Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
A/N: story takes place after Detour.
10.3 Flight
…in time…
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Pounding on the SUV door startled Becker. The soldier looked out the open window at Connor. The scientist's dark brown eyes were twinkling and a grin lit up his face.
"Scoot over mate," demanded Connor.
"What for?" asked Becker. "You're not driving the SUV back to the ARC."
"Course not, it's Wednesday," replied Connor. "My turn watching Sarah."
Becker shook his head in confusion, but before he could ask Connor what he meant, Abby pulled up next to the SUV in the mini. The birth of the Temples first child had resulted in some changes in field team assignments. Lester was very insistent that both parents could not be on an active anomaly site at the same time.
"What are you doing here?" asked Becker as Abby parked the car.
Abby's assistant, had joined Connor and Becker on this alert, while Abby had stayed at the ARC tending to her other duties. Inside the car, Becker could see little Sarah. The child was buckled securely in the car seat in the center back of the car. A black lumpy bundle was on the seat beside her.
"Lester said Jess would never let him live it down," responded Abby with a cheeky grin "if he couldn't get you to Australia in time for the wedding."
The petite blonde reached into the back seat and pulled out Becker's black duffle bag. Connor thumped the side of the SUV door again.
"Now scoot over," repeated Connor. "Abby's driving."
"I can drive," replied Becker.
"Obviously you've never seen Abby on the motorway," responded Connor. "She'll be faster."
Becker moved to the passenger side of the bench seat while the pair kissed goodbye. Abby climbed into the SUV and turned the ignition. Meanwhile Connor took the SUV to the delighted squeals of the child inside. With a cheerful toot of the horn Connor turned the car around towards London. Abby pulled the SUV out of the car park and headed the other direction.
"What? Where are you going?" asked Becker. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder to watch Connor and Sarah disappear down the motorway. "Heathrow's that way!"
"Lester pulled some strings," replied Abby. She floored the accelerator. "I'm taking you to Brize Norton."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
By the time Abby pulled up to the entrance of the RAF airbase Becker had already received a text message from Jess.
"Good morning. Happy Thursday! You should be airborne now. Texting you in case the pilot hasn't set the all clear for phone usage. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Fly safely."
Abby handed the gate guard some papers from Lester. Becker was busy typing a response to Jess's text and didn't pay any attention to their conversation. As the gate guard waved Abby and Becker on, Becker's cell phone started to ring.
"Hil," asked Jess, "what happened? What's wrong? Did Lieutenant Ackles take a turn for the worse? Did someone get hurt? Why aren't you on the plane?"
"Calm down," soothed Becker. "No one's hurt. We just had an anomaly alert… and it lasted…"
"And you missed your flight," concluded Jess.
Becker heard the disappointment in her voice.
"Don't worry," continued the Captain. "Lester's arranged another flight."
Becker heard a moment's silence on the cell phone.
"When does this other flight leave London?" asked Jess finally.
Abby pulled the ARCs SUV up near a chain link fence separating the road from the runway. A dark gray jet was sitting on the tarmac. The whining sound of engines warming up could be heard in the night air.
"Looks like we're leaving soon," answered Becker. He grabbed his duffle bag and climbed out of the SUV.
"Take the papers," insisted Abby.
The blonde held Lester's papers out towards the soldier. Becker tried to juggle his bag and the cell phone, talking to Jess all the while.
"I'll text you as soon as I know the flight arrival time," promised the soldier as he took the papers from Abby.
The blonde made a shooing motion with her hands. Becker nodded and turned to face the runway. The Captain saw the RAF officer beckoning him. Becker hurried forward.
"What have you got planned today?" asked Becker.
"Wedding stuff this morning, folding napkins and setting up lights in the reception area," answered Jess, "but this afternoon we're going to a sculpture exhibition. Kate says we can't miss the coastal walk at Bondi and the sculpture is just an added bonus!"
Becker chuckled at Jess's enthusiasm.
"Sounds like more fun than your park ride," he replied.
"The trail ride at Centennial Park was amazing," responded Jess. "Not at all what I was thinking of when Kate and Gillian first said trail ride in a city park. I wish you could be here for all the fun stuff!"
"I'll be there for the important stuff," said Becker as he started up the steps to the plane. "Have fun."
Becker snapped the phone shut as he ducked his head to enter the seating compartment. There was only one other person in the passenger area of the plane. The sharp nosed man looked up from his papers at Becker.
"It's about time you got here," harrumphed the man.
Becker stared. The man looked somewhat familiar, but Becker couldn't place him at first. The man reached a hand to his opposite wrist to adjust his cufflinks and spoke again.
"Sit," ordered the man.
The man gestured to the empty seat opposite him. Becker sank into the deep blue cushions as he stared at Lester's brother. Becker had never met the man, having missed the holiday party the previous year, but he remembered Connor's incredulous description.
"He out Lester's Lester!"
"James thinks very highly of you," continued Lester's brother. "We don't hold her majesties flights for just anyone."
Becker nodded.
"Don't let it go to your head," sniffed the man as the engines whine turned into a roar. "And do buckle up. Health and safety!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x
