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!

I think it's time we took a little peek at what's happening back home in the UK, while Connor recuperates from his injuries. I like playing with the softer side of Abby, as seen in Series 5, especially episode 1! Please review!

Vancouver Calling

Chapter Nine- In The UK

Abby slowly closed down the lid of her silver laptop after speaking with Connor from his hospital bed. It seemed she'd changed from a confident 'bad ass' tomboy into a girly girl who cried if her boyfriend was more interested in his work than spending time with her, and if he was away on the other side of the world she felt lost, alone and abandoned. She tried, she really did, but she just couldn't seem to pull herself together- maybe it was because he was injured and she couldn't be there by his side. Maybe she just plain missed him? Whatever it was, she couldn't stop the tears from falling as she began to let go and sob. Unfortunately, Jess and Becker chose that very moment to walk into the flat. Jess was horrified when she saw Abby in pieces! She threw her keys down and rushed to her.

"Abby, Abby! Whatever's the matter? Has something happened? Is... is it Connor... is he...?"

"No, no- well, I mean he is in the hospital, but it's not that- just ignore me, I'm being silly!" Abby dashed the tears from her eyes and stood up, embarrassed she'd been caught having a 'girl' moment.

"No- hold on, Abby- wait. Come here, please!" Jess pulled Abby back by her arm, and regardless of what Abby had just said, she pulled the older girl into her arms and held her tight. Abby found herself bursting into tears once more, and couldn't seem to stop. Becker looked thoroughly ill at ease and stuttered that he'd go to the kitchen and make some tea. Even though Abby was still crying, she managed to spare a lone thought that he and Jess seemed very close- he even knew where the tea things were kept. When had all this happened, she wondered? She and Connor really had been out of the 'loop' during and after New Dawn! By the time Becker returned with the tea- he'd even prepared a few sandwiches for them all, Abby was feeling a lot calmer.

"I'm so sorry, guys" she apologised "Don't know what came over me!"

"It's understandable, Abby. You and Connor have been through so much together- the Cretacious, New Dawn- Philip- and now you're separated by the - er is it the North Atlantic Ocean, Becker...?"

"Darned if I know- I'm a soldier not a geography professor!" That made both Abby and Jess laugh and Abby instantly felt better. She was so lucky, she thought, she had a wonderful fiancé who loved her and really good friends. She really didn't have anything to cry about!

"So, Jess... Becker- tell me all your gossip- you two... er...?" she motioned her hand back and forth between them.

"No!" denied Jess rather too vehemently.

"Yes!" said Becker at the same time. They looked at each other and laughed a little self consciously.

"That is," Jess continued "We're talking things slow. We're not exactly 'together' as such, but we are dating- you know, see how it goes."

"How long has this been going on?" Abby cried joyously- she had always known they would be great together, but Becker had always seemed to regard Jess more like a younger sister rather than a potential girlfriend.

"Well, at the risk of sounding a bit... well 'mushy', and if you ever repeat this to Temple, I'll have to lock you in the menagerie with the mammoth for ever! - but I think the defining moment for me was when Jess was bitten by that beetle. I just realised life wouldn't be worth living if she hadn't survived. I still have my reservations, though- Jess knows this- I'm not speaking out of turn here- but the age difference... she's so bubbly and vibrant...even a little Temple-like, and I'm so...staid and solemn. We're going to give it a chance, though- see how we go!" Jess came to a stand beside him as he spoke, resting her hand on his shoulder and they smiled fondly at each other.

"Well, I think it's great!" Abby enthused "I'm so glad for you both!"

"Well, we're getting there! Won't have to lend you my radio just yet that I use for when you and Conn... no! What I mean is... er... Not that you and Connor make a noise or anything... er… or that Becker and I are... having... you know...no! I just mean...I don't listen...although you do like to..." Jess babbled, trying to extricate herself from the hole she was digging herself in, but only succeeding in making matters worse. Becker sat with his tea looking highly amused, watching as both Jess and Abby got a bit pink and hot under the collar.

"Jess!" exclaimed Abby, not sure whether to be amused or humiliated. 'Note to self.' She thought in her head 'Get our own place asap!'

"Anyway" Jess quickly said, changing the subject, "We'd be really grateful if you don't say anything to anyone just yet- not until we know ourselves!"

"Course not." Abby smiled, melting at the younger girl's heartfelt pleas. She smiled to herself, they made a lovely couple, she thought- she really hoped it worked out for them, just as it had for her and Connor. At least they hadn't had to get stuck in the past to finally declare their feelings towards each other. She sighed, thinking of all the time she and Connor had wasted when they could have been together. As the others bantered and giggled over a ridiculous TV programme they had all settled down to watch, Abby curled up on the sofa and remembered the first time Connor had told her he loved her. Of course, typically even that hadn't been your usual declaration of love from one person to another. She and Connor always seemed to make everything twice as difficult as it needed to be- no...it had been when she was hanging off a cliff, clutching Connor's hand for all she was worth to prevent falling, and being eaten by the creatures waiting below!

He'd blurted the words out in fear and desperation- "I love you!" He'd cried. Even in the midst of her fear and exhaustion she'd been dumbfounded. He loved her! He'd admitted it! Of course he'd denied it later, but that had been her fault too! Why had she insisted so forcefully that he wasn't her boyfriend to Lucien? Things might have been so different if she hadn't said those four words- "He's not my boyfriend!"

