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Primeval fic: Not A Good Day (1/2)
Title: Not A Good Day (1/2)
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 2855 of 5885
Characters: James Lester, Jess Parker, Hilary Becker
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N 1: Bonus points Includes gategurl's prompt: Lester/Becker: Trapped together in a confined space. Sexy times ensues. Bonus: First time. Bonus-Bonus: Becker redresses Lester afterwards and for Fluffbingo: Kissing.
A/N 2: Thanks go to Fifi for the beta, cheers m'dear
Warning: Spoilers for S5 episode 6.
Teamfest character: James Lester
Continues in Part 2.
I was not having a good day. It had started badly with news of the impending end of the world and had continued to decline throughout the day. I was pacing in my office as I waited for news, Matt was out of contact but I hoped Becker would at least call in with an update. I noticed Jess walking towards my office and opened the door for her, although I barely let her step inside before asking, “Any news?”
Jess shook her head and I sighed, “No.” Not that I had expected any but being kept informed about whether this was the end or not would have been considerate. I wanted to resume my pacing, but felt it would be a bad example to set Jess, she was already looking scared and worried for the team and it wouldn't do to show my own anxiety over them.
“What if they've failed and this is the beginning of the end, just like Matt said? What if they're all dead?”
Jess' voice had risen with each word and I could plainly see her fear growing. Next time I spoke to Matt and Becker I would reinforce the need to keep us informed of their progress, but for now, I had Jess to deal with. Worrying over the fate of the team and the world wouldn't change anything and I would need her to put the ARC together again, assuming, of course, that we survived Philip's mess. “They're not dead, Jess, and it's not the end of the world. If it was, someone would have sent us a memo.”
A weak smile flashed across Jess' face before she went back to brooding and worrying and that was highly unproductive. My father's words came to me and I sighed, why not? It would calm her down and then we could get back to waiting for news, hopefully good, as I had no wish to watch my children grow into adulthood knowing the world was doomed. “You know what my father used to say when things got rough? 'Where's that ruddy whisky?'”
I had just placed the tumblers on my desk and turned back for the whisky when I heard Jess' gasp and then a barely audible, “No.”
Good god, anyone would think I'd offered her something illegal instead of a fine malt. “Don't tell me you're teetotal?” I quipped as I turned back to her, but one look at her pale face and wide eyes told me it was far more serious. It took a few attempts for her to speak and when she did she just repeated one word, “There.”
I followed her gaze and silently cursed in several languages. I should have known things could always get worse but this really was my worse nightmare. A future predator in the ARC and me without my mammoth. As I stared at the creature that had haunted my nightmares for many months, I noted several differences between it and my previous encounter. This one looked... ill, with prominent and painful looking sores on its body, although I doubted if they would diminish its ability to kill and, in fact, as with every injured creature would probably make it even more viciously tempered.
I swallowed and shook myself – staring at the bloody thing wouldn't do any good. “Don't.” I turned and gave my full attention to Jess, even though turning my back on the predator went against every bit of training I'd had. “Don't make a sound.”
Jess's gaze was fixed on the predator and she looked scared. I certainly didn't blame her for that reaction, the thought of going up against a predator again was not high on my list of things to do. I glanced around my office and cursed the large windows – they might have been useful for keeping an eye on the hub and the antics of my team, not to mention Philip's, but right at this moment, I'd have given anything to have a solid wall between us and the creature, several feet thick at the very least.
My gaze fell on my desk, it wasn't much but anything had to be better than nothing and it would, at least, be out of the creature's immediate view. I quickly motioned Jess beneath its scant protection and was just about to join her when I recalled that Becker had left an EMD here last night. He had been about to return it to the armoury when I had called him in for a report, but... well, let us say, we'd got slightly carried away and I had completely forgotten about it until this moment. I could only hope that the imminent end of the world had also distracted Becker and he hadn't remembered he'd left it in my office and tidied it away. Right now, that EMD might be the only thing that stood between us and... well, a messy and painful death.
I scanned my office and breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed the EMD lying forgotten beside a filing cabinet. A smile flickered across my face as I recalled how it had ended up there, but those were thoughts for a less fraught time. I carefully walked over to it and felt immeasurably better with the weapon in my hands, but with no need to call trouble down upon our heads, I joined Jess under the flimsy protection of my desk.
