Before the Doctor brought Alice to Earth, he took her Thor I, the planet where he found her all those years ago. He stood next to her and held her hand as she stared at the place where she came from. She looked at the ice through narrowed eyes for a few moments, then turned her back on the tundra and stalked back to the TARDIS. The Doctor glanced at the frozen forest before sighing and following her.

Alice didn't speak again until the Doctor parked the TARDIS inside what would be her new home.

"So this is it then," she said, fixing him with her alien blue stare. The Doctor didn't reply. He walked past her and pushed open the doors.

"Welcome home," he said softly. Alice looked at the ground and said nothing.

"Alice."

"Doctor."

"Earth is waiting for you."

"…I don't want to go." Alice's voice was angry. "Tell me, Doctor, what's the point of leaving me here? So you can make yourself feel better? So you can be free of the responsibility of my life? What can these people do for me that you can't?"

"They can keep you—"

"Stop. Just stop. I don't want to hear any more from you."

The Doctor stood stunned by the TARDIS doors. He knew Alice wasn't thrilled about his decision to leave her on Earth, but he didn't know it had upset her this much. Her scorn stung him in a way he hadn't expected.

"I don't want anything to happen to you," he said through clenched teeth. "This is for your own good."

"And who are you to decide that?"

"I'm a very old man who's seen and done a lot more than you have!" the Doctor exploded. "Do you know how many people I've put in danger just because I can't bear being alone? You want to know what happened to Rose, Alice? She's trapped in a parallel dimension, because of me! I will not let something like that happen to you. Not because of me…not ever. I'm doing this," he finished heavily, "Because I care about you and I couldn't stand it if you got hurt or killed because of me."

Alice stood rigidly, her jaw clenched. Her eyes were blazing, and the Doctor saw an argument forming. "I'm sorry, Alice," he said. "But you need to leave." Alice's anger was crumbling.

"Doctor, I want to know what I am."
"I know. You'll find it. These people can help you. They've dealt with no shortage of aliens."

Alice stood silently for a few more moments; then she sighed and stepped lightly past the Doctor and out the TARDIS doors. The Doctor shut his eyes tightly and gave himself a second to calm down. When he heard a voice coming from outside that wasn't Alice's, he hurried out after her.

Despite her displeasure at being dropped off at an unknown location, Torchwood's interior shocked Alice. It somehow managed to be claustrophobic and huge at the same time, and its concrete floors and walls made it anything but welcoming. As Alice tried to take in the mess of wires and technology, some alien, some human, a voice called out to her. Alice turned towards the direction of the noise as the Doctor appeared at her shoulder.

"That's funny," the same voice said, "I don't remember calling for a doctor." The voice's owner was a man who was of similar height to the Doctor, but was broader in the shoulders and chest. He had brown hair and blue eyes and was dressed in clothes that seemed more than a little dated to Alice. The Doctor gave the man a smile that was only slightly strained.

"Good to see you, Jack. How's Torchwood?"

"Oh, y'know. Aliens wreaking havoc every time you blink. Same old same old. And you, Doctor?"

"Well. Not much has happened, really. It's just been…business as usual."

"I wouldn't say that." Jack cast a look at Alice. "It's not every day the Doctor asks me for a favor. In fact," he said, grinning widely, "It's usually the other way around."

"It's not a permanent thing exactly. If you could look after her for a while and help her find out more about herself when you get the chance…"

"Anything, Doctor. You can count on me."

Alice sensed that Jack would keep his word, if only because he respected the Doctor so much that he would obey him without question. The thought didn't make her feel any better. If the Torchwood people were as good as the Doctor claimed, why hadn't he passed her along to them the moment he found her?

"Well I suppose I'll be off now," the Doctor was saying. He clapped Jack on the shoulder. "Take good care of her," he said softly. Jack nodded. The Doctor turned to Alice, and Jack wandered off to give them some privacy.

"Wear this," the Doctor said quietly, pressing something into Alice's hand. "And if you ever need me, I'll know." Alice looked down at the object in her hand. It was a small silver key on a bit of brown string. "It's a TARDIS key," the Doctor explained. "I have one too. Just don't let it fall into the wrong hands because if a TARDIS key is taken, the TARDIS could be stolen just as easily."

"Doctor, why?" Alice asked. It was the only thing she could think to say that summed up all of her unanswered questions. "Why didn't you bring me here in the first place? Why did you keep me?"

"I don't know," the Doctor answered. His expression softened. "But I'm glad I did. Really."

Alice wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Thank you," she said. The Doctor rested his chin on the top of her head.

"You don't have much to thank me for."
"I have enough." Alice was silent for a moment. "Will you ever come back for me, Doctor?"

"Oh, I hope I do," the Doctor said. "I really hope I do."

They disengaged and the Doctor looked for a long moment at the girl he had raised. He kissed her on the forehead and slipped inside his blue box before his hearts overcame his mind and he grabbed her hand and took her with him. Alice stood outside, clutching an ordinary-looking key, and watched as the man who had been like a father to her disappeared into time and space.