For You I Will - Pt. 2
Connor/Abby
Drama/Romance
Spoilers: None.
Other: Separate piece of fiction with no spoilers and no particular place of the series. Takes place after Connor has dumped Caroline.
This chapter is unadulterated fluff. Pure Conby, especially towards the end.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
I'm also aware that the hospital details may be off.
Disclaimer: Dragonfly Zero does not own any aspect of Primeval, and will not use it for financial gain. Or whatever. The purple crayon t-shirt belongs to 'David and Goliath'. The song featured, 'For You I Will', belongs to Teddy Geiger.
"Connor…wake up…"
He didn't want to wake up. He'd been having the most wonderful dreams. Of Abby. In that Princess Leia 'Jabba-The-Hutt's-Slave' outfit.
"Come on, lad. Rise and shine."
Groggy and achy, Connors eyes creaked open. The eyelids felt like lead. A face hovered into view, becoming clearer by the second. Scruffy, dirty blonde hair, unshaven cheeks and teal eyes.
"Ah…Cutter…Professor."
He was surprised at the roughness of his own voice. As more came into focus around him, he saw a small television on a stand not too far away. The News was on, and a picture of a man was on the screen.
Hey…wait a moment. Was that him?
The subtitles read 'Man mauled by escaped tiger'.
Cutter followed his gaze and grinned.
"Jenny sorted it all out." He informed the younger man. Jenny. Right. Their government official who covered everything up and stopped people talking about what they'd seen or heard.
"Well it's nice to see you've come to. Abby's been beside herself." Cutter said, smiling a little. Connor was confused. Come to?
"How long have I been out?" He asked, voicing his puzzlement. Cutter sat back in his chair and indicated two tubes feeding into his arm. One was a clear liquid. The other was dark red – blood, he presumed.
Connor realised that he was actually propped up by three pillows, and that his leg was hanging in a sling above him, covered in a layer of thick white bandages.
That was new.
"Two days. Fifty-one stitches in your leg. They thought they might have to amputate." A voice answered from the doorway. Stephen was there, leaning casually against the frame. He was wearing jeans and a white tee. His cerulean eyes were half-closed.
"Abby told us what happened in the shopping centre." Cutter began after a pause. Connor watched him carefully. Was he being thrown off the team for taking such risks?
"The whole smashing-a-Future-Predator-across-the-head-with-an-empty-gun thing." He continued. Stephen cut in with a little sarcasm.
"Not the cleverest thing in the world." He drawled. Cutter gave him a look. Connor looked embarrassed.
"Stephen's right, but it saved you and Abby. So you're staying. Just…don't do it again." Cutter advised him.
Connors heart leapt. He could stay! On the team! With Abby!
"Is Abby okay?" He voiced his primary concern. Cutter glanced at Stephen."
"She's fine. Had to be treated for mild shock and a couple of bruises, nothing major. She's been worried about you though." The younger man stated. Connor relaxed back on his pillows. At least Abby was safe.
"When can I go home?" He asked Stephen. Stephen looked at Cutter, who checked his watch.
"The nurse told us as soon as you woke up you could go, so long as you have a willing carer at home." The professor told him with a brief smile. Connors thoughts instantly leapt to his blonde best friend (hopefully more if she took him seriously at the mall.)
"Abby's quite willing." Stephen said, as though reading Connors mind. The student turned his thoughts to the dark-haired man. Wouldn't Abby rather him? Tall, dark and handsome were Stephen Hart's middle names. Plus he was a bit of a rebel. A bad boy; right up Abby's street. Connor was probably a bit too dweeby for her.
"Stephen, get a nurse to let Connors leg out of that sling would you? And bring his clothes and some crutches." Cutter interrupted his train of thought. Stephen raised an eyebrow, before sliding out of the door. As soon as he had gone, Nick looked at Connor. He was deadly serious now.
"Abby told me everything that happened in the shopping centre, Connor."
Connor looked at him blankly.
"Even what you said. What you did." Cutter spoke slowly now, meaningfully.
Connors eyes widened.
"I, Connor Temple, love you, Abby Maitland. So…uh…in the name of life and death…I do this." SMOOCH.
Oh dear.
Cutter nodded, as if reading his thoughts. He looked very stern.
"I hope you meant what you said, Connor. Abby cares for you. It would be cowardly and cruel to hurt her." He told Connor. There was an obvious warning in what he said. His tone was firm, no-nonsense.
If you hurt Abby, I'll hurt you.
Connor knew what he meant. Abby was the baby of the team. Although as adept and tough as the rest of them, she was still the youngest. Cutter saw her as a little sister of sorts, Connor supposed. They were a family. A warped, messed-up family. Cutter was dad, strong and authorative. Jenny was mum, bossy but strangely caring in a way. Stephen was rebel big brother, moody and argumentative. Abby was cute little sister, cheerful and uplifting. So where did he fit in?
