I don not own ITV's TV Show called Primeval or any of it's elements. No copyright infringement intended.

Yeah, I know that after reading the first chapter this will seem like a piece of fiction rather than a fan fiction, but, bear with me, first creature sighting is in Chapter 2, somewhere in the middle of it :D.

Thanks for your patience and thanks for taking time to read this, I hope you won't be dissapointed.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 1

It was a cold winter's day outside. Joh was peacefully sleeping on the big red sofa, in front of the fire place, when James entered the room yelling that her phone was ringing. At first she thought it was a dream. Then, as she woke up she hoped it was a dream. She couldn't decide what was worse: that the first restful night's sleep she got in a while was abruptly interrupted by an idiot phone call, that on the other side of the phone she might hear the inspector's voice, or that she'd eventually have to make a decision.

'Yes?' she frightfully squeaked in the speaker.

'Is that Johlynne Magnus I' m speaking to?'

'Ye…s' damn, he sounded like a cop all right.

'Meet me in front of Harper's Café tomorrow at half past seven. Come alone. If you bring anyone with you I'll go away.'

'Wait! Who are you? What…' too late, the bastard had already hung up. What the hell did he want? Was it safe? Should she go? What if she told someone about the strange call she just received? No, that person would surely insist on accompanying her. What if it was important? But what if… Her stream of thoughts was interrupted by James' worried voice.

'Is everything all right? You've completely frozen.'

'Ow!' she closed her mouth 'well, nothing. Really, no bother. Just a … very ordinary phone call.' She concluded with a smile.

'Riiight.'

'Totally! ... I don't wanna talk about it.' she said when she realized James was going to insist. It was like he had a personalized lie detector especially for her. Having solved this out she gave out a sigh and continued to think about her pathetic life as she ate breakfast.

It's been three weeks since she was sleeping on James' very comfortable couch. But she couldn't sleep there for ever. She had initially just moved in for a couple of days and it's been almost a month. Well, James didn't seem to bother, but it was pretty lame. 20 and practically homeless, sleeping on a guy's couch. Well, she wasn't homeless, she technically speaking still had a house, but she had no intention of ever going back there. Hell could freeze over and she still wouldn't go back. She resented that place. It had been the perfect place to live in until a couple of weeks ago. That idiot day. What a spiteful fate. She then remembered how much she hated self pity, so she concentrated on the view offered by the window. The garden was magnificent, filled with bushes and flowers, brought from all over around the world. It was that type of a garden you'd expect to see in front Mr. Darcy's mansion. In fact, the whole place looked as if it had once belonged to Mr. Darcy. A beautifully crafted fence surrounded the property and bushes grew in front of it giving the place a more authentic look. Separating the frontal part of the house from the fence, there was a meadow divided in two by a road that went from the gate to the house entrance. In front of the house one could see many beautiful and delicate flowers, happily smiling to the sky. The house's entrance was marked by a grandiose set of stairs and a terrace. In front of the stairs the architect had put a small round fountain. In front of the stairs there was a large enough portion of pavement to park a car, but the actual garage was accessed by side entrance which was less grandiose then the main one. In the back of the house there was a pond with ducks and fish. It was adorned with water lilies. The mansion in its self was a wonder. It was an old building that had been in the Knighton family for over 200 years. It was a rectangular building of brownish color, with three floors and large windows. It was furnished with taste, every piece of furniture being a work of art. It sometimes amused her to imagine she felt guilty for taking a seat, or touching anything. The terrain on which the house found itself neighbored a forest. The forest, of course, wasn't a possession of the Knightons'. It used to be back in the late 1800's but since then the importance of Sirs faded away and so did considerable amounts of their wealth. Musing about the place she found herself in, it took Joh a while to realize that her bowl was empty and that she had swung the spoon from the recipient to her mouth and back for no reason. Observing what a beautiful day there was outside, she decided to go out, just so to try and flush recent events out of her mind. As she went to get changed, James asked her:

'Are you sure you don't want me to prepare a room for you? There's plenty of space in the house.'

'Neh, I' m fine. Besides I' m leaving soon, aren't I? It's been a little over a week since my arrival. I hope I haven't inconvenienced you in any way, dear Sir, have I?' she smiled.

