Jack pushed his way back into the street. As dinner had passed and the night wore on the number of people in Rio had increased further and even the once-quiet street was humming with conversation and laughter. Ten minutes had passed since the Doctor had walked out before him. Those ten minutes had been strangely charged for Jack; he had settled the bill as fast as possible, just wanting to throw money at the waiter and run after the dark leather jacket that he had so unaccountably upset. However, he carefully paid and tipped, all the while listening to the whispers around him from the other customers.

The whispering would not have normally bothered him but this time it was different. It was conformation that they had been arguing, and a spur to follow the Doctor and sort things out. He didn't want the Doctor to be upset with him. So it was ten minutes to tip, to pay, to gather his coat, to fall over a chair in his hurry to get out and look in vain for the Doctor's frame amongst the crowd. Jack was berating himself for the time delay but he knew that even if it had only been ten seconds there would still be little chance of finding the Doctor in this.

Around him bodies were moving and dancing already to the drum of distant music. Drinks were being pressed into his hands as people spoke to him; such was the ease of conversation here. He ignored everything and did not even notice the liquid spill onto his shoes. As he pushed his way forward, not caring about the direction, more people pressed against him. The alcohol in his system was making his head spin a little and the men and women who pressed themselves just that little bit too close to him all began to resemble the Doctor or Rose.

"Where are you?" Jack spat the sentence with all the frustration of a curse. He did not know where he was going or what to do. All he wanted was to find the Doctor and the sudden despair he felt at realizing this was impossible stopped him flat. He waited a moment, trying to think; trying to understand what was happening. Lights flashed above him, the heat from them and the bodies around him was buffeting the crowd like waves in the sea. The noise, the chatter, the shrill laughter was enough to drive him mad.

"Where are you?" Jack yelled it this time at the top of his voice. He screamed it so loud a number of people turned to look in surprise.

"I'd have thought one scene in an evening was enough for even you," the voice was sudden and quiet, directly into his ear.

Jack whipped his head around to find the Doctor only centimeters away from his face. Jack laughed, one of relief and pleasure and embarrassment.

"Do you want to go back?" the Doctor asked. Jack nodded. His head was spinning again. The wine had been potent and the noise and the light made it feel as though he were living in a hallucination. He was quite happy to let the Doctor lead him through the crowds – he would not have had any way of telling where they were until he sobered up anyway – and back to the Tardis.