One Step Through The Anomaly (When Jess Met Sara)
By Pinkcat4569
Major Spoilers for Season 5
Rating: T for language, adult situations
Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or the characters
Description: With one step, Dr Sara Paige walks back into the ARC and the lives of the team. How'd she get here, and more importantly, how will they send her back. Should they, knowing she will die?
Author's Note: I started this ages ago. I don't do science very well, and the time line stuff drives me crazy. This probably has all kinds of errors in terms of science, probability and logic. It's huge—over 10,000 words, so I was thinking five chapters of 2,000words. I may change that. So, if you're brave, patient, and have time to kill, here it is.
Update: This chapter has been edited for spelling and other errors.
Chapter One
"Hurry, please," said Jess, scared but not frantic. She stared at the anomaly shining less than ten feet from her, inside the hub at the ARC.
"Jess, has anything come through?" asked Matt.
"No," said Jess.
"You've got your emergency EMD, right?" came Becker's voice.
"Yes, but I really wish you were here. Wait, something's coming through," she whispered in terror.
"Stay calm," said Abby.
"We're almost there," said Matt.
"Jess, get back as far as you can, and keep you EMD trained on it.," said Becker. "I promise we'll get there, and you're going to be OK."
Jess was alone, facing God knows what, but just hearing Becker reassured her.
Then the anomaly flickered, and a person stepped, a little shakily, through.
She was beautiful, tall, light brown skin of an Asian or Indian nationality, and long, straight, shiny black hair. She wore a pant suit in a neutral tan color with a wine blouse. The only accessory was a watch, and she wore sensible, flat shoes.
Jess knew who she was the instant she stepped through the anomaly. Jess had been fascinated with her from the moment she read the case files. Then there was the affect her death had on Captain Becker. Yes, the woman standing in front of Jess, looking over the ARC in confusion and awe was dead.
"Jess, what came through?" demanded Becker. "Jess are you alright, answer me?"
"I'm fine," said Jess simply.
"What came through?" asked Becker.
"I'll explain when you get here."
"What? What do you mean you'll explain ...Jess, for God's sakes, what came..."
"Becker, for God's sakes will you just get here! Jess out." Jess flipped the control that cut the link to Becker, something she never did. She looked up to see her guest looking at her with a smile.
"That's the best way to deal with him, I've found," said the woman.
Jess grinned but felt a bit of jealousy and resentment. She didn't need anyone's advice on dealing with Becker.
"Jess!" yelled Becker, practically hurling through the barely open lift doors. "Where's the incursion?" asked Becker, clearly not in a good mood.
"There isn't exactly an incursion," said Jess calmly.
"What do mean 'isn't exactly,' Jess?" asked Becker, "When I ask you for information, you give it to me, and none of this 'wait till you get here' nonsense! Now, what in the hell is going on?"
"If you'd stop barking for a second, I would tell you," said Jess, putting her hands on her hips.
Becker heard a laugh. He turned to look behind them all, and there stood a mirage, or a vision, or a ghost. Take your pick, thought Becker, because there was no way she was real.
"Still barking orders, not listening to calm, rational speech?" asked Dr. Sara Page.
Abby and Connor came over to stand at Becker's side, all three staring in complete disbelief.
"Sara?" Becker finally whispered.
Jess said quickly, "She's the only thing that came through. Now do you see why I couldn't just blurt it out?"
"I'm going to guess that I'm in the future," said Sara, "And I know, we must preserve the timeline. I remember how obsessive Professor Cutter was about that. So no questions about the future, I promise. Um, I guess you're keeping present me away?"
Becker, Abby, and Connor all glanced at each other. Only Jess, who'd never met Sara, kept a cool head.
She marched briskly over to Sara, and shook her hand. "That's right. It's a very delicate situation. We have to be careful with what we say. So, I'm just going to introduce myself as Jess. It's nice to meet you."
"Sara. Nice to meet you, Jess," she said with a lovely smile, then eyeing Jess turquoise, straight mini skirt and soft yellow shirt, she added," I love your outfit!"
"Thank you! That's sweet of you to say," said Jess beaming at her co-workers, still stunned like statues.
Abby recovered first. "Hi! So where, I mean, when are you from? You know us, right?"
"Yeah, we've been working together for months. We just lost Professor Cutter a few weeks ago. Um, the last mission was the knight and the dracorex."
"Oh, yeah, that was a lot of fun," said Connor brightly. He moved over to join the girls.
"What's wrong Becker?" asked Sara.
Becker just stared. He was losing it. How could he pretend that nothing had happened?
"And where's Danny?" she asked.
With that Becker nearly burst into tears, but Jess once again took the lead, "Becker's been under a lot of strain lately. Danny Quinn is...on a mission, away from the ARC."
"Top secret," added Becker, regaining control. He smirked as he said, "I don't believe you have clearance."
Sara laughed. "There's the irritating, arrogant captain we all know and love. How far into the future are we anyway, I mean look at this place."
"Sara..." said Becker with a scowl, "No fair digging."
She smiled. "I know. I'm sorry, but I just can't help it. I'm an archeologist. We dig." Becker smiled at her. For the first time Sara truly noticed the ADD. "Wow! Connor, I thought the current, well, for me current, ADD was something. You've truly outdone yourself."
"Actually," said Connor. "This was done while I was...away on a mission."
"Really," said Sara. "It's amazing. You must love monitoring this."
"That's Jess' job now," he said, trailing off as he saw Becker's face. "I probably shouldn't say anything more. Too many spoilers."
