A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. It's ridiculous how happy they make me. One of the anonymous review (hi by the way) asked what a doona was. A doona's another word for a quilt/thick blanket. My cousin mistakenly told me it's what they're called in England. He was wrong and has since been pushed through an anomaly. Just joking… maybe. Anyway, this is a long chapter so please please review. I beg you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did, Cutter would still be calling Jenny Claudia and Becker would be rolling his eyes at Danny. I seriously miss that guy after the finale. Whoops. Spoilers. Oh well. Sorry about that.
Chapter 7: Lay It All Out Like A Weather Map
Lester sat down heavily on his chair and ran a hand through his hair, "Why am I cursed with Mavericks?"
Matt opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. He'd just described how he'd harboured Emily and how she'd disappeared. Lester wasn't taking the news so well.
"I thought Cutter was bad. Quinn was a nightmare at times. And now I have you," Lester fixed with a death glare. "Do you all fell some perverse sense of pleasure at making me suffer?"
"No, I was trying to help," Matt explained defensively and pushed off the wall he was leaning on so he stood tall.
"Help?" Lester repeated disbelievingly. "How does hiding a time traveller help anyone?"
"She doesn't deserve to be locked up like an animal."
"You've taken to her, I see." Lester didn't make it a question. He could read people well, even the enigmatic man standing before him at times.
"I can sympathise," Matt corrected, folding his arms. "It can't be easy being so far from what she knows."
Lester sighed, "I swear this job is going to age me twenty years."
Matt bit back the sarcastic comment that was on the tip of his tongue. He'd worked to hard to get this job to jeopardise it with a careless comment.
"Where did you last see this woman?" Lester asked, obviously still angry with Matt.
"Her name is Emily," he supplied before adding, "Two days ago."
"Two days?" Lester asked, outraged. He stood up. "Do you realise how far she could've gotten in two days? She could be in China for all we know."
"She won't be."
"And what makes you so sure?"
"Because Ethan too her," Matt said simply and waited for Lester's tirade to reignite.
"So you're girlfriend got abducted? That's your story now?" Lester asked, his tone almost sardonic.
"Emily's not my girlfriend but yes, that's what I believed happened," Matt stood tall, his face impassive as Lester inspected it for any trace of insincerity.
Lester was silent for a moment, glaring furiously then relented. "What evidence is there to support that theory?"
"She was scared of him, really scared," Matt explained quickly, knowing how Lester would take it.
"She was scared?" Lester repeated. "That's what you're basing your theory on? God, I've hired an idiot," He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes as if that would remove the trouble Matt had caused.
"There was no other reason for her to leave," Matt elaborated on his reasoning.
"She couldn't possibly have gotten sick of your company," the sardonic man said mockingly.
Matt's eyes narrowed angrily. If he wasn't going to take this seriously… He was interrupted by Jess knocking and opening the door.
"Not now Jess," Lester snapped furiously, making the young woman jump coltishly.
"It's alright, Jess," Matt told her soothingly. He really hated seeing that expression of fear on her face; it was becoming all too common.
"Alright?" Lester exploded. "It's not bloody alright. I have two time travelling, anomaly hopping people God knows where and a team leader who appears to have forgotten his team!"
"I'm sorry," Jess said nervously. "It's just that they really need Matt at the anomaly. A creature's come through and they need to track it through a forest."
"Isn't that what Abby's for?" Lester asked, shaking his head as if it were obvious.
"There's a school group camping 8km away from the anomaly site," Jess explained quickly, knowing that Lester would comprehend the need for haste. Saving lives came before all else.
"Fine," Lester agreed reluctantly. "Go. But do not breathe a word of this to anyone. Especially Burton."
Matt nodded and followed Jess out the door. He nearly ran into her as she stopped and turned around. She handed him his earpiece and blackbox with a small smile. "Thanks, you really do think of everything don't you?"
"That's my job," She replied lightly, walking back to her station. "You might want to hurry. Lester looks like he's going to explode," She said, casting a look over her shoulder.