I bit back my sigh and strained my ears to their utmost – I wanted some warning before the predator was upon us – as I tried to think of a plan. Preferably one that left Jess and myself alive and the predator dead. I shot a look over at Jess, she was breathing slightly too fast and I recalled she had read the reports – all of the reports – and knew exactly what the bloody predators could do to a human. I also knew sitting here wasn't doing her any good, it was just letting her dwell upon those horrors, besides which I had no wish to be rescued by my lover like some damsel in distress. Not that Becker didn't make a dashing knight in shining armour... I shook my head. This was definitely not the time to be thinking those thoughts, lovely as they were. Instead, I took a firm hold on my wandering mind and resumed listening for the damnable creature as I tried to think what to do.
A soft tapping caught my attention and I turned towards it, raising an eyebrow when I saw Jess typing into her phone. The youth of today, always needing to be online even in the face of imminent death. My voice was a whisper as I asked her, “What are you doing?”
“Texting Becker.”
Now why hadn't I thought of that? Because I came from a generation who hadn't grown up with instant communications, that and the slight distraction of a future predator probably hadn't helped. Which reminded me, I needed to check the charge of the EMD, it really would be the height of stupidity to try and shoot one only to find the battery was flat. I silently cursed as the faint whirr told me exactly how empty the battery was. I closed my eyes, of course it was, Becker had just returned from a shout. I pressed the check again, although with little hope of a better answer. Just what I needed when I was dealing with a bloody predator. If I survived this... screw up, I was going to demand a fully charged EMD in my office at all times.
“What is it?” Jess had looked up from her phone and was staring at me with a worried expression on her face.
I sighed, but she deserved to know and so I told her the truth. “Almost out of power. We've one shot, maybe two.” I shook my head, not enough to stop a predator, not nearly enough. “It's not going to be enough.” I sighed and looked towards the hub and knew I had to make a choice. We could stay here and hope the predator didn't find us before Becker arrived or we could try to rescue ourselves. I glanced around my office and then back at Jess – if we were discovered in here we would have little chance. For one thing, there wasn't another way out and I didn't like being backed into a corner. If we were careful and lucky, I knew we could get to the armoury and to more weapons, ones that actually worked. It would be a terrible risk, but I saw no other alternative. I waited a few more minutes in the hope that Becker would reply to Jess' text and closed my eyes briefly when the phone remained stubbornly silent. I could only hope Becker was still alive but I knew I could not rely on a rescue. “Okay, we've going to have to get to the armoury.”
Jess gave me a wide-eyed look. “Shouldn't we stay here? Becker will get the message and he'll come.”
I certainly hoped that, but... no, Becker was fine. “I know, Jess, but we need to be able to defend ourselves.” I gave her the most confident smile I could drag up. “It'll be fine, Jess.” I carefully rose from beneath my desk, peering over its top and almost sighing with relief when I saw the hub was empty, at least for now. I stood and reached down a hand for her.
Jess swallowed and took it, still scared but determined to follow my lead. Good girl. I was proud of her and wondered why I had ever doubted her ability. Oh, there had been a few hiccups, such as letting the Dracorex out, although I had been quite happy to allow Matt to take the blame after he'd used it to destroy my office. I shook my head, now really wasn't the time to dwell upon the past.
“Lester?”
Jess was staring at me and I dredged up a smile. “Just remembering the last time a creature was loose in the hub.”
Jess just looked at me before rolling her eyes and I quirked an eyebrow back at her. “Ready?” When she swallowed and nodded, I carefully eased my door open and edged out onto the steps, my eyes flickering everywhere for signs of danger. My breath caught in my throat at the sharp clip-clop of Jess' shoes on the floor and I spun and nodded to them, mouthing at her to take them off. Once Jess had done so, I slowly moved through the hub towards the corridor that lead to the armoury, every nerve tense and I spun around at a distant clang. It brought all those memories of being hunted in the old ARC back and I knew I'd be having nightmares from it. At least this time I'd have someone to hold me when I woke shaking and covered in cold sweat.
