Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
3.11 - Weirdness in London
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It had been ten days since Abby, Connor and Danny had disappeared through the anomaly.
Lester hadn't been home since it happened. He'd been spending the nights at the London flat or more often sleeping in the office. Tonight though, his secretary had insisted he leave the ARC, get a good night's sleep for once or his wife would have her head on a platter. Lester snorted at the memory. He seriously doubted that Vivian would do any such thing, but she had certainly put the fear of God in his secretary. He started to insert the key in the doors lock and then watched as it swung open in front of him.
"James," the tall slender brunette greeted him with a worried expression.
He stepped forward into the entryway of the flat. Lester heard the click of the door as she pushed it shut behind him. He leaned his head down, resting on her shoulder. The warmth of her embrace as she wrapped herself around him overcoming him as nothing else had managed to during these past horrible days. Tears fell from his eyes as his shoulders shook.
Vivian held him tighter, murmuring soothing sounds, trying very hard to believe the words she was saying.
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It had taken sixteen stitches to close the smallest of the gashes on Becker's forearm. He hadn't asked how many stitches it took to close the other claw marks. The pain meds had started kicking in then, and he no longer cared.
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She had made dinner for them. As she helped him out of his suit jacket, she talked of ordinary things. His mother was watching the children tonight… their oldest daughter Gail was practicing for her flute recital… their son had brought home a horrible grade on a test of some sort, really needed to study more, sigh… their youngest daughter was still begging for a pet… there was probably too much garlic in the sauce…
Lester let the words wash over him, warming him, making it easier to breathe. As she reached for his hand and began to lead him to the dining table, he asked the question that had been bothering him for the last week.
"I thought you said Abby and Connor would be back in three days?"
Vivian stopped and turned to face him. "They were," she replied quietly "in my time line."
"And Danny?"
"Danny Quinn was lost in time," she said evenly, watching his face. Watched as he processed her words, watched the shock turn to hurt turn to anger.
"And you didn't think to tell me?" he roared. "I could have kept them all…"
"James," she whispered, reaching her hand to caress the side of his face, "I didn't want to hurt you… this wasn't what I was supposed to change…"
He carefully reached his hand up to enclose her hand, and then just as carefully removed her hand from his face. Turning on his heels he marched into the study, opened the dark walnut cabinet and pulled out a bottle of an even darker brown liquor. She watched as he poured the whiskey into a glass and brought it to his lips.
"James," she called to him.
He moved towards the desk, picked up a picture frame and turned to face her. "We've already changed the world," he said unsteadily, "at least three times."
She looked at the picture he held in his hands, the picture of their children.
"We couldn't have done it just once more… to save them?" he asked.
James Lester didn't eat dinner that night, and for the first time since they had been married he chose to sleep on the sofa. Sid and Nancy chirped sadly and snuggled in close to him, the sound of distress that could be heard down the hallway keeping them awake.
In the bedroom, Rex watched over the weeping woman, chirping anxiously.
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Hendricks and Stephenson were sitting in the waiting room when Sarah entered.
"He's not out yet?" she asked.
The older soldier, Hendricks answered tiredly "They're still stitching him up."
Sarah sat down to wait.
"Begging your pardon Miss," said Hendricks gruffly, "but you don't have to wait. We'll bring him home."
"But I want to talk to him," Sarah answered in surprise, "I've got another idea…"
"It was your last idea," interrupted Stephenson angrily "that got him in here and got Harry killed."
"No," she began…
"No," echoed Becker. He stood there, finally out of emergency, swaying unsteadily in the doorway. "It's not her fault the plan failed, not her fault Harry…"
Hendricks interrupted, "Not anyone's fault." He stood up and crossed the room to wrap an arm around Becker's waist and start steering him towards the exit. He continued, "It's late, now Miss we'll see the Captain home, you go on home too. Tomorrow will be soon enough for another rescue attempt."
"Yeah," added Stephenson, "first three tries didn't work. Maybe round four will."
Sarah watched as the three soldiers exited the hospital waiting room, the glass doors swinging slowly shut behind them. Her eyes filled with tears, and her chin quivered.
This new idea, it just had to work. They just had to bring Danny, Connor and Abby back. They just had to.
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