The ride to Rose's flat was the most awkward car ride Cameron had ever been in. Rose was slumped over unconscious from the Master's syringe, squeezed in tightly between himself and Finn. The situation he had just witnessed was still raging in his mind as he tried to make sense of any of it. Other universes? Torchwood had shown him some weird stuff, that was for sure, but this was just a little too much. What else had they said? Time-Lords? What the heck is a Time-Lord? Gallifrey was a made up name, surely.

Officer Julie drove the Highlander in silence, and supposedly the Master had used mind control on the real owner of the car to get it. Finn stared straight ahead at the back of Julie's seat, his face pale and mouth slightly open, revealing shiny white teeth. The Master sat in shotgun, his arms folded across his chest and his foot tapping impatiently. Suddenly, Finn broke the silence, "What are you two going to say to Rose's parents?"

"What's your name again?" The Master asked rudely, twisting his neck to look at Finn.

"Finn."

"Finn, I like that, it's like a fish. How did I get this car, Finn?"

Finn looked at the Master and raised an eyebrow, "You asked for it?"

"No," The Time-Lord smiled in return. "I used mind control. I used mind-control on the owner of the car, I'll use mind-control on Rose's parents. Easy peesy."

Cameron wasn't sure he was comfortable with this, but if he was honest with himself he was just happy the Master and Officer Julie wouldn't be residing in his house. That would be like a really bad reality show, he supposed. Eventually the car swerved to a stop (Cameron wasn't even sure Julie really knew how to drive), and Rose's flat was in front of them. The Master exited the car first, picking up Rose carelessly in his arms and walking towards the building. The few pedestrians around them stared curiously, but didn't question it or call the police. Finn and Cameron got out of the car too, walking up to Rose's front door.

After knocking four loud times, the Master got frustrated and kicked the door down before anyone could stop him. "I'm adding that to your list of crimes," Julie mumbled, entering the home.

Jackie was absent from the entire home, so they set down Rose on her bed and explored the house carelessly. "I really don't want to leave her alone with them," Finn whispered to Cam by the front door.

"I think we should say," He replied, nodding towards Julie who was holding an empty pot over his head curiously.

The pot crashed to the ground and shards flew everywhere, causing Julie to let out a shriek as manly as his name and jump away. Finn sighed, "I'll clean that up, you go find and watch the Master."

The Master was in the kitchen at the table, examining an opened brown package with the contents missing. On the package was Gallifreyan writing which he touched carefully with his fingertip. He looked up to see Cameron staring at him, and he groaned. "Are you two really staying? That takes the fun away. Though, I suppose it can't be that much fun with my parole officer here anyways. I won't hurt Rose, though. She's my best shot at finding the Doctor."

Cameron sat across him at the table, grabbing the package the Master was holding and examining it. "Who's the Doctor? How does he know Rose? And what's this parallel universe you all keep talking about?"

"You humans and all your questions at one time. I can see why you play the game Twenty Questions for fun. Anyways, the first question... The Doctor is a Time-Lord. He's my greatest adversary, and possibly the most annoying man you'll ever meet," The Master rolled his eyes as if the very thought of the Doctor annoyed him.

"If he's your greatest adversary then why are you looking for him so desperately?" Cam sassed, putting the package down and staring at the Master.

The Master blushed pink a little before replying, "I'm only looking for him because he's the only other Time-Lord in existence. He's like an antique, only he's a antique who can run away and screw things up when he's not watched carefully." Cameron looked as if he was going to push this topic further, so the Master kept talking. "Your next question, then. How does he know Rose? He knows her pretty well I would say..." He made a suggestive expression before continuing. "They traveled together. And your last question, you're standing in the parallel world. You were born here, I'm assuming, and you grew up here. I'm from another world, so is Rose, so is that Julie guy."

"Okay, I think I'm following so far..." He mumbled. "If the Doctor is missing then why don't you just file a police report?"

The Time-Lord chuckled, "Well, he can travel anywhere in time and space. There are the space police, known as the Shadow Proclamation, but obviously they have no idea what the bloody hell they're doing. By the way, there's a spare room that way," He pointed down a hallway. "You and Fish should sleep in there."

Cameron cocked his head to the side, "Fish?"

"Fish, Gill, Finn, whatever, same thing. I'm going to bed. Goodnight," The Master stood up and walked towards Pete's room.

"Rose?!" Jackie whispered into Rose's ear the following morning, her face filled with fear.

"Hey, Mum," Rose's eyes fluttered open and she stretched her arms above her head. "What time is it?"

"Rose, there are four strange men in the house! I'm going to call the police, get out of bed and let's get out of here! They're all asleep!" Jackie insisted, tugging on Rose's arm and moving towards the phone on her nightstand.

Rose shot forward in bed and whispered back, "No! Mum, wait! Don't call the police! I know them!"

"But... One of them is dressed in all black!" Rose's mum rambled, shaking her head in disbelief. "And... One of them is tapping his foot to this creepy rhythm in his sleep!"

"Don't worry, I know them," She repeated with a tiny smile. "Put the phone down, mum."

Jackie hesitated before nodding and putting the phone down and sighing, "Who the hell are they? Please tell me you're not pregnant."

"Mum!" Rose screeched out louder than she had intended. "No, I'm not pregnant! Just let me explain!"

It took Rose a full ten minutes to explain the most basic version of the story, taking out unneeded details. She explained about the Doctor and the note Officer Julie had, and tried not to tear up when she told her what the note had said.

"So the Master was leaving the flowers, then?" Jackie asked gently, holding her daughter's left hand in both of hers. "I'm sorry, love."

"I don't know that for sure," Rose replied. "He's really weird, mum. The whole situation is. Even with all I've been through with the Doctor, this is the most confusing. Maybe it's because he's not here to make sense of everything..." Tears came to Rose's eyes and a choked sob escaped her throat. Jackie pulled her in for a hug and didn't let go for a while, only to be interrupted when the Officer awkwardly walked into the room.

"I'm going to take the Master back to the parallel world now," Julie explained with his head peered around the corner as if he wasn't sure whether or not he should interrupt the mother-daughter moment.

"What?" Rose asked instantly, standing up. "You can't!"

Julie flinched at her anger and sighed, "It's my duty. I'm an officer of the Shadow Proclamation, the only one who survived the trip to this world. He's literally broken the record for the most crimes committed in the shortest period of time. I've got to take him back there so he can be properly punished for his actions."

"He's my only chance at finding the Doctor! Listen, please, just give me... A week with him? I can tell he's not telling me everything he knows about the Doctor's wherabouts."

The officer bit his lower lip and paced the room a little, debating. "Let's see him," He decided after a minute.

Rose nodded and stood up, giving one last small smile to her mother before exiting the room.

They walked down the hallway to Pete's room, where the Master had slept last night, only to see that he wasn't in the room. Julie and Rose proceeded to checking the entire flat, but the Master was nowhere to be seen. "No no no," Julie mumbled to himself, pacing the room quicker this time. "I can't have lost him, I would have been honored back at the Proclamation! Honored, you hear me?! They would have given me the job on the spot!"

A/N: Silly Master... Where'd you go? Next chapter things get a bit more organized, a bit more is learned about Julie, and the Master is a jerk.