Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

"The clones are… dangerous weapons."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Abby felt uncomfortable as she entered the living room. She knew everyone had just heard her shout at Matt and she couldn't stop thinking about what Becker had told her. She pasted a bright smile on her face as she sat down between Connor and Jenny on the sofa.

"Sorry," she said to the group at large "needed a bit of fresh air."

"Abby," asked Connor "are you all right?"

She looked at the man she loved, wondering how many times over the years she had said or done something thoughtless that had hurt him. Abby never wanted to hurt him.

"Connor," she replied "Matt was telling Danny about the time Helen came here."

Beside her, she could feel his body tense. His jaw line took on that tight hard look he got when something was bothering him.

"Abby," he began "Helen never got into our home, I've told you… and I'm sorry about Elton, really I am… but…"

"Connor," she interrupted "it wasn't Helen or Elton that I was upset about."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Danny looked from Becker to Matt questioningly. "I would think," he began carefully "that the clones are people first, tools of a madwoman second."

Jess, who had been standing quietly beside Becker all this time, gave a little shiver and said "You might think differently if you met one."

Looking at the attractive woman wearing a bright pink dress and high heels, Danny thought she looked familiar. Her flirty short brown hair was styled with streaks of pink highlights that matched her dress. He couldn't quite place her though, and said so.

"Sorry," she said "we met briefly… years ago. I'm Jess, Senior Field Coordinator for the United Kingdom ARCs."

"Oh, yeah," replied Danny "didn't you used to have long brown hair?"

She nodded happily, glad he remembered her.

"And you're still the field coordinator for the ARC," he continued.

"ARCs," she corrected him gently "the two London branches were consolidated over twenty-five years ago, I also coordinate the operations in Edinburgh, Dublin, Plymouth, Guernsey and technically the Forest of Dean… but Beth handles the Forest of Dean… so I really don't need to do anything there, and…" As she realized Danny was staring at her, she blushed.

"Sorry," she said "I was babbling again."

"No," Danny said graciously "you were bringing me up to date… the ARC and its scope of operations has grown since I last saw it. Now, you were saying you met a clone…"

"The Stephens," she nodded, eyes widening with remembrance. "Stephen One is a non-verbal clone… and it's really good with the creatures… knows how to calm them and the one's we've retrieved now work at the ARC with the creature transport teams… travels with the animals to the menagerie. Stephen Two is a limited verbal clone… like Stephen One, it's really good with creatures…"

"What do you mean… limited verbal," Danny asked "and retrieved?"

"Stephen Two can say a phrase or two…" explained Becker "mostly he just says shut the door and sometimes feed the creatures. Retrieved is how we describe a clone we've caught alive and it's no longer under Helen's control."

Danny looked at Matt, "And the Matt clone you retrieved?" he asked.

"Very limited verbal," the man answered dryly "only has one thing to say. "

Danny chuckled. "Bet that made for a very short interrogation," he commented.

Matt gave a brief nod. "Most of the retrieved clones are kept confined in that prison where we first met," he added "Really only Stephen Ones and Stephen Twos are allowed to work outside the prison."

"The advanced model clones are the really dangerous ones," said Becker. "They take their orders from Helen. The soldier clones, the Cutter clones and Stephen Three are examples of that."

"What exactly did they do," asked Danny slowly "when they invaded the Forest of Dean facility looking for that book?"

"Connor wasn't ever supposed to be in danger," said Matt quietly

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Connor blinked at Abby's words.

"Well, the wall's been fixed, and the glass replaced with shatter proof…" he started to answer.

"I wasn't worried about the wall or the glass either," said Abby exasperatedly. Shaking her head, she stood up abruptly. "I've got to get something out of the kitchen," she added.

Connor watched her leave the room with a confused expression on his face. Jenny reached a hand over and placed it on his knee. "Really Connor," she said quietly "you can't possibly think Abby was worried about broken walls and broken glass."

Jenny followed Abby into the kitchen.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

On the porch, Jess watched as first Abby, then Jenny left the living room and headed towards the kitchen. She gave Emily a glance and tilted her head in the direction their friends had gone.

"Excuse us," said Emily grabbing Jess by the hand, "we'll just leave you gentlemen to talk about clones…"

Danny, Matt and Becker watched as the two women made their way toward the kitchen.

"What's up with that," asked Matt.

Becker gave a shrug, "No telling."

"What happened," asked Danny trying to steer the conversation back to the events of twelve years ago "when Helen and her clones invaded the Forest of Dean facility?"

Matt said quietly "Helen and her team got in, got the book, and then she saw Connor… and she decided it would be a good idea to take Connor too."

"Connor didn't agree," added Becker "and neither did the Cutter clone."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

In the kitchen, Abby was standing in front of the sink, staring out into the back yard watching the younger guests dancing to music on the patio. She heard Jenny come up behind her and felt a comforting hand placed on her shoulder.

"Abby," whispered Jenny in concern, "you've been upset ever since you got home… this isn't like you… what's wrong?"

"Oh… just everything," sighed Abby, her blue eyes welled up with tears as she turned away from the sink to face her friend.

"Connor's ankle and the doctor… then we get here and there's an anomaly… and Danny…" she began speaking in a rush "and… and after twenty-five years… five children… to find out that Connor thinks I didn't want to get married… that I was ashamed of him… and Jess and Becker think I'm some horrible woman that never says…"

"No," said Jess from where she stood at the kitchen entrance with Emily. "No, we don't think you're horrible."

"You think I don't love Connor."