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 (AU) Transitions, Transitions Too, Continuum, Trimming the Tree

5.5-1 AU Mean Boots and Spiders

…"hold on"…

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

Abby woke up early Wednesday morning. The bright morning sun was peeking in through the window, shining right in her eyes. She was stiff and had a crick in her neck from sleeping all night sitting up. Gently, she slid Connor's head off her lap. Abby placed her feet on the floor and stretched, reaching her hands high overhead. It wasn't until she twisted first one way and then the other that she realized… for the first time in the week since Connor had been home, he'd slept through the night.

"Was it pain," asked Abby in a low whisper, "or nightmares that have been waking you up?"

Connor snuggled into the blanket she tucked around him. His dark eyelashes fluttered against his cheek, but he didn't wake. Abby grabbed her pink robe, wrapping it around her against the January chill, and headed downstairs.

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

Abby heard voices coming from the kitchen as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She approached the kitchen door and peered inside. The tall red haired man dressed in blue jeans and a checkered shirt was readily identifiable even if he did have his back towards her.

"Danny?" Abby called in surprise. "I didn't know you were here."

Jack was already dressed for work in black coveralls. He was standing by the counter and held up the teapot invitingly. Abby nodded as she stepped into the kitchen. Her brother poured her a cup and held it towards her.

"Danny and Stephen came last night," explained Jack.

Abby nodded as she took a sip of the warm and fragrant tea. The sound of Patrick's snores echoing from the upstairs garret bedroom had told Abby the young man was still asleep. The open spare room door and sound of the shower running had led her to believe Jack was using up all the hot water again, but here he was in the kitchen.

"Yorkshire Gold?" she exclaimed in surprise. She'd been out of her favorite tea since Christmas, and with everything going on… hadn't had time to do the shopping.

"I got my first paycheck," said Jack proudly. "Picked up some tea for you."

"And I've started breakfast," smirked Danny. "Hope you like your eggs fried over easy… that's the only way I know how to cook them."

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

Abby, Danny and Jack were laughing over toast and fried eggs when Stephen walked in. He was dressed in blue jeans and long sleeved red sweater.

"I hope you saved some for me," said Stephen.

"Help yourself," said Abby.

"Have you told Abby about the bugs yet?" asked Stephen as he started fixing himself a plate.

"Bugs?" Abby wrinkled up her nose in disgust. "You found bugs in my home? What kind of bugs?"

"Not insects," said Danny soothingly, "and not here."

"After you left yesterday," explained Stephen as he joined the rest of them at the table, "we found out someone has been listening in on the ARC."

"Becker found some fiber optic cables running through a space in the foundation," added Danny. "The cables ran from an underground room near the tube all through the ARC."

"A space in the foundation...," asked Abby, "are you talking about the same gap where the rats came in?"

Stephen and Danny exchanged a puzzled glance.

"What's this about rats?" asked Danny.

"There's been a rodent problem in the menagerie," said Abby shaking her head. "I just don't understand… where do the rats go? Why didn't anyone see them?"

"Rats are shy creatures," said Stephen. "They don't like to be seen."

"Maybe the rats just come to the ARC when they're scavenging," added Jack, "and they live in the old tube tunnels you were talking about."

Abby turned at the sound of footsteps behind her. Connor was standing in the kitchen doorway. He was wearing the clothes he'd slept in, a v-necked long sleeved black t-shirt and gray drawstring flannel pajama pants which hung low over his hips. Abby smiled.

"Sid and Nancy have a tunnel from the cellar to the back yard," said Connor as he stretched.

Abby smirked at Connor's comment. As Connor reached overhead for the lintel, the t-shirt he wore rose up briefly exposing his bruised left side and part of the huge surgical scar. Connor lowered his arms and rocked back on his feet. The ring dangling from the chain around his neck bounced on his chest. Stephen and Danny looked at each other in surprise.

"You came down the stairs by yourself!" exclaimed Abby happily as she rose from her chair.

"Head doesn't hurt and I'm not dizzy today," replied Connor as he walked towards her. "I managed."

Abby hugged Connor carefully. Their lips met in the briefest of sweet kisses… or maybe not that brief… Abby heard Danny clear his throat.

"You two sit down," said Danny as he rose from the table. "I'll make more eggs."

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

Connor's right hand lay across the table top. Abby clasped his hand entwining her fingers with his carefully to avoid putting any pressure on the reddish purple square shaped bruise across the top of his hand. Jack swallowed another gulp of tea and stood to clear his dishes.

"Work," explained Jack as he disappeared down the hallway. "See you later."

Stephen remained silent while Connor ate. It wasn't until Connor finished his first plate of food and Danny placed a second egg on toast in front of Connor that the muscular young man spoke.

"That scar looks serious. What happened to you mate?" asked Stephen. "Abby told us yesterday you were on medical leave, but didn't say why. With everything else going on yesterday... no one told us anything."

"Had a disagreement with a Rover P5," said Connor. "The car won."

