Returning Home Chapter 2
Title: Returning Home Chapter 2
Author: TalliW
Characters: Lester/Cutter, Becker/Connor, Abby, Sarah, Jenny, Danny Quinn
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Primeval is the property of Impossible Pictures. I write just for fun.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to the lovely Fredbassett for beta-reading.
Summary: Cutter and Connor have vanished in another universe through the artefact in episode 3x03. Now they are back in their own world but they are changed men after being held as sex slaves for years. Can they ever recover from that ordeal?
Warning: This story contains mentions of rape and violence.
Naked feet were pounding on the concrete floor. Eyes wide in panic, grazed Becker's dark uniform as Connor looked for an escape route. He knew if they caught him again they would finish him off. He had seen what happened to disobedient slaves.
He had to get out of the ARC. Outside he might have a chance of escaping. Otherwise he would end up in the biogenetic section within a day, after hours of horrible torture. That's where Cutter probably was already. He had tried to free him and instead had only led him into death.
A sob rose up in Connor's throat as he ducked behind a desk. He had only made everything worse.
As a fanfare sounded through the building, distracting the guards for a moment, Connor used the opportunity and darted for the exit. He had to try. Cutter wouldn't want him to give up.
From the corner of his eye, Becker had noticed the movement. Before the naked fugitive could pass the door, Becker had grasped his arm. But Connor fought against the soldier with all his strength and almost managed to twist out of Becker's grip. Desperately Becker wrapped his arms around Connor's waist and kicked against his legs. Connor lost footing and they both went down on the floor.
Becker cursed silent as the man still fought on, bucking and winding under him. Angrily, Becker fumbled at his holster and pulled his gun out.
As Connor heard the familiar click of a cocked gun he stopped struggling.
"Get up! Now!" Becker ordered with his gun trained on the captive whilst he heaved himself up. With fear in his eyes Connor climbed to his feet and obeyed Becker’s gesture to move in front of him.
Becker pushed the barrel of the gun between Connor's shoulder blades and forced him to move into the direction of the infirmary. He just hoped that no one had taken a closer look at him. He didn't dare to think about the consequences if the others saw him with an erection after what had happened. Proper soldiers weren't supposed to get turned on from wrestling with naked guys.
With lowered head, Connor walked back down the same corridor he had run from some minutes ago, the pressure of the gun against his back compelling him to move steadily forwards.
As they reached the doctor's office, Connor dropped to his knees and put the palms of his hands crosswise on his chest, his eyes lowered submissively to the floor.
He didn't dare to hope they would show any mercy. All he could wish for was a fast end but with the steely look he had seen in the soldier's eyes, that wasn't likely.
Becker gazed down at the kneeling young man he only had known for a short time and felt the strong impulse to comfort him. He balled his hand to a fist. No, he wouldn't act on that feeling. Pity for the enemy was weakness, his father had drilled that into him since Becker had had his first fight in the toddler group.
He saw Connor shiver and silently cursed himself as he automatically reached for the blanket on the exam table. But this man wasn't exactly an enemy, wasn't he? Not long ago he had been part of the team Becker had been hired to protect. And protect him he would do now.
Connor blinked as a soft blanket was draped over him. He tentatively looked up and met the eyes of the soldier who had caught him. The cold look had vanished and was replaced with compassion. He even could detect some sort of sympathy and that made no sense to Connor. No soldier cared for a slave.
Connor trembled as the soldier crouched down and reached out to wipe off the sweat from his face with the corner of the blanket. It had been so long someone had touched him with so much gentleness. Tears pooled up in Connor's eyes as he unconsciously bent towards the only bleeding heart he had encountered in over four years.
A quarter of an hour later the medic gaped at the picture in his treatment room. On the floor sat Captain Becker, holding the sobbing, formerly unconscious patient in his arms and whispering soothing words to the distraught young man.
"He must have woken up shortly after I checked on them at ten," Ditzy said to Lester.
"And Cutter?"
"No change in his condition. He's still out."
"Where is Connor now?"
