Primeval fic: Trials And Tribulations
Sep. 7th, 2012 10:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
knitekatTitle: Trials And Tribulations
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 3825
Characters: Ditzy (OC), James Lester, cameos by various other characters and OCs.
Rating: 12
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N: Part of my Under The Moonlight Wolfverse series and set after In The News. Thanks go to Fred for the beta, cheers m'dear.
Ditzy let out a yelp as he was dragged into a cupboard and soundly kissed. “Bloody hell, are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
The soldier who had accosted him just grinned unrepentantly. “I just wanted a quiet word.” He nodded to the now firmly closed door. “If they think we're shagging, they'll stay away.”
Ditzy's face took on a pout and his voice a slight whine. “You mean you didn't drag me in here to have your wicked way with me?”
His lover snorted and rolled his eyes. “Never said I wouldn't shag you, just not right this instant.”
Ditzy seemed happier at that news. “So, what did you want if not a shag?” He blinked when a newspaper was flapped under his nose. “You can read?”
“Ha, ha,” the other soldier muttered. “No, this article.”
Ditzy frowned as he took the paper, his eyebrows rising as he read the indicated article and he looked up at his waiting lover. “What do you think?”
“Well, they could have brought a dog...”
“But?” Ditzy asked but any answer was drowned out as the ADD screamed and he groaned in annoyance before it changed to one of pleasure as his lover kissed him firmly.
“Later, the boss won't be happy if we're late.”
Ditzy nodded, although he walked a step or two behind to admire his lover's firm arse.
“Someone's already not happy.”
Ditzy lifted his eyes to look at his lover's face before following his nod towards Lester. The Director was leaning on the railing outside his office and a brief look of longing flashed over his face as he watched the team – and his own lover – kit up to leave. His shoulders slumped slightly as he turned away and walked back to his office.
It convinced Ditzy that enough was enough. Ms Lewis had asked him to see if Lester was fit to accompany the team into field, but he'd been dragging his heels. A little revenge for 'The Mammoth Incident' as his lover put it. But now Ditzy began to wonder if it was moving from a little harmless fun towards torture and, well, Ditzy wasn't a cruel man. He'd find time to give Lester a check up when they returned from this shout.
Lester forced himself to turn around and return to his office, even though every fibre of his being demanded that he stay with his mate, protecting him from whatever dangers the anomaly might bring. He could almost feel the wolf scratching for release, to run and howl and, most of all, to protect Nick from any harm.
It took all of his will to resume his seat behind his desk and pick up the next report to read. The words meant nothing to him and Lester took a deep breath, forcing himself to concentrate. He knew paperwork was important; he should, considering the number of reports he demanded from his staff on a regular basis; but that didn't mean he wanted to be stuck in his office reading – he glanced at the report again before sighing. Good God, didn't Henry Payne have anything better to do than write a detail rant about the safe – or apparently dangerous – use of chairs in the ARC whilst ignoring the fact that they dealt with deadly creatures every day? Bloody hell, the Health and Safety Rep really was Payne by name and pain by nature – a pain in Lester's backside.
Lester winced at the thought, why did he have to refer to Payne in that manner? All it did was remind him of Nick's absence – not that his lover was a pain in the bum. Lester smiled slightly, well, not in the same way and he could hardly call being shagged by Nick painful, not when it felt so bloody good.
Fuck! Lester's cock twitched at the thought and he strictly told himself to stop thinking along those lines before he had an unfortunately reaction. Maybe a quick trip to the loo would be a good idea...
Lester eyed his in-tray upon his return and s wasn’t impressed by the amount of paperwork that demanded his attention. He even suspected it had grown in his short and rather enjoyable break from his office. Bloody hell, he wanted to be out in the field, not dealing with paperwork all day.
Lester shook his head. He had known what he was signing on for when he had accepted the, admittedly unwanted at the time, directorship of the project. He also knew why he was finding the paperwork so annoying at the moment – he was still barred from fieldwork, even though he was fully healed from his accident. It was galling that he had to stay at the ARC and watch his mate head out to an anomaly, into danger, and not be there to protect him. Admittedly, Lester knew he would never be able to accompany Nick to every alert, but being prevented from going to any was maddening. He could feel his wolf side fret every time Nick left his sight, only relaxing when his mate was safely back at his side. Like now, who knew what trouble Nick might be in – he might be Lester's lover, but Nick could be a mule-headed fool at times – a fact that Lester could acknowledge without any feelings of disloyalty and he not being there to protect him when against Lester’s nature.
