\hello. Sorry sorry sorry this was late. I had a mini break over the weekend and trying to keep on top of things is hectic. Anyway, I'm back now. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Still working on the whole 'owning Primeval' thing.

PPP

"Hanging around then?" said Banks. "It's like you don't want to leave." The Sergeant's joking was met with silence. He tried a more caring tact. "Look, it didn't go so badly yesterday."

Becker put down the weapon he was cleaning. "I was captured by criminals, whilst a dangerous creature was brought down by two people who shouldn't have even been there. People were hurt."

"Not seriously," argued Banks.

"Please just drop it."

"No, I won't. Yes, things went wrong, but we coped. Even the new man Weathers excelled and that's testament to your guidance and training in the matters. Why can't you be proud of that?"

"Proud I was saved by the new man Weathers," scoffed Becker. He picked up the polish and began to furiously clean the catches on the gun.

"What!" growled Banks, suddenly annoyed. "Is this it? Because you're Captain, you can't allow anyone else to save you. Because let me tell you now..."

"That's not what I meant!" interrupted Becker, giving up on his cleaning again.

"Then what do you mean?"

Becker paused. "I mean, Weathers shouldn't have saved me."

Banks was silent, unsure how to respond. Maybe Becker was in a worse state than he or Abby had realised. Maybe there were some serious psychological issues at play here. Banks should tell Lester, force Becker to get help if such things were crossing the young Captain's mind.

"Captain. Sir," he eventually said, sitting heavily besides the other man. Becker looked at him curiously; rarely did Banks offer such politeness towards his commanding officer. "You will always be worth saving..." Becker frowned. "I mean, all here would agree you are no good dead."

"Wha-? No!" interjected Becker, alarmed that Banks had got the wrong end of the stick. "I'm not suicidal! I just meant Weathers shouldn't have been the one to save me."

Now Banks was confused. "Why not?"

"He was Cuthbert's replacement," Becker blurted out.

Banks sighed. Suddenly Becker's attitude made perfect sense. It seemed the whole of yesterday managed to compound every negative thought Becker had been building over the past few weeks. People had got hurt, although mildly. They didn't need Becker to stop the incursion, though their methods did leave something to be desired. That Becker made ill-judged calls which caused trouble, for him and for others like Cuthbert.

Banks had to admit, this was quite a pile of baggage to talk his way through. What his Captain needed was a win of some sort.

PPP

Friday and the weekend seemed to trudge by. There had been no sightings and, since Abby had once more got Connor banned from the ARC at the weekend, the ADD was still in pieces. In some ways, it felt like a welcome lull. In others, it removed all distractions from growing issues.

Come early Monday morning, Becker lay in bed, looking up at his ceiling with a clarity which was most unwelcome at this hour. He was wide awake, despite his alarm not being set for another 45 minutes. It was still dark outside; he normally had enough time for a half hour run before work even when woken by its incessant beeping.

Now he was woken by his own thoughts. He had been very prepared to leave, thinking it was the best course of action. But now the replacement had been chosen, Becker found the whole idea sitting ill with him.

Part of it was Delaney, who seemed to have grown a little more distant, a little more obstinate in his desire for immediate respect which should be earned. Becker couldn't see it going well with the scientists, but without Cutter to put his foot down in front of Lester, there was little chance of it changing.

However, another part of it was Becker simple desire to stay. He liked the ARC, its work and its people. Could he really leave it all? It was one thing to say he had to for the good of the others, it was another to walk out the door.

His thoughts were mercifully broken by his phone going off. A possible creature had been found at a leisure centre in Harrow. Becker couldn't help a small smile trace across his face as he imagined the shock of the manager to find a dinosaur in the swimming pool. He shook that thought away. People were in danger and, at least for now, it was his job to help.

PPP

Becker found he was among the last there. He did live among the furthest away, but, still, this was a little surprising; Connor usually required time to be pulled from his bunk, but then, having been kept out the ARC all weekend, Becker could imagine the scientist would be eager to get involved once more. However, there was a bleariness in his eyes and he leaned heavily on the SUV as he waited.

When he came up, they were getting ready to enter the building. Jenny and Delaney were in deep talks with another woman off the one side, but everyone else was unloading equipment for the trucks. As Becker strolled up to the trio, Jenny turned to greet him.

"Apparently, it's in the squash courts. No sign of an incursion."

PPP

"We need to get in there, sharpish," decided Delaney. Becker nodded his agreement and turned to begin issuing orders.

"Banks, take half the men inside, the other half should surround the place. Make sure no-one gets in and nothing gets out."

"What!?" interrupted Delaney. Becker turned, surprised at the note of opposition in the other man's voice. "That's not what I just said. We might need every available man around the anomaly if something should come through." Becker opened his mouth, but Delaney continued. "There's no sign of an incursion. It's wasteful to post men where they won't be needed, particularly with so few."

