XxxxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx

Chapter 35 – Sick

The Doctor was dreaming. He found himself looking back at Rose's frightened face. He was trying to convince her of something, and Rose being Rose, wasn't having it.

Such a Tyler.

"Rose. You don't understand. The Void will close and you will never see her again. Your own Mother-"

"I made my choice a long time ago. I'm not ever going to leave you." She insisted.

His heart dropped. He wanted to kiss her there, but knew he couldn't.

Just then, he woke with a start. He was sitting on the sofa in the sitting room downstairs. Rose was walking away from him with Samuel in her arms. "I really wish you would stop waking up like that. It freaks me out. Jumping out of your skin. Mad man. You need to calm down."

He relaxed and ran his hand through his hair. The morning sun was shining over the ocean, and the palm trees blew in the gentle wind outside.

Rose kissed Samuel and laid him in his cot. "What are you dreaming about?"

He watched her tend to Samuel. She was wearing her long, blue robe and silk gown. It was morning, but not too early. None of the Quauhtin had invaded the kitchen for coffee yet. Samuel was still asleep.

She walked back and sat next to him on the sofa. She rubbed his thigh. "You never came to bed last night."

He was busy looking her up and down. He still wore his jammy jams and a t-shirt.

She looked back at him and grinned. "I can feel that. What were you dreaming about?"

"You. Something you told me once." He told her quietly.

She smiled. "What was that?"

He turned to face her on the sofa. He untied her dressing gown and put his hand on her hip. His other hand went to her cheek as he looked deeply into her eyes. "Rose. I adore you."

She smiled back at him. "This must have been some dream."

He laughed, "It was."

"Then kiss me, nutter, before the feeling fades."

He shook his head and smiled, "That feeling will never fade. I promise."

He leaned in and kissed her. He could feel her running her hands through his hair. He held her tightly and wished they were upstairs in their room. His hand slowly slid up her body and cupped her breast.

'Someone will walk in.'

'Let them.'

She moaned and lay back on the sofa. He lay down on top of her and continued to snog her. Her fingertips teased the stubble that had appeared on his face.

"Baby." She whispered.

He was lost in kissing her. He kissed down to her chest and unfastened her silk gown that she wore. He had just begun to suck her nipple when Legate and Jack walked in with Logan and Aaron. The Doctor and Rose continued to lie on the sofa, out of their sight.

Rose bit her lip and looked at his face. He put his finger over her lips and smiled. Then returned to kissing her, quietly.

Jack groaned, "No one is up yet? That's odd."

"Lewis is awake. He said that Lance left just a bit ago." Legate stated.

"Yeah, no doubt to go see his girlfriend-"

"I think Lance is with Tony."

Jack nodded, "Like I said."

Legate laughed. "A bromance."

Logan leaned against the cabinet. "Coffee. That's what is needed here. Aaron, do you drink coffee?"

Aaron shook his head. "I'll try it-"

Legate chuckled, "You'll love it. It's….brilliant."

Jack started a pot brewing. "Yeah, John will smell this and pop right down. I think he is part….canine."

The Doctor stopped kissing Rose and started to say something. Rose put her finger over his lips and shook her head. He leaned back down and began to snog her again.

Legate took a cup out of the cabinet. "Thank you lot for helping put the Batman symbol on the lighthouse. John will love it."

"Jackie will hate it." Logan laughed.

Jack sang the theme to Batman and laughed with the others.

Logan sighed, "Ugh. If we're leaving today, I'll probably just go ahead and go back. Ashena at war. I hate this."

Aaron nodded his head. "It's just part of it. You're training to be a Quauhtin, too?"

Logan nodded. "Yes. Summus has high hopes that I will be the first human Quauhtin. I don't know. You guys can do a lot of stuff I simply can't."

Jack poured himself a cup of coffee. "Like what?"

"Well, you know."

"There are ways around everything, man. Like, cards. How the hell are you so damn good at cards, Aaron?" Legate asked.

Aaron shrugged his shoulders. "Luck?"

Jack sipped his coffee and chuckled. "Right."

Legate looked curiously at him. "What?"

"If you haven't figured it out, I'm not telling you."

"Fuckers with your damn secrets." Legate groaned.

Something had caught Jack's attention. He continued to listen to the other guys while they made their coffee. He slowly walked over to the sofa where Rose and the Doctor were, completely silent. The other men noticed and looked curiously at him.

The Doctor felt him walking towards them, so he covered Rose back up with her dressing gown and lay beside of her. Just as he wrapped his arms around her, Jack's face appeared over the back of the sofa. He laughed, "Well, then. Sorry for the interruption. Good morning. Kids."

