Disclaimer: Don't own Primeval – just taking it out on a joy ride
A/N: Set somewhere in season three **Post NickDEATH & Pre-Cretaceous** rated T for Violence.
Suggestions of Connor/Abby; Major character thumping.
Summary: She knows Nick took it...She knows who now possess it. Helen can't risk anybody else figuring out the Future Artefact. She wants it back and she will do whatever it takes...
ONE
It was still dark when Abby was jolted awake by her mobile phone, buzzing on the nightstand beside her. With a sigh, she reached over and caught it as it vibrated off the edge.
"It's four in the morning Danny, there better be a T-rex on the loose," she answered groggily, not needing to check the caller I.D to know who was on the line.
"We have an Anomaly just opened in Staffordshire, so we have a bit of a drive. I need you and Connor here in an hour," he replied. "I know you're not well Abs, but we need to lock it off before we get a serious incursion,"
Abby coughed and wiped the sweat from her face. Not well was an understatement. She was down with the flu and felt as though she had been trampled by a herd of Stegosaurs but work had to be done.
"Alrigh', we'll see ya soonish," she confirmed, before hanging up.
Abby laid back on the pillows for a minute, wishing she could just burrow back under her quilt and sleep for a month, but Connor wouldn't wake on his own. She was betting that Danny tried his phone too, but got no response.
With some effort, Abby managed to drag herself out of bed, flinching as her bare feet touched the cold timber floor.
"Connor!" she called, her voice crackling with congestion. She didn't want to have to climb all the way up to the loft, but when she gained no response other than a particularly loud snore, she rolled her eyes and began the ascent.
As Abby reached the loft, she stretched out and flicked the light on to find where Rex had disappeared too. He had found a nice warm place to nestle, right in the crook of Connor's neck. The prehistoric lizard opened one of its beady eyes and chirped a soft greeting to Abby, before burrowing further into Connor's dark hair. Abby smiled and approached slowly, watching Connor as he slept, noting how peaceful he looked. But she couldn't let him sleep. They had work to do.
She reached out and gave Rex a scratch to gain is attention before pointing to Connor's ear. "C'mon Rex, get him up for me," she whispered devilishly. As cute as he was to watch when he was asleep, Abby loved to try new ways of waking him up when they needed to be on the job early. The most effective so far was serving up Rex's breakfast on Connor's face, but if this worked the way she wanted it too, it would take the number one spot. Rex chirruped, tilted his head and let fly his wet tongue. His aim was true and Connor shot up with a cry, promptly hitting his head on the loft railing above him.
"Ah, Rex you..." he trailed off once he noticed Abby doubled over in silent laughter. "Why can' you ever just wake me up normally?" He inquired with a yawn.
"Because Connor, you don' respond to normal. Besides which, its fun," she replied with a cheeky grin.
"Fun for you maybe Ab, but you didn't jus' brain yerself on a house," Connor complained rubbing his head, "You're gettin' worse, I can hear it in yer voice. Why are you up so early?"
"Danny called. We have an Anomaly alert in Staffordshire, he needs us at the ARC in less than an hour so I suggest you put some clothes on," she answered.
"You know, maybe you should stay here Abs, I can make you some lemon tea before I go..."
Abby smiled, picked up a pair of Connor's jeans from the floor and tossed them at him.
"Stop fussin' Con, and get dressed. You can drive."
They arrived at the ARC twenty minutes later, and met Quinn and Becker in the hub.
"You look like crap Abby," Danny noted, giving her a small smile.
"Gee, thanks a bunch," she responded sarcastically, "So what are we waiting for?"
Becker glanced over to Lester's glass office. "This is the fourth call in less than an hour...some stock has been mutilated around the anomaly site...looks like we have an incursion. We're waiting for him to come out and tell us we can use proper guns..."
As his voice trailed off, the team watched as Lester hung up the phone and stood, straightening his tie before leaving his office.
"Ah...Sid and Nancy, I see you have finally decided to join us," Lester said, noting Connor and Abby's presence. He looked at Abby again. "You look absolutely grotesque...what in god's name are you doing here like that?"
Connor opened his mouth to say something, but Abby spoke first.
"Flattery will get you nowhere Lester. I am here because I have a job to do,"
"Yes, well...just don't breathe on me, alright? Or on anyone else for that matter. I don't want people sick in here...they're not all as dedicated as you and I won't give them sick pay,"
"Real compassionate," Abby muttered, as he turned away.
"I don't get paid to be compassionate; I get paid to watch you catch dinosaurs. Now hurry along won't you? You don't expect some mindless farmer to catch the creature with a pitchfork and a bit of tobacco do you?"
He began to head back towards his office, but Becker cleared his throat, seeking Lester's attention.
"What is it Becker?" he asked with exasperation.
"Sir...I think we should be using proper guns..."
Lester rolled his eyes. "I want to know what it is before you start filling it with holes, got it? Now chop chop, you're not getting any younger,"
And with that, he was locked up in his office once more.
She watched intently, peering through the binoculars as the team began to load up the utes.
