Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
3.11 Expectancy
"I've never had to tell the man I've lost his daughter before."
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Abby finished tying the cloth around Connor's wrist, but she didn't let go of his hand as the oxcart made its way towards the village center. People were crowding around the cart, staring at Abby and Connor. Percy stayed on the horse, until they reached the circular fountain. A source of water, explained Percy as he dismounted, was crucial for any village, especially if the villagers ever needed to shut the gates against intruders.
Jean spoke some words. Louis hopped down from the front of the cart. He stood there holding the reins, while several men came to help Jean lift Henri out of the ox cart. They carried the injured man into one of the nearby buildings surrounding the fountain. Henri, who had been silent for most of the ride to the village, was now shouting loudly.
Percy smirked.
"What's so funny?" asked Abby.
"Henri, he was fine all this time, the wounds aren't really deep," answered Percy "but now he says he's in pain… wants wine to stop the pain."
Percy's grin disappeared though when he caught sight of a man dressed in a dark blue tunic and black leggings. The man was making his way through the crowd towards them. He appeared older than most of the villagers, and walked slowly as if each step were painful. People fell back and made way for him to pass through the crowd.
In a moment, the man stood face to face with Percy. They exchanged words. Percy did most of the talking. The woman's father shook his head. He spoke to Percy, and then the man looked at Abby and Connor. He spoke again, then abruptly turned and limped away as if in a hurry to be gone.
"Percy," asked Connor "what did he say?"
Percy looked at Connor. "Um… he welcomed you to the village," began Percy. He shifted from one foot to the other as he spoke.
"Cut it out Percy," exclaimed Connor in annoyance. "What did he really say? How upset is he?"
"He said now he doesn't have to arrange a wedding," said Percy, "nor pay a dowry… so no worries there."
Abby remembered the eyes of the woman in the green dress. She thought it was no wonder the woman hadn't wanted to come to this village.
"No worries? That's horrible!" she asked indignantly "Percy, what kind of man could say such a thing?"
"Abby," sighed Percy shaking his head "you've got to quit thinking like you're in London. Life in these times is hard. Life expectancy… is way too short. That girl was his second wife's daughter. He has no other children."
"Are you saying the reason he's not upset," asked Abby "is because he's her stepfather? That's not right!"
"No Abby," answered Percy. "I'm saying children, and women especially, die young in this place, in this time. He cares. But he won't admit to any feelings, it would hurt too much. Surely you can understand that."
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Connor stared at Percy. "He stared at us and then said something," reminded Connor "what did he say about us?"
Percy sucked in a deep breath before answering.
"He said winter will soon be here," answered Percy "and the village doesn't need anymore mouths to feed."
"What?" asked Abby. Moments before she'd been worried that they would have to stay in this village, now she was worried that they'd have to leave. "Connor can't walk. We can't leave now!"
"He agreed that the two of you can stay until Connor is able to walk," answered Percy "and I'll work on him. I'm sure I can convince him to let you stay."
"No," said Connor determinedly "we're not going to stay here. We're going to get home."
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Percy looked at Connor. Once, Percy had hoped to get home too, but as years had passed he had come to believe he was stuck in this time and place. Seeing Abby and Connor brought back memories. But you couldn't live on memories, Percy thought.
"Right now Connor," replied Percy "why don't we get you into my home."
"Where do you live?" asked Abby.
Percy pointed at the same building into which the men had taken Henri.
"We share the upstairs," said Percy as he called Louis over to join him. Together the two men locked hands to wrists making a human sling.
"This is embarrassing," complained Connor.
"We'll get you upstairs, Jean wants to change your bandages," replied Percy "you can be embarrassed later.
"I don't remember getting the bandages," said Connor looking at his leg. "Abby… is that your camisole?"
"Back at the first camp," Abby explained "after you passed out, we put you in the cart and bandaged your leg again. Don't want it getting infected."
"But you'll get cold," protested Connor.
"There wasn't much else to use," said Percy, "and be glad we had a barrel of wine."
"What?" asked Connor.
"Poured wine on the fabric," chuckled Percy "burns need to be kept moist, or the fabric sticks to the skin and pulls it right off again."
Connor blanched.
"Who lives downstairs?" asked Abby, changing the subject as she followed the three men towards the door.
"That's where the livestock are kept," answered Percy as he pushed the door open with his leg.
Three goats, some chickens and a bony old cow greeted the new arrivals as they stepped inside the house.
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Danny leaned back tilting his chair back on two legs. He reached his hands back behind his head and clasped them together as he stared at Christine Johnson. The woman's wheelchair had been pushed behind Lester's desk. As before, Johnson was attempting to usurp Lester's place in the ARC.
"Is this an interrogation then?" Danny asked indignantly. He looked past her, and the armed flunky in charge of pushing her wheelchair, to his friends.
Lester was standing with one arm crossed in front of his chest, while the fingers of his other hand rubbed the bridge of his nose. His eyes were closed, but whether from boredom or tiredness, Danny couldn't tell.
Professor Cutter was leaning against the wall, slouching actually. He too had his eyes closed.
Sarah was standing beside the professor, one hand was nervously twirling a strand of her long dark hair. She leaned her head back and yawned.
Becker was standing upright, alert. The sling holding his left arm was all that marred the perfect picture of a soldier standing in parade rest.
The others, Claudia, Vivian, Jess and Jamal had already gone. They didn't work for this branch of the ARC, and as Jamal had been quick to point out, he didn't work for the ARC at all.
Beside Danny, Stephen sat quietly. He was watching Johnson as if she were a new and dangerous creature. Danny wondered what Stephen was thinking about this new world he found himself in.
"Yes," replied the woman "I want to know where you've been, all the details, and how long you've been gone."
"Well here's the rub," replied Danny with a grin "I didn't have a map, so can't really tell you where I've been."
"But you do know how long you've been gone," pressed Johnson.
"Oh yeah," answered Danny, his eyes lighting up, "over four years."
Danny turned to look at Lester. "Do I get paid overtime for that?" he asked cheekily. "Or do I just get the next four years paid and time off since I've already worked it?"
Lester's eyes snapped open.
"Don't be ridiculous," replied Lester.
Christine Johnson might have tried to keep them there all night with her questions, but Lester continued talking.
"Christine," said Lester "I do hate to interrupt your work, but we have to go now. Everyone's tired and needs some rest."
"What?" she spluttered "No! We're just getting started."
"No, Christine," reminded Lester "Health and safety, you really can't expect people to work without sleeping."
She frowned. "I want everyone back here at eight sharp," she ordered.
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Danny and Stephen followed Lester, Cutter, Sarah and Becker to the car park.
"I can't believe it," Danny chortled "after four years running through anomalies I can come home to my own flat, sleep in my own bed again."
Cutter looked at the young Stephen. "You're welcome to stay with my wife and I," he offered "until we figure out what to do about you."
"Uh…"
"No," answered Danny "he can stay with me, I've got plenty of room."
Cutter looked like he might argue, but his cell phone rang. He listened for a moment, eyes widening, and then he snapped the phone shut.
"I've got to get to the hospital," he said "Claudia's in labor."
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