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

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

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

"…beneath the type…"

3.11 Temporally Displaced (ABCDU)

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

Abby and Connor were both still reading the newspaper article when Danny returned.

"We're in London," explained Abby "the recent past… but something's changed."

"Helen," said Connor "she's here… and Cutter and Stephen… aren't."

Danny knelt down beside the pair. He looked over their shoulders and read the brief bio the paper provided. In this world, Professor Helen Cutter taught at Central Metropolitan University… or at least she held a position there. Three small pictures below the article showed the woman with three different husbands.

Professor Nicholas Cutter, her first husband, had disappeared in 1999, somewhere in the Forest of Dean. His body had never been found. After seven years, Nick Cutter had been legally declared dead.

"Do you think Cutter is still alive?" asked Abby.

"Hope so," replied Danny. "I can't imagine Jenny without him."

Stephen was definitely dead in this world. Helen had married her much younger lab assistant right after having Nick declared dead. Three months later, Stephen was found dead in his lab, the victim of some sort of venomous insect bite. The tabloids had started referring to Helen as the Black Widow of the science community.

"Do you think she really used a black widow on Stephen," asked Connor, "or something from another time?"

"Helen had to have tricked him somehow," said Danny "I can't imagine any one creature taking Stephen out."

Abby and Connor both nodded in agreement. Becker and Stella came back at that moment. Stella sat on her haunches next to Connor. The German shepherd was panting slightly, tongue hanging out. Connor reached into the rucksack and pulled out a small tin dish. Connor set the dish on the pavement in front of Stella and poured water into the metal bowl while Danny informed the chief security officer of the very different dangers in this world. Becker grimaced.

"I'd rather deal with a raptor," grumbled Becker "no worries about motives there."

Danny chuckled. He pointed at the last paragraph in the newspaper article.

"Helen's motive is right there," said Danny "profit and control… if she's got the patent on an anomaly opening device… she and her newest husband, that Burton bloke, can charge whatever they want… and control all the world's time travel."

"We've got a month until the unveiling of this device of hers," said Connor. "Do you think we can stop her and Philip Burton?"

The team leader turned his level gaze on the young scientist. Danny gave a determined grin.

"We'll stop Helen," said Danny assuredly, "no matter what it takes."

Danny rose to a stand. Abby and Becker also stood up. Connor remained sitting on the pavement. He stroked Stella's back. The German shepherd stopped lapping the water and lapped Connor's face before returning to the water dish.

"How?" asked Connor plaintively. "There isn't an ARC… and we're missing Cutter and Stephen."

"The first thing we'll have to do," replied Danny "is find the rest of our team, Lester, Sarah and Jenny."

Abby shook her head. She watched the bobby strolling up the tree lined sidewalk towards their little group.

"No," said Abby "I think the first thing we ought to do is get out here, before we get arrested for panhandling."

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

In the absence of the ARC, the little group decided to go to Danny's flat. It was only a short tube ride away. There really weren't too many other options. In 2006, Connor had shared a flat with another student at CMU, Abby had been sharing a large flat with half a dozen friends, while Becker had been in Afghanistan.

"No problem, I've been living in the same flat for over fifteen years," said Danny "we'll be off the streets, get something to eat, wrap that ankle of yours Connor, and make a plan."

"What if we meet you there?" asked Abby.

Danny gave a cheeky grin.

"Then we'll have extra backup," replied Danny. "With two of me to help stop Helen, there is no way she can win."

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

Abby ran into Sainsbury's when they left the tube station to buy an ankle wrap and splints. She quickly caught up with Becker and Danny as they helped Connor along the sidewalk.

"We're almost there," said Danny.

He pointed at a tiny duplex down the street. The shared porch covered both entryways, a black door and a bright red door.

"The black door is my place," said Danny "the red door belongs to me landlady, Mrs. Finchley."

Danny's key didn't work, but the spare key under Mrs. Finchley's geranium did. He opened the door with a flourish. Abby entered first, followed by Becker helping Connor limp in, and finally Danny walked into the flat. He found the others staring at him.

"This really doesn't look like your style," smirked Abby.

Danny looked around the room in amazement. In place of his clunky black futon was a stylish olive green sofa. Aubergine throw pillows with an olive green leaf pattern woven into the fabric complemented the sofa and picked up the dark purple hue of a vase on the entertainment stand. Danny spun slowly around the room.

