Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing in the sandbox and having a bit of fun with characters I adore. No copyright intended

A/N: This grew partly from a series of drabbles I wrote to celebrate primeval100's 200th prompt (called "In Denial") and partly from a scene in episode 2 of series 4. If you enjoy, please leave a comment. Thank you

Their first proper meeting had not got off to the best of starts. Abby was angry and frustrated with everything and everyone. After a year of surviving, she and Connor had at least expected to be able to contribute to the new team and give them the benefit of their experiences – but instead they were effectively 'sacked', dismissed as 'amateurs' because they weren't military trained and everything that had happened to them was being brushed aside.

When Matt started asking questions, Abby immediately went on the defensive. Who was he anyway? All he knew about her and Connor was what he'd read in a few files; what gave him the right to think she'd tell him about their life in the Cretaceous? If it had been Becker, or maybe Lester, she'd have opened up; let out a bit of emotion perhaps. But she didn't know if she could trust him. Since the incident with Leek, any new ARC members had to be agreed on by everyone; both Sarah and Danny had earned their trust before they joined. This newcomer was going to have to prove to Abby that he could be trusted before she accepted him and even contemplated opening up to him.

Her mood improved only slightly as the day progressed. Lester offered her a post, looking after the creatures in the menagerie. At least it was a foot in the door, even if it wasn't on the front line Somehow she'd find a way for Connor to get back inside too. There seemed to be a lot of new technology around; surely they could use a man of Connor's skills there? The young girl at the console, Jess? She seemed like someone who might have a bit of an influence. Abby decided to give it a couple of days, get to know her and then approach the subject of finding something for Connor.

After her orientation tour of the ARC, Abby had been surprised to learn that they were using tazer style guns – a policy introduced by Matt. He asked what she thought about the menagerie, and she'd ended up apologising to him for assuming he was 'trigger happy' just because he'd been in the army. Matt was definitely not like any other military person she'd met before and despite herself, she found herself warming to him.

"Becker says you're brilliant with animals." he had said.

"As long as they're not trying to eat me." she'd replied. It raised a smile from him. "We get on alright. Animals just do what their instinct tells them. I like that."

"And you think we should be more like that? Follow our instincts?" he said, a twinkle in his eyes. Abby wasn't sure if he was mocking her or agreeing.

"Wouldn't be such a bad idea." She smiled.

"No." Matt returned her smile, and Abby felt something in the pit of her stomach stirring. Perhaps Matt wasn't such a bad guy after all.

-o-

Days and weeks progressed. Much to Abby's relief, Connor had managed to worm his way back into the team, and although neither were officially part of the field team they both saw more than their fair share of the action. They may not have had military training, but they'd both honed their survival skills in the Cretaceous and could read what a creature would do better than any soldier.

However, as the new team began to gel as a unit under Matt's guidance, Abby and Connor were increasingly finding themselves at odds with each other. Their priorities were changing – Connor was focussing more and more on the technology despite his early protests that he wanted to be out in the field, whilst Abby wanted to help and understand the creatures.

On this particular morning, the anomaly alert had sounded and the team had dispatched out just like any other time. It was raining, and the sky was dark and angry looking. Abby sat next to Matt during the long drive out to the anomaly site, staring miserably through the windscreen. Matt was a man of few words, there was never any small talk from him whilst they were on a call – he was focussed purely on the task. Connor had said it was 'creepy' but Abby had argued that he was being professional, and maybe that was something the team had been lacking in before. Still, she wished she'd gone in Becker's vehicle with Connor instead, at least there would have been some kind of conversation.

The anomaly was on the brow of a hill and Becker's men were already trekking up to it, dragging the case carrying the locking device with them. "Any reports of a creature incursion?" Matt said over the radios.

"Nothing, Sir." came the response. "We're well away from any residential areas here; if something has come through there's no-one around to see it."

"OK, we need to be certain. Connor, can I leave you to handle locking the anomaly and be on standby in case we need to reopen it in a hurry to get a creature back through?" Matt said.

"No problem. I can set up a black box and get some data whilst I'm waiting." Connor followed the team heading towards the anomaly.

"Becker, call some of your men back, we need to do a full sweep of the area. Check for footprints, anything that might indicate a creature came through."

"I'm on it." Becker said, and he began sending orders to the soldiers.

