Primeval WIP: Moody Times (47/...)
Title: (47/...) Moody Times
Author: TalliW
Pairings: Lester/Cutter, Stephen/Lyle, Abby/ Connor, Jenny
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Primeval is the property of Impossible Pictures. I write just for fun.
Lyle belongs to Fredbassett.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to Fredbassett for beta-reading. I couldn't have done it without you.
For prior chapters look at my Masterlist.
Connor had expected the morning to be a little awkward after their evening activities but instead they had been at ease with each other. As he'd tried to apologise for falling asleep on her, Abby had brushed it away with a joke and they had fallen into an easy banter.
Later they had strode happily into the ARC together.
There hadn't been a new security breach into the network and Connor grinned in satisfaction. The last modification on the security system had apparently been successful. He was still one of the best with the computers after all.
Connor saw Stephen and Lyle walk in and pretended to be busy with his terminal as watched them out of the corner of his eye. He still was blushing when he thought about their intimate moment he'd witnessed in the shower.
Today they looked rather solemn. The happy glow they had worn the last time he had seen them was gone.
After them, a bleary-eyed Cutter trailed in and vanished into the locker room after mumbling a curt greeting. It looked like it was going to be one of those days again.
Abby strolled over to him and whispered conspiratorially, "Better stay away from Jenny for now. She's rather angry."
"Temple, in my office. Pronto!" Lester informed him over the comm link.
Connor rolled his eyes and shared a look with Abby. "Looks like we're the only people here who are in a good mood today. I'd better hurry before steam starts coming out of Lester's ears."
"What's this nonsense?" Lester waved the list Connor had given him two days ago. "We don't have the funds to buy expensive equipment. I told you to make a list with only the devices you really need to check out your theory. I'm absolutely sure three pulse generators aren't necessary to get the project rolling. And why do you need all those expensive measuring instruments? Either it works or it doesn't. Make a new list, one I can actually accommodate."
Connor trotted dejectedly out of the office. Most of the listed equipment really was needed. He hadn't known the budget was so tight. He had to agree with Lester that three impulse generators had been a little over the top but if his theory worked in practice, it would have speed up the process of closing the anomalies. Sometimes a few seconds could make all the difference between life and death.
Abby welcomed him back with a smile and touched his arm soothingly. Looking into her vibrant eyes filled with promise for tonight, Connor's mood lifted considerably again.
Stephen and Nick eyed each other in the locker room. Despite the fact that Stephen had slept the whole night through, he looked pitiful.
Nick sensed something was troubling him. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked carefully.
Stephen shook his head. "Not really."
He closed his locker and proceed to leave the room. Suddenly he turned around and snarled, "Jon doesn't want me anymore."
Nick raised his eyebrows. Until now, he'd had the impression Lyle couldn't get enough of Stephen.
Like a torrent, all the frustration from the prior evening was rushing up in Stephen and he spoke with barely any break for breath, "The damned telly was more important than me. I tried to seduce him and get him into bed but he ignored me completely. And it wasn't even a good film."
Nick didn't know what to say. He really didn't want to get pulled into this. He liked Lyle and thought he was good for Stephen. From past experience, Nick knew how easy it was to interpret a situation wrong. Stephen was probably just overreacting.
But when Stephen mumbled resignedly, "Perhaps he's already had enough of me and doesn't dare to tell me because I'm his team leader and he's afraid of repercussions," Nick couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Tell me everything that's happened. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding between you two. You know, in spite of what the rumours say, a guy isn't always ready for sex. Maybe Lyle didn't feel well. He might have had a headache for instance."
Stephen looked up at Nick with hope in his eyes and started, hesitantly, to tell him about the events of the last few days. Hearing him out Nick realised for the first time how uncertain Stephen felt. He always seemed so confident that he'd never considered Stephen might be full of self doubt.
Now he understood what an easy prey the younger man had been for Helen.
Lyle walked slowly in direction of the gym. He had training arranged with his team in an hour and it didn't hurt to warm up beforehand. He was sure his men would give him a run for his money. And it might distract him from his sullen thoughts as well. Stephen had barely said a word at breakfast and he wasn't sure where he stood with him at the moment. He was unable to make head nor tail of what his lover wanted from him with all that mixed signals he gave out.
"Uh, oh," Cutter mumbled at some point in Stephen's story.
"What?"
"So you told him you wanted a break from sex?"
