Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

8.1 The Holiday Party

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Some guests were mingling around the punch bowl at the Lester's annual holiday party. Others were hanging out at the buffet table. Still others were wandering around the rooms and some were even outside on the garden patio. Abby was leaning against the wall, searching the room. Where was Connor?

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Abby wasn't drinking, they were trying to get pregnant after all. But she had enjoyed the small plate of tasty treats from the buffet table. When she had mentioned that the crab rangoon was especially good, Connor had got a small smile on his face.

"Are you craving the crab rangoon?" he'd asked "I'll be glad to get you some more."

Abby had dashed his hopes when she told him what the doctor had said during her physical earlier that day.

"I'm not pregnant Connor," she told him "another false alarm, but I would like some more of the crab rangoon if you don't mind."

Connor had left her to get some more of the tasty hors d'oeuvres, but she couldn't see him at the buffet table. He should have been back by now.

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"Abby," hissed Jenny from across the room.

"What?" asked Abby.

"Need you to come outside," answered Jenny gesturing at the door to the garden patio "Connor's a bit pissed… he's arguing with Lester."

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Abby stepped outside into the chill December air in time to hear Connor's words to Lester.

"I won't go," said Connor slurring his words "ish too much travel."

"Has Connor been drinking?" Abby asked Jenny.

Jenny pointed to the patio table. An open decanter of whisky and a pair of tumblers answered Abby's question. "They both have been drinking," said Jenny.

Abby shivered. She didn't like dealing with men who had been drinking, but this was Connor and Lester. She knew they would never hurt her. She stepped forward to wrap her arms around Connor's waist.

"Connor," she asked "what's the matter?"

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"Abby," said Connor his face turning towards her, a smile starting across his face. "I'm so glad to be back… Buenos Aires was nice, but you weren't there… missed you Abby."

"I missed you too Connor," replied Abby as she felt his body sway against her.

Had Connor eaten any of the hors d'oeuvres she wondered. They had come directly from the airport to the party. Connor was jet lagged and hungry, but wanted to see all their friends for just a bit before they went home. He didn't drink often.

"How much have you had to drink Connor," she asked him.

Surprisingly, it was Mrs. Lester who answered.

"They've only had one glass each," she said with a stern look at her husband "but it appears to have been quite enough."

The woman reached a hand down to the table. Long slender fingers picked up the stopper and slid it into the decanter. "There's a guest room next to the library," Mrs Lester suggested "maybe he would feel better with a bit of a lie down before dinner."

"I'm not going Lester," said Connor belligerently. "Sydney ish too far…"

"Sydney?" exclaimed Abby turning to look at James Lester "He's only just got back to London, surely the International ARC can do without him for a bit!"

"Really Abby," said Lester with a tone as if he was explaining something to a child "policy decisions are not your…"

"We're trying to have a baby," said Abby "it would be nice if my husband was home some… yeah."

Mrs. Lester turned her head at Abby's words. "What?"

"Been trying for a year now," continued Abby angrily "do you have any idea how often the bloody International ARC has sent him out of the country?"

Connor swayed against Abby's side. "Abby," he asked, his brown eyes worried, "are you angry?"

"Yeah Connor," she said glaring at the Lesters, "but not at you."

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"James," said Mrs. Lester quietly "I'm sure the team from Sydney can wait. Don't you agree?"

Lester didn't seem to agree. And Mrs. Lester didn't seem to think that was the proper response. Future generations and the International ARC all seemed to need something from Connor, but Abby wasn't interested in hearing about it tonight. She turned to Jenny.

"Where's the guest room," Abby asked.

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Connor's eyes closed as soon as his head hit the pillow. Abby started to untie his boots.

"Do you need a hand," asked Jenny from where she stood leaning against the doorway. Abby shook her head.

"No, I'm fine," she answered with a smile.

Jenny said, "I've never seen Connor drunk."

"Well," huffed Abby as she pulled the first boot off Connor's foot, "whisky on an empty stomach… and he was already tired… we should have just gone home… I've only seen him like this once before…"

"Really," said Jenny "when?"

"Oh, years ago," replied Abby as she started to untie the second boot "when he was dating Caroline… she brought him home from the theater once… totally pissed."

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"Excuse me," said a small voice.

Jenny hurriedly stepped forward into the room, turning to see the person speaking. A young girl stood holding a plate of sandwiches. It was the Lester's youngest daughter.

"Mum thought you might like something to eat," she said.

Mrs. Lester appeared behind her daughter, "And you should stay the night," she said "get some rest... go home in the morning." The woman put her hand on her daughter's shoulder and smiled gently. Then she looked at Abby again.

"Work shouldn't interfere with your family," she said.

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