Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
"…in this world…"
3.11 Temporally Displaced (ABCDU)
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Danny shook his head. He looked at Connor. The young scientist was leaning against a lamppost, stroking Stella's head.
"I remember my first day as a copper," Danny said. "A bus ran over a couple arguing in the street. I took witness statements. How did I get run over in this timeline?"
"In this time and place," Connor answered "you responded to a call about a disoriented young woman standing in the middle of the street. The Danny of this time, tried to get her out of the street… you both were run over."
A momentary silence followed Connor's words.
"You had a very nice funeral," added Connor.
The sun that had been shining for most of this beautiful June day slipped behind a cloud.
"Hmmmph," said Danny. "So far… Lester's in Jamaica, Sarah's in Morocco, Cutter has most likely been pushed through an anomaly, Stephen and I are both dead in this time, and you can't find Jenny. Is that right?"
Connor looked up from Stella to face Danny.
"Didn't have a whole lot of time on the computer," replied Connor "but yeah… that's about it."
"Cutter might find his way back," said Abby hopefully.
"Yeah," said Becker "but when?"
"We're going to need some support," said Danny "to stop Helen before she unveils this time travelling device of hers. And we've only got three weeks."
"We need information," said Becker. "Did you find Ryan?"
"Didn't have time before Mrs. Finchley showed up, I need to get my hands on a computer," said Connor "the public library… or even CMU… but I don't want to run into myself… or Helen."
"It's getting late," said Abby "we need to find someplace to stay tonight. Start again in the morning."
"Until we find out what exactly has changed," said Danny "we should probably stay low, keep out of sight, but we're running out of options."
Becker nodded in agreement.
"When we rode the tube over from the Aldwych station," suggested Connor, "we passed by a stop that I remember from the early days of the ARC… when we were still with the Home Office."
Connor named an older disused tube station that Danny and Becker didn't recognize, but Abby obviously did. She wrinkled up her nose at his idea.
"Oh God no," said Abby.
"There's a whole network of tunnels down there," Connor reminded her. "There were rooms with bunk beds, we could stay there and so could Stella. Not too many places allow dogs… and it would be free."
"We need a place to stay," said Danny "and a plan."
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Thursday morning, an article in the paper mentioned the police were looking for a petite blonde who purchased goods from a Sainsbury's with a counterfeit £10 note. The article mentioned that the transit authority had also received counterfeit notes. The home office was investigating.
"Our money's no good," said Danny "or at least none of the newer notes."
They pooled their money and sorted through it, removing the newer notes. The well meaning woman's pound notes paid for hot tea and buttered crumpets. The foursome ate outside on a park bench across the street from the convenience shop. The kindly shopkeeper had seen Stella and tossed in some extra treats just for the German shepherd. While they were eating, Danny explained the plan.
"We'll split up," said Danny "Becker will take Stella to the canine training center… see if he can find Ryan. Abby and Connor, you two go to the library, find out as much as you can about this time… and where we are."
"What about you?" asked Abby.
Danny grinned.
"I'm going to CMU," said Danny "see what I can find out about Helen and this Philip person… and what happened to Stephen and Cutter."
And they split up according to Danny's plan and in spite of Connor's worry.
"We'll meet back at the rooms down the tube track, where we left our weapons," said Danny. "It will be alright, we're not in a horror movie Connor!"
"It sort of feels that way," mumbled Connor.
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Becker and Stella left first. The tall soldier's long stride had Stella trotting to keep up with him.
Danny, Connor and Abby made their way to the tube station. Danny dispersed their limited funds between them.
"We shouldn't get in any trouble with these notes," said Danny.
He boarded the tube towards CMU, while Connor and Abby waited for the local heading the opposite direction.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Connor's ankle was somewhat better today. He was able to put weight on it and walk on flat surfaces. The long flight of stairs at the library gave him pause.
"Connor," said Abby "lean on me. Together we can get you to the research center."
Abby thought Connor might be leaning on her a bit more than necessary, but she didn't complain. Truthfully, she liked having him around. While Connor started trolling the internet for information, Abby decided to go directly to the source. The young library assistant was quite willing to talk to her about the new developments at CMU.
"Mind you," said the young man "Professor Helen Cutter is not well respected, notorious even in some circles, but Philip Burton is a renowned inventor. There has to be something behind all this talk of a time travel device."
Abby left the young library assistant and returned to where Connor was sitting at the computer carrel. He was staring vacantly. The list of names he'd researched was on the desk in front of him.
"Have you found everyone?" asked Abby.
"Not exactly," said Connor.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"We're not likely to run into ourselves,' answered Connor.
"What do you mean?" asked Abby again.
"Becker's father was killed in some sort of training accident years before Becker was ever born," said Connor "he doesn't exist here."
Abby swallowed.
"And you?"
Connor gave a short laugh.
"There is a Connor Temple in this world. He's the right age, so I guess he's supposed to be me," Connor replied "but he married a girl named Juliet right after secondary school… they went to the local uni together. He works in a bank in Bradford, she's a mum… they have a son named David."
Abby looked at Connor. He seemed upset. Abby wasn't quite sure whether it was about Becker not existing or his own changed life in this world or...
"Connor," asked Abby "what about me? Did you find my family?"
He opened his mouth and shut it, staring at Abby as if he didn't know what to say. Her blue eyes opened wide.
"Did we all get killed in that accident?" she asked. "Jack and me too?"
Connor reached out to grasp her shoulders.
"No Abby," Connor said. "There wasn't an accident. Your Mum and Dad… they don't seem to have ever met."
"What?"
"Your father emigrated to Australia years ago," said Connor. "Your mother… she married some other man… named Franklin Rutherford. They've got two children… the oldest is about Jack's age."
"I don't exist in this world?"
"Abby," replied Connor "I can't imagine a world without you."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
When Abby and Connor returned to the rooms by the tube station, Becker and Stella were already there. He took the news that he'd never been born in this universe with his usual calm and reserved expression.
"Something like that might have happened to Ryan," replied Becker "no one at the canine center had ever heard of him."
Danny arrived last, bearing a huge bag of food. The mouthwatering aroma reminded the others of how hungry they were. The lanky red head started handing out paper cartons of fish and chips.
"How did you manage to buy all this?" asked Abby.
The team leader knelt down in front of Stella and rubbed the dog affectionately behind her ears. He pulled out some burgers from the bag and set them down in front of the dog.
"The usual way," replied Danny "I got a job."
"What?" asked Becker "Without proper ID?"
Danny rose to stand.
"My break is nearly over, I've got to get back to the restaurant," he replied. "As long as the dishes are clean, they don't care too much about who washes them."
"Did you find anything out about Helen and Philip?" asked Connor.
"Oh yeah," answered Danny with a grin. "I'll be back after closing, we can talk more then."
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