Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.

Longer chapter as this involves two couples! Please enjoy!

Dating Calculator

Chapter Five- Cutter and Emily/ Stephen and Jenny.

Cutter and Emily had decided to go to the theatre as she hadn't been before. He took her to see the 'Lion King' and she'd been entranced by the performance. He'd had a great deal of pleasure just watching her face as she sat in her seat enthralled by everything that was going on both on stage and around her. As they left, she clutched her programme and thanked him several times over for taking her. She told him she'd never forget her first visit to the theatre and she was so pleased he had been the one to go with her. Cutter had taken Emily under his wing almost as much as he had with Connor and Abby as he was intrigued about her life in the Victorian era, and they'd already spent several enjoyable tea breaks chatting about her life there.

They both knew they wouldn't have a romantic relationship, but their friendship was important to both of them. They decided to finish their lovely evening at the pub near the ARC, as Cutter was going to go back there a little later to complete some work he was doing.

"So, Professor, you were married? To Helen. Is that right?" Emily asked.

"Yes." he replied.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I have heard a little about her- she was crazy, I believe? That must have been very hard for you?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Helen was….just Helen. She led me to believe she was dead, for eight years! She betrayed me with Stephen. That doesn't make me feel good, Emily!"

"But then you found Claudia! You loved her…"

"Emily!" Cutter cried, the vision of Claudia immediately filling his mind. He softened as he replied. "Yes, I fell in love with a beautiful woman called Claudia Brown. But I haven't got a good track record with women, it seems. I went through an anomaly and changed something. She disappeared. No one knew her- she never existed! Just faded from existence."

"I understand. That's why I was so careful of the gateways. I was afraid of changing something. I only ever went through when there was no choice."

"Well, I wish I had been as careful! You're a wise woman. I don't want to talk about it any more." he said bitterly.

Emily caught his tone. "I'm sorry, Professor- I didn't mean to offend. I do understand, you know. My…my husband wanted to send me to Bedlam because after all I'd seen and done, I couldn't just be the blindly obedient Victorian wife he wanted me to be. I told him I wasn't ready to have children, and he said…he said he was going to sleep with the maid to get the son and heir he wanted. He would bring it up as his own and I was to say and do nothing! He expected me to let him do whatever he wanted and I was just to obey." She explained to Cutter, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

"What happened?"

"I took out the knives I'd taken to carrying- because of the creatures, you understand! I pulled them out and threatened to cut off his…appendage if he dared do such a thing! Next thing I knew- he tried to get me put away in Bedlam for being mad! Luckily Matt had come through a gateway after a creature and saved me…brought me back here to a new and exciting life."

Cutter looked at the feisty young Victorian Lady with new respect. "I guess we've all got our skeletons, eh! Come on, let's have a drink and forget your husband and my ex-wife! Here's a toast…to new beginnings and new relationships!"

They sat together feeling even closer than they had previously been after sharing some of their past with each other. They started to relax, and the conversation flowed between them and they felt very comfortable together.

"Well, this was a very enjoyable 'date.' Thank you, Emily." Cutter remarked as he placed another white wine and his own lager on the table.

"No- thank you, Professor Cutter." Emily responded. "It's a shame we don't like each other in a romantic way." she laughed. "It seems that poor Connor isn't having much success with his dating calculator! Abby was absolutely furious with Becker! It could have ruined their friendship, but luckily they made up, and Abby told me she's apologized to Becker for imposing her beliefs on him. She mentioned something about wasps but I didn't understand what she meant, but at least they're friends again…as long as he doesn't shoot the creatures before trying to get them home first!"

"I think this dating calculator is going to cause some more problems- Christine Johnson and Danny!" Cutter said shaking his head. "I don't know who's worse- Connor for making it or all of us for going along with it!"

They laughed together, and Emily and Cutter settled down to enjoy their drinks and the rest of their evening.

~~oOOo~~

Jenny opened her door to see Stephen Hart standing on her doorstep. As usual his eyes flitted down her legs and back up again, grinning as her finally looked her in the eyes.

"You're looking beautiful." he said in a smooth tone. He was obviously well practiced in the art of 'chatting up' women.

"Thank you." She replied shortly. "You look very nice too." She felt she had to say something pleasant to the man- he was her work colleague after all! She'd wring Connor's neck for this- him and his ridiculous dating calculator! "Shall we get off then?"

"We could just stay here, you know." Stephen tried. "We could put on some music and just drink champagne…" with that, he produced a bottle of decent champagne from behind his back. "Then we could lie in bed and share some strawberries and cream together…" he continued, bending down to pick up a punnet of strawberries and a small pot of cream from behind the door.

Jenny couldn't believe the cheek of the man! Firstly, he was a colleague, secondly she was his superior and thirdly…she was sorely tempted by his pick up line. She was as furious with herself as she was with him for even contemplating the idea.