Legate asked, "Who is that? Lance?"

Jack chuckled, "No. Someone who needs coffee. And a hair brush."

The Doctor stood up and ran his hands through his hair. It stuck up all over the place on his head.

Jack laughed hysterically at him. "Damn, that woman always does that to you. Well done, Rose."

The Doctor rolled his eyes and helped Rose up off the sofa. She held her dressing gown around her and smiled. "I'll just go, get dressed."

The Doctor kissed her quickly and whispered, "Need me?"

"In a bit. Bring me some tea."

He grinned, "Yes, ma'am."

They kissed one another again, and Rose walked out of the room. "Good morning, boys."

They all smiled and greeted her as she left.

Jack rolled his eyes. "And there are few things in life you can always count on. Those two not being able to keep their hands off one another, is one."

Legate laughed. "Well, this is their house."

The Doctor held his hand out. "Thank you! Yes! It is!"

Jack groaned. "And here he goes-"

"And that's my wife. I'll bloody snog the hell out of her on my own sofa, in my own house-"

Jack teased, "With my own lips, with my own tongue. Please man. Youngsters are present."

The Doctor groaned and poured himself a cup of coffee.

Legate laughed, "Well, John. I could be worse. We could have been Jackie."

"Oh the gods, that's true!" He groaned.

Jack shook his head. "Ah, she's not too bad. She's walked in on me and Jake before. And you and Ginger, need to lock your door."

Legate shook his head. "I'm not having sex with Ginger! We're just friends."

Jack rose his eyebrows, "But, you are thinking about it now, aren't you?"

Legate grinned and nodded. "I won't deny it. She's cute."

Lewis walked in holding Arles in his arms and smiling. "And good morning to everyone. Is there tea?"

Logan turned and busied himself making Lewis a cup of tea.

Jack took Arles from Lewis and kissed the baby's face. "Little Arles. You are so tiny."

Lewis took the tea and smiled proudly back at the little boy. "But, he's strong."

Jack nodded, "Hell yeah, he is. This guy broke my arm in training….twice."

Lewis sipped his tea. "Yes. It's an easy thing to do. So, John. What are we doing about this meeting with Ashena?"

The Doctor sighed, "She has those Arions in custody. Well, Summus does."

"Does Tony know?" Jack asked.

"He's not put it together yet. Probably for the best. He's going to be hell bent when he finds out."

Jack nodded, "Lucky he's in the love bubble at the moment. Oh yeah."

Lewis shook his head. "They have no idea we have Soli. That's good news. Summus is treating it as if he died there on Andromeda. He's looking to charge them with murder."

The Doctor shook his head. "Oh, that's dangerous. If Magneer hears that Soli has died, before Poltious can reach him. Oh, this isn't a good idea. Have you people not read Shakespeare? Romeo and Juliet?"

Lewis nodded, "It is. But, that was their intentions and it keeps him safe with us in case there are others looking for him. Poltious thinks he has a lead on Mageer."

Legate nodded, "Yes. He rang last night. We patched it in to New York and he spoke to Tony about it. He's hoping he can find a man who has done business with Soler's father in the last few months. He can hopefully tell him which direction he went."

The Doctor turned around and asked for Rose's tea from the food replicator.

Logan held his hand out to Jack. "Well, Jack could tell us. What happens, man?"

Jack was busy tickling Arles' cheek and smiling at him. "Oh, Jack can't tell you."

Legate rolled his eyes. "Worthless. Seriously."

Jack pointed at Legate. "Lock your door. Trust me. That's all of the future warnings you're getting from me today."

Legate shook his head.

XXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tony was upstairs in the kitchen with Lance, Exton and Arcite. The morning sun reflected off of buildings of New York City and the dark clouds promised snow shortly. The television played CNN, quietly in the corner.

The men were all laughing and sipping coffee. Arcite had a simple glass of water stating that he wasn't sure how coffee would react with his system.

Lance sipped his coffee, "So, this Top Gear thing. Lewis says he wants several of us guys to go on it, too."

Tony nodded, "Oh, it's going to kick so much ass. John can't know."

Lance groaned, "I need to talk to you about that."

"What's the problem, man?"

Lance shook his head. "I can't drive. I've never even rode in a car. Lewis said he would prefer not to. He's still….shaken from the accident."

Tony groaned. "I didn't even think about that. Damn it. Well, I can teach you to drive, Lance. It's not a big deal."

