Primeval Fic: Storm Clouds
Title: Storm Clouds
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 1426
Characters: David ‘Ditzy’ Owen (OC), James Lester, Connor Temple, Jenny Lewis, Lorraine Wickes, Bailey (OC)
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N 1: Set in my Under The Moonlight wolfverse after Trials and Tribulations and references At The Zoo.
A/N 2: Thanks go to Fred for the beta. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Ditzy absent-mindedly stirred his coffee. What to do about Lester’s frustration and short temper? Not that there were many options; if he’d known the anomalies would dry up after Wellington Zoo… he sighed, he wouldn’t, couldn’t have rushed the field clearance until Lester had been fit. Even if he had dragged his feet a little over ‘The Mammoth Incident’.
“Temple!”
What the hell had Connor done now? Why was he continuing to risk provoking Lester? Especially after the last tongue-lashing he’d received when Lester discovered the ADD dismantled and strewn across the atrium. Luckily Lester hadn’t realised it had been the third time that week.
Ditzy found Connor half-sprawled on the floor, his skateboard wheel still spinning. Had he fallen before or after Lester’s yell?
“Mr Temple!”
Ditzy followed Lester’s gaze, cursing when he saw a smugly grinning Bailey, Christine Johnson’s stooge, reporting every problem to his real boss.
“Mr Temple,” Lester continued, his voice calmer, controlled. “What have I told you about skateboarding in the atrium?” He gave a deep sigh before adding, “Get out of my sight.” Connor dashed off, returning when Lester called out, “And take that… that thing with you.”
Ditzy noted Lester strolling towards the calming influence of the mammoth as he climbed towards Ms Lewis’ office. It was time to make Lester a priority, before he tore someone undeserving a new hole.
***
Ditzy nodded when he found Ms Wickes present in Ms Lewis’ office. Clearly pooling resources to deal with Lester’s bad mood; even if they were ignorant of its cause… And he wasn’t about to out Lester, even if they would believe his story.
“Lieutenant Owen?” Ms Lewis enquired. “Is there a problem?” At Ditzy’s raised eyebrow, she relented with a sigh. “I had hoped Connor would have known better.”
“He was skateboarding.”
Both women winced at the reply.
Ms Lewis sighed. “I’ll have a word with him later.” Ms Lewis sighed.
“We’re altering the rota to allow Sir James and the professor some time off together,” Ms Wickes said. “And for our other couples as well.”
“Thank you, but I’d be more concerned with Lester finding out what you’ve done.” Ditzy nodded at the look Ms Wickes shot him; they were both far too professional to be caught. Not that a ‘walk’ would reduce Lester’s frustrations and clearly shagging - or being shagged by - his boyfriend wasn’t working either. No, the only thing which might was a bloody anomaly. Even if the fortnight-long dry spell was a welcome reprieve for everyone… Something Ditzy belatedly realised Lester had to know. Between the conflicting desires of running wild and protecting people from the anomalies, it wasn’t a surprise the Director’s temper was on a hair-trigger.
“Lieutenant?”
“Sorry, just thinking,” Ditzy said when Ms Lewis’s concerned voice broke his train of thought.
“Do you have any other ideas before James gives Ms Johnson an excuse? Other than sending a fake anomaly alert to the ADD?”
“Which he would be rightly furious about when he finds out about it,” Ms Wickes added.
“That’s part of the problem,” Ditzy spoke carefully. “He’s feeling… I don’t know, caged in, while knowing we need a break from the anomalies.”
“And he’s getting the backlog of reports,” Ms Wickes remarked.
“You’re supposed to be sending them to me.”
“He intercepted them.”
“That stubborn…” Ms Lewis trailed off, sighing. “If no one has any further ideas at present, I suggest we return to work and reconvene when we do.”
“Before Lester suspects we’re plotting?” Ditzy asked.
“Precisely.” Ms Lewis added as he moved to leave, “Oh, Lieutenant?”
“Ma’am?”
“If you see Connor before I do, do remind him to avoid any more mishaps.”
“Yes, ma’am. And sorry, I almost forgot, Bailey was watching.”
