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!
Well, we've had some adventure; we've had some fluff- now it's time for some angst! Hope you enjoy!
Vancouver Calling
Chapter Eleven- Mac and Trouble!
Connor woke up before Abby, the next morning, and lay beside her for a few moments just savouring the fact she was there and admiring her beauty as she slept. "I'm the luckiest man in the world!" thought Connor- "It's about time I realised it!" He smiled to himself as Abby softly murmured his name in her sleep, sending a thrill through him at the thought that she must have been dreaming about him. Might have been a nightmare, mind- but never mind- he was in her thoughts, that's all that mattered!
"Mmm...morning" she said slowly opening her eyes and looking straight into Connor's.
"Hey!" Connor replied, kissing her lightly, but lingeringly on the lips. "I missed you!"
"Can you miss someone when you're asleep?" Abby wondered.
"Well, I did! Abby, thank you for coming out here! It means a lot!"
"You're welcome- now get a shift on, we're due at the- what is it you call it- the VARC?"
"Yeah! Great name isn't it! I suppose we'd better get going in a minute- Dylan wants to spend some time with you, talking dinosaur! She hasn't been able to show me around their menagerie- no they call it 'their zoo!'- something about health and safety, but she really wants to talk to you about how you care for the animals- especially the mammoth! But... well...Abby! Just five more minutes... please?" He said, leaning over her with his puppy dog eyes sparkling and an expectant look on his face.
"Just five minutes- is that all you can manage?" Abby teased.
"C'm here, and I'll show you!" laughed Connor, drawing Abby into a passionate kiss, all thoughts of the VARC, the animals or anything else discarded as he showed Abby how much he loved her.
A little later, they arrived at the VARC and Abby and Connor went to find Dylan, who was in her office with Ange.
"Hey, you guys!" She smiled as she answered their tentative knock on the door "I'm glad you're here. Abby could you show me again how to access the part of the database that shows us how to feed a smilodon, please? The guys found one yesterday and brought it back to the zoo, but I'm not sure..."
"No problem!" Abby said as she moved towards the laptop and started to show Dylan how to access the correct programme she needed. Connor decided to leave them to it and go to check on the lab technicians. He'd given them a lot of details about the locking devises and they were now trying to make them up from scratch themselves. Ange accompanied him as he left, intending to try to talk to Evan about some budgets or other that Evan kept fobbing her off about.
"So...that's your fiancée, eh!" She stated as they wandered down the corridor.
"Er...Yup!" Connor answered.
"She's really pretty- and seems nice too." Ange continued.
"Thanks!" Connor smiled.
"So, when are you two going to tie the knot?"
"As soon as we can make the arrangements. We only want a small wedding- we don't have very big families to invite- in fact I've only got me mum and she wouldn't be able to come, lives in a nursing home, you know- and Abby only has her brother, Jack. We're hoping Lester will marry us so we won't have too much to arrange. We don't want a lot of fuss."
"I hope you'll invite us all too?"
"What? Really? You'd like to come? That's really great, Ange. We will!"
They walked past the office where the girls drooled over Connor as usual as he went on his way. "Yo! Connor" they cried, and Gracie pouted at him, trying desperately to get his attention. But Connor didn't notice and chatted happily to Ange about the wedding until they got to the lab.
"…Oh, and Ken would like to extend his invitation to you both to come to the bar tonight- he said if you weren't too occupied with er...other things!" She laughed.
"Oh, er..." began Connor, immediately flushing pink, as usual to Ange's huge amusement "We'd love to- I'll have to run it past Abby first of course, see if she has other plans... er...I don't mean... I mean I'll ask her if she just wants to get an early night...er...from the jet lag, I mean...not..."
Ange laughed out loud, and patted Connor on the shoulder. "Connor, you must learn not to get so embarrassed! I'm just pulling your leg! See what Abby says and if you fancy a night out, just turn up! No pressure!"
"Thanks..." Connor called after her as she approached Evan, waving some papers in his face. As Connor walked towards the lab table where the anomaly closing equipment was spread out, he spotted a figure standing by one of the computers. Ah- it was Mac. This was his chance to actually get to speak to him to see if he did know him, and dispel some of the mystery! As he continued on to the back of the room, Mac and the other technicians suddenly gave an uproarious laugh, and as he doubled over with laughter, Mac suddenly turned and spotted Connor moving towards him. The smile immediately disappeared from his face and his eyes darted from Connor to the door as if seeking escape. However there was no chance of him leaving the room without passing Connor, and he sighed and prepared himself for what he knew was coming.
