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!

Nice fluffy chapter!

Vancouver Calling

Chapter Ten- Reunion

Connor was busy working in the main area- the hub- on the ADD even though his arm was in plaster and he was still in pain. He was determined to complete his work here, no matter what, and had been working long hours due to the complexity of upgrading the system with the help of Evan and his technicians and electricians. Dylan popped in bringing Connor and Evan a cup of coffee as she came, to help them stay awake, although they had agreed just to stay a half an hour more. Connor was happy to continue working as he only had his lonely apartment to go back to anyway, but Evan said they could make mistakes which could potentially set them back days if they got too tired, and insisted on the half an hour limit.

Connor didn't see Abby being escorted into the room, as his head was buried under the ADD. He suddenly withdrew from his position and stood up, arching his back to stretch out his aching muscles, before grabbing his mug of coffee, and taking a huge gulp of the hot mixture. He sighed gratefully, savouring the bitter taste as he swallowed. Maybe he was more exhausted than he had realised.

Something made him stop and turn towards the door… his mouth fell open as he saw Abby standing there. Then he closed his eyes for a second and shook his head- he must be more shattered than he thought! He opened his eyes again, but the beautiful apparition with the startling blue eyes was still there! The room was silent now, watching as Abby, her head slightly tilted to one side, her eyes soft and moist with unshed tears, whispered…

"Connor!"

Connor suddenly realised this really wasn't a dream and in his shock he let his coffee cup fall from his grasp, shattering on the floor, spilling the contents everywhere.

"Abby!" he cried. They ran towards each other, eyes only on the other- not even noticing the people in the room. They dived into each other's arms and embraced, both closing their eyes and relishing in this moment of reunion, Connor forgetting for the moment the pain of his broken arm. They eventually pulled apart and Connor's hand reached out and caressed Abby's face, and then moving his hand around to the back of her head, he grasped a handful of her hair and drew her into a passionate kiss. They barely noticed the room full of people watching as they savoured the feel and taste of each other. When they separated, breathless, Connor cried, his voice rising in his joy at seeing her there…

"Abby! But how? When did you get here? Is everything OK?" He stroked her face again, loving the feel of her silky soft skin, but concerned something was wrong.

"I missed you so much" she explained "I just wanted to be with you- see you- touch you!"

They kissed again, tearfully much to Ange's amusement and Ken's rolling eyes, until a loud cough interrupted them and they drew apart, slightly embarrassed.

"Well, I guess this must be Abby!" Evan laughed "We've heard a lot about you. You're every bit as beautiful as Connor described you." Abby laughed at Evan's gallantry, and they shook hands. Some of the onlookers sighed at the romantic sight of the young couple obviously so much in love. The office girls watched and admired Abby, wishing it could have been them instead, but one lone voice muttered angrily…

"Mmm. I don't think she's anything special. Look at that scraggy hair!" Gracie touched her own smooth mane of luscious long, red hair which was loose about her shoulders. "He'd be better off with someone like me- I mean…I've actually got some boobs- 36 DD, you know! Look at her- what does he see in her!" she continued jealously, even though Connor had never given her any reason to be jealous- he'd not even noticed her other than to chat to her like he did with everyone else.

The other girls felt outraged on Connor's behalf, especially Millie, who knew how much Abby meant to him. "You shut up!" she cried angrily "She's gorgeous! You've no right to be jealous- he hasn't even looked twice at you! As for your boobs- put them away will you! We all know they're not real!" The other girls sniggered. Millie had nothing against 'boob jobs' but really, sometimes Gracie could be so annoying and rude! Gracie turned her back, pouting in anger, but the other office girls either didn't notice or care as they were too busy dreaming of Abby and Connor. It was like something out of a Mills and Boon novel!

"OK, everyone, show's over" Ken clapped his hands together. This seemed to snap everyone out of their thoughts and slowly they dispersed back to their work.

"Connor- this seems the perfect time for you to call it a day" smiled Evan "We've done a lot of good work today- we'll probably have it all finished by tomorrow night at the latest!"

"Would you and Abby like to join us for a little nightcap?" Ken said playfully, knowing full well that the couple probably couldn't wait to be alone.

"Er…I…er…" Connor stammered, making Dylan laugh at his discomfort. In the weeks he'd been with them, she'd become very amused at the way he was so easily embarrassed and she, Ken and even Ange enjoyed making him squirm just to see his reaction- it was all meant as fun of course, he was so cute when he got all flustered and red in the face!

"I'm sorry," Abby saved him-she could instantly see how it was with these people, they obviously had a soft spot for Connor and liked to tease him- just like they did with each other at home. That proved he'd done a good job here! She was so proud of him! "I'm really tired- the travelling, you know. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Aah!" thought Dylan, "This one's a smart cookie! I think I'm going to like her."

As Abby and Connor left for the evening, they passed by the office where only a handful of the girls were still working late. "Bye, Connor!" they called, giggling. "Don't do anything we would!" With that they bust into fits of laughter at their own joke, leaving Connor once again red faced, and Abby laughing.

They soon arrived back at the apartment that Connor had been using during his stay, and as they walked through the door, they both suddenly felt that awkwardness, which had been the main reason Connor had been sent to Vancouver in the first place.

"Er…"he said "It's er… a bit…untidy! Wasn't expecting anyone!"

