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!

Time for some action! Please, please, pretty please review!

Vancouver Calling

Chapter Eight- Anomaly Alert

They all dashed out of Evan's office and ran to the ADD, where the technician reported that there was an anomaly at a warehouse a few blocks away from the town centre.

"Are you going to try out the EMDs" Connor asked Tim, who gestured behind him. When Connor turned around, he saw some military holding EMDs and nodded his approval. One of the soldiers tossed a gun to him and he caught it easily and followed the team out to the car park, where they all piled into the awaiting cars. An armed guard was already in place by the anomaly when they arrived, and as they joined the guard, they looked in awe at what seemed to be shards of glass floating in the air. Even though Connor had seen many anomalies of different shapes and sizes- and had even made one himself, he still felt a thrill course through him as he looked at this new anomaly.

"Any sign of creature incursion?" he asked the nearest security guard.

"No, sir!" the guard replied, shaking his head. Connor, however was looking around with a practiced eye, and spotted something on the ground not far off.

"There's something." he announced, walking over to the object. What he saw made his blood run cold! He bent down and picked up the feather quill from the ground.

"Velociraptor! Definitely not good!"

"But….. I didn't know velociraptors had feathers" Dylan queried "They weren't birds, were they?"

"They're actually a genus of dromaeosaurid- er…bird-like- therapod dinosaurs from the Cretacious. Most people think of them as they were depicted in the film Jurassic Park, but although that was a pretty cool film, they weren't actually like that! They were shown larger than they actually are and they seem to have been based on the larger Deinonychus. You know though, an interesting fact is that at the same time the film was being made, palaeontologists discovered a larger species of raptor- the Utahraptor! Velociraptors are only about three feet tall, though and they're pretty lethal…." Connor sounded like he was quoting straight from an encyclopaedia and Dylan was fascinated…

Connor and Dylan were cut off in the middle of their discussion when a savage roar echoed out, and a man's scream made them all turn towards the open area of the warehouse where they saw two raptors fighting over their kill. Two more were approaching at speed from further off, and the sound of rapid gunfire followed in their wake.

"Watch the anomaly- don't let any more through" yelled Evan to the guards, who were standing transfixed, watching in horror as the terrifying creatures ripped apart their colleague. Connor ran to set up the closing device, ready to close it as soon as they could get these creatures back through, watched by a couple of the security team and a scientist who were learning about the device.

"Coming through!" Evan shouted as he ran full pelt towards the floating anomaly. Connor could see that he meant to run straight through it, drawing the raptors after him…

"No!" he cried, and as Evan reached the anomaly, the raptors close on his heels, Connor dived at him and threw him to the ground just before he managed to jump through. The raptors couldn't stop fast enough and disappeared back into their own time. Evan and Connor stood up, just in time to see another guard slashed by a nine cm long claw from a third raptor, just inches away from them. The guard instantly fell, blood pouring from his wound, and they could instantly see that he was dead. The raptor approached Evan and Connor and was about to slash at them with its lethal claw, when shots rang out and it fell, knocking Evan over, landing in a heap on his legs. He pulled himself out from beneath it hurriedly, but it was already unconscious. Evan looked up and saw Dylan standing above him, brandishing her EMD. The soldiers finally managed to stop the fourth raptor in its tracks when they shot at it in succession, and it fell heavily at their feet under the barrage of shots from the managed to push and pull the two raptors through the anomaly, and once Connor had managed to close it, he turned to Evan, rage on his face.

"Did you not listen to what I said! You can't go through the anomalies! It can change everything- you- me- Dylan…we could all disappear, or change history!" he yelled, thinking of Cutter and his Claudia, who had changed into Jenny. Evan stood up, clearly annoyed at Connor speaking to him like that, and Dylan stood between the two angry men.

