Chapter 9: Sensitives creatures

Summary:

An ending to this story that, I think, closes it better than I had planned. With more conventional trips and with a certain madness. I hope you like it. And with a happy ending for someone who deserves it! A little bit longer than usual. Of course all the mistakes are mine.

Chapter Text

Noting that when they returned, they still had to be in hiding for another hour or so, the time that Lester's team "took" them on their way to the ARC to "save their lives" and get rid of the Manzanillo de la Muerte.

And remove the happy note.

"Catherine, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but considering the pros and cons, your daughter has decided that I am the best match for her on the entire island, and I couldn't agree more with her. Also, I have missed her very much during my trip to London. We will return, don´t worry about us and we will inform you of everything you need to know" Richard

Deep down, Richard always hoped that James was just teasing him, but he really had placed her in a very conspicuous place and in ridiculous terms! He wouldn´t have expressed himself that way, especially with Catherine! He would never have risked his job like that! Of course he wouldn´t even have written anything… .That was more his style. A great sense of humor that of James Lester. Although with no sense of romance. But Richard's practical side prevailed, and he assumed that Lester never wrote that note for the purpose of being seen by anyone. She just wanted to mess with him because of what James saw the day he met Camille. By the way, she was still cracking up. Richard burned it making sure it was reduced to ashes. Camille would have liked to keep it.

They would always remember that period as something magical. A time when they really felt free from all kinds of ties.

A month later they had to make their relationship official. Everyone was happy, of course. "It was time!" thought the great majority. They were already tired of always looking away and playing dumb.

In the ARC, meanwhile ...

"We managed to find out the anomaly the mammoth entered, sir!" a more than happy Abby Maitland commented to James Lester, accompanied by Connor.

Lester stared at them for a moment, it seemed that he didn´t remember him, that he didn´t know what they were talking about. They couldn't be more wrong, he always remembered everything. It was his team and he was responsible of all them.

"My, my, now that my children were finally getting used to the idea of having a little pet…. I'll miss him, he saved my life!" He was silent for two and a half seconds and continued, addressing Connor:

"Is that anomaly safe? I wouldn´t like you to send the mammoth to New York in the 80s, poor animal!"

"Sure, sir." Connor still remembered his reaction to what had happened to his cousin.

"Perfect, proceed then…" He stopped short and continued with: "I'd like to call someone else to say goodbye to him. He too is very fond of him. I think I´ll need the private plane and my private car as well. How much time do I have?" James Lester asked.

"Whatever you need," answered Abby, "it's stable and we can open and close it whenever we want. In spite of everything, I wouldn't hold it for more than a month"

"Perfect, I don't need that much! I'll let you know" Lester informed them and he left quickly to fulfill his purpose. Connor breathed in relief.

Richard Poole is concentrating on documenting a case closed not too many days ago, he wants to make sure everything is tied up and well tied up.

"Very good team!" he says, looking up "I think everything is fine. Fidel, can you archive all this documentation, please?"

"Yes, Chief," Fidel responds quickly as he stands up.

Richard keeps talking to them:

"I thought we should do something with the file system. Digitize it. Ideas are allowed" he looks at each one of them waiting for those answers.

Dwayne glares at Camille. He seems to be saying, "But aren't you dating him now? Are you not entertaining him enough?"

Camille looks back at him with resignation, but amusement. As if to say, "No one can change Richard, Dwayne!" She knows what she´s talking about, in all the time they have been together, she has not managed to get him to be late even once for work, or to leave before his time. She has hardly been able to achieve that, although the suit remains dark and serious, it´s now made of a lighter fabric. And that was at the cost of blackmail on her part. She knows that he´s happier now, and that he´s much more comfortable, but for now he does not give up!" For now "she thinks.

"No ideas?" Richard insists "I don't know what computer systems are used here, if any are used."

"Maybe I could help you, Richard." Someone new to the small office has allowed themselves to give their opinion. James Lester. Dressed impeccably, although adapted to the climate of the place. "Although I think we should build everything from scratch," he observes, looking at the "modernities" of the building in question.

"James! Why haven't you told me? How….?" He was going to ask how he got to the island, but Lester cuts him off:

"In my private plane, Richard. I already have the pleasure of meeting the lovely Detective Sergeant…. " Camille greets him with a smile, they are practically family now! He prompts him to introduce him to the rest of the team, who are looking at him as amazed as Camille was the first time she saw him.

"Ah yes!" They are Sergeant Fidel and Constable Dwayne. This is James Lester, a cousin of mine," he continues.

They greeted him stunned. James Lester asked, above all Fidel, some technical aspects of the Station (Lester would not have dared to use technology in such a place) and took a mental note of everything.