Abby was surprised that Connor remembered the type of car that struck him. The CCTV pictures had been blurry. It had taken Jess and the delta coordinator quite a bit of time to positively identify the make and model of the dingy gray sedan. Abby watched Connor as he took another bite of eggs and toast.

"You haven't eaten like that all week," said Abby.

"Food tastes great today," said Connor.

"Glad you like my cooking," chuckled Danny as he placed another fried egg on Connor's plate.

"You'd make a good short order cook," replied Connor with a grin.

Danny sat down next to Stephen. The breakfast conversation moved from Connor's accident to Danny and Stephen's travels through time.

"Apparently we got back to London just in time," concluded Danny.

"What do you mean?" asked Connor.

"Matt said we can expect more and more anomalies opening," explained Danny "until we reach convergence."

"What's convergence?" asked Connor.

"Loads of anomalies," answered Stephen.

"We had two anomalies at the same time yesterday afternoon," said Abby "and the one from the race track reopened on Monday."

"What?" exclaimed Connor looking startled. "We don't have the staff to handle that many anomalies occurring so close together."

"Danny, how many anomalies does it take to make this… this… convergence?" asked Abby.

"According to Matt," said Danny, "convergence is when anomalies keep opening… and keep opening… until they're open all over the world."

"All at the same time?" asked Abby.

Danny and Stephen both nodded.

"I don't think I like the sound of that," said Connor.

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

Stephen and Danny were doing the washing up when Abby's cell phone rang. Duncan was on the other end.

"There was a rollover on the M3 last night," said Duncan.

"That's awful," said Abby. She shook her head. "But why are you telling me this?"

""I'm not... I'm telling you Lester wants Danny and Stephen back at the ARC," replied Duncan.

"Then why are you talking about a rollover on the M3?"

"The driver wasn't hurt, but was stuck in the car until the police got there," explained Duncan. "They're bringing her here."

"Who?"

"April Leonard," hissed Duncan.

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

Abby stared into dusty interrogation room. The bright orange camisole and blue scoop-necked blouse she wore reflected in the one way glass. The room hadn't been used in years... not since Helen had first returned. The small blonde woman inside the room paced back and forth like a caged animal. April wore heavy black glasses, a black v-necked blouse and dark pants. Behind Abby, Danny and Lester were arguing.

"I'm trained in interrogation techniques," said Danny.

Lester stood with his arms crossed. The expression on his face seemed to indicate he wasn't the least bit impressed.

"No," replied Lester "it's my job…"

But neither man was going to talk to April Leonard first. As the small blonde woman paced past the rectangular table, Abby saw her boots. April's boots were heavy, thick soled and square toed… just like the square bruise on Connor's right hand.

"Ma'am," said the young security officer "you can't go in there by yourself... and you need authorization..."

The smooth cheeked young man gulped and backed up the herpetologist pushed past him and opened the door. Abby strode into the interrogation room.

"The man you ran into on Christmas night," said Abby "is my boyfriend."

"I don't know what you're talking about," smirked the other woman.

"Oh I think you do."

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

The home was quiet after Abby, Danny and Stephen left. Connor remembered the device that Cutter had left and started upstairs. Rex perched on the banister watching each slow step that Connor took. The coelurosauravus chirped at Connor.

"Yeah, I remember I promised Abby I wouldn't overdo," said Connor "but I can't just sit around doing nothing all day."

The lizard chirped sharply almost as if scolding Connor as he took another slow step.

"Yeah," replied Connor "well unless you're gonna go get that gadget Cutter brought off the desk upstairs, I'm going to have to go get it myself."

The lizard soared off the banister. Connor watched as Rex flew into the bedroom. Connor waited a moment… and then another… he looked at the stairs in front of him and sighed.

"A bloke could hope," mumbled Connor as he started up the steep staircase.

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

Abby's blue eyes blazed with fury at the small blonde woman's obvious lie. April backed up a step as Abby stalked forward.

"Don't try to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about April," seethed Abby. "The CCTV images showed you clearly... you ran into Connor. You and that other person dragged Connor off… instead of calling an ambulance. Why?"

"It was cold," blustered April as she backed up another step, "we were going to take him to the hospital."

"But you didn't," snarled Abby. "Why did you take him?"

"It wasn't my idea, she wanted to question him," said April.

The woman dressed in black backed up again as Abby advanced further. Danny and Lester entered the room behind Abby. The young security officer remained watching from outside the interrogation room.

"You need to keep her away from me!" April exclaimed in a panicked tone.

The two men exchanged a glance. Lester shook his head. Danny shrugged. Abby stepped forward again.

"What did you do to Connor?" asked Abby. "And why is your boot print on his hand? And what's with the spiders?"

"Your boyfriend is heavy," said April. "He started to regain consciousness when we were bringing him into the basement... he began struggling... the concrete steps were slippery."

Abby's blue eyes widened as she began to comprehend what the woman was saying.

"We dropped him down the stairs."

"And the spiders?" asked Danny quietly.

April shuddered.

"Aurora keeps some strange pets," answered April. "I was only trying to help... you should be glad that I stomped on them."

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