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 Part of the Claudia story verse, story picks up right after Trimming The Tree (AU)
5.2-1 AU Auld Lang Syne
"…speculate…"
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It was raining when Connor came home from the hospital.
"Do you really think Connor should be coming home so soon?" asked Jess. "With his injuries?"
The young field coordinator stood behind Abby as her friend held the dark green door wide open. Becker had his arm around Connor, helping him from the SUV parked at the kerb towards their home.
"Someone would have gone barmy," reminded Abby, "if Connor had stayed in the hospital any longer."
The two women exchanged a glance as Abby remembered.
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Abby watched in dismay as the orderly wheeled Connor's bed down the corridor. Lester's voice sounded behind her.
"Now that everyone knows Connor's all right," said Lester "you should all go home."
There were protests and complaints at first, but then between hugs and asking Abby if she needed anything, most of their friends had gone home or to work, leaving a much quieter waiting room. Lester was at the nurse's station. Duncan and Connor's mother stood by the door, waiting for Abby.
"Abby," said Duncan. "We should be going too. We can come back tomorrow when it's visiting hours."
"But…," protested Abby "I can't leave… Connor…"
From the look on her face, Abby could tell that Connor's mother agreed. Lester finished talking with the duty nurse and strode across the tiled floor towards them.
"Abby," interrupted Lester gently, "the nurse got the doctor's permission, one person at a time can stay with Connor… they just don't want a dozen people trying to barge in all at once."
"Oh!" exclaimed Abby as she hugged the man tightly. "Thank you!"
Lester stepped back, brushing off his lapels.
"Of course, you'll have to scrub up," added Lester "they've got a thing about germs."
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"Do you mean Connor," asked Jess with a small smirk "or that nurse?"
"Actually," said Abby "I was thinking of that doctor."
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Abby stayed with Connor all that long day. The nurses kept coming round every fifteen minutes and checking Connor's blood pressure. The evening nurse started chatting with Abby as she pulled back the blanket.
"Sponge bath," explained the cheerful auburn haired nurse.
The woman had misinterpreted Abby's shocked expression. Abby expected to see bandages covering part of Connor's chest, but she hadn't expected to see the bruising and swelling all up and down Connor's left side, shoulder, hip, and thigh.
"Your lad is lucky you know," replied the nurse to Abby's questions. "Don't know how he managed not to break any bones."
Connor's mother arrived as the doctor returned to check on his patient.
"I said one person at a time," huffed the doctor.
"I'm just leaving," said Abby. "We're taking turns sitting with Connor."
"Why are you being so strict?" asked Connor's mother. "Is it really necessary?"
"You really don't know what you're doing," said the doctor. "Every time someone comes in here… they're bringing germs."
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Jess chuckled.
"That doctor really doesn't seem the friendly type at all," said Jess.
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Abby, Connor's Mum and Duncan took turns sitting with Connor for the next five days. But of course, other visitor's returned to check on Connor. Claudia and Cutter stopped by the next morning.
"Connor won't know if you're here or not," reminded Claudia. "He's probably on a lot of pain killers, like when you were in the hospital."
"You might be right," agreed Cutter, "but I knew you were there."
Later that evening, Sarah stopped by on her way home from work. Abby stepped out into the corridor. The dark haired archeologist stepped close and hugged Abby.
"I don't want to come in," said Sarah, "but I did want to stop by. How is he?"
"Connor seemed to wake up and try to talk a few times," answered Abby, "but then the nurse puts stuff in the IV… mostly… he sleeps."
The field coordinator and the Captain arrived together shortly after Sarah. Jess hugged Abby, while Becker peeked through the window at his friend.
"Has there been any word on who did this?" asked Abby.
Becker shook his head. The doctor appeared in the corridor then. He looked at the little group clustered outside Connor's room. The man rubbed his hand across his forehead and frowned.
"I said one person at a time," reminded the doctor.
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"Well Connor can have as many visitors as he wants now," said Jess with a bright smile.
She and Abby watched the two men approaching the door.
"Almost there Connor," encouraged Becker. "Just a few more steps and then we'll be out of this rain."
Connor's face was pale. Beads of perspiration mingled with raindrops on his forehead. He grunted as his foot finally crossed the threshold. Connor reached a hand out and grasped the stair rail to steady himself as Abby closed the front door behind the two men.
"Never quite realized how many stairs there were," sighed Connor.
"Did you want to go upstairs now?" asked Becker. "Or stay down here a while?"
"Connor you promised to get some rest," reminded Abby "otherwise, the doctor wouldn't release you."
"It's New Year's Eve," protested Connor.
"And we're not going anywhere," said Abby. "I'll bring the laptop upstairs… we can watch the Dr. Who episode you missed."
