Primeval WIP Chasing (4/...)
Title:Chasing (4/...)
Author: TalliW
Pairings: Lester/Cutter
Rating: PG, hints of slash, but really harmless
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 could't have done it without you
After running around the Berkshire countryside in an attempt to capture a group of crazy Echinodons, Cutter was beat.
The 60 cm long lizards had first peacefully munched on the vegetation at first, then had suddenly run like hell as the team tried to approach them. There was no way to keep up with the agile little creatures on foot.
Lester considered ordering them to be hunted with cars, but a couple of mililtary vehicles speeding around the landscape was a sure way to attract attention.
Lester wasn't the only one with problems. Jenny Lewis had enough on her hands as it was.
Some of the Echinodons had taken the liberty of roaming into the kitchen of a nearby manor. The wife of the owner, some Lord something-or-other, a name Nick hadn't bothered to memorise, had screamed blue murder at seeing the mess. Nick didn't know what story Jenny had to make up to cover the truth but he did know it had been hard work to calm the distraught couple down.
So it was understandable that Lester's latest idea just drew a weary sigh from her.
The lord had a large stud farm and Sir James wanted to use the horses to surround the saurians.
Cutter didn't like the new idea either. He'd been in his teens when he'd last ridden a horse. But it seemed like it really was the only way to catch the little troublemakers and send them back to their own world.
He wished he 'd put on another pair of trousers that morning, without thick seams on the inside. With his Levis on he was probably going to be very sore indeed on a horse.
'The things we endure for the common good.' he sighed as he walked over to the stables, where the stable boy had already prepared some horses with assistance from Stephen and Abby.
Connor was doubtful, eyeing the big black mare Stephen had saddled for him. Naturally, he was allergic to horses and tried to stifle his sneezing and wheezing in vain. Despite his handicap he didn't want to be left behind. It was bad enough that the others didn't trust him to handle a weapon anymore. So he slowly climbed into the saddle and just hoped it was a friendly horse with no intention of bucking him off.
Abby, Stephen and some of the soldiers had mounted their horses and were riding around the yard.
Nick looked over to them and hurried to get on his own horse. It seemed they were all now waiting just for him.
In front of the stable, Jenny Lewis was involved in an animated discussion with the titled gentleman.
She was wearing a tight suit. With a skirt like hers it was impossible to get on a horse, but you couldn't impress people in practical outdoor clothing. Besides, Jenny was the PR manager only and was not supposed to be part of the field team.
Perhaps Claudia would have gone with them, Nick thought, with regret. He was sure she would have cut a good figure on a horse.
But as quickly as the notion surfaced, Nick banished the thoughts. Claudia was gone, she'd never existed in this timeline. He had to accept that.
His team was ready to take off and he was just about to give the order as James Lester arrived, stepping out of an outbuilding, without his usual business suit but dressed in black jeans and a blue sports jacket. Nick had no idea where Lester had got those clothes from here but the attire suited him rather well.
With ease, James Lester swung into the saddle of the white horse the stable boy had just lead out and with a motion of his head gave Lieutenant Lyle the command to move.
Four hours later, the job was finished. The annoying little Echinodons had been rounded up and, without any damage, carried back through the anomaly. However, some of the humans looked the worse for wear.
Stephen had taken a brief bath in a ditch when his horse had shied back from a deer sprinting out of the woods.
Connor' s mare hadn't bucked him off, but that hadn't been necessary as Connor had still managed to fall off her back at possible opportunity. His determination showed every time he climbed groaning back on the horse giving Abby the thumbs up.
Nick Cutter had made acquaintance with a beech branch as his horse tried to take a different way through a small group of trees. He now sported a nice purple dent on his forehead.
Abby had some leaves in her hair and a twig had torn a new hole in her shirt but otherwise she was unharmed. And Lester' s hair looked badly tousled.
Checking out their damaged state, the group grinned at each other wearily.
Nick had to give James Lester credit. Despite the state of his hair, he was currently the best looking one of them all. Lester had proved to be an amazingly good and effective rider. Without him and the soldiers they would still be chasing after the Echinodons.
It really was a waste for him to hide behind a desk. Nick wouldn't mind having him on his team on a regular basis.
Thinking about Lester reminded Nick of his meeting with him. 'Or was it a date? No, surely not a real date? Or perhaps it was?'
Nick Cutter was rather confused right now. He had never seen himself other than heterosexual but perhaps it was time to reconsider the matter?
Something was developing between him and Lester and he whould be damned if he let it slide because he was to afraid to act on his fondness for a man.
Back at the stable Cutter dismounted his headstrong horse and groaned at his soreness. He was right. The Levis had been a bad choice today.
Some of the other team members seems to walk a little stifly too. They probably had the same problem he'd got.
Lester had already changed back into his business suit and was now just thanking his Lordship for his cooperation.
Some of the soldiers had to stay back to secure the Anomaly, but for Cutter and his team, their work here was done. They still had to write up and sign some reports at the ARC but after that they would be free to go home.
Nick didn't know if Lester had the same option.
They hadn't talked about other things as the new Anomaly and the task at hand to catch the saurians had occupied them for the whole time.
Lester had appeared to be his usual self, controlled, a little self-contained and rigid. Unlike himself, Nick hadn't seen any sign of nervousness on Lester's part at the prospect of their date.
Back at the ARC, Cutter had made his report as short as possible. His butt hurt and his shanks were sore. The hot shower had not helped much. He just wanted a nice evening at home. But there was still the matter of the date. Nick didn't want to miss it but sitting on a hard stool in a bar in regular clothes was virtually impossible.
James Lester was in his office, working on a stack of papers. He, looked up as Cutter entered.
"Sorry to disturb you. I just wanted to tell you that I've finished here."
Lester smiled. "Fine, I'm done in a moment too." He packed some files into a folder and stood up. "I'm ready when you are."
"Yeah, sorry about this...but I don't think I can go out today." Just for a moment Lester's disappointment showed through and Nick added quickly:"It's not that I don't want to. But the horseriding's left me a bit knackered."
Lester regarded him intensly then nodded. "It's all right. Perhaps another time. It was your idea anyway."
Nick Cutter pondered over this. Lester was right. He had asked him out and he wanted to spend some time with him. To accomplish that today there was only one way left.
"If you don't mind seeing me wearing some comfortable old clothes we can meet at my house tonight."
Lester shrugged. "I have no problem with that. I just have to go back to my hotel room to change as well first."
"What's wrong with your current clothes?" Nick asked. Lester in his suit looked just fine to him.
"I don't want to look like I'm doing business with you when you're slouching around comfortably dressed."
Cutter smiled. "See you in an hour then." Pleased with the situation, he waddled out of the room.