Title: Blinded by Love Chapter 6
Warnings: Angst, hurt/comfort, language, smut,
Disclaimer: Primeval and it's character's belong to Impossible Pictures, no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Really appreciate those reviews guys! Thanks so much. :-)
Abby had begged someone to tell her what was happening to Isabelle, she'd pulled herself up from the bed and followed the sound of Connor's voice, touching his arm and asking him. He had wrenched his arm away, ignoring her completely and moving to another area of the room.
Connor's worry for the baby had made his anger at Abby that much greater. He needed her to stay away from him otherwise he had no doubt that he would say something he'd later regret.
Abby had watched shadows move around, listening to every voice, every cry, every breath. Hearing the doctor mention 'possible asthma' and 'oxygen' and 'steroids'. after a while, Izzie's breaths had become more regular.
By now, everything else was still aside from the buzz of a nebuliser and the baby's intermittent whimpers. Abby's sight had improved more as the hours passed and she could now see the blurs of people as they walked by. She stayed curled up on her bed, her eyes focussed on where Izzie lay. She hadn't mentioned her vision improvement to the doctors, wanting them to focus solely on Isabelle - Abby could wait.
Sarah walked into the room and saw Connor sat by Isabelle's bedside looking completely exhausted. She walked over, sitting beside him.
"She's going to be ok." She stated.
"Yeah, doctor says she'll be fine once she's got the drugs into her system. She's already improving."
"You should get some rest."
He shook his head, rubbing his daughter's hand affectionately when she coughed and let out a breathless cry.
"I'm not leaving her, she's scared, I can't get her to settle and when she gets worked up it makes her worse."
Sarah nodded, it had been a very scary moment when the little girl had started coughing and wheezing and then when her lips had turned blue - she didn't even want to think about it any more.
"Well, if you need anything, give us a call yeah?"
Connor looked up and smiled weakly at her. He couldn't explain the depth of his feelings for this little baby who he had only just met, was still getting to know. All he knew was that the love was almost instant, coupled with a fierce need to protect her at all costs.
"Thanks."
As Sarah left the room, Connor didn't notice Abby's eyes tracking every movement.
Sometime during the night, Abby awoke from a dreamless sleep. Isabelle was crying, a horrible crackly sound unlike the cries she had heard her make before. She wondered where Connor was, but then heard him trying to settle her, saw his blurred form stand and hover over the bed.
"You have to keep the mask on sweetheart, it's good for you." He soothed.
After a few more minutes of trying to calm her, she saw him walk away, calling for the doctor. Abby pushed herself to her feet, walking over to the bed. She could just about make out the flailing arms, the shape of Izzie's head and dark hair - she had dark hair just like Connor and this made Abby smile.
"Hey baby." She whispered, putting her face close to hers. "It's ok, Mummy's here."
As far as the child was concerned, Abby was her Mum and Connor her Dad. She didn't understand that the parents who'd created her, who she'd known and loved, were dead and gone. Abby looked like her Mum, talked like her Mum and smelled like her too. Connor was just like the Dad who'd thrown her into the air and caught her making her laugh, talked to her about silly things she didn't understand and read her stories about dinosaurs and dragons and princesses.
Abby took the mask from her face, feeling around carefully for any other wires Isabelle may be attached to. She found only a cannula in her hand and avoided it as she lifted her from the bed, Izzie's head resting on her shoulder. Abby then brought the mask back up, holding it a few millimetres from the little girls face so that she couldn't feel it touching her skin.
Isabelle had stopped crying now but was whimpering and Abby rocked from side to side. Remembering the words of the note from her alternate self, she began to sing.
When I was just a little girl,
I asked my mother what will I be?
Will I be pretty, will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me
Que sera sera,
whatever will be will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera sera
What will be, will be.
Izzie had reached up and was twizzling Abby's hair, completely settled in her arms.
"What're you doing?" Connor asked accusingly as he entered the room.
"Isabelle was crying."
"She shouldn't be out of bed, she's sick."
