Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

2.2-2 Family, Friends and Worms

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Nick Cutter still couldn't believe that Claudia Brown hadn't gotten transferred to the ARC with the rest of the team. He had been arguing with Lester for the better part of a week, trying to get her reassigned. He had called her repeatedly, but only reached voice mail. Nick didn't want to sound like he was desperate, so he hadn't left messages at all his calls… just the first two dozen. She hadn't been at her flat when he stopped by either. It was almost as if she had vanished.

When the situation at the skyscraper was under control, Cutter and the rest of the team returned to the ARC. Cutter went to his office determined to start his report on the Pre-Cambrian anomaly, but he had a message on his desk. Cutter picked up the envelope, tore it open and eagerly read the contents. Then he spun around and headed back out again. The reports would have to wait. Sometimes it was good to work for the government. Security had provided the address where Claudia was staying.

The home with its black wrought iron fence and a small garden in front of the white pillared porch was starkly elegant. Cutter wondered for a moment if he had the right address. He checked the paper in his hand. Number eight… street name was right too. He took a deep breath and marched up the walkway, reached his hand out to the brass knocker and thumped it hard on the black door.

Claudia Brown opened the door and smiled at him. "Nick," she said "I thought I was never going to see you again."

"I've been calling you everyday," Cutter blurted out "went by your flat…"

"Claudia," called a querulous male voice "who is it?"

Cutter blinked in surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said "I didn't realize you were busy." He started to turn and back away.

"Nonsense," said Claudia reaching out to grab his wrist "come in… you can meet my father."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Stephen opened the door to his flat with some trepidation. The last time he had been here, he had told Helen in no uncertain terms to be gone when he got back.

He stepped one foot forward into the hallway.

"Helen," he called. No answer. Thinking it was safe, he stepped another foot into the flat and shut the door behind him.

"Who's Helen?" asked a female voice from the kitchen area of the flat.

"Mum," exclaimed Stephen in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The older woman looked at her son appraisingly. He was a mess, hair disheveled, clothes covered with some sort of red goo and dripping wet.

"Would you like to explain to me why you look like that," his mother questioned "and why I had to hear from Belinda that you and Alison broke it off?"

She put her hands on her hips and fixed Stephen with a glare that made him feel about eight years old again.

"And who," she asked again "is Helen?"

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Abby sighed as the door shut.

For a moment there, Abby had thought that she and Connor were finally going to have a chance to talk together about something more important than how to take your tea.

She had wanted to apologize for what she had said when Caroline had asked if they were a couple. Abby's instinctive snappy response "Oh God, as if," had been harsh. And it wasn't exactly what Abby had meant to say… not really.

Connor had been complaining all the way from the skyscraper to the ARC and then to the flat about how uncomfortable he was in his wet, sticky clothing. But when they got to the flat, Connor had put the kettle on and asked her which tea she wanted. It was so sweet of him, thought Abby. Moments like that… made Abby think…

She shook her head. Really mustn't think like that.

Caroline had shown up at the flat. And, Connor hadn't had any difficulty asking Caroline out for a "proper" drink. He must really like her thought Abby. And, Caroline must really like him too. Poor Connor hadn't had that shower yet, hadn't changed into something dry, yet Caroline wanted to go out with him right then. Connor deserved to have someone that liked him.

Abby was supposed to be happy for Connor.

Rex had hissed and snapped at Caroline when the woman had first arrived at the flat. Now, Rex was chirping at Abby, his head tilted sideways.

"Good instincts," Abby whispered as she rubbed his head.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Connor was thinking how funny it was.

"How funny what was?" asked Caroline.

Oh, crap… he must have said that out loud, thought Connor. He hurriedly took another sip of his drink, and started coughing and spluttering as the harsh liquid made its way down his throat.

"Connor," cajoled Caroline "you must tell me. What was so funny at work?"

Work again thought Connor. Caroline kept asking him questions about work. That was what women did when they were interested in a bloke, right? She must like him… they'd been at the bar for… how long now?

"You were telling me about the funny thing that happened at work today," reminded Caroline.

No, thought Connor. I wasn't telling anything… official secrets act… can't tell. Won't tell. But as Connor picked up the glass of tequila he chuckled.

It wasn't every day you went from being swallowed by a worm, to swallowing the worm.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Oliver Leek was reviewing the personnel records.

Captain Ryan was still on medical leave… might be months before the man was back. Rehabilitation therapy took so long. In the meantime, Leek had beefed up the security forces with some of his own selected men… men he could divert to other tasks at a moments notice. The core team had been accompanied by a small security group today, but Leek was going to do everything possible to make sure that didn't happen again.

The new PR person, Percival Haversham-Smythe III, was a disappointment in Leek's opinion. He had approved the personnel requisition when he learned that Percy had been the last one to be accepted into his training program at university. If there had been anyone else available, the young man wouldn't have got a spot. Leek had hoped that meant the young PR man was useless, but if today's actions were any indication that was not the case. The young man had been authoritative with handling the fire department, convincing with the civilian office workers and according to Cutter come running straight up the stairs to aid the core team when they needed help.

One personnel record Leek could look upon with delight was Claudia Brown's file. He'd let the woman's work assignment lapse during the transfer to the new ARC facility. She had promptly been reassigned to another group. Lester could moan and complain all he wanted, but Claudia's transfer had already been approved… by no less a person than the minister.

Oliver picked up the equipment files next. Let's see… the latest assault rifle… and the next size smaller ammunition… it would look like a clerical error. Oliver chuckled as he filled out the requisition forms.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

James Lester waited patiently to talk to his wife about work.

It wasn't until after dinner, after the children were bathed, read stories to and put to bed that he finally broached the subject he was most interested in.

"Vivian," he said "in the shuffle from the home office to the new facility, we seem to have lost one of our core team members."

"Really James?" the tall, slender brunette said as she took one earring out and placed it on the dresser in front of her.

Lester narrowed his eyes at his wife's tone. Hmmm.

"Yes," he responded, trying to sound as disinterested as he possibly could. "A woman… Claudia Brown… she was assigned to our team by the home office… but there's been a bit of a snafu… paperwork… you know."

"And why are you bringing this up now," asked Vivian as she set the other earring down beside the first. She picked up her hairbrush and started to pull it through her long dark brown hair.

"Well, it seems," Lester began "that Claudia has been reassigned… to your group."

Vivian turned to face her husband. Her lips started to turn up in a smile. "I know," she said. "I asked for Claudia specifically… we're going to need all the help we can get in the next few years."

The briefest hint of a frown crossed James Lester's face.

"I don't suppose we could get her back," he said "it would make Cutter… a little less annoying."

Vivian chuckled as she turned to face her husband. Stepping forward, she whispered "Not a chance James."

James Lester tilted his head just a bit to look at Vivian as she came even closer.

"I had to ask," he said.

"I know," she replied as she reached him. Pressing one slender hand to his chest, she reached the other hand behind his head and pulled his face down even closer.

"The ARC can't have all the best people," Vivian said. Then her lips met his. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her firmly against his body.

They didn't talk about work any more that night.

-x-x-x-x-x-x