Not much happens in this chapter :/ Never mind lots of action in the next few :D
Two and a half months after Chapter 16
Series 5 Episode 3
Enjoy :) Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Laying in bed Sofia was enjoying the feel of Matt stroking her stomach, from what she had been told by her mid-wife she was now almost 18 weeks pregnant. She had it confirmed by the doctors a week after the mission on the sub that she was definitely pregnant. They hadn't told anyone yet, they hadn't told anyone during the first trimester as Sofi had always had it drilled into her head by her mum not to but now she was in her second trimester and the chance of miscarriage was less, she had finally told her parents. But no one at the ARC knew. They didn't tell anyone more by Sofia's choice, she knew the minute they found out she would be forced off the field team and she hadn't wanted that straight away. So she made a deal with Matt that the moment she started showing they would tell everyone and she would stop field work for the rest of the pregnancy and some time after that, as long as she was still allowed to work in the menagerie she would do so with minimal fuss. And she was now most definitely showing Sofi had been wearing baggier tops to hide her distinct baby bump and it was still easy to hide but she could tell Matt was getting edgier about her being out in the field so she gave in and agreed to tell everyone when Lester came back from his three day conference.
"I know we still have about four and a half months but what do you want, a boy or a girl?" Sofia asked Matt while running her fingers through his hair while he was still stroking her bump, they had decided to wait to find out the gender of their baby.
"I have no idea, I still can't get over the fact we're going to be parents. I guess I'd like a boy, I'd want us to have a relationship like me and my father before the mission took over. He was everything, my best friend, my protector, my light in the dark." Matt stopped taking a deep breath.
"I'd like a boy to." Sofia couldn't stop the grin spreading across her face imagining a little boy with his fathers blue eyes, and her blonde hair she didn't know if he'd have an Irish, Italian or British accent, but she hoped it'd be irish she loved Matt's accent. "I feel sorry for him, and he's not even born yet."
"Why's that?" Matt questioned looking up at her.
"Well you have a very distinct Irish accent, I have a very distinct Italian accent and we live in England. It's going to be so confusing for him."
"I hope he develops yours." Matt told her while laying his head back down on her shoulder. Closing her eyes Sofi thought about the ARC, over the passed few months Matt had gotten far more protective of her on missions, she had taken it in her stride because she knew why he was doing it but she still found it slightly annoying and the others had began to notice. She had just told them it was Matt being Matt and they seemed to believe her, she was still suprised they hadn't noticed her bump as well. "We should get some rest, we have work in the morning." Matt whispered into her ear, leaning up on his elbows he pressed a kiss to her lips. "I love you." He whispered once he pulled back his lips still brushing against hers.
"I love you too." Sofia whispered. Rolling onto his back Sofia lay her head on his shoulder, and fell asleep in his embrace fairly quickly.
"We have to find out what Connor's doing." Matt told Abby once again. Upon getting to the ARC Matt had asked Sofia if she could bring Abby to his office as he was going to ask her to get a copy of Connor's hard drive. They had been talking about different ways of getting information and this was the best thing they could come up with, and Abby was the best candidate but they didn't know how she would take the idea.
"He won't tell me anything." Abby replied exasperated looking between the pair. "He works straight through the night, I haven't even seen him. He's obessed." Abby finished. Sofia couldn't help but feel incredibly sorry for her, after everything they've been through and then one man comes between them.
"Well if he won't tell you we're going to have to find out some other way." Sofi commented causing Abby to look at her suspiciously.
"Abby, your the only one who can do it." Matt added, Sofi could tell the minute Abby had guessed what they wanted her to do.
"You want me to break into his lab?" she demanded sounding incredulous.
"If either of us get caught it'll be a diaster, we'll lose Philip's trust, if you get caught..." Matt started before being cut off by Abby.
"I'm just the jealous girlfriend right! Your asking me to lie to him. To risk our whole future together." Abby said walking right up to Matt, looking between him and Sofi.
"He's already risking it Abbs." Sofi told her softly.
"And it's not just your future he's risking, it's everyones." Matt added.