"With Becker in my treatment room. He was clinging to Becker and wasn't willing to have a check-up without the captain in the room. Currently one of my nurses is doing the last tests on him. But physically he seems to be fine. It's more his mental health I'm worried about. He shies away from me as if I were the devil. And it doesn't seem that he remembers Becker. He just reacts to the kindness Becker has shown him."
"I would like to talk to him. Becker had been working here for only a week before they vanished. Perhaps Connor remembers me better."
"It is worth a try. But carefully. Temple's mind is in a very fragile state right now."
Connor looked up as the door of the treatment room opened and Lester walked in with Ditzy in tow.
"Where is Cutter? What have you done with him?" he asked immediately.
"Cutter has been moved to another room. He needs special treatment," Ditzy declared.
Connor closed his eyes in defeat. The words "special treatment" had told him enough. So Cutter was already dead.
Lester walked closer to the examination table where Connor was sitting. "Hello, Connor. Do you know who I am?"
Connor eyes darted nervously in Ditzy's direction whilst he nodded slowly.
"You are Captain Lester, the former head of my master’s guardian troops."
If Lester was surprised by that answer he didn't show it. He ignored Becker's gasp and enquired, "Your master?"
"The Duke of Abingdon, the honourable Oliver Leek."
"Connor, Oliver Leek died six months ago, killed by his own future predators."
"And he was anything but honourable," Ditzy muttered under his breath.
Connor pressed his hands to his ears and shook his head fiercely. "No, no, no, that's wrong," he whimpered. "You’re only trying to mess with my head."
"Connor!" Lester said forcefully. Connor only started to shake violently. Ditzy rushed forwards and grabbed Connor's wrist to check his pulse. It was rapid and Connor's skin was covered with a thin layer of sweat despite the air conditioning in the room.
The moment Ditzy touched him, Connor went rigid and stared wide-eyed at the medic.
"Connor, everything is all right. You’re safe." Ditzy tried to calm the young man.
Connor apparently didn't believe him. He skidded backwards on the examination table and would fallen down if Becker hadn't moved to the end and kept him from crashing to the ground.
Shaking like a leaf, Connor huddled against Becker's chest. "Please help me. Don't let him hurt me again," he whimpered.
"Lieutenant," Lester addressed the medic quietly. "I think it better for you to leave for now. For some unknown reason, Mr Temple obviously is distressed by your presence."
Ditzy sighed deeply. "I will send Sergeant Kinsley here." After throwing a last look at Connor he left the infirmary.
Becker rubbed Connor's back soothingly. "He’s gone. Now calm down. You’re safe."
"No, he’ll come back and torture me. He always hurts people."
"Well, he has a point there. Ditzy constantly pokes us with needles and his cold hands would count as a method of torture in some countries," a voice said from the doorway.
"Damn it, Quinn, this isn’t the time to make jokes," Becker hissed angrily at the man poking his head through the door frame. "What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have to crawl down the refuse chute to check on security?"
"Chill, mate. I'm just checking on our visitor. How’s he doing?"
"He’s disorientated and frightened, so get lost! He's scared enough without you adding to his distress."
"Gentlemen, behave," Lester ordered. "You can have it out with each other outside. I will not allow this childish quarrel in front of a disturbed staff member."
All eyes turned to the young man in question, who had spun around and watched the verbal exchange with a growing hint of hope.
"Danny? You really made it? You managed to take over the ARC? You’re a genius," Connor beamed.
"Er... well...thanks. Good to be appreciated for a change," Danny said in confusion. It wasn't entirely what he had expected at a reunion with Connor Temple. He was aware that he had behaved like a real arse towards Connor, Jenny and Abby back at the haunted house and had been worried about Connor's reaction to seeing him again. But he hadn't been able to stay away. His curiosity had been too strong.
"Despite occasional appearances to the contary, Mr Quinn certainly hasn't taken over the ARC. I am still the project leader," Lester declared in irritation.
"Don't worry, guv. Your job is safe. I don't care for all that bureaucratic nonsense your job brings with it," Danny said with a grin. He winked in Connor's and Becker's direction but was ignored by Becker. Connor only looked disturbed.
"Captain Lester is now head of the organisation?" Connor asked perplexed. "Danny, what about your wife? Did something happen to her because my escape?"
"My wife?" Danny almost choked on the word.
