Two hours later, the Doctor was thoroughly bored. He was sat at the bar, trying to ignore the blaring Disco music and failing dismally.

Ten minutes after they'd arrived, Rose had been kidnapped by a rather terrifying group of giggling young women, and he'd not seen her since. For all the dangers he'd faced with her, he didn't dare try and rescue her from this one – those women were scary.

So he was stuck, alone, and he couldn't even bring himself to dance to the rubbish that passed as music in this time. He didn't know which was worse; the Macarena or (he winced as it began playing) the Crazy Frog. Surely people ought to know by now that anything based on a novelty ringtone had to be bad – indeed, he was appalled that some bright spark had ever thought them a good thing. They were worse than those stupid digital watches everyone was wearing still. But it'd pass. Only after the mass CD and mobile phone burnings of 2014, but novelty ringtones and songs based upon them would soon be little more than an unpleasant memory. Thankfully.

Sighing resignedly at the poor taste of some people (and DJ's in particular), he gestured to the bartender for another pint. Maybe he'd go and find her in a bit – if he could muster the courage required for a face off with those-

"Rose? Tyler? No!"

His attention was grabbed when one of the men sitting near to him mentioned the name of his companion.

"That's Rose Tyler? Good lord, she's changed! But she's barely aged at all!" The Doctor looked round, but couldn't see any sign of the topic of the conversation in the gloom and press of people, all eager to refill at the bar.

"You wouldn't say no, would you?" Said a second man, leering slightly.

"If I didn't back when we were sixteen, I certainly wouldn't now! She's – mmm!" He smacked his lips expressively.

For some reason, the Doctor didn't really like hearing his companion talked about like this. Couldn't they see that she was so much more than a beautiful face? So intent was he on eavesdropping, that he didn't even pause to think where 'beautiful' had come from.

"So, she with anyone tonight?"

"Some old guy – big ears, leather jacket?" The Doctor resented being old, no matter how true it was – he didn't look that old – did he?

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Apparently she went travelling with him a few years ago, and never came back. Our Becky reckons he's pretty fit, but personally I can't see it. Bit of a let down for the rest of us though."

"Your sister always had odd taste! But three years? Bloody hell. She must really like him."

Rose was never one for commitment, was she? She dropped you pretty fast for that Jimmy person."

"No way! I'd finished it way before-"

The Doctor had heard enough. He slid off his stool, shoved a £5 note at the bartender and walked off, deliberately jostling the speaker as he went past.

He'd go and find the exit, cool off; maybe he'd find Rose on the way, make sure she was ok – especially if all her old friends were like this.

Even if he didn't, he needed the fresh air; it was far too hot and stuffy in here. He'd got all hot and cross, sitting at the bar. Why they couldn't have air conditioning, he didn't understand.

He walked off, a touch unsteadily, in the general direction of the entrance.

"So... Rose... You gonna tell us bout this Doctor o'yours then?" Shireen slurred. She was draped over a row of plastic chairs that they'd dragged into a vague circle some time ago – when they were all still relatively sober.

Since she'd been waylaid by this group of her old friends some hours earlier – Rose was no longer sure how many it had been, or even what time it was, as her watch kept blinking out of focus. However long it had been, they'd been plying her with alcohol the entire time, as well as trying to find out more about the 'tall, dark, but not particularly handsome stranger', as Sonia put it (to Rose's rather inebriated protestations), whom Rose had brought with her.

They hadn't got very far.

"I already said, he's a friend and… and… we travel together. I've drunk too much." She stated, surprised at this revelation.

"But not nearly enough! Look – shot glasses!" An annoyingly sober Becky brought over a tray of glasses, which she placed in the middle of them with a satisfied flourish.

In any normal circumstance, Rose would have clearly remembered her opinion that you always knew it was time to make a quick exit when they started on the naff drinking games.

Unfortunately, she was far too drunk to do little more than decide no one would miss her, before trying to make a half hearted attempt at staggering off to find the Doctor.

At least, she tried.

"No, no, no, no! You've gotta play!" Shireen grabbed her arm, almost causing Rose to completely overbalance.

Through the haze of the alcohol, Rose realised that this had happened several times already tonight – she made a bid for freedom, before someone noticed what she was doing and pulled her back. She'd regret this in the morning, she knew it.

"So. Rose. You first." She looked blankly at Becky, who rolled her eyes. "Truth or dare?"

God. Becky had been on at her all evening, worse than Shireen. Probably it had something to do with the fact that she clearly fancied her chances with the Doctor. Not that Rose was going to disillusion her; that'd take far too much explaining. She could see it now – 'You don't stand a chance because he's a time travelling alien.' Yeah, that'd go down well

Resigned, she debated which option was most likely to get her into trouble. Well, she could always lie if they got too close to the real truth of where she'd been. "Truth."

"Is your Doctor Smith really just a friend?" The interrogation continues. Why couldn't they all attack Becky or Sonia, why her? Maybe they were all bitter that she looked so much younger. Of course, it helped that she was, but still. It wasn't very nice of them.

"Yes!" This was getting just a tad repetitive.

"Seriously? You upped and left with a complete stranger you aren't even sleeping with?"

"Why is that so hard to believe? We're not all like you, you know." Oops, the alcohol was making her bitchy. She'd definitely regret saying that when she sobered up. Luckily, Shireen didn't seem to notice.

"I don't believe you." She announced, to nods from the rest of the group. "Take a shot!"

Groaning, Rose reached for the bottle.