"Connor's right, Evan. We can't take risks with these things- we don't know enough about them! Calm down, Connor- it was just on the spur of the moment. We're new to this game…no" she put her hand up as Connor was about to interrupt her, "I know- it's not a game! I just meant we haven't had much experience- there's bound to be a few mistakes!" Both men instantly calmed- it wasn't in either of their natures to hold a grudge or remain angry in the face of reason.

"Sorry, Evan." Connor said instantly, his anger abating as quickly as it has arisen "Shouldn't have yelled at you….sorry!"

"And I should have been more sensible, I'm sorry too. Guess I don't think so quickly when faced with these things in person! I'll have to watch that!"

"Hey, it's done now, and we've got to sort out this mess. Tim will have to see these two men's families…." Dylan looked at them both with a hint of tears in her eyes. Connor softened completely. They were new at this! They obviously hadn't seen much death yet. This would be a huge wake up call for these people. It was one thing to talk about these creatures, but a totally different ball game when they were in fact right there in front of you. They'd learn, just like he'd had to. He just wished no one had died. It always tugged at his heart when someone got hurt or died.

"Sir…." the scientist was speaking, and Connor realised he was trying to get his attention.

"Connor- call me Connor- not sir!"

"Oh! Connor…can you just show me the locking device once more? I'm not quite sure how you set it?"

"Er…OK, well- we'll have to be quick- don't want anything coming back through, do we! OK- here- we just put this wire here…" Connor and the man leant over the device and Connor explained the technology. Connor was pleased the lab technician was so interested, and in his eagerness began to show off a little. "Yep! I invented it, y'know. No one believed I could do it, well except Cutter- he was my professor. Best man you could ever meet. Anyway this Giganotosaurus came through an anomaly, and I had to close it before any more came through, so I hit the button. Bam! It closed. Of course I had to reopen it so we could the creature back through it again, but still….." he stopped what he was saying when a noise came from behind him and as he turned towards the sound, an Oviraptor came speeding towards him….

Connor was right in its path and as the ostrich- like creature approached him, it viciously slashed at him with its three-sharp claws on its hand, the eight cm long nails instantly caused him to shout out in pain. Its three-toed clawed feet kicked out at him. Once Connor was on the ground, the Oviraptor clamped its powerful jaw around his arm, which he had thrown up to protect himself, crushing the bones in his arm! As Connor screamed, Evan and Dylan simultaneously fired their guns at the creature. It instantly fell, unconscious, and everyone ran to Connors side.

"Medic!" screamed Dylan, as they tried to staunch the flow of blood from his wound. Dylan placed his head on her lap, and stroked his face. "It's OK, Connor…it's OK" she kept saying, tears running down her face.

The shocked scientist closed the anomaly, but felt no pleasure from the action due to what had just happened. Everyone was still reeling from the things they had seen today- first they'd lost two guards, and now Connor was badly hurt! He'd been right to warn them. These things had to be treated with caution and respect. It was only a matter of minutes before the medical team got to Connor, and as they worked on his most immediate injuries and put him on the stretcher, Dylan and Evan looked at each other suddenly realising the huge responsibility that lay on their shoulders to protect the public- and themselves!- from these creatures!

The team made their way back to the VARC, very subdued but in awe of the creatures they had just seen. "Those raptors…" Dylan was saying "Lethal, but so beautiful- so amazing. And that bird- I think it was an Oviraptor, but I'll check that out with Connor's data. Evan, Connor will be alright, won't he?"

"Yeah, I'm sure he will. The doc said he had some broken bones, but he'll be OK. Oh, there's Ken and Ange…"

"What the hell happened out there?" Ange asked "Two men dead and Connor injured! Was it the guns? Should we revert to the tranquiliser guns?"

"No, no, Ange- the EMDs did great! Brought them down. It was just – well, these creatures are more than names on a bit of paper. More than fossils in the museum- they're real! Alive, and deadly! We did the best we could, but lessons were certainly learned and next time, we'll do better! With the data Connor's brought us, we'll train and prepare ourselves to deal with them. It'll be OK, Ange, really!"

