'Kay guys, don't kill me. *hiding behind a convenient tree* Updates...did not happen as swiftly as promised. I blame Children of Earth, the last Doctor Who specials, and Being Human season 2 for killing my creativity. It's taken a long time to rediscover my (alas) murdered muse. I can't thank all of you wonderful people who reviewed and put this on alert enough. You've encouraged me hugely and I love y'all.

Onwards!

"Hey Doc, what exactly are we doing?" Jack puffed, jumping over a tipped rubbish bin and wrinkling his nose at its putrid reek. "I mean, not that I don't mind rain and all, but England again?" he continued, trying to catch up to the Doctor's unoccupied side. Unseen by the good-natured complainer, Rose rolled her eyes unsympathetically.

After a moment of yet-again-the-Doctor-didn't-answer, curiousity got the better of the young woman and she asked, "Well?"

"Well what?" The Doctor grinned in response to her pouting glare. "Well, something must be goin' on here; otherwise we'd be somewhere else."

"Barcelona," Rose coughed under her breath.

"No interjecting," he commanded. "Didn't your mum ever tell you that was rude?" The blonde gave him a highly significant look. "Right…"

Jack leaned around the Doctor in time to Rose's expression. "Who's indignant now?" he laughed.

She hit him sharply on his left arm. "Oh, you."

"All the time, sweetheart." Blue eyes sparkled with a generous helping of mischief as he leaned closer to the girl.

"Gah!" Rose turned from the flirtatious Captain to notice that the Doctor was no longer with them. "Doctor?"

The alien in question was standing stock-still on the walk several paces back, staring at a mostly respectable flat on the other side of the street.

"Doctor?" Jack and Rose exchanged looks and walked quickly to him, automatically falling into flanking positions on either side of his familiar leather jacket. Casing the small building with a sharp, observant eye, Jack pressed in a low voice, "What is it?" For a change his tone was serious.

The Doctor's only response was a musing "Hmm." Seemingly not noticing the intent gazes of his companions, he struck out across the road abruptly, heading for the flat with his usual purposeful stride.

"Wha-" Rose cut herself off and dashed after the Doctor, shaking her head on the way.

The alien reached the door before Jack and Rose and rang the bell. Crossing his arms, he looked at his humans with a pleased expression.

"Did you see that?"

"See what?" Rose flicked her loose blond hair out of her eyes, curiously studying the window that had apparently caught the Doctor's attention. No mysteriously fluttering curtains or eyes peeking above the sill. Not even a cat. Looked fairly normal, really.

He glanced at their attentive faces. "Oh, you didn't? Must be the ape in you." The Doctor flicked a long arm out to press the button again, cheerfully ignoring Rose's exasperated huff.

Jack opened his mouth to say something about how the notable difference in when Rose and he were from effected their perceptions differently when the door opened wide abruptly, revealing an attractive man in spectacles—Jack's weakness for glasses promptly made itself known in a blindingly handsome smile.

George closed the door back to a slit reflexively. "Er, hello," He parroted, standing bulkily in the barely open door and staring at the cheerful trio on his step.

"I'm Rose," the short, perky blond to the Doctor's right offered with a friendly smile to match the Doctor's.

"And I'm Captain Jack Harkness," said the dark-haired man on the left, a broad and leeringly toothy smile fixed on his classic movie star face.

In unison the other two said warningly, "Jack," not looking at him.

"Wha…I was only-"

"That is flirting," they interrupted shortly.

"Leave the poor man alone," Rose chided.

"If you say so, Rosie," Jack shrugged, causing steam to all but erupt out her ears.

She opened her mouth to deliver a no doubt scathing retort when George interrupted, "'Scuse me, 'scuse me, but…who exactly are you?"

"Oh, new neighbours. Just moved in down the street 'round the corner," the Doctor said cheerfully, jerking a thumb in the direction they had come from. "Small, blue, easy to miss if you're not looking for it."

Rose's jaw snapped back into place after the Doctor's elbow dug meaningfully into her side and hastily slapped an agreeable smile onto her face. "Yep, already got it decorated and all."

Catching on quickly, Jack put in, "Surprisingly roomy," with a minute grin directed at the Doctor.

"Oh. All right then," George said slowly with a wary nod.

"Just thought we'd come 'round and meet all the neighbours," the Doctor explained. He held out a long-fingered hand to George who was still holding the door tightly. "Nice to meet you."

"Ah…yes. Uhm, you too." He awkwardly fumbled with the wooden frame for a moment and then took the Doctor's hand, shaking it once. George had a surprisingly firm grip, given his nervous appearance, and the Doctor responded with an equally strong handshake.

"Pleasure."

"Oh! Where are my manners," George chided himself, his voice pitching up. Rose giggled—very quietly—as George flapped his hands at the small group. "Come in, come in." He opened the door all the way, ushering them into a sparse yet comfortable living room. "Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea, Lager?" He stopped himself mid-babble, remembering that they still didn't know his name. "Oh I'm sorry, I'm George Sands."

"That's a lovely name." Rose smiled up at him from where she was leaning against the couch's arm.

"Thank you. Always hated it when I was little, though," he continued with a deprecating shrug. A slightly longer pause than necessary stretched and George twitched. Oops. Normal. "Right, so what I can get you?"

"Tea would be heaven," Rose said.

"Same here, George," Jack said, flopping easily onto the couch and almost tipping Rose from her perch on its arm.

George nodded and looked at the Doctor, who was standing just inside the living room. "None for me, thanks," he said.

"Right. Well, let me just put a kettle on," George said and made for the kitchen, small and on the opposite side of the front hall.

Instantly Rose and Jack pinned the Doctor with their gazes. "Spill," Rose said. He grinned and lifted a shoulder in a lopsided shrug.

Not yet.