The Doctor stood alone in the TARDIS. He wasn't thinking of how many times he had stood alone here before, nor was he thinking that he was soaked to the skin. No, he was thinking of Donna Noble, the most important woman in the universe, the human being who had saved countless people and planets and stars and moons and would never remember.

Where did one travel to when feeling like that? Any place that was happy would be an insult. Any place that was depressing would just make it worse. Of course, he didn't see how it could be any worse.

He moved slowly around the TARDIS, pressing a single button, turning a single dial. The TARDIS hummed faintly.

And then something else began to hum. It had been there for some time, he realized, but only when he was free to let his thoughts wander had he noticed it. A presence in his mind, in his soul. A connection. A Time Lord.

He raced around the console with more speed now. He could sense where the presence was, and of course it would be in Cardiff. Cardiff, of all places, was quickly becoming the center of the universe.

*

Ianto Jones, man of all trades in Torchwood Three, formally of Torchwood One in London, had just been accused of letting his hands have a wander and had been slapped across the face. Nonetheless, the woman who had slapped him had just saved the universe not more than an hour ago, and he forced himself to keep his tone cheerful as he said, "Everything seems to be in working order. No bones broken."

"Hmph." Donna glowered at him, untrusting, and glanced at the TARDIS door. Or flap, in this case, as the TARDIS was on its side, disguised as a rock.

"I was just giving you a check-up!" he said again.

"That what you call it in this universe?" Donna snapped. "Having. A. Wander."

Ianto's ears perked up. Universe? Before he could ask more, Gwen ran up, tapping buttons on her mobile. "Sorry. Rhys called. Andy's got it cordoned off. We really≈ Donna!"

Donna looked at her blankly. "Yeah? What, do you know me?" But that was impossible, wasn't it? She'd only just now gotten to this universe. Unless≈ No... Her jaw dropped, then came up again as a gust of wind blew dirt and blades of grass at them. She threw an arm up to protect her face and for a panicky moment, thought it might be some sort of storm, one that didn't seem violent, but sounded horrible, with a whining, grinding noise that rose and fell and rose and fell.

When everything was still again, she lowered her arm and gaped. That blue box hadn't been there before. And a man was stepping out, looking around expectantly, anxiously. "Gwen Cooper! Ianto Jones! Good to see you so≈ Donna?"

She looked around in exasperation. "How do all of you people know me? I don't know any of you!"

The man's shoulders fell, and he looked crestfallen, hopeful, afraid, all at once. He held out his hand. "John Smith. I'm a friend of your Gramps'."

He took a step back as Donna looked at him angrily, and then both of them were distracted as the nearby rock hopped into the air and stood upright. Seconds later, it resembled a thick tree trunk.

Romana stepped out, Jack and Ianto following behind. She smiled at Donna and then looked at the man. "Ah, Doctor! Good to see you again."