That was the real problem, not the amount of paperwork, but the fact that until Lieutenant “Ditzy” Owen agreed he was fit for the field, Lester was chained to his desk. And the wolf didn't like being held captive. He had hoped that he'd be cleared for the field by now, especially with Jenny and Lorraine on his side.
Lester recalled catching Ditzy wanking in the kitchen along with the other soldiers. Would the medic really drag his heels because of that incident? Could it be some type of revenge for his threat to the soldiers? If it was, Lester could only hope Ditzy changed his mind quickly and the best way to convince him would be to act unconcerned. Easier said than done, of course, but Lester was an expert as these sorts of games and he was not about to lose now.
He turned his attention back to Payne's pain-in-the-arse rant and made himself read every word. How the man could write so much on chairs was beyond Lester and he learnt more about posture and the 'correct use of a chair' than he had ever wished to know.
Nick pulled up at the anomaly and smiled as he realised it looked like an uneventful trip. The soldiers looked relaxed and that usually meant that there hadn't been an incursion. If so, it would be the perfect opportunity to obtain measurements from both sides of the anomaly and see if he could add anything to his model. “Come on, Connor, grab your equipment.”
“Right, Professor.” Connor climbed out of the Hilux and began to rummage in its boot, glancing up briefly when Abby walked past on her way to check with Finn.
Connor was just about managing to carry all his equipment towards the anomaly when Abby came back and took part of it from him. “Finn hasn't seen any tracks.” She nodded towards where Lyle was talking to Finn. “Lyle's going to set up a standard perimeter until it closes and then leave Dane and Finn to guard it.”
Nick quirked an eyebrow and bit back a sigh at the amused look that passed between the two younger team members, knowing he'd picked up his lover's habit. “What did they do?”
“Ryan's orders.” Abby shrugged. “Something about Kermit and his broken leg.”
“Mmm.” Nick turned his attention back to the anomaly, its flickering lights still spellbinding after all this time. He took a glance back at the soldiers before taking one of the sensors and heading for the anomaly.
“Nick?”
Nick heard Abby call out his name, but he continued through the anomaly; if there was anything dangerous on the other side it would have come through since the anomalies appeared to sing a siren song to any creature. He was engrossed in his readings when a large, firm hand grabbed him and yanked him backwards. Nick gave a yelp as he found himself on his backside, blinking up at a pissed-off looking Lyle.
“Do I have to thump you as well before you obey orders?” Lyle took a deep breath. “Back in the car, now!” He glared at Nick until the professor nodded and walked back to his Hilux, nursing a somewhat sore arse. He sat in the car, feeling like a naughty child sent to bed early.
It was only when the anomaly rippled and closed a few moments later that Nick realised how much of a risk he'd taken. If he'd still been on the other side...
The anomaly hadn't been any trouble for once, unlike Cutter. In Ditzy's professional opinion, the man wasn't doing his lover's blood pressure any good with his antics. He might want readings from the anomalies and to investigate the past, but there was a right way of doing things and sticking your head through an anomaly to see if it was safe wasn't one of them.
Even if Ditzy hadn't had his suspicions, he could clearly understand why Lester would want to be out in the field – just so he could keep an eye on the mad professor and make sure his lover didn't do anything stupid.
Ditzy sighed softly, although Lester hid his secret well, now Ditzy knew what he was looking for, the signs were easy to recognise. The little things that indicated Lester was a were, and one who had been denied the chance to run free and protect his mate for far too long. Especially when said mate seemed to forget his own safety when encountering some wonder from the past.
Of course Ditzy knew he could be wrong, but it added to his other suspicions about Lester – the fast, scarless healing; how he'd sensed the predators before the rest of the team and, especially, how he'd taken on two and survived relatively unharmed – even with Monty's help. Added to that, his boyfriend agreed with him and he'd had more experience with weres than Ditzy.
What had been the greatest surprise of the whole thing hadn't so much been learning that there was another were, so much as discovering who it was. The very last person Ditzy would have expected it to be was Lester, someone sitting behind a desk and not out in the field. Although, maybe that was the point, a desk was the very last place he would have expected to find one and, thus, the perfect place to... hide didn't seem the right word to describe Lester, maybe to conceal his true nature, almost like an... undercover operative?
