1 Month since Chapter 5
Series 4 Episode 3
Disclaimer: I only own Sofia, nothing else
Chapter 6- We Want To Help
"How long have you got?" Matt asked not looking at Gideon but instead across the garden.
"Months, weeks maybe." Gideon answered him, Matt looked up to him finally.
"We'll talk to another doctor get a second opinion." Gideon couldn't be dying, let alone not do anything about it.
"Matthew I'm dying you can't fix this."
"No but you can fight it. we can beat this." He couldn't believe he was just accepting it.
"You remind me of myself when I was your age. Stubborn, head strong, though not quite so good looking." Gideon told him with a small smile. Matt looked away. "You'll be alright here without me." Gideon said moving to sit next to Matt. "Your close now."
"Close?" Matt stated shocked. "I'm in complete darkness. I mean it might be Phillip but I'm not certain, Connor's smart, but someone could be dangerous without even knowing it. It could be a complete stranger and I'm looking in the wrong place." Matt exclaimed
"You'll work it out." Gideon cut in.
"Was it worth it? Your whole life just waiting?"
"Of course, think what's at stake."
Looking up Sofi sighed, another anomaly.
"Sorry guys but I have to run." She said to Sid, Nancy and Rex while standing up and heading to the airlock. Running down the corridor she made it to the opps room just in time to hear Jess tell the others it was in a theatre.
"Sofi!" Becker called throwing a black box to her before jogging towards the garage with the others following. Just as they reached Lester's office Burton called Connor.
"Connor I need your help." Sofi couldn't help but think he'd time it like this on purpose, but then again it was probably her extreme dislike for the man that made her see it this way.
"It's an alert I should-"
"This is more important. I need you to run the new security protocol and check for gliches."
"Really? Can it not wait because I should really be with-"
"The core team have military training, you have other skills." Connor just nodded his head to the trio to tell them to go on without him. Becker nodded back and turned back to the garage, Sofia and Abby following.
"He timed that on purpose." Sofi heard Abby hiss under her breath.
"Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so." Sofi responded. The three of them got into one car while another was loaded with the military support.
"Matt is going to meet you there." Jess's voice was heard over the comm. "From where he is now Matt will most likely be there before you."
"Thanks Jess." Becker replied before pulling out of the car park. The drive to the Theatre didn't take to long, but longer than it should of done though due to some road works being done. Finally pulling up outside the Theatre the others could see Matt's car was already there. Parking they all got out and collected there EMD's. Walking into the Theatre they all had there EMD's poised and ready incase of an incursion and Becker started giving orders.
"Search the room for any signs of incursion, Sofi stay here with them contact us if you find anything, Abby and I will lock the anomaly."
"Sure thing Becker." Sofi called already giving out orders for where she wanted the men to go while Becker and Abby made there way back stage. Sofi herself made her way to the second level with two of the soldiers then split off from them keeping an eye out for any signs of incursion whilst listening for anything that sounded suspicious, she was also listening to what Becker and Abby were saying.
"she's dead." She heard Becker say.
"Was it a creature attack?" Sofia asked looking round.
"She has no wounds. There is no sign of an incursion or Matt." Her heart skipped a beat when she heard they couldn't find Matt.
"So where is he? Jess anything? Sofi?" Abby called.
"So far the front looks clear." Sofi responded just before Jess.
"I've checked the CCTV, he hasn't left the Theatre." Jess answered.
"At least not through the door." Connor added.
"The anomaly?" Sofia asked.
"Forget it, he'd never go through. He knows the rules, no expeditions, no search parties, no rescue. Besides if he's been dragged through by a creature he's already dead." Becker stated causing Sofi to freeze. Dead. He couldn't be, he was more careful then that. If he has gone through it was probably a rescue. If there was already someone here, there might have been someone else. Surely even Becker couldn't leave him to die on the other side of an anomaly.
"Becker you need to open the anomaly." Sofi said.
"No, we all know the rules Lieutenant."
"Come on mate you know it's the right thing to do." Connor added.
"No. We keep searching the Theatre."
"Becker." Abby called.