"Abby, you come with me." Matt said, beckoning for her to follow. He was heading in the opposite direction to where most of the soldiers were going.

"Where are we going?" Abby said, puzzled.

"If you were a frightened creature stuck in a world you didn't know, where would you be heading? Out into the open or..."

"Into the shelter and protection of the trees." Abby said. Matt nodded and picked up his pace towards the rocks and the stream that stood between them and the woods. The stream was already swollen and moving quickly, and as Matt crossed he almost lost his footing. Abby was used to this sort of terrain, but even she found it difficult. Glancing up at the sky, she was beginning to think this wasn't such a great idea. The rain was getting heavier, and the rocks increasingly slippery. "Maybe we should wait until this rain eases up a bit?" Abby called.

"The creature could be miles away by then." Matt said. He sniffed and moved with a purpose towards the line of trees on the edge of the woods.

Abby rolled her eyes and tried to keep up with him. Why did she always get stuck with Matt any way? Whenever they went out to an anomaly it was always "Abby, you come with me." She never argued; he was in charge after all, but it annoyed her at times. She heard a distant rumble of thunder and the air felt heavy; a storm was heading their way. The breeze picked up and the branches of the trees began to sway. "Matt, maybe we should head back, yeah?"

"Bit of rain never hurt anyone, Abby!" He shouted back. "Once we're in the woods, we won't even notice it's raining."

Suddenly, there was a flash of light and a loud crackle in the air. Abby grabbed at her ear in pain, pulling out her radio comms device. Matt had done the same. "OK, you win." Matt said, and they turned to go back the way they had come. The rain began to pound around them in huge drops, and there was a second flash of light, followed by a loud rumble of thunder. They were both soaked to the skin and Abby almost felt like she was inhaling the rain as she battled against the strengthening wind. Matt grabbed her hand as they approached the stream and they both looked at it anxiously, assessing the situation. It had been difficult to cross previously, but now the water was raging twice as fast, and it had widened by several feet.

"I don't fancy our chances." Abby said. "We'd be better off finding shelter until the storm passes."

"You're right. There looks to be some caves or something up there. We should go there rather than shelter under a tree in this storm." Matt said, nodding towards the rocks. He led the way, warning Abby about some loose rocks as he clambered upwards. Finally, exhausted, wet and cold, they pulled themselves into the shelter of a small gap in the rock face. It wasn't really a large enough space for two of them, but the rain was getting harder by the second and neither relished the thought of staying out in it any longer. Matt tried to raise Becker on the radio, but all he could get was a static crackle. "The storm's interfering with the comms." he said. "I hope the others managed to get shelter too."

"They're probably nice and warm in the cars." Abby said miserably. There was an awkward silence, the atmosphere almost as thick as outside in the storm. Abby wasn't sure what to do with her arms, and as she moved slightly she became very aware of two things. First of all, there was something hard pressing against her groin. She hoped it was Matt's EMD, but she didn't dare look down because she feared it was something else. The second thing was that her shirt was soaked right through and clinging to her. Although it wasn't see-through, she still felt naked. She could feel her hard nipples against the fabric of her bra, the cold making them erect and sensitive – at least that's what she told herself. It wouldn't be anything else.

To be fair, Matt seemed to be feeling as awkward as she was. "I'm sorry, this place looked bigger from down there." he said.

"It's OK, at least we won't get any wetter here." Abby said.

"It could be worse, I suppose." Matt smiled. "I could be stuck here with Becker."

Abby laughed. "That's true."

There was another awkward silence, then Matt grimaced painfully. "Abby, I'm sorry, I have cramp. I really need to move." He looked at her apologetically and shifted position slightly. Abby closed her eyes and cringed. It definitely wasn't his EMD that was pressed against her, and judging by his slightly red cheeks, he knew she could feel him. "I'm sorry." he said.

"Stop apologising! It's... one of those things." Abby blushed. Her body was reacting in a way she would never have expected. If it had been Connor here, she'd have understood it; they'd probably be taking advantage of the situation by now too. That thought sent a pleasant tingle through her body and she shifted slightly; her body unconsciously pressing harder against Matt's. It was only when he hitched his breath that she pulled herself back to reality and realised it wasn't Connor's erection she was rubbing against. She was desperate for some kind of release; her body demanding attention. As soon as she got away from here she was going to grab Connor and do something about it.

