Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.

Summary: - Connor needs help- and so does Vancouver!

New Dawn is over, but Connor still feels the after effects badly. Matt and Lester have a plan to help him get his confidence back by sending him to Vancouver to help the newly formed Vancouver ARC- and to retrieve something that belongs to him!

All I know is a tiny snippet about Primeval- New World's characters- and that's basically just the roles of two of them. I've used their names, but obviously don't know what they are like as people, so their characteristics; story and other characters are just from what's inside my head!

Vancouver Calling

Chapter Four- Vancouver

Connor collected his bags, glad to be able to properly stretch his legs after the long flight. He wasn't sure who was going to be there to meet him so he anxiously cast his eyes around the airport, looking at the people waiting for their family, friends or colleagues. He suddenly heard his name being called and a tall man with blonde hair, holding a placard with Connor's name on it in bold letters waved at him. Connor went over to him, and the man shook his hand with a vice like grip.

"Hi! I'm Tim." he said unsmilingly.

"Connor- Connor Temple. Oh, but you know that- how did you know it was me?"

"Seen your photo" Tim informed him looking at Connor as if he thought that was a bit obvious.

"Oh" Connor said lamely, not knowing what else to say, and feeling awkward around this new acquaintance, as he usually did with strangers.

"Come along. The car's this way," and as Connor and Tim left the airport, the first thing that Connor noticed was the blast of cold air that hit him, and took his breath away for a moment.

"Wow! That's what you call cold!" Connor stuttered, struggling to pull his khaki fingerless gloves out of his pocket and put them on. His leather jacket hardly offered him any protection from the cold, and he found himself shivering in the icy air.

"Weren't you briefed?" Tim queried. He already seemed to have quite a low opinion of Connor from the offset.

"Well, yes but it's colder than I expected. I'll be fine- I'm looking forward to making a start!"

That seemed to please Tim more, and Connor made a mental note to make a better impression around these people- they had a lot of work to get through and only a short while to do it. They didn't talk much on the journey to the Vancouver ARC (VARC) as Connor dubbed it in his head. Connor had tried a little bit of small talk, but wasn't too good at it. He found out that Tim was a soldier, but he wasn't in uniform today as he was off duty after he had deposited Connor at the ARC. Connor then made a bit of a fool of himself by, rather than racking his brains trying to talk to this serious man, he tried to put on the car radio. Only it wasn't actually a radio, and a strange noise echoed throughout the car. Tim quickly switched it off after glaring at Connor, who inwardly groaned at this faux pas.

"That's a comms unit. It's not connected at the moment- we only use it when there's an anomaly!"

"Oh." sighed Connor, and decided it would be safer not to touch anything else in the car. "This is gonna be great!" he thought. "This man's too much like Becker!"

He smiled to himself remembering what Becker had been like at the beginning- they were firm friends now though, so he hoped he could get through Tim's tough exterior in time. Tim gave him a strange look as he smiled, and he immediately wiped the grin from his face and tried to look as impassive as he could. After about twenty minutes or so, they arrived at the VARC. Tim left Connor at the security gates, and an armed security guard took him the rest of the way. Tim didn't bother to say goodbye, but Connor felt strangely alone after he'd left.

The guard seemed friendly enough though, and chatted to Connor as he took him through the maze of corridors to the office where he was being met by the team leader who's name escaped him for the moment. The guard told him he'd get his passes and security codes after his meeting and in future would be able to come and go as he pleased without the need for an escort, which worried Connor- how would he ever find his way around! They soon reached the office and the guard clapped Connor on the back.

"Good luck, mate!" he said.

Connor watched him go and as the guard walked away he murmured under his breath "I have a feeling I'm gonna need it!"

Connor knocked lightly on the door and a Canadian accent greeted him with "Come right on in, Mr Temple!"

"'Mr Temple! That was a bit…well scary." Connor thought as he took a deep breath and walked into the room. There were only two members of staff there, the owner of the voice and a pretty woman who sat at the desk. They were both smiling in welcome, and the man stepped forward, clasping Connor's hand in a firm handshake.

"Welcome, welcome! I'm Evan Cross, and this is Dylan Weir."

"Hi- I'm er… Connor" he replied.

The woman looked him up and down. "You're younger than we expected! Better watch those office girls!" she said with a wink.

Connor flushed and stammered as he replied "I… er…no! Er…"

"It's OK." smiled Evan, "She's only joking- leave the poor boy alone, he's only just arrived!"

"Yes, sorry. Don't worry Connor, if you don't like girls- we've got some beefy soldiers working here! We'll find someone for you!"

Connor blushed an even deeper red, and his mouth formed a perfect 'O' as he stuttered "Oh! No! I'm… I'm not gay! Not that there's anything wrong with…" his voice trailed off as the two Canadians evaporated into laughter.

"Oh, I can see you're going to be fair game!" the woman laughed "Don't worry, Connor- I was only playing with you!"

"I knew that!" Connor answered with bravado, sitting down and gratefully accepting a cup of coffee from Evan.

"So, Connor!" Evan started "I believe you've been sent here to help Dylan with details about the kind of creatures we could run into with these rifts in time?"

"That's right- we call them anomalies." Connor said, feeling more comfortable now that the subject had turned to work rather than focussed on him directly. "I've been keeping and updating a database whenever we have encountered a different creature or new species. That plus my already large dinosaur database of general facts about as many of these animals I could find make a pretty useful tool to help identify and deal with them."

"That's great," joined in Dylan "I'm an expert with animals- bears, cougars and suchlike, but I've only had a few dealings with these dinosaurs since I became part of the team. I'll look forward to spending some time with you, and I'll behave, I promise!"