"I was going to ask you to do that anyway. I'm fairly certain it will come up in the Trials. Poltious says it's not much different than a speeder, but…."

"But, what?"

"It has wheels. That's just….strange."

Tony rolled his eyes. "It's a car! The hell, man!"

Jarvis spoke, "There is a call from Captain Steve Rogers for you, sir."

Tony groaned, "Put it on the screen in here." He turned around and saw Captain Rogers sitting behind a desk. He was wearing a camouflage Army uniform and a very serious expression.

"Good morning, Tony. Sorry to contact you so early."

Tony sipped his coffee, "You have excellent timing. I was just having a cup of joe."

"Been up long?"

Tony looked confused, "Why would you ask me that?"

Captain Rogers raised his eye brows. "I have my reasons. I know it's sort notice, but I need to speak to you."

"Well, talk."

"No, sir. In your office. I can be there in an hour. I have a General with questions."

"Crossword puzzle too hard this morning?"

Captain Rogers sighed and leaned on the desk. "Oh, I think you know what this is about."

Tony leaned against the cabinet and crossed his arms. "See, you are taking vague to an entirely different level, man. I'm clueless."

"Yeah, whatever. Can you meet in an hour? Miss Potts probably-"

"Miss Potts is unavailable today. I'll meet with you. Sure. Make it an hour and a half. See you here." Tony ended the call.

Tony turned around and looked at Lance. "Ugh. Should have expected that."

Lance nodded his head. "Want me there?"

Tony took three coffee mugs out of the cabinet and poured coffee in each one. Arcite stood with his hands behind his back, watching him. He put different amounts of sugar and cream in each one.

Tony remembered something, "Lance! You've drove the dune buggies on the island."

Lance nodded, "Yeah, but….is that the same?"

Tony was busy preparing the coffees. "Very similar. Very."

"Huh. Maybe this won't be so difficult then."

Exton sat down at the bar. "John still seems to think we might be called off world this weekend."

Tony sighed.

Lance sipped his coffee. "Want me to continue with our plan?"

Tony thought. "Yes. That has to happen. Especially, if we might be going out of town again."

Lance sat down his mug in the sink. "Alright. I'll go get him. Arcite. Come with me."

Arcite nodded and they got into the lift together. Tony put the three coffees on a tray and told Exton. "I'll be a bit."

Exton put a small plate of toast on the tray with the mugs. "She really should try to eat something if she's ill."

Tony grinned, "Thanks, man."

Tony walked up the stairs carrying the tray. He walked into the quiet bedroom, which was still dark. The drapes were still pulled closed and Pepper continued to sleep. He sat the tray down on the table in front of the sofa.

He quietly went into the bathroom and took out the device he used to test his palladium level. He pressed his thumb to it and felt his heart sink in his chest when it read 8%. He mumbled, "That can't be right."

He tested it on his other thumb. It read 8%. "Damn it." He said quietly. He ran water over his hands and rubbed his face and neck. He leaned on the cabinet and thought. Why had it gone back up so high? So quickly? He had slept last night. Granted it wasn't for long.

He looked down at the bracelet to make sure the phase was turned off. It was. He groaned and looked at himself in the mirror. He was so angry and disappointed. He shook his head and groaned, then collected himself and told the guy in the mirror quietly. "We've got this. We had it at 3. We can get there, again." He high fived the guy in the mirror and walked into the bedroom.

He sat down beside of Pepper and rubbed her back.

She groaned, "What time is it?"

"It's morning. How are you feeling?"

She hadn't opened her eyes. "Tired."

"Tired, huh?"

He put his hand to her forehead. "It doesn't seem like you have a fever anymore."

She opened her eyes. "John gave me something last night. He said I was sick because we had been having too much sex."

His chuckle turned into a loud laugh. "Oh, shit."

She rose her eyebrows at him.

He looked surprised, "You're serious?"

"Yes. That's what he said. I have something called, 'Honeymoon Disease'."

"Oh, he's making that shit up." Tony grumbled.

Pepper sat up and reached for her phone. He quickly grabbed it before she could. She looked back at him in surprise. "What have you done?"

"Always, with such….suspicion." He teased.

She sat up, leaned back on the pillows, and watched him walk over to the sofa. He slipped her phone in his pocket and brought back over the tray.

"What is this?"

He sat it on the bed, "Okay. I think I have it. But, I've narrowed it down to these three. One of these is how you take your coffee. I'm sure of it, just not which one."

She shook her head. "When you get on something. Wow."

