Disclaimer: Not mine, no copyright intended
A/N: With many thanks to BritGirlatHeart for her much needed assistance and supplying me with Connor shaped chocolate cookies to keep the muse going during a difficult time. Comments and love are needed now more than ever.
Abby had had the feeling that someone was watching her for days now, but she'd tried to dismiss it. She was still jittery from her time in the Cretaceous; even the slightest noise had her looking over her shoulder and reaching for an imaginary weapon. She knew it was crazy, but it had become an automatic reflex over the last year and one she would not be able to shed easily. The phone had rung twice and there was no-one there when she answered it, and now she was certain that the man sitting in the car opposite was watching the flat.
It only seemed to occur when Connor wasn't around as well, which made her wonder if she really was just being paranoid. She didn't want to become clingy and only leave the flat with Connor, but she was now starting to feel sick at the thought of being alone. She had to tell him her fears.
"It's probably nothing, just me being silly," she said, as Connor squeezed her hand.
"If you're uncomfortable, then it is something. I want to help." At that point, the phone rang. The sheer look of terror on Abby's face told Connor that this was more than a case of the jitters and he needed to take control. He answered it, told them they weren't interested then put the phone down. "It was just a telesales person."
He sat next to her on the sofa and she rested her head on his chest, feeling safe in his embrace. "If you think there's someone watching you, then I'll set up some CCTV cameras – one over the front door, one over the back and one facing across the road. We'll catch him doing it and go to the police. We'll go and get them tomorrow. For tonight, I'll set up my camcorder to record across the road where you saw that car."
Abby smiled. Trust Connor to come up with a hi-tech solution. He was already on his feet and heading for the cupboard where all their stuff from the old flat had been stored. It was nice to see Connor getting himself lost in an electronics project again after their year away. Whilst he had enjoyed fashioning together crude anomaly detectors from metal objects and making weapons for them to use; this was where he was at his happiest.
The following day, Connor dragged her round various stores buying everything he thought they'd need. Abby thought that maybe he was going a little over the top, but it did make her feel safer. He spent hours putting it all together and angling the cameras correctly as Abby watched him.
"I really appreciate this you know; doing all this just because I thought someone was watching me," she said, kissing his cheek.
Connor blushed. "We should have some decent security around here anyway because of what we do. Tomorrow I'll see if Jess can patch into it from the ARC like she does Matt's place. I'm certain the others all have remote security as well."
-o-
True to his word, Connor worked with Jess to make sure the CCTV could be accessed at the ARC just in case. Abby felt more relaxed, there'd been no more evidence to suggest someone was hanging around watching them and after a few days, she'd almost forgotten about it... until a bunch of flowers was left on the doorstep. Connor found them, and brought them up. "There's a little card – Someone's got a secret admirer!" he laughed, handing her the card that had 'Abigail' written in fancy handwriting on the envelope. He disappeared into the kitchen with the flowers, muttering something about needing to get them in water. He was gone for several minutes and when he returned Abby was still stood frozen to the spot, staring at the unopened envelope.
"Aren't you going to open that? I'm curious to know who my competition is!"
Abby didn't move.
"Abs? What's wrong?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and she practically leapt out of her skin. "Abby? What is it?"
Silently, Abby handed him the envelope. She was shaking, and her face had turned white. "It's him."
Puzzled, Connor opened the envelope. The note inside read 'Abigail, I know its a week early but I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I'm in the area for a few days and I'd like to say hi if you'll let me. Best wishes, Ste x' Connor felt his stomach twist and his blood boil. "How dare he?" Connor spat, pulling Abby into his arms. "It's OK, I won't let him anywhere near you."
Abby began to sob hard, allowing Connor to hold her so tight she could barely breathe. 'Ste' was her Step-father, Steve, and she hadn't seen him since she had left home almost 10 years ago. She could hear his voice now, hissing at her as his hand slapped across her cheek. During the 18 months that he was married to her mother, he had raped Abby twice and hit her on numerous other occasions. When he tried to rape her for a third time, Abby had retaliated and sought refuge at one of her teacher's homes. That teacher had saved her life; helped her and Jack with Social Services and then supported her through the trial that eventually convicted Ste and put him in prison.
After a few minutes, Abby pulled away from Connor. "What do I do, Connor? It was him watching me, I know it was!"
Connor nodded. His mind was racing; thank god he'd set up the CCTV – he would be able to go through the recordings and see who had delivered the flowers. He skimmed through the day's recordings, scrutinizing anyone who came close to their doorstep. Abby pulled up a chair and sat beside him, watching the screen and tangling her fingers into his hair. "They were probably delivered by a courier, or the shop delivered them... he wouldn't bring them himself."
