The TARDIS arrived with the usual stomach churning BUMP, but for once Rose managed to stay on her feet. She beamed at the Doctor. "See?" she said. "That's a good sign. This is going to be a nice relaxing trip, I can feel it." The Doctor merely grimaced.

Rose had a sudden thought. "Am I dressed OK?" she wondered, looking down at her knee length skirt and T-shirt. "I don't want to end up half naked in 1879 again."

The Doctor felt an unfamiliar lurch in his stomach, but dismissed it. That thought was strictly out of bounds. He tugged at his ear, looked Rose up and down. Then realised. "Hold on - I don't have a clue where we are! It was your idea to take us god knows where." He didn't sound angry though, if anything he sounded gleeful.

Rose grinned slightly as she recognised the tone in his voice, the one he always adopted after the TARDIS landed, right before they set foot on another world. Another world. Rose couldn't repeat that enough times in her head.

The Doctor was still looking at her. "Anyway, you look fine," he concluded. "You look nice, actually," he added thoughtfully. Rose blinked at the unexpected compliment.

"Let's go," she said, curiosity getting the better of her. Anything could be out there, any creatures, any scenery... any world. She ran to the TARDIS doors, swung them open to reveal...

Earth.

Rose gasped. "Earth! Are you kidding me?" she cried, looking around at the deserted fields and trees.

The Doctor appeared suddenly at her side. He looked as baffled as she was. "Earth? But - but -" He looked sternly at the TARDIS. "Is this the best you could do, old girl?" He raced back inside with endless bounding energy. Rose ran back in behind him and watched as he pulled the console screen in his direction. He looked at it, prodded the screen a bit, then pulled out his sonic screwdriver from his pocket. "What on earth?" he said to no one in particular, scanning the screen.

"What's the matter?" Rose asked.

"Something up with the computer."

"I worked that bit out, but what does that mean?"

"Means there's something wrong with the TARDIS. Something's interfering."

Rose looked shocked. "But we're only on Earth!"

The Doctor looked up at last and fixed Rose with an intense gaze. Rose saw concern there. "Thing is, Rose, I'm not sure we are on Earth -" he began, before Rose interrupted.

"But it looks exactly the same..."

The Doctor waved this aside impatiently. "There's millions of planets, there's bound to be a few that look similar to yours. After all, it's a good design, Earth, don't you think?" he added, smiling at Rose.

Rose couldn't help but smile back. She tried to focus on the important matter in hand, and not on the Doctor's disarming grin... the Doctor couldn't help but notice Rose gazing at him and his smile faded slightly.

"So... if this isn't Earth," Rose continued, glossing over the awkward moment. "Where is it?"

"That's the thing. I don't know. The TARDIS won't tell me. I don't even know what year it is!" He looked quite disconcerted as if this wasn't something he was used to.

Rose groaned. "Why won't it tell us?" The Doctor shook his head.

"I don't know." A pause. "But I'm going to find out." And with that he ran out of the TARDIS, pulling Rose behind him.