Mostly domestic...

I don't own, so please don't sue, only currency involved is sheer pleasure, topped with a dollop of perversity and served up with a fair coating of ham...

Jenny was not happy. Whilst she could admit that Cutter was not her property, and that she'd hardly encouraged him, the fact that he'd hooked up with a very beautiful and young woman niggled a bit. Just when I was almost believing that we might get somewhere. She'd met Coralie Jakobs at several society functions, and liked her, but not with Nick.

She looked at him now, crouched down examining the tracks in the dirt, he was pale under his tan, he looked exhausted and clearly should still be in bed, but he was still alive and that was what counted. Jenny cocked her rifle, if she had Helen in her sights right now... Off to her right, a rifle cocked, Jenny looked across at Coralie, and knew without speaking that they were in complete accord, Helen Cutter had to be stopped.

Cutter was feeling sick again. His head was swimming, and his vision was a bit blurred, but he was determined to carry on. The footprints leading away from the anomaly were unmistakably raptor. Not raptors again, he really wasn't feeling up to chasing one or more of those. He stood up too quickly and staggered, this really was a bad idea... Coralie's arm went round his waist, and he leaned against her, grateful for the support.

"Shit. Nick, hold on." She looked across to Jenny, "I'm going to have to take him back to the vehicles."

"No." Cutter had no intention of abandoning his team. He put his hand up to her cheek. "I can manage...just about." he admitted. The worry in her eyes made him want to kiss her then and there, the presence of the others preventing him. Some things were just to private to advertise. He was conscious that their relationship was very new, and he wanted to keep it just between them for a while.

The tender exchange was not lost on Jenny, or Abbey returning from the vehicle with a rifle in her hand. Abbey risked a swift glance across to Jenny, and was slightly relieved by the rueful look on Jenny's face. Abbey felt loyal to her team mate, certain that there had been something about to blossom between Jenny and Nick, but also grateful that Nick had found someone to care for him as he'd been doubly abandoned, first Helen who then tried to kill him, and then Stephen who had died saving all their lives. They all missed Stephen, but most especially Nick, as Stephen had been his research assistant for more than nine years. Abbey didn't want to imagine the pain that Nick was going through, it was all such a horrible mess. Stephen and Helen having an affair, Helen going missing, Helen coming back, Helen seducing Stephen away from the team, Stephen finally realising that she had lied to him, Stephen dying in that horrible way... Connor! Where the hell is Connor.

Abbey swung round ready to scream his name, when he appeared from behind a bush. Her eyes narrowed. He walked over to her smiling that dopey cute grin of his, she tamped down on the rush of affection that made her want to grin back at him and punched him on the arm. Hard. "OWWW...what was that for?" his tone aggrieved, he glared back.

"That was for making me worry, and wandering off on your own." Her eyes widened in horror, a raptor was flying towards them...leaping in the air...there was no time...there was a very loud crack and something hissed past her ear and suddenly the raptor was on the floor. Abbey swung round, Jenny didn't have a clear shot, Nick didn't... she realised that Coralie had taken the shot, literally between their heads. "Jeez..." she gasped.

The others were staring at Coralie. "I had the shot for a split second, I took it." she shrugged. Abbey struggled to regain her breath, uncertain whether she wanted to kiss and hug the other girl for saving her and Connor from an unpleasant death, or slap her for scaring them halfway there.

"Where did you learn to shoot like that?" Nick stared at her in wonder.

"Playstation. And plenty of practice at Dad's country shoots." Coralie shrugged, a little embarrassed, "it's no biggie, I saw the shot, I took it." She looked at him closely, he was struggling, and didn't want to admit it. Darn but you're stubborn, well you've met your match in me, Nick Cutter.

The soldiers were returning from their sweep of the woods, "nothing to report, sir." Nick passed a weary hand over his face, he felt that there was something he was missing, but he was too tired to think straight. Coralie had killed the one that had jumped them, perhaps there really weren't anymore this time. Behind him, the anomaly started to quiver and blink, it was disappearing. He was so tired, the soldiers hadn't found anything, and the attack had been close to the anomaly, perhaps that was the only one that got through. "Okay, crisis over." He made the decision.

Heading back to the truck, he passed Coralie the keys, "Can you drive?"

"I was planning to. You look bad."

"Thanks for telling me." He tried to make it into a joke, but somehow it didn't connect. He swayed a little, and once again Coralie slipped her arm around his waist, this time he accepted the support offered, because he seriously doubted he would make it back to the truck unaided. His three team mates exchanged worried glances.

"I knew he was too ill, why did he come back so soon." Abbey muttered to Connor and Jenny.

