Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.
A/N Part of the Claudia story verse (AU) Transitions, Transitions Too, Continuum, Trimming the Tree, Missing
6.6-3 – Contagious
…home sick…
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Later that afternoon, in the Paris creature containment center, Abby snapped a photo of the small herd of creatures and sent it to Sarah with a text. Look, the anomalies have brought back Tarpans! Sarah had a book with glossy prints of ancient cave paintings, and Abby knew her friend would be delighted to see a photo of a living version of the previously extinct wild Eurasian horse. Abby was a little confused by the text Sarah sent back
"Can't talk now," read Sarah's message. "Going to pick up Stephanie from child care."
"What?" replied Abby.
There was no response initially, but ten minutes later Abby's cell phone began to vibrate. The blonde looked at the caller ID and clicked the green button.
"Abby," sounded Sarah's voice. "I'm driving, I've got you on speaker phone."
Abby's eyes widened in surprise. Sarah rarely used the dash board holder for her cell phone, preferring not to mix driving and cell phone conversations.
"Sarah," asked Abby in concern, "what's going on?"
"Both Jess and Claudia went home sick earlier this morning," replied Sarah. "BBC One newscast today was talking about a gastrointestinal flu outbreak."
"Oh no," sighed Abby. "The stomach flu is miserable, I hope that everyone's alright."
For a moment, the cell phone was silent.
"The news report said the source of the outbreak has been identified," continued Sarah. The archeologist named a popular club near the ARC. "The waiter was ill and continued to work. The reporter said the waiter probably infected hundreds of people."
Abby sucked in a deep breath. Her hen night party had started there Tuesday night. The blonde remembered a sweaty server waiting on their table. At the time, Abby had thought the young man must be working hard, but now, remembering her nausea for the past two days, Abby wondered. Both Jess and Claudia had been with her at the club. Sarah, as best man, had been with Connor at the stag night festivities.
"Becker took Jess to the doctor's," said Sarah. "He was worried when she couldn't keep anything down, not even tea."
"Is Jess alright?" asked Abby.
There was no response from Sarah.
"Sarah?" called Abby. The blonde worried that the connection had been lost, but then Sarah's voice came back through.
"Jess has been admitted to the hospital," answered Sarah. "She's so tiny, the doctor said she was getting dehydrated and it was better to keep her where they could watch her."
"What?" Abby exclaimed in surprise.
"Cutter asked me to pick up little Stephanie from child care," continued Sarah. "Jamal and I are going to baby sit, we don't want Stephanie exposed if Claudia has the same thing."
"Is it really that serious?" asked Abby. "It's just stomach flu, a little fever and nausea, right?"
In the background, Abby could hear the sounds of Sarah parking her car. There was a little static as Sarah picked up her cell phone and held it close.
"According to the news," replied Sarah, "this gastrointestinal virus is especially dangerous for little children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems."
Abby remembered what the doctor after Connor's spleen had been removed, he'll need to be careful not to catch anything for now, his body won't be able to fight off infections, but he'll be fine in a couple of years.
"Have either you or Connor had any flu symptoms recently?" asked Sarah.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
In London, Danny and Stephen returned to the ARC from the brain storming session with Professor Cutter and Sarah earlier. Stephen was carrying a manila folder with the notes. The muscular young man was reading as he walked, earning him an exasperated sigh from Danny. Stephen looked up at the sound and found Danny pulling his arm, trying to steer him towards Lester's office.
"Do you really believe Cutter's newest theory?" asked Stephen.
The lanky red head shrugged his shoulders and kept walking.
"That nature will find a way," responded Danny, "that evolution is beautiful… butterflies, animals, and people on the verge of extinction… and we all find a way to move somewhere else… somewhen safe…"
The skeptical tone in the former copper's voice made Stephen grin.
"Well, at least this theory provides a reason for anomalies," said Stephen, "and it could even explain why we get so many dinosaurs coming through, instead of people or more modern creatures."
Danny stopped walking and turned to look at his partner quizzically.
"What do you mean?" asked Danny.
"Well if I was a dinosaur and had a choice between going through an anomaly or waiting for death by an asteroid," replied Stephen with a grin, "I'd take the anomaly every time."
Danny snorted.
"Wishful thinking is what that is," replied Danny, "not a scientific theory at all."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Abby got back to the dormitory room sometime later. When she unlocked the door, she found Connor lying down on the bottom bunk with his arm crossed over his eyes.
"How did the presentation go?" asked Abby. She took off her jacket and hung it next to Connor's.
"Actually," replied Connor, "it went great."
The scientist moved his arm and smiled at Abby. His face looked a little flushed, and his dark eyes were tired.
"Do you feel alright?" asked Abby.
"Just tired," answered Connor. He swung his legs around and sat up. "I believe I promised you a romantic walk along the Seine before dinner."
Connor stood up and swayed. He reached with his hand and grasped the side of the bunk bed.
"Connor," exclaimed Abby. "We don't have to go out you know. If you're not feeling well…"
"I'm fine," interrupted Connor. His face was redder than before, but this time Abby could tell it was from embarrassment. "I just got up too quick."
"Are you sure?" asked Abby. "When I spoke to Sarah earlier, she was telling me about an outbreak in London."
"Abby," said Connor. The dark haired technical whiz stood still for a moment, and then released his grasp on the bedpost. He stepped towards Abby, and then he crumpled in a heap on the floor.
"Connor," cried Abby.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