Then, of course there'd been that time at that brilliant house where they'd first met Danny. Jenny had asked her advice about Cutter. That was funny- Jenny asking her! She'd done so many thing wrong with Connor, yet Jenny thought she could give her advice. And when she had, Jenny had then asked her if she was going to take her own advice. She was going to, truly she was - she'd kissed Connor on the cheek, but he was as bad as she was and didn't try to take it further. He'd just grinned that goofy grin and stammered and stuttered. What a pair!

Well, maybe all of the 'dancing' around each other had made them stronger- they'd been friends before they had become lovers- in fact he was the best friend she'd ever had. He'd seen her at her worst and her best. He'd survived her notorious bad moods. He was her soul mate and she loved him!

"Abby!" Jess was squealing "help me!" Becker was mercilessly tickling Jess, and the sight of the big man dressed his severe black soldier's uniform giggling with Jess like a schoolboy made her burst out laughing, her previous sadness forgotten for the moment. Jess made a sudden move, and the pair of them tumbled off the sofa and fell in a heap on the floor, rolling over to come to a stop just before reaching the coffee table and sending its contents everywhere. Laughingly, Abby grabbed the cups and plates and took them into the kitchen giving the couple some time together. A few moments later, however Jess joined Abby in the kitchen.

"Don't hide away in here" Jess said "Come back and join us, we're going to play 'twister'- come on, Abby come and have some fun!"

"Oh, er.. no- really, Jess. I don't want to intrude; you two go and enjoy yourselves! I'll just get off to bed..."

"Not on your life" Becker said from the doorway "You can't leave me with this little vixen! I need protection!"

"No, really... I..."

"I have beer!" Becker held up a six pack of beer in each hand.

"Oh! Well, in that case," Abby laughed, giving in "Count me in!"

They spent a hilarious evening playing silly games- twister; charades and the 'yes' and 'no' game, getting sillier and sillier the more they drank. Abby usually held her drink really well, but she hadn't had much to eat and was getting very tipsy by the time Becker tried to say 'one smart fella he felt smart, two smart fellas they felt smart, three smart fellas they felt smart, and they all felt smart together' as fast as he could. She found his ridiculous rendition hilarious, fuelled by the beer, and doubled up with laughter, clutching hold of Jess as they roared with mirth. They eventually calmed down when they decided to turn on the TV to watch the horror film they'd wanted so badly to see.

Abby sobered quickly as she watched Jess snuggle up to Becker on the sofa. Was this how Jess had felt when it had been her and Connor cuddling up together and her on the sidelines? No matter how much they tried to include her, she still felt a little self conscious and awkward. She'd have to be more thoughtful in the future of Jess' feelings- although it would be great if they could hang out as a foursome now that the other two had got together. That would be fun!

Becker seemed much more- well human- around Jess somehow. He was less like an emotionless robot, and laughed and joked. His whole face and body language changed and he looked younger and softer. Yes, Jess was definitely good for him, young as she was. Perhaps that was what he needed- a younger exuberance to soften him and bring out his fun side, they certainly looked good together, and the glances they threw at each other left Abby in no doubt they definitely had strong feelings. She felt sad at not having Connor there with her- they'd always shared everything, well until recently, and he would have enjoyed seeing Becker and Jess together. Becker had become his best friend, even though they still bickered at times, and he would be so happy that Becker had found someone, especially Jess who Connor loved like a sister.

Without warning, a particularly frightening part came on the screen, and a monstrous face jumped out right at them, making all of them jump out of their skins, and Jess emitted a fearful high pitched scream, Abby decided she'd had enough.

"Guys... thank you so much for tonight- it's been such fun! But I'm shattered and I'm going to call it a night."

"You sure, Abby? Cos we'd love you to stay and watch the rest of the film with us, you know!"

"I know" Abby smiled fondly at them both "And thank you for making me feel so welcome, but I'm really tired now. I'll see you guys tomorrow- I'm so happy for you both!" With that Abby carefully picked her way through the mess they'd all left on the floor- games mats; dice; cans and crisps- and made her way to the bedroom she had shared with Connor. She settled down for the night, but couldn't sleep and switched on her bedside lamp and tried to read. She soon gave that up as a bad job and tried to settle down again but tossed and turned, hugging Connor's pillow for comfort, for about an hour before finally dozing off. She jerked suddenly awake, though when she heard loud whispers with lots of 'sssshhhhhing' and giggles as Jess and Becker tried to make their way to Jess' bedroom, but kept falling over the debris on the floor. When they were finally ensconced in the room, they then proceeded to talk and laugh, and it then went very quiet, and Abby could imagine what was going on in that room!

"Wish I had Jess' radio!" Abby thought as she heard Becker moan and Jess trying not to make a noise- very unsuccessfully. "We are so moving out as soon as possible!" She flopped back down on her bed and placed her pillow over her face. Suddenly, she pushed the pillow off of her and grabbed her laptop. She knew what she had to do. She had to get to Vancouver to see Connor. She couldn't stay away any longer. She needed him- she wanted him and she didn't care any more what anyone else said or thought. She was going to go to her man...

To Be Continued...

I really hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and that I did Becker and Jess justice- I'm not used to writing about them, being more of an Abby/ Connor girl!

Please review if you liked it- oh and don't forget to try to say the tongue twister! One smart fella…..