Ange nodded, and Ken who was standing next to her suddenly smiled- "You know, James Lester- Connor's boss told me he was always in trouble! Had concussion more times than he could remember, and always in the medical bay! Gonna rib him mercilessly about this one- now we know he's gonna be alright!"

Everyone laughed in relief, as they made their way to the VARC hospital to see how Connor was doing. When they arrived, Connor was sitting up in bed, his arm in plaster, and his chest heavily bandaged. Surrounding him was a bevy of office girls who had heard he'd been injured and rushed to check he was OK. Connor was looking very pink cheeked and tired, but was laughing and joking with the girls.

Ken rolled his eyes, as the others stood there amused, and chivvied the girls away. "Connor!" he exclaimed, "For an engaged guy, you're doing better than any of us with the chicks!"

Connor laughed "Do you mean the girls or the Oviraptor?" he quipped "Cos it's more like your… ostrich… you know!" he added quite seriously.

"Geek!" Ken said, and everyone including Connor laughed. "Seriously though, mate- you OK?"

"Yeah! I'll be fine! I'd like my laptop, though, if that's alright?"

"No! No work for you tonight- just rest and get better. Tomorrow will be soon enough!"

"Well, actually, I'd like to skpe Abby, if that's OK. Don't want her to worry."

"Oh, sure, I'll fetch it for you Connor, and set it up for you- I'd like to meet your Abby." Dylan said softly, and went off to get the laptop for him. The others chatted until she returned, and then said goodnight, and left Dylan and Connor to it.

A very short while later, Abby's face appeared on the screen. "Connor!" she cried at the sight of him "Are you OK?"

"It's Ok, Abby, really I'm fine. Just a few scratches. Well- me arms broken, but it's me left one! I can still play computer games with my other one!" Abby tearfully smiled at him. "Oh, Abby, this is Dylan- she wanted to meet you- told her all about you!"

"Hi! Connor wasn't exaggerating! You are beautiful! He never stops talking about you, you know. All those girls chasing him, but he only has eyes for you!"

"Girls! What girls!" Abby immediately jumped in, pretending to look stern. "Connor Temple, what have you been up to!"

"No, no, Abby! Nothing! Honest! I've not- well, I kissed Ange, but I thought she was you, didn't I. Not that she looks anything like you actually, but I was drunk, wasn't I! Abby I….." babbled Connor, pink cheeked and frantic to explain to Abby.

"Stop, Connor! You're digging yourself into a deeper hole! It's OK, really. I love you. I trust you…"

"Abby!" whispered Connor.

"But if I ever find out you kiss anyone again- drunk or not, I'll be straight on a plane to Vancouver to slap you- and them!"

"Ooh! Might do it just for that!"

Everyone laughed, and Connor felt so much better bantering and laughing with Abby. Just seeing her gorgeous bright blue eyes sent a thrill through him. Dylan quietly said goodbye to Abby and Connor, and left them to it. She could see how much Connor loved Abby, and it was just as obvious that Abby adored him back. What a lovely couple! She let her thoughts wander toward Evan…mmm should she even go there she wondered! He was rather hot!

Left alone, with 4710 miles and a computer between then, Connor and Abby chatted about what had been happening in their different locations, laughed about everything and whispered sweet nothings together, until a nurse came into the room to get Connor settled for down to rest, and they had to say goodbye. Although Connor was comfortable here now, he felt utterly alone when the screen went black as the computer was turned off. He'd never understood before how people said they felt lonely in a room full of people, but he understood it now! He couldn't wait until he went home, if he survived that long, he thought looking down at all his bandages!

Back in the UK, Abby was quietly sobbing in Jess' arms. She missed Connor more than she had ever thought she possibly could, and knew that when he returned they would be back on track and they'd be able to put all the awkwardness over New Dawn behind them, and move forward together as a couple.

She just had to be patient and wait….

To Be Continued…

I so hope you liked that! Please review. Means a lot!