AN: Inspired by the Maroon 5 song "daylight". Any similarities to anyone else's fics is completely unintentional (as after jotting down the idea while listening to the song, I realized it might sound similar in some ways to certain other fics, but I've done my best to avoid being too similar).
Also, I am so, so sorry for this, but he's gonna stay dead. Because the idea would not leave me alone at all.
(btw: No need to worry about 'After Time' - I'm working on the next chapter, I promise. ^^')
Connor dies in a creature attack.
x_x_x_X
It's a normal anomaly call, nothing unusual. They find the anomaly quickly, and he locks it.
They don't see any signs of an incursion, though Abby, Emily, Matt and Becker split up to search. The dire wolves are definitely unexpected, scattering the team and bringing several soldiers down. Connor unlocks the anomaly, ostensibly to let them back through… and just like last time, more wolves exit into the 21st century. He spots Abby, eyes flashing as she shoots one of the dire wolves with a burst from her EMD, but another of the large creatures blocks his view, and he finds himself without a weapon, face to face with some really sharp teeth.
There's a sudden flare of pain, and he thinks he tries to fight it off, push it away, hears Abby scream his name, the coppery scent of blood, and there's more pain —
And then there's nothing, though he's sort of aware of the feeling of floating, and darkness, a lack of sound and smell, and his thoughts are disjointed, sporadic, with huge gaps in between where he's not aware of anything at all.
x_x_x_X
He wakes up after what feels like ages and a second all at once. Connor knows he died, which makes the whole waking up thing very strange. He reaches up to touch his neck, the memory of teeth making him swallow convulsively. His hand passes through the space, and when he looks at his hand, his skin is almost completely transparent. He waits for his heart to jolt, but the lack of a beat confirms it.
However impossible - or rather, improbable - it is, Connor knows that he's… What?
"Not a ghost… a spirit, I guess. I'm dead." Connor pauses." I'm dead, but I'm a spirit. Why'm I not freaking out?!"
He takes a step forwards, and has the bewildering sensation of moving forwards without touching the ground.
"Where am I?" It's easier to think out loud, because he can pretend he's not dead. The place… it looks familiar. The trees look just like… "The forest of Dean?" And it's night time, though he can see perfectly. Connor takes another floating step forwards, and suddenly things blur.
There's an anomaly swirling several meters away from him. Connor stares at it, unsure what will happen next.
x_x_x_X
TBC