Title: The Ring: Chapter 2

Warnings: Angst, language and adult situations

Disclaimer: Primeval and it's character's belong to Impossible Pictures, no copyright infringement is intended.

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Something pulled Abby from her dreams, she rolled over and even in her sleep fuddled state she noticed something off. Rubbing at her eyes and then stretching, she realised it was still dark and that apart from her, the bed was empty. Abby sat up and called his name.

"Connor?"

"I'm here." He whispered, which seemed silly, there was only the two of them.

She followed the sound of his voice to the window, where he sat on the wide ledge staring out over the city.

"What ya doin?"

"Couldn't sleep." He replied.

"Conn, you're exhausted, you need to sleep."

"I'll be ok."

"Come on, back to bed."

"Nah, you go on, I'll be quiet, you've got work in the morning."

"So have you!" She reminded him.

"I know, I'll manage, I always do."

"Well, if you're not gonna sleep I might as well go back to my own bed." She said, turning to walk away.

"No!" He said suddenly, grabbing her hand. "Stay, please, I feel better when you're here."

Her heart did a little flip-flop at that piece of information. She sat on his knee, one arm sliding around his neck to steady herself.

"Tell me what I can do Connor." she asked.

She wanted to help him with . . . Whatever it was, she just needed to be there for him.

His breathing changed, he took a few deep breaths and she could feel them blowing against the shell of her ear.

"You . . . This is . . . I mean I . . . this is good."

She smirked, there was a glimpse of the old Connor.

"You mean to tell me that me sitting on your lap solves all your troubles?"

She lay her head against his chest, feeling the tenseness of his muscles, he was far from relaxed.

"No, but it makes me forget about them for a bit."

"Connor, you can't lie to me, I can tell you haven't forgotten anything, you're all tense."

Abby sat up again, squeezing at his shoulder muscles gently to prove her point.

"No, that . . ." He coughed. "That's something else."

"I make you feel uncomfortable."

It was a statement not a question, she knew he got all nervous and uptight around her if they got too close.

"Yeah, I mean . . . no! That is, not uncomfortable, just . . . Different, but in a good way!"

Abby laughed then, she loved flustered Connor.

"Oh Connor." She sighed, standing.

Connor grabbed her and pulled her back down to his lap, enveloping her in his arms and sniffing loudly. This was the Connor she didn't want to see again, all moody and needy and crying, she hated to see him so upset. She brought her arms around his waist and held on tight, it felt odd, being close to him like this, but good all the same.

"I'm sorry." He breathed into her neck.

"Don't be sorry, never be sorry."

"But you're right, I'm being stupid, it's just a ring for crying out loud, just a Goddamned ring!"

He pulled away slightly, eyes glistening in the darkness, and put his palm to his forehead.

"No, Connor, I wasn't right! It's not just anything, if it's important to you then it's worth getting upset about."

Abby pulled his hand away from his face and brought it to her mouth, kissing it softly before placing it against her cheek, her own hand holding it there as she leaned into the touch.

"It was my Father's." He whispered.

It was so quiet that had she not been so close to him, she wouldn't have heard. With her other hand, she caressed his cheek, wiping away a stray tear as it fell.

"It was his wedding ring and . . . "

He took a few shuddering breaths and Abby hugged him again, this was obviously very painful for him.

"It's ok Conn, you don't have to tell me more let's just . . ."

"No, I want to, it's just difficult and I . . . God I'm so tired." He stated as though only just realising it.

Abby stood and holding his hand, pulled him up and led him to the bed. When they arrived at their destination, instead of moving to the other side of the bed, she stood in front of him, running her hands up his chest before pausing at his shoulders.

"I could help you forget, just for tonight I mean." She offered. "Put your mind off it."

"H . .h . . how?"

"Come on Conn, you're a smart guy, think about it."

"You mean . . . " He swallowed several times. "S . . s . . sex?"

"If you want yeah, or if you're too tired I could give you a . . ." One hand drifted down to his boxers. "Hand." She finished.

Connor shivered and made a strange sound in the back of his throat. He took a step back causing him to fall onto the bed.

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

Abby stepped back herself, a look of hurt crossing her features.

"It's not that I don't want to it's just that . . .well, I'd be taking advantage wouldn't I?"

"Connor how could you possibly take advantage of me? Of anyone for that matter."

"Because, I'm not myself, and you're feeling sorry for me and . . . "

She got down on her knees so she could look him in the eyes.

"I care about you, you idiot, and I want to help in anyway I can, especially if it means I get to see you naked." She explained, raising her eyebrows suggestively. "Besides, if anything, it would be me taking advantage of you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Wait, you wanna see me naked?"

She silenced him with a kiss, soft and gentle and totally amazing. Her hand drifted up his leg, but just before she reached her goal, he grabbed it, the force of his grip startling her and she looked up to meet his gaze.

"I can't," He said. "Not like this."

And he was angry, she could tell that his mood had swung once more, she'd pushed him too far too soon.

"Sorry." She whispered.

And quick as a shot she was up and running down to the safety of her own room, tears streaming down her cheeks and feeling totally humiliated.