"He's not here Becker." Sofi stated getting angrier.
"Listen Abby you can either stay here or you can search with me, but that anomaly stays locked. That goes for you to Lieutenant." Becker ordered before storming off.
"Becker mate it's Connor, this is Matt were talking about." Connor tried, Sofi started making her way back stage. If Becker wouldn't open the anomaly she would, even if she had to shoot Becker with her EMD and lose her job.
"Connor you know the rules better than anyone, if he's gone through it's on his own head."
"I don't care about the rules just-" Connor started before being cut off by Abby.
"You don't know what it's like. To be trapped out there, to be lost so far away."
"You can't just leave him there." Connor finished just as Sofi entered the corridor Becker and Abby were making there way down.
"Lieutenant carry on searching." Becker ordered upon seeing her.
"Sorry Captain but if you won't open the anomaly I will." Sofi stated storming towards them so she could get to the anomaly.
"Now is not the time to let your emotions cloud your judgement. Get back to the state room and carry on the search. That is an order." Becker shouted.
"Sorry Captain but no." Sofi said shooting him a glare just as she reached him and Abby causing them to stop. Becker stood in front of her blocking her way to the anomaly.
"We haven't finished searching yet." Becker called looking between Abby and Sofi.
"He's not here Becker." Abby said hitting his arm.
"He's a human being, trapped we could help. We should help." Connor tried again.
"No one else goes through, no rescue, no search parties, if a creature comes through we'll deal with it. But we have to open it." Abby stated. Becker looked between Abby who was standing defiantly, and Sofi who was full out glaring at him with her EMD raised.
"Becker if you don't get out of my way, I will shoot you." Sofia tolded him in a deadly calm voice that was full of promise.
"We have to give Matt a chance." Abby said, at this point she was also fearing for Becker. Sofi looked like she was seconds away from shooting him. For a women so small and innocent looking, she looked terrifing when she was angry.
"Come on." Abby insisted.
"Fine." Becker shouted turning and storming back towards the anomaly, he didn't want to do this but he had no doubt Sofi would shoot him and open it anyway, going off the look in her eyes. He would have to talk to her about this later. She had lowered her EMD slightly but it was still partially raised. Becker knelt down and opened the anomaly. Not a second later Matt ran through with a women in his arms and a creature right behind them. All of them raised their EMD's and shot at it before it fell back through.
"Quick, lock it." Becker ordered. As Abby ran to the Locker, Sofi ran to Matt and the woman. She had noticed she was unconcious and with being a qualified field medic went to see what she could do to help. Looking at Matt he nodded and stepped aside to let her see to the woman, remembering her qualifications, he looked to her to see her taking the torch off her EMD the check the womans pupils before he turned to Becker and Abby.
"Before you ask I don't know. She just ran through." Matt told them.
"And you followed her." Becker said coldly before walking over to him.
"What was that thing?" Abby asked.
"Some type of arboreal raptor, tree climber. Trust me you do not want that thing coming through."
"We found another women, dead." Abby informed him. "Not a creature attack."
"We need to get her to the hospital." Sofi called from the womans side. Both Becker and Matt walked over so they could carry the woman outside.
Sofia stood by the door of the room the mystery women was in watching Matt look at all her stuff.
"That could be classed as an invasion of privacy you know." Sofia called to him smiling, he just shot her a smile before sitting down and opening a bottle, smelling the contents which caused him to cough.
"Serves you right." Sofi said quietly although not quietly enough as Matt shot her a look. Letting out a small chuckle she turned back to the woman who appeared to be waking. She looked around before attempting to get out of the bed.
"Hey. hey it's OK your in a hospital." Matt told her in a calm voice making her lie back down. Sofi tried staying out of sight just incase her large EMD frightened the women. "Is there anyone I should call? Friends or family." Matt carried on. Not getting a reply, he tried a different tactic. "We found a body at the Theatre." This caused her to look away from him. "A young woman." Her head shot back to him and this was when she noticed the other female by the door, but she didn't acknowledge her. "Is that why you ran away? Did you think I was the police?" Matt asked. The woman finally replied.
"She was my friend, I would never have hurt her."