The power was still off and the backup generator could only provide enough power to fill the corridor with a dim glow, leaving far too many shadows for my liking. The urge to just run to the armoury was hard to resist but I kept my steps slow and steady, after all, there really was no need to summon the predator to us. I could feel Jess almost on my heels and promised to myself that I would protect her.
It seemed to take forever and yet I knew it was only a matter of minutes before we reached the armoury. I paused before stepping inside, my near-useless EMD sweeping the place and once more swore silently. The place was almost bare. “Where is everything?”
Jess tore her gaze from the corridor and glanced around in dismay. “All the teams are out in the field, but I thought there'd be more than this left.”
I sighed but there was no point in blaming Jess. She'd done her job and who would have expected an anomaly to open in the ARC? There were several cases that might hold something useful and I wasn't about to admit defeat until I was sure the armoury really was as empty as it appeared to be. I turned back to Jess and held out the EMD for her to take as I could hardly guard us and look for weapons at the same time. Jess swallowed and put her shoes on a crate before taking the weapon and pointing it determinedly at the door.
I nodded and turned back to the cases, wincing and holding my breath as one creaked loudly as I opened it. I paused to listen, every nerve alert, before relaxing as it appeared we had been lucky. I was far more careful when I opened the other cases and briefly closed my eyes in triumph when I finally found another EMD rifle. Yes! It was a bitter blow when I pressed the power check and it whirred just as feebly as the other. Fuck! I hissed at Jess, “There's no power.”
Jess whispered “Power packs,” to me and I glanced around the armoury before turning my attention back to Jess and noticed her nodding to indicate where the packs were stored.
I tried to open cases as quietly as possible and felt relief flood through me when I opened one and found little cylinders inside. I was fairly sure they were the power packs, but still held one up for Jess to confirm my discovery. My eyes closed at the loud crash and I swore under my breath at the case I had knocked over. Bloody hell, for all my admonishing to Jess to keep quiet, I was the one who had made the most noise and risked calling the predator to us. I held my breath and looked at Jess, she was shivering with fear and her eyes were wide, but the EMD was held steady as she stared out into the corridor.
The loud clang and faint chitter from the corridor had my heart pounding in remembered fear and almost froze me to the spot until I heard Jess' gasp. Fuck! I swiftly covered the distance and pulled Jess away from the door, placing myself between her and danger. Even if I hadn't made the mistake, it was still my job to protect her, especially as I had been trained to fight and she hadn't. Of course, what good a knowledge of dirty tactics would be against a predator was another question and one I would soon find the answer to.
“Oh God!” Jess breathed as the predator appeared at the door frame, chittering menacingly as it landed on the floor and slowly, purposely advanced towards us.
It was even uglier up close than the other one had been and I instinctively took a step backwards. I kept my voice low as I gave an order – possibly my last – to Jess. “Make your way around the table and out the door. Find somewhere to hide.”
I heard the faint whirr as Jess pressed the power button and told me, her voice firm but I could hear the edge of fear to it. “I'm not leaving you.”
“Jess. Please. Just do it.” I needed her to go so I could stop worrying about her safety, that and I had no wish for her to witness my death. Of course, the chitter of a second predator changed my mind rapidly. Fuck! All I needed. “Jess, find another weapon.”
I could only hope she'd follow that order better than she had my previous. I was too busy staring at the two predators and swallowing my fear to check on her. I did risk a quick glance around my immediate surroundings for anything I might be able to defend myself with. Spotting one of the empty cases I had opened earlier, I grabbed it just as one of the predators leapt at me. I heard Jess' scream as I barely ducked beneath its forelimbs and felt its claws brush through my hair. I didn't wait for it to recover before I slammed the case into its throat. I was hoping its physiology was similar enough to a human's for my blow to crush its larynx and bring about its rapid demise. I grinned as it collapsed, gurgling.
Unfortunately, the second predator took advantage of my distraction and blindsided me. I cried out as its claws sank into my chest and side, slicing deep into my flesh and reminding me of a rather skilful interrogator I had once had the misfortune to meet. I tried to strike the predator with the case, but all my strength had gone and I could do nothing but collapse into darkness. The last sounds I heard were the discharges of the EMD and my last thought was that at least Jess had survived.