"No, I told him I want to do more together than sex. Don't get me wrong, sex with Jon is fantastic but it seems to be the only thing we have in common anymore."
Stephen draw his hand over his face tiredly before he continued. "Before we got together we used to talked a lot. About a lot of things. Now we only talk on breaks at the ARC and then it's mostly about work. I think I've talked with some one-night-stands more than I've done with Jon lately. All we do now at home is fuck. So I begged him to do something else for a change."
Lester gazed down at the atrium again. He had seen Nick stumble into the ARC and expected he would start working in his office immediately. But Nick hadn't left the locker room since his arrival more than an hour ago and now Lester was slowly getting worried. He waited another five minutes then decided to go looking for Nick. He was determined to ask him out for a date. Spending more time with Nick was probably the best way to overcome his anxiety and eventually he might even find the courage to speak with him about his fears.
Cutter scratched his head and searched for a nice way to express his thoughts. But there seemed to be no nice way. So he said bluntly, "If my lover told me he wanted to do other things more than make love to me I would be offended. I'd feel inadequate and ask myself if I was boring."
Stephen pulled a face. "That's nonsense. Jon has a lot of experience and sex with him never gets boring. He can make me come with just the right touch and he knows that too. He wouldn't feel inadequate in bed just because of my request. Damn, fucking is the only thing Jon is really good at."
Lyle couldn't believe what he was hearing as he walked across the locker room. 'fucking is the only thing Jon is really good at.' So this was how Stephen talked about him to his friends. Angrily, he turned on his heels and saw Lester standing behind him.
'Great, now Lester's heard that as well. Thanks Stephen,' he thought, bitterly.
Suddenly Cutter's voice rang out to them. "At least you have had enough sex the last few weeks. James flips out every time I try to get closer again. And I'm really sick of wanking."
Lester froze on the spot. His heart constricted painfully. For a moment his eyes met Lyle's before he turned around and fled back to the sanctuary of his office.
"Prick," Lyle mumbled to himself , not sure if he meant Stephen or Cutter. "Pricks, both of them." Churning inside, he walked away, not interested anymore in warming up in the gym for the training. He would have to do without it.
For the first time Lester was glad about the long meeting which kept him busy for the rest of the day. This way he could avoid Nick, at least. After the things he had accidentally heard he wasn't sure he could stay calm in his presence. He even talked with two junior civil servants afterwards to delay his return to the ARC. But then he called himself a fool and drove back to the research center. When he arrived, Lorraine informed him that Cutter and Hart had gone to the University to meet with the Dean and would only return in an extreme emergency.
Lester snorted scornfully. They were probably gossiping about him and Lyle again.
Lyle had managed to control himself until Stephen had left the ARC with Cutter. He had played nicely in the training session and had only thrown Stephen over his shoulder twice. After the training, most of his anger had been replaced with a feeling of disappointment. Stephen had looked annoyed when Lyle had walked away after the training without a personal word.
It was quiet at the ARC. The staff had gone home by now.
Lester loved these moments after hours when the ARC was peaceful and not buzzing with the usual noises of a working day.
He was surprised when Jon Lyle walked into his office. Lester had assumed he had left two hours ago.
Before Lester could politely ask what business had led Lyle to him the soldier put a bottle of Tequila on the desk. Lester stayed silent and instead studied the man with a worried expression. Lyle looked a little rumpled and Lester caught a whiff of stale beer and Whisky. Apparently he'd stopped somewhere else before returning to the ARC.
"I was in a bar but the company was not right," Lyle declared.
Lester arched a brow in amusement. "And my company is?"
"Thought you might need some encouragement after that crappy day," Lyle said.
"Mmmh." It was neither a refusal nor an acceptance but then Lester conjured two glasses out of nowhere.
Lyle grinned and filled both glasses to the brim.
"Always prepared. I think I like you," he slurred lightly. After raising his glass he took a healthy swig.
Lester grasped his own glass and gulped the Tequila down, screwing up his face as the liquid burned his throat.
Lyle made a move to refill but the civil servant shielded his glass. He wasn't really the type who resorted to alcohol. And Lyle probably shouldn't get drunk either or rather he shouldn't get any more drunk. You never knew what the next day had in store. If a new anomaly opened he needed the lieutenant in good shape.
Lyle frowned when Lester stood up and left the room.
He huffed as Lester placed a still steaming coffee mug in front of him some minutes later.
