Chapter 3. When It's All Crashing Down

Becker could feel Abby's entire body tense under his touch, then she completely broke down in his arms. He stroked her hair helplessly, not wanting to press her to say anything she wasn't ready for.

Something had happened, that was obvious, one…or both of their other teammates were dead. Not another one he thought, please not another one.

She pulled back from him and turned away wiping at her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, turning back to him, "This whole thing has just been a nightmare, I just keep hoping I'm going to wake up and I never do."

"It's alright, you're safe now," he said, meeting her eyes.

"Can we go home?" she asked.

"Of course," he said with a small smile, "Let's get you out of here."

He walked over and put his arm around her, leading her back towards the anomaly. The other two teams were already there when they reached it, one of his men opened his mouth to ask, Becker was sure, about the other two, but Becker silenced him with a sharp nod.

They got back through the anomaly, Abby still staying close to Becker's side. Matt turned to him,

"Let's get her to the ARC, have the medic team take a look at her."

Becker sank down to the floor outside the medical suite, he had no idea what had happened over there, but it had effected her immensely, he just hope it didn't bear any permanent repercussions.

The doctor came out into the hall what seemed like a century later, and seemed surprised to find Becker sitting on the floor.

"Captain Becker, Ms. Maitland is asking for you." he said quietly.

Becker quickly rose to his feet, "How is she?"

"She's suffering from post traumatic stress, a little malnourished, but otherwise completely healthy."

He slipped past the doctor into the small room and sat down beside Abby.

"Where are Sarah and Danny?" she asked, looking over at him.

"Danny…wasn't with you? He never came back through."

"He went ahead of us, after Helen, he never came back."

"Well we can only assume whatever happened, he took Helen down with him."

She nodded slowly before looking away from him and taking a deep breath, when her gaze returned to him, it was haunted.

"We'd been in about eight months, Connor and I went out hunting for food, we were at the river, fishing, Connor got to close to a Spinosaurus nest trying to catch something, we thought we'd outrun it but…" her whole body shook as she spoke.

He reached over and put a hand on hers, "You don't have to say anymore, I'm incredibly sorry Abby, I know how close the two of you were."

"Something happened here didn't it, to Sarah?" she asked, studying him.

"We sent in four rescue missions, they all failed, Sarah was killed by a raptor in the last one," he replied, voice shaky, "It was my fault…I never should have agreed to let her come, but if we found you, she wanted to be there."

Abby leaned forward and pressed her forehead to Becker's, "We'll get through this."

"I know, I'm just thankful you're alive, I'd thought I'd lost everyone."

"Nah, you can't get rid of me that easy," she responded with a weak laugh.

"So, I heard Lester and Burton talking about not being sure where you were going to live and I offered them for you to stay with me until you can get back on your feet, or for however long you like, I hope that's okay."

"Thank you Becker, that's great," she said reaching over and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"So stand in the rain, stand your ground, stand up when it's all crashing down. You stand through the pain, you won't drown, and one day, what's lost can be found." Superchick