"Probably, but if we knew who did deliver than we can make some enquiries about who placed the order." Connor sighed, fixing his gaze on the images on the screen. At just after 2:30 on the CCTV, a van pulled up and a woman got out carrying Abby's bouquet. She knocked a few times, then left them on the doorstep before driving off. It was as Abby suspected, the van was from the local florist in town. "I'll call them," Connor said.
"Forget it. I doubt they'd give personal information out."
Connor had to agree, as much as he hated the fact. "I thought his sentence was 15 years?"
"It was. He probably got parole for good behaviour or something." Abby sank down onto the sofa, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I don't understand how he found me though. I haven't had my address listed for years for this very reason, and we haven't been here that long anyway."
"He's probably breaking all of his parole terms by making contact with you; you should go to the police with this, Abby."
Abby shook her head. "No police, Connor. If I let him get to me, then he's won again. When he realises he's not getting a reaction from me, he'll give up." She leaned into Connor and kissed his cheek.
"It's your call, Abby. But I'd rather..." he stopped, seeing the look in her face. Connor knew better than to argue with her once her mind was made up. "OK, here's the deal. We don't go to the police, but you don't go anywhere without me or at least one other person for a while. Promise me?"
Reluctantly, Abby agreed. She hated having to rely on someone else; she had always valued her independence – still, hopefully it would all blow over in a few days and she could push Ste back into the deep recesses of her mind.
-o-
Connor had been driving Abby crazy for the last three days, and she was about ready to hit him. She knew he meant well and that he was only looking out for her, but she was starting to feel smothered. She heard herself snapping at him, then felt guilty when she caught the hurt look in his face. When this was over, she'd make it up to him; take him out for a meal at the Italian place he liked by the railway station then maybe go to the cinema and see that new 'X-Men' film he kept going on about.
The weekly trip to the supermarket was stressful at the best of times, but it was even more so with Connor being so protective. When an elderly lady accidentally knocked into Abby, Connor sprang at her like an angry tiger and Abby had to drag him away, and then he started walking on slightly ahead to check 'the coast was clear' before they carried on around the corner to the next aisle. If Abby didn't know any better, she'd say he was actually enjoying this.
"For the love of..!." Abby finally flipped. "Connor, please! You'll end up having a heart attack at this rate! Why don't you go and pick out a couple of pizzas for tonight, and I'll go and find some beers. We can have a nice dinner in front of a DVD."
Connor sighed, pouted, then headed off in the direction of the counter where they made the fresh pizzas. As he queued, he glanced over his shoulder so that he could see Abby. She was in the drinks aisle and he could see her crouching down comparing the prices- and then he saw a man approach her. Connor ran as if his life depended on it, his heart pounding. He just knew the man was Ste, and as he got closer the look on Abby's face confirmed his fears.
"Get away from her!" Connor pushed the man, adrenaline surging through his veins.
"Excuse me?"
"Connor, calm down. It's OK." Abby gave Connor a look that meant 'let me deal with this my way'. They had learnt to read each other so well in the Cretaceous because there were some situations where even a whisper would give them away. "This is Ste, my step-father." On the surface, Abby was calm, but Connor could hear something in her voice that made him feel sick. She was scared.
Connor slid his arm possessively around Abby's waist, then held out his free hand to shake Ste's. "Connor. I'm Abby's boyfriend." He didn't smile and it took all his willpower to not land a fist on this despicable man's jaw.
"Good to meet 'ya. I heard Abigail got herself a man at last." Ste shook Connor's hand. "Listen, I was just about to suggest going for a coffee or something. Is there anywhere decent around here?"
"Abby and I are busy," Connor said immediately.
"Actually, Connor, I'd like to have a chat with Ste... alone." Abby looked at Connor.
"What? Abby, are you crazy?"
"I understand your concern, Connor," Ste said. "Abigail and I have an unpleasant history, but I want to put all of that behind us. Ten years is a long time, and I'm sure both of us have changed."
Abby nodded, swallowed nervously then suggested that they meet at a little tea-shop opposite the church called 'The Copper Kettle' in about half an hour. Abby figured it would give her time to convince Connor that she needed to do this.
-o-
"I still don't like it, Abby!" Connor hissed, squeezing her hand as he held it across the table.
"I need to have some closure on this, Connor, and the only way I can do it is to let him know that I am not the little girl he used to push around and abuse and that he can't intimidate me any more." She squeezed Connor's hand back. "I will listen to what he's got to say and then tell him to stay out of my life for good. If he refuses, then we'll do it your way and go to the police."
"Promise me you'll wear this so I can hear what's going on?" He handed Abby his black box recorder and earpiece from the ARC.
"You carry your black box around with you?"
"Not usually, I just forgot to take it out of my pocket after the anomaly yesterday. Please Abby? I'll be sitting at the other end of the shop and I'll be listening in. If things get difficult then I can come over." He looked at Abby with those pleading, puppy dog brown eyes that Abby found hard to say no to.