Ms Lewis closed her eyes for a moment. “And no doubt reporting it to Ms Johnson. Damn that woman.” She nodded. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
“Ma’am.”
***
Raised voices made Ditzy curse softly. Tensions were running high; the last thing they needed was a bloody brawl. That would set Lester off and no one, not even Becker’s muppets deserved to receive Lester’s snark when he was this edgy. He’d give them a piece of his mind, threaten a full medical if they refused to listen.
He abandoned that plan as he recognised Lester’s voice, the deadly near growl raising the hair on the back of Ditzy’s neck. A flash of memory came as Ditzy identified the sound of an angry Were. That encounter had not ended well.
One glance told Ditzy all he needed to know - Connor was scared, pressed as far into a corner as he could be. Almost cowering from the soldier who stood at rigid attention over him. Of course it was bloody Bailey.
Not that the fucking homophobic bigot was Ditzy’s problem… or rather, his main concern at that moment. A clearly furious Lester had, Ditzy realised with a start, stepped in to defend Connor as one of his own. He smiled at the thought that Lester considered Connor a packmate, before sobering as he recalled what a Were could - would - do to protect their own. Ditzy couldn’t - wouldn’t - allow Lester to do that. Bailey wasn’t worth it.
“Sir? Is there a problem? Ah, Mr Temple, are you injured?” Ditzy swept into the room as if merely stumbling across them, hoping his presence would be enough to break through Lester’s protective instincts. It took all his will not to back away, not to reach for a weapon he wasn’t carrying when Lester’s feral gaze turned to him, the gleam of reflected light indicating a partial Shift. Was Connor scared of Lester or Bailey? All Ditzy could do was thank a God he wasn’t sure he still believed in when he realised Bailey was facing away from Lester. Even if Lester losing his rag would still cause enough problems when it got back to Ms Johnson.
“Sir James?” Ditzy’s voice took on the soothing quality so often needed by a combat medic in a war zone gone to hell. “I think we all need to calm down.” Hoping to get through to Lester before he did something they’d all regret. “And then I’m sure any books which need to be thrown can be.”
It was a tense, seemingly never ending moment and Ditzy never knew what got through to Lester - his words, Connor’s babbling or Lester’s own self-control - but he saw the moment Lester stepped back from the brink, blinking away the Shift as he centred himself. Lester gave a stiff nod before fixing Ditzy with a suspicious and curious look. There was nothing Ditzy could do apart from turn towards Connor to act the highly trained medic he was, hoping Lester drew the conclusion it was Ditzy’s experience which kept him calm.
A movement from Bailey distracted Lester, who took a deep, calming breath as he turned to stare at the man’s stiff back. “Mr Temple, please find Captain Becker. Inform him I will meet him in his office.”
“Lester?” Connor queried, a slight quaver in his voice, before he swallowed and nodded. “Right. Becker. On it.”
“Connor?” Ditzy waited until Connor half-turned towards him. “I believe Captain Ryan, Ms Lewis and Ms Wickes should be there as well.”
Connor glanced at Lester for confirmation before he darted off.
“An excellent idea, Lieutenant.” Lester’s voice still held a hint of a growl, before he seemed to settle back into his human form. “Are you still here, Bailey?”
“Sir?” Bailey ventured.
“Captain Becker’s office. Now!” Lester snapped.
Ditzy stifled a snort when Bailey almost tripped over his own feet in his haste to leave.
“Lieutenant?”
Something in Lester’s voice had Ditzy straighten and meet his eyes with a calm smile. “Sir? If you’ll excuse me, I believe I should check on Mr Temple?”
Ditzy forced himself to relax under Lester’s scrutiny when the Director tilted his head slightly, his gaze considering. Whatever Lester might have said remained unspoken as his head snapped around. He growled, “Bloody Bailey,” before heading off at speed.
Ditzy sagged as if his strings had been cut. That had been too bloody close and he needed a moment, even if he should go after Lester. He shook himself, setting off after his boss, hoping to get Bailey to Captain Becker’s office in one piece.
And then… Ditzy needed to find his boyfriend. They had a lot to talk about and plans needed to be made. He swore softly, knowing that would have to wait until they were home. He couldn’t risk any unfriendly ears listening in.
