Author's note: I haven't said this in a while so just in case anyone is confused, I don't own the characters of Connor and Abby. Darn it! To all who are reading and reviewing – thank you!

Separated

Connor and Abby had been walking all morning, following the ridgeline of a hill. Connor stopped to view the surrounding area. The rocky path they were on was dry and dusty with small, scrubby bushes and the occasional spiked plume of greenery. He dropped his backpack to the ground and bent to get his canteen. "Abby, do you want a drink?"

"Thanks," she said, taking it from his hands. She sat down on a large boulder, sipped the water and handed it back.

Connor sat down next to her, taking a moment to rub his cheek against her hair, before he took a gulp from the canteen. He screwed the lid back on and said, "It's almost noon. I think we should head back."

"Good. I'm more than ready," she said with a sigh. She ran her hand across Connor's back to hug him before she stood up. "Remember, you promised we could hunt and bathe at the waterfall tomorrow," she reminded him.

Connor stood up and walked toward his pack. "Maybe we can risk bathing together," he said with a grin. He looked into her eyes to find her smiling back at him.

"Connor Temple skinny dipping with a girl? I'm shocked," she teased.

"Not just any girl," he said enjoying their banter.

At that moment, something small and scaly scuttled across his path. He dodged to the side, but caught the tip of his boot on his backpack. Off balance, he took two steps backward to the edge of the ridge. His left foot slipped on the loose earth followed by his right as the ground gave way.

Abby had a split second to see the look of surprise on his face before he disappeared over the side. "Connor" she screamed as she dropped to the ground and quickly crawled forward to peer over the ledge.

Connor was sprawled on his back, covered in dust about 40 feet below her. Luckily, the spot where he fell was a steep slope rather than a straight drop-off. After the initial fall, he rolled the rest of the way down.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

He looked up at her and said "Ow," before slowly sitting up. He shook some of the dust from his hair and jacket. He checked his arms and legs and untangled the canteen strap that was still wrapped around his wrist before he gingerly stood up. "I'm fine, just a bit dirty and bruised."

He studied the loose dirt and the pitch of the slope and said, "Abby, I don't think I can get back up to you."

"I'll come down," she suggested.

"No. Don't. You might break your neck."

"So what do we do?"

"It's getting late. We need to start back to the cave. Follow the path back and I'll keep looking for a place where I can climb up," he suggested.

"O.K.," she answered, "but I don't like us being separated like this."

"I'm not exactly thrilled about it either," he replied dryly. "Look we can argue later, but for now let's head back."

They walked for several hours with Abby carrying his pack plus hers and both spears. She was getting extremely annoyed when he called up to her, "Still no way up."

"I can see that," she snapped as she threw both packs on the ground trying to catch her breath.

Abby, there's something coming toward me, he yelled.

She watched in horror as a group of six adult raptors backed Connor toward the steep slope. They moved slowly, showing their teeth as they waited for him to run.

He was trapped without a weapon. The thought went through his head that he really didn't want to die and leave Abby. Oh god, Abby, he thought, she shouldn't see what's about to happen.

His voice was calm as he called out to her, "Abby, get back to the cave. Don't wait for me."

"I'm not leaving you," she yelled.

The raptors suddenly stopped and lifted their heads to scent the air. All six turned and galloped off without another look at Connor. "What just happened?" he asked in confusion.

Abby scanned the horizon and screamed, "Spinosaurus! Run, Connor."

As he sprinted for cover, he yelled, "Get to the cave. I'll meet you there tonight."

Abby watched him run until he was out of sight before she picked up their gear and hurried along the trail. She wanted nothing more than to reach the cave and find Connor waiting for her. When she got there, the cave was empty. Of course, he isn't here; he has to find a way back. It will take him longer, she thought.

As the sun set, she built up the fire until it was blazing, wanting him to be able to see the light from wherever he was. Then she sat down to wait.

Hours later, Abby decided she wasn't very good at waiting. She jumped up to pace while she watched the sky outside the cave get darker. Finally she sat down with her back against the cave wall. The emptiness and silence could drive a person crazy, she thought. She had never noticed before because Connor was always there to keep her entertained. She was totally alone for the first time in months and it was horrifying. She hugged his backpack to her as she pulled her legs up to her chest and buried her face in her knees. "Where are you?" she whispered. "Please be all right."

Connor was about as far from all right as a person could get. The spinosaurus had followed him to a rocky area and was currently nosing its way through the boulders trying to find him. Each large rock it pushed aside brought it closer to him. As it shoved another slab of rock out of the way, he scrambled back until there was no where left to go. When he noticed the sound of rushing water, he decided to try to make it to the river. He got ready to run, but stopped when he heard the roar of an approaching T-Rex. The spinosaurus backed up swinging its spiked tail to keep the other creature at bay. The second swing of its tail raked the T-Rex along one thigh, making deep gouges in its flesh. The T-Rex bellowed in pain but kept moving closer to clamp its jaws around the neck of the spinosaurus. As the two fought and roared, Connor spotted a way back up the hillside and sprinted for the ridge. He was halfway up when the tail of the spinosaurus thumped down onto the path directly in front of him. He fell back but quickly rolled to his feet and ran forward as the massive tail flicked upward. Heart pounding, he made his way back up to the top of the ridge. With the light of the moon to guide him, he quickly walked back to the cave. He smiled wearily as he spotted the firelight, bright as a beacon leading him home.

As soon as he entered the cave, he saw Abby. She was curled into herself, head buried in her knees. When she raised her head and looked at him with watery eyes, he froze. It took him a minute to register the fact that she had been crying over him. "Still in one piece," he said soothingly.

Abby jumped up and ran to him. She knotted her arms around his neck in a fierce hold, refusing to let him pull away from her. He didn't even try. He held on tight as he said, "It's O.K. I'm here. We're O.K."

After several minutes, she loosened her hold enough to kiss his neck and cheek and mouth. She was so happy to have him safe and back at her side.

When Connor realized she was shaking, he lowered them both to the ground still holding her close. She pushed him onto his back and kissed him again before she looked deep into his eyes. Connor watched warily as her expression changed from joy to indignation.

Suddenly she was blazingly angry. She braced her arms on his chest and glared at him. "Don't ever do that again," she yelled. "Of all the stupid… pointless… I won't have you breaking your neck or getting yourself eaten by some creature!" She scowled at him then laid her head on his chest.

"You must really love me," Connor said in astonishment.

Abby sat up and frowned at him as he continued, "I haven't heard you yell like that since your brother, Jack, almost got himself killed."

Before she could say anything more, Connor pulled her down onto her back, leaned over her and brushed his lips over hers. When she still looked cross, he kissed her again more passionately. He broke the kiss to say, "I'm going to keep kissing you until you're not angry with me anymore." His voice was low and sexy as he studied her face and lips, "If I'm lucky, it could take hours."

Abby shivered at the look of desire in his eyes. She brought her hand up to gently stroke the hair along his jaw as she smiled at him. "It could be all night," she murmured happily, as she tipped her face up for another kiss.

xxxxx

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