Just a short but necessary bridge chapter x

Chapter 26

Ben paced in frustration around his minuscule cell, running his hands back through his hair as his stress mounted with each passing second. He knew that right about now, the creatures were bombarding London - and it killed that he was stuck in here, trapped and useless. The whole reason he had travelled back in time was now obsolete. All that planning and careful execution . . . why had he even bothered? History was repeating itself and there was nothing he could do about it but pace some more. All that his coming here had achieved was giving him the opportunity to know his mother after all those tortured years of wondering what she was like. But now that she was in battle anyway, she was doomed to die again, leaving him feeling more empty that he ever had before. Maybe he should have never come back? Then he wouldn't have been aware on what he was missing out on by not knowing her, and he wouldn't have the horrible sickly feeling that had now took hold of his stomach.

He turned and slapped his palms against the wall, letting out a frustrated cry. Why did the woman have to be so bloody stubborn?

Unexpectedly, the sound of keys could be heard in the lock, and with a muffled click, the door to his cell was unlocked. Turning in surprise, it wasn't until Ben saw Kathryn's pale face poking around the steel that he realised what was going on. Despite the fact that he had doubted her ability to be able to break into this place, she'd done it, just the way he had ordered her to.

With a deep exhale of relief, he closed the space in between them and pulled her into an embrace, his happiness at seeing her overshadowing the cool professionalism he usually displayed towards her during day hours.

"I didn't think you'd make it," he sighed into her fair hair.

"Have I ever let you down before?" she pointed out, her voice muffled against his shirt.

"No," he said fairly as they broke apart. "You haven't."

She smiled graciously, before gesturing down the corridor. "I had to knock one of the guards out to get his keys, but I think he'll be alright."

"You're tougher than I thought you were," he said as he strode over to the unconscious lump that was the guard, impressed by her means. "How did you know what cell I was in?" he asked curiously as he bent down and took the guards two guns.

"I didn't - I just guessed," she replied. "Shall I let the others out?" she added, gesturing down at the keys in her hands.

"No," he answered immediately, fixing the guns into his belt and turning to face her.

She shot him a puzzled look. "But don't you need them to help with the gas?"

"It's too late for that," he snapped, glancing down at his watch. "She's already out there."

"Who?" she asked, still looking bemused.

"My mother," he stated, looking back up at her. "And I won't kill her."

"But surely if the fate of the human race rests on it - "

"I won't kill her Kathryn, end of discussion!" he snarled, losing his temper. "I don't care if London does fall. I just want her alive."

"But she's already dead in our time!" she exclaimed. "What difference does it make?"

"The difference is that now I've got to know her!" he barked back as he turned and headed down the corridor. "And I won't lose her again!"

"You're not thinking about the consequences!" she argued as she hurried after him.

"Stuff the consequences!" he yelled, stopping dead and turning to face her again. "Now you're still under my command soldier, and I order you to leave the rest of them in here and go and help the boy."

"Boy - what boy?" she demanded, looking at him like he was crazy.

"The boy - Connor something, I think she said - he's the one making their Locking Mechanism up there," he said, pointing upwards to indicate the upper levels of the ARC. "And if you really want to save the future, you'll help him get it finished."

"But you know more about the Locking Mechanism that I do!" she protested. "Why can't you - "

"Because I have something I need to take care of!" he interrupted, knowing what she was going to say. "You were there when I built my one - you know how it works. They'll have already took mine apart to use it's power source - that's what I would have done."

"But - "

"Just do it Kathryn," he ordered sternly, before turning on his heel again, tired of wasting time.

He strode up the many steps and eventually came out into upper floor, too panicked to bother keeping himself hidden. However thankfully, he didn't come across anyone as he made his way down another corridor, not stopping until he spotted the person he was looking for through a panel of glass in the door. With Kathryn hot at his heels, he pushed open the door fully to find a youngish man fiddling around furiously with an unfamiliar piece of machinery whilst Ben's own creation, he saw with a pang, was in bits in the far corner.

"Connor I assume?" Ben said, causing the man to cry out in alarm and turn on the spot.

His brown eyes widened in surprise. "But you - how did you - ?"

"Look, I haven't got time for this!" Ben snapped. "My esteemed lady colleague here," he gestured round to Kathryn, who nodded a greeting, "will be helping you to finish your Locking Mechanism whilst I go and assist your suicidal field team in containing the creatures."

"But you can't - " Connor began, looking desperate.

"I'm not giving you a choice in the matter," Ben stated coldly.

"But you're going to gas them - "

"I'm not going to be gassing anyone," Ben insisted hotly. "Not while something precious to me is out there."

"But - "

"Just get it finished!" Ben exclaimed, turning to leave. "And quickly."

He flashed a warning look at Kathryn before striding out, hoping beyond hope that he wasn't too late.