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

Summary: - Connor needs help- and so does Vancouver!

New Dawn is over, but Connor still feels the after effects badly. Matt and Lester have a plan to help him get his confidence back by sending him to Vancouver to help the newly formed Vancouver ARC- and to retrieve something that belongs to him!

Vancouver Calling

Chapter One- A Plan

Connor stood in Lester's office in front of the desk, hands behind his back, head down- looking at the ground. Lester looked at Connor thoughtfully in silence for a few minutes. As he looked carefully at Connor with his red tee-shirt under a blue denim shirt which hung loose and open, gently blowing in the breeze from the air conditioning, Lester thought how much Connor had changed in the time he'd worked at the ARC. He remembered the exuberant boy who'd first been brought by Cutter to the Home Office as it was then. At the time, Lester couldn't understand what Cutter had seen in the boy- he was loud, childlike and did outrageous things like any normal student, for example riding his skateboard through the building, of all things! As much as he hated to admit it, and would never say it out loud, Cutter had been right. Connor had a brilliant mind and had turned out to be an asset to the team.

As Connor stood there uneasily, his eyes to the ground, Lester thought about how much he had changed from that boy to the very serious man who was standing in front of him now. That was the problem. The New Dawn scenario had changed Connor- made him even more serious and unsure of himself. He was almost afraid to make any decisions without checking them out with Matt first. He was still brilliant, of course, but before embarking on any new project he now sought approval before going ahead.

Lester was saddened to see how much New Dawn had broken Connor, and how jaded he was. Oh yes, his relationship with Abby- although Lester had pretended all these years not to notice- at least that seemed back on track- almost. There were odd times when they danced around each other- just like the old days before they were a couple. Connor was unsure of himself sometimes around Abby, and after he had taken Philip's words over Abby's, he obviously felt a lot of remorse and guilt, and tried to over- compensate by asking her opinion, and well it sometimes seemed 'permission' to do anything.

That woman- Helen had ruined so many lives. Lester was determined Connor wasn't going to be one of them! That was why he had called him into his office…

Matt was also in the room, and at this moment was lounging against a table at the back of the room, behind Connor. Lester nodded to Matt who stood upright and walked over to the desk.

"Connor" said Matt "Are you alright?"

As this was the last question Connor expected, he jerked his head up in surprise.

"What?" he said

"Are you alright- you haven't been yourself, mate" Matt said

Connor gave a grim laugh "You mean after nearly destroying the world? Yeah Matt, I'm fine" Matt tilted his head slightly to one side and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"No, really Matt- I am fine. It's just gonna take a bit of time, that's all."

"And you and Abby?…"

Connor nearly choked! "Me and Ab..? What – what is this? Has she said something? Is…is something wrong…"

"Connor, Connor, calm down, mate. She's fine. You're fine. This is the problem- Connor, you're jumpy, nervous. I know it'll take some time after New Dawn and Philip. Look, mate, do you think some counselling would help?"

"Coun…" spluttered Connor "No! No- I'm fine, really. It'll just take me a while- really, I'll be OK!" Connor looked distraught, flushed and embarrassed by the whole conversation, and Matt thought it was time to end this meeting. This wasn't helping anyone. He went to the door and opened it, nodding to Abby who was a short way off, waiting. At Matt's nod, she came into the room and slipped her hand into Connor's. He turned to her, a smile suddenly brightening up his whole face. Abby gently kissed him on the cheek and Connor turned to Lester and Matt, who nodded that he was free to leave.

After he'd gone, they watched him and Abby for a few minutes walking hand in hand towards Jess, who was working at the ADD. Matt looked at Lester, and said "I think I've got a way to help him, if you're up for it?"

Lester looked from matt to Connor and said, after a few minutes "As long as it's legal- now let's hear your idea"…..

To Be Continued