Ditzy shook his head, he knew he had no proof and he wasn't going to just ask Lester. If it was the truth, Lester wasn't going to admit it to him, and if it wasn't – or knowing Lester, especially if it was – Ditzy had no wish to end up on a psychiatric ward for suggesting something so... outlandish to him.
Lester read Lyle's report from the latest anomaly and wanted nothing so much as to call Nick into his office and shake him hard. Not that it had worked last time, as his lover was still risking his life and that of his team, just for scientific knowledge. Lester shook his head. It might be a worthwhile cause but did Nick have to go about it so bloody mindedly? The soldiers where there to protect him, not just to look pretty.
The knock on his office door made Lester look up, expecting to see Jenny or Lorraine. Instead he found himself frowning at his medic. “Lieutenant Owen? Is there a problem?” Lester's worry intensified, was the medic here because Nick had been hurt? Lyle's report hadn't said so... but then, Nick had shut himself in his laboratory along with Connor as soon as they had returned from the anomaly. “Nick?”
Ditzy gave a slight smile. “No, sir. Ms Lewis has been to see me, sir.” When Lester quirked an eyebrow at him, Ditzy continued, “She suggested that you might be fit for the field.”
Finally! Lester refused to lean forward and look too eager. No matter how much he wanted to be cleared, he did have his image to think about. His voice as calm and uninterested as he could make it, Lester enquired, “Did she?”
“Yes, sir. I just need to check your fitness levels before I can sign you off as fit.”
Lester glanced at his paperwork for a moment, “When would be convenient for you, lieutenant?” Lester noticed the grin flash across the man's face and knew Ditzy hadn't brought his disinterested act, although he was good enough to go along with Lester's pretence.
“Now, if you're free? Change into your exercise clothes and I'll meet you in the gym. Say, in about 15 minutes?”
Lester nodded, there seemed little point in continuing the act, especially as Ditzy had seen through it. “Just allow me to inform Ms Wickes I'll be unavailable for...?”
“No more than an hour, sir.” Ditzy eyed the piles of paper on Lester's desk, “More paperwork, I'm afraid.”
Ditzy had recognised the look when he'd informed Lester of his medical and it had been further proof that he'd been right about his suspicions, although, of course, it wasn't absolute proof. But whether Lester was a were or not, it was time to put the man – and the ARC – out of his misery. Ditzy knew that in Lester’s increasingly frustrated state – and with his lover's unhelpful antics – he was going to snap at someone who didn't deserve it and well, Ditzy would be remiss in his job if he didn't look after the health and welfare of the ARC personnel and its director. Still, he wasn't going to make it easy for Lester – Ditzy wasn't about to put lives at risk and Lester wouldn't appreciate it if he did – not to mention a little revenge.
He made sure his expression was neutral when Lester entered, although it was difficult as Lester was now at the medic's mercy. Not that Ditzy wasn't going to do this by the book, but running Lester ragged would go some small way to make up for the stunt he's pulled with the mammoth. “I just need to give you a quick medical, sir, and then we'll start once you've warmed up.”
Fuck! Ditzy hadn't even thought about the effect Lester had had on a certain part of his anatomy during his last medical. One he was having again as he watched Lester bend over and stretch his muscles. Ditzy took a deep breath and forced himself to concentrate on running Lester through his paces and not on how good his arse looked. “Ready, sir?”
“Carry on, Lieutenant.”
Ditzy nodded and tried to keep his thoughts strictly professional as he gave Lester his first instruction. It was very therapeutic to have Lester dashing around the gym and performing various exercises as Ditzy got to settle back against a nearby wall or piece of equipment and watch the Director build up a sweat. It was, unfortunately, also bloody arousing and Ditzy found his gaze repeatedly drawn to the droplets of sweat that ran down Lester's face and disappeared into the t-shirt that now clung like a second skin to him and revealed the toned muscular Ditzy knew normally lay concealed beneath expensive suits.
With a concentrated effort, Ditzy pulled his attention back to where it should be. “That's enough, sir.” Once Lester stopped, Ditzy added, “I just need to give you a quick check over.” He cursed his words as his cock twitched, and from Lester's smug grin, it was obvious the bastard had noticed. Ditzy quickly turned and grabbed his bag to check Lester's pulse again and how fast he recovered from the exertion, feeling quietly satisfied at the way Lester flinched from his cold hands. Not that it did Ditzy's libido any good having his hands on Lester and he found himself desperately doing his best to ignore the need to disappear back to his office and wank... or preferable, locate his boyfriend for a shag.