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 2855 of 5885
Characters: James Lester, Jess Parker, Hilary Becker
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N 1: Bonus points Includes gategurl's prompt: Lester/Becker: Trapped together in a confined space. Sexy times ensues. Bonus: First time. Bonus-Bonus: Becker redresses Lester afterwards and for Fluffbingo: Kissing.
A/N 2: Thanks go to Fifi for the beta, cheers m'dear
Warning: Spoilers for S5 episode 6.
Teamfest character: James Lester
Continues in Part 2.
I was not having a good day. It had started badly with news of the impending end of the world and had continued to decline throughout the day. I was pacing in my office as I waited for news, Matt was out of contact but I hoped Becker would at least call in with an update. I noticed Jess walking towards my office and opened the door for her, although I barely let her step inside before asking, “Any news?”
Jess shook her head and I sighed, “No.” Not that I had expected any but being kept informed about whether this was the end or not would have been considerate. I wanted to resume my pacing, but felt it would be a bad example to set Jess, she was already looking scared and worried for the team and it wouldn't do to show my own anxiety over them.
“What if they've failed and this is the beginning of the end, just like Matt said? What if they're all dead?”
Jess' voice had risen with each word and I could plainly see her fear growing. Next time I spoke to Matt and Becker I would reinforce the need to keep us informed of their progress, but for now, I had Jess to deal with. Worrying over the fate of the team and the world wouldn't change anything and I would need her to put the ARC together again, assuming, of course, that we survived Philip's mess. “They're not dead, Jess, and it's not the end of the world. If it was, someone would have sent us a memo.”
A weak smile flashed across Jess' face before she went back to brooding and worrying and that was highly unproductive. My father's words came to me and I sighed, why not? It would calm her down and then we could get back to waiting for news, hopefully good, as I had no wish to watch my children grow into adulthood knowing the world was doomed. “You know what my father used to say when things got rough? 'Where's that ruddy whisky?'”
I had just placed the tumblers on my desk and turned back for the whisky when I heard Jess' gasp and then a barely audible, “No.”
Good god, anyone would think I'd offered her something illegal instead of a fine malt. “Don't tell me you're teetotal?” I quipped as I turned back to her, but one look at her pale face and wide eyes told me it was far more serious. It took a few attempts for her to speak and when she did she just repeated one word, “There.”
I followed her gaze and silently cursed in several languages. I should have known things could always get worse but this really was my worse nightmare. A future predator in the ARC and me without my mammoth. As I stared at the creature that had haunted my nightmares for many months, I noted several differences between it and my previous encounter. This one looked... ill, with prominent and painful looking sores on its body, although I doubted if they would diminish its ability to kill and, in fact, as with every injured creature would probably make it even more viciously tempered.
I swallowed and shook myself – staring at the bloody thing wouldn't do any good. “Don't.” I turned and gave my full attention to Jess, even though turning my back on the predator went against every bit of training I'd had. “Don't make a sound.”
Jess's gaze was fixed on the predator and she looked scared. I certainly didn't blame her for that reaction, the thought of going up against a predator again was not high on my list of things to do. I glanced around my office and cursed the large windows – they might have been useful for keeping an eye on the hub and the antics of my team, not to mention Philip's, but right at this moment, I'd have given anything to have a solid wall between us and the creature, several feet thick at the very least.
My gaze fell on my desk, it wasn't much but anything had to be better than nothing and it would, at least, be out of the creature's immediate view. I quickly motioned Jess beneath its scant protection and was just about to join her when I recalled that Becker had left an EMD here last night. He had been about to return it to the armoury when I had called him in for a report, but... well, let us say, we'd got slightly carried away and I had completely forgotten about it until this moment. I could only hope that the imminent end of the world had also distracted Becker and he hadn't remembered he'd left it in my office and tidied it away. Right now, that EMD might be the only thing that stood between us and... well, a messy and painful death.
I scanned my office and breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed the EMD lying forgotten beside a filing cabinet. A smile flickered across my face as I recalled how it had ended up there, but those were thoughts for a less fraught time. I carefully walked over to it and felt immeasurably better with the weapon in my hands, but with no need to call trouble down upon our heads, I joined Jess under the flimsy protection of my desk.