"I know she's sick Connor, despite the fact that no one would tell me anything."
She was using hushed tones so as not to disturb Izzie, but still sounded annoyed.
Connor saw red.
"Oh so now you care? Now that she almost died you suddenly give a damn?"
Abby was taken aback by his tone.
"Shush, you'll upset her again." She admonished. "And I always cared, I was just overwhelmed and incredibly selfish."
She kissed the baby's head softly and saw Connor's shape move towards her. Fearing he was going to try and take Izzie away, she turned her back to him, holding her closer.
"Please," She begged. "She's settled, don't take her away from me."
She felt Connor grab her elbow.
"Abby, turn around." He whispered.
She couldn't, she wouldn't, she remembered always wanting her Mum when she was ill as a child and knew that Izzie probably felt the same. She wasn't about to hand her over to Connor so that he could lay her back down and place the nebuliser mask she hated back over her head.
"Turn around." He said again.
"Please Connor, she needs me."
"Look at me!"
That got her attention, he'd noticed. Abby turned slowly to face him, she could only see a pinkish blur for his face but she could work out where his eyes must be and no doubt shocked him when she looked right at them.
"Abby!" He gasped. "You can see!"
"Not properly, just basic shapes and shadows, but it's steadily improving."
"How long?"
"It started a couple of hours before you brought Izzie in." She replied.
She longed to be held by him, she had felt his resentment towards her coming off him in waves and hated it.
"Why didn't you say anything?" He asked incredulously.
"I was going to, and then . . . well, Isabelle got sick and I wanted the doctor to concentrate on making her better, and you were . . . you hate me."
"I don't hate you Abby."
"Of course you do, and I don't blame you, what I said . . . it's unforgivable."
Tears were running down her cheeks now and little Izzie seemed to pick up on her distress, reaching her hand up to her face. Abby smiled down at her, kissing her hand.
Isabelle pointed at Connor, babbling away. It was the first time either one of them had heard her do any kind of baby talk, until now all she had really done was laugh and cry.
Abby pulled the mask away a little more so that they could hear her sweet voice.
"Dadadada." She babbled.
Connor's eybrows almost hit the ceiling and he smiled, his eyes filling with tears.
"Yes." Abby cooed. "Daddy."
The little girl looked back to Abby grinning, though Abby didn't see it.
"Mama." She said, looking pleased with herself.
Abby gasped, choking back a sob.
"Mamamamamamama." She mumbled, snuggling against Abby's shoulder once more.
Connor filled the space between them, putting his arms around Abby and Isabelle and holding them both close.
"I could never hate you Abby." He whispered against her hair. "It was anger not hate, never hate. I love you."
Abby cried openly, the relief of being in Connor's arms and hearing their little girl speak for the first time overwhelming her.
They rocked together, staying in that position until Izzie had fallen asleep. Then Connor took her from Abby's arms, laying her carefully on the bed and re-attaching her mask before moving back to Abby. He kissed her softly and then curled up with her on the other bed where they both fell asleep almost instantly.
*******************
"Mamamamama." Isabelle cried.
Abby woke immediately, rushing to the baby's bedside and stroking her face softly. She looked down at her and burst into tears, picking her up and hugging her and kissing her repeatedly.
Connor ran to her side at the sound of Abby crying.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
He knew Izzie must be ok because she was giggling as Abby continued to kiss her cheeks.
"Oh Connor, she's so beautiful." Abby cried.
For a moment Connor was completely confused.
"She has dimples when she smiles, just like you."
"You see her properly?" He asked incredulously.
She nodded.
"I see her eyes, her nose, her cheeks and her smile."
Connor moved closer, pulling Abby's chin towards him.
"Your eyes are blue!" He exclaimed.
Last night, when she'd told him her sight was returning, her eyes had still been cloudy, though not as scary as they had been when the were all white. Now they were back to their original sparkling blue and Connor grinned from ear to ear, he'd missed her looking into his eyes this way.
"You're gorgeous." She said to him.