Lester found himself panting and experiencing the familiar ache of burning muscles after the workout Ditzy had run him through. He was somewhat disappointed with his performance. Not so many years ago he would have been ready for another circuit, not out of breath and wanting to rest. All Lester could hope for as Ditzy ran his checks was that he had done well enough for the medic to clear him for the field. “Ditzy?”
Ditzy's lips twitched before he regained control of his expression and Lester knew he'd sounded hopeful. “Have a shower, sir, and I'll go through your results.”
Lester found himself wondering once more if his medic was dragging out his verdict deliberately, although he would have thought exhausting him would have been enough for the man. He shook his head, oh, Ditzy might get some harmless revenge on him, but he was also a consummate professional. The medic would be checking the results carefully before deciding if he was fit for the field – and Lester hoped he would do his job correctly, no matter how much he wanted to be free, he would not risk his people and especially not Nick.
Lester grinned. Of course, Ditzy had another reason for his delay, especially from the way the medic was walking. He had taken a quick, and he hoped, subtle sniff to confirm his suspicions. Yes, his medic definitely had a more immediate problem to deal with.
Lester's grin widened as he decided to follow Ditzy's suggestion, and not only to get clean. Entering the locker room, Lester took a moment to check for the presence of anyone else and smiled as he discovered he was alone. Good. He quickly stripped his sweaty clothes off and, for once, just dumped them on the bench to be bagged and washed later. He collected his towel and supplies from his locker and made his way to the showers and stepped under the warm spray.
Lester squeezed a dollop of gel onto his hands and washed himself thoroughly before allowing his hand to follow the line of hair down to his erection. He hissed as he curled his fingers around himself and began to slowly slide his hand up and down his length, little gasps escaping as he flicked his tip. He bit his lip to hold back his moans as he stroked himself harder and faster, his hips snapping forwards as he dragged himself over the edge. He propped himself against the wall as his knees wobbled, letting the shower wash away all evidence of his pleasurable activity.
Several moments later, a still somewhat wobbly Lester dried himself and dressed. It wouldn't do to be too long in these showers, people might get the right idea about what he'd been doing in them. He ran his fingers through his still damp hair and checked his appearance in the mirror, straightened his slightly crooked tie.
Final satisfied, he left and paused in the corridor. As much as he wanted to track Ditzy down and demand to know if he was cleared for fieldwork, Lester didn't, and not only because of his image. He had no wish to provide Ditzy with something to hold over him, even if he was firmly convinced the medic wouldn't use his medical for that reason. But he couldn't help the nagging worry that he had failed... and he had no wish to chase the medic down only to be told that. Lester shook his head, he was sure he was worrying over nothing... almost completely sure. He turned and started back to his office and the never-ending paperwork.
Ditzy strolled down the corridor towards the atrium and smiled as he saw Lester slip out of the locker room. It looked as if he hadn't been the only one in need of a wank. Ditzy shook his head as his cock twitched at the thought and pulled his concentration back to the matter at hand. “Sir?”
Ditzy almost grinned when Lester's head snapped around and he looked so bloody hopeful for an instant before his poker face fell back into place. “Ms Lewis is countersigning your clearance forms, sir.”
Lester's expression shifted subtly and if Ditzy hadn't known what to look for, he would have missed it. The look of the wild in Lester's eyes, the way his chin jerked upwards a fraction. Ditzy finally had all the proof he needed to know exactly what Lester was, even if he couldn't prove it to anyone else. He was impressed when Lester controlled the urge and merely nodded at him. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
Lester had walked back to his office in a good mood, a mood that obviously the universe felt the need to spoil. He'd been instantly been engulfed by one phone call after another, followed by a long and tedious meeting with Payne.
It wouldn't have been so bad if the ADD alarm hadn’t sounded again, sending the team – and Nick – out once more. Just to make the day even better, Payne had sidetracked him to list all the problems and pitfalls of a call out and it had taken all of Lester's control not to kick the man out of his office.
Finally, even Payne ran out of steam and left. Lester almost closed his eyes as he heard the infuriating man complaining to Captain Ryan about the firing range and the dangers of firing weapons there. Bloody hell, did the man have an ounce of understanding about what the ARC actually did? In Lester's opinion, Ryan was very restrained not to just thump the man as he had Nick.
Lester's gaze flickered over to the ADD as his thoughts turned to Nick. He needed to be with him, protecting him and not stuck here behind his desk, especially now he was finally cleared for field work. Lester sighed, all he could do was trust that Lyle and his men were keeping Nick safe, from himself and from any creatures that wandered through the anomaly.