I bit back my sigh and strained my ears to their utmost – I wanted some warning before the predator was upon us – as I tried to think of a plan. Preferably one that left Jess and myself alive and the predator dead. I shot a look over at Jess, she was breathing slightly too fast and I recalled she had read the reports – all of the reports – and knew exactly what the bloody predators could do to a human. I also knew sitting here wasn't doing her any good, it was just letting her dwell upon those horrors, besides which I had no wish to be rescued by my lover like some damsel in distress. Not that Becker didn't make a dashing knight in shining armour... I shook my head. This was definitely not the time to be thinking those thoughts, lovely as they were. Instead, I took a firm hold on my wandering mind and resumed listening for the damnable creature as I tried to think what to do.
A soft tapping caught my attention and I turned towards it, raising an eyebrow when I saw Jess typing into her phone. The youth of today, always needing to be online even in the face of imminent death. My voice was a whisper as I asked her, “What are you doing?”
“Texting Becker.”
Now why hadn't I thought of that? Because I came from a generation who hadn't grown up with instant communications, that and the slight distraction of a future predator probably hadn't helped. Which reminded me, I needed to check the charge of the EMD, it really would be the height of stupidity to try and shoot one only to find the battery was flat. I silently cursed as the faint whirr told me exactly how empty the battery was. I closed my eyes, of course it was, Becker had just returned from a shout. I pressed the check again, although with little hope of a better answer. Just what I needed when I was dealing with a bloody predator. If I survived this... screw up, I was going to demand a fully charged EMD in my office at all times.
“What is it?” Jess had looked up from her phone and was staring at me with a worried expression on her face.
I sighed, but she deserved to know and so I told her the truth. “Almost out of power. We've one shot, maybe two.” I shook my head, not enough to stop a predator, not nearly enough. “It's not going to be enough.” I sighed and looked towards the hub and knew I had to make a choice. We could stay here and hope the predator didn't find us before Becker arrived or we could try to rescue ourselves. I glanced around my office and then back at Jess – if we were discovered in here we would have little chance. For one thing, there wasn't another way out and I didn't like being backed into a corner. If we were careful and lucky, I knew we could get to the armoury and to more weapons, ones that actually worked. It would be a terrible risk, but I saw no other alternative. I waited a few more minutes in the hope that Becker would reply to Jess' text and closed my eyes briefly when the phone remained stubbornly silent. I could only hope Becker was still alive but I knew I could not rely on a rescue. “Okay, we've going to have to get to the armoury.”
Jess gave me a wide-eyed look. “Shouldn't we stay here? Becker will get the message and he'll come.”
I certainly hoped that, but... no, Becker was fine. “I know, Jess, but we need to be able to defend ourselves.” I gave her the most confident smile I could drag up. “It'll be fine, Jess.” I carefully rose from beneath my desk, peering over its top and almost sighing with relief when I saw the hub was empty, at least for now. I stood and reached down a hand for her.
Jess swallowed and took it, still scared but determined to follow my lead. Good girl. I was proud of her and wondered why I had ever doubted her ability. Oh, there had been a few hiccups, such as letting the Dracorex out, although I had been quite happy to allow Matt to take the blame after he'd used it to destroy my office. I shook my head, now really wasn't the time to dwell upon the past.
“Lester?”
Jess was staring at me and I dredged up a smile. “Just remembering the last time a creature was loose in the hub.”
Jess just looked at me before rolling her eyes and I quirked an eyebrow back at her. “Ready?” When she swallowed and nodded, I carefully eased my door open and edged out onto the steps, my eyes flickering everywhere for signs of danger. My breath caught in my throat at the sharp clip-clop of Jess' shoes on the floor and I spun and nodded to them, mouthing at her to take them off. Once Jess had done so, I slowly moved through the hub towards the corridor that lead to the armoury, every nerve tense and I spun around at a distant clang. It brought all those memories of being hunted in the old ARC back and I knew I'd be having nightmares from it. At least this time I'd have someone to hold me when I woke shaking and covered in cold sweat.
