A/N: Has been a while, I know. :) This is a birthday fic for the fabulous iEvenstarEstel, a dear friend of mine. Set after season five.

Oh, and if you'd like a peek at some of my original work, my short story is to be published 20 April at www(dot)buzzymag(dot)com/the-turning-away-by-casy-dee/. The mag is an awesome source for sci-fi/fantasy stories. :)

Chapter 1

"Ya know, I don't mind flying so much, but this…" Connor eyed the little charter plane nervously, "this is different."

Abby smiled and rolled her eyes, "It's fine, Connor. No other way to get to the site."

He gave her a smile, but it felt fake and it probably looked it, as well, "And we've got to get this sorted before the anomalies open in a populated area, I know. No need to throw me own words back at me." He knew they needed to do this, but it'd sounded a lot better from the comfort of home. "I'd feel better about it if it weren't for the storm," he added.

Abby lifted an eyebrow, "It's a tiny system. Should blow out before we come close… you can hold my hand, if ya like."

Connor smirked, "Not funny."

Connor and Abby were the sole representation from the UK ARC, meant to act as advisers to help the Icelandic government learn how to properly respond to anomalies and lock them. They were also meant to set up data recordings, and then their ARC would work closely with Iceland's to interpret it and share the knowledge with the other ARCs. Ideally, any future anomalies would be contained by the Icelandic ARC team, and the UK ARC would still get access to all the data. Thus far, Iceland had only a few instances, easily cordoned off and contained, but the information they'd forwarded to the ARC so far showed that the Icelandic anomalies were different somehow. Any difference could be a vital clue. Connor had insisted that the UK ARC investigate in person, and if Connor was the best person to do the job, well, then they'd just have to send him. With Abby.

When Lester had actually seen things his way and offered Connor and Abby the chance to help establish the Icelandic Anomaly Research Center, they'd jumped at the chance. This mission seemed especially suited to them, Abby was fascinated by the array of country specific animal species and Connor was instantly on board any time he thought he could suss out one more piece of the anomaly puzzle. Better yet, Iceland was beautiful and had a number of hot springs… and hot springs held special meaning for Connor and Abby. The first time they'd made love had been by a hot spring whilst they'd been trapped in the Createatous. Best of all, they could finally take a proper honeymoon. Lester had even agreed to authorize a few extra days to monitor the fledgling operation. Spending their honeymoon under northern lights and soaking in hot springs seemed perfect.

Though they'd arrived from London jet-lagged and knackered, they'd wanted to get the actual work behind them and start their "observation" period. They'd met a few scientists from the Icelandic team in the city of Reykjavik, quickly planned a mission, and within hours of landing they were stood on the tarmac, staring at the little aircraft that would take them the rest of the way to Vatnajokull National Park, home of some of the most exciting volcanic activity. Connor had some theories; he believed the unique geological conditions of Iceland played a critical role in understanding why their anomolies were so different than elsewhere.

He'd explained it to Abby in geek-speak, but her understanding of it was that lava was magnetic, and when it cooled into basalt it still retained a small amount of residual magnetism. It even retained the polarity it had held when it cooled. A whole new field of scientific study had evolved from using paleomagnetism as a dating technique. Continuous lava flow from an active volcano created thick layers of basalt, essentially a very large weak magnet. Connor was certain the the basalt was to blame for both the distorted anomaly readings and the concentration of anomaly activity around the volcano. Abby looked over at him and smiled, Connor had been so excited at the prospect of geography affecting anomalies that she had resigned herself to losing him for a few days whilst he buried himself in the lab. At least they'd have some fieldwork first; he'd determined that the volcano itself was the best place to test his theory.

Connor and Abby buckled themselves in across from two members of the Icelandic scientific team... the very large scientific team. Abby had to admit that the plane was uncomfortably small; her knees brushed Viktor's where he was sat across from her, and poor Connor was sat with his knees in the aisle so that Einar was able to squeeze into the spot across from him. The two Icelandic scientists, the nature guide, Lara, and Abby and Connor comprised the whole of the team. The tiny charter craft couldn't hold many more. This visit was just a preliminary survey of the area, meant to determine where the best placement of the data boxes. They'd be going out with the entire team the next day to actually place the boxes, and then the rest of their time would be spent in the ARC facility.

"Look at that," Connor remarked, some of his unease fading in light of the gorgeous scenery out the window.

Abby smiled at the childlike wonder on Connor's face, a flood of warmth washing through her. She loved her quirky, dorky, enthusiastic husband, and reactions like this were part of the reason why.

"Beautiful," she agreed, taking in the expanse of white glacier, deep blue water, and shockingly bright patches of green.

Einar chuckled, "She is, yes. She's beautiful, but it's good we have Lara to guide us. She can be deadly. Glaciers, volcanoes…but she loves her people."

Abby and Connor traded a glance. The Icelandic people talked about their country as if it were alive. The scientist wasn't the only one they'd heard speak like that.

Lara cracked a smile but didn't comment. Einar had been part of the welcoming team that met them at the airport. Initially, he'd been reticent, but he'd become quite talkative by the time they'd been out briefed and on their way to the national park. The other two members of their little team hadn't moved beyond polite yet. Connor probably hadn't helped matters. He'd been nervous and overly chatty, as usual. He wanted to make a good impression, and he also wanted to be sure that the team started out on the right foot. For Connor, that amounted to talking too much and too quickly, then realizing he was talking too much and making it worse. Einar was the one team member that hadn't been bothered by it; he'd taken a special liking to him.

Silence fell as the volcano came into view through the window. Neither one of them had been this close to an active volcano before.

"Where we landing?" Connor called out to the front of the aircraft.

"North side of the volcano, well away from danger," the pilot shouted back.

"Right then. Good," Connor nodded.

Abby reached over and squeezed his hand, "See… I'll protect—"

Abby shrieked as the tiny plane canted sideways and then nosedived. Connor's arms went around her, his pale face and wide horrified eyes the last thing she saw before it all went black.

TBC

A/N: I hoped you like this! More to follow soon. :) Oh, and um... sorry bout the cliffie. ;) Reviews are love and they help me write faster. *flutters eyelashes*