Hello. Well, once more I have a chapter, though again it was a little hard to write. I blame the lack of Becker (sorry guys) in it. Still, some action, arguments and lives in the brink... Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or Primevel or Primevil or Primevol or Primevul.


Banks was just putting on his jacket when Cutter came into the locker room. The Professor stood there for a few seconds just watching the other man, arms folded, leaning in the doorway, waiting to be noticed. When he was noticed, the Sergeant jumped, then sighed heavily.

"If this is about Rex, then I made sure he had water and it's hardly like it's anything he hasn't done before." Silence. "And if it's about giving Becker a chance, then he's hardly been the inspiration leader promised and he wasn't what I expected when I selected him. He was starting to settle in too much and in this job you can't relax, because that's when mistakes are made and it's hardly as if there's a... I'm sensing something else is nagging you."

Banks paused, but Cutter didn't respond. This was unnerving for the Sergeant, who rethought his last comment. He didn't pretend to be able to read the Professor; he wasn't sure anyone could. Maybe he was just waiting for Sergeant to ramble his way to the point. Well, Cutter may be happy to lie on his back for an afternoon in his lab just thinking, but Banks was never inclined to such patience.

"Look, whatever it is, can't you just tell me?" he asked, anger rising. Silence. Banks breathed in deeply. "Ok, throw me some kind of clue then!" Cutter blinked. "Oh, for goodness' sake..."

Banks grabbed his bag and went to leave.

"Rex is ill," said Cutter suddenly, very little emotion in his voice.

Three words and it sent Banks' mind into overdrive. No doubt he would be blamed, but frankly, it wasn't his fault. You don't get ill get from a couple of hours in an air-conditioned office. Did you? Banks didn't honestly know, although he was certain in his conviction that you can't. Even if it was true though, Abby wouldn't see it like that. Someone had distressed her precious lizard and there'd be hell to pay for it.

Just don't admit responsibility for it. They're just angry 'cos he was the last to disturb the creature.

"Well call a vet," he said vaguely. Frost settled on room. Cutter's mouth twitched from its straight line. "Ok, sorry I took Rex, especially if he's ill now, but I highly doubt he wouldn't be ill if I hadn't borrowed him." Cutter didn't move. "Look, I can't help you. I'll check in Monday, but I'm..."

"Becker's collapsed."

This silence stretched out longer. Banks' knees went to jelly as he slumped forcefully onto the bench. It didn't take a genius to work out the connection. Already, Banks' world was fracturing and he was sure it was only going to crack some more. He placed his head on his hands.

"Shit," he whispered. He felt his breath quickening, before looking up sharply. "But surely it's too soon for symptoms to be showing if he'd caught it from Rex?" He desperately wanted Cutter to see this.

Cutter straightened, but didn't unfold himself. "Abby swears that Rex was fine and healthy this morning. Whatever it is, and nobody knows, it comes on fast. Now, I would have agreed with you if the medics had been able to identify it, but as it is, they haven't yet, so the doctor's saying either Rex or that Eotyrannus we met the other day and given what that one had done to that horse, I'd say it was in perfect shape. You, of all people, should know you can't muck around with the creatures. You just said Becker was getting too settled; well, what about you?"

"Rex is an exception. He's... domesticated."

"So he's safe?"

"Yes!"

"Really?" Cutter raised his voice, just slightly. Just enough. "'Cos Becker is currently foaming at the mouth, unconscious, heart racing faster than F1 car, muscles spasming so badly the doctor can't hardly get close to him and he's paler than chalk. That's safe?"

Banks gulped as Cutter listed the symptoms. He knew it was his fault, deep down. But he could hardly help it before he was on the defensive.

"Abby would've taken him home! How's that better?"

"She knows what to look for, would've noticed the second Rex acted out of sorts and knows the quarantine procedure. You put Becker in danger."

"Danger is part of this job. And it's time Becker faced a little."

"He threw himself into direct line of attack!" Cutter was starting to go red. "He was literally underneath a dinosaur and you're accusing him of playing safe!? He's done the bravery part, but Heaven forbid you recognise that 'cos then you'd have to accept that he could lead you."

At that moment, Banks was saved from further wrath by Connor and Lyons, running up to him. Lyons drew up as he saw the mood Cutter was in, and who he was talking to, but Connor suffered no such observations and ploughed straight on.