"OK." Matt said turning he looked at her stuff again before picking up an old looking knife. "This is interesting, where did you get it?" Not getting a reply he put it back down. "OK why don't we just start with your name." Matt waited. "I'm sure you have questions you would like to ask me to. One minute your in a Theatre, the next your in a forest with those creatures. That's enough to fry anyone's brain."
"Fry whose brain?" The women asked confused.
"Metaphorically speaking." Matt told her, when his phone started ringing. Sofia noticed the look on her face when he pulled it out, it was a look of amazement.
"Yep?" Matt answered, he listened to whatever was being said before replying. "Yeah we'll come down and meet you." He said before hanging up. Standing up he held out his hand. "I'm Matt by the way. The young woman other there is Sofi." But she still didn't answer. "Don't try to run away." Matt told her while picking up her knife. "I'll take this for safe keeping, yeah." He told her before turning to Sofi. "Come on, the others said there is something we need to see." He told her before exiting through the doors. Sofia turned and offered the women a smile hoping to get her to trust her a bit before following Matt.
"She's not from this time." Sofia said as she caught up to Matt.
"What is strange about the dead woman we found at the Theatre is that she died of an infection that antibiotics could have knocked out in days." Abby told them.
"Yeah that's not all, she is showing antibodies for Small pox. How is that even possible?" Becker added.
"When I followed her through, she knew that world, she knew how to handle those creatures. I agree with you Sofi, I don't think they are from our time." Matt informed them. All of them looked at each other before heading back to her room. When they were nearly there Becker started talking again.
"I'm taking her into protective custody."
"You what?" Matt exclaimed.
"As you said, she clearly isn't from our time, she could be infectious, hostile, psychotic. No. We take her in and keep her secure and let the experts deal with it."
"Hold on, we are the experts." Matt called.
"She's not a creature Captain we can't keep her locked up. She's a human being." Sofia exclaimed, she was still pissed at Becker for almost allowing Matt to be trapped on the other side of the anomaly.
"Look I didn't bring her here, whatever happens to her is not my responsibility." Becker told Matt, ignoring Sofia for now.
"In my judgement we have to treat this with some sensitivity." Matt argued back.
"In your judgement?" Becker hissed.
"Look why don't you just say it."
"Fine. You chasing her through that anomaly put everyone at risk. I've seen to many people die that way." Becker stated before storming off, but stopped when Jess's voice came over the comms.
"We have an incursion at the Theatre, one man down. I repeat one man down."
"Great one man down. Nice work." Becker stated barging past Matt.
"You and Sofi stay here and see what you can find out about her." Abby said before following Becker. Shaking his head he walked into the room where the woman had been only to see her guard getting his head checked.
"Dammit." He exclaimed turning around quickly facing Sofi. "She's gone." Both of them quickly ran down the corridor trying to get to the entrance as quick as possible. Looking over the banister to the first floor Sofi saw her.
"Matt!" Sofia shouted turning and going the other way. Looking down, Matt saw why and followed her. Reaching the far side both Matt and Sofia looked down to see the woman leaving the hospital, Matt looked around before tapping Sofi's arm.
"Come on, this way." He said before running off. They reached the car finally.
"The anomaly, our best bet is that she is going to head for the anomaly." Sofia told him.
"I agree. Once we get close enough we'll follow her on foot it will be more discrete. There are two smaller EMD's in the back seat, grab them. Your big one will be to hard to hard in public." Matt ordered driving down the road keeping an eye out while Sofi got the guns.
"Got her." Matt announced just as Sofia sat forward. Handing him the EMD they both got out of the car and followed her. Turning the corner Matt and Sofia watched as she enetered the Theatre, looking at each other they broke out into a run heading to the back door. Entering they Walked slowly down the corridor Matt rounded the corner first.
"Ethan?" They both heard her shout.
"Whose Ethan?" Matt asked, Sofia remained hidden. "Where are you from? When are you from?" The woman replied but not with answers to the questions.
"I have to find the man who came through with me." At this point Sofia revealed herself, moving slowly so not to startle to woman. "We must go back before it is to late." Suddenly the sound of a creature call could be heard. "Tree Creepers."
