The Doctor finally stopped adjusting a small dial under the screen and stood back with a satisfied smile to survey his work. "There we go! We should have a response in the next few minutes." Jack's eyes followed the tracker ticking over and let out a sigh.

"Thanks, you have no idea how much this means. I tried doing something similar, but the technology I had just wasn't doing the job."

"Oh, it's nothing really. Anything for a future friend and all that."

"Yeah, about that…how do you know that I am who I say I am? You have your fair share of enemies. How can you be sure that I'm not just popping in here for an old fashioned shoot out in the TARDIS?" Jack asked. The Doctor simply gave a small smile and a shrug.

"The TARDIS seemed to know you. That's enough for me."

"You're very trusting." Jack couldn't help but think that his Doctor probably wouldn't have had such confidence. Probably with due cause.

"I suppose I am, aren't I? Oh, Turlough! Good morning! We have a visitor." the Doctor addressed someone over Jack's shoulder. The ex-Time Agent turned around and was met with the bleary-eyed and slightly shocked expression of a young man with red hair in the uniform of an English private school. In a snap he was in front of the newcomer with arm extended.

"Captain Jack Harkness. And you are?"

"Vislor Turlough…" Turlough responded, returning the handshake uncertainly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Vislor. May I call you that?"

"Err…"

"Jack is here because he lost a future me that he was travelling with. I'm assisting him with his return." The Doctor supplied helpfully.

"Right…" Turlough eyed Jack distrustfully before addressing the Doctor. "Should I go and get Tegan?" The Time Lord seemed to consider this for a moment, glancing between Jack and Turlough, before smiling apologetically.

"Maybe that wouldn't be the best thing to do. You know how she can get with…"

"People?" Turlough finished dryly.

"Yes, well…maybe it'd just be best to let her skip this little rendezvous. After all, it won't take long."

"Tegan?" Jack asked with interest.

"None of your business." Turlough shot, giving the ex-Time Agent a thoroughly distrustful look.

"Sorry, I guess you just want me all to yourself." Jack gave Turlough a suggestive grin. Turlough responded by looking mildly ill and the Doctor was forced to suppress a chuckle.

"Even if he is from your future, he shouldn't be allowed here." Turlough frowned, circling away from Jack towards the Doctor. "Doesn't this break some of the fundamental laws of time travel?"

"You see, that is one of the problems with having a TARDIS. There are strict rules governing the prevention of timeline crossing, but it always seems to happen anyway. Well, always seems to happen to me at least." The Doctor shrugged helplessly. "Anyway, he seems to know better than to give anything about my future away. Don't you, Captain Jack Harkness?" he said, giving the ex-Time Agent a wide smile.

Jack nodded. "Of course."

"But we don't know anything about him!" Turlough argued.

"Rubbish. We know that he trusts me enough to get him back where he belongs, and I'm not about to let him down." The Doctor said with calm finality.

There was such an air of innocence about this incarnation of the Doctor. But at the same time…

"Something the matter?" the Doctor asked Jack, his expression concerned. Jack almost laughed at the realisation.

"I only just met you and I've let you take me away to god knows where in a second." He shook his head in disbelief and ran a hand distractedly through his hair. "You seem so different from my Doctor, but you really must be just the same."

The Doctor cocked his head to the side. "You know, there would probably be times when I'd fight that accusation, but now is not one of them. I'll make sure your trust is not misplaced."

A loud beep interrupted him. "And there we go! I've tracked the movements of a TARDIS of identical registration to my own. It's moments away from landing in Cardiff, Wales, Earth: August 14, 2007. Does that sound right?"

Jack dashed over to look at monitors. After a few moments a wide grin spread across his face. "Seems right, but there's only one way to find out."

"Off we go then!" The Doctor leaned across the console and pulled a lever as the TARDIS dematerialised with a groan that was music to Jack's ears.