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 3825
Characters: Ditzy (OC), James Lester, cameos by various other characters and OCs.
Rating: 12
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N: Part of my Under The Moonlight Wolfverse series and set after In The News. Thanks go to Fred for the beta, cheers m'dear.
Ditzy let out a yelp as he was dragged into a cupboard and soundly kissed. “Bloody hell, are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
The soldier who had accosted him just grinned unrepentantly. “I just wanted a quiet word.” He nodded to the now firmly closed door. “If they think we're shagging, they'll stay away.”
Ditzy's face took on a pout and his voice a slight whine. “You mean you didn't drag me in here to have your wicked way with me?”
His lover snorted and rolled his eyes. “Never said I wouldn't shag you, just not right this instant.”
Ditzy seemed happier at that news. “So, what did you want if not a shag?” He blinked when a newspaper was flapped under his nose. “You can read?”
“Ha, ha,” the other soldier muttered. “No, this article.”
Ditzy frowned as he took the paper, his eyebrows rising as he read the indicated article and he looked up at his waiting lover. “What do you think?”
“Well, they could have brought a dog...”
“But?” Ditzy asked but any answer was drowned out as the ADD screamed and he groaned in annoyance before it changed to one of pleasure as his lover kissed him firmly.
“Later, the boss won't be happy if we're late.”
Ditzy nodded, although he walked a step or two behind to admire his lover's firm arse.
“Someone's already not happy.”
Ditzy lifted his eyes to look at his lover's face before following his nod towards Lester. The Director was leaning on the railing outside his office and a brief look of longing flashed over his face as he watched the team – and his own lover – kit up to leave. His shoulders slumped slightly as he turned away and walked back to his office.
It convinced Ditzy that enough was enough. Ms Lewis had asked him to see if Lester was fit to accompany the team into field, but he'd been dragging his heels. A little revenge for 'The Mammoth Incident' as his lover put it. But now Ditzy began to wonder if it was moving from a little harmless fun towards torture and, well, Ditzy wasn't a cruel man. He'd find time to give Lester a check up when they returned from this shout.
***
Lester forced himself to turn around and return to his office, even though every fibre of his being demanded that he stay with his mate, protecting him from whatever dangers the anomaly might bring. He could almost feel the wolf scratching for release, to run and howl and, most of all, to protect Nick from any harm.
It took all of his will to resume his seat behind his desk and pick up the next report to read. The words meant nothing to him and Lester took a deep breath, forcing himself to concentrate. He knew paperwork was important; he should, considering the number of reports he demanded from his staff on a regular basis; but that didn't mean he wanted to be stuck in his office reading – he glanced at the report again before sighing. Good God, didn't Henry Payne have anything better to do than write a detail rant about the safe – or apparently dangerous – use of chairs in the ARC whilst ignoring the fact that they dealt with deadly creatures every day? Bloody hell, the Health and Safety Rep really was Payne by name and pain by nature – a pain in Lester's backside.
Lester winced at the thought, why did he have to refer to Payne in that manner? All it did was remind him of Nick's absence – not that his lover was a pain in the bum. Lester smiled slightly, well, not in the same way and he could hardly call being shagged by Nick painful, not when it felt so bloody good.
Fuck! Lester's cock twitched at the thought and he strictly told himself to stop thinking along those lines before he had an unfortunately reaction. Maybe a quick trip to the loo would be a good idea...
Lester eyed his in-tray upon his return and s wasn’t impressed by the amount of paperwork that demanded his attention. He even suspected it had grown in his short and rather enjoyable break from his office. Bloody hell, he wanted to be out in the field, not dealing with paperwork all day.
Lester shook his head. He had known what he was signing on for when he had accepted the, admittedly unwanted at the time, directorship of the project. He also knew why he was finding the paperwork so annoying at the moment – he was still barred from fieldwork, even though he was fully healed from his accident. It was galling that he had to stay at the ARC and watch his mate head out to an anomaly, into danger, and not be there to protect him. Admittedly, Lester knew he would never be able to accompany Nick to every alert, but being prevented from going to any was maddening. He could feel his wolf side fret every time Nick left his sight, only relaxing when his mate was safely back at his side. Like now, who knew what trouble Nick might be in – he might be Lester's lover, but Nick could be a mule-headed fool at times – a fact that Lester could acknowledge without any feelings of disloyalty and he not being there to protect him when against Lester’s nature.
