Primeval WIP: Complications (30/...)
Title: Complications (30/...)
Author: TalliW
Pairings: Lester/Cutter
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Primeval are 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.
James Lester clicked through the channels on the TV. He had so much on his mind and no one to talk to.
Geronimo wasn't the best of conversational partners albeit he was a good listener.
Deciding that perhaps he needed to take a walk James grasped his jacket and left his hotel room.
After Stephen had left, Nick Cutter flipped through a science magazine without interest and decided to go to bed early.
Suddenly a shiver ran down his spine. He knew who was outside. He could sense James' presence and walked to the front door.
The man came closer and Nick hoped beyond hope that he would have the courage to ring the bell. When the feel of Lester's aura faded away, Nick slumped down against the door and pressed his cheek to the wood, a faint whimper escaping his lips.
Rex was glad his second owner was back in the home where he belonged. A happy Abby meant more treats and less cuddling with salty tears. And Connor was always ready to play with him and joke around. He'd missed his company.
The sleeping arrangement was another matter. The green animal wasn't as happy at first about Connor claiming back his bed. The little lizard had found out that a fluffy pillow and bed cover was rather nice.
The first night with Connor back in the flat, Rex discovered that a fluffy warm bed was even nicer. Only Connor was a bit miffed to wake up with the body of a scaly lizard pressed against his side.
But Abby found it cute, so Connor stopped complaining. He just wished Abby would want to join them. After all, the lizard loved a warmed up bed, and Rex would feel like he was in heaven with two warm bodies in it. And he wouldn't be the only one.
Abby watched Connor pour more coffee into her cup. He was still the geeky boy she'd always known but now he was different too. She couldn't put her finger exactly on the things which had changed, he just seemed to be more attentive. She didn't know if his willingness to help with the household chores was just his way of making amends or if it would last. Anyhow, not to have to clean up after him, in addition to waking up with the smell of coffee and warm toast for the second morning in a row, was nice for a change.
Abby had made up her mind in the time Connor had stayed in the hotel. She was now sure about her feelings. Connor was still shy towards her, despite her attempts to put him at ease. But she had worked with wild animals long enough to know how to behave. Baby steps, no impulsive movements to make the creature feel safe and in the end you could get close.
Connor's feelings had intensified, if that was possible, since he'd consumed the drug. He wanted Abby and no one else. But he had certainly shocked her with his feral behaviour. He would have to move very slowly not to scare her away. Connor Temple would show her he could be a patient man. After all he'd spent years without a girl-friend. He could wait a few more.
Jon Lyle was sitting in the armoury, cleaning his rifle when Jetrow sat down next to him.
"How long are you going to let him dangle? He's ready for you."
Lyle tried to ignore his friend but he knew resistance was going to be futile.
"Don't pretend you're not interested in Hart. I've seen you discreetly checking him out. You want him or you wouldn't spend so much time with the guy.
You've been with no one else in the last few weeks. What's going on with you?"
Lyle spread gun oil on a cloth without speaking.
"I'm sure he's good company in bed. Perhaps I should give him a try myself," Jetrow said.
"He's the wrong sex for you," Lyle finally answered.
Jetrow shrugged: "I'm always interested in trying something new. Now tell me why you haven't acted already or I'll ask him out for a drink. With enough booze in my veins I could even find him hot."
Lyle sighed. "Its complicated. He's my team leader."
"And? It hasn't stopped you before if I remember rightly."
"I don't just want a quick session in bed."
Jetrow raised his eyebrows. "That's new. What's happened to your No-Commitment-policy?"
"Perhaps I'm just getting old. I've seen what Cutter and Lester are for each other. I want that too. But Hart isn't ready for a relationship.
He hasn't got any experience with men and after what I've heard about his affair with Helen Cutter I don't even know if I can trust him."
"Damn it, Lyle, he can't make it any more obvious. He wants to try it with a man. So go out with him and fuck his pretty arse before someone else does. You know fresh meat is always sought-after in the scene. If it really doesn't work out then you're both professional enough to forget about it. Stop being a sissy just because it might go wrong.
If you want a real relationship then you'll have to take some risks. Look at Cutter and Lester.They've faced a load of obstacles but they still haven't given up.
"I think Hart is a guy who's worth taking a chance for. You might be surprised in the end. And, by the way, you're not exactly relationship material either. Or can you actually remember someone you've been with for more than two weeks?"
When Jetrow walked out of the armory he asked himself why people always had to make things so complicated. You should simply follow your instincts. It had got him in some trouble at times but it had certainly always been fun.
Connor was typing in his notebook and occasionally stealing a surreptitious look at Abby.
Abby talked with Stephen and cast a glance at Connor whenever he was bound up in his work again.
Stephen rolled his eyes and tried to pretend he hadn't noticed their childish behaviour. He'd got his hands too full with Cutter and Lester and his own failed attempts at getting close to Lyle to get in the middle of another problem-loaded relationship.
"Not much progress in the kissing department between the two of them by the look of it."
Jenny stepped up to Lester, who was watching the three people on the ground floor.
Lester snorted. "It reminds me of Cutter and me at the start. We were just as awkward."
Jenny grinned: "I can remember. I didn't know what to make of it. I certainly hadn't guessed you were after each other in that sort of way. First I thought you were working on his psychological profile to get him dumped off the project."
Lester smiled. "He would have found a way to continue. You can't get rid of Cutter so easily."
"Are you sure you don't mean you don't want to get rid of Cutter because you're rather fond of him?"
"That's a nice way of putting it into words. I would say I'm so mentally deranged I can't let him go."
"Love isn't a mental illness just temporary insanity," she smiled impishly. "How is it going with him? I haven't seen him at the ARC in the last day or so."
"He's working in his office at the University to give me space."
Jenny furrowed her forehead. "Did you ask him to do that?"
"No!" Lester sighed. "He's just decided to give me a wide berth."
"You think he's taking the coward's way and running away again," Jenny voiced.
"I told him I want to continue but I needed some time. I didn't mean he should avoid me completely."
Lester shook his head in annoyance. "Why does it always have to be so complicated?"
Jenny Lewis put her hand soothingly on his arm."Give it a few more days. He'll come around. Cutter always does."
She looked at her wristwatch. "Now I've to take care of that annoying pair of reporters. If you want to talk again you know where to find me. Of course if you're looking for someone who won't talk back to you, you'd be better off with Geronimo."
Lester looked after her with a smile. Not much stayed secret in the ARC it seemed. And he was damn glad about that at the moment.