It was only a matter of time before she got what she wanted – She knew that Nick took the Future artefact. She also knew currently possessed it, for no one within the ARC was smarter than Connor. Helen had to admit, his intellect was rare and if anyone could figure the Artefact out before she got it back, it was him. And that just didn't sit well with her. Still, she knew enough about Connor to know that, as gutsy and brave as he had grown over the past two years, She would still be able to get it out of him. Whatever it took.
Helen Cutter turned to one of the Cleaner Clones beside her. "Have the devices been placed?" she demanded.
The clone nodded dumbly and Helen smiled.
"Good...Now all we have to do is wait..."
The car was silent as Connor drove out of London. Glancing over at Abby, he noted how sick she actually looked in the daylight. He bit his lip, contemplating his words. He was worried about her. He always worried about her, but she was an adult, and perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
"Abby, are you sure you're up to this?" He asked, his eyes never leaving the road.
"Con..." she began throatily. "Wha' have I told you about fussin'?"
"Er...Not to do it?" he replied nervously.
"Exactly. You're very sweet to worry Connor, but I have the Flu. It's not as though I'm dying, yeah? So just drive. I will let you know if you need to worry, right?"
Connor nodded and gave her a small smile. "Alright Ab, you win. For now,"
"I win full stop Connor. Drive. I'm going to have a little snooze, yeah?"
She rested her forehead against the cool glass, savouring the soothing effect it had on her aching head. She closed her eyes, and let the gentle momentum of the car rock her to sleep.
"Abs...Abby, where here," Connor said softly, reaching out to gently touch her cheek, but pulled back from the heat radiating off her skin. "Abby, you're burnin' up,"
"Connor, you're doing it again," she mumbled, sitting up slowly.
Connor sighed. "Yes Ab, I'm fussin', you're so hot – I mean...you know what I mean,"
Abby chuckled and got out of the car, stretching her stiff muscles.
"What we got guys?" She asked, approaching Quinn and Becker, who had already sent the soldiers out on scout.
"We have a couple of tracks, just there," Becker pointed to the trampled mud at the edge of the tree line. Connor bent down and examined that tracks, frowning slightly.
"What is it?" Abby asked, crouching down beside him and gripping his shoulder to keep her balance.
"The tracks...I can't be one hundred percent...but I think its Raptors...three, maybe four. It would explain the mutilated cattle, wouldn' it?"
Quinn and Becker glanced at each other worriedly.
"Oh that's right...you guys haven't dealt with Raptors before have you?" Connor asked, standing, then helping Abby to her feet.
"No, but I did read about the incident in the shopping mall..."
"Did you also read about how he shouldn't be trusted with guns?" Abby asked, giving him a playful punch.
"Hey, that was an accident Abby...and I've had a bit of practice since,"
"Alright you too, stop arguing. We need to split up and look for these bastards before they kill someone. Connor, Abby – you head North towards the farms where the mutilations have been happening. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary – "
Connor cut him off. "Necessary? Danny, we're talking raptors here. They engage you. You think you're goin' to walk in on them knitting a jumper out of a mutilated cow?"
Danny rolled his eyes. "You have an overactive imagination sometimes Connor. Just do it, yeah? Give us a call if you find anything and we'll take them down together. Be careful you two. I only say it because I know you pair have a tendency of getting into trouble when you're together,"
He gave Connor a reassuring pat on the back and handed him a gun. "That's in case it becomes necessary...and be careful you don't shoot Abby with that...it's not a Tranquilizer," He winked and shouldered his backpack. "We meet back here in two hours. Call if anything happens."
And with that the team split and headed in opposite directions.
They followed the tracks for Kilometres, weaving in and out of farmyards, flashing their government I.D's to get the residents to talk to them. A few of the farms had been abandoned for many years and were so overgrown with weeds and thistle that it was almost impossible to follow the tracks.
"How do ya think the others are going?" Connor asked as they pushed their way into a dilapidated old barn.
"Well the lack of contact is reassuring. It means they aren't in trouble," Abby replied, shining her torch around the dark interior.
"Or maybe they didn't have time to call before they were ripped to shreds," Connor mumbled dryly.
"Ever the optimist, Mr. Temple," came a new voice from behind them. The pair spun around, their weapons at the ready.
Helen Cutter was standing at the door, two Cleaner Clones by her side. "Nick would be disappointed that you didn't hear me coming. He would have expected this,"
Connor stepped forward to engage, his jaw tight with determination, but Abby put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"Don't Con, she killed her own husband in cold blood, she wouldn't hesitate," she muttered.
"You're wrong Abby, see, I need Connor alive...he knows all about the Artefact and where it is...You however..." She nodded at the Clones who stepped forward, readying their weapons. "Alive boys..."
Abby lashed out with a high kick, connecting the clone in the chin. Behind her she could feel Connor trying to pull her back, to protect her. "Stop Connor! I can fight them!"
"They're too strong! Ab – " He stopped short with a grunt and looked down at the feathered dart in his chest. "Connor!" she cried, as he fell to the ground unconscious.
Her sting came next, right in the throat. She could feel her muscles seize and her throat tighten as she pitched forward into darkness...
TBC
First Primeval fic – let me know what you think. I welcome constructive criticism but don't like flames