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Chapter 36
Rose couldn't believe how long it had taken her to pack to leave New York. Standing in her bedroom, she tossed another pair of jeans into her already overly full suitcase. Thinking it may compress down, she attempted to close it. It still needed several inches of clearance before it would close.
She sighed and opened the suitcase.
"We're on schedule," Lewis said as he walked in through the open door to Rose's suite. "Do you need any help?"
Rose had already grown annoyed and grumbled under her breath, "This damn thing-"
Lewis stepped over to the suitcase, "Let me try it."
He opened it up and scratched his head. "Wow. Lots of shopping."
Rose sighed and walked into her bathroom. "I haven't even finished in here."
Lewis opened it and placed his hands on his hips. "Does this other stuff in the cupboard need to go in here, too?"
"And that pile next to it, too."
Lewis blew air out of his lips. "Alright."
Careful not to look in the mirror, she opened the drawers and began to pack her make-up into a bag. "I'm telling you, Lewis. You will be defying the laws of time and space if you can get that bag sorted."
She heard his voice, "I think I can do it."
She knelt and opened the cabinet's door.
Lewis called from the bedroom. "Mickey will meet us halfway to Florida."
"Really?" Rose was honestly surprised. She walked into her bedroom to make sure she heard Lewis correctly, "How in the world is he getting back so-"
She stopped dead in her tracks as Lewis sat down the closed suitcase in the doorway. The pile of things she was attempting to get into the suitcase had disappeared.
"How did you do that so quickly?" She asked.
"You mostly had it. Anyway, Mickey is bringing Arla over. They are on the Bullet now. They are going to connect with us in….umm. I can't remember the name of the place."
She looked at the suitcase again. "Lewis."
"Yes?"
She pointed at the suitcase. "Did you get everything in there?"
He glanced down at the suitcase, "Of course. Why?"
She walked slowly over to him.
He rose his eyebrows, "What's wrong?"
She stopped in front of him. "Lewis. Where are you from?"
He grinned, "All over the place. Why?"
"I've never thought about it. I just assume you're English."
He continued to smile. "What's this about, Rose?"
She crossed her arms and looked at him suspiciously. "Lewis. May I ask you something? It's going to sound mad."
He shrugged his shoulders, "Sure. What's on your mind?"
"Umm." She chose her words carefully, "I suppose…."
"Hey, Lewis!" A male voice called from outside the door.
Lewis said, "I'm in here."
Sam the bodyguard appeared in the doorway. "Pete wants a meeting."
"When? Now?"
"No, he said after we're underway was fine."
Lewis nodded, "Right. Thanks."
Sam grabbed Rose's suitcase and left the room.
Rose still stood in front of Lewis. He met her eyes and smiled warmly. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"
"It's stupid." She smiled in embarrassment.
"It's not." He assured her. "Go ahead. I promise I won't laugh."
She nodded, "Lewis, have you always looked like this?"
He didn't act surprised by the question at all, and in fact, she noticed that he took a deep breath as he looked at the floor. "Umm. Rose."
"You can tell me." She smiled in a hopeful way.
Lewis looked up but avoided her eyes. His sudden smile made her heart leap!
It was him! Her Doctor! He had changed his face again!
"It is you." She said as she felt him take her hand.
He met her gaze and smiled sadly. "Rose. I'm so sorry, but I'm not your Doctor. I'm just Lewis."
Rose closed her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry-"
"Don't be." He said and kissed her hand.
Another bodyguard called from the main suite. "Lewis, I need you in here."
Rose closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry even though she felt as if she had been gutted all over again. A tear fell from her eye.
Lewis wiped her tear and smiled at her. "Rose, everything is going to be alright. I know how much you miss him."
He let go of her hand and had walked out of the room before she even had the thought enter her mind.
"Does Lewis know the Doctor?" Rose asked herself aloud.
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