Chapter 11

Connor felt warm and snug under one of the softest blankets his skin had ever felt. He didn't want to open his eyes, but the sounds around him were just too much to resist any longer.

He opened his eyes but quickly closed them to the bright light that was flooding in from somewhere. When he thought it was ok he opened his eyes again and looked around the room. He didn't recognize anything, but the moment she walked into the room he knew instantly where he was. He remembered being in a field when he first saw her. He also remembered that he was starting to have trouble breathing and that she helped him into her vehicle. He wasn't sure, but he thought her name might be Cara, but he didn't know if he knew that because she had told him or if it was because he had met her before.

She smiled down on him as she walked toward him. She was glad to see him awake. "Connor, it's good to see you again. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever find your way back here, but here you are". She sat down on the bed and could see the look of confusion on his face, "I know you may not remember me, but you will in time again. My name is Cara".

Connor watched her as she came closer and the more he looked at her the more he knew he had met her before, but from where he couldn't say. When she sat down and announced her name he felt an instant connection to her, but the feeling was suddenly replaced with fear. Here he was in a strange place that he didn't recognize with a woman he knew but didn't remember ever meeting before. Maybe he was dreaming and this was just all in his head.

He closed his eyes trying to make sense of this. He tried to remember where he was before seeing her and when he did it hit him like a brick wall. Before he opened his eyes he felt his chest tighten up as he struggled to take a breath. The feeling continued to overwhelm him until he passed out.

The ARC was in an uproar when they found out that Connor was missing. Abby had wasted no time in finding Danny and telling him what she saw. Along the way Lester found out and demanded that they look into what he had been working on.

Danny and Abby went straight to the Research Lab, but were annoyed to find Trina had beaten them there. She looked equally annoyed as she inspected some of the diagrams and items at Connor's work station.

Trina looked toward the door when she heard it opening. She was in no mood to discuss this with Danny and Abby, but if Connor was missing then she shouldn't expect them to stay out of it. He was their friend after all.

Danny went straight for Connor's work station, "What do you know about Connor's disappearance?"

Trina looked stunned at the questions, "Why would you think I know something about it?"

"Because he was working on something you had drawn", he picked up the diagram to prove his point.

Trina saw what was in his hand and instantly knew why he had accused her, "Those were just plans I had drawn up, but they wouldn't have anything to do with what happened to Connor".

Danny was annoyed by her avoidance to the question, "What was he making?"

Trina continued to play it cool, but making sure to act offended at the accusation at the same time, "They were just detectors that we used from my time. Since I didn't bring any back with me I thought this was the best way to show everyone what I was talking about".

Danny remained skeptical at her answer, but he nothing more to work with, "Lester wants us to figure out where he went so anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated".

"Of course Danny, I want to find Connor just as much as you do". She turned away from Danny to talk to Abby, "Abby, I heard that you were with him when he disappeared. What can you tell me about it?"

Abby didn't want her help anymore than Danny did, but they would be crazy to turn down anyone's help at this point, "He was standing in the open field and there was a very bright light before him. I called out to him and he looked at me, but then he turned back to the light and walked through it. Once he was through the light disappeared".

"What kind of light did you see?"

Abby wanted to get all the details correct so she took her time while explaining, "It was a pure white light, kind of like the ones we see when there is an anomaly, but this was not the same. It was almost like I had seen it before, but I'm not sure".

The mention of a pure white light had grabbed Trina's full attention, "Where do you think you saw it before, have you experienced different anomalies before".

As Abby thought about it her mind drifted back to the day they had come back to their own time. It was when Connor had not come through with them that she had seen the light, "It was the same light that Connor had come through when we thought he had not made it through from the future with us".

Trina was worried about Abby's revelation. She didn't know if they could tell it by the look in her eyes, but she did her best to not let it show, "And you have never seen this light before that day, correct?"

Abby just nodded and looked at Danny who was also nodded his agreement.

Trina grabbed a few of the diagrams and without saying anything further started making her way to the door.

Danny was happy at the thought of her leaving, but he could tell she knew more to what was going on than she was say. Additionally she was taking things that Connor had been working with before he disappeared. "Where are you going with those?"

Trina stopped when Danny was finished with his question, "These are my plans; I'm only taking what is mine".

"They may hold a clue to what happened and until someone tells me otherwise, I am in charge of this investigation".

Trina wasn't happy with this and to show it she shoved the papers into Danny's hand and left the room without saying anything.

Danny looked stunned at her behavior, but Abby looked satisfied, "What do you think that was all about".

Abby couldn't help but smile, "I think she didn't like being put in her place by you. Did you get the idea that she knew something about this?"

Danny nodded, "Yeah, I was wondering if you had thought the same thing. We need to find out what Connor was working on and figure out how she fits into all of this".

After passing out, Connor finally opened his eyes. He didn't know how long he had been out, but he finally felt better. He didn't feel as lightheaded as he did before and it was a little easier to breathe.

He sat up on the bed he was currently occupying and found that he was not alone. He saw that Cara was leaning against the window with her back to the cool air flowing in. She didn't make an attempt to move, but instead just smiled. She continued to just stare at him for another minute before breaking the silence.

"Connor, I hope you are finally feeling better. I knew this would happen, but I just hate to see you struggling".

He still had no idea of who she was, but he felt comfortable in her presence, "I do feel better, but I am so confused by this. How do you know who I am?"

She finally moved closer, but made sure to keep her distance, "I know a whole lot about you Connor. I know you have a lot of questions, but in time you will remember everything, I promise".

He did indeed have questions, but for some reason he believed her.

She saw the look in his eyes and knew that he was ok with all of this. She knew he would be, but he just needed time. "Well, I think it's time to get you out of this bed and find something for you to eat".

The sound of food made him take notice and he was ready to jump up off the bed, but he found Cara in his way.

"Slow down there Connor, I can see your appetite hasn't changed much".

How could she know that? She was looking at him with eyes that were so familiar yet so unfamiliar. The way she looked at him told him that she knew exactly who he was, but why didn't he know who she was. He was confused, but what happened next really shocked him.

Cara couldn't hold it in any longer. She moved closer to him and leaned into for strong embrace followed by a long intense kiss. She didn't feel him resist her so she made the kiss last long enough to take his breath away.

She looked at the reaction on his face and wasn't sure what to make of it. She knew his looks pretty well, but this was a new one. She couldn't tell if he was happy about what she did or repulsed by it all.

A kiss from the woman was the last thing he would have expected from her, especially such a passionate kiss. When she was finally done and he saw her face a sudden recognition flooded his already overwhelmed brain. He finally knew who he was, where he was and most importantly how important this woman sitting beside him was. It all came back to him as if he had never left. He suddenly ached to hold her again.

He grabbed her and this time it was her breath he took away. He kissed her like he had been hungry for her lips for a long time, but for him it really hadn't been that long. His kiss was more for her because he knew she would have been waiting a long time for his return.

She wasn't disappointed in his final reaction. She had been waiting for 4 long years for this.

Authors Note: Sorry the last part may be confusing, but the next chapter will hopefully explain it all to you. I hope you stay with me on this story.