"Well you know Nick, saving the world, one creature at a time." Connor's attempts to lighten the situation only half succeeded.

The two women stared at him.

Much later, after Lester had been appeased with a short report, and a very quiet supper had been consumed, he lay stretched out across the sofa, his head resting in Coralie's lap and tried to make sense of the tracks leading out of the anomaly from memory. There were two, distinct sets of tracks. He was sure of it.

"There were two. I know there were." He made as if to try and sit up, but her hand on his shoulder prevented him.

"Even if there were two, it's pitch dark, you're exhausted, you've done far too much your first day, and there is nothing we can do now anyway." She gently smoothed his hair back from his forehead, "we'll go back tomorrow if you're still worried and make sure."

He sat up, but slowly, his head still didn't feel all that great, and the sunburn on his back itched, but he needed to be close to her. He stood up and held out his hand, her slim fingers slid into his, and she followed him to the bedroom. Words were unnecessary. They were caught up in the moment.

He paused, leaning back against the bedroom door, suddenly unsure, because the last person he had shared this room with was Helen. He looked around, there was nothing of Helen left here, not even the sheets on the bed, it was all his. And the beautiful young woman standing before him...

He stepped forward, his hands sliding round her waist, hers round his neck and they leaned into the kiss, he tugged her blouse free from her waistband and fumbled a bit with the tiny buttons, as she slid her hands down his chest and under the hem of his t-shirt. They dispensed with each other's clothing rapidly. Then they were both naked, he looked at her, fully clothed she was beautiful, naked she was something else, more magnificent than he'd imagined, perfectly proportioned, athletic but feminine; almost the same height, they fit together perfectly.

They collapsed onto the bed together, his hands in her hair, around her waist, lifting her close, her arms around him urging him closer, lifting her hips. Taking it slow this time is going to be out of the question was his last conscious thought before primal instinct took over.

Lester shuffled irritably through the pile of resumes he had been sent. Not suitable, too young, too old, too much change, not enough of the right experience, too much of a party goer, he sighed, it was almost tempting to hand the job straight to that girl that Connor had hooked himself up with. Pretty little thing, reasonably bright, shows some courage and knows what this is all about. What was her name? Catherine, Caroline. That was it, Caroline.

When they were spent they lay cuddled against each other, Cutter's head was pounding and his body still felt as though it had gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson, but he had never felt happier in his life. He lay on his side, one arm flung around her waist, his head resting comfortably against her shoulder, her arms around him. Coralie stroked his arm with her free hand, and he tugged her down a little so that they were face to face.

"I've never felt happier." His blue eyes were solemn, with a warm passion in their depths that tugged hard at her soul.

"I love you." Her voice was soft, and she tensed slightly, worried that it was too soon, that she was pushing too hard; and she was rewarded with a brief flash of joy in his expression.

"Oh, god." his breath seemed to catch in his throat. "Darlin', if you knew what this means to me, to be able to hear a girl say that and know that she means it..." his voice trailed off.

"I know." Coralie pressed her lips to his, and despite his tiredness, they explored each others bodies once more with feeling.

Abbey curled up on the sofa, Rex swooped down and landed on the back, she reached up a hand and idly stroked his head with one finger. The little lizard squirmed and chirped, enjoying the attention. It was Connor's turn to cook dinner, but the clatter of pans from the kitchen area didn't sound at all promising.

"Can I help you..." Abbey called from the sofa.

"No...No." Connor's master plan for a romantic dinner à deux was not working out the way he had hoped. He fished in his pocket for his mobile, frantically dialing the number for the Indian takeaway on the corner. Quietly placing his order, he was desperately scratching around for an excuse to head out, when he became aware that Abbey was leaning over the counter behind him.

"And dinner will be served...when?" the teasing light in her eyes was too much. Connor blushed.

"Okay, okay, so I used to dust the inside of the oven!" he sighed.

"Round one is mine, I think." She grinned, enjoying his squirming.

Connor sighed heavily, his attempts at romance were faltering, he needed advice...I shall have to ask Nick...

Jenny was about to pack up and go home for the evening. She was pretty sure she was now alone in the building, apart from the night guards who were doing their rounds.

She walked through the darkened building slowly, she was tired, her feet hurt and all she wanted to do was go home and relax with a nice bottle of wine.

Reaching the front desk, she swiped her card over the sensor and the gate swung open with a little click. An echoing clunk sounded from somewhere above her head. She turned round slowly.

"Is anyone there?" She peered up to the gantry above her head, she could swear that she could hear breathing. She shook her head. It's late, I'm tired, I'm hearing things.

She turned around and walked away. Not noticing the sharp eyes that watched her from the darkened gantry.