He pointed to each one, "This is how Rose says you take it. But, I don't think that's right. I've never seen it this white. I asked Natasha, but she didn't know. Exton has no idea either. So, I'll confess that I called….ummm….this little place you go on vacation every year in Northern California-"

"You didn't!"

"I did. The manager said she thought you took it like this."

"Hang on. You spoke to Brianca?"

"That woman needs subtitles. I couldn't understand a damn word she said."

Pepper rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yes. She does."

"Irish? Is that it?"

Pepper giggled, "Very. Did you tell her who you were?"

"I told her I was a friend of yours. Names didn't come into it, well, except hers. I don't think I told her mine. No, I didn't. No."

She smiled, "I'll get a call later from her. I'm sure."

He pointed at the third cup. "This one….this is how I think you probably take it."

"How do you know?"

"Well, I thought back to everytime I've ever seen you make it. And it's never the same way. But, this way is the one I've seen the most often."

"I can't believe you have put this much time into this."

"Why not? You're worth it. See, here I am…bringing you coffee. Let me do this for you. You don't have to be so damn…."

She rose her eyebrows at him, "So damn, what?"

"Independent. Let someone, me. Do something for you."

She looked at the cups. She took the one he had made after years of watching her make her own coffee and sipped it. She closed her eyes and nodded. "Oh, Tony. That is really good."

He smiled proudly. "Yeah? I got it right?"

She giggled, "I really can't believe you did this. How different are the other two?"

He sat the tray over on the dresser. "You don't want them. Rather different. Toast?"

She shook her head, "No. I don't like to eat when I first wake up."

He nodded and sat back on the side of the bed, facing her. "Alright. Well, I called Natasha and she said you just have one meeting today that you can't move."

"Yeah. These….sniper rifle scopes are fogging up. I need to talk to the developers about it-"

"No. You are sick. You are going to take the day off and say here."

She looked confused, "Tony, I'm fine."

"You work too damn hard. And now I'm finding out your vacations were just work, too."

"Tony! I didn't tell you that-"

"No. I know you didn't. I'm glad you told me. I have two meetings this morning, then I'll sort out this sniper scope problem. It's a simple thing. They will think they won the lottery, if they talk to me anyway."

"Tony, John said I would be fine. I feel fine."

He pointed at her. "You are taking the day off. I'd prefer you stay in bed and get completely well-"

"I am fine!"

He smiled, "Yes, you are."

She rolled her eyes. "I have my-"

"Girlie thing…yeah, Natasha is rescheduling it."

She groaned. "Tony. You haven't been in the office for stuff like this-"

"It's time I returned. You are sick."

"She's sick?"

They both turned to see Soli standing in the door of their bedroom with a shocked look on his face. Tony looked back at her and groaned.

Pepper pat the bed and Soli sat down next to her. He looked frightened. "Are you really sick?"

She shook her head, "I'm fine. I was sick last night, but John gave me some med-"

"But, you can't be!" Soli started to cry.

"Soli?"

Tony looked confused back at him, "She's fine, man."

He shook his head, "Please don't be….please don't."

Pepper looked confused back at Tony. He reached out and grabbed Soli quickly. He pulled him into his arms and held him. "Shhh…..she's fine."

He was hysterical and held Tony tightly. "No, Tony. No. Don't let her be sick."

Tony held him and rocked back and forth, "Shhhh….she's fine."

His cries had alerted Exton and Mortimer. They both ran up the stairs and were in the bedroom within seconds.

"What's this?" Exton asked.

Pepper had sat her coffee down on the side table and shook her head. She rubbed Soli's back. "Tony was insisting I stay in bed because I was sick-"

"She can't be sick!" Soli wailed.

Tony continued to hold him.

Exton knelt in front of Soler, next to the bed. "Soli. This isn't like before. When you were on the ship with the other children. We don't do that. No one is going to push her out into space. She's quiet safe."

Tony looked appalled. "They did what?!"

Exton continued, "We wouldn't let that happen. Not to anyone. Not to you, not to Pepper, not to anyone. Alright?"

Soli turned around and held Pepper. He seemed to calm down. "So, you're going to stay?"

Tony pat Soli's head and looked at Pepper's shocked face. She continued to hold Soli in her arms. She could see Tony's look of complete disbelief at this revelation.

Pepper kissed the side of Soli's face. "I'm not going to work today. What if me and you go see a mouse? Like Tony was telling you a story about last night?"

She looked up at Tony to see him grin painfully.

Soli rose up and wiped the tears from his face. "It's a real animal?"