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 1426
Characters: David ‘Ditzy’ Owen (OC), James Lester, Connor Temple, Jenny Lewis, Lorraine Wickes, Bailey (OC)
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N 1: Set in my Under The Moonlight wolfverse after Trials and Tribulations and references At The Zoo.
A/N 2: Thanks go to Fred for the beta. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Ditzy absent-mindedly stirred his coffee. What to do about Lester’s frustration and short temper? Not that there were many options; if he’d known the anomalies would dry up after Wellington Zoo… he sighed, he wouldn’t, couldn’t have rushed the field clearance until Lester had been fit. Even if he had dragged his feet a little over ‘The Mammoth Incident’.
“Temple!”
What the hell had Connor done now? Why was he continuing to risk provoking Lester? Especially after the last tongue-lashing he’d received when Lester discovered the ADD dismantled and strewn across the atrium. Luckily Lester hadn’t realised it had been the third time that week.
Ditzy found Connor half-sprawled on the floor, his skateboard wheel still spinning. Had he fallen before or after Lester’s yell?
“Mr Temple!”
Ditzy followed Lester’s gaze, cursing when he saw a smugly grinning Bailey, Christine Johnson’s stooge, reporting every problem to his real boss.
“Mr Temple,” Lester continued, his voice calmer, controlled. “What have I told you about skateboarding in the atrium?” He gave a deep sigh before adding, “Get out of my sight.” Connor dashed off, returning when Lester called out, “And take that… that thing with you.”
Ditzy noted Lester strolling towards the calming influence of the mammoth as he climbed towards Ms Lewis’ office. It was time to make Lester a priority, before he tore someone undeserving a new hole.
***
Ditzy nodded when he found Ms Wickes present in Ms Lewis’ office. Clearly pooling resources to deal with Lester’s bad mood; even if they were ignorant of its cause… And he wasn’t about to out Lester, even if they would believe his story.
“Lieutenant Owen?” Ms Lewis enquired. “Is there a problem?” At Ditzy’s raised eyebrow, she relented with a sigh. “I had hoped Connor would have known better.”
“He was skateboarding.”
Both women winced at the reply.
Ms Lewis sighed. “I’ll have a word with him later.” Ms Lewis sighed.
“We’re altering the rota to allow Sir James and the professor some time off together,” Ms Wickes said. “And for our other couples as well.”
“Thank you, but I’d be more concerned with Lester finding out what you’ve done.” Ditzy nodded at the look Ms Wickes shot him; they were both far too professional to be caught. Not that a ‘walk’ would reduce Lester’s frustrations and clearly shagging - or being shagged by - his boyfriend wasn’t working either. No, the only thing which might was a bloody anomaly. Even if the fortnight-long dry spell was a welcome reprieve for everyone… Something Ditzy belatedly realised Lester had to know. Between the conflicting desires of running wild and protecting people from the anomalies, it wasn’t a surprise the Director’s temper was on a hair-trigger.
“Lieutenant?”
“Sorry, just thinking,” Ditzy said when Ms Lewis’s concerned voice broke his train of thought.
“Do you have any other ideas before James gives Ms Johnson an excuse? Other than sending a fake anomaly alert to the ADD?”
“Which he would be rightly furious about when he finds out about it,” Ms Wickes added.
“That’s part of the problem,” Ditzy spoke carefully. “He’s feeling… I don’t know, caged in, while knowing we need a break from the anomalies.”
“And he’s getting the backlog of reports,” Ms Wickes remarked.
“You’re supposed to be sending them to me.”
“He intercepted them.”
“That stubborn…” Ms Lewis trailed off, sighing. “If no one has any further ideas at present, I suggest we return to work and reconvene when we do.”
“Before Lester suspects we’re plotting?” Ditzy asked.
“Precisely.” Ms Lewis added as he moved to leave, “Oh, Lieutenant?”
“Ma’am?”
“If you see Connor before I do, do remind him to avoid any more mishaps.”
“Yes, ma’am. And sorry, I almost forgot, Bailey was watching.”
Ms Lewis closed her eyes for a moment. “And no doubt reporting it to Ms Johnson. Damn that woman.” She nodded. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
“Ma’am.”