"This isn't my flat," the lanky red head mumbled in confusion.

"No," agreed Abby. "I recognize some of the furnishings."

She pointed at the gleaming oak bookcase. Nestled in amongst the books on the heavy laden shelves were various artifacts: an ornate rosewood box carved with mythological Hindu figures, a large purple, brown and white helmet shell, a brightly colored mask, and more.

"I think we've found Sarah's flat," said Abby with a grin. "Is there something you're not telling us Danny?"

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

Danny checked out Sarah's kitchen, while Abby wrapped Connor's ankle. It looked like Sarah hadn't been shopping recently. He found no produce or dairy in the fridge. The freezer held bread and several frozen pot pies. Danny quickly put four of the pasties in the huge microwave. A tin of potted meat and a toaster to thaw the bread soon gave Stella something to wag her tail about. Danny returned to the front room.

"Connor," hissed Abby impatiently "quit wiggling."

"I'm trying to get the computer booted up," replied Connor. "We'll need to find everyone."

Connor's left leg was stretched out towards Abby, but Connor was twisting in the chair. He was nearly turned completely around trying to reach the keyboard. Becker returned from the hallway.

"Sarah had acetaminophen in her medicine cabinet," said Becker. "Connor take these."

The microwave dinged at that moment.

"Anybody hungry?" asked Danny.

Abby fastened the last clasp on the ace wrap. While Danny, Becker and Abby headed back to the kitchen, Connor turned to face the computer. Fingers flying, he began to search for their friends. Abby returned carrying a pastie on a small plate. She set it down on the desk beside the keyboard. Connor was frowning.

"What's wrong?" asked Abby.

"I've found Lester," replied Connor "but I don't think he's our Lester."

Danny and Becker had returned to the main room now, carrying their food. Stella trailed behind the two men. Connor picked up his pastie and took a hungry bite.

"What do you mean?" asked Becker "Why don't you think he's our Lester?"

"Well this Lester works for the government," replied Connor "but a different department and he's not married… and he was recently transferred to Jamaica."

"If he's in Jamaica," said Abby "he's not going to be able to help us stop Helen."

Silence followed her comment. Connor took another bite of his pastie and returned to the computer.

"What about Jenny?" asked Becker.

"I haven't found any trace of Jenny Lewis," Connor replied "yet."

He continued typing. Search screens blinked on and off again quickly as Connor moved from one site to another. Before anyone could ask anything else, someone was pounding on the front door. Stella started barking. Danny opened the door to see Mrs. Finchley. The irate little woman pointed a finger directly beneath Danny's nose.

"I'm going to call the coppers on you lot," said Mrs. Finchley. "What are you doing, breaking into decent people's flats?"

"Mrs. Finchley," replied Danny "it's me, Danny Quinn, Sarah's friend."

The mention of Sarah's name stopped Mrs. Finchley's shouting, but she didn't seem to recognize Danny. She glared at him with a suspicious gaze.

"Dr. Paige is on an expedition to Morocco," said the tiny woman "and she didn't say anything about having visitors while she was gone."

"But Mrs. Finchley…," started Danny.

"Danny," hissed Abby.

She was suddenly at his side, tugging on his sleeve. Abby's blue eyes were opened wide and she looked worried.

"We should get going," said Abby "you can call Sarah when she gets back, yeah."

Danny looked past the blonde to see that Becker had already grabbed Stella's leash and was helping Connor from the computer chair. The young scientist looked ashen. Something was wrong. He nodded.

"Yeah," agreed Danny "sorry Mrs. Finchley. We didn't mean to disturb you."

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

It wasn't until the little group had turned the corner onto the next street that they stopped their hurried pace. Stella sat on the pavement, startling a pigeon into flight.

"What was that all about?" asked Danny.

Abby, Connor and Becker exchanged a glance. A car passed on the street. Music by REM was blaring loudly from its open window drowning out the sound of the small low flying aeroplane passing overhead.

"Sarah won't know you," began Abby "she'll have never met you in this world."

Danny narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"You were run over by a bus," said Connor "on your first day as a patrolman. In this world you've been dead for nearly twenty years."

"That's funny," replied Danny "I feel fine for a dead guy."

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