Matt turned to see Lester standing up, surveying the Opps room with a passive face that could rival his own. "See ya Jess," He walked out before Lester turned towards him.
"Bye." He heard her voice through the earpiece this time. "Okay guys," She said, addressing the team. "Matt's on his way. ETA 4O minutes."
"What's the situation, Becker?" Matt asked as he jogged down the corridor to the stairs.
"A rouge triceratops with anger management problems," Becker replied tautly. He sounded stressed and strained for breathe.
"So basically Lester on a bad day," Matt quipped as he got into the elevator. He heard Jess and someone else on the comm. system stifle a laugh.
"Not quite that bad," Connor replied. "But close. More like Becker."
"Be glad you're on the other side of the forest, Temple," Becker growled.
"Now now, Boys, play nice," Jess chided them like they were children. "You've got a job to do."
PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL.
Matt pulled up amidst the trees, tires of the 4WD squealing in protest. He grabbed the EMD from the passenger seat and jumped out, "What do we have?" He asked the soldier waiting for him. The soldier turned around and Matt mentally cursed. It was Merryweather.
Merryweather smirked at him, "Fancy seeing you here sir. No whiney girlfriend to take care of?"
Matt ignored the jibe, "Jess," He spoke into his earpiece. "Where's Becker?"
"Two hundred meters east of your position. There should be someone waiting for you there." He could almost here her frowning at the screen.
"There is," Matt answered, avoiding mentioning who it was. "I just wanna talk to Becker." He took off in the direction Jess had told him.
Abby and Becker looked up as Matt approached with Merryweather following him closely. "Took you long enough," Becker said dryly.
"Bad traffic," Matt replied in the same tone. "You found anything?"
"Two sets of tracks," Abby answered. "Can't tell if it's two creatures or one doubling back on itself. Connor's still at the anomaly site and says no others have come through."
"Right. We split up then," Becker declared, taking charge. "Abby you take Merryweather and take the left tracks. Matt and I'll take the right."
"No," Matt interrupted, overriding Becker's orders. He didn't want Merryweather anywhere near Abby if he could help it. Not after what he did to Jess. "Merryweather's with me. Abby's more likely to talk you out of shooting it." He came up with the excuse on the spot and knew it was weak.
Becker gave him a strange look before rolling his eyes. He was used to Matt's erratic behaviour. "Come on Abby," He started following the tracks, careful not to disturb them.
Abby gave Matt a piercing look, "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Matt lied, "Just don't want Becker shooting up everything he sees. He listens to you more than he does to me."
"Right," Abby said disbelievingly before following Becker. As soon as she'd caught up to him, they both took off at a steady jog.
Merryweather clapped Matt on the shoulder, "Looks like it's just you and me mate. Shall we compare notes? I mean I didn't get a good feel but you-"
Matt grabbed him by the neck and threw up against a tall pine tree. "You. Shut. Your. Mouth."
"Matt?" Jess's voice sounded in his ear. "What's going on?"
Matt reached up and removed his earpiece, glowering at Merryweather. "You're uncle might protect you in the city but out here, you're just another animal."
"You can't touch me. You'll be fired."
Matt faltered slightly but saw the bravado in Merryweather's eyes flicker. Matt smirked, "Maybe. Not if they can't find a body. Who knows what could happen to someone who gets taken by a triceratops. That horn of theirs looks pretty pointy to me."
"Let go of me!" Merryweather screamed, loosing all sense of bravery.
"Why? You didn't show any mercy to her?" Matt tightened his grip, adrenalin coursing through his veins.
Suddenly someone ripped him off Merryweather, "What the hell is going on here? Jess said she lost contact with you." Becker demanded, still holding Matt back.
"Get off me," Matt pulled away. "We had a disagreement."
"Looks like it," Abby commented, seeing the red marks on Merryweather's neck.
"He attacked me," Merryweather wheezed, pointing an accusing finger at Matt.
