Primeval Art Fic: First Meetings (5/5 - epilogue)
Title: First Meetings (5/5 - epilogue)
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 1860 for this part
Characters: James Lester, Danny Quinn with Monty, Abby Maitland, Hilary Becker and OCs & OMs.
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N: For the Primeval Art Fic Prompt: Thanks go to Fififolle for the beta, all remaining mistakes are mine - especially as I've added to it since Fi looked at it. Also thanks go to Fred for her wonderful art.
Warning: Offscreen animal death and mutilation.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Danny took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he slumped in the uncomfortable chair in the room he'd been interrogated in, relaxing for the first time since he'd stepped foot into the past. It had been a whirlwind of activity after they'd released the mammoths, involving sabotage - and just where had Lester learned to do that? Then avoiding the flames that had spread through the building and several tense moments when Danny thought they'd been spotted by the poachers.
They had finally stumbled out into the clean air and Danny stopped, trying to remember the way back to the anomaly when Lester had smiled and said, “This way, Quinn.”
“How the hell would you...?” Danny began before trailing off when he followed Lester's gaze and noticed the matriarch standing on the hilltop. “Ah.”
“Come along, Quinn.”
Danny wasn't surprise when Lester didn't wait for him to answer before he strolled towards the mammoths. He ran after him, a hand grabbing Lester's arm and dragging him to a stop. “How do you know they know the way?”
“I just do,” Lester replied as he shook Danny off. “Don't loiter, Quinn.”
Danny shook his head, wondering if Lester had been hit harder than he'd realised. A noise had him spinning back towards the building, fearing discovered, and he gasped as he realised the view did look familiar.
“Quinn!”
Danny turned, swearing when he realised Lester and the mammoths had almost disappeared from sight. He hurried after them, pausing at the top of the hill to turn around and look back down at the building that was being consumed by flames. He didn't know how they knew, but it appeared the mammoths were leading them in the correct direction.
Still, it was only when they reached the now clean-picked bones that Danny truly believed the mammoths knew where they were going. The sight of the mammoths caressing the bones, of the calf gently nudging one skeleton, brought moisture to his eyes and he noticed Lester brush a lone tear from his cheek.
The matriarch trumpeted after several moments, turning her eyes towards them and Danny shivered under that knowing gaze. She trumpeted again before moving past Danny and Lester as she led her herd into the plains.
Danny noticed Lester take half-a-step towards the mammoths before he stopped, he also noticed the calf hesitate before turning to run back to Lester. Their goodbye, as Lester petted and stroked the calf as the calf wrapped his trunk around Lester's wrist did bring a quickly dashed tear to Danny's eye. Another trumpet from the matriarch had the calf nudge Lester once more before he squealed and raced after his new family.
Lester took another step towards the herd as they walked away, before he gave a heavy sigh and turned back towards Danny. His downcast expression turning into a smile as he looked behind Danny. “About time, gentlemen.”
“Sorry, sir.”
Danny turned at the voice behind him, grinning as he realised the anomaly had reopened and Lester's crap security plus Becker had arrived. He couldn't hear what words past between Lester and Becker, but he did notice when Lester's expression became one of relief for a split second. He assumed that meant no one had died back at the building site. Danny did step closer when he saw Lester sway, noticing Becker own concerned look, although the man had obeyed when Lester had ordered him to capture the poachers.
“Can we go through now, guv?” Danny enquired, keen to get Lester to medical help.
Lester turned towards him, an eyebrow arched imperiously, obviously reluctant to return to the ARC before the poachers had been captured. The arrival of the classily-dressed woman from the building site, apparently one Jenny Lewis, served to break the deadlock, and Lester had reluctantly returned to the ARC.
He hadn't wanted to leave Lester with the medics, but the big blond soldier who had met them at the ARC hadn't seemed willing to let Danny stay in the medical bay. Instead, Danny had found himself being interrogated by Jenny Lewis, and the soldier, one Captain Ryan. Well, Lester would be happy the man had returned... ah, hopefully Danny had proven himself in the past as he had the distinct impression Ryan wouldn't tolerate any crap from the soldiers under Becker's command. By the expression on Jenny's face when Danny informed her about their adventures in the past, Becker's men wouldn't be the only ones who's actions would be questioned.