Abby gave in. "OK, I really don't think its necessary. Ste won't try anything in public and I can handle him. But if it makes you feel better, then I'll wear it." She clipped the small black box to the waistband of her jeans and slid her own earpiece into her ear, hiding it with her hair. Connor slipped his earpiece on too and nodded.
Ste arrived, and was stood in the doorway of the shop looking around for Abby. He made eye contact with Connor first, who gave him a glare before moving away. Connor hated this and he couldn't understand why Abby would even want to breathe the same air as that man, but he respected Abby and had to let her do things her way.
-o-
From his table, Connor could see Abby quite clearly. He was proud of the way she was conducting herself. So far, the conversation had only been small talk, but Connor could tell from Abby's body language that she wanted to move things along.
"Connor seems a nice man," Ste said. "You met at work right?"
"We did." Abby suddenly felt uncomfortable. How did he know that? OK, so it could have been a lucky guess; lots of couples meet at work, but this didn't feel right.
"Was he kidnapped with you too?"
For a moment, Abby was dumbstruck. When they didn't return through the anomaly, the ARCs PR team concocted a story for the family and friends to explain their disappearance. They'd been told that Abby, Connor and Danny had been taking part in an archaeological dig in Nigeria when they were kidnapped by some unknown terrorist group. There was only one way Ste could know this story, and it also explained how he'd found her.
"You've spoken to Jack I take it?" Abby leaned back and folded her arms.
"I got out of prison just over a month ago," Ste began. "Jack was easy to track down, he hasn't moved very far away. Like you, he was willing to listen to me and we spent a good afternoon catching up. I know I'm not your real father, but it matters to me how you two turned out."
Abby heard Connor swear in her ear, and she had to stop herself from responding to him. She was glad she couldn't see his face from where she was sitting.
"Must have been terrifying for you; out there and not knowing whether you were going to live or die?"
Abby nodded. "We helped each other through it, and we've come out of it as stronger people."
"I expect the compensation money helped too?"
Ah, so now it was all clear. He hadn't come to seek forgiveness or show her he had changed – he could smell money. "It helped us get ourselves back together if that's what you mean."
"Jack says you helped him pay off some gambling debts as well. Nice of you to help your brother out like that. Family matters doesn't it?"
Abby was seething; how could Jack be so stupid as to not only tell Ste that she had money, but to then tell him where she lived as well... "OK, forget the crap and cut to the chase, Ste. How much?"
"Ten thousand should do it. Enough to help me find a new place to live and get back on my feet – you understand how that feels right? I'll find somewhere well away from here and you'll never have to see me again."
Before Abby could respond, Connor was looming over the table, red faced and a look of thunder on his face. He grabbed Ste by the shirt collar and was hauling him to his feet. "Get out!" Connor yelled.
"Connor, it's OK!" Abby yelled back, trying to pull him off Ste, but Connor was too strong, too determined and he just shrugged her away. He had his fist raised and Abby could see the muscles and veins in his neck tightening. She'd never seen this side of Connor before and it scared her.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill him, Abby!" Connor gasped, fighting against himself. "How dare he ask for money from you after what he did! He should be paying you!"
Ste had a look of sheer terror on his face. He couldn't move and he was shaking from head to toe. "Connor, stop it now! Please!" Abby pleaded.
To her relief, Connor loosened his grip and Ste was able to slink back. He rubbed at his throat where Connor had pulled his shirt tight and glanced at Abby. "I'm so sorry, Ste. Connor's just..."
"I understand, Abby. Your boyfriend is looking out for you, that's all."
The shop owner came over and asked them to either leave or calm down and threatened to call the police. Abby assured him that it was a misunderstanding and that Connor and Ste would sit down and talk this over like rational adults. The owner eyed them both suspiciously and walked away, glancing over his shoulder.
"Right, we do this my way!" Abby said, looking from Connor to Ste. "I don't know what Jack told you, but the money I received has all been spent. Connor and I came back to nothing except for a few personal items that were put into storage for us. We had to start completely from scratch. Yes, I did help Jack out with a few debts but it was merely a loan which he has promised to pay me back at some point." She took a deep breath. "And even if I did have that kind of money, you're the last person I'd give it to! Now, get out of here and I never want to see or hear from you again. If I so much as sniff you hanging around, I'll be on the phone to the police reporting you for breaking your parole agreement and you'll be back inside as fast as I can click my fingers."
Ste stood up, sniffed and began to make his way towards the door. "Can't blame me for trying though eh? All I want is to start a new life."
