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Chapter 47 - Evening

Lance popped Jane back to her studio flat in London.

"Do I have you back in time for your afternoon session?" Lance asked.

Jane smiled at him. "Yes. I'm a bit early. Thank you."

He stood in front of her and smiled, "I'm sorry about everything today. "

She wrapped her arms around his waist. She smiled at him and whispered. "It's really alright."

He was lost looking at her again. He caressed her cheek.

"What are you doing later?" She asked.

He smiled at her. "Studying an atlas."

She laughed at him.

"I don't know. Lewis has been delayed. I think. I'm not entirely certain."

"I was thinking, you need to sort out those clothes all over that room of yours."

He nodded, "Yes?"

"It's quite a mess. I could help with that."

He smiled. "Let me know when you are finished working. Legate is insisting on a football game. I can count it towards training today."

"As if your fight wouldn't count."

Lance nodded. "That's true. It probably would. No. John says it doesn't. Hell."

She shook her head. "You are so strange. John isn't here."

Lance smiled at her. "Thank you. For being there for me today."

She smiled. "I'll see you later."

He leaned down and kissed her. Someone opened the studio door in the other room. "Hello."

Jane called. "I'll be just there."

Lance kissed her lips once more quickly. He whispered. "Ring me later."

She whispered back. "Stay out of trouble."

He smiled as he typed something on his arm and popped away.

Jane picked up her camera and walked into the studio with a smile on her face.

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The Doctor walked with Soler through the small, cottage hospital on Photoria. He had to admit that he was impressed with the young boy. He had spoken to every child that had been recovered, and reassured them that Primus John was there to help him, along with the rest of the Quauthin. More than once, it was probably what had made all of the difference with the children.

Lenox leaned against a station with a few residents of the hospital. Nurses and other care givers, no doubt. He looked over some paperwork. The Doctor put his hand on his back. Lenox looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you for helping, John."

The Doctor shook Lenox's hand. "It is my pleasure. Allow me to introduce someone. Honorem Quauhtin Soler of Chaomlean, son of Mageer, and protector of the house of Stark."

Soli added, "And Smith."

The Doctor chuckled and nodded. "Yes. And Smith. Soli, this is Primus Lenox, and Governor General of Photoria."

Soli's eyes became huge. "Is it really?"

Lenox laughed and shook Soli's hand. "You are the boy Tony is caring for. Where is Tony?"

"He has left to pick up our Princess."

The Doctor rubbed Soli's head and smiled, "Yes. And Lewis and Licis from Jalikapo. Lartius gave us all quite the fright."

Lenox laughed, "Let me guess. The castle decoy?"

"Does everyone know about this but us?"

Lenox shook his head. "He's done that to me about three times. He needs to learn a new trick."

The Doctor put his hand on his hips and groaned. "I'm glad I'm not the only one."

Lenox knelt down to look at Soler's face. "I am so sorry to hear about your father. He was an amazing man. He has saved the Quauhtin homeworld. He will be remembered, always, for his bravery."

Soli nodded. "Thank you. Is there anything else I can do to help?"

Lenox smiled proudly. "You have been so tremendously helpful already. Thank you."

Lenox stood up and smiled at Soli. "He would make a great Quauhtin. What does Tony say?"

"That it's up to him. Soli. Would you like to return to the ship? Or remain here and play with the children?"

Soli thought it over as Genie skipped behind him with three little girls and four young boys from the village. "Soli. Will you come outside and play in the sun with us?"

One of the boys added, "It's beautiful today. Come on."

Soli looked at the Doctor. "Would that be alright?"

The Doctor nodded, "Looks like they would need protection. Go on."

Soli smiled and joined them as they left. The Doctor watched them leave. He cleared his throat. "And I'm finished here for the moment. I'll be back in the morning to check on a few of them."

Lenox nodded. "Thank you. Will you be on the surface tonight?"

"I'm thinking about taking my wife to the caverns."

Lenox smiled. "A place I don't visit enough. Take a shuttle and make an evening out of it. Jack and I have all of this under control."

The Doctor pat Lenox on the shoulder and walked out of the cottage hospital. He skipped down the steps and looked out at the large, grassy field where all of the children played together. Genie and Soli saw him and waved. He smiled and waved back to them and the other children as he walked down the pebble path.

As he approached Lenox's home, he heard Rose and Phipps' voices in the back garden. He opened the gate and smiled at them as he walked into the garden.

Rose laughed with Phipps about something they were talking about. "Back already?"

He sat down next to her and nodded. "It wasn't too much. Jack had already sorted most of them on the ship."

Phipps held Samuel, who was sleeping in her arms. "How bad is it?"

He poured himself some of the blue liquid and sipped it. "The worst is a broken arm that wasn't treated. She's sedated. Another one had been hiding they were sick for a long time. It's grown into something that we have to be rather aggressive with. But, the majority are all healthy. Physically."

