Disclaimer: Primeval and it's characters are not mine, they belong to Impossible Pictures. No copyright intended.
A/N: This is an AU on top of another AU... Haha confusing, but you'll understand once you read. Enjoy the read!
This takes place in early Series 3 before Cutter's death, but a fair amount of time has passed since Stephen's death so let's say right before 3.3. The AU concept is that Connor and Abby go through an anomaly to bring some more unconscious Raptors back to the late Cretaceous but when they come back things aren't quite the same.
"Connor, c'mon!" with another swing Connor knocked the Raptor to its side and he made a fun for it, catching up behind Abby who was waiting for him near the anomaly. The late Cretaceous, never a place they would want to be again.
Connor rushed beside her and they looked behind, seeing the Raptor moving around on the ground. "We better hurry!" Connor announced before charging after the bright, flickering light that seemed to be flickering more than usual.
"Connor, is it closing?" she yelled to him, he glanced to her as they ran as fast as they could through the trees and branches, he didn't know how to answer that. Seeing the look on Connor's face, Abby knew that that was exactly what it was doing. No, she was not going to live in the Cretaceous. She might have Connor, but being stuck here is the worst possible situation she could ever think of.
As the anomaly faded in and out, Connor grabbed Abby's hand and sped up the pace. She didn't even know they could go any faster, but with Connor's help they did. They finally reached the flickering anomaly and before Abby could even take a halt to see if there was any chance of making it through it without it closing on top of them Connor jumped through it, dragging Abby along with him. The next thing they knew they were laying on the ground in some woods that resembled the Forest of Dean – Abby looked over at Connor who was constantly inhaling to catch his breath and Abby did the same as she just looked at him and laughed.
"Just in time, I see." They heard Jenny's voice above them. Connor and Abby looked up and grinned as she was smiling back at them. "We were afraid you weren't going to make it through."
"You're not the only ones!" Connor remarked as he brought himself up, Abby doing the same. Looking behind them and the anomaly was closed; it was very likely that it closed right as they went through. Cutter came beside him and clapped Connor on the shoulder, smiling at the both of them.
"You two had me scared for a moment there."
"Awe, c'mon Professor, you know us. We always make it back." Cutter chuckled and stepped away from the two of them to stand beside Jenny. Connor and Abby looked around; the people all around seemed to multiply since they went through the anomaly.
"So no trouble then?" Jenny wondered.
Abby and Connor gave a mutual shrug and Abby answered this time. "Ya know, bringing a couple docile like creatures to the Cretaceous, what possibly could have gone wrong?"
"Just a Raptor here and there. Ya know, no problem." Connor finished. They laughed to each other, knowing it was a whole lot harder than anyone would have expected. Jenny and Cutter gave each other a curious look and went on.
"Well you did good," Cutter told them, giving them a warming smile. "Thank you." Connor looked down, remembering Cutter's hurt leg. He couldn't go through due to the 'dossal like creatures' attacking him from the feet. They decided Cutter was a food, and Cutter was determined they wouldn't hurt him since it was hurt itself.
"Course," Abby replied with a generous smile. She walked off, leaving Connor to talk to them, and Jenny gave an odd expression but didn't say anything, Connor just noticed Cutter returning it and bringing their attention back to him.
"Next time, we're sending the men in the anomaly." Jenny said towards Connor.
Connor arched a brow and responded. "We did the job, yeah? It's their fault they took too long getting here."
"It was still dangerous, Connor. You two almost got stranded in the Cretaceous era."
"It'd be better if it was military men instead?" Connor said with a smirk, finding Jenny's attitude towards the soldiers funny.
"They would know how to survive," Jenny commented, hinting that he and Abby wouldn't last a day in there.
Connor almost snapped something back, but he held his tongue, knowing that Jenny was probably right. With a yawn from Jenny he noticed the sky growing darker; they'd been up since early hours in the morning to deal with this incursion and they just now we're done for the day. "Well I guess we should all head back to the ARC, give our reports in and everything."
"Awe, Jenny, can't I wait 'till tomorrow?" Connor whined at her. Jenny pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, but you still need to come by the ARC, I'm sure Becker would like to brief you 'bout the Cretaceous." Connor sighed and slumped his shoulders. He walked over to Abby who was helping some of the men pack up the equipment and she smiled at him.
"Tired?" she asked. Connor nodded and she teased him about this and that. While they joked and messed with each other, Cutter and Jenny intently watched their body language and actions.
"They don't seem mad at each other…" Jenny stated. Cutter shook his head and crossed his arms as he speculated.
"It could just be our imagination, you know. We both know Connor and Abby, when they're in an argument they don't tend to be very nice to each other."
"Or anyone for that matter."
"They're fine of course. We're just over analyzing it I'm sure."
Jenny furrowed her brow and shook her head. "No, they're acting like they did before… I'm worried about them, Nick."
Cutter turned to her and smiled. "Don't be, they're Connor and Abby – we know how they are, and standing here worrying over them is ridiculous. We sound like two parents worried for their child's marriage or something."
