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It was late evening when the trio of the Doctor, Jack, and Matt returned to Number 10 Tardis Street. They'd yielded little more information, aside from the fact that apparently Danny had been seen getting into a cab to god-knows-where. Altogether, they felt the frustration that always arose from a lack of progress.

The Doctor held back another sigh as he opened his front door. The men entered the home and shrugged off their coats. Just as the garments were all hung on the coat rack, Martha appeared in the hallway.

"Evening," she smiled. The Doctor gave her a tired glance.

"Martha. I hope your day was more productive than ours."

"Oh, I think so." Her grin was excited. "You have another client."

"Martha, you know I can't take on another case right now," he admonished, casting his eyes towards Matt. "What did you tell him?"

"He's still here," she answered. "He's in the sitting room." Before the Doctor could voice his shock, she held up a finger. "Just hear him out. Okay?"

The Doctor's mouth closed and he looked at Jack and Matt. The Captain shrugged his shoulders while the tutor nodded, encouraging the detective to move forwards. And so the three of them followed Martha to the sitting room, where the mystery client awaited them. However, he didn't remain mysterious for very long.

Jack recognized the young man sitting in one of the armchairs. "Danny?"

The man jumped to his feet. "Captain?"

Martha looked between the two of them, surprised that they knew each other. Matt and the Doctor shared similar expressions.

"Well, speak of the devil," Jack muttered. "We were just looking for you!"

"You were?" Danny asked, confused. "Why?"

"Wait, you're Danny Pink?" the Doctor stepped forwards.

"Yes," he replied hesitantly. "And you are…?"

"I'm the Doctor," the detective stated. Danny's gaze immediately turned on Matt.

"Then, you're… Matt Oswald, aren't you?"

The tutor blinked. "Er… Yes, I am. How did you…?"

"Your sister sent me," he blurted out. A tense silence overtook the room as Jack, the Doctor, and Matt all stared at the soldier with wide eyes. Martha merely walked over to the table and picked up the photograph of Clara Oswald. She walked back, handing it to Matt, who took it with a trembling hand. Then, the maid nodded at Danny, signaling him to continue.

"She-... She said her name was Oswin when I met her," he stuttered. "But she looks exactly like the woman in that photograph, and she gave me your name…"

"Where…?" Matt's voice was quiet, but loud enough for Danny to hear from across the room. "Where did you meet her?"

Danny bit his lip. "There's this… brothel. The-"

"The Silent Lady?" finished Jack. "You work there, don't you Pink?"

Danny was again confused at the Captain's foreknowledge, so Jack explained to him that they talked to Charles earlier in the day. They learned about The Silent Lady and its possible connection to the murdered girl at Hapland Park, but they needed to speak to Danny to be sure. In the meantime, the Doctor made his way over to Matt, who stared at Danny like he was going to disappear at any moment. The detective laid a hand on the tutor's shoulder, and the latter gave him a grateful glance.

When Jack finished his spiel, Danny had a look of understanding on his face.

"Actually, the day I met Oswin- I mean, Clara- there was this woman. The Mistress, I think. She mentioned that a girl named Lottie hadn't turned up for work."

"Likely our victim," Jack said, turning to face his friends. He raised an eyebrow once he saw the Doctor's hand on Matt's shoulder, but the Doctor removed it quickly enough for him to not comment. "Looks like The Silent Lady is our place."

"Why Oswin, though?" asked Martha. "Why'd she change her name?"

"It most likely wasn't her," the Doctor answered. "Whoever kidnapped her and the other girls probably made them change their names to make them harder to find. I'll bet that Lottie isn't that girl's real name, either. Luckily," the Doctor tilted his head towards the photo still in Matt's hand, "we've got pictures nowadays."

"What do we do now?" the maid continued.

"Head to The Lady, I'd guess." Jack looked at the Doctor. "Right?"

"We still don't know who's behind the kidnapping, so we ought to be more careful." The Doctor kept his eyes on Matt as he spoke. "But I don't see why we can't go and make sure Clara's alright. We should ask her questions while we're at it, about what really happened."

Matt's face lit up once he realized what the Doctor was getting at. He would get to see Clara soon. After nearly two weeks of endless worrying and nagging guilt, he'd be reunited with his little sister.

"My shift starts soon," offered Danny, drawing Matt away from his thoughts. "I can take you to The Lady."

Matt was across the room in a flash, his arms around Danny in a tight hug. The soldier was surprised, but everyone else regarded the scene warmly.

"Thank you," he whispered, fighting to keep himself from shedding tears. Danny awkwardly patted his back.

"Y-You're welcome," was the embarrassed reply.

No one was really very comfortable that night. Then again, not a single one of the men regularly went to such places like The Silent Lady. Not even Jack Harkness. It was far busier than they'd expected.

Danny escorted them inside the building, studiously avoiding the inquiring gaze of Charles, who was at the door, and steered them towards the seating area where he'd last spoken to Clara. Once Jack, the Doctor, and Matt were settled, Danny closed the curtains around them and spoke quietly.

"I'll go and find her," he said. "Stay here." And just like that, he was gone.