Phipps sighed. "And now the work begins. These poor children."

"Lenox offering this place for them was a splendid idea. Nine of them are already playing out there in the field with the others. That's exactly what they should be doing."

Phipps smiled and looked down at Samuel. "It won't be long until he's out there with them."

Rose sighed, "Don't I know it. He's already trying to walk."

Phipps smiled. "Well, of course he is. He's surrounded by children who are all much older than him. He has no idea he's a baby. He's trying to keep up with them."

Rose nodded, "That's exactly what my mum said."

Phipps kissed Sam's sleeping head. "All children are in such a hurry to grow up. I suppose we all were."

Rose laughed. "I know I was. You?"

The Doctor sipped the drink and shook his head. "I don't remember. That was a very long time ago."

Phipps smiled, "For us all. You two should go do something. I'd be happy to take care of this one."

The Doctor pointed at the hospital, "Jack will be finished-"

"And if he wants to take him, I'll allow it. Go. I know how hard it is to get a moment to yourself. Genie, Soli and Sam will be fine."

Rose couldn't believe her ears. "Really?"

"Yes. I'll let you know if you are needed."

The Doctor took Rose's hand. "There's something I would like to show you."

"And experiment with."

He laughed, "Yes. Maybe there will be time for that."

Rose stood up and kissed Sam's head. "Thank you, Phipps."

She smiled. "I love having a baby around. Go on."

The Doctor took Rose's hand and they left the garden together. The Doctor could feel Rose's apprehension. "Gosh. Did I just leave my baby with a total stranger?"

The Doctor laughed, "No. You just left your baby with a capable person. He'll be fine."

She shook her head. "I know you're right. He's fine. What are we doing?"

He walked along the path and kissed her hand. "I know of something here I want you to see. There's something similar on Earth, but this one is more….pronounced."

Rose laughed. "I have no idea what that means."

He stopped walking, took out the transport trigger and they returned to the ship.

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Poltious and Tony were well on their way to Jalikapo in Tony's ship. Tony wore a long sleeved grey shirt with a black t-shirt on top of it with his jeans.

Poltious sat next to him wearing a pair of brown trousers, tall leather boots, and a white cotton shirt. Tony looked back at him. "Man, you look like a pirate."

He typed in a few things on the computer and smiled. "You are still on about this?"

"Have you seen yourself? You need a fashion counselor."

He laughed. "How is Legate? Has he been able to stay out of trouble in my absence?"

"He has. Although, Lance was arrested for something."

Poltious laughed.

"What?"

"Lance always gets arrested. It's a problem of his."

"Lance?"

"Oh yes. Lance. It's always been a problem with him. Once, we were together on….I can't even remember. It was a long time ago. We were in this bar, playing cards. Lance was winning, as he always does, and someone accused him of cheating."

Tony grinned.

"He didn't take to kindly to that, as Howie would say. So, there was a fight. I managed to get arrested with him that night. Both of us went to ….ummm…. a box?"

Tony nodded and grinned, "A jail. Yes."

Poltious smiled, "Yes. But, we won the fight."

"Then what happened?"

He crossed his arms and sat back. "I called a friend. It was sorted."

Tony nodded. "I think I know this friend."

"Who do you think it is?"

"Lartius."

Poltious sighed and nodded his head. "It is."

"The same one that Legate probably calls whenever he gets into trouble."

"I believe they can speak to one another telepathically since his return."

Tony laughed, "They can. That's how I knew Pepper was alright and where they went."

Poltious looked surprised, "Hang on. He's here?"

"Look. You two need to sort this out."

He sighed. "There's nothing to sort out."

"You guys are best friends. You are his One."

"And he is mine…wait, how do you know that?"

Tony waved his hand. "Nevermind. It's not important. I don't know what happened, and it's none of my business-"

He pointed at him. "And you're right about that."

"But, you are a friend of mine. As is he. He's simply your One. Isn't that…like family?"

He sighed. "It is. But, this isn't something you would understand, Tony. You're not a married man."

Tony bit his lip. "You're right, I'm not. But, what would you tell Lewis and John in this case?"

"Arla wasn't Lewis' fault."

"I don't need to know what happened." Tony insisted. "Just….think about it."

Poltious clicked a few buttons and read a print out. "And I have a little over an hour to think about it. Nice ambush."

"John's idea. Break his arm. Not mine."

"It's an easy thing to do."

"See, Lewis says that all of the time, too. You guys are just….scary."

Poltious shrugged his shoulders. "Want me to show you?"

"Without breaking my arm, right? Just so we are clear."

"Certainly." Poltious grinned.

Tony rose his eyebrows. "Hell, what else are we doing?"

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