"Yes, Christine Johnson."
"No, no. Christine Johnson is in the best of health. Unfortunately," Lester answered quickly after he'd realised that Quinn had been rendered speechless. That had to be a first.
Quinn also looked slightly green so Lester was glad that the other medic had stepped into the room. The thought of Danny and Christine Johnson being married was making him feel slightly ill too.
Connor looked carefully at the new arrival. But he didn't have problems with Kinsley. He even offered his arm freely so the medic could check his pulse. He seemed to feel safe with Danny and Becker in the room.
"I think that has been enough excitement for now. The patient needs rest," the medic announced emphatically as if he was expecting resistance from Lester's side.
Despite Lester’s curiosity over what new revelations Connor had in store, he accepted the medic’s statement. He saw that Connor was exhausted and in a mess. It was probably for the best to continue the interview at a later time.
In Connor's current state it was impossible to find out if anything he'd said was just figment of a confused mind or might actually be things he'd experienced in another timeline or parallel universe.
Since Jenny had found a patched photo of a similar-looking woman in Cutter's possessions, Lester had been a lot more inclined to believe that something of the kind might actually have taken place. It would explain several things.
"I’ll see you later, Connor. Get some rest now." Lester forced an encouraging smile on his face and turned to the exit. With a movement of his head he shooed Quinn out of the room and left Connor alone with Becker and Kinsley.
"Didn't know you were so fond of the boy, guv." Danny muttered as they walked along the corridor.
Lester just raised his eyebrows in that challenging way that irked Quinn every time again.
"You have to admit you have been astonishingly kind to him, considering how you usually behave."
"Temple hasn't driven me up the wall every day in the last four months unlike some other people. Besides he developed the ADD. He certainly knows how to switch off that annoying fanfare that now plays every three hours since Miss Page rebuilt the detector. If you would excuse me now, contrary to popular belief I have a lot of important work to do."
Danny grinned mischievously after Lester had left him. It was time to find out more about this Connor boy. Anyone who could move such hard-arse men like Becker and Lester had to be special.
The next hour Danny was busy on the computer checking all available data about a geeky genius by the name of Connor Temple.
Author: TalliW
Characters: Lester/Cutter, Becker/Connor, Abby, Sarah, Jenny, Danny Quinn
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Primeval is the property of Impossible Pictures. I write just for fun.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to the lovely Fredbassett for beta-reading.
Summary: Cutter and Connor have vanished in another universe through the artefact in episode 3x03. Now they are back in their own world but they are changed men after being held as sex slaves for years. Can they ever recover from that ordeal?
Warning: This story contains mentions of rape and violence.
Naked feet were pounding on the concrete floor. Eyes wide in panic, grazed Becker's dark uniform as Connor looked for an escape route. He knew if they caught him again they would finish him off. He had seen what happened to disobedient slaves.
He had to get out of the ARC. Outside he might have a chance of escaping. Otherwise he would end up in the biogenetic section within a day, after hours of horrible torture. That's where Cutter probably was already. He had tried to free him and instead had only led him into death.
A sob rose up in Connor's throat as he ducked behind a desk. He had only made everything worse.
As a fanfare sounded through the building, distracting the guards for a moment, Connor used the opportunity and darted for the exit. He had to try. Cutter wouldn't want him to give up.
From the corner of his eye, Becker had noticed the movement. Before the naked fugitive could pass the door, Becker had grasped his arm. But Connor fought against the soldier with all his strength and almost managed to twist out of Becker's grip. Desperately Becker wrapped his arms around Connor's waist and kicked against his legs. Connor lost footing and they both went down on the floor.
Becker cursed silent as the man still fought on, bucking and winding under him. Angrily, Becker fumbled at his holster and pulled his gun out.
As Connor heard the familiar click of a cocked gun he stopped struggling.
"Get up! Now!" Becker ordered with his gun trained on the captive whilst he heaved himself up. With fear in his eyes Connor climbed to his feet and obeyed Becker’s gesture to move in front of him.
Becker pushed the barrel of the gun between Connor's shoulder blades and forced him to move into the direction of the infirmary. He just hoped that no one had taken a closer look at him. He didn't dare to think about the consequences if the others saw him with an erection after what had happened. Proper soldiers weren't supposed to get turned on from wrestling with naked guys.