"Richard, would there be a problem if you left just a little earlier? I don't see much movement around here and I'm sure you could leave the Station in their hands"

Richard looked at James for a moment, then glanced at his colleagues, who grinned at him, as if urging him to trust them. After all, there wasn't much left to finish the workday.

Camille was looking at him with great, great curiosity, the invitation wasn´t addressed to her.

Richard looked at her reassuringly and replied:

"Okay, now you explain that important to me"

And they went out the door leaving the team in a sea of doubts.

"Is awesome! In the absence of one, there are two! He has more style than the Chief though," Dwayne commented in amazement.

Fidel was almost speechless. She greatly admired Richard and didn´t quite dare to comment that included part of her family.

"They are very different, believe me. But they do resemble each other in their brilliance. They are unique in their work," Camille told them.

Fidel and Dwayne looked at her and the first asked: "What does he do, Camille?"

"I'm afraid it is something confidential and incredible. You can believe me, Fidel. And it can be very dangerous " she answered without avoiding a shudder remembering what happened to Richard and her.

In the meantime: "But James, what kind of stupid note do you think to write! I wouldn´t never express myself that way! It was ridiculous!" Richard scolded him.

They were having a cold beer on a terrace by the sea. Lester commented that there was nothing wrong with enjoying paradise properly. He didn't seem too bothered by the heat. He was very relaxed with his eyes half closed enjoying the sun. Of course he had removed his jacket and tie. Not Richard.

"I'm really sorry" didn't seem too sorry "but we didn't have much time at the time. Understand, I was very worried about you. You can believe me." He said that with a very serious expression. "You can really believe me when I tell you that this was the first time I traveled through an anomaly."

Richard looked at him and realized that he was serious. James Lester was not the type to lose his temper, but he remembered that it was best not to face a pissed off James Lester!

"Okay, I have destroyed it anyway." Lester couldn't help but smile strangely. He had copies, and who knows, Richard's talents (along with Camille) would be very useful to him in the future.

"I came because Connor has finally discovered the anomaly that our mammoth may have come from. He understands that I owe him the favor of my life, never better said. I can't bring him home, although the kids would be delighted. I thought better of it and I can't condemn him to that. So I think the best thing I can do for him is send him home, or at least to his time. Would you and your lovely Detective Sergeant Bordey like to come with me and say goodbye to him?"

"Stop calling her that"

Lester stares at him, smiles, and continues. "Good. I love this new addition to the family. Are you coming or not? I have the plane ready. The first class next to it is ridiculous."

Richard thought of the stressful, wonderful, unique time that he had spent with Camille. What, in a way, he owed to all those situations. And he thought of Camille, they would never be presented with such an opportunity again!

"Agree"

"Maman, we'll be back soon," Camille promised her. He was jumping for what he was going to be able to see and enjoy.

Their mother looked at them and said: "Have fun and enjoy Richard's home"

"Catherine, my home is already Saint Marie. Don't forget," Richard replied.

"Bring us some souvenirs," said Dwayne.

Camille and Richard looked at each other and smiled. The kind of memories that for a second, they thought of bringing them back was impossible in itself. Souvenirs from prehistoric times, objects lost in the past that already seemed irrecoverable! They would go to a gift shop, they would be the best.

"Agree. If there is any problem, call me without delay" Richard reminded them.

"Inspector, that's what I'm here for, don't worry," the Commissioner replied.

"It's okay. Goodbye. We will return as soon as possible"

And they got on the plane, where Lester was waiting for them with a bored expression.

The journey took a few hours, but the plane was a marvel of technology and amenities. James Lester commented to Richard:

"I'm already thinking about upgrading your Station, Richard. I haven´t forgotten. In a way, I owed you "

"I really appreciate it, James. But I was already used to hell"

"It´s no hassle. Also, part of my team is dying to go to the Caribbean."

Camille watched them with amusement. She had already distinguished them for a long time because of their very different character. And she adored Richard. But she understood the adoration Lester's team felt for him in turn.

"It must run in the family," she thought. And she fell into a restful sleep without realizing it, while Richard and Lester kept talking and catching up.

The moment was exciting. Abby was saying goodbye to the mammoth with tears in her eyes. In a way the mammoth knew he was coming home, his instincts weren´t fooling him and he was very nervous. Abby was trying to reassure him and Connor was trying to reassure Abby. James Lester was at a safe distance, orchestrating what was necessary to make things go smoothly. Dr. Cutter had checked the calculations more than ten times, and Jenny Lewis was trying to keep her composure. Stephen Hart stood apart.