'Ow, stop it!' he laughed 'And why should you find another place to stay, anyway? My parents left me this house all to myself when they decided to move in order to be closer to the Queen and her society. You know, in order to get Louisa married. They hope she'll meet some Prince Charming and marry well. Anyway, I've got this place all to myself, and it's super cool, but it's also… weird.'

'Are you trying to tell me you're scared, dear Sir?'

'Me? Scared? Not a bloody chance! It's… um… it's… nice to have you around. As a friend.'

'Of course.'

'Of course.'

'But it hardly feels like my own place. It's rather sad.'

'I could arrange for us to have rooms on different floors.'

'I'll defiantly consider your proposal. But know I'd like to get changed if you don't mind.'

'Ok.'

'James?'

'Yes?'

'When I said I'd like to get dressed I expected to do it alone.'

'Yes, of course. Sorry. So is it a deal then?'

'I'll ask my Independence.'

'Well tell her you could pay a rent. I'm sure that'll make her feel alive. Of course, if you don't want to waste money, I'm sure we could think of something else.' he said putting on a cunning smile.

'Can I change now?'

'By all means do.' He said as he left the room.

She quite liked having him around, too. Of course, J. was a spoiled brat, but unlike most spoiled brats, he also was a good natured person. He had a nice personality and a good sense of humor, he was clever and beautiful. He had red hair, short, but not too short and lovely grey eyes. His skin color was light with a vague impression of a pinkish brown hue. When he smiled you could easily loose yourself in his look. He was a perfect guy. Too bad he also was her best friend. But that's reality, life can never be perfect, and consequently, she could never fall for her best friend. Having dressed up she went in front of the mirror to view the result. She wore an oversized woolen sweater, black with a pale red, orange and green model, a pair of dark brown trousers and short black boots that reached little above her ankles. She arranged her long black hair in a pony tail and went to get her coat. Having dressed properly, she exited the house. While halfway across the front yard, James caught up with her.

'Need company?'

'Why not?' she agreed.

'Where are you going?'

'I don't know… I think Harper's.'

'No way! Let me take you to some place awesome!'

'J., you promised you'll try to live a normal life…'

'Well, Her Majesty's Hounds is quite a normal place.'

'Maybe for you and your buddies, but for the commoners it's not. And don't go fetch your fancy car. We'll walk. Like normal people do.'

'I don't think I like normality.'

'You'll get used to it.'

Poor sweet James, he was so spoiled, he was helpless when dealing with the world. In truth he couldn't even drive. Fetching his car would have actually meant fetching his driver and his car. He couldn't cook and for him the washing machine was an object designed on Mars. He trusted people a little bit too much, so fooling him wasn't a hard job to do. It was not that James wasn't clever, he was brilliant, he just had blind faith in people because on one hand he liked believing that all people are good; on the other hand he was so used to being treated with respect that he expected everybody to do so. She was amused by the thought that unlike James, she had completely lost faith for human kind. All this species does is to destroy. Of course, there exist exceptions, but as it is said, exceptions reinforce the rule.

Not before long they reached Harper's. It was a nice place. It was dimly lit and the atmosphere was perfectly set by perfumed candles. The black walls were adorned with paintings about coffee. The place in itself wasn't big, but because of the way it was lit and because of how the small round tables were arranged, the room seemed spacious. The café had four brick walls and a glass one, the glass one being the one facing the street. The bar was placed opposite to the entrance. The girl standing at the bar seemed quite bored and the place seemed asleep. But not in the negative meaning of the world, it was that kind of a peaceful calmness from another world. Joh and James sat down in a corner after ordering two cappuccinos.

'Soo… Christmas is coming!'

'Mhm.' she said sipping from her cappuccino.

'Why so interested?'

'Why not?'

'But… it's Christmas!'

'So?'

'Um… Aaa…'

'Well?'

' It's the traditional Christmas party my parents usually throw, only this time it' s gonna be bigger. You know, with al the eligible youths residing there. Every possible husband of Louisa will be there- and their families. And… um...'

'Yes?'

'They suggested I don't come alone this year.'

'I'm sorry, you lost me completely. In what way is this related to me?'

'Well… I was thinking… would you come with me this year?'

'Good Heavens, no! Do you want all of those respect- worthy ladies and gents to die?'

'Um?'

'A commoner at their parties? Unacceptable!'

'Really, how old are you?'

'Old enough.'