Matt shifted in his seat, anxiety filling every fibre of his being. The Doctor noticed this and moved a bit closer to the tutor.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly. Jack turned and watched their conversation with interest.

"Clara's been stuck here for two weeks," Matt growled, his eyes narrowed angrily. "I'll be better once I know she's okay."

The Doctor nodded, lips pressed together in a tight line. His fingers twitched on his lap, but his hands did nothing.

Time passed relatively quickly, though to Matt, it felt like ages. But soon enough, the curtain was pulled open again and Danny was inside the seating area. His head was turned to the outside of the curtains, and his hand was out of sight, holding onto to something they had yet to see.

A woman's voice came from behind the curtain. "Danny, what are you-?"

Matt's spirit soared at the oh-so familiar sound, having been so long without hearing it. Danny only smiled and gently pulled a young woman inside the area. Matt stood up, heart pounding, as his little sister was once again before him.

Clara was still giving Danny a curious stare when she turned her head slightly, and saw the trio of men also inside the curtains. But her stare focused on Matt. Her mouth fell open, her eyes widened, and her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Matt…?"

He smiled, tears pricking at his eyes. "Clara!"

The siblings both leapt for each other, arms wrapping around bodies in a tight embrace. Clara had been picked up by her much taller brother, so her feet dangled a few inches off the ground.

"I thought I'd lost you," he murmured, gripping her tighter still, as though she'd dissolve if he did not hold her together.

"I knew you'd find me eventually," she said back, squeezing with equal fervor. "I just knew it."

Everyone else had been watching the reunion with quiet smiles. Clara finally decided to acknowledge their presence when she and Matt separated. First, she grinned at Danny, who blushed in return.

"Thank you, Mister Pink," she said, eyes still glistening. He only averted his gaze and nodded in response. Then, she faced the Doctor and Jack. "And, um… You gentleman are…?"

The Doctor dipped his head in a quick, informal bow. "Dr. David Smith," he grinned. "But most people just call me the Doctor."

Jack followed his example, but he flashed Clara his signature flirtatious smirk. "Captain Jack Harkness. We're both friends of your brother."

"Are you?" Clara's stare swiveled back to Matt.

"They were helping me find you, Clara," explained the tutor. "The Doctor is a detective."

"And I was hoping that you could answer a few questions for me," the Doctor interjected. "That is, if you don't mind."

Clara hesitated, turning her head to stare at the curtain behind her. It was as if she were watching out for someone, afraid that their conversation would be interrupted. But when she turned back to face the Doctor, her face was grim and determined. She gave a tiny nod, and Matt moved her to sit down.

Danny suddenly felt very uncomfortable. "I'll, er… I'll be on the lookout," he said, slipping past the curtains. Clara smiled at him just before he disappeared from view.

Now that all four of them were seated, the Doctor addressed Clara with considerable caution. "Now, I'm sure this ordeal has been very difficult for you, Miss Oswald, but I do need to know… What happened the night you were kidnapped? Can you remember?"

Clara's mouth twisted into a contemplative frown. After a few seconds of silence, she admitted, "A little bit. I can recall walking home from my employer's house, and… And then I passed this alleyway and something grabbed me. A cloth was pressed to my mouth, so I couldn't scream." Her brows furrowed. "I can't recall a face. But there were voices…"

"More than one?" pressed the Doctor. "What were they saying?"

The woman was quiet. Matt nudged her with his arm.

"Clara?"

"One said… 'what a pretty girl'. And then everything went black," she said, voice hollow. Her face devoid of emotion, she only smiled when Matt squeezed her hand encouragingly. "And I woke up here."

"What happened after that?" asked Jack.

"I met all the other girls," she shrugged, "and the Mistress. She told me that my name was Oswin and that I worked for her now."

"A Mistress, huh?" Jack crossed his arms. "She's definitely in on it."

"Probably one of the voices Clara heard," agreed the Doctor.

Matt talked next, speaking at a low volume. "Clara… Have any of the other girls gone missing?"

She stared at him. "Yes… Lottie, she just vanished one day and…" Her breath shuddered, and Matt didn't have to think very hard about why.

"That body from the paper," he said sadly. "Was that…?"

"Charlotte Andrews," she wiped away unshed tears. "But the Mistress called her Lottie. She was trying to tell other people the truth, about the kidnappings and slavery, but then…"

A dour silence settled over the four.

"Well," Jack said, after a while. "At least we know what happened now. This is definitely bad enough for the police to make an arrest, don't you think, Doctor?"

The detective hummed, eyebrows knitted together. "Maybe… Clara's testimony will definitely catch their attention, but she's still only one girl."

"I can get someone else," blurted Clara. Everyone turned to look at her. In a more quiet tone, she continued, "I-I have a friend here. She's scared, yes, but I can get her to talk. She just needs to know it's safe."

"We can promise you that," assured the Doctor. Jack stared at him.

"We can? How?"

Matt also watched the Doctor, but he felt as though he already knew exactly what he was going to say. And, as it turned out, he did.

"We're going to get them out of here, Jack," the Doctor said, as though it were the obvious answer. "Clara and her friend, and eventually the other girls, too." He locked eyes with Matt. "We're bringing them home."