Which reminded him, he still hadn't seen Lester since their return to the ARC. When no one stopped him leaving the interrogation room, Danny found himself wandering through the ARC almost aimlessly. He had no idea where Lester's office was or if the man had even been released by the medics. He received several curious looks as he ambled along the corridors and knew he should just ask someone where Lester might be.
“If you're looking for Lester,” a voice he recognised as belonging to Abby Maitland spoke behind him. “He's probably with Monty.”
“Monty?” Danny almost swore, he couldn't interrupt if Lester was with his kid.
Abby smiled. “Come with me.”
Danny followed her deeper into the ARC, wondering why Monty was inside the ARC in the first place. He stopped at a familiar smell and a trumpet. “Monty's a mammoth?”
“He saved Lester's life a week ago.” Abby grinned at him before leaning closer as if to impart a secret. “He likes Monty.”
Danny nodded, smiling as he understood why Lester had wanted - needed - to save the calf and then the herd, how could he not when a mammoth had saved him? His smile grew as he watched Lester with Monty, the mammoth's trunk wrapped firmly around Lester's wrist. The action looked familiar and Danny frowned as he walked around the mammoth, his eyes peering up at the beast's flank.
“Problem, Quinn?” Lester enquired.
“I just...” Danny started before letting out a yell, “There it is!” He turned with a grin to face a confused looking Lester and Abby. “This is the calf we... you saved from the poachers, Lester. He's got the same gunshot scar.”
“Monty?” Lester stared up into his mammoth's eyes, a hand reaching out to pet his friend as Monty nudged him gently.
Abby smiled as she patted Monty's trunk. “Elephants have excellent memories, Lester. Monty must have remembered you saved him.”
***
Danny felt uncharacteristically nervous when he'd been summoned to Lester's office a few days later. He covered it be slumping in the chair before Lester's desk and putting his feet on it, a cocky grin on his face. “So, now what?”
“Now you get your feet off my desk,” Lester said as he slid a file over towards Danny.
“What's this?” Danny asked as he moved his feet, leaning forward to look at the paperwork.
“Your contract, terms of conditions, etcetera,” Lester informed him.
“You're hiring me?” Danny's grin grew. This was almost the best news he could have been told, only beaten by Patrick's return and... But that would never happen, Lester hadn't shown even the slightest bit of interest in him since the frantic kiss back in that makeshift cell.
“I thought you wanted to work here?” Lester asked, frowning.
“Oh, I do.” Danny stood up. “You won't regret this, guv.”
“That remains to be seen, Quinn.” Lester steepled his fingers as a slight frown appeared on his face. “Now, about what happened in the past.”
Danny swallowed, knowing that there was only one thing which had happened that Lester could be referring too. One thing that hadn't been mentioned in the reports. “Ah. You're not going to hold that against me?” He almost winced, both at his choice of words and the image those words conjured up in his mind.
Lester's eyebrow quirked before he sighed heavily. “That depends, Quinn...” He rose and moved around the desk until he stood in front of Danny. “Quinn?”
“Guv?” Danny licked his lips, hardly daring to believe, hope that Lester was interested.
Lester swallowed before muttering, “Oh, for fuck sake.” He grabbed Danny and dragged him in for a kiss.
The grin of Danny's face faded when Lester rubbed his head. “Guv? I thought you had a concussion?” He wanted this to be real, not just a side effect of Lester's injury. He couldn't shake the worry that Lester would recover and have a change of heart later, even though he knew - hoped - he wouldn't be fired over taking advantage of Lester. Still... Danny didn't want to turn the man down. “Are you sure?”
“I thought you wanted this?” Lester asked.
Danny could see the man building his walls back up and spoke before Lester could finish the job. “It's just... you have a concussion.”