'Seriously.' he said laughing.

'You're saying they aren't allergic to peasants?'

'No!' he laughing, 'But if it makes you feel safer we could disguise you as a foreign lady from abroad. Somewhere far.'

'I didn't say I'll come.'

'That's why I said "we could" not "we will".'

'Your parents know me.'

'And they like you, too.'

'As your acquaintance, maybe, but as date... they'd skin me alive.'

'Nope, that'll probably kill you. And they can't stain their spotless reputation. But they might hire a hit man. Who knows?' he shrugged.

'That made me feel a lot better!' she responded with a laugh.

'So... come? Please?'

'Why?'

'Because I can't go alone...'

'J., you know I don't do pity dating.'

'It's not pity dating. It won't even be dating at all. I promise!'

'Then what's the point in taking me there?'

'Oh, please, please, make my life easier.'

'Oh... I'll come. Ok? But under no circumstance shall you present me as your girlfriend. Got it?'

'No way! I promise. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!' he took a drink from his coup. 'So, what was the deal with that phone call you received earlier?'

'Nothing. Why should there be anything wrong?' She started to feel agitated. What if he suspected something?

'No reason what so ever. Just that you looked dumb folded. But you look like that every day, so I guess nothing unusual there.'

'Don't choke on your coffee, J.!'

'Just to humor you.'

'How's work?' she asked changing the subject.

'Waaa... Sucks... I totally hate my dad for living me with that Cradle guy… Being his apprentice sucks. "Do this, do that, bring me the coffee, go get my mail." I... grr…'

'That's work, you know. You can't get your butler to do your chores for you all your life.'

'Just because I was my dad's temp doesn't mean I was treated like a queen! I went to meetings and did reports and stuff… I got actual practice for when I'll be working. With this guy I feel like I'm preparing to be his bloody maid! Next thing you know he'll make a move on me.'

'Notify me if does. I wouldn't want to stay between you. I'm sure you'd love to go together at the party.'

'Don't make me introduce you as my beggar friend I brought to offer a warm meal for Christmas.'

'I state the rules here, buddy. You need me to come. I don't really need to.'

'Well… you're sleeping in my house!' he said triumphantly.

'Don't push it.'

'Ok. I'll take that back. So if I bribe you, you'll come? Like for sure?'

'Well… It depends… I think I'll come anyway. I couldn' t possibly ask you that much… no. I'll just come.' She botted.

'Joh, assert yourself.'

'For starters I'd like Chrissie for a sleep over.'

'Only that?'

'You have no idea. So, can she come?'

'Any time. For however much time she desires.'

'Tonight?'

'Rigt away.'

'You're the best.'

'I know.' grinned James. 'Look at the time! It's been almost two hours! Shall we go?'

'Yes, we shall.' she said ceremoniously extending her arm.

The reminder of the day passed away swiftly and by nightfall all three friends, Joh, James and Chrissie, were cheerfully having dinner.

'So, Chrissie, how's your life been lately?'

'Now that you asked, I just came back from New Zeeland.

'So that's where you were hiding!' Chrissie was like that. Whenever life got to her she just took off, no good- byes, no nothing. She was there and then the next minute she was gone. Quite hard to keep up with. But she was unique. And Joh liked unique people. She was sick and tired of all the mall girls and low cultured guys, who seem to be cut out after the same model. Every mall- girl was a copy of another such specimen. And so were the males. Their mental capacities didn't go beyond the awareness that they needed to reproduce. Chrissie and James were of the few people who hadn't been monkeyfied.

'Funny you should put it like that. I wasn't hiding at all. I just couldn't their clubs were awesome! Too bad I can't remember much. I've been drunk most of the time. I think I'm still hung over!' Chrissie was a heavy drinker, yet she wasn't an alcoholic.

'So you can't remember a thing?'

'Not much. Fragments only. I remember something about bungee- jumping and then swimming in the ocean…'

'Drunk, yet able to swim, I'm officially impressed!'

'Drunk and able to make money.' Chrissie grinned.

'You are a living wonder. How are the guys there?'

'The usual type: the one you don't like. Most of them. I met a few decent ones, too. A bunch of them.

'I'm starting to fear Mr. Darcy's a myth. It's so hard for us, poor females, to find a decent husband these days…'

'Darling, Mr. Darcy was just human.'

