Before I Wake

By: Danae Bowen

Fandom: Primeval

Characters: Connor/Abby

Rating: G this chapter, can't guarantee later ones.

Disclaimer: I so obviously don't own Primeval; I just like to borrow the characters and mutate their inner voices. Please don't sue, my house is small, my car is useless and my dogs are pains in the arse, but they're all I have.

A/N: Though it's been done and quite possibly over done, my muse likes to play with things that've been beaten a bit and see if she can't freshen them up. As it stands right now, I'm missing Primeval horribly, I'm missing the youthful Connor and Abby that seemed to've been eaten by series four adult-type Connor and Abby. I'm missing Abby's laugh, and Connor falling on his arse. I'm missing Jenny and Danny and Sarah - tho I love Jess, don't get me wrong. So for just a little while I'm letting my muse play in the forests of the Cretaceous, and letting her believe nothing has changed, so she doesn't have to play in a world of maudlin darkness all the time. Don't really know how long this will be, others will be written as this one grows. This will be my playground for when my muse needs a pick me up from the lack of just all around fun moments that series four provided. In otherwise, forgive me for the fact that this idea is trite and well shelved by this point - I'm just a kid playing in the Primeval sandbox.

Spoilers: Up to the end of Series 3.

Summary: Just another day in the Cretaceous. We all know that one day an anomaly will open and bring them home to us, but until then, Abby and Connor must survive. This is a story of life, laughter, and a little bit of love along the way. Home is only what you make of it.

~~~Part One: Unpacking

"Ow."

Step.

"Ow."

Step.

"Ow."

Step.

"Ow."

"Really, Connor?" As they took another slow step into the unfamiliar wilderness, Abby Maitland sighed.

"Well, me foot hurts, doesn't it?"

"Doesn't mean you have to go around sounding like a wounded diictodon, does it?" The glare she cast in his direction faltered as she watched several levels of pain flicker across his sensitive brown eyes. "C'mon, then, looks like a bit of a nook we can rest in up ahead."

As they moved closer to the tiny bit of shelter Abby had spotted, Connor eyed the landscape. Granted, he wasn't a tracker like Stephen, but when it came down to it, he could recognize human footprints amongst the reptilian.

"Um, Abby?"

"What is it, Connor?"

He scratched the back of his neck nervously as he limped towards a fallen tree, eying what was certainly the impression of several bodies hitting the previously undisturbed ground. "Think we're walking in circles. Doesn't this look like the anomaly site to you?"

Abby glanced around, her eyes narrowed. "Yeah, could be, I s'pose."

"Yep, definitely the anomaly site. Look, here's our footsteps just starting out of nowhere. And here's the raptor prints from the flock that chased us."

It was funny how often Connor surprised her; two years ago he would've been sneezing and moaning, whinging on about getting home. Today, he was channelling Stephen Hart, able for once to correct Abby as she turned them the wrong direction. Pride swelled within her for the growth Connor had displayed, while externally she scowled at him, shaking her head, watching in satisfaction as his lower lip trembled slightly.

"Sorry," he muttered quickly, looking at the ground.

She gave a little. "Oh, Connor, s'alright, yeah? I'm not frustrated with you, just the situation." She moved beside him, resting a hand on his back. "You did pretty good picking up on all that. Really, Conn." She sighed again. "Right, this looks as good as any place. You all right to gather us some wood? I think I see a bit of a crevice over there we can make into a shelter."

Tasks assigned, Abby changed her focus to their survival. She kept a close ear on Connor as he limped through the nearby trees, gathering up as much dry tinder as he could carry. Brambles and thorns were surprisingly easy to come by as she and Connor worked swiftly, bending boughs and creating a rough thatched roof for their temporary home, lacing it in the natural defences that the vast forest offered. Dark fell early, long before they were expecting the sun to set; their home was no where near water proof, and something large could easily make it's way through the meagre roof they'd not yet reinforced, but it provided some shelter from the elements, and for now, would have to be enough.

They settled together in the small space, cross legged, stacking the tinder Connor'd collected to the side as they built the basics for a fire.

"Do you have a lighter?"

Connor shrugged. "Sorry, forgot to take up smoking, me."

She sighed. "What'd'ya have in your bag then? Anything we can use?"

He flushed hotly, fingering the top of his sack lightly. "Um, I've a few screwdrivers, two notebooks, couple of pens, two pairs of socks, ooh a knife!" He pulled the knife out of the bottom of the bag and tossed it towards Abby. "That'll help some. Um, hey, a magnifying glass." He frowned, "Dunno why that's in there, don't really remember putting it there."

"Jesus, Connor, don't you ever pack anything you can use in that thing?"

The look in his eyes burned brightly as he shrugged at her, scratching the back of his neck one more time. "Sorry, Abby, it's just… y'know, I don't always do all the action stuff. It's always: Connor, lock down the anomaly. Connor, identify that species. Connor, get us a coffee. Connor, fix this damned machine, now, if you know what's good for you! If you really want, Abby, I've got my computer here too, but once it's charge dies, what use is it, either?"

She frowned, "Don't you even have your medical pack? They're mandatory to bring along."

A deeper flush, another scratch at his neck. "Yeah, remember that stint at the airstrip? When I busted me head open? Jenny patched me up when you went off after Jack, 'n I've not gotten around to refilling it." He looked inside the bag and pulled out his decimated medical kit. "Bit of iodine, bit of gauze, some plasters, not much else I'm afraid."

She sighed, "I suppose we'll have to make do with mine then. You've at least got your mess kit, right?"

At that Connor grinned and pulled out the compact package that held his plate, cup and utensils. "Never leave home without it."

"Brilliant. In mine we've got a blanket, knife, mess and medical kits, spare socks, some rope, oh and a tranquillizer kit. That could come in handy if we find ourselves in a rough spot." She grinned. "And lucky for us, two torches, a package of waterproof matches, two sets of spare batteries and some dried rations."

Connor's eyes lit up as he edged closer to her. "Rations? Y'mean food, right? 'Cause I dunno about you but I'm proper starving!"

She rolled her eyes. "It's not exactly gonna feed us, y'know, Connor. Maybe take a bit of the edge off, but until Becker 'n Sarah find a way through, we're on our own."

He sighed, propping his bag up behind him, setting his head on the uncomfortable lump. "Either way, I'm still starved 'n you still have food. Hand it over, then."

She shook her head quietly, handing over a trail mix bar and a bit of dried meat, leaning back as she watched him dig into the meagre offerings eagerly. She nibbled away at a corner of her own bar, her appetite greatly reduced by their situation as she mulled over what options they had at hand.

"Abby?" His words were muffled by the small piece of jerky he was currently devouring.

"Yeah, Conn?"

"Don't suppose you've got any tea in your bag, do ya?" His eyes glittered brightly. "Or coffee even? Coffee'd be brilliant!"

She lifted an eyebrow, her lips twitching in amusement. "Only if you've got a bit of chocolate in yours."

He sighed. "Damn."

"Yeah," she murmured softly. "Damn."

~~TBC