Thanks for reviews. Things start to get explained a bit. What Becker is doing outside the Arc is not really important, just an excuse for a bit of Connor teasing. Lester explains why Connor is keeping a lot to himself.
Connor had spent hours going through computer files and paper ones trying to make sense of everything that had been happening. Gradually the ARC had emptied around him, leaving silence that he had not
even noticed. Eventually he looked up from his work and rubbed his face with his hands. He went to get a coffee and met Lester who was just leaving.
"Didn't know you were still here." Connor said.
"Well, someone has to fill out all the forms needed to cover your behinds and unfortunately that seems to be me. Do you realize that Whitehall even has a form for how many pencils we order?"
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Connor asked rhetorically.
"So what is your excuse for still being here?" Lester asked.
"Just going through files."
"And?" Lester queried.
"I think I have a theory. But I need to talk to Evan again, get him to fill in some blanks."
Lester sighed "That means more forms. Try not to create an international incident in the process."
Connor smiled wearily "I'll try not to. Lester, how much do you know about us that's not in our files?"
"Like what?" Lester looked concerned, as if Connor had discovered something he wasn't supposed to know.
"Like private stuff. Ex's, medical stuff, legal stuff, children."
"Is there something you have done that I should know about?" Lester's attempt to deflect the enquiry was not lost on Connor.
"Not me...Do you know about Danny?"
"Temple, I think sleep deprivation has got the better of you. I have no idea what you are talking about." Lester started to walk away.
"Did you know about his son?" Connor called after him.
Lester stopped dead and hesitated before turning to face Connor. "How did you find out?"
"Because he has a connection to the ARC and not just through Danny. I have been researching him without even knowing who he was."
"Who else knows?"
"Abby and Becker."
Lester sighed "He didn't want anyone to know. The boy lived with his mother and her husband. How is he connected to the ARC?"
"Mackenzie Rendell" Connor stated bluntly.
Lester looked shocked. "The time warped soldier?"
Connor nodded. "Do you know where to find his family?"
"Come and see me in the morning...For now Connor, go home."
"In a bit."
Lester shook his head and walked away.
Connor walked back into his lab and slumped onto the stool at his desk, before calling Becker.
"Temple, do you know what time it is?"
"Yeah, I need your help"
Becker's annoyance turned to concern. "Now? What's wrong?"
"No, in the morning. I want to talk to Mac's Mum"
"Hang on I can't hear...That's better. What was that about Mac Rendell?"
"Lester knew about Danny's son and he has an address. I want to go round there and I thought you might want to come."
"Yes. I'll come...Can I talk to you in the morning?"
"Becker, where are you?" The background noise puzzled Connor.
"Out. With a friend."
Connor chuckled "Action Man does have a life outside the ARC. Who'd have guessed?"
"Temple!" Becker growled knowing he hadn't heard the end of it. "Go home and annoy Abby."
"Have fun!" Connor grinned before hanging up.
He looked at his watch and thought for a moment before putting through a video call.
Evan appeared on screen. "Connor! Thought you would have gone home by now"
Connor smiled. "Like to work late, don't I."
"Yeah, I know. No interruptions." Evan smiled.
"Unless it's an anomaly."
"What's on your mind?" Evan asked.
"What isn't!" Connor replied. "I wanted to know about Mac."
"You remember him?" Evan seemed surprised.
"Yes, sort of. You seem surprised"
"Only Dylan and I know about him. It was like he never existed here after 2006"
"You remember because you were in the anomaly when the time lines changed. I've heard of it happening before."
.
A few hours later, Connor crept into bed alongside Abby and she turned and cuddled up to him.
"Everything OK, Conn?" She murmured.
"Dunno" He yawned.
Abby opened her eyes and sat up a little to look at him. "What's wrong?"
Connor pulled a face, "I think Becker went clubbing."
Abby chuckled and snuggled back into his side "I think you've been working too hard."
He wrapped his arms tightly around her "Maybe...Abby, I'm going to see Mac's Mum tomorrow."
"Want me to come?"
"Becker's coming. I mean you can if you want, but I know you're busy."
Abby kissed his chest where her head rested. "He'll keep you out of trouble. Get some sleep."
.
Matt stuck his head into Connor's lab.
"Where's Connor?" He asked.
"Dunno" Kieran shrugged.
"I think he went out with Becker." Mark added.
"What you doing?" Matt queried casting his eyes around the room at the mess.
"Trying to organize this lot into some sort of order" Mark replied.
Matt left and went to find Abby in the menagerie.
"I don't know exactly Matt. I think he's with Becker. I can't explain it. Go ask Lester. He knows more than I do."
As he left the menagerie his comms buzzed.
"Matt, you there?"
"I'm hear Jess. What's up?"
"Lester needs to speak to you"
"Thanks Jess. Tell him I'm on my way."
Lester looked up as Matt entered his office. "Concept of knocking seems to be outdated" He said sarcastically.
"You wanted to see me" Matt replied flatly.
Lester sighed "Sit down"
He handed Mac's birth certificate to Matt. He read it and looked up in shock.
"Our Danny?!"
Lester nodded. "Connor and Becker have gone to speak to his family."
"You sent Connor!"
"They knew him. They need to know. When they come back Connor is going to explain everything he can. He has pieced a lot of this together, with help from Evan."
"He has spoken to Evan again. Why wasn't I told?" Matt felt decidedly out of the loop.
"Because he couldn't explain things any more than he had already. Connor needed time to work things out in his own head. He is not deliberately keeping you out. He just gets a little absorbed now and then.
Now he has more information he thinks he has a theory."
"A theory?" Matt looked concerned.
"Well isn't all this just theory until it happens." Lester snapped slightly. "We need to work with what we know. Evan has a problem there too, so I'm arranging with the Prime Minister for a team to be sent out
to liaise with Cross.
"I'll go" Matt interjected.
"I need you here. I want Connor, Becker and Abby to go. They can deal with anomalies, creatures and weapons."
Matt nodded. "We can manage here without them. We have a big enough team now."
"Yes and you will have help. There will be a temporary replacement for Becker. We may need to send a more permanent team to Canada eventually."