"I can't." Abby told them just as the alarm went off and she walked off. Running his hand through his hair Matt let out a fustrated sign turning towards the door but before he could leave he felt Sofi's hand running up his back.
"Don't worry we'll figure something out." She tried soothing him.
"Like what Sofi? We're running out of time."
"If she won't do it I will." She told him causing him to look at her.
"If you get caught you could lose your job, Abby can just say she was seeing Connor you don't have that excuse."
"I'm pregnant, we're expecting a baby. If I lose this job, yes I would be devastated but I can always find something else." Sofia replied. "Come on, there is an anomaly waiting." She told him leaving the room.
Pulling up at the museum, herself, Matt, Becker and Abby climbed out of the car and gathered their gear. Since Matt and herself we're a bit slow in getting to the cars at the ARC the military support had been sent ahead.
"First floor, the building has already been emptied." A soilder informed them, nodding they headed up the stairs to the first floor. Reaching the floor they headed down the corridor only to stop when loud music started playing, looking round they could see themselves projected onto various screens in various styles.
"I can now tell why this floor is called Intimidation." Sofi called over the music, once the music had finally quietened down they walked futher into the room.
"Motion detector." Matt commented.
"Video installation, bit old and tired more of a post impressionist myself." Becker told them causing Matt to give him strange look and Sofi to laugh. "Anomaly is this way." He said after he'd got his EMD walking away from the others.
"You know the more I get to know him the more frightened I get." Matt told the girls as he handed them their EMD's before following Becker.
"I have to agree with him." Sofi said before following as well with Abby close behind her. Walking futher through the display it just seemed to get weirder until they finally reached the anomaly, Abby began setting up the locker just as the music started playing again.
"Something must have triggered it." Abby stated, knowing all the military personnal were on the ground floor the group raised their EMD's and began making their way back through the room, they made it back to where the motion detector was without finding anything. Hearing a familiar screech they all quickly turned to see a raptor jump off the banister onto the floor. Everyone raised their EMD's quickly keeping them trained on the raptor.
"Don't shoot!" Matt ordered.
"What?" Becker demanded.
"I think it likes you." Matt told him.
"It doesn't like me, it's threatened by me it senses I'm the alpha male." Becker informed Matt all the while slowly backing away like the rest of them as the raptor slowly moved forward. And even though the situation strongly called against Sofi couldn't stop from laughing but managed not to laugh to loud enough to startle the dinosaur.
"We can usher it back in, make a run for the anomaly." Matt ordered Becker.
"Seriously Becker run." Abby suggested as the raptor got ready to charge. Throwing his EMD Becker ran towards the anomaly, the raptor following close behind followed by the others. Standing in front of the anomaly he managed to jump out of the way as the raptor jumped at him causing it to go through which was then quickly locked by Abby.
"Any injuries? Good work everyone." Matt said handing Becker his EMD.
"Everyone? Next time you run." Becker told him.
"Guys we've got a problem." Abby called walking over to the trio.
"What?" Sofi asked.
"We've just sent a raptor back to the late 1860's."
"What! How's that even possible?" Becker inquired as Matt picked up a piece of paper on the floor, all the while Sofi was just staring at the anomaly.
"Victorian newspaper, the device is correct." Matt said quietly. "It must have blown threw the anomaly."
"Springheeled Jack." Sofia called just as Becker was about to read it off the newspaper, the trio looked at her but she was still looking at the anomaly. "Notorious killer of the 1860's."
"Jess we've just sent a raptor back to Victorian London, I need you to check news, archieves for the period look for references for a Springheeled Jack."
"You can start at January 1st 1868." Abby added causing Sofi to tense which the trio noticed.
"This is not good." Jess's voice came over the comms.
"How not good?" Matt asked.
"Over the last month this Springheeled Jack has killed another 12 people."
"Do you have a list of names?" Sofia suddenly asked.
"No there isn't one."
"Sofi?" Matt asked walking towards her.
"1868. That's Emily's time." Sofi turned round and told them all looking frightened for her friend. "We have to go through and get this raptor before it kills more people." Sofia stated prepping her EMD.
"There is no way I'm letting you threw that anomaly." Matt told her quietly so only she could hear.