He laughed and looked down at his feet, face burning red.
"Thanks." He muttered.
"I forgot."
"Forgot what?"
"How cute you were." She told him. "We know where you get it from don't we Izzie?"
She looked back to their child, tickling her tummy and making her giggle again.
"I don't think she get's her good looks from me Abbs."
"She has your hair, your dimply smile and your nose."
"My nose?" He asked, frowning. "You think?"
Abby nodded, gripping the baby's nose lightly and wiggling it.
"Well, she has your eyes and lips and your facial expressions."
She snorted.
"My facial expressions Connor?"
"Yeah! She can smile at you so sweetly that your heart melts - the way you do. She scrunches her nose up when she's cross just like you and she frowns the way you do when she's confused ."
"Connor, she's eight months old, what does she have to get confused about?"
"She's really smart! I was explaining string theory to her yesterday and she looked really interested."
"Are you sure you didn't confuse interested face with boredom face Connor?" She laughed.
"Ha ha very funny!" He replied sarcastically.
The doctors were baffled by the recovery of Abby's sight. The fact that it had happened so quickly was what stumped them but the Arc team thought they knew how it happened. Abby was sure that her alternate self cured her in some way. She wasn't sure how or where she got the technology but frankly, she didn't really care. She could see again, see Isabelle, see Connor and see the world. She was never going to take such things for granted any more.
Connor and Abby had just returned from a shopping trip. They may have gone slightly overboard, they'd only gone to choose furniture for Izzie's bedroom but Abby had made the mistake of taking a look in the toy section. She lost Connor immediately and when she found him again, the shopping trolley was piled high with toys and baby gadgets.
Now, as they unpacked everything, Connor lay on the floor giggling, half drowning in a sea of cuddly toys. Isabelle thought this was hilarious of course and was joining in, their giggles infectious as Abby tried to concentrate on putting the cot together.
"Connor, a little help over here?" She asked him.
"I'm busy aren't I?"
"Doing what exactly?"
"Building . . . " He rummaged through their many purchases. "This!" He exclaimed, when he found what he was looking for.
It was a baby walker for Isabelle with a little activity tray and had cost a small fortune.
Abby shook her head.
"Fine, I can do this by myself anyway."
An hour later and Abby was looking down proudly at her creation. The cot looked perfect with a little cream quilt with brown bears on it and a cot-bumper to match. She picked up Isabelle - who had been playing with a toy giraffe - and popped her in.
Izzie grinned up at her, taking in her new surroundings and babbling to the giraffe in her hand.
"You like it sweetheart? It's your new bed."
The little girl blew a raspberry and then giggled, jumping up and down on her bottom.
Abby turned to Connor, who was still trying to build the walker and getting a little frustrated as he turned the instruction leaflet this way and that. How could a guy who built an anomaly locking device from scratch be utterly defeated by the instructions for a child's toy? She looked back at Izzie and couldn't stop the "Awww" that escaped her lips at the sight of her curled up asleep, holding on tightly to the giraffe with one hand and sucking the thumb of her other.
Connor stood up to see what the fuss was about and gave a goofy lopsided grin when he saw Isabelle.
"C'mon." Abby whispered, dragging Connor out.
He nodded and they left their new daughter to sleep, closing the door behind them quietly and tiptoeing downstairs.
"You got the baby monitor?" Connor asked.
She held it up for him to see and he nodded. They weren't taking any chances after what happened at the Arc but Izzie had inhalers now to prevent her from getting in such a state.
Abby placed the monitor down on the table and put her arms around Connor's neck, kissing him softly. They hadn't had any alone time in over a week and because things were so different now, it felt more like a lifetime.
She pulled away slightly, grinning at him and he smiled back shyly.
"I love you Connor." She told him.
He lunged forward, kissing her again but with more passion and she moaned into his mouth.
"I need to see you." She whispered.
"You can see me, I'm right here."
"No, all of you." Abby explained.
"What, here? In the kitchen?"
She looked up at him through her lashes, giving him her best sultry smile.
"Why not?" She purred.
Connor felt suddenly unsure of himself, like it was their first time all over again, what if she didn't like what she saw? He'd never win a Mr Universe contest, wasn't naturally athletic and often thought he could do with gaining a few pounds. Though the weight thing wasn't through lack of trying, he ate like a pig but all the running around they did on the job seemed to keep him slender. He also, like most men, had an irrational fear that his 'equipment' was too small. It didn't occur to him that it wouldn't be Abby sight that told her that that area was more than adequate.
He'd had plenty of time to think these fears over in the last few days and frankly, he was more than a little worried. What if she was disappointed? What if Abby looked at him and he saw that look on her face, one that told him she found him unattractive. Worse, what if she laughed?
Abby sensed his hesitation and pushed him against the worktop, her fingers drifting under the fabric of his t-shirt and her finger nails dancing across his skin.
He hissed, kissing her again and trying desperately to quash his fears, to push down the sick feeling in his stomach.
"I . . . I'm not muscly." He stuttered.
"I know, You're Connor."
"Abby." He whined. "I'm serious!"
"Then you're daft!" She replied, huffing in frustration at the interruption. "Do you not think that after almost four years as friends, living and working together, sleeping together God knows how many times and running my hands all over your body that I would know the shape and curve of every muscle, every bone?"
He bit his lip, looking down at her lovingly whilst stroking her cheek.
Abby pulled her t-shirt over her head and threw it on the floor.
"There." She exclaimed. "Now it's your turn."
He smirked, so was this some kind of game? If he removed an item of his clothing would she remove more? Because that would be the kind of game he could grow to really like. He would never tire of looking at her naked body.
Connor placed his hands at the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head and dropping it next to hers. He was still wearing a vest underneath and so wasn't yet showing much flesh.
Abby gasped as she noticed a tattoo at the top of his right arm, she hadn't thought him the type to get tattooed. She imagined he must have seen the tiny one at the base of her spine. In comparison, his was huge, beginning just past his shoulder and travelling halfway to his elbow.
She traced the pattern with her fingertips and then kissed it softly.
"How long you had this?" She asked.
"Couple of years."
She was taken aback. He had never once shown it off or complained about the pain after having it done - and they were painful. Hers had hurt for days afterwards, this one must have been more than a little tender. He did always wear long sleeved t-shirts or big jackets and she'd always tried to stay out of his way when he was showering and shaving because of a not so little incident when they first started living together involving him wearing just a towel and sporting a rather impressive erection. So she didn't really get the opportunity to see all of him. Now she was going to make up for it.
"Your turn." He whispered sounding unsure.
She smirked and reached behind her, popping her bra open and letting it slide down her arms before falling to the floor.
Connor groaned at the sight of her naked breasts and lifted his vest up, casting it aside.
Abby stepped closer again. This was what she wanted, what she needed, to gaze upon him the way he had her so many times before. She smiled at him affectionately, reassuring him and began to kiss a trail down his chest until she was on her knees, hand moving to unfasten his belt.
"Hey! I thought it was your turn." He admonished.
She looked up at him, smiling cheekily.
"I'm cheating." She purred.
She succeeded in removing his belt and undoing his trousers and let them fall, pooling at his ankles. Connor felt suddenly exposed, despite the fact that he was still wearing his boxers. When Abby tugged on them too, he gripped the worktop behind him so hard that his knuckles turned white. Now he really was exposed and his breaths were coming in short gasps as he felt her eyes on him.
He stepped out of his clothes and Abby drifted towards him, kissing his arousal softly first at the base and then made her way all the way to the tip, lingering there for a moment and taking pleasure from his gasps and moans. She moved back up his body, standing up and taking his hands she pulled him away from the worktop and then stood behind him to enjoy a rear view.
She ran her hands up and down his back sensually and then cupped his buttocks, he had a great arse, she had always thought so, but it was so much nicer when not covered by all his baggy clothes. She smacked him once - hard, and laughed as she heard him yelp.
When Abby came back round to his front, she had miraculously removed the rest of her clothing and Connor lifted her, placing her on the kitchen counter and standing between her parted thighs. It was the perfect height for him to enter her and this time as he did, he looked into her eyes and she returned his gaze.
"Abby." He whispered, fighting tears.
She just smiled in return, stroking his face as he began to move within her.
It was so wonderful to see her staring back at him and it was almost too much, almost too difficult to keep his emotions in check. He really did love her so much that sometimes he felt like his heart might burst.
As they made love on the kitchen counter, Abby promising herself that she would give it an extra good clean when they'd finished, they connected in a way that they had never done before. Connor couldn't explain it, but he felt like he had all of her now, like before there was always a piece missing, a part of her that she couldn't share.
Just as Abby approached climax, there was a knock at the door.
"I'm coming!" She shouted.
And she was, she seriously hoped that the person on the other side of the door couldn't tell. Connor smirked at her, despite his aroused state and she clamped down hard on her internal muscles whilst pushing up against him, causing him to join her, cursing and moaning her name.
They untangled themselves quickly, picking up their discarded clothing and throwing it back on.
"Go answer the door Connor." She whispered, pulling her t-shirt over her head as he pulled on his trousers and fastened the belt.
"You go answer it!" He replied breathlessly.
"I can't, I need to clean up."
"Well I can't. I have this." He explained, pointing to his tented trousers.
Abby rolled her eyes and took pity on him, still pulling up her leggings as she ran to the door.
"Who is it?" She called as she looked through the spy hole to see Sarah, Danny and Becker.
"It's just us." Danny replied.
Abby opened the door, still slightly out of breath but trying desperately to hide it. There was no concealing her rosy cheeks and dishevelled appearance though, not to mention the tone she had used to tell them she was 'coming'.
"Not interrupting anything are we?" Becker asked, all business.
Sarah and Danny were not so talented at keeping a straight face though and both burst out laughing.
"We could always 'come' back another time when you guys aren't so 'busy'" Danny added.
Abby blushed, her face turning redder than it had been already and she looked at her feet, suddenly finding them very interesting.
"No, not interrupting anything, come on in." She replied, moving aside.
Even Becker joined in on the laughter now and Abby was glad it was her and not Connor who had answered the door, he would have died of embarrassment.
They all walked into the flat, moving to the living area.
"Connor!" Abby called. "The guys are here."
"Be there in a sec." He called from the kitchen. "I'll put the kettle on."
"Where's the giggler?" Danny asked, referring to baby Isabelle.
"Oh, she's fast asleep, we've been shopping all day, she was exhausted. Actually, I was just going to check on her."
"Oh I'll go!" Sarah offered enthusiastically.
Abby nodded and Sarah took off up the stairs leaving her with the two men and feeling totally foolish.
"Connor?" She called again after a few moments of smirks and silence.
"Can I see you in the kitchen a minute Abbs?" He replied.
She sighed.
"Make yourselves at home." She said to Danny and Becker. "Be back in a minute."
She popped her head into the kitchen and glared at Connor.
"What's taking you so long?" She asked.
"I can't get rid of this!" He stated, pointing at his hard-on and looking worried.
Abby couldn't stop the smirk from crossing her face.
"It's not funny Abby!" He pouted. "It won't go away!"
"Just . . . Think of something horrible." She giggled. "A T-Rex trying to eat you."
The baby monitor crackled to life with Sarah's voice talking softly to a waking Isabelle. Abby left Connor to make the tea and went upstairs.
By the time Abby had come back down holding a sleepy baby, Connor had brought out the drinks, his 'problem' seemingly forgotten.
"Hi Izzie." Becker said sweetly.
Isabelle didn't answer, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"She's still tired." Abby explained.
"Did Did!" Izzie whined.
"Did?" Sarah asked.
"She means Sid." Connor answered. "Those two love each other, she follows him everywhere."
Connor whistled and both Diictodons came skidding into the room, yapping and squeaking. Isabelle jumped around in Abby's arms and she put her on the floor. They all then watched on in awe as the little girl copied their sounds and began crawling around the room after them, Sid turning to nuzzle her from time to time.
"I don't actually think she knows they have different names, she likes them both but Nancy is kind of difficult to say." Abby added.
"What about Rex?" Asked Sarah.
"Oh, Rex and Izzie have an understanding, Rex stays out of Izzie's way and Izzie stays out of Rex's way. It freaks her out when he flies around." Connor explained.
"So are you guys here for a particular reason or is this just a social call?" Abby asked.
"Do we need a reason to come see our friends?" Asked Danny.
"You're here to see Isabelle aren't you?" She asked, smiling.
Sarah caved first.
"We haven't seen her in almost a week!"
"Yeah, well, we've been busy."
"We heard." Danny piped in.
Connor's face fell, the colour draining from it completely whereas Abby's turned red again.
"Breathe Connor breathe! I say good on yer son."
"Excuse me I just have to erm . . . " Connor mumbled, hurrying off to the bathroom.
"Danny! Leave him alone." Abby growled, running after Connor to check on him.
He was at the sink, splashing his face with cold water.
"You should just ignore them babe." She said softly, moving up behind him and putting her arms around his waist. "But Danny's right, you should be proud."
"P . . . p . . . proud?"
"Of making me come, you're rather good at it you know."
He turned around in her arms, a huge grin on his face.
"Yeah?"
"Oh Yeah!"
They were interrupted by a babbling Isabelle, who had followed them to the bathroom and was covered in chocolate, holding a half nibbled biscuit in one hand.
"Ok" Abby shouted. "Who gave the baby chocolate?"
Abby whisked her off the floor and took her into the living area.
"We don't have any chocolate." Sarah said.
"I think I know what happened." Connor called from the kitchen.
Rex was sitting on the worktop munching his way through a packet of chocolate digestives. Connor watched in amazement as the lizard lifted one in his mouth and dropped it on the floor for Sid and Nancy. Everyone came in to see.
"Awww, he's sharing." Connor said.
"Rex! Your not supposed to eat biscuits they're bad for you!" Abby scolded.
Connor turned around, chuckling at the state of a chocolate covered Isabelle.
"Come on you." He cooed, plucking her from Abby's arms. "Let's get you cleaned up."
"Thanks Conn." Abby smiled.
"She might like a little chocolate syrup in her next bottle." Connor suggested jokingly.
******************
Connor was running through the Arc. The sirens were blaring, red lights flashing all around and the bright lights overhead flickered. A man's voice warned of a creature incursion over the tannoy and Connor felt sick.
He shouldn't have left her, why had he left her? He'd just popped out of his lab for a moment leaving Isabelle playing happily with her favourite toy in her playpen. He wondered where Abby was, maybe she had got to their daughter and had taken her out of the building, moving her to safety. The alternative was unthinkable.
Two future predators had sprung lose and were currently on a killing spree around the building. One was a juvenile, the other they assumed was it's mother.
"Izzie!" He called desperately as he neared his lab.
"Connor!"
He bumped into Abby just outside the door. She was clutching a gun - it was an actual gun and not the tranquilizer gun Abby favoured. When it came to her child Abby was fiercely protective.
"You left her?" She asked incredulously.
"Only for a second! I was just down the hall."
A terrible snarling sound came from inside the room and they looked at one another in horror.
Things had been strange at first at Abby and Connor's flat. Making the move from young couple to family had been sudden and surprising but far from unpleasant. Isabelle was a sweet, well behaved and mild mannered child who rarely cried. They had discovered over the last three months that she was indeed as Connor had said, very smart. She seemed to pick things up quickly, her speech was very good for someone so young and she was already trying her hardest to walk.
She liked Connor to explain everything he was doing, even when his explanations involved words Abby didn't understand. He'd shown her how to make an anomaly detector and she had watched him the whole time with a huge smile on her face. Abby suspected she just loved to hear Connor's voice and be the centre of his attention, she was a total Daddy's girl.
After a couple of weeks at home getting used to being a family, Connor and Abby had returned to work taking Izzie with them. There were no shortage of volunteers to take care of her when they got called to an anomaly. Everyone loved the little girl.
Abby pushed the door open to a horrible sight. The future predators had gone straight for the easy target, a poor defenceless baby. The youngest creature was stood in the corner watching it's parent, learning from the kill. The adult future predator hunched over the playpen, ready to finish the hunt it had started.
"Daddy!" Isabelle cried. "Mummy Daddy!"
"Get away from her!" Connor shouted, throwing anything and everything he could find at the creature.
It turned around and growled at him but was not to be distracted from it's task. Abby shot it in the back and it yelped. Izzie screamed and Connor war frantic, forgetting his own safety and running for the little girl.
The bullet hadn't been enough to deter the animal and it lunged at Connor as he went to pick Isabelle up. Abby shot it again and again and again as she sobbed until the predator fell to the floor. The younger creature snarled and growled at her but she aimed her gun at it.
"Touch my baby and you'll wish you were as dead!" She ground out.
Connor lifted the sobbing Isabelle from her playpen and pulled her to him, rocking her as he cried himself.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart, I'll never leave you again I promise."
He heard the other creature growl again and then jumped at the sound of Abby's weapon firing several more times, clutching the baby closer.
Abby dropped the empty gun and ran to Connor and Izzie just as the reinforcements arrived. She hit Connor repeatedly as tears ran down her face.
"You stupid, stupid man, how could you be so stupid?" She cried.
He stood and took the blows, feeling he deserved far worse.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He said over and over.
"Mummy no!" Izzie said, confused by her mother's actions. "No!"
She scrunched her nose up, looking angry.
"It's ok." Connor soothed, trying to convince himself and Abby as much as he was Isabelle. "It's ok now, everything's ok."
Abby's anger deflated and she held on to Connor and Isabelle. Becker came in and lifted the little one from their arms carefully, taking her away to cheer her up while her parents consoled one another.
"I should never have left her Abby, I'm so sorry."
She looked up at him, he was a mess with bloodshot eyes and tear stained cheeks. She had no doubt that she was in a similar state.
"You weren't to know that there were future predators on the premises Connor."
"I still shouldn't have left her."
"No, you shouldn't." She agreed.
"If anything had happened then I don't know . . . "
"Nothing did happen Connor, try not to think about the what-if's."
But it was difficult not to, for both of them.
"We should go see her, make sure she's ok."
Abby nodded in agreement.
"I think I freaked her out when I hit you." She whispered. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok."
He wished she'd hit him harder.
They both walked together to the infirmary where Becker had taken Isabelle to get her checked out. As the adrenaline rush wore off, they both began to feel completely exhausted and miserable.
"Mummy Daddy!" Isabelle called excitedly as they entered the room.
"Hi baby." Connor greeted, walking up to her and smiling.
Abby followed and they both fussed her.
"Bad dog!" She said crossly.
They chuckled.
"It was a future predator Izzie." Connor explained. "Very bad."
She nodded.
"Yep." She agreed. "Raff?"
Connor pulled the little stuffed giraffe from his pocket, he'd grabbed it from her playpen before they left his lab.
Isabelle took it, clutching it to her chest and babbling nonsensically to it the way she always did. It was like her little friend and she had to take it everywhere.
Abby and Connor got checked out themselves by the medical staff, Connor having a small scratch on his arm from the future predator. After all receiving a clean bill of health, they left the Arc and journeyed home to the relative safety of their flat.
Once there they fed Izzie, Abby taking her for her bath and then putting her to bed. When she was sleeping and the flat was silent, Connor and Abby had nothing to say to one another. After the day's events they both felt terrible. Abby blamed Connor for what happened, despite trying hard not to, and Connor blamed himself. They went to bed and for the first time since their relationship began, instead of cuddling up, they turned away from each other, Abby crying silently into her pillow.