The power was still off and the backup generator could only provide enough power to fill the corridor with a dim glow, leaving far too many shadows for my liking. The urge to just run to the armoury was hard to resist but I kept my steps slow and steady, after all, there really was no need to summon the predator to us. I could feel Jess almost on my heels and promised to myself that I would protect her.
It seemed to take forever and yet I knew it was only a matter of minutes before we reached the armoury. I paused before stepping inside, my near-useless EMD sweeping the place and once more swore silently. The place was almost bare. “Where is everything?”
Jess tore her gaze from the corridor and glanced around in dismay. “All the teams are out in the field, but I thought there'd be more than this left.”
I sighed but there was no point in blaming Jess. She'd done her job and who would have expected an anomaly to open in the ARC? There were several cases that might hold something useful and I wasn't about to admit defeat until I was sure the armoury really was as empty as it appeared to be. I turned back to Jess and held out the EMD for her to take as I could hardly guard us and look for weapons at the same time. Jess swallowed and put her shoes on a crate before taking the weapon and pointing it determinedly at the door.
I nodded and turned back to the cases, wincing and holding my breath as one creaked loudly as I opened it. I paused to listen, every nerve alert, before relaxing as it appeared we had been lucky. I was far more careful when I opened the other cases and briefly closed my eyes in triumph when I finally found another EMD rifle. Yes! It was a bitter blow when I pressed the power check and it whirred just as feebly as the other. Fuck! I hissed at Jess, “There's no power.”
Jess whispered “Power packs,” to me and I glanced around the armoury before turning my attention back to Jess and noticed her nodding to indicate where the packs were stored.
I tried to open cases as quietly as possible and felt relief flood through me when I opened one and found little cylinders inside. I was fairly sure they were the power packs, but still held one up for Jess to confirm my discovery. My eyes closed at the loud crash and I swore under my breath at the case I had knocked over. Bloody hell, for all my admonishing to Jess to keep quiet, I was the one who had made the most noise and risked calling the predator to us. I held my breath and looked at Jess, she was shivering with fear and her eyes were wide, but the EMD was held steady as she stared out into the corridor.
The loud clang and faint chitter from the corridor had my heart pounding in remembered fear and almost froze me to the spot until I heard Jess' gasp. Fuck! I swiftly covered the distance and pulled Jess away from the door, placing myself between her and danger. Even if I hadn't made the mistake, it was still my job to protect her, especially as I had been trained to fight and she hadn't. Of course, what good a knowledge of dirty tactics would be against a predator was another question and one I would soon find the answer to.
“Oh God!” Jess breathed as the predator appeared at the door frame, chittering menacingly as it landed on the floor and slowly, purposely advanced towards us.
It was even uglier up close than the other one had been and I instinctively took a step backwards. I kept my voice low as I gave an order – possibly my last – to Jess. “Make your way around the table and out the door. Find somewhere to hide.”
I heard the faint whirr as Jess pressed the power button and told me, her voice firm but I could hear the edge of fear to it. “I'm not leaving you.”
“Jess. Please. Just do it.” I needed her to go so I could stop worrying about her safety, that and I had no wish for her to witness my death. Of course, the chitter of a second predator changed my mind rapidly. Fuck! All I needed. “Jess, find another weapon.”
I could only hope she'd follow that order better than she had my previous. I was too busy staring at the two predators and swallowing my fear to check on her. I did risk a quick glance around my immediate surroundings for anything I might be able to defend myself with. Spotting one of the empty cases I had opened earlier, I grabbed it just as one of the predators leapt at me. I heard Jess' scream as I barely ducked beneath its forelimbs and felt its claws brush through my hair. I didn't wait for it to recover before I slammed the case into its throat. I was hoping its physiology was similar enough to a human's for my blow to crush its larynx and bring about its rapid demise. I grinned as it collapsed, gurgling.
Unfortunately, the second predator took advantage of my distraction and blindsided me. I cried out as its claws sank into my chest and side, slicing deep into my flesh and reminding me of a rather skilful interrogator I had once had the misfortune to meet. I tried to strike the predator with the case, but all my strength had gone and I could do nothing but collapse into darkness. The last sounds I heard were the discharges of the EMD and my last thought was that at least Jess had survived.