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!

Last Chapter! We finally discover what Connor has come to retrieve! I hope you enjoy!

Vancouver Calling

Chapter Fourteen- Home

Connor and Abby walked into the VARC for their last day in Vancouver. For Connor, it was a feeling of mixed emotions- happiness to be finally going home, but mixed in with that was a tinge of sadness at leaving these people who had become close to him in the short time he had been there. He had gone to Vancouver with a heavy heart, but was returning full of knowledge that these people respected the anomalies and the task they had pledged to undertake. He was proud of his achievements here, happy with his resumed- if not more secure- relationship with Abby, and excited to get back to work in the UK.

He looked around as he strolled with Abby along the long corridors, remembering his first day there. How nervous he'd been! How afraid he'd been that they'd hate him, or he'd make a mess of everything!

"Hey, Connor!" several voices called to him as he continued on his way to Evan's office for his final de briefing. The office girls called "Coo-ee!" and drooled as he went past, even with Abby hanging onto his arm protectively. Both Abby and Connor laughed "Nothing changes!" they giggled.

When they entered Evan's office, everyone was there- they were feeling a little sad that Connor and Abby were leaving too. They'd been very wary of Connor's motives in the beginning, but he'd proved to them that his heart was in the right place, and he'd come full of good intentions, and had helped them immensely. They regretted the Gracie affair, but were glad that she was now receiving the help she needed, and Ange was going to make sure she kept an eye on her staff even more closely.

"Hey, you two!" Dylan smiled as they took their seats in front of the desk. "The final meeting, eh! We'll be so sorry to lose you, Connor! You too, Abby- you've really helped me understand more about these creatures. It'll stand me in good stead as we encounter more of them, I'm certain!" Connor and Abby smiled at her in response, and laughed as she continued, "And Connor- I'm sorry for all the times I've embarrassed you- well not really- you're just adorable when you get flustered! Don't ever lose that- it suits you! You're a lucky woman, Abby!"

"I know!" Abby laughed, pinching Connor's cheek. He turned a little pink, but laughed with the rest.

Ange and Ken came forward to say their goodbyes.. "We'd also like to add our thanks. The devices and databases you've given us will be invaluable!" Ange said, looking at Ken for confirmation. "As well as the knowledge you've shared with the technicians- the ADD; the locking device and the dating calculator- how can we ever thank you!"

"I've got a new project planned for when I get back!" enthused Connor "I'll let you know- if it works out!"

"And we'll keep in touch with James, of course, and will share anything we do with you all in the UK! It's been a blast!" he added as he lightly kissed Abby's cheek, and shook Connor's hand before turning to leave. Ange made to leave with him, then leant into Connor, and whispered so that no one else could hear…

"You're a good kisser, Connor! But don't drink too much and keep that technique exclusively for Abby, won't you!" She straightened up and said loudly as her parting shot. "Don't forget to invite us to the wedding!"

Connor tried to stop himself from reddening, and managed fairly well, although Abby gave him a quizzical look, wondering what Ange had said to him. But no! She refused to let herself turn into a jealous girlfriend! Connor would tell her in his own good time if he wanted to.

Evan, with Dylan sitting at her usual place by the desk, spoke to them a little bit about what he had planned to do once they were gone, and Connor was pleased to hear that they'd decided to keep using the EMDs. They really did care about the creatures, he was so pleased!

"Right, well- I guess that's just about everything. Keep in touch with us...both of you! And not only about work! We've come to regard you both as good friends and you'll always find a welcome here!" Evan said.

"Er…" Connor started.

Evan looked questioningly at Connor. "Connor?"

"There er…there is one last thing!" Connor stood up and handed Evan the slip of paper he'd been given by Lester. Evan looked at the paper in surprise, and then moved over to the intercom on his desk. "Michelle, go and find Mac for me, please, and bring him here."

They only had to wait a matter of minutes before Mac entered the office looking worried. "You wanted me, Evan?" He looked from Evan to Connor and Abby wondering if Connor had complained about him after all.

"Yes- I believe you can help Connor with this!"

"Mac" Connor started "I'd like you to explain to Abby about my belongings. Then I'd be really grateful if we can collect them and then we'll be on our way to the airport. We're leaving this afternoon."

"Oh! Well- please don't judge me harshly, Miss Maitland! I know I did wrong, and I handed myself in!"

"It's OK, Mac." Abby said kindly. "I'm not here to judge you! Please tell me what happened."

"Well- I don't know if you recognise me, but I worked in the ARC- your ARC, I mean, in the UK. I was transferred there with my unit, and worked under your Captain Becker. A fine man, and a great soldier. I really respected him. But after you were lost- and Mr Quinn, well things started to go wrong. We were constantly going through anomalies to try to find you, but on this occasion the creatures overcame us, and Miss Page was one of the many casualties. Captain Becker changed in that instant. It had been bad enough with the three missing people, but when she died- well he seemed to fall apart! He immediately tried to hand in his resignation, but Mr Lester wouldn't let him – told him to wait and see how he felt in a few days. Erm...don't mean to be disrespectful ma'am, but Captain Becker in self destruct mode ain't pretty to watch!

