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Chapter 5 - Property Manager

The Doctor got out of the shower and got dressed back in his jeans, t-shirt and blue oxford he had been wearing earlier that day. He was walking around their room in his bare feet rolling up his sleeves a bit, when he remembered he needed to call Michelle, his secretary.

He rang her up.

"Doctor Smith's office." she answered.

"Hey, there! It's me! How are you today?"

"Oh, just fine. Rose called yesterday and told me you were sick. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, thank you. I'm just fine. I was calling to check on things."

He rubbed his beard as she told him she had tickets for the Bullet that afternoon for the three of them to depart at 6:00pm. They would eat on the Bullet and get back to London at 11:00pm, Washington time. A car had already been ordered to meet them at the Bullet depot. It would take them directly to their new flat in London. The doorman was already aware they hadn't been there before, so he just had to show his ID when he came in that night.

"I also did some shopping for you. Rose sent a list of items, which I took by there last night. Genie's room has some new toys and clothes, but I left a dollhouse for you to put together. I couldn't figure it out and I didn't imagine you would mind."

"Nah, not at all. I'm really handy with a screwdriver."

Rose walked in as he said that.

"What the hell?" she laughed at him.

He laughed quietly back at her. He pointed at the phone. Rose nodded as she came over and wrapped her arms around his waist. He pulled her close to him with his one, free hand. He kissed her quietly on the forehead as he listened to Michelle.

"Very good. As for tomorrow. I have moved your appointment with Ms. Rowling to lunch, then Pete has a meeting with you and an architect at 4:00. A car will pick you up at the flat for lunch at 11:30. Then take you to the meeting with Pete at Torchwood's offices."

"Oh, beautiful. Thursday is booked though. I have Melissa's funeral all day. Do you have that down?"

"Yes, sir. I've also left your schedule clear for Friday as well. I imagine Genie might need you then."

He ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah, I imagine she will. Do you have kids, Michelle?"

"Yes, I do! Six boys."

"Six boys! No wonder you are so good at keeping me together!"

"Miss Tyler has several messages requesting speaking engagements, television interviews and a news special. All of it to do with her Nomination for the Nobel Prize."

He gritted his teeth. "Ah... sorry. Yeah, I meant to tell you I had given my card out for her. Sorry about that. You don't mind handling her schedule to do you?" The Doctor kissed Rose again.

"Oh, not at all. Makes sense that I would do it. I know where you both are. Don't worry about it at all."

He smiled. "Thank you, Michelle! Take the rest of the day off. I'm sure I'm exhausting to keep track of."

"Thank you, Doctor! I think I might!" she laughed.

He hung up the phone and held Rose. "Did you know Michelle has six sons?! No wonder she's so good at keeping things together! I imagine I'm a walk in the park after managing six boys. Wow. I need to give her a raise. Damn."

"Oh, I'm sure it's not that bad."

"Oh no, Rose. Trust me on this. I know something about this. Boys are just a different beast." He ran his hand through his hair. "Wow. Six of them! Wow."

"Dad asked me to come to get you to meet with some guy out there. And Jake is back."

"Where's Genie and the boys?" he asked her.

"Playing. They are fine. Poltoius is with them."

He nodded his head.

"Do you think we are still in danger?" Rose asked him.

"Absolutely. I just don't want the children to know that. We never caught who was behind this entire thing. I can't be 100% certain the leak at Torchwood is completely plugged up. But, we will be alright. We just have to be careful."

"Like playing football on the White House lawn?" she teased.

"Oh, man that was awesome. Tony is strict though!"

He took her by the hand and walked down the hall with her.

"Why did he throw that guy out of the game? We couldn't tell."

"Oh! For swearing at Shakes." the Doctor answered.

Rose laughed, "Really?"

"Oh yes. Tony is a very strict referee. He told us that football is a game for gentlemen. If we want to be thugs, we have to watch. That's what makes up the audience."

"Where does he get this stuff?" Rose asked.

"Beats me." the Doctor confessed as he walked into the residence of the White House.

Pete, Howie, Jake and another man were standing there.

As soon as they walked through the door, Howie exclaimed. "Hey! It's the soccer player!"

Jake had his arm in a sling. The Doctor walked over to him and asked how he was. "Oh, I'm fine. Good pain medication. Don't worry about me."

He pointed at him seriously and said, "Don't drink while you are taking that. You might punch someone out."

Jake laughed. "Yeah, I'll never forget that."

Pete patted the Doctor on the back as he introduced the new man standing there. He was tall, had short curly brown hair and wore a suit. "Doctor Johnathon Smith, this is Mr. Ryan Ard." They shook hands. Pete then introduced Rose, "And this is our Rose Tyler. Doctor Smith's fiancée."

"Oh, congratulations to you both!" Ryan told them as he shook Rose's hand.

Pete held his hand out for them to sit down. Someone had brought tea and coffee up for them.

"Tea or coffee, Ryan?" Howie asked him.

"Coffee, please." Ryan told him.

The Doctor poured himself some coffee as well. Everyone else made themselves tea.

"Wow. A British man who drinks coffee. I didn't know that happened." Ryan exclaimed.

"Believe it or not, it's a recent thing with me." the Doctor explained as he sipped his coffee.

"Gosh, I wish I could say that. Recently, I've probably had a pot a day. The CIA has had us working overtime on this recent trouble you have had."

"Really? Can you tell us anything we haven't heard?" Jake asked him.

"Just that in my professional opinion, it's not over. Not by a long shot. The leak at Torchwood, Stacy, could have just been one person working with these people. The entire climate is extremely explosive. I'd recommend you continue to use extreme caution and keep everyone with a bodyguard at all times."