For their part, Richard and Camille looked at everything with wide eyes. Seeing such an animal up close was impressive. And yes, they were afraid. But Richard couldn't help but exclaim:

"Camille. I feel like when I was little and gathered my collection of dinosaurs (although you should know that this term is not correct at all). It´s a dream come true." He was very nervous.

Camille thought he just needed to jump. She put a hand on his shoulder and said:

"If you calm down, I'll buy you the entire collection and buy you an ice cream"

Richard laughed softly. At least that was how he released some of his nervousness.

Continuous: "Do you know that they are going to send him back to the Pleistocene? Did you know that hippos, monkeys and mammoths existed in what is now the UK in that ice age? I would almost love to take a look at that time."

Camille was stunned and looked at him scared.

"Quiet. James would not let me" growled Richard "And you would freeze cold"

"This is wonderful, Richard. But I want you to know that I'm starting to want to go back to Saint Marie"

Richard scowled at her.

A metallic sound and blinding light already familiar to them interrupted them. James glanced at Cutter and the latter said, aided by the deterrent action of the ARC armed guards.

"All those who are not of immediate use, back off. Abby, use the pheromone trap and lead him to the anomaly." The animal had become even more nervous when the anomaly suddenly "exploded". "Be very careful."

The animal followed Abby like a dog to its master, albeit with a respectable safe distance. At the last moment, Abby dumped the bag (biodegradable) full of those hormones inside the anomaly and stepped aside, helped by Connor. He wasn´t very far from her.

The mammoth entered the anomaly followed by the gaze of James Lester, Abby, Connor, Cutter, and everyone else. He squealed with joy and they could see his pace accelerating. Richard now moved a little closer and, escaping from Camille's control, stuck his head into it and was amazed.

Frozen landscapes, frightful cold, a lot of animals of enormous dimensions… .If it isn´t because Lester and Cutter push him, he didn´t realize that the anomaly was already closing. They couldn't risk any other animal coming back in there.

When he came face to face with Camille, her anger was monumental.

"Please, James. Could you please take us back to Saint Marie at once? " Camille begged him.

"Of course" Lester passed a terrifying seconds.

"Richard. If I ever need you again, I promise I will have no choice but to keep a close eye on you."

Richard finally realized the madness he had committed, but in his heart he wasn´t entirely sorry. Although he promised himself that he would not do it again.

"It won't be necessary, James. I promise"

"We will be in contact for the remodeling of the Station," concluded Lester.

Abby was still crying a little further away, but she recognized that she was now very happy for the mammoth.

The others went back to work. Lester didn't allow too many quiet moments. They ran the ARC and had to always be alert.

Back in Saint Marie, Richard and Camille gave everyone the presents. Rosie was given a giant stuffed mammoth! Camille couldn't resist and Richard was amused. But Fidel didn't know where he was going to put it.

"I think I'll build him a hut," he mused.

Dwayne and Fidel were brought a collection of T-shirts with Pleistocene motifs. Dwayne commented:

"I'm going to freeze to death when I put them on"

Richard thought that at least when he looked at them on him, he would feel a slight drop in temperatures.

Fidel and Juliette were given a 7-day trip to Scotland. It included a route through castles and lakes. They were speechless. It was Camille's idea to give them the honeymoon they never had.

"Dwayne, when you want a similar trip, let us know. Truth be told, we don't know your preferences very well. Not the female company that would accompany you. But when you have it clear, you tell us. You know I have contacts there," Richard clarified.

"No problem, Chief" Dwayne smiled. Before he had a lot to think about (women and places mainly). Of course, it was still not his style to spend a lot of time with the same woman. He would see.

The Commissioner was brought a set of silver cufflinks and a Victorian tea set for his wife.

Catherine was given a Coco Chanel perfume despite Richard's protests, it's not English! But that's where Camille ruled. It was Richard's idea to get her another 19th century Victorian coffee set. It was almost more of a gift to Richard than Catherine.

Catherine loved taking back that little piece of France, but as Richard thought, Saint Marie was already her home.

Two months later, an impressed Camille confessed to her, for once very confused, that they were going to be parents in about six months of a strong and crying baby. A few months later they discovered that what they conceived in temporary "limbo" was not one, it was two! Future Richard and Julian. They were about to leave because of another anomaly ...

Notes: I understand that in time and space travel there is more than one risk of varying the present and the future. By including Richard and Camille in the world of the ARC, why not be able to return the animal to its environment and be happy? A bit crazy chapter, but I hope you liked it. I would like to think that it closes the story better by giving rise to other possible stories. Thank you for the votes of confidence and for reading it. ; -)