That didn't matter right now, as Stephen returned, talking with a brunette nurse. The nurse unclipped the sling, letting Connors leg down slowly. The blood rushed into it, making it numb for a second. Then came the pain. He winced as the nurse helped him to sit up. She carefully unhooked the drips from his arms, before placing his clothes on his bed and pulling the blue curtain around him while he got dressed. He guessed that Abby brought him some clean clothes after the incident.
He dragged a white t-shirt over his head. On the front was a purple crayon. On the back were the words 'Everybody knows that the purple crayon is GAY.' Abby had bought it for him for his 23rd Birthday/Moving in anniversary present. He had a little trouble getting his jeans over his bandages, but managed it in the end. He slipped a pair of trainers on to finish, and pulled his trademark fingerless gloves on.
"I'm done!" He called. The curtain was pulled back. Cutter smirked at his t-shirt. The nurse handed him the crutches.
"Excellent! I've always wanted to try a pair of these!" Connor grinned, as he hopped around on them. Cutter gave him an odd look. Stephen threw the car keys into the air impatiently. He looked bored.
"Come on, let's go." He suggested briskly. Cutter offered an arm to Connor, who ignored it and carried on skipping around on his crutches.
They made their way out of the hospital, stopping only so that a nurse could tell them when Connor should come back to have his bandages changed and his stitches taken out. Stephens black Nissan Skyline was in the car park. It gleamed as they approached it, and Stephen ran a hand over the paintwork lovingly. They got in, strapping themselves in. As Stephen backed out, Cutter looked at Connor in the sunscreen mirror.
"In case you were wondering," He said over the thrum of the engine, "The Future Predator you got was killed. By pure chance, you managed to smash into its nervous system, killing it instantly. Stephen and I caught the other one, and the Mer sighting was just a seal that had swum too far up river. The anomaly closed." He informed the younger man.
Connor gazed out of the Skylines tinted windows. Children kicked a ball in a park. Couples walked hand in hand. It all seemed so normal. Did any of them have any idea of what was going on? How much danger they would be in if the ARC team wasn't around? Probably not.
They pulled up outside Abby's apartment block. Cutter opened Connors door, helping the student with his crutches. Stephen followed after a second, locking his car. Connor looked around the familiar lobby, with the three shiny silver lifts. It seemed like an age since he had last been at home. He pressed for the lift, and the three of them got in. He chose the third floor, hoping that Abby would be in, seeing as he didn't have his door keys.
The lift doors pinged open cheerfully. Cutter stepped out first, followed by Stephen and finally, Connor. Connor led the way to door twelve; the entrance to the big flat he shared with Abby. Stephen knocked. A cheery voice called from inside,
"Stephen? Cutter? Is that you? The door's open."
Connor pushed the door open and all three of them trooped inside, climbing the long, spiralling black staircase to his and Abby's apartment. Lizard tanks lined the shelves; Abby's punch bag hung from the ceiling, and Connors laptop lay closed on top of a table. A familiar chirp caught Connors attention. He looked up, to see Rex; Abby's pet Coelurosauravus, sitting high up on a lampshade. At the sight of Connor, he began chirping madly. He glided down from the lampshade, landing smoothly on Connors head.
Abby appeared from the kitchen, wearing an apron and cleaning her hands. She didn't look up, still checking her nails.
"Hi Stephen, Cutter. How was…"
Rex gave a particularly loud squawk, causing Abby to look up, presumably to shush him. Instead, she saw Connor.
"Connor!"
The next thing he knew, Connor was almost flung down the stairs, as Abby grabbed him. For such a petite woman, she sure had a lot of strength. Stephen and Cutter shared an amused look, although Stephen placed a hand on Connors arm to steady him.
I think she can take it from here, Cutter mouthed to his friend. Stephen nodded, and both of them sidled out, closing the door behind them quietly.
Abby kept her hold on Connor, as she led him to the sofa. Rex chirped, and flew off to his bowl of fruit, seemingly satisfied that Connor was home. The two of them collapsed on the couch. They sat side by side, as Abby untangled her arms from his neck. Connor lay his crutches on the panelled floor.
"How are you feeling?" She asked almost immediately. Connor took his time to think before answering. Well, his leg felt pretty rough, but that was nothing compared to the elation he had at being reunited with Abby.
"Okay. How 'bout you?" He settled for simplicity.
"Fine. Fine." Abby replied. She didn't seem convinced with her answer, and began again, "Well, not really. I've missed you Connor. The little things, you know? The way that you can't catch Rex at night. The way you sit in the rafters with me on Tuesdays, watching a movie. Even the way you hide my pyjamas. This place doesn't feel like home without you in it."
She drew a deep breath after her speech.