Sara had walked up to the ADD for a closer look and Jess followed her while everyone else clued in Matt and Lester.
Jess politely showed Sara some of the features. "I don't think knowing how many screens we now have will change the timeline much," she said with a laugh.
"You keep track of the team? Good idea. We could have used some one watching us on a few occasions," said Sara. She looked at Jess again. "I'm impressed," she said.
Jess smiled. "Thank you," she said. The two continued to chat and trade small talk while across Ops, the others whispered.
"How did she get here? There were no anomalies that linked past and future ARCs. We'd remember," said Lester.
"Not necessarily," said Matt. "Not if she went through and didn't tell you."
"Why would she have done that?" asked Becker.
"Don't know mate, I never met the lady."
"Could be a more disturbing possibility," said Connor. "Time's already changed, for us anyway."
"Like when Cutter came through and we had no memory of Claudia," said Abby.
"Yikes," said Becker.
"Yikes indeed," said Lester, thinking and remembering. "Ok, damage control. Matt, you and Jess are to have the most contact with her. The rest of us can't risk divulging something she isn't supposed to know." said Lester.
"Like she's dead," said Becker grimly.
"You never go into the field?" asked Sara.
"Well," said Jess, like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't. "I did once. It was a little harrowing, a bomb was involved. Actually, I'm fine right here. Plus Becker won't let me back out."
"Why? You're obviously very intelligent and capable."
Jess flashed her winning simile. "Oh, I like you," she said with a chuckle. "It's kind of a long story, but we were both nearly blown up, and Becker feels like it's his fault because he could do nothing but instruct me how to defuse the bomb. Which I did."
Sara's mouth popped open. "You're incredible," said Sara, making Jess blush. "Becker takes his job very seriously. I can understand him wanting to protect you."
Jess looked at Sara. She obviously knew Becker well. There was so much she wanted to ask Sara, and tell her, but she couldn't. Time was too fragile.
There was one nagging question that Jess just couldn't push away. It involved Becker, and his feelings for Sara.
"Um, Can I...I mean, I don't want to pry, but I was just...are you and B..."
"Dr. Page," said Lester strolling in. "How nice. Just dabbling in the time stream, are we?"
Sara smiled and shook her head. She had noticed something about Lester. He seemed...affected? Her presence seemed to unsettle him. It was almost emotional at times. Come to think of it, the whole team seemed affected, especially Becker. She wondered why.
Sure, it would be weird to have another Sara appear, but they were more than weirded out. They were completely shocked.
"How did you get here?" asked Becker.
"Don't be so thick. I came through the anomaly," she said smirking, getting one in return from Becker.
"We know that," said Matt. "We mean where was the anomaly, and why did you go through?" When Sara stared at him, he added apologetically, "Oh, sorry. Matt Anderson, how do you do?" and shook Sara's hand.
"How do you do," she said politely. "You're..."
"Research and arms development," Matt said quickly. "Team needed more firepower," he said winking at Becker.
Sara watched the playful tension between the two of them. "More firepower?"
"Different, actually," said Matt, "non-lethal but effective, right Becker?" He smirked strongly.
"Non-lethal? Really? Wow, lots of changes. How far in the future am I?" She asked before she could stop herself, knowing no one could answer. "Sorry. I'm just amazed."
"I realize this in difficult for you," said Lester, turning quickly to Connor, "Why can't she just go right back through? We know she does."
"She has to," agreed Becker, "for time to continue correctly."
"Ah, the anomaly is...unstable," he said, pointing to the flashing and slightly fading anomaly. "I'm not sure it's safe."
"So she stays," said Jess happily. She beamed as she walked to Sara. "At least for a bit." Jess threaded her arm through Sara's. She said, "Come on Sara, let's have a cuppa tea."
"Jess, no pumping for information...on anyone," called Becker after them.
Jess giggled. "Scared, Captain?" She called back. Sara smiled backwards at him as they walked away.
A few minutes later, the ladies were seated in the canteen. "So, Jess," said Sara, nibbling on a biscuit, "you and Captain Becker?"
Jess nearly choked on her tea. "H...how do you mean?" she asked innocently.
Sara smiled. "Well..." she begun, twirling her spoon in her tea, "you seem very...close."
"I was thinking the same about the two of you."
"Me and Becker? No. He drives me crazy, all guns and regulations. The two of you, however..."
Jess smiled, suddenly feeling calm, calmer than she had since Sara appeared. "We're just friends," she said gently, sipping her tea.
Sara smiled. "For now," she said, also sipping tea. Jess and she exchanged smiles.
"Ok, you two have been left alone long enough," said Becker walking briskly in. "Behaving yourselves?"
Both ladies smiled. "Of course," they said innocently and in unison.
Becker shivered. "A chill just went up my spine." Jess giggled. Sara just stared at him with a slight smirk.
Lester strolled in that moment. "Miss Parker, were you planning on doing any work today or should I have the mammoth run the ADD?"
Sara chuckled as Jess rolled her eyes. "I'm going right now," Jess said, standing up. She pointed a finger at her boss. "Don't let that ancient elephant anywhere near my ADD." She smiled at Sara and exchanged amused glances with Becker. Then she walked confidently out of the canteen, her heels clicking in the distance.
"Employment standards at the ARC have gone up, I see," said Sara. Becker smiled, stealing Jess' seat, and her tea, Sara noticed. "I like her."
"She's very likable," said Becker. Sara studied him intently.
Finally he said, "What?"
Sara smiled brightly, "Nothing."
End of 1st chapter