"Who ... who is this?"

"Oh come on! You know who this is Abigail!"

And he was right ... Instantly I knew who was at the other end.

Henry.

I hung up. My heart was beating really fast. It couldn't be? Not Henry? Jack must have given him my number.

The phone rang again. 'Unknown.'

I just pressed the little green button and put the phone to my ear.

"Don't you dare to hang up on my again, little girl! Now listen! Jacky told me that you are living with a man? Your mother is concerned for you! Are you screwing him?"

I just shook my head ... this couldn't be happening right now!

"Answer me!" came the angry voice from the phone.

"No"

He laughed and it made my blood run cold.

"No what? Don't want to answer me or you don't screw him?"

"Leave me alone!" with that I hung up again.

I looked at the phone and dared it to ring again!

Nothing happened in the next minute so I put it down on the table again.

I slid down with my back against the wall and started crying. I'd been rid of them from my life for almost 10 years now: 10 years since I'd walked out and turned my life around here in London. Then suddenly, they were crashing back into my life and it felt like it had all happened yesterday.

The phone started ringing again and I stared at it. 'Unknown' again.

After I took a deep breath to get myself under control again I took the call "YES" I growled.

"I told you not to hang up on me again, Abigail! You still haven't learned to listen! Do I need to remind you to do as you're told?"

"I don't care what you say!" Was that my voice? ... damn ... that was the same as with Jack a few hours back.

Henry laughed again ... I could hear that he was slurring the words "But you should! I'm thinking of coming down to London. What do you think? ... I could visit you ... to have a nice chat with that boy. I think he would like to know what kind of girl you really are."

He was still talking but I couldn't hear him anymore. After he'd said that he might come here, I began to panic. And what would he say to Connor? I had told Connor pretty much everything already, but Henry had a way of twisting everything!

The phone clattered to the floor and I began to sob. When I felt a hand on my face I screamed again.

"Abby? Luv? It's me!"

I tried to get away at first, but then I realized that it was Connor and I let him touch my face and lift me up from the floor.

He looked down at my phone and picked it up.

"Who was that, Abs? What's going on?"

I took a deep breath ... and a second one. Connor guided me over to the sofa and we both sat down. After a few seconds I laid my head on Connors shoulder and took the phone from his hand and turned it off. He stroked my back. "Who was that Abs?"

"Henry" I'm sure he hadn't heard me ... I just breathed the name out, really.

Connor had heard me. "No! What did he want?"

"I don't know." Tears were still streaming down my face and I started sobbing again.

Connor hugged me, and after a while he stood up and got his own phone out.

"Who are you calling?"

"Danny."

"Could you call Jenny too? Or ... how late is it?"

He glanced at the clock as he sat down again. The phone on his ear.

"10 ... Danny? Connor here ..."

I didn't listen to him ... I knew he was going to help me. That was all I needed to know right now.

Danny told Connor that I should keep my phone switched off for the moment, but there wasn't much else he could do as nothing had actually happened. He promised he would get in contact with his old colleagues to see if he could get information about Henry and that he would call Connor in the morning.

Jenny wanted to speak to me and asked me if I wanted to get away from home for the night. She said I could sleep in the guestroom in her flat if I needed to. I thought about that for a while and told her that I wanted to stay with Connor and that I had another idea. Jenny suggested getting my number changed, which was a good idea. I would do that in the morning.

Connor looked at me when I got off the phone with Jenny.

"You can go sleep at Jenny's. You don't have to stay here."

"Are you insane? You were only allowed to go home because I promised that you wouldn't be alone at any time. We'll go somewhere ... but together. I'll be right back!"

Although I didn't really want him to leave home ... I had to get out of here. I took his phone with me and dialed the number of my aunt when I was in my room. She had a house on the outside of London, and neither Jack or Henry or my mum would know where she lives.

"Hello?"

"Auntie Cora?" As soon as I heard her voice I started crying again.

"Abby? What's up sweetie?"

I tried to take a deep breath but only more sobs came out of my mouth. I padded out into the living room again with the phone still on my ear. My aunt was telling me to breath and to calm down, she knew that I wouldn't cry over nothing and she tried to get me calm down enough so that I could tell her.