Connor listened attentively. He was sure there was a hidden message in what she just. There always was, with women. There was a long pause, in which Rex could be heard munching on his fruit, while the radio buzzed in the background. Connor listened to the song for a moment.
Wondering the streets, in a world underneath it all
Nothing seems to be, nothing tastes as sweet
As what I can't have
Like you and the way that you're twisting your hair
Round your finger
Tonight I'm not afraid to tell you
What I feel about you.confidence I have
and cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
and cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will
Forgive me if I stutter
From all of the clutter in my head
Cuz I could fall asleep in those eyes
Like a water bed
Do I seem familiar, I've crossed you in hallways
A thousand times, no more camouflage
I want to be exposed, and not be afraid to fall
Ah. Teddy Geiger's 'For You I Will'. A song Connor hadn't heard since…his college years.
"Connor…do you remember in the mall…you did something?" Abby asked quietly. Oh God. Déjà vu or what? At least this time there was no Caroline to interrupt.
"Um…yeah…I did something."
This WAS déjà vu!
"You said something too, right?"
He needed to sort this situation out. Properly. Not just screw around.
"Yep. I think I did." He replied. Abby looked at him. Truly looked at him, as though she was searching for something inside him. Her crystal eyes said don't mess around with me, Connor Temple.
"Did you mean any of it?"
This was where he had gone wrong last time, with all that denial rubbish.
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
And cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
You always want what you can't have
But I've got to try
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will
For you I will
For you
"I don't say things I…don't mean, Abby."
There. He had said it. She could reject him if she wanted. At least it was finally out in the open, not some unspoken rift between them, like before.
Abby sat in silence for a second more, mulling it over in her mind. Then, very slowly, a little unsure, she placed one hand on his knee – his good leg, fortunately – and the other one his face. She leaned in, and Connor met her halfway. Their lips touched, heat racing through their connection. Connor put one hand on Abby's back, drawing her deeper into the kiss. The other was made busy in her hair.
If I could dim the lights in the mall
And create a mood I would
Shout out your name so it echoes in every room
I would
That's what I'd do, That's what I'd do to get through to you
Abby pulled back first for breath. Connor watched her face. She looked at him, fighting back a smile, and failing rather miserably.
"Wow." She murmured. Connor grinned, as Rex chirped noisily above them on the rafters. Abby looked up. The bright green lizard was inspecting them curiously.
"Who asked YOU to watch, Rex?" Connor laughed at the reptiles inquiring look. Rex chirped again at the sound of his name, before gliding down onto the back of the couch.
Abby rested her head on Connors chest, arms around him. He put an arm around her, feeling a warm rush of protective instinct for this woman. HIS woman, he thought to himself defiantly. They both jumped as Connors mobile began to trill loudly. He stared at it for a moment, as if it was a foreign object. How dare it interrupt he and Abby?
The blonde zookeeper gave him a nudge, pressing him to answer. He gave her a pained look.
"It might be Cutter." She whispered, as though the person on the other end of the phone could hear them.
Well, in Connors opinion, that gave him all the more reason not to answer it. Cutter knew that he and Abby were together. Surely he could guess what was going on – he wasn't stupid.
Still, he reached across to the phone, looking through the plastic see-through cover. It was Cutter. With a sigh, Connor put him on loudspeaker.
"Hey, Connor." Cutter greeted them.
"Hi Cutter." Abby replied cheerfully, waving at the phone from her position.
"Hello to you as well, Abby," Connor could hear the smile in Nicks voice, "I hate to break you two up, but we've got another anomaly. We've had three reports of large, lice-like creatures coming from a basement near Hyde Park.
It should be a pretty easy in-and-out job, but we should check it out first. Abby, we really need you. You too, Connor, if you're up to it. Are you in?"
Abby shuddered slightly. She hate, hate, HATED spiders and creepy crawlies. She glanced up at Connor. He kissed her forehead gently.
"We're in, Cutter." He responded.
"Excellent. Meet Stephen, Jenny and I at ARC. See you later lovebirds."
Connor heard Cutter snap his phone closed. Typical Cutter. Brief and to the point.
Abby rolled her eyes, rising from Connors chest. She stooped, picking up his crutches. She held a hand out to him. He took it, pulling himself unsteadily to his feet. He took the crutches, and, to his slight amusement, Abby, devoid of a hand to hold, looped her arm through his.
As they made their way out of the flat, Abby poked Connor gently. He looked down at her.
"Connor…I just wanted to say, I feel the same about you. What you said in the mall. I'm the same okay?" She told him. Connor felt his heart swell, and a smile spread across his face. Abby…Abby was amazing.
"So…we're together now, yeah?" She asked hopefully. Connor nodded.
"Yeah. Together. Together forever."
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
And cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
You always want what you can't have
But I've got to try
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will
For you I will
For you I will
Fin.