“It's minor,” Lester said before sighing exasperatedly. “Look, Quinn. I do know my own mind. I'm not going to wake up one morning in a week or two and blame a concussion for my actions.”
“Really?” Danny knew his former workmates would be speechless if they ever found out he'd shown caution for once. “Head injures do affect behaviour.” He tilted his head to one side as he considered Lester. “From what I've heard, you wouldn't normally have done half the stuff you did when we were stuck through that anomaly.”
“Fuck, Quinn!” Lester snapped out before turning his back on Danny, his shoulders slumping. “Get out!”
“Lester?” Danny took a deep breath before stepping towards Lester, feeling the man's shoulder tense under his hand. “Look, can I take a rain check?” When Lester turned awards him, a puzzled look on his face, Danny hurriedly clarified. “Not on the job, on us... just until you're not concussed. I just don't want you to regret this...”
One of Lester's eyebrows arched. “And you don't want to be dismissed for sexual harassment?”
“Or miss out on what could be the start of a beautiful relationship.” Danny added, wanting Lester to know he wasn't at the ARC just to find out what had happened to Patrick, not any more.
Lester rolled his eyes before a smile tugged his lips. “Fine, but only because Monty likes you.”
Danny grinned cheekily. “Not you, guv?”
“I think we both know the answer to that.” Lester sat down behind his desk once more, tidying his papers. He glanced up at Danny, one eyebrow raised. “Still here, Quinn? Chop, chop and prove I haven't made a mistake hiring you.”
“Yes, guv.” Danny turned towards the door, knowing this was his chance to prove to Lester he'd made the correct choice in hiring him... and then, well, he'd just have to hope Lester didn't change his mind when he was better.
“Quinn.”
“Guv?” Danny turned back, wondering what Lester wanted now.
“Do make sure to let me know when you decide to take me up on the other offer,” Lester said, waggling an eyebrow.
Danny grinned back, a happy skip in his step as he left. Bloody hell, Lester hid a lot beneath his fancy suits, a lot that Danny hoped he'd have fun finding out about. Not now, but soon...
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 1860 for this part
Characters: James Lester, Danny Quinn with Monty, Abby Maitland, Hilary Becker and OCs & OMs.
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N: For the Primeval Art Fic Prompt: Thanks go to Fififolle for the beta, all remaining mistakes are mine - especially as I've added to it since Fi looked at it. Also thanks go to Fred for her wonderful art.
Warning: Offscreen animal death and mutilation.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Danny took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he slumped in the uncomfortable chair in the room he'd been interrogated in, relaxing for the first time since he'd stepped foot into the past. It had been a whirlwind of activity after they'd released the mammoths, involving sabotage - and just where had Lester learned to do that? Then avoiding the flames that had spread through the building and several tense moments when Danny thought they'd been spotted by the poachers.
They had finally stumbled out into the clean air and Danny stopped, trying to remember the way back to the anomaly when Lester had smiled and said, “This way, Quinn.”
“How the hell would you...?” Danny began before trailing off when he followed Lester's gaze and noticed the matriarch standing on the hilltop. “Ah.”
“Come along, Quinn.”
Danny wasn't surprise when Lester didn't wait for him to answer before he strolled towards the mammoths. He ran after him, a hand grabbing Lester's arm and dragging him to a stop. “How do you know they know the way?”
“I just do,” Lester replied as he shook Danny off. “Don't loiter, Quinn.”
Danny shook his head, wondering if Lester had been hit harder than he'd realised. A noise had him spinning back towards the building, fearing discovered, and he gasped as he realised the view did look familiar.
“Quinn!”
Danny turned, swearing when he realised Lester and the mammoths had almost disappeared from sight. He hurried after them, pausing at the top of the hill to turn around and look back down at the building that was being consumed by flames. He didn't know how they knew, but it appeared the mammoths were leading them in the correct direction.
Still, it was only when they reached the now clean-picked bones that Danny truly believed the mammoths knew where they were going. The sight of the mammoths caressing the bones, of the calf gently nudging one skeleton, brought moisture to his eyes and he noticed Lester brush a lone tear from his cheek.