Jenny nodded, managing a smile, and sighed. "Suppose you're right, we need to head to the ARC anyway, no time for panicking."
"That's more like it." Cutter smiled at her and they walked separate ways to take care of the things needed to leave the sight. But no matter what they said, they did find Connor and Abby's ways odd and Cutter really worried more than Jenny, for he was afraid it was more than just an argument between them.
They made it to the ARC, all tired and rather useless if there were to be another anomaly. Abby groaned and sat in the common area as she rested her head on the couch and Connor looked through his locker to put some of his belongings away. Jenny entered the room, not near as tired as them, and sat down beside Abby. Connor looked over, seeing Jenny watching him as he dug through his locker. Eyeing her he closed the locker and walked over to sit in the chair across from her.
Jenny continued to stare before Connor finally found it uncomfortable and spoke. "Somethin' wrong?"
Jenny shook her head and leaned back, now looking at Abby who had opened her eyes and saw how Jenny was staring at them. "I actually was going to ask you two the same question."
"Us?" Abby asked.
"We're fine, few scratches and bruises, nothing we can't handle." Connor answered, not seeing why she seemed so suspicious.
"No, no. I meant are you two all right." And this time Connor and Abby looked at each other, completely confused. What did she mean by that? They were fine. They really just wanted to go home to their beds and sleep in as long as they could until another anomaly called them or their alarm clocks woke them up.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Abby asked, sounding more offended than Connor would have expected.
"You two just seem … distant to each other. I was worried something happened in the Cretaceous."
"Uhh…" Abby found herself speechless. Did Jenny thing they were more than just friends?
"We're just tired, Jenn." He answered, still not getting the drift. Sarah walked in the room, looking exhausted from all the paper work and research she had been deepened into that day. She reached down for her bag and noticed Connor and Abby not sitting beside each other.
"Cutter said you guys went through an anomaly today," she started, still looking rather confused at their sitting positions. "Are you two okay?"
Now Connor was starting to catch onto it as well. It wasn't just 'are you okay?' – Everyone was asking if 'them two' were okay. Like they were more than just friends, like they were always together.
"We're fine, thanks." Connor answered with a smile, Sarah returning it and then letting out a yawn.
"Well, I'm going home. Glad you two are okay, have a nice night. You too, Jenny!" Jenny waved goodbye and Sarah left the common room with her bag over her shoulder and a worried expression.
Connor shook his head, trying to forget the way she said Jenny separate from them. Everyone was acting weird… but he was too tired to think about it. Connor stood up and went to the kitchen area for a soda or something.
"I'm sorry if I'm coming off too weird or Mother Hen like, you two just seem… distant, is all. But if you insist you're fine then I believe you. I'll leave it at that."
Abby just stared at her. What was she even talking about? Distant? She was treating Connor like she always does! "Why is everyone saying 'you two' and acting like we're some married couple!" she finally released, Connor listening and somewhat agreeing. "Connor and I are fine, we're just two good friends who happen to be flat mates, and went through an anomaly together! For god's sake, if someone asks if weare okay again I'm going to scream!" she flopped back on the sofa and Connor didn't turn towards them, he just could imagine the shock on Jenny's face and bags under Abby's eyes starting to show.
"Very funny, Abby." She commented. This time Connor swung around and saw a smirk on Jenny's face, Abby looking at Jenny like she had just lost it.
"I'm not joking." Abby insisted.
"Abby, I bloody well would know if you guys never dated!" and Connor dropped the empty cup that he gripped in his hand. It bounced onto the carpet, somehow not shattering but cracking down the side of the glass. He apologized and leaned down to pick it up as he heard Abby just scoff.
"Connor and me? Dating?"
"Yes!" Jenny said irritated, Connor fiddling around for the glass that was in front of him. "Dating! Like every time you mention your date nights and how lovely they were and how Connor is the best boyfriend a girl could have and-" she looked over, seeing Connor staring in complete shock. His mouth was practically open as his eyes were wide and almost scared looking. Abby looked over at him, a blush casting her face even though she knew she has never said such things before.
Jenny saw the shock covering both their faces and she realized there was something going on, but more than she thought in the beginning. This was more than just an argument causing tension between them; they really had no idea what Jenny was talking about. "Oh lord, you both really don't know do you?"
Connor still kneeled to the floor he tried to speak. "Jenny, Abby and I are just-"
"Yes, just mates, I understand…" Jenny stood up and before walking off she twisted back to them and looked appalled. "Are you two trying to pull my leg? Because I don't find it very amusing!" they both softly shook their heads and she sighed. "You two have been dating for over a year now!"
Connor and Abby looked at each other, astonished at what she claimed. Abby was speechless again and Connor finally stood up from the ground and looked at her, almost wanting this to be true so he had to make sure she was serious. "We what?"
More ch. will be posted! Just not yet. I hope this first ch. gets the feel of what's going on, they'll discover other little things not quite right later in the story, 'specially in the next ch.
Reviews are like Lasagna.
I love Lasagna.