Part Four – Unexpected Discovery

"Next time, you two can go traipsing around in the dark on your own… hey hey, what have we here?"

Jack's voice cut through the darkness quite unexpectedly, before the light from the lantern he was holding fell across the Rose and the Doctor from where they were curled up on the stone. Rose scrambled to her feet, feeling a blush creeping across her cheeks. She began slipping off the leather jacket until she felt the Doctor's warms hands on her back.

"Keep it for now," he murmured from behind her. "You need it more than me."

Jack arched an eyebrow at this exchange. The Doctor quickly stepped away from her, clearing his throat and for all the world almost looking sheepish. Despite the heat suffusing her face, Rose grinned and hugged the jacket around her.

"So, Jack, what are you doing back here?" she asked, determined to change the subject. Now was not the time to be dwelling on some things, especially with that smug grin on Jack's face and the Doctor looking everywhere and anywhere but at her or Jack.

"Interesting story, actually," Jack said, that annoyingly knowing grin still there. "I found the house alright, but there was no-one there. No lady, no maid, no doorman. So I palmed myself this neat little lantern and figured I'd find you guys again."

"Any sign of a struggle?" the Doctor asked, his voice much steadier than Rose's had been. Not fair, Rose decided to herself before another blush turned her cheeks pink again.

"Not at all." Jack frowned. "It was like everyone there had just decided to walk out, which makes no sense at all, considering what they said to Rose."

"No sense at all," the Doctor said thoughtfully, tapping the sonic screwdriver against his thigh. "Well, no use standing around here yapping about it, is there? We've got a proper light now, let's make use of it!"

Jack led the way, holding the lantern out as they walked. The cave suddenly appeared far more ominous to Rose, with long, deep shadows looming threateningly all around them. The cold, damp air was oppressive and she pulled the Doctor's jacket tighter around herself.

"There!" The Doctor's exclamation had them all looking up. "Over there, see there's a door!"

A closer inspection revealed a heavy metal blast door set into the deep stone of the cave walls.

"What on earth is this doing here?" Jack asked slowly. "This has to be at least 20th century, if not later."

"Maybe not even earth," the Doctor added, letting the sonic screwdriver whirr as he traced it along the doorframe. "Aha, here's the control panel… One sec…"

With a resounding hiss, the door grated open. Rose peered into the room beyond, blinking at the unexpected array of beeping machines, twisted cables and flashing monitors. She followed Jack and the Doctor into the room.

The Doctor's interest was piqued. He hopped from machine to machine exclaiming brightly, "This is so unusual! It's like a big mix of totally different systems! They shouldn't even dream of being compatible!"

Rose rolled her eyes and leaned against a particularly large humming specimen of a computer. Jack only grinned.

"I think I'm gonna head back out there," he said, watching the Doctor run his hand in what looked suspiciously like a caress on one of the screens. "He seems to be entirely hooked. Maybe I can find a way out of here or at least a few more answers than the computer geek over there."

Smiling, Rose nodded. "Shall I join you?"

"No, you stay here. Someone's gotta watch his back when he's up to his nose in wiring. I won't be long, no worries."

She watched him cross over to the door and disappear into the darkness. He had taken the lantern, but there was enough light in the room to see by. She turned to watch the Doctor, feeling her pulse quicken ever so slightly.

Oh no. Alone with him again.