Connor's face brightened at that thought. He nodded, and Becker helped Connor slowly climb the stairs.
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"Connor's resting," said Becker when he returned. "His Mum is sitting with him."
The tall soldier reached for Jess's coat and held it out for her. Jess slipped one arm and then the other into the sleeves while Becker continued talking.
"Good thing Patrick met us at the top of the stairs," added Becker. "It's as if climbing the stairs totally wiped Connor out."
Abby sighed. She knew the doctor had said it would be a while before Connor regained his strength, but it hurt to see him like this. She reached for the envelope on the hall table. Tonight's dinner dance was something she and Connor had both been looking forward to for quite some time, but at least the tickets wouldn't go to waste.
"Here," said Abby as she handed Jess the envelope. "I'm glad Matt and Emily decided to stay in London. Would you please give them these tickets?"
"Yeah," said Jess, "but we'll miss you both."
"Have a good time," said Abby "I'm just glad to be home with Connor."
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Jess changed out of her work clothes quickly. The New Year's Eve dinner and dance at one of London's best restaurants was something she had been looking forward to as much as Abby. The dress she pulled off the hanger shimmered in the light. The sheer maroon fabric had traces of sequins along the shoulders, cascading down the bodice. She slipped the dress over her head and turned to look in the mirror. The swirl of skirt as she moved was perfect for a dance floor.
"Are you ready yet," asked Becker as he poked his head into the bedroom.
"Hil," answered Jess, as she turned her back to him, "almost… would you zip me up please?"
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Patrick and Charlotte quit watching video games as Abby lifted the laptop off the desk.
"Can we watch Dr. Who with you and Connor?" asked Patrick.
"Yeah," agreed Abby. "Come on."
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Matt was carrying an umbrella and had his arm around Emily, when Jess and Becker finally arrived at the restaurant.
"Let's get inside, out of this rain," said Matt. "Sarah and Jamal went in already to get a table."
The food was good, the music even better, but the dinner conversation was about work.
"We've identified the driver of the sedan," said Jess "a woman named April Leonard… not much known about her really…"
"What about the other person?" asked Emily.
"We're still working on that," replied Jess.
"We don't really know much," agreed Sarah, "but I do believe that was a woman."
Becker grunted.
"I think the vehicle is important," said Becker.
"Which one," asked Matt, "the sedan or the stolen Volkswagen?"
Becker raised his eyebrows.
"Neither," he replied "the sedan was abandoned, the Beetle torched… I'm talking about the white panel van."
"What van?"
"Didn't Lester tell you?" asked Jess in surprise. "A white panel van was stolen from near where the Volkswagen was found…"
"And it turned up near the race track," added Becker.
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In the front bedroom upstairs, Connor was stretched out in the middle of the bed, his eyes were closed. His mother was in the chair nearby reading a book. She looked up as Abby entered the room followed by Patrick and Charlotte.
"What have you got there?" asked Connor's Mum.
"I recorded Dr. Who…thought Connor might want to watch the show," said Abby.
"I think he's sleeping," began the older woman.
"No," interrupted Connor, "I'm not sleeping… not yet anyway."
He blinked his dark brown eyes, and smiled at Abby.
"Just resting my eyes," Connor continued "it feels good to stretch out on my own bed."
Abby set the laptop up on the dresser where Connor could see it. Patrick, Charlotte and Connor's mum brought chairs near and crowded close. Abby sat down gingerly on the edge of the bed beside Connor. She didn't want to shake him. Previews were playing before the start of the episode.
"Where's Jack?" asked Connor. "Did he not want to watch the show?"
"He watched it with us when it first aired," replied Abby.
"Has he gone then?"
"Not exactly," smirked Abby.
"What then?"
"Duncan found him a job," said Abby, "as an apprentice for the plumber the ARC uses."
"Really," said Connor in a surprised tone, "is he working then on New Year's Eve?"
"Jack started today," replied Abby, "flushing the drains beneath the menagerie. He should be home soon."
"Is he going to stay with us then?"
Abby looked at Connor, her blue eyes silently pleading.
"Shh," said Patrick. "The show's starting."
Abby looked around at the faces staring intently at the laptop screen. Connor's Mum would be leaving for her home tomorrow. Charlotte would be returning to uni shortly, as well as Patrick. Tonight, privacy was the one thing she and Connor were missing, but she could wait.
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The rhythmic music started. Sarah and Jamal rose from their chairs and headed to the dance floor. Jess quivered in her seat. She turned to face Becker.
"Do you know how to tango?"
Becker and Jess joined Sarah and Jamal on the dance floor. Emily looked at Matt.
"What's a tango?" asked Emily.
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"Eww!" exclaimed Jack.
The drain trap beneath the mammoth's pen had been clogged. Jack was now staring at what had blocked the drain.
"What is that?"
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