"He hit me first," Matt lied, thinking quickly on his feet. This was an opportunity to get rid of Merryweather without Jess having to say anything. "I lost my earpiece and fought back."
"You lying son of a bitch!" Merryweather shouted, lunging for him. "That's a lie." Abby caught his arms and pulled him so he lost his balance, landing on the ground.
"We'll sort this out later," Becker shook his head at them. He didn't know who to believe. "We'll stick together for now. Those tracks lead back here anyway. Merryweather, you're point. Anderson, rear." He ordered, pointing to the respective men.
Matt slipped his earpiece back on, "Jess? I'm fine." He said as soon as he heard the connection establish.
"What happened?" She asked. He could tell from her slightly disapproving tone that she'd guessed correctly. A loud roar filled the air, making everyone turn to look for the source.
"I'll fill you in later," Matt said, spotting movement in the trees ahead.
"Okay," She agreed quickly. "Do you want any back up?"
"That would be good Jess, thanks," Becker said appreciatively.
Abby charged her EMD, "How big do you think it is?"
"Too damn big," Merryweather said, raising his EMD. "I don't see why we have to use toy guns."
Matt ignored the comment, creeping slowly towards the bleating triceratops. As soon as he was in range, he fired and the huge creature convulsed and fell to the ground.
"What were you saying about me getting trigger happy?" Becker asked him as he cautiously approached the unconscious creature.
Matt ignored him, "The triceratops is down for the count Jess. Can you get us a moving truck down here? We need to get it back to the anomaly."
"Sure. Just give me a minute," There was a paused as she typed rapidly into her computer. "It's on its way. ETA twenty minutes." There was another pause. "Matt, Lester wants you back now," Jess said slowly.
Merryweather smirked, "That man is psychic."
Matt ignored him again, "Thanks Jess. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Try not to beat up one of my men on your way back. They haven't done anything to you."
Matt walked away, holding back what he was going to say. If Becker knew what Merryweather had done to Jess…
PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL
Matt walked into Lester's office without knocking and sat down, waiting for the incoming lecture. There was none. Lester simply looked at him. It was unnerving. He'd been expecting more anger, not this placid attitude. "Aren't you going to yell at me?"
"Didn't seem to work before," Lester shrugged. "So why waste my voice." He stopped for a moment, "Just answer me this, what give you the right to attack a member of the ARC."
Matt looked out the window to the Opps room. He could see Jess's head over the top of her chair. He sighed; he had to make a decision and he was sure she wasn't going to like the outcome. Merryweather was too much of a loose cannon for it to be safe for anyone. "He gave up all rights when he attacked a member of the ARC," Matt said finally. Sorry Jess, he thought apologetically. It's for your own good.
Lester followed his gaze to the young FC, "I assume Jess wasn't sick yesterday."
Matt shook his head, "No."
"Is she…" He paused. "Is she ok?" Contrary to his public image, he did genuinely care about his team. Probably more than he should have.
"I walked in before he got too far. She's got a few bruises but it's more shock that anything else."
"Good," Lester nodded, relieved. Then a sudden thought hit him, "Why didn't she report him?"
"His uncle's the Minister; he basically threatened her. And apparently other people have been making comments about her."
Lester sighed, closing his eyes. Even when chasing dinosaurs for a living, people still found time to gossip. "Leave it with me,'' He said after a slight pause. "I'll sort it out," Lester looked through the glass into the Opps room where Jess was talking to a staff member. "Perhaps it would be good for Jess to go home. She shouldn't be here when this goes down."
"I'll go tell her," Matt stood up.
"Just, don't make it obvious," Lester told him.
"Of course," Matt replied and walked to the door.
"Matt," Lester called him back. "Next time something like this happens, tell me."
Matt nodded and walked away, headed to Jess. Lester watched, face impassive, as he leant down and spoke to her. He watched as he led her out of the room, not missing the fact that she flinched when Matt accidently brushed her arm. Merryweather was going to pay for that. Lester picked up his phone and hit speed dial, "Hello Minister," he greeted coolly. "Are you aware that your nephew is an abusive, skirt chasing tosser?"
PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL
Becker stood to attention in front of Lester's mahogany desk, trying to work out why Lester was so furious with him. Becker hadn't killed the creature and no one had been injured, except for Anderson and Merryweather but he wasn't counting them.
Lester sat behind his desk, hands poised under his chin, blue eyes watching Becker practically squirming before him. "Anything," Lester drawled slowly, "You want to tell me about your men?"
"My men?" Becker repeated, confused. "I don't understand."
"Your men," Lester clarified, still speaking slowly as though to a small child. "Are there any issues you want to address? Disciplinary matters, perhaps."
"Apart from Matt, no sir." It was no secret that the soldier and his boss had minor disagreements from time to time.
"I've already spoken to Matt about it. I wanted to hear your side of the story," Lester glared up at him eyes hardening.
Becker held back a recoil. Lester had never looked at him with such disappointment. "My side of the story? I don't know what you're talking about?"
"I'm talking about," Lester stood up, hands on his desks, the picture of passive aggressive behaviour. "You letting your men run around like animals, attacking members of this facility."
"What?" Becker asked, dumbstruck. Why hadn't he heard about this?
"Merryweather," Lester said, sneering at the name. "Apparently never learnt that no means no. Matt was trying to teach when you intervened. You really should have paid more attention to what was going on. Someone like that should never have even been allowed in the building."
Becker didn't know what to say, what to think. "What did he do?"
"That's not up for discussion," Lester snapped, the sudden tone change almost startling the soldier out of his thoughts. "What I want to know is how it happened. I want a complete review of employment procedures for military personnel."
Becker nodded; that was reasonable, considering. He dreaded the thought of all the paperwork. Maybe he could bribe Jess to help him… He brightened at the thought. Chocolate would work, wouldn't it? "Yes sir. I'll get right on it." He turned to leave.
"No just yet," Lester called him back. "I want you to escort Merryweather from the building and remove all weapons from his person. No need to be gentle."
"Yes sir," He nodded again, concern growing. Whatever Merryweather did was enough to severely infuriate Lester.
"Don't be afraid to let the door kick him on the arse on the way out, will you?" He was practically instructing Becker to hit him now.
"No sir," Becker left, questions running through his mind. What the hell did Merryweather do?
PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL
Abby leant against the doorway of Connor's lab, "Come on Connor, I'm hungry," She whined, watching him potter mindlessly around the lab. She was sure what he was doing made sense- to him anyway- but she was too hungry to care. "I've been running around a forest all day. I need to eat."
"I'll just be a minute," Connor replied, frantically scribbling down a new note on a random piece of paper.
"That means you'll be an hour," She slid down the door frame, ending up sitting on the ground. She might as well be comfortable as she waited.
"Does not," Connor retorted as he gathered up different pieces of equipment to lock up safely for the night. Some things were too dangerous to be left out alone at night.
"Does too," Abby retorted, glaring up at him. "Last time you said you'd be a minute was when you decided to reprogram the anomaly locker."
"Well I couldn't exactly leave that unfinished now, could I?" Connor asked rhetorically. "Lester would have my head if I did."
"I'll eat your head if you don't hurry up," Abby growled at him, her stomach joining in.
He gulped at the threat. He knew her temper frayed when she was hungry. He ran to the cupboard and threw in the last of the equipment haphazardly. "See, I told you I'd only be a minute," He smiled and held out a hand to help her up.
"That's a first," She said, taking his hand and pulling herself up. "You're never on ti-"
She was cut off by a sudden yell. "You can't do this to me! Don't touch me!"
Both of them ran to the source of the noise, curiosity getting the better of them. They rounded the corner to see Merryweather standing in the middle of a corridor yelling at Becker. "Do you have any idea who my uncle is? You'll be the one fired then, you'll see."