"Connor, you are such a slob!" bewailed Abby, and they both laughed, breaking the ice a little.

"Yeah! Sorry. Er…" another pause. "Would you like some tea? Coffee- hot chocolate?" Connor asked, dashing into the little kitchenette and clattering around with cups and the kettle.

"Thanks…tea would be nice….Connor?" she looked at him "Are we alright? I mean you and me! We can't seem to talk any more… it just feels…weird…" and with that Abby burst into tears, something Connor had only experienced once or twice in the whole time they'd known each other. She'd missed him so much, but as soon as they were together again, New Dawn seemed to appear between them like an invisible force tearing them apart.

"Abby!" Connor cried. Her tears all it took for him to pull her to him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry….It's all me…all my fault! Please forgive me, Abby! Please, I promise I'll talk all the time and never stop, it won't be 'weird' any more- I don't blame you for any of it…it was all me…well, and Philip, and I'll…"

Abby sniffed and laughed at Connor's rambling. "It's Ok" she whispered "More talking not needed…Connor- this is the part where you kiss me- oh, just kiss me, you goon!"

With that, Connor roughly pulled her towards him, his bad arm left dangling by his side as they clung together. His lips sought hers and they mingled their tongues together, and nibbled at each other's lips. He abruptly let her go, and tried to divest himself of his jacket and tee shirt. This proved harder to do than usual as he was one handed and as his passion rose, he fumbled with the clothes, getting caught up in their folds. Abby moved forward to help him and soon their clothes were lying in a messy heap at their feet, but they didn't care- they were already back in a deep embrace, lips and limbs entwined. As they kissed and nuzzled each other, Connor whispered...

"I know I haven't shown it lately- well not for a long time, but I love you Abby!"

"Enough to get pulled over a cliff to be eaten by the mer creatures?" Abby asked.

"Yes- I'd never let you go!"

"Enough to be bait for a future predator when I just finished shouting at you?"

"Yes, even if Becker wasn't there with a gun!"

"Enough to marry me as soon as we get home?"

Connor looked dumbfounded, his brow furrowed and his jaw dropping. "Well, I'll have to think about it..." he said in a copy of the time Abby had proposed to him after New Dawn. Abby also remembered their conversation and replied...

"Forget it!"- But she was laughing as she said it.

Connor sobered and said immediately "Yes! So yes!" With that he went to pick Abby up, but couldn't quite manage it with the pain in his chest from his gash and his broken arm encased in plaster of paris. Abby found herself giggling like a dizzy girl and took Connor's hand in hers and pulled him behind her to the bedroom and over to the large bed.

"I love you too, Connor Temple." She whispered as they flopped down on the bed, joining together in sharing the love they feared was lost, but had rekindled with even more intensity than before...

Abby and Connor lay together in the bed, arms wrapped around each other, warm in the aftermath of the intimacy they had just shared. They whispered to each other, all the awkwardness long gone and practically forgotten as they told each other everything that had been going on in their lives whilst they had been apart. Abby didn't want any more secrets between them so she told Connor that she could have gone with him to Vancouver from the beginning but she'd felt he was so jaded and insecure after New Dawn that she'd felt it best for him to go alone. She told him she'd felt things were so bad that she also felt he'd probably needed to have some space away from her. Connor cried as she explained everything to him, obviously blaming himself and kept repeating "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," over and over again. Abby put her finger on his lips, stopping him.

"Connor- stop apologising! You were going through a bad time- that's all. I played my part in it all too! It's over now, but I just didn't want any secrets left between us. The air's cleared now and we can start our future together afresh from now on, yeah?"

"Yeah" agreed Connor, smiling at last. "Abby, did you mean it when you said we could get married when we get home? I want to be able to call you my wife more than anything."

"Well, I want to become Mrs. Temple more than anything, so that's OK then! They laughed again and softly and gently kissed each other, this time slowly, enjoying the taste and feel of each other, passion building in both of them once more...

A while later, Connor was telling Abby all about his time in the Vancouver ARC, and she found herself incredulous over how much he had achieved. She'd always known he could do it, of course- she had utter faith in him, but she knew how hard he found it with new people, and how he often let his tongue run away with him, and his boyish exuberance take over, reducing him to a bumbling 'nerd' which not many people understood. It was obvious, though that the Vancouver team had taken him into their hearts- especially those giggling girls, Abby thought, slightly jealous. Well, she'd soon put a stop to that!

"Abby," Connor suddenly sounded thoughtful and serious. "There is one strange thing though. I'm sure I recognise someone- his name's Mac Rendell, have you heard the name?"

"No... I don't think so. Why? Has he done something? Is it something to do with New Dawn?" Abby sounded alarmed.

"NO- no! He just seems familiar. He once worked at the ARC you know- maybe I caught sight of him there, or something. It's odd, though- every time I see him and try to go to speak to him, he runs off!"

"I'll contact Becker tomorrow and see if he knows him." Abby decided.

"Oh, well- lets forget about him for now! I know something we can do that's far more interesting!" Connor said and waggled his eyebrows suggestively...

"Connor Temple!" exclaimed Abby with false shock.

Connor laughed "...I'm starving! Let's eat!" Abby slapped him, playfully and they went of to the kitchen to prepare a meal, just happy to be together...

To Be Continued

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You'll soon find out what Connor's going to bring home, so watch this space!