***
Raised voices made Ditzy curse softly. Tensions were running high; the last thing they needed was a bloody brawl. That would set Lester off and no one, not even Becker’s muppets deserved to receive Lester’s snark when he was this edgy. He’d give them a piece of his mind, threaten a full medical if they refused to listen.
He abandoned that plan as he recognised Lester’s voice, the deadly near growl raising the hair on the back of Ditzy’s neck. A flash of memory came as Ditzy identified the sound of an angry Were. That encounter had not ended well.
One glance told Ditzy all he needed to know - Connor was scared, pressed as far into a corner as he could be. Almost cowering from the soldier who stood at rigid attention over him. Of course it was bloody Bailey.
Not that the fucking homophobic bigot was Ditzy’s problem… or rather, his main concern at that moment. A clearly furious Lester had, Ditzy realised with a start, stepped in to defend Connor as one of his own. He smiled at the thought that Lester considered Connor a packmate, before sobering as he recalled what a Were could - would - do to protect their own. Ditzy couldn’t - wouldn’t - allow Lester to do that. Bailey wasn’t worth it.
“Sir? Is there a problem? Ah, Mr Temple, are you injured?” Ditzy swept into the room as if merely stumbling across them, hoping his presence would be enough to break through Lester’s protective instincts. It took all his will not to back away, not to reach for a weapon he wasn’t carrying when Lester’s feral gaze turned to him, the gleam of reflected light indicating a partial Shift. Was Connor scared of Lester or Bailey? All Ditzy could do was thank a God he wasn’t sure he still believed in when he realised Bailey was facing away from Lester. Even if Lester losing his rag would still cause enough problems when it got back to Ms Johnson.
“Sir James?” Ditzy’s voice took on the soothing quality so often needed by a combat medic in a war zone gone to hell. “I think we all need to calm down.” Hoping to get through to Lester before he did something they’d all regret. “And then I’m sure any books which need to be thrown can be.”
It was a tense, seemingly never ending moment and Ditzy never knew what got through to Lester - his words, Connor’s babbling or Lester’s own self-control - but he saw the moment Lester stepped back from the brink, blinking away the Shift as he centred himself. Lester gave a stiff nod before fixing Ditzy with a suspicious and curious look. There was nothing Ditzy could do apart from turn towards Connor to act the highly trained medic he was, hoping Lester drew the conclusion it was Ditzy’s experience which kept him calm.
A movement from Bailey distracted Lester, who took a deep, calming breath as he turned to stare at the man’s stiff back. “Mr Temple, please find Captain Becker. Inform him I will meet him in his office.”
“Lester?” Connor queried, a slight quaver in his voice, before he swallowed and nodded. “Right. Becker. On it.”
“Connor?” Ditzy waited until Connor half-turned towards him. “I believe Captain Ryan, Ms Lewis and Ms Wickes should be there as well.”
Connor glanced at Lester for confirmation before he darted off.
“An excellent idea, Lieutenant.” Lester’s voice still held a hint of a growl, before he seemed to settle back into his human form. “Are you still here, Bailey?”
“Sir?” Bailey ventured.
“Captain Becker’s office. Now!” Lester snapped.
Ditzy stifled a snort when Bailey almost tripped over his own feet in his haste to leave.
“Lieutenant?”
Something in Lester’s voice had Ditzy straighten and meet his eyes with a calm smile. “Sir? If you’ll excuse me, I believe I should check on Mr Temple?”
Ditzy forced himself to relax under Lester’s scrutiny when the Director tilted his head slightly, his gaze considering. Whatever Lester might have said remained unspoken as his head snapped around. He growled, “Bloody Bailey,” before heading off at speed.
Ditzy sagged as if his strings had been cut. That had been too bloody close and he needed a moment, even if he should go after Lester. He shook himself, setting off after his boss, hoping to get Bailey to Captain Becker’s office in one piece.
And then… Ditzy needed to find his boyfriend. They had a lot to talk about and plans needed to be made. He swore softly, knowing that would have to wait until they were home. He couldn’t risk any unfriendly ears listening in.