She smiled warmly and wiped his face with her shirt. "It is. I'll take you to see one. Exton or Mortimer can go with us."

He looked back at Tony. "Why not Tony?"

Tony smiled at him. "I have to go to meet with some people. But, I'll see you at…umm…lunch. Yes. Unless you decide to go to lunch with our Princess. Promise me, though, that you will keep her safe."

He nodded and took a deep breath. Mortimer rubbed his hair. "Come on Indiana Jones. Everything is alright. I'll make you some breakfast."

Soli took Mortimer's hand and left with him to go to the kitchen. Tony looked back at Exton. "Okay, explain what the hell?"

"It's something Lewis discovered when he was looking for the lost children. If they found one had gotten sick, they would eject them into space to prevent the other ones from getting ill."

Pepper covered her mouth. "Oh my God."

"I didn't realize you wouldn't have known that. I should have told you. I'm sorry."

Pepper shook her head. "What has this poor kid been through?"

Tony rubbed his chin. "I want a full debriefing about this. You Quauhtin put your heads together and put me a report together so I can be better prepared. Alright?"

Exton nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll have something for you tonight."

"Thanks."

Exton left the bedroom.

Tony looked back at Pepper. "I'm going to kill that jackass that had him."

"Tony. Don't make this worse-"

"I really don't know how it could get worse!"

She sighed. "So, I'm taking today off."

"Don't change the subject. But, yes. Oh, I'm going to kill him."

"Tony." She picked back up her cup of coffee.

Tony was busy grumbling under his breath.

She sipped her coffee. "Tony."

He stood up and rubbed his face. "I need to change."

"So, we're not talking about this?"

He shook his head as he walked into his closet. She could tell he was completely disgusted.

She sat back and sipped her coffee.

Tony walked out of his closet without his shirt on. "Hang on a damn minute. Lewis said yesterday that Summus had captured them. They had came back."

"What?"

He walked over to her, scratching his bare chest, "That was Lewis' plan the entire time. He said they would come back to take the children! Those damn Arions that had him!"

"I'm not following-"

"Summus has the jackasses that had him! Right now! They are on Andromeda!"

She pointed at him, "You are not going there-"

"Yeah. I'm not allowed. They are on the brink of war, but…damn. I could get my hands on this guy. Hmm… I need to talk to Legate."

"No, Tony. Let Summus handle this."

He groaned and went back to the closet. She noticed his back had marks all over it.

"Tony."

He turned around and looked at her. "I'm not going, Pepper."

"No. Come here."

He walked back to her with a look of confusion on his face. "What?"

"You have something all over your back."

He grinned proudly, "Carpet burns. Worth every mark." He leaned down and kissed her.

She giggled and noticed his shoulder and arm was also bruised up.

"Tony?"

He was already walking back to the closet. "I'm getting ready. You can have a full inspection of my body later, Pepper. I look forward to it."

She groaned, sat back and sipped her coffee.

She finished it as he walked back into the room. He was wearing a dark suit with a black t-shirt under it.

"No tie?"

He sat on the side of the bed and put on his bright red trainers. "No. I need to be….approachable. I'm meeting someone who is not going to respond well to a tie. And someone who thinks I'm an idiot. So, this will give them the wrong impression. Trust me. It's not my first party."

"Who are you meeting?"

He looked back at her and relaxed. He lay across the bed, and took her hand. "So, the coffee is right?"

She sat the empty cup on the table. "It was great. Thank you."

He nodded. "Alright. Ummm. He's probably not going to want to go to John's after this for the night, is he?"

Pepper smiled, "I'll talk to him."

"Ugh. We might be on our way to see Lartius this afternoon anyway. I need to talk to Summus. Don't make any plans. I'm not sure what the hell is going on."

"Welcome to my world."

"How do you feel? Really?"

She whispered, "I'm really fine. Seriously."

He kissed her hand. "I need to go. Hey."

She whispered, "What?"

His eyes met her own. "I love you, Virginia Potter."

She smiled, "I love you, Anthony Stark."

He nodded, "And somehow, that doesn't sound so terrible when you say it."

She giggled as he stood up and buttoned his jacket. "You are so handsome."

He held his hands out. "Of course."

"What is your number today?"

He groaned and rubbed his hands together. Suddenly remembering, he reached in his pocket and tossed her phone on the bed. He winked at her and walked out of the room, "I'll see you later today. Please, don't bring home a mouse."

She took her phone and with a look at the time, her mouth dropped open. "You let me sleep until 9?! TONY!"

XxxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxx