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A/N: This chapter's a bit longer than previous! Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Follow Me Down
"If I fall along the way
Pick me up and dust me off
And if I get too tired to make it
Be my breath so I can walk"
-"Bent" by Matchbox 20
Connor glanced at Jess sleeping on the ground of the cave between the small fire and the cave wall.
It was the end of day four.
Still no anomaly.
Connor had been turning Jess's suggestion to look for temporary residence in a nearby town over in his mind. It sounded like a better idea than living in a cave, but he kept finding reasons not to act on it.
If they left the general area, the anomaly could reopen and they'd miss their chance to go home.
They might disrupt history or something by mingling with populace of this time.
Connor wanted to get back so that he could sort things out with Abby. They'd had a row before the anomaly call had come in. She was cross with him because of the work he was doing for Phillip.
Connor was trying to create something to help keep everyone safe; but he couldn't tell Abby what because Phillip had told him to keep it confidential in case the project had mishaps.
Abby didn't want to hear it and kicked Connor out of their bedroom at Jess's flat and he spent the night on the sofa.
Unfortunately, there was nothing Connor could do if he was stuck hundreds of years in the past. He stood up and placed the EMD near Jess, before heading outside the cave.
Abby reclined slightly in the passenger seat of the truck, with sunglasses on and her eyes closed.
She, Becker, and Matt had left the hotel in the early hours of the morning. Abby assumed that it was because of her failed attempt to lift the keys late last night. Turned out that what she thought were keys glistening in the moonlight were actually dog-tags, she assumed were from Matt's days in the army.
Abby had fallen asleep crying. She felt horrible for having fought with Connor the other night. Now, they were driving back to the ARC to break the bad news to Lester.
Her eyes were still burning a bit from crying and the lack of sleep. She was half-asleep right now, so she assumed that Becker and Matt would leave her to her thoughts for the rest of the drive.
"Are you sure you don't want anyone to take over driving for a bit, Anderson?" Becker questioned from the back seat.
"I'm fine, Becker." Matt replied. "Thanks for your concern, but we'll be there within the next hour or so depending on traffic."
"The concern wasn't for you." Becker retorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Matt asked glancing in the rearview mirror.
"You're exhausted. The last thing Lester needs to deal with is finding out that the other 3/5 of the main response team was killed in a wreck because you couldn't swallow your pride and hand over the keys." Becker pointed out.
"We're not going to wreck and we'll all make it back to the ARC in one piece." Matt argued.
Becker glared at Matt.
"Look mate, why don't you just sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride. Take a nap or something, like Abby."
Abby involuntarily twitched at the mention of her name, but ignored it, hoping they either didn't notice it, or they would continue to assume she was still asleep.
Connor returned sometime in the early hours of the morning, while it was still dark.
He was carrying some clothes and a rucksack with him.
He peered into the cave to find Jess gone. The EMD, however, was still there.
"Jess?" He asked cautiously, standing by the cave entrance.
It was a good thing that he'd forced his mind to go back to how he'd trained it in the Cretaceous. He heard a small noise behind him. Connor dropped the clothes away from the dying fire and spun around to catch whoever was trying to attack him.
Just as he turned around, he caught a glimpse of an arm flying towards his head. Connor quickly caught the arm and spun the attacker, so he had their arm wrapped across their chest; their back against his chest.
As she struggled against him, Connor realized who it was. She had gotten much better over the past couple of days.
"Jess? Jess, what are you doing?" He asked spinning her around to face him.
"Practicing what you taught me, Connor."
"I've got something to share with you." Connor spoke, letting go of her as he bent down to pick up the clothes.
"What? Did you find the anomaly?" Jess asked excitedly.
Connor winced. "Not quite."
"How would you, like to play dress-up?" Connor grinned holding up a pale, rose colored dress with strings lining the torso like an early version of a corset.
Jess made a face. "You're kidding, right?"
The grin disappeared from Connor's face, replaced with a serious look.
"I—I thought about what you said, living in a nearby town as opposed to living here in a cave until we find a way home."
Jess sighed. "Connor, you know we can't leave here. Like you said, we need to stay near the anomaly site."
"I know what I said, but I came across a pair of hunters last night when I was gathering dinner and firewood. The last thing we need right now is to have to deal with being apprehended and accused of witchcraft or something."
Jess wanted to argue, but a part of her wanted to agree with Connor.
They were stuck here until an anomaly came, if an anomaly came. But Connor did have a point, them getting caught living in the forest would probably not end well.
They'd been stuck here for four days already, but there was still the possibility of the anomaly reopening.
"What if an anomaly opens?"
"Then we're going through it."
"But how will we know?" Jess asked.
"I'll do nightly walks to the anomaly site." Connor stated.
"From the village?" Jess asked skeptically.
"Yes."
He wanted Jess to be happy, but living in a cave in the middle of the woods, with people hunting nearby would eventually cause them unnecessary problems. Besides, Jess was the first person to suggest what he was now trying to put into action.
"I don't know, Connor. There are so many pros and cons."
"No time like the present." Connor smiled.
"We're in the past."
"Minor technicality. But what's happening to us here, now. This is the present."
Jess sighed. "We have no money, nothing to barter with."
Connor tried to ignore his words being repeated to him.
"I'll find work, something to that'll help out with expenses."
"Connor, it's fine,—staying here. I'm getting better at the combat training and—"
"Jess," Connor cut her off, placing his hands on her shoulders. "We will make it home; but we can't stay here."
Jess met Connor's gaze. "Are you losing hope?"
"Of course not, I'm one of the most optimistic people you'll ever meet."
Jess couldn't help but return Connor's smile. "Promise one thing though."
"Anything," Connor promised.
"If—if it doesn't work out—living in the village or town. We have a back up plan to return here and become hermits?"
Connor laughed. "At least until the anomaly returns."
Abby, Becker, and Matt arrived back at the ARC and walked slowly towards Lester's office, each hoping that Burton was nowhere in the building.
None of them had turned their black boxes on since they'd shut them off at the castle, they had other things on their minds; like explained the disappearances of Connor and Jess.
They entered Lester's office and shut the door tightly behind them.
Burton was not there. So far, so good.
"Ah, I see everyone's returned after your venture to the countryside." Lester said before glancing up from his paperwork.
No one answered him.
"How was Jess's first anomaly mission?" Lester asked looking up.
Becker cringed inwardly at the mention of someone else he'd failed to protect.
Abby swallowed a lump in her throat.
Matt kept his façade up and retained eye contact with Lester.
Lester counted the three of them.
"Well this is a turn out, when you left; I could count all of you on my hand. Now, there are only three of you. Anyone care to explain?"
"There was an unforeseen mishap at the anomaly site." Becker began.
"A mishap?" Lester raised an eyebrow.
Abby tried her hand at an explanation. "Connor and Jess—"
"They've gone through an anomaly, haven't they?" Lester asked dryly, crossing his arms.
"It's my fault, James." Matt interjected.
"No, it was mine. I should have kept a better watch." Becker chimed in.
"If anyone's to blame, it's me." Abby added.
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