Connor nodded in response. She seemed nice, if a bit- well Jenny- like, he supposed- even down to the teasing! Sort of superior in her manner of talking- he felt slightly intimidated by her, if he was honest! How he wished Abby was here with him! Connor realised Evan was speaking, and made an effort to really listen to what he was saying. He had a lot of responsibility, and didn't want to mess it up, or look a fool. Evan was explaining that tomorrow, Connor would also be shown their ADD, and electronics, and he could work with their scientists to improve the system, which was sometimes faulty and unpredictable. He was really grateful for the ARC's help with this as they were a relatively new team.

"No problem! That's what I'm here for and if I can help you with any other advice – I know quite a lot about the anomalies and procedures you can use to…."

"I think we've got it pretty much covered otherwise, thanks Connor."

"You know, Evan, I have had a lot- and I really mean a lot of experience with the anomalies. I do need to speak to your team about them- it's vital to the safety of your missions, and your country- not to mention the world!"

Evan and Dylan looked at each other, obviously feeling a bit- well 'spikey'at this young stranger, coming in and trying to tell them what they should or shouldn't do.

"I know that sounded a bit melodramatic, but once you've heard me out, you'll understand a lot more. I'm not trying to barge in and run things like Han Solo or anything, y'know!"

Evan and Dylan looked even more aghast at this last sentence. Connor gave them one of his great smiles. They looked less agitated as they laughed awkwardly back.

"Sorry- not used to…It's just- please just give me a chance to tell you what I've experienced. As team leader, you'll be able to decide what action you want to take."

They mellowed completely at the strange young man and his heartfelt words. They'd give him his chance- and see what he had to say, after all he'd come all this way to help them. Evan pressed a button on his intercom system and within minutes there was a knock on the door, and a small brown haired woman entered.

"You wanted me?" she asked Evan.

"Yes, Michelle, this is Connor Temple. He's the scientist we've been expecting. Could you please take him and get him fitted with his ID bracelets and passes. You see, Connor we've been in touch with your ARC for some while now and had some similar technology set up. We're not government funded yet though. Luckily I am able to fund quite a lot myself and we have other investors too. We're trying to get our government engaged in the programme- your Mr…er…Lester, is it, has been very helpful in setting us up with meetings to that end. We hope once they see what we do here- and how many lives are at risk from this that they will put their backing and money into the project." Connor nodded, he knew most of this from his briefing with Matt.

"Michelle, please also show Connor his apartment, and get him a uniform coat. I think he's finding our climate a little chilly." Connor laughed and went with Michelle, Evan advising him that they'd send a car to pick him up the next morning to bring him back to the Vancouver ARC, and they would commence working straight away.

Michelle started by showing Connor around as they walked. They peered into a few of the rooms as they went past, and Connor felt himself flush a little as they went past the offices where the 'young girls' all stared at him, wide eyed as he went through. He waved at them as he followed Michelle and heard giggles behind him as the girls all agreed he was 'gorgeous' and they pleasantly argued and vied over who was going to try to get him to take them out. All Connor could think about, though was Abby at home. Apart from when he had been so busy with New Dawn, he hadn't been separated from her for this long- even though it wasn't even a complete day yet! They'd lived and worked together for years…. then spent one whole year alone together in the Cretacious. Connor felt sad as he remembered all the wasted days- and nights- working in the lab when he should have been with Abby. When he got back, he'd make it up to her, he swore. He'd show her how much she meant to him!

After Connor had been given clearance and received his passes and ID bracelet, Michelle took him to the car, and the driver set off to take them to the apartment he'd been allocated during his stay. Michelle pointed out various landmarks as they went, and Connor couldn't help but appreciate how beautiful Vancouver was. When they arrived, Michelle opened the door and as Connor entered he glanced around the room, thinking it would be fine- quite luxurious, very much like the apartment he and Abby had stayed in on their return from the Cretacious- very white and sterile, but comfortable. Michelle pointed out the full cupboards and fridge, and with a smile asked him if he wanted her to stay to cook him something. He looked like a startled rabbit, which made him all the more endearing and finally managed to splutter out that he'd be fine. She laughed and said goodnight and left him to it. As she closed the door behind her, Connor smacked his head on the back of it as it closed.

"I'm such an idiot!" he thought "Blushing and stammering like a spotty school kid! I've got to 'man up' if I'm going to be of any use here!" He decided he'd bring Abby into the conversation as soon as possible so that word would get round that he was taken, in the hopes it would stop him being such a target for the women here.

He felt exhausted. The flight had taken about nine and a half hours and he'd only been able to sleep fitfully on the plane. He decided that before he finally went to bed though, he'd contact Abby, and then have a quick shower and a snack. He pulled out the laptop that Michelle had left for him on the table, and skyped Abby, feeling excited at the prospect of talking to her. There she was! Her beautiful face appeared on his screen, and he could have cried at the sudden rush of loneliness he felt. He wanted her in his arms, where she belonged.

"You wus!" he admonished himself – unable to manage without the girl for only four weeks- he really was whipped! But he didn't care, looking at her smiling at him with tears in her eyes was the most important thing to him now!

"Hey!" he whispered, a lone tear trickling its way down his cheek.

"Hey!" she answered, touching her screen. "I miss you…."

"Me too…"

They continued to whisper sweet nothings to each other, until Connor could hardly manage to keep his eyes open any more. They sadly said their goodbyes and Connor quickly had his shower and some toast, and practically fell into bed. It had been a long and tiring day. Tomorrow he'd be ready for some serious work….

To Be Continued…

I so hope you liked it! Please review!