Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.

Set after series 5, but Jenny, Sarah and Danny are still with the team. Philip was rescued after he blew up the Power Station, and is still involved with the ARC.

Happy New Year

Chapter One

The team trudged back from the anomaly, making their way to the waiting cars, wet and bedraggled from the bad weather. The incursion itself hadn't been too bad, but had involved a lot of running around and diving at the small creatures to try to catch them. As they splashed through the puddles, Connor was very quiet as the rest of the team talked about the events of the day.

"Do you think this terrible weather has something to do with the anomalies- the convergence... or even the end of the world after New Dawn?" Sarah asked, worried. "I mean…all the rain- the floods. This just isn't normal!"

"Maybe, in part." Matt mused. "I don't think it's anything to do with New Dawn, though. That would have happened very quickly with the future predators roaming around freely. It may have something to do with the anomalies though…Connor, you'd better get together with Philip to look into it. Keep me fully informed on what you're doing, at all times…Connor?...Connor?"

"What? Oh, yeah, Matt. On it! Keep you informed. Check…" Connor's voice trailed off as he sunk back into his thoughts again.

Abby was walking close to Connor, feeling very concerned. As Matt looked at her questioningly, she shook her head. She knew exactly what the problem was and she indicated to Matt not to ask Connor about it. He had to work through this one, she was saddened to say, but she'd be there for him. She slipped a small hand in his, and although he didn't outwardly appear to notice, she felt a gentle, almost imperceptible squeeze of her hand for a second.

They trooped into the awaiting cars, and Becker raised an eyebrow at the fact that Connor hadn't bothered to 'call shotgun' as he had a habit of doing. He'd just climbed into the back of the car and sat silently, arm around Abby, whose head was snuggled up on his shoulder.

"You alright, Connor?" he said.

"Fine" Connor replied shortly, closing his eyes and feigning sleep so he wouldn't be questioned any more.

Abby was the only one to notice the lone tear escaping from the corner of his eye, and raised her head to kiss it away. Connor didn't react other than to squeeze her a little tighter. He knew she understood what the problem was - that was the wonderful thing about their relationship, they knew each other inside out. He was very grateful for her support, but couldn't speak just yet, his feelings were too raw at the moment.

Once they reached the ARC, they all went to the hub to hand in their black boxes to be recharged. Lester was standing beside Jess when they arrived, arm folded across his chest.

"Well, you took your time!" he remarked. "Complete your reports, and then you can get off. It's New Year's Eve. I'm not totally heartless, you know!"

"We'll do ours on Wednesday." Abby said firmly. Lester raised his eyebrows. "We're going home. Connor needs…I mean I need some time to get over today. Difficult incursion…may have twisted my leg a little…" she lied.

Lester looked at her suspiciously, and Connor immediately started to fuss over her.

"Abby! You never said. Do you need the medics? Where does it hurt...?"

"I'm OK, Connor!" she said. "Just need to go home and soak in a hot bath for a bit. I'll be right as rain!"

"OK, you all might as well get off then. Never let it be said that I'm not a caring man. But I want those reports on my desk first thing on Wednesday! Anyone not submitting their report will be fired!"

The team had heard all this before, of course, and nobody took a blind bit of notice as they excitedly began to pack up their belongings. They had tonight and the whole of tomorrow off to see the New Year in- if the anomalies let them, that is!

"You are all still coming to ours tonight?" Emily asked as they bade their goodbyes.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Abby responded, glancing at Connor.

"Ooh yes!" Jess said. "I've got a fabulous dress and new shoes to match." she added excitedly.

"We'll be there!" the others called as they all separated to be on their way home.

Abby took Connor's hand again. He'd just been staring into space, and he looked down at their hands at the little action.

"Your leg? Is it OK. Here, let me see…" he suddenly asked.

"There's nothing wrong with my leg, Connor. Just said that so you can get home. You're soaked through…you're…you know…"

"I'm sorry…" he started to say.

"Don't be. I understand. Come on, let's go home. You'll be alright. Just need some time, that's all. A nice cup of tea and some tlc will soon sort you out." she said softly, and he responded slightly, not wanting to upset or worry her.

Abby got into the driver's seat and Connor sank into the chair beside her. Once again he lay back and closed his eyes. Suddenly he jolted up. "Abby…would you mind just a little detour first? Can we go…?"

"Of course, Connor." Abby cut in. "I know. Of course we'll stop off there first then get you home, yeah?"

"Thank you, Abby!" Connor smiled, the first time he'd smiled since seeing what had run through the anomaly.

