Primeval WIP: Confronting (18/...)
Title: Confronting (18/...)
Author: TalliW
Pairings: Lester/Cutter
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Primeval are the property of Impossible Pictures. I write just for fun. So don't bother me
Acknowledgments: Thanks to fredbassett for beta-reading. I couldn't have done it without you.
Nick Cutter was pleased about the transfer. He didn't think he could work alongside Stephen right now but, nonetheless, he didn't want to lose him altogether. He had to admit to himself that some of the things Stephen had said were not so far off the mark.
Nick had told his lover parts of the argument with Stephen that evening and the man had acted fast. Perhaps it was not the best solution but, for the time being, it had to work.
But the transfer put a strain on them all and their teamwork suffered again. In particular, Abby was miffed with Cutter and let him know it.
Stephen Hart and Nick Cutter avoided each other when possible.
Only sometimes Nick Cutter forgot about their rift and nodded in greeting at his former research assistant. Most of the time, however, he ignored him entirely.
Stephen adapted quite quickly to his new task. Working with Lieutenant Lyle and his men was far easier than dealing with Nick Cutter had been. He didn't have to fight for approval every time. If he gave an order then the men obeyed the instruction. To be in charge was nice for a change.
He'd sort of tried to apologise to Cutter but hadn't managed it very well. Nick Cutter had looked at him, disappointed, and then walked away.
The only time an Anomaly had popped up it had led to a disagreement with Cutter about the right approach to the situation. Nick had called him a trigger-happy wannabe soldier after he'd given the order to fire at a vicious-looking oviraptor. Even if the oviraptor was just a egg robber you couldn't know for certain it wouldn't go berserk and attack, Stephen had tried to reason.
After that Stephen had withdrawn from Abby and Connor too, as they had backed up Nick at the Anomaly.
He spent more time with his new military peers and in the evenings he sat in a pub and got pissed.
Nick got moody and he clashed with Lester more then normal.
James had tried to talk to him about the incident at the Anomaly but Nick had dug his heels in.
At home, he went early to bed that night and pretended to be asleep when James came in. Now Lester wasn't so sure that it had been the right decision to let Stephen continue working on the project or for that matter, Cutter himself.
James Lester could see how the whole project was slowly breaking apart and for the first time in his work for the Home Office he felt incapable of doing his job properly. He knew he had to close the rift somehow or to remove the troublemaker. What he didn't know was how to manage that without also losing his lover .
Now he understood why relationships with subordinates were frowned upon.
.
"Hello, Nick! I heard you've managed to get a divorce from me and now you sway your pretty arse for Lester instead. I have to say I'm surprised." Helen was leaning against his car as Nick Cutter left his office at the Central Metropolitan University.
"Whatever Stephen told you it's...."
Helen interrupted him. "Nick, I can understand you're sour. What Stephen did was inexcusable."
Nick Cutter snorted: "Of course you had nothing to do with it."
Helen shrugged meekly. "I just missed you. I felt so alone. A woman has needs and you weren't there for me anymore. Stephen was.
But was it really necessary to end our marriage just because of such a small incident?"
Nick peered at her. "It never ceases to amaze me how you manage to shift the blame onto others. But I'm surprised you've accepted our divorce so easily."
"What do you expect me to do? Should I get angry or cry, or ask you what he has that I haven't got? We already know what that might be," Helen sneered.
"What I can't understand is why you let him take you to bed when you can have me.
I am concerned, Nick. Lester isn't the right person for you. He's too self-conscious and frigid. Besides you never liked men before."
"Things change, Helen."
"Or they stay the same. I remember we were so happy together. There was so much we enjoyed exploring together.
I know you missed me all those years. I've watched you sometimes, Nick. How you lay in our marriage bed, alone, with my picture in hand, sighing and wishing I was there. I was so touched, darling."
Nick guffawed: "I think your memories have suffered in the last eight years. Or have you become an even bigger master of repression than me?
I've finally accepted our marriage for what it was. You were envious of anything I achieved, even though it was never enough for you.
You were constantly bickering, telling me I should work more at projects which would me bring recognition and money. The struggle for dominance with you made my life hell.
Then later there were your preferences to contend with, as well. I remember pain and darkness and humiliation.
Whatever we had together it wasn't happiness, Helen, not for me."
Helen pouted. "Oh, come on, Nick.You liked it too. After I had left you tied down for hours you were such a fiery lover."
Tauntingly, she added: "Don't tell me you weren't turned on. I felt the proof of your passion for days."
"I was angry. I wanted to punish you. I wanted my control back," Nick spat the words out, enraged.
Helen laughed. "Perhaps we're more alike than you think, Nick," and licked her lips.
"That's what I love about you. You're a fighter. You don't give up control easily.
If it was really so awful for you, why did you stay married to me for such a long time? Admit it, Nick, you enjoyed the power games. So let's just forget what happened and start afresh. I know you want that."
"You're crazy, Helen. I've finally found someone I can actually be happy with. I'm over you. Go and fuck Stephen, for all I care."
Furious, Nick Cutter turned around and left Helen.
Nick was still agitated when he arrived at home.
He ignored the call from Stephen on his mobile and went straight to the drinks cupboard.
Two glasses of Bruichladdich later he felt better.
Watching a football game on TV, he waited for James.
Three hours later, Lester was still not home. Nick had drunk some more shots by now. Whilst sitting and waiting, he had recalled his confrontation with Helen and memories of the darker times in their marriage had surfaced.
Finally Lester walked in, his hair a bit dishevelled and his jacket rumpled.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting all evening," Nick asked, pissed off.
"There was a situation in Redbridge."
"Why wasn't I informed?"
"It was false alarm. Just a ape in a dress who had scared an old woman," James answered, his voice tired.
"And you didn't think to call me?"
"I lost my mobile in an argument with the owner of the ape. I asked Stephen to call you."
Nick thought about the call he had left unanswered.
"Sorry, I was worried," he said, sheepishly.
Slowly, he stepped up to James and kissed him intensely.
Lester grimaced at the heavy scent of alcohol.
"Have you been drinking?" he asked, when they broke the kiss for air.
"Just a sip." Nick replied, flippantly.
.
"I need a shower and some sleep." Lester walked into the bathroom and stripped.
Nick followed him and watched as James shucked his clothes and enjoyed the hot water in the shower.
When Lester stepped out of the shower to towel himself dry, Nick was waiting for him naked and aroused. With a roguish smile, Nick hugged him.
"I'm tired, Nick. All I want tonight is sleep."
Nick pushed him against the door and started to kiss him forcefully.
Lester shoved him away.
"I said I'm not in the mood. Can't you take a 'No'? Go to bed and sleep off your drunkenness."
James walked into the bedroom angrily, leaving a confused and still-aroused Nick Cutter behind.
Ten minutes later Nick settled down in the bed.
"Sorry," he whispered. "I got carried away. Seeing you wet and naked made me horny. Don't worry. I'm OK now."
Lester sighed then mumbled, "Good night, Nick!" He hoped things really would be OK.
A moment later Nick asked in a soft voice: "May I cuddle you? I won't try anything again. I promise."
Lester moved back until his backside was pressed against Nick, who immediately slipped his left arm around him.
Despite their troubling thoughts, sleep claimed both men. Soon the faint noises of their even breathing filled the room.