Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

"…better than staying in the cretaceous…"

3.11 Temporally Displaced (ABCDU)

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Abby, Becker, Connor, Danny and Stella stepped from the dried grass covered cretaceous dirt onto the hard wooden floor of a stage. The only light was from the glowing anomaly behind them and the sunlight pouring in across the floor from the glass panes in the rear exit of the building. From where they were standing they could make out rows of seats in front of them receding into the darkness of what appeared to be a theater or auditorium.

"Do you think we're home?" asked Danny.

He, Connor and Becker stepped forward into the sunlight. Stella was sniffing the floor, circling eagerly.

"If we are home," replied Becker "there should be a team coming to respond to the anomaly."

Abby walked past the three men to one of the props on stage. She trailed her finger across the dusty tabletop.

"This place looks abandoned," Abby said. "Maybe we're back in another part of the racetrack anomalies future…"

Her voice trailed off. Stella had now made her way to the rear door of the building. The German shepherd barked sharply, and then sat in front of the door waiting for her human companions.

"Maybe we should get outside, look around," suggested Connor "if we see people, we stay and call Lester… or if we don't like what we see… we could go back to the cretaceous and try another anomaly."

Behind them, the anomaly they had just come through, flickered and closed.

"Or not."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Abby reached the doorway first. She bent down and rubbed Stella behind her ears before straightening up again. Abby peered out the dirty glass window.

"There are people out there," Abby exclaimed "we're in London! The Aldwych theater is across the street."

"We're not that far from the ARC then…" said Danny. "A response team should be here any minute. Let's go."

"Wait," said Becker. "We can't go outside in public... in the theater district... with these weapons showing."

Becker released his hold on Connor. The injured man leaned back against the wall. Danny braced Connor and kept him from falling. Becker reached for a long black frock coat hanging from a nearby costume rack. Moths fluttered up from the clothing rack.

"Mate, it looks a little small," said Connor "I doubt it will fit you."

"Not going to wear it," replied Becker "just want to wrap the assault rifle so no one see's it."

Danny reached for the sash on a red kimono.

"Stella will need a leash," said Danny.

Abby took the rucksack off her shoulders and slipped the tranquilizer gun inside. Then she retraced her steps back towards the men. Abby took the sash from Danny and whistled for Stella. The canine bounded towards the blonde. A short motion of Abby's hand and Stella was sitting at the woman's feet. Abby knelt and tied the red sash to Stella's collar.

"Guys," Abby said "the door is locked… How are we going to get out?"

"Leave that to me," replied Danny.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

They'd been outside on this bright sunny day for half an hour already. A response team hadn't arrived, and they hadn't been able to reach the ARC. Their cell phones didn't appear to be working.

"Fine," said Danny "we'll walk. And when we get back…"

What Danny was going to do to the second shift remained under speculation for the first mile they walked. The second mile was when Connor's protests finally got Danny to agree to a stop.

Danny and Becker released the young scientist. Connor slid down the wall of the building to sit on the sidewalk. Becker walked with Stella a block further up the street, while Danny crossed to the other side. Abby knelt beside Connor and unzipped his rucksack. She handed him a bottle of water before standing up and walking away from him.

"Back in a minute Connor," she said.

Abby pulled out her cell phone. Like Danny and Becker, she was still trying to get a proper signal. Abby got a dial tone, but no connection.

On a whim, Abby dialed the operator. The perky voice on the other end offered to help connect her, but when Abby gave her the number, the woman told her it was unassigned. Abby walked back to where Connor was sprawled on the sidewalk, the open rucksack beside him.

"Are you all right?" asked Abby.

Connor opened and shut his mouth. He pointed in the direction of a woman walking down the sidewalk.

"She told me to get a job," Connor exclaimed.

Abby smirked. She hadn't thought what it must look like for Connor to be sitting here on the sidewalk like that. Abby knelt down and reached into the open rucksack for a bottle of water and found a few loose pound notes.

"She meant well," said Abby "I'm sure."

"But Abby," said Connor raising the newspaper he held in front of her, "she gave me the paper… told me to check out the help wanted section."

"Yeah Conn," said Abby "I'm sure she was just trying to be helpful."

"Look!"

Abby took the Daily Telegraph from his hands. The newpaper was published Wednesday, June 7, 2006. Abby's blue eyes opened wide in surprise.

"But Connor," said Abby, "we left London on June 6, 2009."

"Not just the date Abby," exclaimed Connor, "look at the picture!"

Abby looked lower down on the front page. In three inch type, the headline screamed PROFESSOR CUTTER OF CMU TO UNVEIL TIME TRAVEL DEVICE. The picture beneath the type was Professor Helen Cutter.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

A/N refers to possible timeline mentioned briefly in Quickly Now chapter 1 and 2