~~oOOo~~

They finally made it home just after four. There was plenty of time before they were due to go to Matt and Emily's to see the New Year in. They'd stopped off at a flower shop first before heading to the cemetery where Tom's body had been buried after his death. The dodos had bounded through today's anomaly at an alarming rate, and although they'd been fun to round up and catch, there had been an underlying fear for all of them that they could have been infected, as they had that time so long ago, and it took longer than expected to collect them all due to the extra precautions they had to put in place. It had brought back the memories of the terrible events of that time when Tom had been bitten by a dodo and had died in Connor's arms.

Tom had been Connor's best friend. They'd known each other for years, firstly going to secondary school together, then to the same University. They'd told each other their innermost secrets, fears and hopes. They'd chased girls together, and commiserated when their hopes had been dashed. Together with their mutual friend Duncan, they'd formed their own little 'gang' with their secret handshake. They'd shared Thursday nights together, enjoying pepperoni pizza, 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Blake's Seven' and discussed everything under the sun from superheroes to aliens and conspiracy theories. Connor had been devastated when Tom had died, and often visited his grave.

As Abby went off to the kitchen to make the tea, Connor moved into the bedroom where he sat, his face in his hands. He was shaking he discovered, and when Abby brought him his cup of the steaming hot beverage, he could hardly hold it without spilling the contents. Abby guided the cup to Connor's mouth with a reminder that it was hot, and he took a small sip. The hot liquid burnt as it went down, a stark reminder that he was alive whereas Tom was not.

As Abby replaced the cup onto the bedside table, the tears that he'd tried so hard to hold back suddenly started to fall, and Abby pulled him to her as he unashamedly sobbed into her shoulder. As he cried, Abby stroked his hair, making a soothing 'shushing' sound like a mother soothes her child. She couldn't help a few tears of her own fall as she remembered that day. She'd been so afraid of Tom, he'd been possessed by the parasite that had infected the dodo, and was enraged with her. She thought he was going to kill her, when Connor came and spoke to him- to reason with him. Tom's eyes had lit up in sudden recognition as Connor talked, and he'd let Abby loose. It was then that Tom bravely battled the parasite and died as a result.

Connor hadn't said much to her about it when they'd returned home, but she knew that he had never erased Tom's name from the computer game they'd shared, and the picture of the three of them had been retrieved from Connor's belongings after they'd been trapped in the Cretacious and had resumed its pride of place on his bedside table.

He stopped weeping and reached over to pick the picture up, smiling a little through his tears at the photograph of the three of them standing side by side. They'd been through a lot together even though they'd been very young. Their friendship had survived all the school bullies, and in Tom's case uncaring parents. They'd helped Connor through his father's death, and his mother's subsequent illness, and Duncan's motor scooter accident when he'd broken his leg. They'd been there for each other, a real 'gang' of friends, and it still hurt to remember that day.

"I…I'm c…cold!" Connor's teeth chattered as he dropped the photograph on the bed as his shaking hands could no longer hold it.

"You're chilled. You've been in those wet clothes too long." Abby soothed. "Here, have another sip. It's not so hot now. Good! Now, let's get you a nice hot shower and get dressed into some warm clothes, yeah?"

Connor nodded, feeling suddenly exhausted. Abby helped him up and they went into the bathroom. She turned the shower on, and began to help him remove his wet clothes as if he were a child. He suddenly realised what she was doing and became more interested in her actions than his dark thoughts. His cheeks began to get colour back in them as he watched her slowly undo the buttons on his jacket. She slid his t-shirt over his head gently, kissing and stroking his chest as she removed it.

"Abby…" he began.

"Sshhh! It's OK. It's all going to be OK…"

The rest of his clothes soon joined the rest on the floor of the bathroom, and then Abby helped him into the shower. He stood under the water for a moment, looking up at the stream, and letting it wash over his face and body. He wiped his face with his hands to clear the water from his eyes and when he could see clearly again, he saw Abby was slowly removing her own wet clothes and when she was finally naked, she picked all the offending articles up from the floor and put them into the laundry basket. She stepped into the shower with him, and started soaping his chest for him.

"Feeling better now!" Connor whispered.

"I can see that!" she quipped, with raised eyebrows and a smirk on her face as his body betrayed his desire.

Connor suddenly reached over to her and pulled her to him so that skin was on skin, and captured her mouth with his own.

"You sure you're up to this?" Abby murmured against his lips.

"Oh yeah! Much better now!" Connor laughed, savouring the moment and receiving the love and comfort from the woman he loved….

To Be Continued…

Sorry- sad chapter…much fluffier next chapter!