Title: The Best Remedy for Concussion
Author: TalliW
Pairings: Connor, Abby, Danny, Lester, Becker, Sarah
Rating: K
Disclaimer: Primeval is the property of Impossible Pictures. I write just for fun.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to the lovely Lukadreaming for beta duty
Summary: Connor has been hurt and needs TLC.
AN: Written for
ssw_loved and her challenge: concussed characters. I hope your headache will fade quickly.
Tentatively Connor cracked an eye open and closed it swiftly again when the harsh light of the artificial lighting hit him.
His head was cushioned on something warm and soft whilst the rest of his body lay still on the hard concrete floor.
'Mayfair, Pareiasaurus, Danny,' Connor's befuddled mind contributed before a wave of pain assaulted his head.
A gentle hand caressed his left cheek and smoothed over his hair. And there were two people arguing to his right.
It took a moment until Connor recognised the voices. Lester and Danny.
Connor's head started to throb as he tried to follow the heated discussion, then decided it wasn't worth the effort.
He was enjoying the soft touch on his cheek, but asked, confused, "What happened?"
"Danny mistook you for the baby Pareiasaurus and tried to knock you down with a length of wood."
"Wouldn't have worked anyway. Pareiasaurs have a very thick skull plate." Connor automatically recalled his knowledge about the creatures. Then a goofy smile spread over his face at the realisation that it was Abby who held and petted him.
"How should I know Connor was down in the basement?" Danny answered loudly in defence. "The noises sounded like a bigger animal was clumping around there."
"Using your brain would have been a good start," Lester replied, annoyed. "We agreed to check the building systematically. That includes the basement. Besides, last time you had a medical check-up you still had very good eyesight."
"It was dark in the basement."
"That's why there a wonderful feature called the light switch was invented."
Abby and Connor chuckled as Lester scolded Danny like a naughty boy. Usually it was Connor who got a good telling-off after causing trouble with his clumsiness.
The laughter instantly sent ripples of pain through Connor's head. "God, that hurts," he moaned softly, pressing his hand against his aching temple.
"Don't move, Connor. I fear you have a minor concussion," said Abby.
Unfortunately it didn't feel like it was only a minor concussion - more like a gigantic sledgehammer had struck him, repeatedly.
Despite Connor wanting to rest forever in Abby's arms, his sense of duty won out. The poor Pareiasaurus youngster would be lost without their help.
"What's with the anomaly?" he asked worriedly, squinting through his eyes until he'd adjusted to the artificial brightness.
"We have found it in the cellar. It's still stable. Sarah and Becker are watching it."
"Please help me up. I can rest after we have rescued the Pareiasaurus baby."
The world spun around him as soon as he tried to sit up. He probably would have keeled over if two strong arms hadn't have supported him
"Take it slow, mate," Danny mumbled, concerned. "And sorry for clubbing you with the wood."
Danny's lips were so close to Connor's ear as he whispered his apology you almost could mistake it for a kiss.
"Next time I'm going on a longer ride you can be my pillion passenger, okay?"
Connor's eyes lit up. Danny's motorbike had exerted a pull on Connor since he'd seen Danny speeding away on it for the very first time. But until now Danny had been adamant about driving alone.
Braced against Danny's left shoulder and supported by Abby on the other side, Connor took a few cautious steps. The dizziness was already fading while his headache had evolved into a severe migraine.
"I think I can manage it alone from here," Connor declared, then moved along the basement corridor in the direction he had heard something rumble before he was knocked out. Abby and Danny stayed close on his heels, in case he needed assistance again.
To their amazement, Lester joined them quite naturally. It had already come as a surprise that Lester had accompanied them to Mayfair to smooth the ruffled feathers of the house owner, a job until recently done by Jenny Lewis.
Connor knew laughter would only make his headache worse. Otherwise he would have burst into a loud guffaw.
The young Pareiasaurus stood before a cellar door and stared morosely at the lattice gate blocking its path. There were a few wooden splinters on the ground and on its head, indicating that it might have tried to break the door.
If the animal had been a few month older it even might have been successful. But so it was trapped as the team slowly closed in on it.
Abby began to talk to the anxious dinosaur baby. Whilst her soft voice seemed to calm the animal it still didn't make the slightest move to turn around and go back where it had come from.
Also Danny's light pat on the the Pareiasaurus' backside didn't have the anticipated effect. The animal merely stepped to the side and almost onto Danny's foot.
With a curse, Connor slumped against the wall. The dizziness had returned with a vengeance and was blurring his vision. On top of it he felt the urge to sneeze, one of his many allergies suddenly making an appearance again. Perhaps there was mildew in the basement.
Desperately Connor groped for a tissue in his pockets, causing the contents of his right jacket pocket to clatter to the ground. The bunch of keys landed right next to the child's rattle he had bought for Sid and Nancy to play with but hadn't got around yet to giving to his agile pets.
Ignoring Danny's gibble gabble about the rattle, Connor blew his nose then focused on the unusually reaction of the dinosaur with his team-mates.
The young Pareiasaurus had swiveled around and eyed the child's rattle with interest before pushing its snout against the toy.
It rattled slightly, which obviously pleased the animal.
Amused, they watched the dinosaur playing with the toy until Lester reminded them that time was short.
"Spoilsport," muttered Danny but snatched the baby's rattle from the ground.
Danny moved ahead, rattling the toy, and to his delight the Pareiasaurus followed him after some hesitation.
Seeing the dinosaur off had cost Connor a lot of energy. Exhausted and in pain but nevertheless happy, he watched how the young animal chased after the rattle Danny had thrown through the glittering shards as the anomaly started to fade.
Suddenly Connor was lifted up and his face pressed against the rough material of Becker's combat dress. From a distance he heard Sarah screech at an ugly spider and Danny's teasing chuckle.
Becker was smelling rather nice, Connor thought whilst he was carried outside by the soldier and then gently placed in the Hilux.
For once everyone was kind to him and Connor basked in the ministrations of his colleagues on the drive back to the ARC.
Connor sighed quietly as he lay on the comfortable leather couch with soothing classical music playing in the background.
He had woken up in Lester's living room a few minutes ago, not quite sure how he had got there. But he could have sworn he had felt the soft wool of Lester's suit against his cheek as he was drifting off into sleep.
"I'm glad you have such a thick skull," Lester's voice rang down to Connor. The next moment a wet cloth was placed on Connor's forehead. Then fingers carded softly through his hair.
Connor didn't know if it was just his imagination but he had the feeling his headache was lessening with every soothing touch of Lester's hand.
Apparently tender loving care was the best remedy for concussions.