Connor was still on the sofa as I wordlessly passed him the phone. He looked surprised at me and then at the ID to see who was on the other end. He didn't know the number and just brought the phone up to his ear "Hello?"

After a few seconds he clicked on the speaker so that I could hear what was going on.

"...happened? Is Abby alright? WHO are you?"

"uhm ... I'm Connor. I ... Abby is listening too now. Sorry, but who are you?"

"Cora. Why is Abby crying? What did you do?"

He squeaked "Me? I didn't do anything!"

I heard my aunt take a deep breath and I got out some tissues and blew my nose. I sat down next to Connor and took the phone back.

"Henry called."

"How did he get your number? What happened?"

"A lot ... Cora? Can we come to you? I need to get out of here and ... can we come?"

"Sure! Uhm honey?"

I sobbed again "Yeah?"

"When you say 'we' I take it that Connor is coming with you?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, sweetie. Take your time, I'll be up when you get here. Don't worry about time. Calm down and then get here. We'll talk then. I'm making Brownies to cheer you up."

I snorted "Thanks. See you soon."

Connor looked at me "Sooo, we're going to your aunt's? She sounds nice."

"She is." I hugged him close and looked at him. He still was pale and looked sleepy.

"Conn? Are you okay? I mean ... you should be resting."

"I've been better, but I'm okay. How far is it?"

"About an hour away."

He hugged me tight and then got up "Alright. Let's get some clothes together. We need clothes right?"

"Yes Connor, we need clothes. I'd like to stay there for a few days, if that's okay with you?"

He smiled "As long as I can stay there with you." He kissed my forehead before standing up and heading up to his room to pack a bag.

Half an hour later we were in the car on our way to the ARC. Sid, Nancy and Rex couldn't come with us to my Aunt's, but they couldn't stay home alone either, so they would have to live in the part of the ARC where we keep the animals that are trapped in our time.

We said goodbye to them and got back into the car. Connor wanted to drive but I told him to get some rest and that I know the way, so he leaned back into the seat and closed his eyes.

I could hear his soft snoring only 5 minutes after that. It really was a bad time for my life to come crashing down on us. He had only been out of the hospital for a few hours and should be resting in bed. I hoped he could relax at my aunts house. I would make sure that he gets enough time to lie down and Cora was a great cook. He would even get real homemade soup and not the canned stuff I could warm up.

When we eventually arrived at Cora's house I had to wake Connor. He was a bit disorientated but smiled at me "Are we there?"

"Yup ... this is it."

He looked at the little house "You know what? This looks just like my dad's house."

"Really?" I smiled.

"Yeah ... looks like home."

Before we could talk more the door opened and my aunt was standing in the doorway.

"Come on, I think we better get inside."

Connor nodded and got out to get our bags.

I rushed into the arms of my aunt. She hugged me tight and whispered "It's good to have you here."

"You saw me just last week."

"I know ... but having you here is better than just see you once a week, and besides, I want to meet your young man."

Connor edged nervously closer to us.

"Ahm ... Cora, this is Connor. Connor ... this is my aunt Cora."

Cora smiled "Hello Connor, good to meet you. Come in you two. It's cold out here."

Right on cue, Connor started to cough. I got over to him, and helped him inside. He was still coughing when I pushed him down on the sofa in the living room.

Cora came from the kitchen with a glass of water and handed it to me. "Is he okay?" I held up my hand in the 'give-me-a-minute-gesture" and concentrated on Connor again.

Connor stopped coughing and downed the water.

He leaned back and closed his eyes whilst he tried to get some oxygen into his lungs. I brushed some hair from his forehead "Remind me not to do that again!" he whispered.

"Better now?"

He nodded.

"Good, you stay here for a bit, okay? Relax and warm up."

"Thanks Abs."

I looked at Cora and nodded my head in the direction of the kitchen. She nodded and followed me. When I looked back at Connor, I saw that he was still concentrating on breathing with his eyes closed.

My aunt was looking as well and whispered again "Is he okay?"

Shaking my head I sat down at the kitchen table. "No, not really. God ... I'm sorry to drag you into all of this, but here is where I feel safe."

"Oh sweetie, you are always welcome here, you know that. Now. Tell me what happened. From the beginning." She got to the stove to prepare some tea as I tried to figure out where to begin.

