"River," he smiled, "What... How...?" He waved his arm uselessly at her breaking into a huge grin, "River..." She grinned back at him mischievously,
"Well while you out having fun... I did some real investigating... Hello again," she added. The Doctor turned around to a very sheepish looking Joe.
"What do you know of Torchwood Doctor?" Joe asked, his manner suddenly seemed very efficient.
"What... Wait... What..." the Doctor spluttered turning sharply back to stare at River, "Torchwood?" he cried.
"Don't look at me sweetie... He's been here for years... he found me," she protested shrugging off the hooded shawl and standing slowly.
"We need professionals... experts," Joe explained, "Sorry about the...uh," he held out the Doctor's watch towards him, "It was her idea... Just in case it wasn't you I picked up" He turned to the doorway and pressed down hard on the light switch. A steel plate slammed down to cover the doorway, the table sunk down to floor level, creating a circular platform, "Quickly," Joe urged stepping firmly onto it. The pair followed his lead; the platform sprung into action and began to move downwards under the floor, a steel circular grid sealed the hole above them. The Doctor glanced to the unphased River; she patted her loose curly hair then sent him a huge beaming smile as they touched down in the hideout. Approximately six flat screen computers were positioned at various points around the small rectangular room, notice boards held photos and sheets of writing. In the centre stood a large white light table, the whole room shone a brilliant white, sterile, clinical colour.
"There should be... more of you then..." the Doctor stated stepping out into the hideout.
"Yes. They all went missing while investigating the disappearances. It's like nothing we've ever dealt with before Doctor"
River gravitated instantly to the nearest vacant computer. She began to tap away, the screen lit up for her as her typing increased in speed.
"Excuse me," the Doctor mumbled to Joe before stepping to join River. She paused in mid type sensing him stood close behind her. He pressed his lips against her ear, "And where have you been?" he whispered dangerously, "Why didn't you use the communicator?" She turned around; their faces were so close they could have rubbed noses.
"You never answer," she hissed.
"You never tried"
"I did! You didn't switch it on!"
The Doctor frowned at her before reaching to check inside his pocket, he pulled out the communicator and examined it carefully, he flicked the small switch with his thumb. A small red light lit up, he looked up to River who was now holding hers to her mouth.
"Believe me now?" she cried deafening them both as the sound was amplified.
"Are you two a couple?" Joe asked leaning against the light table.
"No"
"Yes"
The pair froze and turned to look at each other. The Doctor looked slightly puzzled,
"You said yes...?"
"..Yes"
"When I said no..."
"You didn't say yes?"
"...no"
"Uhm... So here's the file I put together," Joe interrupted hastily handing the brown file out towards the Doctor. The Time Lord eyed River suspiciously before flicking through the pages quickly with barely a glance.
"Interesting read," he declared throwing it casually down on the table, "But doesn't get us any closer... but at least I was right... there's no way off this ship..." The Doctor thought for a very long moment before he spied a familiar looking vial stood next to one of the computers. It shone brightly, a gold colour, just like time energy.
"Why do you have that...?" the Doctor pondered striding over to it.
"Well... It's the only way I could have your ship brought to ours..."
"Huon particles," River confirmed, "The last naturally occurring Huon particles are within the heart of your Tardis Doctor. The activation of those particles acted as a magnet on the already activated Tardis. Drawing the two together..." Glancing to her the Doctor noticed the reappearance of her faithful PDA. After a long intake of breath he rounded on the unsuspecting Torchwood agent.
"So you endangered the lives of the people on this ship... and the people in my ship...," he pointed to River angrily, his eyes fixed furiously on Joe, "If she'd died I'd have held you personally responsible... twice!" He snatched up the vial holding it up to the light he examined it further. The small handle protruding from the top was clearly the source of activation, "Right," he said a little more calmly, "I'll keep hold of this..." He tucked the Huon particles into his jacket pocket. His hands worked nervously flattening out the tweed creases as he tried to think, "And there's nothing unusual? No new additions to the carnival? ... Anything?"
Joe bowed his head low as he strained his mind, "Not that I know of..." he decided at last. The Doctor brought his hand to his face, covering his closed eyes. The onset of a headache had begun to take its tole.
"We're just going to have to search then," he winced dropping his hand sharply to the table top, "Good old fashioned... searching"