That was the real problem, not the amount of paperwork, but the fact that until Lieutenant “Ditzy” Owen agreed he was fit for the field, Lester was chained to his desk. And the wolf didn't like being held captive. He had hoped that he'd be cleared for the field by now, especially with Jenny and Lorraine on his side.
Lester recalled catching Ditzy wanking in the kitchen along with the other soldiers. Would the medic really drag his heels because of that incident? Could it be some type of revenge for his threat to the soldiers? If it was, Lester could only hope Ditzy changed his mind quickly and the best way to convince him would be to act unconcerned. Easier said than done, of course, but Lester was an expert as these sorts of games and he was not about to lose now.
He turned his attention back to Payne's pain-in-the-arse rant and made himself read every word. How the man could write so much on chairs was beyond Lester and he learnt more about posture and the 'correct use of a chair' than he had ever wished to know.
***
Nick pulled up at the anomaly and smiled as he realised it looked like an uneventful trip. The soldiers looked relaxed and that usually meant that there hadn't been an incursion. If so, it would be the perfect opportunity to obtain measurements from both sides of the anomaly and see if he could add anything to his model. “Come on, Connor, grab your equipment.”
“Right, Professor.” Connor climbed out of the Hilux and began to rummage in its boot, glancing up briefly when Abby walked past on her way to check with Finn.
Connor was just about managing to carry all his equipment towards the anomaly when Abby came back and took part of it from him. “Finn hasn't seen any tracks.” She nodded towards where Lyle was talking to Finn. “Lyle's going to set up a standard perimeter until it closes and then leave Dane and Finn to guard it.”
Nick quirked an eyebrow and bit back a sigh at the amused look that passed between the two younger team members, knowing he'd picked up his lover's habit. “What did they do?”
“Ryan's orders.” Abby shrugged. “Something about Kermit and his broken leg.”
“Mmm.” Nick turned his attention back to the anomaly, its flickering lights still spellbinding after all this time. He took a glance back at the soldiers before taking one of the sensors and heading for the anomaly.
“Nick?”
Nick heard Abby call out his name, but he continued through the anomaly; if there was anything dangerous on the other side it would have come through since the anomalies appeared to sing a siren song to any creature. He was engrossed in his readings when a large, firm hand grabbed him and yanked him backwards. Nick gave a yelp as he found himself on his backside, blinking up at a pissed-off looking Lyle.
“Do I have to thump you as well before you obey orders?” Lyle took a deep breath. “Back in the car, now!” He glared at Nick until the professor nodded and walked back to his Hilux, nursing a somewhat sore arse. He sat in the car, feeling like a naughty child sent to bed early.
It was only when the anomaly rippled and closed a few moments later that Nick realised how much of a risk he'd taken. If he'd still been on the other side...
***
The anomaly hadn't been any trouble for once, unlike Cutter. In Ditzy's professional opinion, the man wasn't doing his lover's blood pressure any good with his antics. He might want readings from the anomalies and to investigate the past, but there was a right way of doing things and sticking your head through an anomaly to see if it was safe wasn't one of them.
Even if Ditzy hadn't had his suspicions, he could clearly understand why Lester would want to be out in the field – just so he could keep an eye on the mad professor and make sure his lover didn't do anything stupid.
Ditzy sighed softly, although Lester hid his secret well, now Ditzy knew what he was looking for, the signs were easy to recognise. The little things that indicated Lester was a were, and one who had been denied the chance to run free and protect his mate for far too long. Especially when said mate seemed to forget his own safety when encountering some wonder from the past.
Of course Ditzy knew he could be wrong, but it added to his other suspicions about Lester – the fast, scarless healing; how he'd sensed the predators before the rest of the team and, especially, how he'd taken on two and survived relatively unharmed – even with Monty's help. Added to that, his boyfriend agreed with him and he'd had more experience with weres than Ditzy.
What had been the greatest surprise of the whole thing hadn't so much been learning that there was another were, so much as discovering who it was. The very last person Ditzy would have expected it to be was Lester, someone sitting behind a desk and not out in the field. Although, maybe that was the point, a desk was the very last place he would have expected to find one and, thus, the perfect place to... hide didn't seem the right word to describe Lester, maybe to conceal his true nature, almost like an... undercover operative?
Ditzy shook his head, he knew he had no proof and he wasn't going to just ask Lester. If it was the truth, Lester wasn't going to admit it to him, and if it wasn't – or knowing Lester, especially if it was – Ditzy had no wish to end up on a psychiatric ward for suggesting something so... outlandish to him.