"The doctor wants to speak with you and Abby thinks Rex is fully sedated now, so they're beginning testing."

Cutter pulled away from Banks, unfolding his arms and nodding sharply. He knew he'd be missed fairly quickly; if there was an emergency, he was the expert. But he couldn't resist searching out Banks, gauging his reaction.

Banks got up to follow and it was at this point Connor noticed him. The younger scientist relaxed his shoulders down, a serious expression falling over his face. This was almost worse than Cutter's, Banks found, because Connor so rarely showed proper disapproval.

Cutter stared at him a little longer before turning.

"Lyons, take him to Lester's office." Banks opened his mouth. "If he resists, then be prepared to fill out one of the special licenses later."

"Professor?" Lyons frowned, confused.

"Arrest him." Cutter turned to Banks, who was frozen to the spot. "If Becker dies, then it's industrial accident or manslaughter and I for one am not letting Rex take the wrap for this."


Rex lay still on the lab desk. Everyone around him were in white bio- suits, but even through the gloves, Abby was able to stroke the small creature. It was more to comfort her, she knew, as Rex was under deep sedation. It was, everyone agreed, the best way to examine Rex. They'd seen his physical symptoms, but now they needed to go deeper.

One of the biologists the ARC employed was busy extracting a small phial of blood from just under the wing, where Abby said it was safe. This would go to the lab, be compared to previous samples (which Abby now admitted were necessary) and hopefully, the offending microbe could be picked out.

From that all they had to do was create a cure. Easy.

Abby was definitely uneasy though. She felt so helpless as the biologists linked her pet up to a few monitoring systems. She knew how to care for these creatures generally, knew how they should act, and whether they were ill, but she was no vet and certainly microbiologist. This was way out of her league.

Standing outside the door, Cutter and Connor watched as the grim-looking biologist scuttled off to their own lab. While Connor was filled with concern over the lizard and Captain, Cutter was busy running a few scenarios through his head, desperately trying to judge what else could be done and how he could help.

They all knew the next task. They had to don those suits and check all the other dinosaurs for any abnormalities; any one of them could be carrying the pathogen. While there weren't many dinosaurs in captivity at the moment, a situation they had Leek to thank, there were still particularly large beasts to give a full audit to.

Just then the head doctor came up to the waiting Professor. He was a short, balding man, of unquestionable experience, but questionable taste in animal print glasses. He was carrying a clipboard and seemed engrossed in the results.

"Professor," he said upon seeing Cutter. "I must run a few of these results by you. The whole thing is a little...ah... beyond my usual remit." He shoved the clipboard underneath Cutter's nose. Cutter studied the charts and figures detailing the condition of Becker.

It took him about a minute for him to admit he didn't know what he was looking for, although he was pretty sure some of the graphs shouldn't be plummeting.

"This is the issue," the doctor volunteered. He took a pencil and circled a couple of numbers. "His heart is still pumping too fast and the stress on his body is causing his blood pressure to soar well above a safe range. His veins simply won't be able to take it."

"You think they're going to burst?"

"Yes. But it's more than that. It's what causing his heart rate to skyline. His body is producing an inordinate amount of adrenaline. This isn't a reflex thing, it's usual for the human body to do this, so it's a definite by-product of whatever's going on."

Cutter frowned. "Is there something I can help you with?" The doctor took a breath in and out. Cutter knew that expression; he'd used it many times before when trying to explain something to someone who simply didn't understand. He now understood when people complained he missed important thought steps out.

"If it's a direct result of the pathogen, then it should be affecting Rex in a similar way. If there's an increase in his adrenaline levels, then we've successfully identified where the pathogen is targeting and can work our way back further to find it."

"Like a trail?"

"Yes."

"So you want me to test Rex for increased levels of adrenaline?" The doctor started a sentence, but Cutter continued. "The issue was that Rex wasn't as lively as normal. He would sometimes lie still."

"His muscles would've been spasming like nobody's business. This would tire them, make then achy I suppose you could say. During the variations, there would have been some low points and Rex took advantage of them."

"You mean we actually tired Rex out." Cutter smiled in spite of himself. Abby had come to join them now and was eagerly listening in to the conversation, helmet off.

"We'll test him, but doctor, how long do you think Becker has?"