Connor was on his feet and ready to launch another attack on him, but Abby dragged him back. "It's over, Connor. As soon as he is out of that door I will never have to see him again." Connor sank down onto his chair, looking resigned to the fact that this was the way Abby wanted to deal with the situation. Abby hoped it would be the end of it, but as they drove home, Connor broached the subject again.
"We should still go to the police you know, Abby. That was attempted blackmail back there and he..."
"I said, it's over. I don't want to hear any more about it, or Ste or Jack or the money."
"Jack, ha! Wait till I see him! I can't believe that little idiot told Ste where you live! He's an absolute..." Connor didn't finish his sentence. There was a screech of brakes as Abby brought the car to a halt.
"Get out!" she yelled.
"What?"
"You clearly don't have any consideration for how I'm feeling right now, so I don't want to be around you. You can walk home and think about it for a while!"
Connor could see the anger written very clearly on her face, and he knew he'd taken a step too far. Without another word, he got out of the car and stood on the pavement as he watched her drive away. He waited for a few minutes, convinced she'd come back for him, but she didn't. He really was in the bad books this time. Deciding that perhaps he should stay away for a couple of hours, he made his way to the bus station. He was overdue a visit to Duncan anyway, and he could lie low there for while without being asked any awkward questions.
-o-
Abby's mood had not improved by the following morning; she was still angry with Connor, but for a different reason. She'd waited up for him until about 2am when she'd fallen asleep on the sofa. It wasn't like him to not at least call, and she'd tried his mobile at least 10 times but it was just going straight to his voicemail service. She could picture him sulking somewhere, no doubt complaining about how unreasonable she'd been and suspected he'd probably ended up playing computer games at Duncan's and lost track of the time. When she woke at 3am, there was still no sign of him and she began to worry. What if he'd been in an accident or had been attacked? Surely the police would have called her by now if he had? Dialling his mobile one last time, Abby sighed and gave in. She went to bed and found herself burying her head in her pillow and sobbing, finally allowing herself to release the emotion she'd been holding back. Right now, all she wanted was to be held by Connor and he wasn't here because she'd pushed him away when she needed him most. It was the story of her life.
She went about her usual morning routine and half expected to find Connor waiting for her when she got out of the shower. When he still hadn't made an appearance by the time she'd made a pot of coffee, she grew increasingly concerned. She was about to call the police when she heard the sound of a key turning in the front door lock. Moments later, a rather dishevelled Connor appeared.
"Connor! Where the hell have you..." she stopped. He looked dreadful. He looked like he'd been dragged through a hedge backwards; his t-shirt was torn, his jeans covered in mud and he had a cut above his left eye. "What happened? I've been so worried about you!" She went to hug him but he pulled away.
"Duncan and I had a few too many beers in the pub and I fell over as we walked to go and find a taxi. He decided to take me back to his, thinking you'd be angry if I turned up here in that state, and I fell asleep on his sofa. I'm sorry, I should have called you."
Something didn't feel right, but Abby had to take him at his word. He did smell of stale beer and cigarettes, so he probably was telling the truth but she still felt uneasy. "Go and get a shower, and I'll make us some breakfast. Then I'll see to that cut and we can have a proper talk eh?"
Connor simply nodded and went to find a clean towel in the airing cupboard. As he headed towards the bathroom, there was a loud knock on the door. Abby looked nervously at Connor, and he went to answer it.
"Is this the home of Miss Abigail Maitland?" Two well dressed gentleman were stood on the doorstep.
"Who's asking?" Connor said, immediately raising his defences. One of the men reached into his inside pocket and pulled out an ID badge.
"I'm Detective Sergeant Appleby, and this is Detective Constable Walton from the Metropolitan Police. We do need to speak with Miss Maitland as a matter of urgency," the older of the two men said.
"That's me. You'd better come in." Abby appeared at the doorway and moved aside to let the detectives inside. She led the way into the lounge and Connor followed them. "Take a seat."
"That won't be necessary, Miss Maitland, but thank you. Can you just confirm your relationship to a Mr Stephen Armstrong?"
Abby sighed and Connor rolled his eyes. What had Ste done this time? "He's my step-father." Abby stated simply.
"I'm sorry to have to inform you, but he was found dead in his room at the B&B he was staying at earlier this morning."
Abby couldn't speak or move. She felt Connor's arm move around her shoulders and could hear him speaking, but nothing was registering.
"Dead?" Connor asked. "But that's impossible! We only saw him yesterday afternoon, and he was fine. How can someone just drop dead like that?"
"There's no easy way of saying this, so I'll get straight to the point." The sergeant turned to Abby. "Miss Maitland, it appears that your step-father was murdered. He had two stab wounds to his chest and there were signs of a struggle in his room. We have a forensics team at the scene now trying to gather as much information as possible."
Abby didn't hear the rest of the conversation. The room began to spin and she fainted.