Thanks for all the lovely reviews so far! I'm still working on the ending... I know what I want to happen, it's just getting there that's awkward!

"You're going where?" I demanded, as Rose swept into the TARDIS that evening talking about someone called Gary and mentioning something about insanity. "You're going to an asylum?"

"No!" She rolled her eyes. She must have been awful to try and control as a teenager. Thank God she was nearly over her mood swings. Poor Jackie. I wondered since when I'd started agreeing with her mother and shuddered.

"I said I was going to Insanity," she repeated. "It's a nightclub, up the coast a bit. You can come if you like."

"To somewhere that sounds like a mental disorder? No thanks."

"You're aren't half getting boring, Doctor," she said quietly, before going to her bedroom to get changed.

I sat down on floor, resting my elbows on my knees and my chin in my hands. Was I getting boring? I mean, once upon a time I'd have gone somewhere really exotic when I fancied a break like the Rings of Saturn or the Lost Universe (don't ever believe the hype about that). Now I was on some island off the coast of Spain, Earth. And I wouldn't even go to some club. Maybe I was getting boring. Or maybe I was just being sensible.

There was a clatter of heels and Rose wobbled back down the corridor. She was just fixing some earrings in.

"Not wearing your new shoes?" I asked, unable to resist a sly dig.

She didn't reply, but gave me a filthy look. "I don't know what time I'll be back. Don't wait up."

The TARDIS deliberately sent an electric shock through my left leg. I half jumped. "Ah… Rose… you will be careful won't you?"

She gave me a withering look. "I'm not a child, Doctor. I'll be fine." She hesitated. "You could always come?"

The TARDIS wanted me to. I could feel her trying to force me out of the door. But Rose was right; she wasn't some kid who needed looking after. I'd just cramp her style.

"Nah, I'm fine here," I insisted. "I've got… stuff to be getting on with."

"Stuff?"

"Yeah." I looked around. "Lots of… stuff."

She nodded slowly. "Right. I'll just be off then. Like I said, don't wait up. Enjoy your… stuff." She shut the door behind her

"Will you stop doing that?" I demanded of the TARDIS. "You know, just once in a while, you should mind your own business! She's fine on her own." I looked at my nails as nonchalantly as I could. "I mean, yes she looked nice. That skirt really suits her. And those stupid shoes of hers …" I smiled fondly. "And I liked what she'd done with her hair, didn't you?" I shook myself out of my reverie. "But she can take care of herself."

I spent the evening pottering around, polishing various parts of the TARDIS. Some screws needed tightening again and some parts oiling. She really was having a rough time of it at the moment. I'd have felt sorry for her but she was being so damned narky about me not going with Rose.

"She didn't want me to," I said again, half growling. "I mean, yes she invited me, but she really wanted to meet up with this Parry or Larry or whatever his name was." Another electric shock. "Seriously! Ow!" I stood up from where I was crouched looking at something. "I'm going out for a breath of fresh air. Try and sort your mood out, old girl."

I walked out into the evening. It was still warm and it was as busy now as it had been before the sun set. It wasn't even that cold. Several people gave my woollen suit a second glance.

A breath of fresh air and then back to work. I pushed the door. It had got stuck. I leaned against it. Nothing. I felt inside my pocket for the sonic screwdriver. Gone. I'd left it on the floor inside…

"Oh, you're kidding me!" I groaned. "Come on, open up and let me in!" I hammered on the door. "Don't be so stupid!" It wasn't budging. She'd locked me out. Again.

"What am I supposed to do now? I can't just sit out here." I could still feel her pricking at my subconscious. "No, I'm not doing it. Nope. Oh for goodness sake!" And I stalked off in search of Rose.