Due to popular demand, here is chapter 13, earlier than planned(I was planning on waiting another day to raise the suspense, but I decided not to :)) I figured Nick's reaction to Helen's gun in his face would be different if he knew he was not going to die, so the first scene is a *little bit different.

Chapter XIII: Cutter's "Death"

Everything had happened just as Connor had said. Helen and her clones managed to infiltrate the ARC, the clone of Cutter set off a bomb that killed him and blew up the ARC, and now Helen had a gun pointed at him, prepared to fire.

"The Future's still more important than either of us, Nick." She shouted at him.

"Killing me is not gonna solve this, Helen, let me help you." He knew she would never accept his help, but it was worth a try.

"No, Nick, you're the one that starts it all. You must be stopped. Sorry, Nick." She pulled the gun back and cocked it, then aimed it at Nick's chest. All was silent when she hesitated to pull the trigger. Nick could tell she was having a hard time trying to kill her husband. He decided to help her along.

"You know, Helen, you're not as smart as I thought you once were."

That did it. Helen had no trouble now. He heard the gunshot ring out and felt a huge force hit him in the chest. Despite the bullet proof vest that Helen didn't know about, he was knocked over backwards, winded and in pain. He tried to get up again but he remembered he was supposed to "play dead". He fell back down, his breath laboring in short rasps. "Man, I didn't realize how much it hurts to be shot, even with a vest on. I'll have to thank Connor later, without this on this would hurt like hell!"

He lay there until he saw Helen leave, satisfied that he was dead. He kept still, for how long he wasn't sure. When Connor entered the room, Nick saw the shock and horror that registered on his face. "This must be Connor from the present." He thought. So he told Connor about the artifact and it's importance before faking a cough."Connor, you've got to go get help." he said weakly.

"I'm not leaving you, Cutter." Connor replied adamantly. It broke Cutter's heart seeing Connor this distressed. He briefly considered giving up the silly charade when he remembered her.

"Claudia Brown." he whispered. He remembered what he had to do.

"Connor, go get help now, there may be others in here who may also need help." Connor looked hesitant, then tried to pick him up to carry him outside, but Cutter pushed his arms off, faking a bout of pain. "No, Connor, I'll be okay, everything will be alright, in time." Connor stood up to leave. He kept his eyes open so Connor would know he was still alive until he was sure he was alone.

Connor and Abby had to crawl once again through the ventilation system in order to help Nick. They had moved the debris away from the arboretum's door while they waited until the coast was clear.

Danny was safely hidden outside the ARC. He had seen the team from the past gather outside before Cutter was shot. They were all there: Sarah, Becker, Lester, Nick, Connor, Abby, Jenny.

He watched Jenny closely, thankful that he had a chance to see her again. Her dark red hair cascaded down her back and around her face, which was covered by dirt. He still thought she was beautiful. He had seen the anguish on her face when Nick reentered the building and she tried to stop him. He wanted so much to gaze into her eyes and see her gazing back at him again, along with many other things, but he knew that wasn't possible, no matter how much he wanted it.

When he was sure he was alone, Cutter stood up and removed the bullet proof vest, marveling at the bullet that was heading right for his heart, but was stopped. With Abby and Connor's help they found the clone and placed him in the same position he had been previously. He even placed his jacket on the clone to make it even more believable.

"Hope nobody notices that this one hasn't been shot." Cutter was glad Connor never suggested shooting the clone, because he would not consent to that, even if he was dead. He looked at the splitting image of him sadly.

"He was a human being. He did make a choice, if only he hadn't died the way he did." Suddenly Danny's voice cracked in over the radio.

"Guys, make it quick, the team's comin' back in." The three of them scrambled to make it out of the main room. After they were safely out the past Connor ran in followed closely by Jenny, Abby and Becker.

The present Connor through the window watched the past Connor pick up the clone and carry him out. A tear came to his eye when he remembered the grief he himself had experienced at this moment a year ago, although under slightly different circumstances.

"It's not right for them to think he's dead, but yet. . .it is. I can't explain it." Nick came up behind him and put his hand on Connor's shoulder. Connor looked up at him and smiled, wiping the tear from his eye.

"Come on Connor, we've got a world to save."

Next up, some more gushy fluffy Secker moments :) (Don't worry, there will be some Conby fluff too, soon :))