The matriarch trumpeted after several moments, turning her eyes towards them and Danny shivered under that knowing gaze. She trumpeted again before moving past Danny and Lester as she led her herd into the plains.
Danny noticed Lester take half-a-step towards the mammoths before he stopped, he also noticed the calf hesitate before turning to run back to Lester. Their goodbye, as Lester petted and stroked the calf as the calf wrapped his trunk around Lester's wrist did bring a quickly dashed tear to Danny's eye. Another trumpet from the matriarch had the calf nudge Lester once more before he squealed and raced after his new family.
Lester took another step towards the herd as they walked away, before he gave a heavy sigh and turned back towards Danny. His downcast expression turning into a smile as he looked behind Danny. “About time, gentlemen.”
“Sorry, sir.”
Danny turned at the voice behind him, grinning as he realised the anomaly had reopened and Lester's crap security plus Becker had arrived. He couldn't hear what words past between Lester and Becker, but he did notice when Lester's expression became one of relief for a split second. He assumed that meant no one had died back at the building site. Danny did step closer when he saw Lester sway, noticing Becker own concerned look, although the man had obeyed when Lester had ordered him to capture the poachers.
“Can we go through now, guv?” Danny enquired, keen to get Lester to medical help.
Lester turned towards him, an eyebrow arched imperiously, obviously reluctant to return to the ARC before the poachers had been captured. The arrival of the classily-dressed woman from the building site, apparently one Jenny Lewis, served to break the deadlock, and Lester had reluctantly returned to the ARC.
He hadn't wanted to leave Lester with the medics, but the big blond soldier who had met them at the ARC hadn't seemed willing to let Danny stay in the medical bay. Instead, Danny had found himself being interrogated by Jenny Lewis, and the soldier, one Captain Ryan. Well, Lester would be happy the man had returned... ah, hopefully Danny had proven himself in the past as he had the distinct impression Ryan wouldn't tolerate any crap from the soldiers under Becker's command. By the expression on Jenny's face when Danny informed her about their adventures in the past, Becker's men wouldn't be the only ones who's actions would be questioned.
Which reminded him, he still hadn't seen Lester since their return to the ARC. When no one stopped him leaving the interrogation room, Danny found himself wandering through the ARC almost aimlessly. He had no idea where Lester's office was or if the man had even been released by the medics. He received several curious looks as he ambled along the corridors and knew he should just ask someone where Lester might be.
“If you're looking for Lester,” a voice he recognised as belonging to Abby Maitland spoke behind him. “He's probably with Monty.”
“Monty?” Danny almost swore, he couldn't interrupt if Lester was with his kid.
Abby smiled. “Come with me.”
Danny followed her deeper into the ARC, wondering why Monty was inside the ARC in the first place. He stopped at a familiar smell and a trumpet. “Monty's a mammoth?”
“He saved Lester's life a week ago.” Abby grinned at him before leaning closer as if to impart a secret. “He likes Monty.”
Danny nodded, smiling as he understood why Lester had wanted - needed - to save the calf and then the herd, how could he not when a mammoth had saved him? His smile grew as he watched Lester with Monty, the mammoth's trunk wrapped firmly around Lester's wrist. The action looked familiar and Danny frowned as he walked around the mammoth, his eyes peering up at the beast's flank.
“Problem, Quinn?” Lester enquired.
“I just...” Danny started before letting out a yell, “There it is!” He turned with a grin to face a confused looking Lester and Abby. “This is the calf we... you saved from the poachers, Lester. He's got the same gunshot scar.”
“Monty?” Lester stared up into his mammoth's eyes, a hand reaching out to pet his friend as Monty nudged him gently.
Abby smiled as she patted Monty's trunk. “Elephants have excellent memories, Lester. Monty must have remembered you saved him.”
***
Danny felt uncharacteristically nervous when he'd been summoned to Lester's office a few days later. He covered it be slumping in the chair before Lester's desk and putting his feet on it, a cocky grin on his face. “So, now what?”