"Well, Jack called last week and asked if he could stay at my place for a few days. He was away for the weekend at some music festival and some things happened at work. Connor is sick and I wanted him to be home to recover and when Jack came back he wanted me to tell Connor to go away again. When I didn't do what he wanted me to do, he got really angry and shoved me. He was just like Henry ... " I felt myself start to cry again.

"Oh Abby."

Cora pulled me into her embrace and I told her about Connor coming to my rescue and that Henry called to warn me that he would be coming down to London.

"You know you can stay here as long as you like, sweetie. And now, what is up with your young man?"

"He has pneumonia. I couldn't let him stay at home alone."

"Oh my! Okay, I have your room ready ... but ... uh ... Abby?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to sleep on the couch?"

My face felt very hot instantly "Ahm ... no ... I can ... I'll stay with Connor."

Cora smiled and laughed. "Okay. Here hand him this." She shoved two teacups into my hands.

I got back to Connor and sat down next to him on the sofa. He opened his eyes and I handed him one of the cups.

"Thanks. Did you talk to your aunt?"

"Yeah. She said we can stay here as long as we want. But there's a little problem."

"There is? What is it?"

"Ahm ... this is a two bedroom house ... and ... I told her ... that..."

"Don't worry Abs, just get me some pillows and a blanket ... I'm good here."

Did he really think that I would let him sleep on the sofa?

"No you idiot! We have to share a room."

Cora made sure that all the doors and windows were locked properly and took the empty teacups back into the kitchen. I was tired and just wanted to go to bed now.

Connor had to be even more tired than I was because he tried to stifle a yawn again.

"Come on, Conn. It's late."

I stood up and took his hand to pull him up as well.

Cora came back and smiled as she saw our clasped hands. "Okay you two. I'm going to bed now. Abby, you know where everything is and Connor, please make yourself at home."

"Thanks Ms ..."

"Call me Cora." she smiled at him and he grinned back.

"Well, then: Thanks Cora."

The guestroom was actually my old room. There were still some of the lizard pictures on the walls.

When Connor got in the room he smiled. He was nervous since I told him that we are going to share a room, but then he saw the two single beds he seemed to feel better about it.

I put my bag down on my old bed right under the window. That left the bed nearer to the door for Connor. He sat down on it and grabbed something out of his bag.

"Abs? Where's the bathroom?"

I giggled and told him where the bathroom was.

After he left our room, I changed into my nightshirt and sat down on my bed. It was way after midnight now and I remembered that Connor had to take some antibiotics.

I got to the kitchen again to get him some water to wash the pills down.

When I got back to our room Connor sat on his bed and looked at me.

I showed him the glass of water "For your tablets."

"Oh, right. Thanks." He started to get up but I told him to stay where he was. He looked exhausted enough. I got out the tablets and handed them to him along with the water.

He took them and sighed, which brought on a new coughing fit. I knew that he had to cough it out but it was still horrible to see him hurting so much.

When he was done with the coughing, he seemed to have a hard time breathing at all. I sat down next to him and laid my hand on his chest "Conn, close your eyes. Just breathe in and out slowly. In ... out ... in ...out ... just like that."

After a minute he had it under control again and put his hand over mine on his chest, keeping it there.

"Thanks." he whispered, squeezing my hand a little.

"Come on, lay down. You need sleep."

Connor nodded and I got up to give him space on his bed. He was asleep almost instantly.

I was tired enough now to sleep, so I got into my own bed and turned my head to the window.

When I looked out I could see the stars. It was comforting and I thought back to the year after I moved in with Cora.

She just had a little flat above her shop in Soho and I was sleeping on the sofa for 11 months. But that was better than my old home, anything would have been. Cora had welcomed me as if I was her own child and she was there for me and helped me through everything. That little flat was my first real home.

One evening, after she had closed her shop she came up to the flat and told me that she had to talk to me.

We had sat down at the kitchen table, and she told me that I couldn't continue to sleep on the sofa. That it was not good for a girl of my age. I got scared that she would send me away. I started crying and Cora looked at me and started laughing. I thought that she had lost her mind and screamed at her to just leave me alone so that I could pack up my stuff. My aunt had nodded at that and then she told me that that was a good idea and that she would do the same.

That was the point where I got suspicious.