"Thank you for the offer, Stephen." She said smoothly "But I think we'll go to the pub as planned."

"Can't blame a guy for trying!" Stephen laughed, breaking the ice a little and helping Jenny on with her coat. He put his arm on the small of her back as he led her towards the car. Oh she'd have to watch this one, she thought. This man really thought he was God's gift to women!

They arrived at the pub, and Stephen led her to a secluded spot and ordered champagne for them both. He kept throwing Jenny compliments and she began to get tired of his incessant 'hitting' on her. Didn't he realise she liked…well, never mind who she liked, but he was really grating on her nerves now. She decided to try to turn the conversation to something more ordinary, finish her drink and then make some excuse and leave. She was sure some other girl would catch his eye and he wouldn't give her a second thought.

"So Stephen, that was some anomaly yesterday wasn't it! I had a very difficult time trying to make a cover story…." Jenny stopped mid- sentence as Stephen reached forward and took her hand in his. "Stephen…" she began.

"You know I've always found you attractive." He was saying.

"Stephen…" she tried again.

"We could be good together, you and I. You know, I once thought I fancied Abby- but she's far too immature for me. A woman like you is just what I need."

"You fancied Abby?" Jenny said amazed. She could only ever recall Abby and Connor being together all the time, even though they were constantly 'dancing' around each other and not actually dating.

"Well, it was really more a case of Abby fancying me. It was when I was delirious from the poison from an Arthropleura."

"Arth?..."

"Giant centipede. Anyway, I asked Abby out for dinner before I passed out in the ambulance. Unfortunately when I came round I didn't remember anything that happened after I'd been bitten. I was delirious, you understand- I thought I was going to die…and I didn't want to die without her knowing that I liked her, But when I came round, I couldn't remember what I'd said, and when I mentioned to Abby that my girlfriend was coming to pick me up from the hospital, she'd seemed upset…I didn't know why! It wasn't until later I remembered the whole thing and understood why Abby was mad with me! She seemed to lose interest in me then- too immature I guess to handle it! Then there was the whole Helen thing…"

"Helen!"

"Hey! She came onto me- I was just her student when we met! She was pretty hot, actually!" he mused, a smirk playing on his lips. "No- you can't beat an older woman with experience. You know what I mean…" he added suggestively.

"Stephen…"

"Are you…experienced, Jenny?" he asked moving closer.

"Stephen!"

"Come on, now... You don't have to play coy with me…you and me…we could make sweet music together!"

He moved even nearer to her and she could feel his breath on her face. He moved in for a kiss, his hand snaking its way under the front of her shirt. Jenny slapped his hand away, and moved away from him. This didn't seem to faze him at all.

"Don't play hard to get, Jenny. We're both free agents. Let's have a little fun…."

"Stephen!" she cried, desperately trying to think of an excuse to get away from him. "I'm… I'm seeing someone! I'm sorry! This was just meant to be a way to get to know colleagues. Nothing more!"

"Oh? Really? Who are you seeing, Jenny? Someone from the ARC?" Stephen said disbelievingly.

"Yes, it is actually."

"Because I haven't seen you with anyone."

"Well, that's not my problem is it Stephen? Actually- there he is over there." Stephen turned to where Jenny was looking, and to his surprise saw Cutter sitting laughing with Emily.

"What, Cutter! Unless it's Emily….?" he said, pausing at the thought.

"Yes, Stephen, it's Cutter. In fact, if you'll excuse me- I think I'd like to go to see him now. Thank you so much for a lovely evening…and the champagne." With that Jenny stood up and walked over to where Cutter was sitting with Emily. When Jenny reached him, she chanced a quick glance at Stephen who was still watching, amazed. Jenny grabbed Cutter, and drew him into a passionate kiss. Emily watched, highly amused as Cutter looked a little surprised but didn't protest and kissed her back, obviously enjoying the contact.

"I'm sorry, Nick." Jenny whispered. "But I told Stephen we're together- he was driving me insane!"

"No problem. In fact…" as he replied, he pulled her back into his arms and they forgot where they were and enjoyed the moment.

"OK, guys." Emily interrupted. "Er...Guys! I'll be getting off now. No…it's fine, Professor- you stay here with Jenny. Thank you for a wonderful day. Have fun you two!" she laughed.

Jenny and Cutter didn't notice… they were kissing again. Stephen sat where he was and just stared. Who'd have thought it…Cutter and Jenny! Now- who else in this room was available?...

To Be Continued…

At least Cutter and Emily enjoyed their date- to a point, as friends.

Stephen and Jenny! Well, that's definitely a mismatch! I thought it'd be fun to replicate Claudia kissing Cutter when she wanted to get away from a man in a bar that first time they met! Hope you didn't mind!

Will this Dating calculator ever get good results? Watch this space…