"A day maybe. Ish. I do not know exactly how this will progress, though I dare say it can only get worse. I would appreciate it if you hurry."

Abby nodded and fastened her helmet back on. Cutter grabbed his suit. However, they'd barely set up to test Rex when the anomaly alarm went off. Cutter sighed, while Connor looked between Rex and the door and Abby froze, indecisive about whether to leave her ill charge. Cutter pulled out his phone.

"Jenny... yes I can hear the alarm; I'm not deaf... no, I didn't mean to be rude, but... just... sorry. Look, where is it?" Cutter listened for another few seconds before hanging up. "We're in luck." Abby shot him a look. "Well, more luck than we have been. It's only a block away."

"Right. Then go," Abby ordered. Cutter hesitated. "I'm not leaving to not be needed. If I am needed, then it's close enough for me to get there fast. But... I can't leave him. Not when he needs me the most."

Cutter knew there was going to be no argument with the young woman and left the room directly, followed by Connor, who knew he was leaving Rex in good, hen-peckish care.

So intent on stripping for the suits as fast as possible, Cutter went straight into Lester before he saw the civil servant. Lester sighed and picked himself off the floor, brushing off the imaginary bits of dirt which were never on the floor. Cutter scrambled up, using the opportunity to pull off his boots.

"Why is our security Sergeant being held in my office?"

"It was his prank that made Becker ill. I assumed you'd heard."

"Yes, but why my office?" persisted Lester. Cutter ignored him, but pushed past, now completely out the suit. "This is ruining everyone's weekend you know!" Lester called after him. The pair disappeared, leaving him alone.

Lester took a deep breath and continued to Abby's lab to stand in the doorway. Abby was adjusting a valve feeding Rex gas to keep him asleep, so she didn't immediately notice the new presence, though when she did she didn't really acknowledge it.

"You know, it's one thing letting your creatures get ill, but I must object to you get my Captain ill. Just as he was coming into his own as well." There was silence and Lester straightened. "How is he?"

"He's faltering a little, but at the moment... staying fairly strong." She looked up briefly. "Something wrong?"

"You mean apart from an unconscious Captain and sick creature?" Lester shook his head. "I'm missing Friday night TV."


They arrived at the site in less than five minutes, pulling up to a city office block. There was a rush of people exiting, though no-one seemed to have begun 'panicked run' yet; it was just a flurry of Friday night eagerness to get home. It was, after all, almost six now.

This changed as soon as the SUVs pulled up, with the armed men entering the building behind a shaggy haired blond man. Mainly stopped and stared, a few hurried away and one or two gulped. Cutter ploughed ahead and almost immediately came up against the building's own security. Jenny stepped forward.

"We have to get in. There's been a phone call detailing a bomb on the..."

"Seventh. Possibly," put in Connor staring at his device.

"...Seventh floor. We need you to evacuate the building."

"Are you having me on?" asked one of the burly men. Jenny produced her security badge and clicked her fingers and Lyons obligingly stepped forward. The man surveyed the uniformed man and, more importantly, his gun. The man leant back and pressed the fire alarm.

By the fourth floor, there was a little bit of alarm. People up to that point had been exiting as quickly as they could, but had remained ordered and chatty. By the sixth floor, they were beginning to run and there were a few screams heard. Cutter picked up his pace.

They entered the seventh floor to find an open office plan area being devastated by a dinosaur, thrashing at the blinking monitors and smashing the lights in the ceiling. Upon seeing the new arrivals it charged, directly away from the anomaly. At the last minute, Cutter and Connor split and the security retreated back down the staircase, too narrow for the dinosaur to follow.

"Connor!"

"Meat-eater!" Connor cried back, almost on reflex.

"Well, I can work that one out, thanks!" Cutter moved further to the sides as the dinosaur turned and surveyed the room for the prey it knew to be there. Connor struggled under and through a desk, emerging a little distance away.

However, the dinosaur didn't miss him and charged. Connor scrambled up and across the office, diving behind the water cooler as the dinosaur rushed past. Connor stood and felt a 'thump' to one side of his shoulder. A tranquiliser dart embedded itself in the wall beside him and he looked up sharply.