“Now you get your feet off my desk,” Lester said as he slid a file over towards Danny.
“What's this?” Danny asked as he moved his feet, leaning forward to look at the paperwork.
“Your contract, terms of conditions, etcetera,” Lester informed him.
“You're hiring me?” Danny's grin grew. This was almost the best news he could have been told, only beaten by Patrick's return and... But that would never happen, Lester hadn't shown even the slightest bit of interest in him since the frantic kiss back in that makeshift cell.
“I thought you wanted to work here?” Lester asked, frowning.
“Oh, I do.” Danny stood up. “You won't regret this, guv.”
“That remains to be seen, Quinn.” Lester steepled his fingers as a slight frown appeared on his face. “Now, about what happened in the past.”
Danny swallowed, knowing that there was only one thing which had happened that Lester could be referring too. One thing that hadn't been mentioned in the reports. “Ah. You're not going to hold that against me?” He almost winced, both at his choice of words and the image those words conjured up in his mind.
Lester's eyebrow quirked before he sighed heavily. “That depends, Quinn...” He rose and moved around the desk until he stood in front of Danny. “Quinn?”
“Guv?” Danny licked his lips, hardly daring to believe, hope that Lester was interested.
Lester swallowed before muttering, “Oh, for fuck sake.” He grabbed Danny and dragged him in for a kiss.
The grin of Danny's face faded when Lester rubbed his head. “Guv? I thought you had a concussion?” He wanted this to be real, not just a side effect of Lester's injury. He couldn't shake the worry that Lester would recover and have a change of heart later, even though he knew - hoped - he wouldn't be fired over taking advantage of Lester. Still... Danny didn't want to turn the man down. “Are you sure?”
“I thought you wanted this?” Lester asked.
Danny could see the man building his walls back up and spoke before Lester could finish the job. “It's just... you have a concussion.”
“It's minor,” Lester said before sighing exasperatedly. “Look, Quinn. I do know my own mind. I'm not going to wake up one morning in a week or two and blame a concussion for my actions.”
“Really?” Danny knew his former workmates would be speechless if they ever found out he'd shown caution for once. “Head injures do affect behaviour.” He tilted his head to one side as he considered Lester. “From what I've heard, you wouldn't normally have done half the stuff you did when we were stuck through that anomaly.”
“Fuck, Quinn!” Lester snapped out before turning his back on Danny, his shoulders slumping. “Get out!”
“Lester?” Danny took a deep breath before stepping towards Lester, feeling the man's shoulder tense under his hand. “Look, can I take a rain check?” When Lester turned awards him, a puzzled look on his face, Danny hurriedly clarified. “Not on the job, on us... just until you're not concussed. I just don't want you to regret this...”
One of Lester's eyebrows arched. “And you don't want to be dismissed for sexual harassment?”
“Or miss out on what could be the start of a beautiful relationship.” Danny added, wanting Lester to know he wasn't at the ARC just to find out what had happened to Patrick, not any more.
Lester rolled his eyes before a smile tugged his lips. “Fine, but only because Monty likes you.”
Danny grinned cheekily. “Not you, guv?”
“I think we both know the answer to that.” Lester sat down behind his desk once more, tidying his papers. He glanced up at Danny, one eyebrow raised. “Still here, Quinn? Chop, chop and prove I haven't made a mistake hiring you.”
“Yes, guv.” Danny turned towards the door, knowing this was his chance to prove to Lester he'd made the correct choice in hiring him... and then, well, he'd just have to hope Lester didn't change his mind when he was better.
“Quinn.”
“Guv?” Danny turned back, wondering what Lester wanted now.
“Do make sure to let me know when you decide to take me up on the other offer,” Lester said, waggling an eyebrow.
Danny grinned back, a happy skip in his step as he left. Bloody hell, Lester hid a lot beneath his fancy suits, a lot that Danny hoped he'd have fun finding out about. Not now, but soon...
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5