The Doctor pointed at Jake. "That makes me think. My secretary, Michelle. Does she have personal security? She seems like a target to me."

Jake nodded his head. "Yes. I reassigned some of the Quauhtin to her and her family. They are in the shadows."

Ryan looked confused. "Quauhtin?"

The Doctor rubbed his chin, "Oh, we'll get there. Don't worry about that."

Ryan continued. "The four men that came into the White House have been questioned, but aren't saying anything. Ah. I doubt they will talk. But, at least that's four more we have contained."

"So, Ryan. You understand the situation with Rose and the Doctor." Pete asked him.

"Just that they have pissed off some people. They rescued some kids a couple of nights ago, which Jake and a bodyguard got all of the credit for in the press."

The Doctor looked at Jake. "Really? Did you?"

Jake laughed and raised his hands. "Hey! I should have shot you a long time ago if it got my face on the front page."

The Doctor and Rose looked at one another and laughed.

Rose told him. "Enjoy it, mate. Anytime I can avoid being in a paper, I'm grateful."

Ryan agreed. "I can't say I blame you there. You people are just normal folks. Trying to live a life. The press just thinks you just have to do it out where everyone can see for some reason. I don't understand why the media has any business in your business. Making money off pictures and anything they can write that will sell a paper. I believe that sort of thing is typically slanderous and false. All stories written are skewed to the option of the author to help further their career. I feel there should be laws that protect people, rather than them being pushed into the public eye like that."

The Doctor pointed at Howie, "Well, you are sitting here with one of the leaders of your country - "

"No, he's not a leader. He's a representative of the people of this fine nation. Sometimes politicians have to be reminded of that fact."

The Doctor crossed his arms and looked at Howie. "Oh, I like this guy! I can see why you like him, too."

Howie was scratching his chin. "Good. I'm having a hard time remembering that reason at the moment."

"Maybe you need some damn whiskey." the Doctor suggested.

"Hell, it couldn't hurt." Howie said. He reached around and grabbed a bottle that sat behind them and poured some in a glass.

Pete spoke. "Hell, get me a glass, too."

Rose tossed her hands up. "So, you guys are going to start drinking now?"

The Doctor rubbed his beard. "Hey Howie. Pour me a glass. I'm curious about something."

The Doctor turned and looked at Rose who was giving him a look of surprise. "I'm just curious, Rose!"

"Have you been coughing lately?" she asked him.

"No, that's all done."

Jake looked confused. "Coughing?"

The Doctor waved his hand at him. "Nevermind. And no. You can't have any damn whiskey."

Ryan laughed at them all. "Hell, he doesn't look old enough to drink to me! Forget the damn pain pills he's on."

Jake laughed, "Oh, I like this guy, Doc!"

Howie handed Pete, the Doctor and Ryan all a drink.

Howie raised his glass. " I was born with my heart on my sleeve, a fire in my soul, and a mouth I can't control. God help us all."

They all laughed and drank.

"Anyway, so Ryan." Pete began. "The reason we called you out was to offer you a job. The Doctor here has bought himself and Rose a private island and wants to have a home built there."

Ryan looked surprised. "Wow! An island! I didn't know you could even do that."

The Doctor poured himself another drink. "It's easier than you think."

Pete continued. "The Doctor is busy and can't oversee the construction, but he must get it built as soon as possible. This situation with Rose has already escalated worse than I could have imagined."

"It was your son they took with Jacob Shepherd the other night, right?" Ryan asked him.

"It was." Pete said.

"Well, what are you doing to keep you and your family safe once you return to London?" Ryan asked him.

"We live in a gated mansion. State of the art security system, bodyguards, it's as safe as the White House."

"And yet, they got in here." Ryan pointed out.

The Doctor spoke. "Why do you think I'm so desperate to get this house built? I can move Rose someplace safe. Take Tony and the family if I have to."

Although, he didn't want to think about having to live with Jackie Tyler at all, but he couldn't live with himself if something happened to her.

The Doctor spoke to Ryan. "What we are proposing is that you join the crew that will build the house as a property manager. And if you like, after the house is built, stay on the island with us in that position."

Ryan rubbed his chin.

Howie asked him, "Any family, Ryan?"

He shook his head. "Nah, never got around to that."

Pete took a drink. "We are meeting with the architect tomorrow. I'd be interested if you could come to that meeting as well. Could you be in London tomorrow afternoon?"

"Tomorrow?"

The Doctor waved his hand at Pete. "No, new plan. Could you meet back here at the White House, tomorrow morning? One of us could take you to the meeting."

Pete caught what the Doctor was thinking and smiled. "Yeah. That would be better. Great idea, Doc!"

Rose looked at the Doctor, "Are you sure about that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Might as well know what he is getting himself into."

Ryan threw up his hands. "Sure! I'll be here tomorrow. What time?"

Pete was thinking, "The meeting is at ...

The Doctor said, "10:30 - 10:45."

Rose waved her hand, "Better make it 10:30."

"Okay, 10:30 in the morning, then. See you then." Ryan said as he stood up and left.

As soon as he was gone, Pete turned to the Doctor and said, "Oh, that's brilliant. I can't wait to see his face when you pop him over in London!"

"You know, Pete. I think it would be better if you did it. I'll have that watch ready for you by then. Here. Hand it over."

"Oh, cool!" Pete exclaimed as he handed his watch over to the Doctor.

"Howie, hand me yours, too."

Howie handed his watch to the Doctor. "What the hell is that about?"

Pete smiled at him. "Oh, Howie. You will love it! I just have to make sure you are sober when we show you how to use the damn thing."

"If it only works when I'm sober, forget about it!" Howie said.

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