"You stay here, Sofia with me." Matt ordered but before they could get anywhere the woman stopped them.
"I know these creatures you don't, it will make for the highest point get it's bearings and then go on the attack. I'm coming with you." The woman stated staring them both in the eye.
"Or what?" Matt asked.
"I'll be forced to hurt you."
"Again. You'll be forced to hurt me again."
"Come on Matt she seems to know what she's doing. She could prove to be helpful." Sofia said trying not to grin at the fact this woman already had one up on him.
"OK, but stay out of sight." He agreed before turning and walking on. Turning to Sofia the woman nodded her thanks before they both followed Matt. Walking into the state room Sofi and Matt spotted Abby and Becker on the second floor.
"Abby?" Matt shouted.
"There are two of them." She informed them.
"I think ones gone outside. We'll take care of that one, you and Becker search in here." Nodding Abby turned back to Becker while Matt and Sofia went back to the woman so they could head outside. Outside Matt, Sofia and the woman were looking up at all the buildings but couldn't see it, hearing it's call again they ran in that direction.
"Matt I have a visual." Sofi called holding up her EMD.
"Yep I see it to." Also raising his EMD.
"Shoot it!" The woman called.
""We can't Miss it's out of range." Sofi told her.
"Just shoot it."
"Your very bossy aren't you." Matt said looking to her. Aiming his EMD once again as did Sofia. "Come on."
"Matt could the charge travel up that pole?" Sofia asked indicating to a pole that reach the roof of the building where the creature was stood.
"Excellent thinking." He told her aiming for it and shooting. The charge travelled up the pole reaching the creature shocking it, causing it to fly back through the window of the building.
"Come on we need to find it." Matt called running to the building. Reaching the floor where the creature went through, they entered the room with caution, EMD's raised at the ready. Looking round they saw the broken window.
"Well this is definately where it came in. So where is it now?" Sofia said looking round. Matt made his way down a different corridor the young women close behind and Sofi bringing up the rear.
"Stay back, Sofi here now." She heard Matt order. Making her way to him she saw the creature sat on a table in the room in front of them, the only thing in the way was a glass wall. Turning round the creature saw them and began examining the glass.
"What are you going to do?" The woman asked.
"I don't know, the charge can't pass through glass." Matt told her.
"Matt I highly suggest we move back." Sofia said watching the creature look as though it was preparing to come threw the glass. The suggestion came to late as the creature had already charged knocking both Matt and Sofi over, the creature went for Matt, luckily the table Matt had landed on broke falling on top of him stopping the creature from reaching him. When Sofia had fallen she had hit her EMD off of the floor and broke it looking round she couldn't see Matt's anywhere. Looking up she saw the women throw something into the creatures face causing it to run away.
"Told you she could prove helpful." Sofia said while helping Matt to his feet.
"Yes you did. Thank you." Matt said to Sofi before turning to the woman.
"It's OK and it headed this way, up to the roof." She replied before they all ran off to the roof.
"Matt were heading to your location with backup." Becker's voice came over the comms.
"Becker both mine and Sofia's EMD's are down get here now." Matt called just as they reached the roof. The creature was stood on the ledge when they saw it and it turned around and saw them. Picking up speed they ran to a small structure that was in the middle of the roof, getting inside just as the creature reached them. Matt picked up a pole while Sofi and the woman looked for other objects that could be of use.
"We have to try and rope it." The woman called picking up some wire and throwing some more to Sofi. The creature suddenly became quiet causing the trio to freeze looking through one of the holes it had made in the structure Matt tried to find it when it suddenly pressed up against the side looking in at them. Matt hit it with the pole before taking the wire Sofi offered him and ran out of the structure with Sofi following. The women waited inside so she could get behind it.
"Hey! Over here!" Matt shouted getting it's attention. Just as the creature was about the reach them it was pulled back by a loop of wire that had been thrown around it's neck. With it distracted Sofi ran to the side of it while Matt stayed in front. Sofi and Matt both threw there wire loops around it's neck before tying the wire down hoping to keep the creature immobile. Running off to the side the trio gouped together.