With lowered head, Connor walked back down the same corridor he had run from some minutes ago, the pressure of the gun against his back compelling him to move steadily forwards.
As they reached the doctor's office, Connor dropped to his knees and put the palms of his hands crosswise on his chest, his eyes lowered submissively to the floor.
He didn't dare to hope they would show any mercy. All he could wish for was a fast end but with the steely look he had seen in the soldier's eyes, that wasn't likely.
Becker gazed down at the kneeling young man he only had known for a short time and felt the strong impulse to comfort him. He balled his hand to a fist. No, he wouldn't act on that feeling. Pity for the enemy was weakness, his father had drilled that into him since Becker had had his first fight in the toddler group.
He saw Connor shiver and silently cursed himself as he automatically reached for the blanket on the exam table. But this man wasn't exactly an enemy, wasn't he? Not long ago he had been part of the team Becker had been hired to protect. And protect him he would do now.
Connor blinked as a soft blanket was draped over him. He tentatively looked up and met the eyes of the soldier who had caught him. The cold look had vanished and was replaced with compassion. He even could detect some sort of sympathy and that made no sense to Connor. No soldier cared for a slave.
Connor trembled as the soldier crouched down and reached out to wipe off the sweat from his face with the corner of the blanket. It had been so long someone had touched him with so much gentleness. Tears pooled up in Connor's eyes as he unconsciously bent towards the only bleeding heart he had encountered in over four years.
A quarter of an hour later the medic gaped at the picture in his treatment room. On the floor sat Captain Becker, holding the sobbing, formerly unconscious patient in his arms and whispering soothing words to the distraught young man.
"He must have woken up shortly after I checked on them at ten," Ditzy said to Lester.
"And Cutter?"
"No change in his condition. He's still out."
"Where is Connor now?"
"With Becker in my treatment room. He was clinging to Becker and wasn't willing to have a check-up without the captain in the room. Currently one of my nurses is doing the last tests on him. But physically he seems to be fine. It's more his mental health I'm worried about. He shies away from me as if I were the devil. And it doesn't seem that he remembers Becker. He just reacts to the kindness Becker has shown him."
"I would like to talk to him. Becker had been working here for only a week before they vanished. Perhaps Connor remembers me better."
"It is worth a try. But carefully. Temple's mind is in a very fragile state right now."
Connor looked up as the door of the treatment room opened and Lester walked in with Ditzy in tow.
"Where is Cutter? What have you done with him?" he asked immediately.
"Cutter has been moved to another room. He needs special treatment," Ditzy declared.
Connor closed his eyes in defeat. The words "special treatment" had told him enough. So Cutter was already dead.
Lester walked closer to the examination table where Connor was sitting. "Hello, Connor. Do you know who I am?"
Connor eyes darted nervously in Ditzy's direction whilst he nodded slowly.
"You are Captain Lester, the former head of my master’s guardian troops."
If Lester was surprised by that answer he didn't show it. He ignored Becker's gasp and enquired, "Your master?"
"The Duke of Abingdon, the honourable Oliver Leek."
"Connor, Oliver Leek died six months ago, killed by his own future predators."
"And he was anything but honourable," Ditzy muttered under his breath.
Connor pressed his hands to his ears and shook his head fiercely. "No, no, no, that's wrong," he whimpered. "You’re only trying to mess with my head."
"Connor!" Lester said forcefully. Connor only started to shake violently. Ditzy rushed forwards and grabbed Connor's wrist to check his pulse. It was rapid and Connor's skin was covered with a thin layer of sweat despite the air conditioning in the room.
The moment Ditzy touched him, Connor went rigid and stared wide-eyed at the medic.
"Connor, everything is all right. You’re safe." Ditzy tried to calm the young man.
Connor apparently didn't believe him. He skidded backwards on the examination table and would fallen down if Becker hadn't moved to the end and kept him from crashing to the ground.
Shaking like a leaf, Connor huddled against Becker's chest. "Please help me. Don't let him hurt me again," he whimpered.