"He got fired?" Connor asked, "Didn't think anyone could get fired here."
"He deserved it," Abby told him, looking scornfully at the red faced soldier. "He's a right tosser," She crossed her arms and glared at Merryweather who was too busy to notice as he was staring at Becker.
Becker did notice though. He heard what she'd said and his eyes widened. Not Abby, he thought disbelievingly. Anger coursed through his veins. She was like a sister to him. He grabbed Merryweather by the arm and forced to to walk.
"Ow. You're hurting me. Let go," Merryweather tried to wriggle out of Becker's iron grip but failed.
"That's the general idea," Becker told him tightly, pulling him along. "Hurry up." He nodded to Abby as they passed her and Connor. "It's ok," he told her under his breath.
She frowned at him, confusion etched on her face.
Connor watched as Becker basically threw Merryweather into the elevator. "What's ok?"
"I have no idea."
PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL#
Abby inhaled the fragrant air as soon as she walked into the flat, "Jess, I love you." She tossed her jacked onto the couch. "What did you make? It smells amazing."
"Spaghetti Marina," Jess replied from the kitchen, stirring a pot of simmering pasta and sauce. "Why are you guys so late?"
"Connor decided he had some things to do," Abby rolled her eyes as she walked in to the small kitchen attached to the lounge room. She gestured to the pot, "Can I?"
"Sure," Jess handed her a spoon from a drawer. "Tell me what you think."
Abby poked the spoon in and licked it, "Mmm," she sighed. "That is so good. You're gonna have to teach me how to make it."
"Okay," Jess agreed happily. "Wasn't sure if you were going to like it or not."
"Right now, I could eat a horse but that is so much better."
"That's good," Jess smiled. "Not about you wanting to eat a horse. That's bad," She added, rambling slightly. "Sorry. Long day."
Abby smiled at the younger girl. "It's fine. I know what you mean."
Jess frowned suddenly and looked around, "Where's Connor?"
"Coming," Abby said. "He thought he heard a noise in the car engine," she added in explanation.
"Nothing bad I hope," Jess said, pulling out three bowls from the cupboard behind her.
"No, just the fanbelt. I didn't tell him that though," Abby smirked evilly and Jess looked at her curiously. "He doesn't know that much about cars and made me wait for him so this is my revenge. I'll tell him eventually. Maybe tomorrow."
"Remind me not to make you angry," Jess said and handed her a bowl, "Enjoy."
"Oh I will," She walked over to the window overlooking the street below. "Connor," Abby yelled, "Dinner's ready."
"Coming!" Came the distracted the reply. It was followed by an, "Ow. That hurt."
Abby and Jess chuckled as they sat down at the table. "Only Connor," Abby smiled fondly. "Oh, did you hear about Merryweather?"
Jess froze. She'd thought she'd been good today, that there wasn't any way any of them could've found out about what happened. "No," She didn't meet Abby's eyes. "What happened?"
"Becker kicked him out. Literally," Connor walked in the door and snaked the bowl of the kitchen counter. "Thanks, Jess."
"Hey, how do you know I didn't cook it?" Abby asked, mock insulted.
He shrugged, "More like her."
"What do you mean 'Becker kicked him out?'" Jess asked, panic rising. Did Becker know?
"Like told him he was fired and pushed him into the elevator," Connor said through a mouthful of pasta. "Looked real pissed off. Wouldn't be surprised if Merryweather didn't make it to the ground floor. Wonder what he did."
Jess stared at the table but didn't see anything. Panic had set in. How did Becker find out? Did Matt tell him? What did he do? Please don't let him have done anything stupid. Thoughts ran through her like a pachinko machine.
Abby gave her a concerned look, "Jess, are you ok? You look a bit pale."
Jess shook herself out of her musing. "Yeah, I'm fine. I…" She pushed her plate away and stood up, "I just forgot to grab the sauce from the store. I'll be right back." She grabbed her keys from the ornate table near the door.