"Sorry!" came a disembodied shout from the other side. Connor had little time to be annoyed though as the dinosaur had managed to swing around again. He held his hat as he ran between eh maze of desks to the main walkway, which was already covered in debris. He turned sharply and headed for the stairs, imagining he could feel the dinosaur on the back of his neck.

He dived through the door, just being caught by the awaiting men there.

"Connor..."

"Wait there," he gasped and turned as fast as he could.

Just as he thought, the dinosaur was turning to, giving up on one prey and focussing on another. Cutter. It was already pushing away, roaring as noted a slight movement of the Professor; this was one skilled hunter Connor noted.

It came bearing down on Cutter with impressive speed, though hindered all the way by the office equipment. It was Cutter shuffled backwards, but he knew if he ran like Connor, he'd simply be chased and make the dinosaur move faster so that...

The dinosaur collapsed three feet away from him. Cutter breathed out and stood up to see Connor putting his gun down. Yes, he had every faith in the younger scientist. Yes, he knew that was foolhardy.

"Come on, let's get this creature to the ARC."

"How?" asked Sarah, coming up behind Connor. Cutter looked at her surprised. "The lift is tiny and there's no way that's going down the stairs as it's just discovered for us."

"Sarcosaurus," said Connor, out of the blue.

"I don't care what it's called, it's going to be one heck of a job," grumbled Lyons. "But," he turned to Sarah. "...we'll manage it. We always do. You are about to experience on of your first push-and-shove sessions. Although this time we don't have Abby shouting at us to be careful." Cutter coughed. "Not that we aren't," added the soldier hurriedly.


"Any improvements?" asked Lester as the doctor came back in. The man looked at the civil servant.

"You've been in here longer than I have. You decide." Lester sighed. Why did he have to employ the only doctor with no bedside manner? Then he remembered that he wasn't actually the one in the bed; he just felt he ought to be, sitting outside a clear, protective screen between him and Becker. "Your anomaly team are back again."

Lester checked his watch and blinked. "It's gone eleven o'clock! They've been gone over five hours? I thought it was only around the corner."

"Round the corner and up the stairs. Many of them from what I've heard."

"Oh no. Many of them was about half of the number we had to go down," corrected Cutter as he entered. "How are things going?"

"Rex had too much adrenaline, so that's narrowed the search. However, Becker's heart rate has dropped significantly in the past few hours so it's almost back to normal, though I doubt it'll stop there. The lab team are still comparing results, though they assure me we'll have an answer soon."

"Have fun?" asked Lester sleepily.

"We had to drag a nine foot dinosaur down six flights of stairs."

"Sounds like excellent team-building. I've been sat watching a man not do much. That's character building."

"We should call his home."

"I tried. His father was visiting his house."

"And?"

"He's not coming here."

"He refused."

"No, I did. Hardly the most rest-inducing man. I believe he'd tried to order Becker awake and be rather angry when it doesn't work."

Lester stood and stretched himself. He didn't quite know why he was sat over the body of a man who had only been here a week, but there was little else to do and no-one else seemed to want to do it. Most of security couldn't face Becker, even when unconscious; it felt like... their fault.

"What are your views on Becker?" Lester looked at Cutter, who stood thinking.

"I like him. And I think if Banks gave him a chance, he could be what we need."

"Mmm... Becker's not very... bossy, is he?"

"I like him," repeated Cutter, with a smile.

"Ah, that explains it," said Lester. Just then, Connor appeared at the doorway. "Any problems?" Connor thought, then shook his head, a little lost for words. "Ah, they've started manually lifting the dinosaur in. Someone ask for your muscular help?"

"Well, you know..." blushed Connor. The older pair shared a knowing look; they knew all too well. "Wanted to check on Becker."

"Well, consider him..." Cutter was interrupted by the arrival of Lyons, flushed, out of breath and looking very harassed. "Is there a problem?"

Lyons gulped. "How much tranquiliser did you give the dinosaur?"


Please review.

Big thanks to the reviews and concrit I had on the last chapter. Wish I could reply to the Anonymous 'Guest' to say completely take on board what you said and get where you're coming from. Just quick reply ; this isn't exactly the Becker from the show, but one I've continued on from 'If the Cap Fits', where his background explains why he is how he is, but should end up more like the show's Becker (just about); I wanted some scope for character progression. Thanks for your comments though, they're really appreciated, really helpful and I genuinely like getting concrit in all forms. =-)