The tutor nodded, feeling nothing but admiration for the man he'd known only three days.

The Doctor stood up, walked around the area, and peered out of the curtains. Danny was standing a few feet away, far enough to appear as though he was working, but close enough to notice the Doctor's 'come here' gesture. The soldier was back with them in a matter of seconds. The Doctor clapped him on the back and drew the curtains closed again. His voice now strict and professional, he spoke to them all.

"Now, this is what we're going to do…"

When Maggie finally managed to get away from her drunken client, a hand grabbing her and pulling her into a secluded alcove was the last thing she needed. She almost screamed, but a decidedly soft and feminine hand covered her mouth. She stared at her captor. When the hand moved away, she exclaimed her name.

"Clara?!"

Clara winced at the volume of her voice and made a 'shush' motion.

"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Maggie continued, though her voice had quieted considerably. "What's the matter with you?"

"Maggie, I need you to listen to me," Clara said, her tone urgent. "Do you remember the soldier I talked to. Danny?"

"Yeah?" answered Maggie skeptically. "What about him?"

"He found my brother."

"What?!"

"Shh!"

Maggie moved her face in closer. "What d'you mean, he found him? Is he here?" Fear dashed through her eyes.

"Yes, and so are his friends. They can get us out, Maggie!" Clara's eyes gleamed with hope, starkly contrasting with her friend. "All we have to do is follow them-"

"Hold on," Maggie held up a finger. Clara closed her mouth with a pop. "Your brother, and his friends, are outside right now in the seating area, and you say they're going to help us escape?"

"... Yes?"

"Clara!" Maggie said in a hushed tone. "They're gonna get us killed!"

Clara's hands clasped around Maggie's. "If we get out of here before the Mistress notices, then we're not in any danger! They've promised to keep us safe. As long as we testify against her-"

"Whoa!" Maggie stepped back. "Testify? Against the Mistress? Have you gone mad?"

"I'll go mad if I stay here another minute! Please, Maggie, this may be our only chance to get out!"

The sounds of the outside brothel reached their ears, causing both girls to pause their conversation and watch apprehensively for any intruders. Suddenly, Maggie pushed Clara away, her face twisted with conflict.

"Clara, I… I can't. Go with your brother, but don't drag me into this."

"Maggie-!" Clara stepped forwards, hand outstretched, but Maggie had already slipped out of the alcove and disappeared back into The Silent Lady's busy main room. Her hand lowered slowly, and her face was worn down to an expression of dejection.

She walked outside a few minutes later. Danny was waiting by the curtain-enshrouded area that still held Matt, the Doctor, and Jack. When he spotted her, he noticed her sullen demeanor and frowned.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, once she was within whispering distance. Clara shook her head, sniffling a bit.

"She doesn't want to go," she whispered back. "She's too scared of what might happen."

Danny stepped aside to let her back in, and Clara told what had happened to everyone. Once she'd finished, the Doctor closed his eyes with a groan.

"Well, we can't force her," he said. "Is there anyone else you could convince?"

"Maggie and Charlotte were my only friends here," Clara explained. "Everyone else mainly keeps to themselves."

"Then I guess you're our star witness, Miss Oswald," Jack finished, crossing his arms over his chest. "Now, I think it's best we get out of here."

"Agreed," said the Doctor.

Matt stood up immediately and went to Clara's side, grasping her hand, for which the former governess gave him a grateful smile.

"Are you ready?" the tutor asked.

Her grip tightened imperceptibly. "I guess I am."

The Doctor stood too, his face suitably grim. "Then let's go."

Getting Clara out had been easy. Surprisingly easy.

While Danny distracted a drunken guard, Jack and the Doctor managed to slip outside and around the building unnoticed. Matt, meanwhile, pretended to be a 'customer' and followed Clara to one of the back rooms. If the tutor was at all disturbed by the display of dolls on the gilded shelves, he certainly did his best to hide it. Once they'd reached a quiet, unoccupied room, Clara tapped on the window. They were on the first floor, so it wasn't surprising when the Doctor's head came into view.

Matt and his sister watched as the detective pulled out what appeared to be a roll of cloth tied together with a string. However, when the Doctor pulled the string, he revealed a set of small tools to be tucked within the cloth. He plucked out a few of the tools- one of which Matt could correctly identify as a screwdriver- and began working on the window's lock.

After what could have only been a minute, the window popped open, and the Doctor was putting the tools away with a smug grin. Matt opened the window all the way and raised an eyebrow.

"You carry around a thief's kit? Really?" he asked, voice low. Clara was already hoisting herself over the window's boundaries, where Jack and the Doctor were helping her down. When she was secure, the Doctor held his hands out to Matt.

"There's no such thing as too prepared, Matthew."

Matt rolled his eyes, but allowed the Doctor to help him down from the window anyway. With the four of them safely outside of the brothel, they made their way back to the streets, to hail a cab that would take them back to Tardis Street.

Clara gave The Silent Lady one last glance over her shoulder. Several thoughts were running about the young girl's head, including hopes for the safety of the girls and one Mister Pink, but most of all, the overwhelming sense of relief flooded through her.

She would never go back there. Ever.