Title: Darkness
Characters/Pairing: Connor, Abby, Becker, Danny, Lester, Sarah (possible Abby/Connor later on)
Genre: Angst, hurt/comfort
Disclaimer: Primeval and it's characters belong to Impossible Pictures, no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: As always, huge thanks to Alyse for the beta. :- ) And thanks so much for the reviews. It's good to know people are enjoying the read.
To say that Danny Quinn was worried about his friend would be an understatement. At first, he'd thought that Connor was messing with him, but after a twenty minute argument about why they couldn't tell his mum what had happened, he realised things were serious. After informing the doctors and leaving them to perform tests, Danny had called Sarah and Becker in to tell them the news.
The three of them were sitting out in the corridor in silence, nursing cups of cold tea, when the door to Connor's room opened and Dr Jacob's stepped out. They all stood simultaneously, discarding of their cups on a nearby table as the doctor came towards them.
"Well?" Danny asked impatiently.
"We can find no medical reason for Connor's memory loss," the doctor replied. "But from his injuries and the little I have been told of what happened to him, it's possible that he is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder."
"Isn't that something that soldiers get?" Sarah asked.
"Anyone who suffers a traumatic event can develop PTSD," Dr Jacob's said.
Danny took a deep breath and then blew it out, scrubbing his hands over his face. He was tired - they all were. He hadn't slept for two days and he doubted the others had either.
"Is there anything we can do, Doc?" he asked.
"Just be there for him, talk to him. Try to help him remember the last few years of his life. Stay away from any traumatic memories for now though. He has subconsciously blocked his memory because whatever happened to him yesterday was too painful for him to deal with; it's best to leave those parts out for now."
They thanked the doctor, and he left them standing there, completely shell-shocked. After a few minutes of thought, Danny finally put his brain into gear. "Becker, can you go in and sit with him for a bit? He won't talk to me."
Becker nodded in reply and disappeared into Connor's room.
"What about Abby?" Sarah asked.
"I'm going to go see her now. She should be round from the anesthetic by now."
"I'll come with you."
He headed for the lifts, Sarah following close behind.
Danny couldn't quite believe how many lives they'd lost yesterday: five of Becker's men and several scientists. They'd had a call from their off-site research lab - their supposed 'secret' off-site research lab. They could never have known what they were getting themselves into when they took that call.
As Danny stepped into the lift with Sarah, he looked over to her and gave her a smile of reassurance. She looked exhausted and worried and Danny found himself taking her hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze as the elevator began it's journey to the intensive-care ward.
Danny knew that he should have been to see Abby before now, but Sarah had been with her and he figured Connor needed them more at the moment - him being awake. The lift pinged open to the ward, and Danny and Sarah walked over to the door, pressing the buzzer to be let in. Once inside, Danny made his way slowly to Abby's side-room; he was almost afraid of what he would find when he got there. Sarah had pre-warned him that she was covered in wires and was still on oxygen, but it was still a shock when he walked into the room and saw her laying there. She looked so small and helpless; her usually styled hair was mussed and frizzy, and her face was pale, all traces of make-up removed.
"Oh Abby!" he said softly, taking her hand in his and squeezing softly.
Abby stirred and opened her eyes, squinting at the brightness of the room.
"Danny?" she croaked.
"Yeah?"
"What happened? Where am I?"
He sat down in the chair beside the bed and Sarah sat next to him.
"You were shot in the shoulder, Abby. You've had an operation to repair the damage. Can you remember anything?" He looked to where a drip hung from a hook attached to her bed, the tube of crimson liquid disappearing into her arm. She'd needed a blood transfusion and Danny felt his heart ache for her. She'd been incredibly lucky to survive.
Abby ran the fingers of her good arm through her hair and licked her dry, cracked lips.
"I remember getting a call to say we had intruders at our research facility, then I . . . oh! That's it, that's all I can remember."
