94 Minutes
11.13 The anomaly detector sounds. Lester pays it the same amount of interest he gives all alerts in recent months. He hates to admit it, but he has given up hoping. Time was every alert made his heart leap into his throat, his brain telling him ‘this time, this time.’ but it never is. And, a part of him he hates thinks it never will be.
11.25. Connor Temple and Abby Maitland have come through the anomaly; condition unknown. The smile is broad on Jess’ face as she announces the news. And a glimmer of hope starts to shine in his chest. But he denies it, quells it, pushes it down. Still, he follows her to the control panel, a desperate need to feed himself with updates as they come in.
1134. The call comes through. They are alive, they appear well. Appearances are not enough for him; a remote call from a distance is not enough for him. He still won’t let himself believe. Even though the assurance comes from Becker, a man he has come to trust above all others, he can’t let himself hope. He denies them again. But still, he remains at Jess’ side. Even he is aware how badly he is hiding his need for more news.
1143. They’ve stolen a car. It sounds like them and he makes quips to Jess to hide the fact that his heart has finally made that leap into this throat. The idea that this might be true, it might really be them, they might really be safe and well starts to scream in his mind. But no, not yet, can’t give into it yet. He pushes it away once more.
1236. He sees them. Connor and Abby are brought into the ARC and he watches them enter on the security camera. They are real, whole; they smile as they walk into the building flanked by Becker. Lester slumps into his chair, the sense of relief so strong it deflates him. Everything he’s kept carefully pent up for the last year bubbles to the surface and a sob catches in his throat. He doesn’t yet let his mind question why there are only two. For now he will take this, celebrate this moment. He will ask that question soon, but he’ll just let himself enjoy this moment first. After all, he knows the celebration will only last so long.
1238. Lester’s moment alone is over and he gathers himself, stands at the door and waits for them to enter. He thinks about what he could say, thinks of everything he wants to say, but knows it won’t be said. And that’s for the best; it’s not what any of them need. He apparently chooses right; they both smile at him. Then he asks his question and receives his answer. Lester tries to remember to be happy with what he has. While he can. Abby hugs him - an awkward, but neither unpleasant nor unwelcome experience - and Connor attempts to hug him, a manoeuvre he thwarts that quickly. He can’t. He knows what’s coming next and he knows it will hurt Connor most of all.
1247. They have been back in their own time for 94 minutes and already he has broken them. They fought so much over the last year and here they sit, defeated by bureaucracy. And then Lester has to deliver the final betrayal.
“It was my decision.”