"Matt!" Sofi demanded before Matt cut her off.
"We have no way of knowing if going through will have any effect on the baby, and I'm not going to risk it." Matt told her just as quietly. "I'll go." He announced loud enough for the others to hear walking over to Abby he picked up one of the smaller EMD's and prepped it.
"Matt what are you doing?" Abby asked.
"I'm gonna go through, 12 people and their only the ones we know about no arguements."
"I'm not arguing, we need to fix this." Becker replied.
"Becker what about the rules?" Abby asked.
"Yeah but we've made a colossal mistake and it's our fault so we need to fix it. I'm coming with you."
"No your not, the more of us there are the more attention we draw to ourselves. Unlock the anomaly." Matt ordered, once Becker was far enough away Matt turned to Abby.
"Now look while I'm gone you have to do what we discussed."
"Matt, I can't." Abby stated once again.
"I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't crucial, you have to get in there." Matt finished just as the anomaly opened.
"Good luck." Abby told him.
"You too." He replied before turning to the anomaly to see Sofi looking at it, walking over he put his hand on her arm before standing in front of her. "I know you want to come but you have to see where I'm coming from."
"I do, I'm getting sick of having to say this to you, but come back in one piece please." Sofi told him finally looking into his eyes. Leaning down he kissed her resting his hands on her hips his thumbs discreetly rubbing her tummy.
"I promise, I love you."
"I love you too." Sofi repiled making him smile before he turned and went through the anomaly. Walking away from the anomaly Sofi headed down the corridor.
"Sofi where are you going?" Becker called after her, only to see her walking back with a chair in each hand and her EMD slung over her shoulder, placing the chairs down near the locking device she sat down her EMD raised at the anomaly.
"These a few more down there if you both want to sit." Sofi told them with a soft smile but they could both see the intense worry in her eyes.
"Abby?" Becker asked gesturing too the chair.
"No thanks, if it's OK with you two I think I'm going to head back to the ARC with the guys down stairs."
"Yeah thats fine, we'll call if we need anything." Becker told her. Once she had gone Becker sat on the chair next to Sofi, looking back at her he could see that her worry was on boardline panic. Placing his EMD on the floor leaning against his chair he turned to Sofi and placed his hands on hers which were holding onto her EMD in a steel grip.
"Sofi, look at me." He told her while slowly lowering her EMD. "He'll be fine this is Matt we're talking about." Becker tried soothing her.
"But what if the anomaly closes while he's on the other side?" Sofia demanded finally releasing her EMD to Becker.
"Our black boxes send data readings from the anomaly to Jess remember, if she see's any sign of it weakening she'll tell us and all we have to do is step on the other side of that anomaly and call Matt. These comms are basically radios as long as he's in distance which he probably will be with the range on these things, he'll hear us and he'll head back. OK?" Becker stated.
"Thanks Becker." Sofi said actually feeling a little better.
"No problem. Now, where else did you tour while in the army?" Sofi couldn't stop the grin at Becker's distraction techniques but answered anyway. And thats how they spent the next two hours, gossiping. Sofia kept worrying about Matt and they checked with Jess at set intervals to see how strong the anomaly was, but other than that they just talked. Sofia believed that this was the longest conversation she had had with Becker, just the two of them. And they had found out new stuff about each other and found more things in common. They had been on a few of the same tours in the army but due to being in different trades never offically met although they had spent some time in the same camp together.
"I can't believe we never met before the ARC, I heard stories about you from people I worked with and everything and you were only four tents down from me in Afgan." Sofi exclaimed.
"I know it's mad, I was often told about you as well. Though if I'm truthful I heard about you most from Private John Tanner, good friend of mine. He often spoke about a beautiful blond Italian angel that was his doctor at the base." Sofia laughed along with Becker.
"I remember him, biggest flirt I had ever met. We had him on quite a few pain killers to start with so he was slightly out of it and he just kept talking and talking trying to ask me out and complimenting me. It was best when he was trying to speak Italian which just sounded like jibberish." Sofi laughed. Calming down she looked at her watch again, two hours and fifteen minutes.