Her arousal was making her extremely aware of Matt and how close he was. She could feel his breath on her face and when she looked at him she was certain he was licking his lips. They looked incredibly inviting, and she felt an urge to kiss them before she shook herself out of the daze she was sinking into. This was Matt; the team leader and a man she barely knew let alone felt she could completely trust yet, and she had to put all thoughts of anything else out of her head.

Thankfully, the rain seemed to be easing, and the gaps between the flashes of lightening and the rumbles of thunder were lengthening. The storm was passing. Matt eased himself out of their hole and tried the earpiece again. "Becker? Jess? Can anyone hear me?"

There was a crackle of static and then Jess's voice was heard. "Matt? Are you guys OK? Becker said he'd lost contact with you?"

"I think the storm knocked the comms out for a while. Abby and I are OK, cold and wet but we're fine. We'll make our way back to the rest of the team now." he said. He held out a hand to help Abby clamber down the rocks. He smiled awkwardly at her, wondering if his cheeks were as flushed as hers.

-o-

Back at the ARC, Abby changed into the spare set of clothes she always kept in her locker. She was grateful that Becker was incredibly well prepared for every eventuality and had foil blankets amongst the kit they took out with them. She and Matt had sat shivering in the back of Matt's car as one of Becker's men drove them. Now all Abby wanted to do was find Connor and shut themselves away in his lab for half an hour. She didn't seduce him very often at work, but she was still feeling incredibly turned on and it wouldn't wait until they got home. She passed Matt in the corridor and found she couldn't look him in the eye, even though the butterflies in her stomach seemed to stir again when she saw him.

She could see Connor leaning over his desk through the crack in the open door, and she prepared to push her way through it. She undid the top button on her blouse and fluffed up her hair and opened the door fully. "Connor, I..." She stopped. Philip Burton was sat opposite Connor with his laptop open. He glared at her, annoyed at being interrupted. "Sorry. I'll speak to you later, Connor."

"It's usual to knock before you enter someone else's room." Burton said.

Connor smiled apologetically at Abby. "I might be a bit late. We got some interesting readings from the anomaly during the storm and I want to look at them properly. You and Jess go home without me, I'll get a lift home with Philip."

"OK." Abby said. She backed out and closed the door. Damn Burton! Damn Connor! This was happening far too frequently these days; Burton encroaching on their personal time. She realised this work was important to Connor, but she felt Burton was taking advantage of Connor's need to try and please those in authority. Abby had realised very early on that Connor craved the attention of a father figure in his life, even before she knew his father had died when Connor was young. She had thought he'd gone beyond all that now with the confidence he had acquired during their time in the Cretaceous, but it seemed she was wrong.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent typing up her report. Everyone had to file something after each anomaly call now, even the tiniest of observations could make a difference in the bigger picture. Abby had her doubts as to how useful "I was pressed against Matt's hard-on." would be in Connor's research, and with a smile she simply wrote "Matt and I managed to find shelter and waited until the worst of the storm had passed." She switched the computer off and debated whether to go home early or go and make use of the ARC gym. She still felt tense and aroused, like a coiled spring waiting to be released. If Connor wasn't going to help, then she had to release it in other ways. A half hour session kicking hell out of the punch bag in the gym should do it, she thought, so she grabbed her bag from her locker and made her way back down the corridor towards the gym.

The door to the storage cupboard opened and an arm reached out and grabbed her, pulling her inside. She tried to scream out but a hand pressed over her mouth and she could feel a warm body press against her, pushing her hard against the wall. It was fairly dark, but there was just enough light streaming through the holes in the air vent for her to make out who her assailant was. The brief moment of fear dissolved, and a tingle of excitement surged through her like a bolt of electricity instead.

The hand was slowly moved away and was replaced by hungry, demanding lips; the same lips she'd barely managed to resist earlier. Every nerve in her body seemed to respond, the desire already burning in her stomach beginning to intensify. His hands grasped her wrists and pinned them against the wall as the kiss grew rougher.

"What the hell are you doing?" She finally gasped out, pulling away from the kiss. Her head was screaming for her get out of there, but her body was telling her otherwise. At the moment her head was winning the battle, but only just.

"We can't deny this any longer, Abby." Matt hissed. "You and I have danced around each other for weeks now."