Anyways, I had the task of clearing Miss Page's apartment. - when I went there, I couldn't believe what I saw! I didn't know….your property….I mean…!"

"It's OK, Mac! Please carry on!" Abby soothed.

"I didn't know they were classified. I just took your property home. I'm sorry! We were sent to Vancouver for our next mission, to work here, and I took your belongings with me. But things just got crazy after that and I couldn't cope!

I went to Tim, my commanding officer and told him what I'd done.

I was in a lot of trouble! I was thrown into a cell, and was thoroughly interrogated for two days! They said I was going to be released, but had to start back at the bottom, so they could assess how I behaved. I did good- Miss Maitland and they reprieved me- and now I've even been promoted! I've worked very hard, every day. I really regret what I did, but it was meant with good intentions, I swear! If you follow me, Sir…Connor I'll show you?" as Mac said this, he looked at Evan for permission, and Evan nodded.

They all followed Mac to a room at a tangent from the zoo. Mac used his bracelet on the door locking system and the doors smoothly opened noiselessly. Mac, Connor, Evan and Dylan entered the room. It was huge inside, with large glass panels. Through the panels, they could see another room full of sand, in which there were a few large holes.

"I don't understand!" Abby murmured "Where are we? What is this room?"

Suddenly, a noise both she and Connor instantly recognised resounded out. As Abby and Connor watched, their eyes got bigger and Connor's grin lit up his whole face in delight. Abby clutched his hand laughing as she moved closer to the glass and peered through at the sight she thought she'd never see again.

Scampering along and shouting at each other were Sid and Nancy!

"Sid!" Abby cried "Nancy! So that's what happened to you!"

"I'm sorry, miss…er...ma'am. At first, I thought they were weird dogs, and that as Miss Page had died I'd take them, and that no one would know. I knew they weren't your ordinary kind of dog- I thought they were pedigrees maybe …specially bred. I thought they would be worth a lot of money! When we got here to my apartment, they just kept eating everything! Wires- their cages- they burrowed through the walls! I couldn't look after them any more! I told Tim I'd taken them and when they were brought here, they obviously realised they were dic… diic…"

"Diictodons." said Connor.

"Yeah. I didn't know they were dinosaurs!"

"Well, actually they're therapsid herbivores….What?" Connor asked as Abby dug him in the ribs, and gave him a look.

"It wasn't until later that I found out they belonged to you, and that Miss Page must have been looking after them for you when you were missing. They are pretty cute, though!" Mac laughed at the funny little creatures.

"Er.. is it Ok if we take them back to the UK ARC with us- I have written permission from James Lester?" Connor asked Evan.

"Of course." Evan replied, smiling "We've enjoyed having them here, and although they don't strictly belong to you- please accept them as a gift of goodwill from Mac and us, in thanks! We'll get them ready for you now."

With that the Vancouver staff left the room, Mac going with an apologetic handshake, and Dylan kissing both Abby and Connor on the cheek as she said goodbye to them. As soon as the little creatures were ready, they had to be on their way to catch their flight. When they were left alone, Abby went right up to the window and softly called the two scampering creatures. They looked at her, and put their heads to one side. They seemed to chatter to each other and approached the glass panels.

"Hey, Sid! Hey, Nancy!" she said softly. Without warning the two little creatures seemed to go mad! They turned round and round in circles. They ran back to the sand, kicking it up as they ran, then ran back to the window. They tried to get as close to Abby as they could, and one of them bumped its nose on the glass in its hurry to get to her.

"They remember you!" Connor stated. "Hey, guys, he called…it's so good to see you!"

The diictodons looked at Connor, and he bent at the waist, crooning to the animals, totally oblivious to the staff that were now coming into the room with cages. "Hello! Oh, hello! You remember us then, oh yes you do!" as if he were talking to a baby.

Abby and Connor looked at each other and laughed. "Rex will be so happy!" Abby smiled.

"Come on, fiancée" Connor said, offering her his arm, "Shall we take our family home?"

"Oh, yes!" Abby breathed and they turned to leave the VARC to catch their flight back home and begin the next step of their life together…

THE END

Well, there we have it! We've seen Connor go from uncertainty and despair to having a major responsibility thrust upon him. We've had adventure and fluff- and the quickest recovery from a broken arm in history- but that's the glory of fanfic… anything can happen!

I hope my Vancouver characters were believable- and likeable (with the exception of Gracie!) and I don't know about you, but I'm glad the mystery of the disappearance of Sid and Nancy has finally been solved, and they're back in the UK where they belong!

Thank you for joining me on the journey, and especially thank you for all the reviews and alerts.

Please join me again with my next adventure…..Watch this space!