"Like I said before he'll be fine." Becker stated taking her hand giving it a squeeze causing Sofi to give him a small smile, which was when she noticed the small scar above his right eyebrow.
"Oh my god I remember you know, we did meet!" Sofia stated laughing again.
"What? When?"
"Afgan, late September 2007, Central base, basket ball game. You had a bandage around your head from where you were hit by shrapnel. I was on the other team scored the winning hoop, I had really short hair a little longer than yours stuck up everywhere."
"That was you! Wow the length of your hair really makes a difference. We never had that re-match I demanded." Before Sofi could reply the raptor fell threw the anomaly, both of them were on their feet with their EMD's in hand in a split second slowly walking over Sofi checked it.
"Still alive, just unconcious." Looking up at the anomaly she waited for Matt to come through once he did she thew herself into his arms.
"I was so worried." She whispered.
"I promised I'd come back." He replied pulling back and kissing her. Putting his hand to his ear he called Jess.
"Jess how long do you think the anomalies going to be open?"
"Welcome back and an hour tops, why?"
"Good I only need a few minutes. I'll be one second." He told Sofi before going back through.
"Matt?" Sofi shouted making to follow him before he came back followed closely by Emily.
"Emily!" Sofia shouted rushing over and hugging her friend.
"Sofi, I have missed you." Emily whispered hugging her friend tightly.
"I've missed you too, how have you been?" Sofia asked pulling back.
"I have been great, I have a daughter now." Emily announced with a wide smile.
"Congratulations, what she called?" Sofia asked giving Emily another hug.
"Lady Sofia Rebecca Merchant, named after a dear friend who helped me return to my home and to the man I love." Emily told her with a tear in her eye.
"I'm honoured." Sofi whispered still hugging Emily.
"Matt told me you were expecting, congratulations." Emily whispered before pulling back. "I don't want to stay to long just incase the gateway closes but I have bought some things for you." Emily announced handing Sofi a bag. "Some of the items are baby things so if the others don't know I'd wait until it is just you and Matt before you go through everything." Emily whispered.
"Thank you, I wanted to give you this if I ever saw you again." Sofia replied taking off an oval locket detailed with an intricate design she had around her neck. Opening it she showed Emily the pictures inside of the pair. Placing it around Emily's neck she smiled. "I will miss you, I hope you have a great life." Sofi announced hugging Emily again.
"You too." Emily replied breaking the hug turning to the guys who had moved back giving the girls some privacy she bid them farewell before going back through the anomaly, which Becker promptly closed. Sensing Matt behind her she turned and kissed him.
"Thank you for that." She whispered.
"Not a problem." He told her taking her hand and heading to the stairs. Once they had put some men incharge of the anomaly until it closed the trio finally headed back to the ARC. Reaching the ARC Becker and Matt went to the hub to return the three black boxes while Sofi stayed in the garage to co-ordinate moving the unconcious raptor to a secure pent in the menagerie. Heading back to the hub she entered just in time to see Abby walking away from Matt in a hurry.
"Everything OK?" She asked Matt once she reached him.
"Yeah, Abby managed to copy Connor's hard drive." Matt told her quietly.
"Thats great news, we could finally be getting somewhere." She said with a broad grin. "But what was wrong with Abby?" Sofi inquired concerned for her friend.
"I think her and Connor had another arguement, it didn't seem bad enough to suggest he caught her in his office..."
"But bad enough anyway."
"Yeah." Matt finished taking her hand leading her to the lift to head home.
"They've been having far to many of them lately." Sofia commented causing Matt to nod.
"Sofi?" Becker called just as the lift doors opened, Matt stepped in keeping his hand against the door so it wouldn't close.
"Yeah?" She called back turning to face where he stood just ahead of Lester's office.
"We are having another re-match some time soon." Becker announced with a grin making her laugh.
"Would never miss a chance to beat you again Captain." She shouted with a wicked grin before stepping into the lift with Matt waving to Becker just as the doors closed.
Sorry if there are lots of mistakes. Because I didn't know what to do with Emily this episode was more of a filler than anything :)
Hope you enjoyed :D
Cammie x