"Have we?" Abby said. "I wasn't aware."

"I've held back because you're with Connor, but after what happened this afternoon..." His mouth was on hers again and against her better judgement, Abby found herself returning the kiss; her head conceding defeat. He released her wrists, sliding one hand to her hip and the other to caress her breast. Abby's arms circled his neck and shoulders and she pushed her tongue into his mouth, tasting and exploring him.

"We shouldn't be doing this." Abby managed to gasp as Matt's attentions moved to her neck, kissing and licking her soft, smooth skin.

"I know." Matt murmured. "But I'm just acting on instincts, didn't you say that you thought that was a good idea?" Both were breathing hard now, and there was a sense of urgency in their actions. Matt practically ripped off the buttons on Abby's blouse as he pulled at it. It hung loosely around her shoulders as he slid a hand inside the fabric of her bra, roughly grasping her breast and pushing her hard against the wall again.

The touch of his fingers on her bare skin sent every nerve-ending into spasms of excitement. What little rational thought she had left was rapidly disappearing as their mouths mashed together in a desperate, lust-filled kiss. Breathing hard, their limbs tangled together, bodies pressed against each other like they had earlier – except this time they both knew that they could do something about the fires beginning to rage almost out of control inside them.

Abby grabbed at Matt's shirt, pulling it open and gasping for air as his bare skin pressed against hers. "You've no idea what you've been doing to me all this time, Abby!" he growled. His fingers fumbled slightly at the waistband of her jeans, then he undid the button and zip and pushed his hand inside her underwear. He pushed into her wet core, making her gasp out, and then grazed his thumb against her sensitive clit. She moaned softly, moving with him and feeling her body begin to writhe involuntarily.

Abby grabbed at his jeans, unfastening them and easing out his erection. Her hand slid up and down its length, feeling it grow even harder at her touch. Normally she would be dropping to her knees and taking it in her mouth, but there was a growing sense of urgency. They could be caught any minute, and whilst that was an exciting thought neither wanted to be discovered before they'd satisfied the desire they'd both had since they had sheltered from the storm.

Matt helped her to step out of her jeans, and then in one quick movement he had pulled aside the fabric of her underwear and was holding her thigh, easing her leg up and around his hip. "Fuck me!" Abby breathed. She wanted him inside her so much her body ached. The head of his cock pressed against her slick entrance, teasing her. "Please!" she practically begged.

He thrust inside, deep and hard. Abby let out a moan and then adjusted her position so he could enter her more easily. He pulled out almost the whole way and then thrust in again, beginning a series of hard, steady strokes. Abby was pinned against the wall and could only grip onto Matt's back and allow him to fuck her. Each stroke drew out a moan of pleasure from her, and soon both were gasping hard for air. Abby prayed that the office next door was empty; the dull, rhythmic thud against the wall and their increasingly loud moans would leave no doubt what was going on in here.

"Abby!" Matt growled. His pace became faster; more erratic, and Abby sensed he was close to the edge. Wave after wave of pleasure was sweeping her own body, gradually merging into one. She knew this was going to be intense when she released, but she wanted to hold off that moment for as long as possible. "Abby!" He moaned out loud, his face twisting and his hips bucking wildly against her. He tensed, and then she felt the heat of his release as he exploded into her. Moments later Abby finally came undone too, her entire body jerking, internal muscles convulsing around his cock and her head spinning.

"Matt! Don't stop!" she sobbed. Matt couldn't speak, he just continued to thrust into her, filling her more than willing body and moaning his pleasure out loud.

When both were completely satiated, Matt crushed her lips in a kiss that said everything. They just held each other, breathless and sweaty, nerves and muscles still tingling and twitching. When they finally, and somewhat reluctantly, parted neither spoke. Matt fastened his jeans and did up the buttons on his shirt, then gave Abby a tender kiss on the lips. "The next time we do this, I'll try to find somewhere a little more comfortable where we won't have to worry about being caught." he said with a wink, and left before Abby could respond.

Abby leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and trying to compose herself before she could even think about going back into the corridor. Next time? She tugged on her jeans and fastened her blouse back up, her head full of conflicting thoughts. Maybe when her head was clearer and rational thought had returned, she could put some perspective on what had happened today and how she actually felt about it. Until then … well at least the sex had been good.