'Yes, but he was closest to perfection. Therefore perfect.'

'He wasn't the only one. The modern Darcy is sharing a meal with us.' Chrissie said insinuatingly. Ever since they discovered that boys and girls were two different species, Chrissie kept insisting that Joh and J. should date. Actually, pretty much everybody they befriended seemed to think they'd make a sweet couple. Joh found it rather out of place and at times annoying, since she lived by the philosophy "Live and let live!"

'Moving on, ladies.' said James conciliatory, 'Chrissie, have you heard of my new job?'

'Really? What job?'

'Cradle's new maid!' laughed Joh.

'...'

'He's Cradle's new maid!' the girls started singing and dancing around him.

'And is he handsome?'

'Yes, he is!' replied Joh for him.

'Aaw, our dear, dear boy is love struck!' At that point both of the girls hugged James and kissed him on the cheek and they all started laughing. This was just like old times, when Joh and James had just met Chrissie. Joh and James were friends since their first days, because her father was Sir Knighton's most trusted bodyguard, due to his being a veteran lieutenant from the Iraq war. He was hurt during a mission and was declared unfit for active duty. Chrissie and Joh became friends the moment they met, due to both being rather tomboyish. Chrissie and James were another story, Chrissie continuously upsetting James with teasing remarks, but they hit it off eventually. But even after they befriended each other James was sometimes upset by Chrissie, and to cheer him up, the girls hugged him and kissed him on the cheeks. James was always a sensitive soul that was upset by the most unexpected things and took comfort in hugs. Of course, growing up, he learnt to deal with his hurt feelings, but secretly, he still found hugs soothing.

'Yes, girls, I see very witty things seem to cross your minds.' said James laughingly, 'but no, I'm not just a mere maid, my job aims much, much higher. I am training to be a government guy who is supposed to keep things under control in case some extreme crisis happens.'

'Promise to give me first hand info 'case something happens, or we're not best palls anymore' joked Chrissie. She was a journalist for The Times, and even though she wouldn't admit it, she was quite fond of her job. She was also very good at it. That must be why her boss kept her regardless what she did, thought Joh. Chrissie's methods weren't exactly orthodox. She had sworn the last guy that she had an argument with while researching for an article for fifteen minutes without breathing or repeating herself once. Complaints were issued, but her boss pulled some strings and they were magically voided. "That guy really must love her. She's literary dragged him through hell, but he kept defending her." said Joh to herself. It's true that she was a valuable asset, but his patience was amazing. Chrissie, however, had another view on the matter. She used to say she was the perfect employee: the one you never see, but always gets his job done. It's true that the "you never see" part was due to her rarely showing up at the actual working place since she always flied off to different parts of the world, but as she did stress, her articles were always ready before the dead line.

'What I'll be working with will be classified.' said James full of pride.

'And if you told me you'd have to kill me, right?

'Yep.'

'And what secrets might you have found out? As a temp you get to know all sorts of stuff about everybody. Which aren't officially rated as classified. C'mon, spill the dirt out. Every last crumb of dust. Leave nothing out.'

'What do you care anyway?' asked Joh amused. 'You don't even know any of these guys.'

'Oh, my dear!' said her friend putting on an intelligent look 'I know them better than you think. I did an article on them. The brave men and women protecting our country from behind the shadow. Unfortunately, it's not for the wide public. It's just in case I'm gonna need something from them. But I have the case files on my laptop. Wanna see the pictures?'

'Hell, yeah! Gossiping isn't fun if you don't know who's it about.'

'Hey! Where did you get this?' exclaimed James as Chrissie showed them a page about him.

'Have some respect, will ya? I'm a pretty good hacker. Your amazement is almost offensive!' laughed Chrissie. 'So this' said Chrissie showing Joh a picture of a blond man in his 30s, 'is Annamayson. Is he still cheating on his wife?'

'Maybe he still is.'

'So he is, isn't he?'

'Erm… What for are you asking? Is this going to hit the news?'

'Dear innocent kid!' laughed Chrissie. 'I actually have more than enough info to ruin at leas a dozen of your co- workers, including Annamayson, so nothing you can say could possibly harm them.'

'Um… I don't know….' sighed James.

'Say, say, say!' uttered Joh.

'Ok… Well… he's not discrete at all!' he laughed. 'At this last party'…