***
Lester read Lyle's report from the latest anomaly and wanted nothing so much as to call Nick into his office and shake him hard. Not that it had worked last time, as his lover was still risking his life and that of his team, just for scientific knowledge. Lester shook his head. It might be a worthwhile cause but did Nick have to go about it so bloody mindedly? The soldiers where there to protect him, not just to look pretty.
The knock on his office door made Lester look up, expecting to see Jenny or Lorraine. Instead he found himself frowning at his medic. “Lieutenant Owen? Is there a problem?” Lester's worry intensified, was the medic here because Nick had been hurt? Lyle's report hadn't said so... but then, Nick had shut himself in his laboratory along with Connor as soon as they had returned from the anomaly. “Nick?”
Ditzy gave a slight smile. “No, sir. Ms Lewis has been to see me, sir.” When Lester quirked an eyebrow at him, Ditzy continued, “She suggested that you might be fit for the field.”
Finally! Lester refused to lean forward and look too eager. No matter how much he wanted to be cleared, he did have his image to think about. His voice as calm and uninterested as he could make it, Lester enquired, “Did she?”
“Yes, sir. I just need to check your fitness levels before I can sign you off as fit.”
Lester glanced at his paperwork for a moment, “When would be convenient for you, lieutenant?” Lester noticed the grin flash across the man's face and knew Ditzy hadn't brought his disinterested act, although he was good enough to go along with Lester's pretence.
“Now, if you're free? Change into your exercise clothes and I'll meet you in the gym. Say, in about 15 minutes?”
Lester nodded, there seemed little point in continuing the act, especially as Ditzy had seen through it. “Just allow me to inform Ms Wickes I'll be unavailable for...?”
“No more than an hour, sir.” Ditzy eyed the piles of paper on Lester's desk, “More paperwork, I'm afraid.”
***
Ditzy had recognised the look when he'd informed Lester of his medical and it had been further proof that he'd been right about his suspicions, although, of course, it wasn't absolute proof. But whether Lester was a were or not, it was time to put the man – and the ARC – out of his misery. Ditzy knew that in Lester’s increasingly frustrated state – and with his lover's unhelpful antics – he was going to snap at someone who didn't deserve it and well, Ditzy would be remiss in his job if he didn't look after the health and welfare of the ARC personnel and its director. Still, he wasn't going to make it easy for Lester – Ditzy wasn't about to put lives at risk and Lester wouldn't appreciate it if he did – not to mention a little revenge.
He made sure his expression was neutral when Lester entered, although it was difficult as Lester was now at the medic's mercy. Not that Ditzy wasn't going to do this by the book, but running Lester ragged would go some small way to make up for the stunt he's pulled with the mammoth. “I just need to give you a quick medical, sir, and then we'll start once you've warmed up.”
Fuck! Ditzy hadn't even thought about the effect Lester had had on a certain part of his anatomy during his last medical. One he was having again as he watched Lester bend over and stretch his muscles. Ditzy took a deep breath and forced himself to concentrate on running Lester through his paces and not on how good his arse looked. “Ready, sir?”
“Carry on, Lieutenant.”
Ditzy nodded and tried to keep his thoughts strictly professional as he gave Lester his first instruction. It was very therapeutic to have Lester dashing around the gym and performing various exercises as Ditzy got to settle back against a nearby wall or piece of equipment and watch the Director build up a sweat. It was, unfortunately, also bloody arousing and Ditzy found his gaze repeatedly drawn to the droplets of sweat that ran down Lester's face and disappeared into the t-shirt that now clung like a second skin to him and revealed the toned muscular Ditzy knew normally lay concealed beneath expensive suits.
With a concentrated effort, Ditzy pulled his attention back to where it should be. “That's enough, sir.” Once Lester stopped, Ditzy added, “I just need to give you a quick check over.” He cursed his words as his cock twitched, and from Lester's smug grin, it was obvious the bastard had noticed. Ditzy quickly turned and grabbed his bag to check Lester's pulse again and how fast he recovered from the exertion, feeling quietly satisfied at the way Lester flinched from his cold hands. Not that it did Ditzy's libido any good having his hands on Lester and he found himself desperately doing his best to ignore the need to disappear back to his office and wank... or preferable, locate his boyfriend for a shag.