"Lieutenant," Lester addressed the medic quietly. "I think it better for you to leave for now. For some unknown reason, Mr Temple obviously is distressed by your presence."
Ditzy sighed deeply. "I will send Sergeant Kinsley here." After throwing a last look at Connor he left the infirmary.
Becker rubbed Connor's back soothingly. "He’s gone. Now calm down. You’re safe."
"No, he’ll come back and torture me. He always hurts people."
"Well, he has a point there. Ditzy constantly pokes us with needles and his cold hands would count as a method of torture in some countries," a voice said from the doorway.
"Damn it, Quinn, this isn’t the time to make jokes," Becker hissed angrily at the man poking his head through the door frame. "What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have to crawl down the refuse chute to check on security?"
"Chill, mate. I'm just checking on our visitor. How’s he doing?"
"He’s disorientated and frightened, so get lost! He's scared enough without you adding to his distress."
"Gentlemen, behave," Lester ordered. "You can have it out with each other outside. I will not allow this childish quarrel in front of a disturbed staff member."
All eyes turned to the young man in question, who had spun around and watched the verbal exchange with a growing hint of hope.
"Danny? You really made it? You managed to take over the ARC? You’re a genius," Connor beamed.
"Er... well...thanks. Good to be appreciated for a change," Danny said in confusion. It wasn't entirely what he had expected at a reunion with Connor Temple. He was aware that he had behaved like a real arse towards Connor, Jenny and Abby back at the haunted house and had been worried about Connor's reaction to seeing him again. But he hadn't been able to stay away. His curiosity had been too strong.
"Despite occasional appearances to the contary, Mr Quinn certainly hasn't taken over the ARC. I am still the project leader," Lester declared in irritation.
"Don't worry, guv. Your job is safe. I don't care for all that bureaucratic nonsense your job brings with it," Danny said with a grin. He winked in Connor's and Becker's direction but was ignored by Becker. Connor only looked disturbed.
"Captain Lester is now head of the organisation?" Connor asked perplexed. "Danny, what about your wife? Did something happen to her because my escape?"
"My wife?" Danny almost choked on the word.
"Yes, Christine Johnson."
"No, no. Christine Johnson is in the best of health. Unfortunately," Lester answered quickly after he'd realised that Quinn had been rendered speechless. That had to be a first.
Quinn also looked slightly green so Lester was glad that the other medic had stepped into the room. The thought of Danny and Christine Johnson being married was making him feel slightly ill too.
Connor looked carefully at the new arrival. But he didn't have problems with Kinsley. He even offered his arm freely so the medic could check his pulse. He seemed to feel safe with Danny and Becker in the room.
"I think that has been enough excitement for now. The patient needs rest," the medic announced emphatically as if he was expecting resistance from Lester's side.
Despite Lester’s curiosity over what new revelations Connor had in store, he accepted the medic’s statement. He saw that Connor was exhausted and in a mess. It was probably for the best to continue the interview at a later time.
In Connor's current state it was impossible to find out if anything he'd said was just figment of a confused mind or might actually be things he'd experienced in another timeline or parallel universe.
Since Jenny had found a patched photo of a similar-looking woman in Cutter's possessions, Lester had been a lot more inclined to believe that something of the kind might actually have taken place. It would explain several things.
"I’ll see you later, Connor. Get some rest now." Lester forced an encouraging smile on his face and turned to the exit. With a movement of his head he shooed Quinn out of the room and left Connor alone with Becker and Kinsley.
"Didn't know you were so fond of the boy, guv." Danny muttered as they walked along the corridor.
Lester just raised his eyebrows in that challenging way that irked Quinn every time again.
"You have to admit you have been astonishingly kind to him, considering how you usually behave."
"Temple hasn't driven me up the wall every day in the last four months unlike some other people. Besides he developed the ADD. He certainly knows how to switch off that annoying fanfare that now plays every three hours since Miss Page rebuilt the detector. If you would excuse me now, contrary to popular belief I have a lot of important work to do."
Danny grinned mischievously after Lester had left him. It was time to find out more about this Connor boy. Anyone who could move such hard-arse men like Becker and Lester had to be special.
The next hour Danny was busy on the computer checking all available data about a geeky genius by the name of Connor Temple.