Disclaimer: Don't Own, Don't Sue! ;D
A/N: Sorry for the slow updates, I've got a new job and the hours are up in the air from start to finish; but I'll do my best to update regularly.
Chapter 9: A Different Time, A Different Place
"I'm getting on, but what's the use?
You know how I get
I can't decide which is the truth
At least not yet."
-"Goodbye Again" by Vertical Horizon
Connor snuck out of the curtains and glanced in the direction of the anomaly. Emily was heading back to the group on the other side.
"Wait!" The voice called, sounding as if the man was chasing after Emily.
Connor stepped back into the shadows and noticed the man in a dark jacket and jeans, approach the anomaly, hesitate and drop something on the ground before rushing through after Emily.
"I've gotta get that guy out of there before he causes more unnecessary problems." Connor muttered before coming out of his hiding place and approaching the anomaly as well.
Connor was about to step through the anomaly as well to help Emily as well, when he heard a familiar voice from so long ago.
"Freeze! Turn slowly and put your hands up in the air."
Connor wanted to laugh. Since when did Becker act so hostile towards him? Then again, Connor was donning odd clothes and had been missing for well over eight years.
Connor turned to face Becker and—Abby! Abby was still around! Her hair had grown, but she was still Abby. Connor wanted to cry and run to embrace her; tell her he was sorry for all the mean things he'd said and done all those years ago and that he loved her.
"Remove the articles covering your face." Becker ordered.
Connor couldn't find the words to speak; he was solely focused on Abby. He found himself moving closer towards them, no regard for safety.
"I said 'stay where you are!'" Becker repeated with a shout.
Suddenly Connor felt a blast of air or energy hit him in the stomach, sending him backwards, aching with pain. He slowly faded to unconsciousness, thinking about Abby.
Abby and Becker stood outside in the hallway of the hospital room, looking in through the window.
"This job just got stranger." Becker commented.
Abby said nothing, as she continued to stare at the man laying unconscious in the hospital bed.
"Hi, how are things down here?" Matt asked as he approached his teammates.
"He's still not woken up. How's the mystery woman?" Becker spoke, when Abby didn't immediately say anything.
"No change either." Matt responded.
Becker glanced between Matt and Abby before nodding.
"I'll go check on the status of the anomaly." Becker stated before leaving.
Matt moved closer and wrapped an arm around Abby.
"It's bothering you, too?" He asked quietly.
"It doesn't make sense." She whispered. "He looks eight years older than he did before we left the ARC this morning. And according to the doctor, he's slightly malnourished and underweight. I already confirmed with Jess that Connor's still at the ARC in his office. So how did he get here?"
"Suppose we should ask him when he wakes up." Matt replied.
"I have a feeling this will be a long night." Abby muttered, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'll have the staff move the girl down here as well, so we can keep an eye on them both." Matt spoke.
Connor groaned, when he felt someone shaking him. He couldn't remember what happened or where he was, but he felt like he'd been hit by Scutosaurus.
"Connor, Connor wake up, we must leave, quickly." Emily hissed, shaking him.
Connor shot up. "What happened?"
"We were captured." Emily explained, quickly shoving Connor's clothes at him. "Hurry, they will be here any moment."
Then, Connor remembered, Becker shooting him. Connor quickly changed from the hospital garment to his clothes, while Emily's back was turned, ignoring the pain.
"I really want to say that the people who 'captured' us are good guys, but after getting shot by what I'm going to assume is some sort of futuristic taser, I think we need to have a chat with them." Connor said, hanging the goggles and scarf around his neck.
"How do you propose we do that?" Emily asked, glancing at the door.
"And they took my guns, brilliant." Connor muttered to himself, before noticing the unconscious guard. "D'you do that?"
Emily nodded. "We need to go, before they come back. They were talking about locking us up."
"Great and we've nothing to defend ourselves with. What about Ethan and Charlotte?"
Emily shook her head. "I have not seen or heard from them since we came through the gateway."
"We need to find them, Emily."
"What about the group?"
"We'll make it back before the anomaly closes, unless you want to go back now and leave everything to me."
"No, the three of you are my responsibility."
"So are the fifteen other people on the other side of the anomaly." Connor countered, solemnly.
"We need to find Charlotte and Ethan before we return." Emily spoke sternly before turning and checking the hall.
Seeing the coast was temporarily clear, Connor and Emily crept into the hallway. Connor noticed Abby, Becker, and the man who had chased after Emily walking in their direction.
Connor grabbed Emily and pulled her into the stairwell, motioning for her to keep quiet.
"I thought you said they could be reasoned with?" Emily asked.
"Yes, I'm hoping, but I don't remotely know the guy who chased after you. Only the other two." Connor whispered, watching the Abby and the others.
'Where's Sarah, Danny, and Jenny?' He wondered, remembering the other members not present.
"They're gone." The man confirmed.
"I told you we should have kept a better eye on them." Becker glared.
"We'll find them." The man replied calmly.
"Yeah, and then we're putting them in seclusion cells." Becker retorted before storming off.
"Do you see?" Emily asked.
Connor sank against the wall.
"I can't believe it." He spoke quietly in disbelief. "I finally make it back and I'm a fugitive."
"What do you want to do?" Emily inquired quietly, checking the hallway.
Connor wanted to process everything. Something wasn't adding up. Could the paradox he created all that time ago and his encounter with Cutter and the others have caused this?
Emily didn't belong in this time, but she didn't belong in the Cretaceous either. If they were looking to catch someone, he'd turn himself over to them after making sure Emily got through the anomaly back to the group. Then he could worry about finding Ethan and Charlotte.
Please Review! ;D
Abby and Connor conversation next chap!
