AN: sorry for the delay! I'll hopefulyl update this and the other fics more often... ^^'' thanks for reviews, favorites, and follows, guys! :3 I'm glad you're enjoying this!

Connor was strangely quiet when Abby returned, and he brushed off all of her questions with short, abrupt answers. She was puzzled, and a little hurt by his sudden change in attitude.

"Conn..."

"Look, c'n you just go? Please? I'm... I'm tired, yeah?" He said, trying to keep his tone even. He wasn't mad at her... he wasn't sure what he was feeling.

Abby huffed, eyes narrowing, and she put her hands on her hips.

"Please, Abbs?" He cut off her sharp retort before she could do more than open her mouth.

"Fine. I'll be back tomorrow." He almost protested, "no 'but's, you have no other way of getting back to your dorm room, Connor." Abby said, her tone clearly no-nonsense. He nodded. He was feeling tired, he hadn't been completely lying. But he wanted to be alone, to suss his chaotic thoughts out.

Abby rolled her eyes, and left.

Connor slumped down onto the pillows with a sigh, wincing as his side twinged. He wished he'd stayed away... but now that he knew, somewhat, what was going on, he really couldn't stay away. He had challenged Stephen, saying the only way he'd keep him from this was locking him up. Would Stephen really get someone to lock him up if he tried to interfere again?

It wasn't fair! Professor Cutter and Stephen wouldn't even give him a chance to explain why he was interested. Stephen had said he was too immature for this. But that wasn't true! Sure, he was clumsy, and he hadn't followed their directions; but...

There were prehistoric creatures appearing in the present time! This was the most amazing thing that had ever happened! He wanted to know... he was studying paleontology, for crying out loud! What better opportunity than this? Sure, it was dangerous, and he'd been absolutely terrified when the archosaur was attacking them.

That didn't mean he was willing to pretend it didn't happen.

Connor blinked, suddenly exhausted, and yawned. A few moments later, he was fast asleep.

Connor woke up suddenly and all at once, heart racing, eyes wide. His hands fisted in the sheets. His side burned with sharp pain as he sat up in bed, and he let out a little gasp, eyes closing.

"It's not real, it's not real. I'm in 'ospital, there's no dinosaur in me room." He muttered, forcing his breathing and heartrate to even out. Connor took a deep breath and let it out slowly, letting his eyes flutter open again.

"Okay." Connor muttered. Glancing at the clock on the table by the bed, he tried to figure out how long he'd been asleep for. It was 3 in the afternoon, so he was reasonably sure that it was the same day, and reasonably sure he'd only been asleep for an hour or two. He swung his legs out of bed, and gasped at the pain. But there was a sort of emergency, and he shook it off and got to his feet anyway, biting his lip. He frowned at the wires, and resigned himself to dragging the IV pole along with him.

"And this is why Abby suggested someone check up on you."

Connor didn't even bother to react, beyond leaning on the iv pole a little, though he was definitely startled, He glanced behind him at Stephen, standing near the door.

"Would you stop that?" Connor snapped.

"Stop what?" At Stephen's glib reply, Connor shook his head and went back to attempting to get to the loo. It wasn't too far away...

"Connor."

"Hm?" Connor made a noncommittal noise in his throat, struggling to focus on walking in a straight line and not falling on his face.

"At least let me help, Connor." Stephen Hart said, sounding exasperated.

"No thanks." He told the older man, shaking his head. Despite that, he didn't fight with him when Stephen assisted him the rest of the way to the loo that was attached to the hospital room.

After he was done, he found himself leaning more heavily on the other man as they walked back to the bed, silently cursing his injuries. He'd rather like to be able to walk to and from the gent's on his own!

"I feel like a child." Connor grumbled at Stephen, frowning at the sheets that were pulled back over legs and chest. He moved his arms on top of the sheets, fingers creasing the fabric.

"Well, if you insist on acting like one..."

"I am not! I jus' prefer ta do things on me own! What're you even doing 'ere, Stephen?! I would'a thought you'd be 'appy with having th' last word this mornin'."

Stephen sighed, running a hand over his face. "I am sorry, Connor. But you've got to understand - me 'n Cutter, our job is dangerous. People die, and it's not pretty."

"I know. I mean, obviously not exactly as you know 'n all, but I c'n wager a guess wha' it's like..."

"Con-"

"Now, 'old on. I just want to help, Stephen. That's all."