"Hi! I'm Connor- you're Mac, aren't you? Pleased to finally meet you." Connor told the man, extending his hand to grasp a slightly unwilling hand in return.
"Yes- er...hi" Mac replied, resigned to the fact he was finally cornered into talking to Connor. He had hoped he would be able to avoid him the whole time he was in Vancouver.
"Do I...do I know you from somewhere? Did we meet in the UK, or something?" Connor asked "I believe you worked at the ARC for a while..."
"Yes, I was part of the security team there for a while. Look, Sir…Connor...I'm sorry- OK! I shouldn't have done it and after the unit returned, I just couldn't cope! It was all a total nightmare. I'm sorry, OK? When I realised…all the problems…craziness….I went straight to the CO, and admitted everything and I handed myself in. They said they'd give me another chance- I'm a good soldier! I've saved lives, so they let me work here and now I've been promoted." Mac looked downcast "What are you going to do?"
"I don't understand- I don't know what you're talking about!" a very confused Connor said.
"Oh!" Mac looked confused "But I thought you'd come here to take back…to get back…your…"
"If you mean I came to get what belongs to me, then you're right but what have…. Oh….!" Light began to dawn in Connor's head, as he suddenly realised what Mac had been trying to say. It had been him! That's why he had been avoiding him!
"What're you gonna do?" Mac repeated.
"I'm not going to do anything to you…."
"Nothing? Really? But?..."
"All I want to do is take my belongings back to the UK with me when I go- I've been told I can, so no hard feelings, yeah? Forget about it, mate. You were given a second chance, and I'd say you've proved yourself- promotion and everything! Look, I've gotta work now, but I haven't had a real chance to get to know you, so I'll see you at the bar tonight, yeah? I've heard you love extreme sports- you can tell me all about them then!"
Mac's face broke out into a grin of relief. "You betcha! I'll tell you some adventures that'll make your hair curl!" he said with a genuine smile that reached his eyes and transformed him from the timid man he had been before Connor confronted him. "Thank you, Sir…. Connor! Thank you- I won't forget this, and if there's anything I can do for you, just let me know…I'm your man!"
Connor went back to the workbench to help the technicians. He was feeling pleased, but very weary now. Even though Abby was with him, he really wanted to go home to the UK. He was ready to go back and begin afresh with his friends and Abby firmly by his side-only a few more days to go though, he could cope with that.
Abby spent a very pleasant morning with Dylan, showing her the database, and telling her about each of the creatures she had been in contact with and knew about personally. She was especially thorough and precise when it came to the future predators- they were the most formidable creatures she had encountered due to their speed, and bat-like vision- after all they could see sound! The girls were about to head off to meet the others for lunch, when Dylan received a telephone call.
"You go on ahead." she told Abby "I'll just take this."
"OK!" Abby waved goodbye as she began to make her way back. She wasn't completely sure of her bearings, so she went slowly. She had just turned the corner when a woman popped out in front of her, making her jump.
"Oh!" she cried, hand on her chest, laughing in relief when she saw it was one of the VARC staff. "You gave me a fright!"
"Good" said the woman, humourlessly.
"Good?" wondered Abby.
"You think you're so great, don't you! Just 'cos you got lost in the past, and managed to get your claws into Connor! Well, let me tell you- you're nothing! He wouldn't even have spared you a glance if you hadn't trapped him through that rift!" Gracie screamed at Abby, pushing her backwards. Abby lost her balance, and slipped to the ground on one knee. What on earth was this about!
"Look- Tilllie…"
"It's G...R…A…C…I…E! Don't you forget it, b***h, cos I'm the one who's gonna take your man from you!" she said, approaching Abby menacingly. Abby didn't want to fight this girl- she was very young, but she couldn't help the feeling of jealousy and anger rise within her. Had Connor done anything to encourage this girl, to make her so aggressive? He hadn't….no, she knew Connor loved her. She did. She had to trust him. He would never betray her in that way!
"Look, Gracie, I don't know what you think you see in Connor, what you think you know about him, but Connor and I have known each other for six years. We've lived with each other, worked with each other...lov…"
"Shut up! You…shut up! He doesn't love you…he loves me…."
As Gracie screamed those last words, she hurled herself at Abby, and Abby had no choice but to defend herself. Gracie was just a kid who worked in the office. She'd never trained as a fighter, she'd never been out in the field- she hadn't even seen the inside of a gym since school, but she threw all her strength into attacking Abby.