"We have ten," argued Becker. "Besides, we don't know there isn't an incursion."

"There might be if we stand around arguing. Look, you're leaving. Let me show you what I can do."

Becker breathed in heavily, then relented, eager not to cause a scene now. However, it pulled at every fibre of his being, this thought that this was a dangerous move. Still, he was leaving, and for a reason, so he should let Delaney take control more. It wasn't like he had much more experience anyway.

"New order, Sergeant" shouted Delaney to Banks, not taking his eyes off Becker. "We're all going in."

The interior of the leisure centre was cool, the smell of chlorine permeating the air. The squash courts were on the third floor, so the whole team made their way up stairs as quickly as possible. Jenny was in the lead, having got the directions from the manager. Then came Connor and Abby, closely followed by the Captains and Sarah, who hung near Becker right arm. The rest came after.

There neared the door and Delaney signalled his men forward. They readied themselves around the door and then surged forward as one through the double doors.

The anomaly hung two foot in the air, glowing gold. The rest of the room was empty and so everyone set up to guard against it changing. Beck relaxed and Delaney sidled up to him quietly.

"Told you. There's no incursion and now we're better prepared if there is one." He smirked. "And you were worrying."

Becker remained silent. He still was worrying. There was something in the atmosphere of the room which didn't sit right. A movement in the air perhaps or...

He noticed Sarah seemed to be staring upwards, a worried frown creasing her forehead. Becker turned to follow her gaze. Ah, a movement in the air.

As with many squash courts, there was a viewing platform along the top by the ceiling, allowing spectators to watch the matches played beneath. Due to the strong chance of a ball being hit in its general direction, these, Becker surmised, were probably made of fairly study glass.

Thus, whatever had smashed them must be very strong.

PPP

By now, most people were breaking off from their tasks and gazing at the clear evidence of an incursion. Delaney gulped nervously as Banks shot him a severe glance before moving to gather a group around him. By now, the incursion could be almost anywhere in this place.

"Connor, any thoughts?" asked Jenny.

"Err... aerial to get up there. Not too large if it got up there."

"We don't know it's an incursion," argued Delaney suddenly. Everyone turned to look at him. "I mean, a smashed piece of glass in a ball court isn't exactly uncommon."

"And they just happened to have smashed the one by the anomaly?" said Abby. "And the centre left the glass there overnight?" She grabbed a tranq gun, as she shot a meaningful glance at Becker. "Come on, we need to find it."

Emerging from the hall, the team split up. Banks and Abby took a group up to the floor where the glass lay broken, then progress upwards. Becker and Connor began surveying the current floor and where to work down. Jenny, Sarah and Lyons went to make sure the perimeter wasn't breached.

Delaney was left by the anomaly, though the decision was unspoken.

Abby and the Sergeant soon found the glass strewn about the polished floor around the spectators' area. There were traces of blood on some of the fragments, but nothing to suggest a serious injury. They peered round, but there was no further sign of any creatures.

They made their way around the floor. A few more windows were cracked, but nothing more smashed, and a few plant pots were knocked over. They followed the clues around and found themselves at the back stairwell.

"Up or down?" asked Banks.

"The others are downstairs. We'll try up."

PPP

The lower floors seemed fairly clear of any demolition. Becker was beginning to resign himself to the fact that, once more, he was in the wrong place. Only the ground floor was left, but there was no sign anything had been down the main stairs.

Connor and one man made his way to the offices to check they were disrupted. Becker and the other man decided to check the changing rooms leading to the swimming pool. They made their way across, sweating uncomfortably in the humid air, which got hotter as they drew closer. They rounded a corner and stopped.

The doors to some stairs had been torn off their hinges, lying uselessly on the surrounding floor. They were accompanied by the double doors of the locker rooms resting atop of them.

They moved forward with great caution. The tension rose and Becker could hear the clicks of guns being readied for immediate action. Connor moved forward, armed with his tranq gun. He should be allowed his opportunity to take down the beast without harming it.

They spread across the maze of cabins, pegs and lockers, all eerily empty and silent against the soft swish of water coming from the pool. Becker moved hurriedly down a blank corridor, nearing the showers.

It was then he heard the cry which wasn't quite like an eagle, but came close. Raising a shout of alarm, the Captain ran over the slippery tiles to emerge into the pool area. His first instinct was to look up and he found nothing, but the cry came again. He looked towards its origin.

One wall used to be made of glass. Now, that glass was shattered, pieces of it floating on the choppy waters. Two small creatures could be seen flying around the sunlight which almost blinded Becker. Beneath them, person leant calmly against the remains of the broken window frames, watching the aerobatics.

From behind him, there was a yell and clatter. Becker, not taking his eyes off the broken window, called out to his partner desperately.

"Jones! Get back! Get help! It's..."

There was click of a gun being cocked. Becker slowly turned.

"Sorry Becker," said Delaney. "Jones isn't available right now."

PPP

Plot twist!