Cora got up and got some pictures and papers out of her bag. She had bought this house. For her and me. I was so happy then. We moved in the next week and decorated everything together.

With that happy memory, I slipped into deep sleep.

I woke up when heard a bang from downstairs. Connor was still fast asleep, so I got out of bed and listened into the dark.

There was a second bang. I tip-toed down the stairs and peered into the kitchen.

Nothing.

Then I turned around. And there he was.

Henry.

He smiled at me and said "I warned you, Abigail!"

I screamed.

"Abby! Abs! Come on! Wake up, Luv. I'm here!"

I was breathing hard and sat up in bed. Connor was there, right next to me.

His hair was sticking up at odd angles and his eyes were wide.

"You're with me now, its OK" He said.

I nodded. "Hmhm. Yeah."

"It was just a dream, luv. You're awake now. Do you want to talk about it?"

"He was here."

"This Henry?" Connor took me into his arms.

"Yeah. But he can't be. He doesn't know that I'm here. Hell, he doesn't even know that Cora lives here." I looked out the window. The stars were still there.

A look at the clock told me that I had about 3 hours of sleep. Connor yawned. He needed more sleep.

"Conn? Can you stay with me. Here, I mean? Can you hold me?"

He blushed and nodded. I lifted my blankets and he got under it and laid down. I curled into him and he put his one arm over my hip and stretched the other arm out so that I could put my head on it.

"He can't get to you Abs. It was just a dream."

"Yeah. I know. He can't harm me."

"No. And I'll protect you!" he tightened his arm around more, surrounding me with his warmth.

I smiled at that. Connor always would try to protect me. He stepped between me and a saber-toothed tiger once.

I was comforted by his touch, his smell, his presence. Nothing could hurt me as long as he was with me. I slipped my fingers into his, and he snuggled in even closer. I wanted him even closer, but as I turned my head to seek his lips, I noticed his breathing had changed. He was asleep. I rested my head against his and closed my eyes. It wasn't long before I drifted into a peaceful sleep as well.

When I woke up again the sun was shining into my face. I rolled so that I was lying on my back.

I heard my aunt's laughter from the kitchen and looked for Connor. He was not in my bed anymore, and the other bed was empty too. He must be downstairs already, so I got up and got down to the kitchen.

Connor was sitting down at the table and my aunt placed a huge pile of pancakes in front of him whilst telling him stories.

"... broke that boys nose! I got a call from her teacher and had to go and talk to the Headteacher! She got suspended for a whole week! When I asked her why she had done it, she told me that he had asked her out!"

My face heated up! I could remember that ... the guy ... Martin ... had pulled on one of my plaits and asked me if I would go to the cinema with him. He said he wanted to snog me in the dark! I had just hit him.

Connor was laughing and grinned at me when he noticed me. Cora didn't notice me though.

"Since your nose is still okay, I take it that she didn't hit you?"

"Cora!" I stepped into the kitchen properly.

"Oh ... sweetie. I didn't realize that you were up already. Breakfast?"

"Yeah, thanks. Where's Maggie?"

"Still upstairs. You know how she likes to sleep in the sun. I'm sure she will be so happy to see you again."

"Who's Maggie?" Connor looked at me.

"Her dog." I told him with a nod at my aunt.

Cora handed me some pancakes too and told us that she would get Maggie down.

When she was out of earshot Connor turned to me "What kind of dog it it? Not a big one, is it?"

I had to smile at him "Conn, you've faced Raptors and a G-Rex and you're afraid of a dog?"

"I'm not!"

"Oh ... sure! You're not!"

Cora came back down and we heard paws on the stairs. Connor looked afraid. I had to grin.

When Maggie came into the kitchen he laughed. I bent down to pick up the little pug to greet her.

Connor brought his chair nearer to me and stretched out his hand to let Maggie sniff it, when she licked his hand he started to scratch her behind the ears with a smile on his face.

"Aww you're a cutie, aren't you?" Maggie was wagging her tail and tried to get over to Connor's lap. I put her over to him and she sat down when he stroked her back.

Cora sat down and smiled at me then looked at Connor.

"Oh Connor, you don't know what you just did!"

"What?"

I smiled ... "She won't leave your side now as long as you're here."

"I have no problem with that." He grinned.

TBC

AN: Reviews make me post faster :D