Connor frowned at the pasta, "Seems fine to me."
Abby ignored him, watching the door. Jess was acting weird, and not in a good way.
PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL#PRIMEVAL
Becker put his feet up on the couch and took a sip of beer. It had been a bad day. Not as bad as some, but still a bad day. He still couldn't believe what had happened to Abby. Maybe he'd take her aside and have a quiet word with her tomorrow. She had to know that she could trust him. It hurt to think that she didn't.
A sudden, furious knocking started at the door. Becker frowned; he wasn't expecting anyone. "Who is it?" He walked over and opened the door to see a seething Jess standing there.
"How did you find out?" She demanded, barging her way inside his apartment.
Was it cryptic Tuesday or something? He asked himself. "Find out what, Jess?"
"About Merryweather," He saw the flash of fear when she said his name and it all fell into place. Her sudden 'illness' and attitude over the past few days.
"It was you," His voice came out as a whisper. "I thought it was Abby."
"How did you come up with that? Didn't Matt tell you?"
Becker shook his head, still stunned. How could it have been Jess? She was supposed to be the safe one out of all of them. "Lester did. I just assumed…"
She paled even further and started pacing. "Lester knows? Oh God. He's going to be so mad."
Her words started catching up to him. "How did Matt find out?"
"He…" Jess stopped and bit her lip, looking down at the ground, "He saved me. He walked in before he could do much."
Becker couldn't help the flash of jealousy. It should have been him that saved Jess; that was his job. He was supposed to protect her, the whole team. "I'm sorry."
She took a deep breath, "It's not your fault."
"I'm supposed to protect you. It's my fault."
"Your job is to protect the team in the field. Not me."
"You're a part of the team, Jess. You realise that right?" He tried to look her in the eyes but she dodged his gaze and started walking randomly around the room, avoiding his eyes.
"No like that. You shouldn't have to worry about me."
He frowned at her words. "Jess, we worry about everyone in the team. That's how it works. You're as much a part of it as Abby or Connor or Matt," He argued with her, trying to make her see reason.
"No I'm not!" She cried, tears starting to form. "I'm a person behind a computer. Even Lester can do my job for me. I'm replaceable."
"Not to me you aren't." Becker didn't even realise he'd said the words.
She rolled her eyes. "You're just saying that."
"No, I'm not." It shocked him that he had meant them; emotions were usually so foreign to him.
"Liar," She accused harshly then shook her head as if to clear it. "Sorry. I shouldn't have come. Just…" She paused at looked at him. "Don't tell anyone else. They shouldn't worry about me doing something stupid when they're in the field."
"Jess…"
"I mean it Becker," Her tears fell and she glared at him through them. "You can't tell them. It's bad enough you know."
"Be reasonable," He implored. "They'll just want to help."
"And by help they'll focus on me instead of their jobs and they'll get themselves killed. They don't need the distraction."
"Who says you get to make that decision?" Becker yelled at her, anger at her selfishness taking over. "They care about you. We care about you."
"Who says you can tell me what to do?" She yelled back, letting loose. "You're not the boss of me. It's not your decision."
"You're being stupid, Jess. And selfish," He added, lowering his volume slightly.
Her eyes flashed with hurt, "How dare you…"
"How dare I?" He scoffed, "You don't even see what you're doing is hurting us already. You're pushing us away."
"Am not. Hiding one secret never killed anyone."
"Killed Stephan Hart," Becker reminded her, knowing that she knew the story well. He'd told it to her one many occasions. "We have to trust each other with everything. We depend on it."
"I…"
"You getting hurt isn't a distraction. It's something that we work together to fix."
"I'm not broken," She looked up at him, defiant and angry at his insinuation.
"You could be if you don't let us help," He took a small step towards her. "I've seen people hide their pain until it blows up in their face, literally on occasions. I don't want it happen to you."
She looked up at him, blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "I don't want to distract the team."
"You don't have to," Becker held out his hand. "Come with me."