She was no match for Abby, however and Abby easily executed a few kicks, and brought Gracie down with no trouble and very little force. As Abby stood over Gracie, her hands tightly clenched, people suddenly began to arrive from all over the VARC, having heard the shouts and screams.
"Abby...are you OK!" cried Connor. He looked down at Gracie who was sobbing, blood running down her face from her nose. "Wha…what happened? What did you do?"
"What did you do, more like?" Abby cried angrily, turning on Connor. "Have you and this girl….."
"What do you mean? I don't understand!"
"Come on, Connor! Don't be so naïve! It doesn't take a genius to work it out- even if you actually are one!"
"Wha….No! Abby, please! No! I don't even know her name! Please… please believe me!" Connor wailed, distraught that Abby could have thought he'd ever do such a thing.
"Abby…" a soft voice said, touching her shoulder. "Please…Connor hasn't even looked at Gracie- we can vouch for that, can't we girls?" Millie said, looking at the other office girls huddling together tearfully.
They all nodded and added their cries of "Yes!" and "They haven't even had a date!"
"It's true Abby! We all liked him, but he only thinks- and talks- about you! Gracie was just jealous of what you two have got! I'm not lying! I…I tried it on with him!" She admitted, shamefaced. A gasp arose from the group of watchers. "I'm truly sorry….but, he rejected me because he loves you- he didn't even kiss me! He just got all….well you know Connor better than us! He got all embarrassed and red and stuttered and blustered a lot, but made it quite clear that you were the only girl for him. I'm sorry….and so's Gracie…aren't you!" With that Millie turned to the sobbing girl on the floor, who just nodded pathetically.
Abby shrugged the other girl's hand from her shoulder, and muttered angrily- "What! Do all girls in Canada try to steal another woman's man, just because she isn't there with him? Because in the UK that is just NOT ON!"
"No! Really, Abby. Please don't think badly of us!" Millie cried.
Ange came forward "You girls get back to work. We will be talking further about this! Mark my words!" The girls sloped off back to their office, all their playful banter gone in the face of Abby and Ange's displeasure.
"We're sorry!" they cried. "We didn't mean anything by it!"
"It was just some harmless fun!"
Gracie pulled herself up from the floor as everybody started leaving. Connor turned to Ange for a moment to thank her, and to ask that she wouldn't be too hard on the girls. They hadn't meant to cause trouble- Gracie had just taken it too far, that's all! As Gracie turned to leave, her face changed, and she sneered. She moved her head in close to Abby, and whispered in her ear, so that no one else could hear…
"This isn't over! Better watch your back tonight! Me and my brothers will sort you out. Connor's my man, even if he doesn't know it yet." With that, she flounced off, sobbing into her handkerchief once more as she went, pretending to be a sorry young girl to anyone that was watching.
Abby watched her go in horror! She glanced at Connor-should she tell him what had just happened? She decided she wouldn't- not yet. It was probably just empty threats and bravado, as Abby had shown her up in front of everyone. Suddenly, Connor and Abby were alone in the middle of the corridor.
"Abby?" Connor whispered "You don't…you don't believe her, do you? Cos it's so not true! I'd never…. I couldn't touch another woman….I've loved you since the moment I met you, and I still do- oh, so much. Abby?..." Abby looked at Connor- at his furrowed brow, his puppy dog eyes wide and full of moisture. She saw his worried expression and when their eyes locked, she instantly knew he was telling the truth.
"Ssshh!" she said. It's OK, it really is. I believe you! Connor Temple- you do get yourself into some scrapes, don't you! It's lucky I came out here to keep you in check!"
Connor laughed in relief, the moisture in his eyes escaping and rolling down his cheeks. They moved towards each other and fell into a lingering kiss, only drawing apart when they needed to catch their breath. As they started to walk along the corridor towards the canteen, two people watched them go. The first was Ange, hiding behind a water cooler, smiling slightly as she watched with relief that no damage had been done. They were rock solid, those two. That was good! She turned and followed some distance behind the two lovers, so she wouldn't interrupt their whispers.
As she left, another person watched from the shadows. Gracie hadn't left at all; she'd just hidden herself from sight. She watched the couple walk away, arms around each other. No one rejected Gracie Meadows! No one made a fool of her! She'd teach that girl a lesson, and if Connor didn't want her, then he'd have to be taught a lesson too! She'd show them! With an evil grimace, she pulled out her mobile phone, and started dialling….
To Be Continued…
Ooh! This took a slightly different turn than I had planned, but I enjoyed writing it! I hope you enjoy reading it!
Please review, it really makes me happy!