She pushed herself up a little and glanced around the room as though searching for something. Her eyes settled on Sarah and she gave a weak smile before dropping back onto the bed.
"It's good to see you awake, Abby," Sarah said.
"Where's Connor?"
Danny felt his heart speed up and he looked at Sarah; she was looking right back at him with worry etched into her features. How could he tell her that Connor had no memory of who they were? More importantly, no memory of who Abby was; Danny knew that it was going to break her heart.
"He's here. He was . . . injured too."
Abby's face dropped and, although he wouldn't have thought it possible, she paled even more than she had already.
"Injured? How? Is he . . . is he ok?"
"He's got a minor bullet wound to his arm, a nasty cut on his hand and of course there's the smoke inhalation but . . ."
He took a deep breath, stalling for time. He wasn't really sure if Abby was in any fit state to hear this now. Maybe he should wait until she'd got a bit of her strength back. Then again, if Danny knew Abby she wouldn't rest until she knew how Connor was. He looked to Sarah for support and she nodded.
"But?" Abby asked impatiently.
"Connor's erm . . . Well, he's suffering from amnesia."
"Amnesia?" Abby drew the word out, as though she were hearing it for the first time. "How much? I mean, does he know who he is?"
"Yeah, yeah he knows who he is. He just doesn't know who we are - any of us."
Abby closed her eyes for a moment and took a shuddering breath; Danny could tell that she was holding back tears.
"How do you know that he doesn't . . . I mean, he hasn't known the two of you for as long - or Becker. Maybe he . . . He . . . " She trailed off, sounding utterly devastated.
"Abby, sweetheart, Connor doesn't remember the ARC project at all. As far as he's concerned we're government officials and this is all some massive conspiracy."
She gave a sad smile and nodded, which Danny thought a little odd. It was beyond him why she would be smiling after hearing that her best friend didn't have a clue who she was.
"That's Connor," she said softly. "He probably thinks he's been abducted by aliens or something. That's just how he was when I . . . first met him."
Abby sniffed and wiped away tears. She seemed angry with herself for getting upset and Danny stood up and sat on the edge of her bed.
"Hey! Come 'ere," he said, pulling her into his arms gently.
She made no sound, but Danny could tell she was sobbing, her whole body shaking as he whispered words of comfort. Even now as her world crumbled, she was trying to be strong. That was Abby - strong, stubborn, beautiful Abby. She was like family to him; they all were. They'd been through so much together in such a short time that it'd bonded them. She was like a sister to him, and he hated to see her heartbroken.
"Can I go and see him?" she asked, her voice muffled against his chest.
"Soon. You need to get your strength back first."
Abby pulled back and looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from her tears.
"I'm strong enough. I need to see him, Danny, please!"
"The doctor says you're not fit enough to move around yet. You've lost a lot of blood and your body needs time to recover."
"I'm fine!" she replied, pushing Danny away and getting that stubborn look on her face. She was getting ready for a fight; it was plain for anyone to see.
"Abby, Danny's right," Sarah said. "You need your rest. You'll be no good to Connor if you make yourself ill."
Abby sighed deeply and sank back down onto the bed in defeat. She looked exhausted and miserable, though Danny was sure she would argue otherwise if he suggested it.
"Tell ya what, I'll borrow a wheelchair and take you down to see him as soon as the doctor says it's ok, yeah?" he said.
A ghost of a smile appeared on her face and she nodded, seeming to cheer up a little.
"Come on then," Sarah said, standing up. "Let's get out of here and give Abby some peace so she can rest. Is there anything you want me to bring in tomorrow?"
"Some pyjamas would be good; I can't imagine it'll look good if I go to visit Connor in this hospital gown with my bum hanging out."
Sarah laughed and Abby smiled then - really smiled - and the whole room seemed to light up. Danny loved Abby's smiles; they could brighten his day. A couple of those and Connor was sure to start remembering. At least, he hoped so.