"At this point we usually argue about how to cook it." The women stated.
"We?" Sofi asked.
"There were 15 of us at the last count. We only stay where there are no people."
"Matt we have located your position." Becker's voice came over the comms once again.
"Why?" Matt asked ignoring Becker.
"We're on our way up."
"It was the rules. No interfering in another human era." The woman replied before any of them could say anything else the sound of a wire snapping caught there ears, they all looked up just as the last two wires snapped and the creature came for them. Matt managed to throw himself and the two girls to the floor before the creature got them and the creature went over the edge. Helping both the women up they looked over the side seeing the creature dead below them. They could see Abby and Becker below with the creature, when they looked up Matt raised his arm to show they were OK. Turning around Sofi saw the woman leaving.
"Hey where you going?" She called causing both Matt and the woman to turn and face her.
"I helped you, now you help me. Let me go."
"We can't do that. We have to bring you in." Matt replied.
"Didn't you listen to me, don't you understand. I have to find Ethan and leave this time. Please."
"Tell us who you are first?" Matt ordered.
"My name is Lady Emily Merchant, my home is London, I was born in 1840, I beg of you let me go."
"Matt, we can help her." Sofia said turning to Matt look. "Look I have a spare room she can stay in." Sofi pushed.
"Fine, we'll help you. But you are not wondering around London on you own. Sofia has offered you a place, you stay with her, it's better than the other option. We'll help you track this Ethan guy but you have to do what we say OK?" Matt told her.
"OK."
"OK how are we going to get past the others?" Matt inquired turning to Sofia.
"We'll tell them we lost her. I'll cover for you, here's the spare key to my house you can take her there, tell them your searching for her. I would but Becker's ordered me to have a meeting with him. Make yourselves comfortable and I'll be back as soon as possible." Sofia responded
"Thank you." Matt told her. "OK lets go."
Back at the ARC Sofia was just handing Jess her black box when Becker called her.
"Sofia I want to see you in the armoury in ten minutes." Becker ordered her before walking off.
"Everything OK?" Jess asked looking between the two.
"Just peachy." Sofi responded before following Becker might as well get this over and done with. Reaching the armoury five minutes later Sofia put herself into full military mode.
"Captain?" Sofia asked from just in the doorway, hands clasped behind her back and a blank look on her face, looking straight at Becker.
"Sofia over here please." Becker ordered, when she was stood in front of him he started the lecture. After about half an hour he finally began to finish off. "When you let your emotions cloud your judgement, you become sloppy and make mistakes. In this line of work that cannot be allowed, I don't really care for your crush on Matt just don't let it happen again. And if you ever raise your weapon at me in a threatening manner again or threaten me you will get much more than a caution. Do I make myself clear?" Becker finished.
"Yes sir, it won't happen again." Sofia answered glad she was as controlled as she was otherwise she would have ended up in a full blown arguement with him over everything and probably would have lost her job. It seemed he was taking all his anger out of being ganged up on, on her. Which was completely uncalled for and unfair.
"You are dismissed."
"Yes sir." Sofia nodded once before turning and leaving. Not long after she had left Abby entered the armoury and saw that Becker had his back to her.
"You know, that was quite harsh." Abby stated. "She never even fully raised her weapon at you, and she wasn't the only one she ganged up on you so you shouldn't take all your anger out on her. Had it been Connor on the other side of that anomaly I would have shot you on the spot the moment you refused to open it. You know you would have done the same thing if it was someone like Jess instead of Matt. Think about it. And I think you owe her an apologie." Abby said leaving before giving him a chance to reply.
Pulling up into the driveway of her house, Sofia turned off the engine and climbed out of the car, locking it before heading to her front door. Looking towards the road she could see Matt's car parked opposite her house. Smiling she let herself in.
"Hello?" She called.
"Living room." She heard Matt call. Walking in she could see both Matt and Emily sat with what looked like cups of coffee. Matt was on her one seater and Emily on the sofa. Walking over to the sofa she sat doen with a sigh.
"Everything OK?" Matt asked.