"You are no fun. Come on, get another drink. You need to loosen up more," Lyle complained.
Lester shook his head. "My personal life is already enough of a mess without adding alcohol into the mix. And the Tequila tastes horrible."
"Sorry, can't offer you something else. The Tequila was all I could still afford. Would be a waste to get plastered with the fine stuff anyway."
"True. But I don't plan to drink myself into a stupor." Lester rummaged around in his filing cabinet and brought a bottle of fine single Malt to light. He got two fresh glasses and poured some generous shots into each.
"I like you more every minute. Didn't think you had it in you. You always seem so reserved and by-the-book."
Lyle's voice had got more slurred and Lester asked himself if it was a good idea to give him more alcohol.
"Believe me, in my line of work you can seldom do things strictly by the book." Lester watched the way Lyle knocked the Whisky down and did the same.
"I guess with someone like Cutter on the team you've had no choice other than to bend the rules."
Lester just shrugged and filled his glass again. When he emptied the drink he felt a little more affected than he'd expected. But he hadn't eaten much today and he wasn't used to mixing his drinks. Usually he stuck to one sort.
Lyle stared into his empty glass and reached for the Tequila, then he changed his plan and lifted the coffee mug instead.
His face took on a delightful expression as he savoured the flavour of the black coffee.
"Ah, that's good," he sighed. "I know Cutter is an expert in his field and is Stephen's friend but most of the time he gets on my nerves. And after what I heard today I think he is a world-class arsehole," Lyle said between sips as he gauged Lester's reaction.
Lester snorted. "I thought the same back then. But then I got to know him better. He is a good man. He still drives me crazy though. And sometimes he behaves like a jerk."
"Stephen drives me crazy too. I don't get what the guy wants from me. Thought everything was great between us. We are good together. At least we were."
Lester dwelt on his own thoughts. "We were good together as well. Then the drug changed everything. I miss being with Nick. I want back what we used to have. But it's not easy to leave the bad memories behind," he said with a tinge of sadness in his voice. "I was so glad Nick did understand. Now it seems he's got tired of waiting."
"Can't blame him for wanting you back in his bed. You scrub up really nicely. And I bet you're quite adventurous in the sack as well. It's always the self-controlled, quiet ones who are the most kinkiest."
Lester's eyebrows shot up. Lyle had to be very uninhibited from the alcohol or he wouldn't have dared to express these thoughts. While Lester was still pondering how to react to Lyle's remarks, he felt the other man's piercing gaze on him, almost undressing him with his eyes.
It had to be the amount of alcohol he had ingested which made him unable to move. Lester watched like a rabbit frozen in the headlights as Lyle got up and leaned over the desk.
"Ever thought about trying it with another man?" Lyle whispered hoarsely, now so close Lester could feel his hot breath puffing against his face.
"Someone who is gentle and experienced enough to allay your fears? Someone who isn't Cutter?"
Lester swallowed audibly. For a moment he entertained the thought of a one-night stand with Lyle. It wasn't that he hadn't considered such an action with another man before. Hell, he had even written down the phone number of a professional who had some experience in dealing with assault victims. The biggest problem was that Lester didn't want another bloke. Lyle's offer might be flattering but Lester wasn't interested in doing anything intimate with him. He only wanted Nick. Besides the aftermath would be very awkward. And he wasn't sure he would be able to look Stephen or Nick in the eye ever again.
Lester cleared his throat and rolled away from the desk with his chair, putting a little distance between himself and Lyle.
"It's late and we've had too much to drink. Stephen is probably worried out of his mind about you by now. I'll call you a taxi."
Lyle nodded stodgily. "You're right. I should go home. Thanks, mate."
After Lester had called a taxi, he began to put the glasses and two bottles away. Soon every evidence of the night's activities had been removed.
Lester made sure the taxi-driver was paid in advance and had the address of Hart's flat. He would deliver the drunken Lyle directly into Stephen's arms.
At least Lyle had a home and a lover to go to.
When Lester put his wallet away, he briefly felt the shape of a single key in his jacket pocket. It was the front door key Nick had given him and Lester had carried around for days now.
Suddenly Lester smiled giddily. He had a place to go too, where someone was waiting for him. If Nick wanted sex so desperately he would get it tonight.
With firm steps, Lester strode out of the ARC, his footsteps only faltering slightly as the cool night air brushed against his overheated face.