DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN, DON'T SUE!

Chapter 3: Losing Touch

Danny followed after Connor; but Connor proved to be a bit faster than Danny.

Danny stopped one of the technicians in the hallway.

"Excuse me, but did you happen to see Connor Temple go through here?"

"I saw him talking to Captain Becker a few moments ago." The technician replied.

"Thanks; carry on." Danny called as he bolted toward security.

Danny saw Becker talking to one of the military men at security and walked over toward them.

"Becker, have you seen Connor? I need to ask him something important."

"Yeah, I think he went up a floor." Becker replied, "He took the stairs."

"If I were trying to hide from everyone and were looking for a place to think, I'd probably go to one of the last places anyone would think to look." Danny muttered to himself as he scaled the stairs.

Danny found Connor sitting up on the roof of the ARC smoking.

"I didn't know you smoked." Danny commented walking over to Connor and sitting down next to him.

"I don't." Connor replied.

"Where'd you get the cigarette from?" Danny asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Leslie." Connor replied studying the cigarette.

"Wh-that cute technician from the second floor?"

"No, Leslie Becker." Connor laughed.

"Becker has a relative working here?" Danny clueless.

"No, Becker's first name is Leslie." Connor replied taking another puff.

"You are yanking my chain." Danny accused skeptically.

"Nope. I read his file."

"Haha!" Danny chuckled, "Boy band music is a thing of the past, now that I have a new method of tormenting Becker."

"Wait a minute," Danny said after containing his laughter. "Does Sarah know he smokes?"

Connor shrugged. "Dunno."

As Connor finished his cigarette, Danny choked on the smoke Connor exhaled, due to the wind up on the roof.

"Ya know, those things really aren't any good for you." Danny commented.

Connor threw the cigarette on the ground and put it out with his shoe.

"You're not my dad, Danny. I'm 27 years old, I think I know how to take care of myself; thanks."

"Connor, I'm not-"

"I'm late for my last physical therapy meeting," Connor said getting up and walking back down into the ARC cutting Danny off.

As Connor came out of the stairs, he passed Becker.

"Might wanna hide your cigarettes, mate. Danny's coming." He warned Becker.

Becker gave Connor a puzzled look and quickly disposed of the cigarettes in the nearest trash bin.

"Well, Mr. Temple," the physical therapist began, "it looks as though the wound completely healed up."

Connor smiled, "that's great news. That means that I can go back out into the field and help out again and-"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," the physical therapist cut Connor off. "There's someone, who wants to speak with you regarding that."

Lester came into the room and approached Connor.

"So, I hear you're all healed up." He began.

"Yeah, that means I can go back into the field, right?" Connor asked cautiously.

"Every other mission, yes."

"What? You heard the physical therapist, you even said so yourself, that I'm completely healed! What's stopping me from going back full time?" Connor asked angrily.

"Just health and safety." Lester replied. "Take things one step at a time so that you end up on the sidelines permanently."

"But-"

"It's that or would you prefer to return to desk duty filling out paper work and research?"

"Fine." Connor replied lowering his gaze to the floor.

"If you're finished, you can be done for the day. Everyone else is headed home. The night staff will alert you if an anomaly opens."

Connor stood and walked out toward the main operations room looking for Abby.

As they drove home, Connor looked at Abby.

"Abby, I-I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for the way I acted today. I didn't sleep much last night."

"It's alright, Connor." Was all Abby said.

When they got up to the door, there was not only the usual mail (bills, the occasional letter, etc.); but a package addressed to Connor.

"Huh, I wonder who it's from." Connor asked picking it up as the pair walked into the flat.

Connor set the package on the coffee table and followed Abby into the kitchen.

"We really, need to go grocery shopping, cos that's just sad," Connor stated looking at the empty fridge.

Abby shot him a look.

"A really, beautifully sad fridge that the ARC has deprived of food." Connor smiled.

Abby smiled a bit and Connor pulled her into a hug.

"I am really sorry for snapping at ya this morning and ignoring ya almost all day." Connor apologized.

"Really?" Abby looked into his eyes.

Connor kissed her, "yep, and I even ordered Chinese, to make up for it. Your treat."

Abby punched him in the arm.

"Ow. Just kidding, I'm paying for it."

Abby kissed him and pulled him into a hug.

"Also, to celebrate, that I, Connor Temple, have been freed from the shackles of physical therapy." He added smiling.

Later that night, after Abby had gone to bed, Connor sat on his bed with the nightstand light on.

He examined the package trying to find out who the sender could possibly be.

At first all he could find was his own address; but after studying every inch of the box, he found his answer in one of the corners on the bottom.

Written hurriedly, or so it seemed, Stephen Hart's address.

"No, nonono!" Connor said in a hushed voice so as not to wake Abby.

"That's impossible!" He muttered.

He tore the box open to reveal, an iPod surrounded by tissue paper.

Sorry for the cliffie! Also, if you were confused by the cliffie, check out Series 1 Episode 3 of Primeval. ;D

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