopped keeping himself busy and laid his head on her stomach to watch the telly. "Oh. I wonder if they left this next bit in."
Rose played with his hair, "Good. I can catch my breath for a second."
He chuckled and kissed her stomach.
The reporter asked, "Has he ever talked to you about when he was held captive-"
The Doctor held his hand up, "Well, hang on. Let's talk about that. Your name is…David, right?"
The reporter nodded, "Yes."
"And your wife of 23 years just left you. Something about a …..pool boy?"
The reporter became very uncomfortable. "Well, I would prefer not-"
"See, and there was no personal injury with that. Well, unless you count her taking the children. And I would."
The reporter rubbed his face. "Doctor Smith-"
He shook his head. "Well, see….you don't want to talk about that. The same way that Tony doesn't want to talk about the other. So, are we going to talk about things we can't change, or how we are moving forward?"
Rose laughed proudly, "And you slammed the door on him. Oh wow. And I'm finished watching this. Come up here."
He kissed up her chest and finally her lips. She could taste her in his mouth as he kissed her. She unfastened his trousers and pushed them down. She immediately took his stiff staff and rubbed it against her opening.
He smiled at her. "You are so wet. I think you like the news."
She rolled her eyes. "I think you know why I'm so wet there."
He laughed and slipped inside of her. She felt him lift up her back and slip a pillow from the end of the sofa, under her. The new angle allowed him to go deeper inside of her. He returned to snogging her. 'Do you want me to go back down there?'
She held him tightly, 'Stay up here.'
He continued to stroke as the sweat of their wet bodies moved together. He rose up and took off his vest and his shirt, tossing them on the floor. He rose her legs to his shoulders and pressed himself inside of her, causing her to shout.
"And that's it!" He smiled proudly.
He continued to stroke as she felt his fingertips move back to her clit. He teased it, making her moan even more. She covered her face. "Oh, that's…"
He smiled at her, "Tell me."
She panted. He watched her breasts bounce as he pressed himself inside of her. The sight was overwhelming to his senses. The smell, the way he felt, the way he could feel her enjoyment and satisfaction, how tight she was in that moment.
He took her feet off of his shoulders and helped her relax on the sofa again. She pulled the pillow out and tossed it on the floor. Covered in sweat, he lay down on top of her and started to kiss her again. He could feel her fingertips teasing his bum.
He laughed, rose up and kissed her on the end of the nose. "They can hear us downstairs."
She groaned, "Ugh. Those guys-"
"I was getting cheered on." He teased her.
She laughed, "Oh my God. Are you serious?"
He sat up and pulled on his pants and trousers again. "Nah. I'm teasing. This is a sound proof room. Lewis just got a call from Pete, and he needs me to go to Torchwood."
She relaxed on the sofa. "Why didn't he just ring you?"
He pulled on his shirt and rebuttoned it. "I put my phone on 'Do Not Disturb' during the interview." He picked up his tie and started to put it on. Rose grabbed it and pulled him down to her lips again. She kissed him and wrapped her legs around him tightly.
"Oh, do you have to go?" She moaned.
He smiled at her. "Oh, I love you. My Nehtya. The reason I breathe."
She smiled at him. "Translating Gallifreyan, are you?"
He smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Maybe. The word you are looking for is-"
She heard him say some odd word she had heard him say a few times before. She smiled at him and repeated it. She could feel his happiness grow inside of him. He smiled at her, "Yes. That's right."
She let go of his tie. He stood up and retied it. "I have no idea how long I'll be, Rose."
She pulled the blanket over herself. "Take your time. I'm going to take a shower, check on Genie, and go to bed."
He buttoned up his vest. "You are a mean woman. Putting the image of you showering, in my head right before I leave."
She laughed, "Your jacket is on the bed."
He ran his hand through his hair. "How bad is my hair?"
She motioned for him to come closer to her. He sat down on the sofa and she ran her hands through his hair to make it look more presentable. He watched her eyes as she sorted it for him. "There, Baby."
He smiled, "Baby. I love that you call me that."
She giggled, "I've noticed you saying it recently."
He grinned at her. "It sounds like me." He leaned down and kissed her proper one more time.
"Don't wait up for me. Get some sleep." He told her. He walked over to bed, put on his jacket, and popped away.
Rose sighed and rewound the interview on the telly.
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