"Yeah, it's fine."
"What happened with Becker?"
"I may have been given a caution." Sofi told him, looking towards him.
"What! Why?" He asked his eyebrows raised.
"Let's just say it took some convincing for him to open the anomaly. And it seemed he took all his anger from the day out on me. But it doesn't matter we have more important things to deal with. Tell us about this Ethan guy." Sofia finished turning to Emily.
"The people I travel with were all damaged in there own way being lost and so far from home. But Ethan is something else. He's different. It's as if there is something broken in him, Charlotte kept him under control and now that she's dead, none of us are safe." Emily told them looking down at her drink.
"Emily, whatever happens I want you to know that your safe here." Matt tried reasuring her.
"We promise Emily, we will keep you safe, we want to help." Sofia added.
"None of us are safe while Ethan's out there."
They spent a bit longer talking about what they were going to do and about Ethan before Sofia looked at the time.
"Matt, are you staying for dinner?" Sofia asked.
"Oh, I wouldn't want to be a problem." He replied looking at his watch.
"Don't be dafted it isn't a problem." After finding something they all liked Sofi set about preparing dinner. Once it was done they all sat down and talked a bit more, with Matt and Sofia explaining a few of the basics to do with this time period so she would be comfortable here. Once everyone was finished and everything was cleared away Matt set about making his way home, Sofia walked him to the door closing it behind her so she could keep the heat in the house.
"Thank you for dinner, it was great." Matt thanked again giving her a smile.
"I told you, it wasn't a problem. Anyway if you are anything like my old friends you probably would have gone home and not eaten or eaten something that can't even be considered a meal." Sofi stated.
"You have me there." Matt told her with a laugh which she joined in with. After they had stopped laughing Matt looked her in the eye.
"Sofia what did you do to cause Becker to give you a caution?" Matt asked in a quieter voice searching her eyes for the answer. Looking away Sofia answered.
"It was nothing, like I said we all ganged up on him." Sofia said.
"Sofi. Please tell me." He said again moving closer to her. Sighing she gave in.
"He refused to open the anomaly for you. No matter what we said he wasn't budging in the end I may have threatened to shoot him." Sofi told him not looking him eye.
"Sofi. Look at me." She turned to look at him, she could feel the blush on her cheeks, she was hoping that the fact that the only source of light there was, was coming from the small outdoor lamp on the wall next to her door, that her blush wouldn't be to obvious. With what she did for him it made it pretty obvious she had feelings for him and that was something she was trying to hide from him. Finally looking him in the eyes he stepped forward taking both her hands in his and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you. If it wasn't for you I would still be trapped on the other side of that anomaly." He told her softly giving her hands a sqeeze. After his talk with Becker about a month ago, he had worked Becker was right. He did want Sofia and himself to be more than friends but he couldn't. It would jeopardize his mission. Realising he had looked down to there hands he looked back up to her face only to see she was only looking at there hands also. Her blush was brighter and she had a big grin on her face. From what he had seen and heard Sofia felt the same way, but what she did for him today really proved it. Finally he pulled her into a hug.
"Thank you." He whispered on last time. Pulling away he offered her a smile before turning around and heading to his car. Turning to her one last time but carrying walking backwards to his car he bid her a good night which she returned. "I'll see you tomorrow." He called then climbed into his car and heading home.
Turning and heading inside Sofia went in the living and saw Emily.
"So I'll show you which is your room and how everything works and where everything is so you can get settled." Sofia said offering her smile which was bigger than intended because she coulnd't get Matt out of her head.
Sofia's house was in a quiet old neighbourhood. All the houses were detached and a reasonable distance apart. Sofia's house was the most modern there and very open if at the right level you would be able to see throughout most of her house via her front windows. Opposite her house was an old block of three abandoned apartments with an underground garage. The block was due to be renovated in six months and was to remain empty until then. The apartment that took up the second floor was at the perfect level to see into Sofia's house. And it had just become occupied.
Thank you! Got this finished quicker than I thought. Yay!
I know some of the characters are a bit out of character but that's the way I want them. Hope you enjoyed :) Please review!
Cammie x