***
Lester found himself panting and experiencing the familiar ache of burning muscles after the workout Ditzy had run him through. He was somewhat disappointed with his performance. Not so many years ago he would have been ready for another circuit, not out of breath and wanting to rest. All Lester could hope for as Ditzy ran his checks was that he had done well enough for the medic to clear him for the field. “Ditzy?”
Ditzy's lips twitched before he regained control of his expression and Lester knew he'd sounded hopeful. “Have a shower, sir, and I'll go through your results.”
Lester found himself wondering once more if his medic was dragging out his verdict deliberately, although he would have thought exhausting him would have been enough for the man. He shook his head, oh, Ditzy might get some harmless revenge on him, but he was also a consummate professional. The medic would be checking the results carefully before deciding if he was fit for the field – and Lester hoped he would do his job correctly, no matter how much he wanted to be free, he would not risk his people and especially not Nick.
Lester grinned. Of course, Ditzy had another reason for his delay, especially from the way the medic was walking. He had taken a quick, and he hoped, subtle sniff to confirm his suspicions. Yes, his medic definitely had a more immediate problem to deal with.
Lester's grin widened as he decided to follow Ditzy's suggestion, and not only to get clean. Entering the locker room, Lester took a moment to check for the presence of anyone else and smiled as he discovered he was alone. Good. He quickly stripped his sweaty clothes off and, for once, just dumped them on the bench to be bagged and washed later. He collected his towel and supplies from his locker and made his way to the showers and stepped under the warm spray.
Lester squeezed a dollop of gel onto his hands and washed himself thoroughly before allowing his hand to follow the line of hair down to his erection. He hissed as he curled his fingers around himself and began to slowly slide his hand up and down his length, little gasps escaping as he flicked his tip. He bit his lip to hold back his moans as he stroked himself harder and faster, his hips snapping forwards as he dragged himself over the edge. He propped himself against the wall as his knees wobbled, letting the shower wash away all evidence of his pleasurable activity.
Several moments later, a still somewhat wobbly Lester dried himself and dressed. It wouldn't do to be too long in these showers, people might get the right idea about what he'd been doing in them. He ran his fingers through his still damp hair and checked his appearance in the mirror, straightened his slightly crooked tie.
Final satisfied, he left and paused in the corridor. As much as he wanted to track Ditzy down and demand to know if he was cleared for fieldwork, Lester didn't, and not only because of his image. He had no wish to provide Ditzy with something to hold over him, even if he was firmly convinced the medic wouldn't use his medical for that reason. But he couldn't help the nagging worry that he had failed... and he had no wish to chase the medic down only to be told that. Lester shook his head, he was sure he was worrying over nothing... almost completely sure. He turned and started back to his office and the never-ending paperwork.
***
Ditzy strolled down the corridor towards the atrium and smiled as he saw Lester slip out of the locker room. It looked as if he hadn't been the only one in need of a wank. Ditzy shook his head as his cock twitched at the thought and pulled his concentration back to the matter at hand. “Sir?”
Ditzy almost grinned when Lester's head snapped around and he looked so bloody hopeful for an instant before his poker face fell back into place. “Ms Lewis is countersigning your clearance forms, sir.”
Lester's expression shifted subtly and if Ditzy hadn't known what to look for, he would have missed it. The look of the wild in Lester's eyes, the way his chin jerked upwards a fraction. Ditzy finally had all the proof he needed to know exactly what Lester was, even if he couldn't prove it to anyone else. He was impressed when Lester controlled the urge and merely nodded at him. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
***
Lester had walked back to his office in a good mood, a mood that obviously the universe felt the need to spoil. He'd been instantly been engulfed by one phone call after another, followed by a long and tedious meeting with Payne.
It wouldn't have been so bad if the ADD alarm hadn’t sounded again, sending the team – and Nick – out once more. Just to make the day even better, Payne had sidetracked him to list all the problems and pitfalls of a call out and it had taken all of Lester's control not to kick the man out of his office.
Finally, even Payne ran out of steam and left. Lester almost closed his eyes as he heard the infuriating man complaining to Captain Ryan about the firing range and the dangers of firing weapons there. Bloody hell, did the man have an ounce of understanding about what the ARC actually did? In Lester's opinion, Ryan was very restrained not to just thump the man as he had Nick.
Lester's gaze flickered over to the ADD as his thoughts turned to Nick. He needed to be with him, protecting him and not stuck here behind his desk, especially now he was finally cleared for field work. Lester sighed, all he could do was trust that Lyle and his men were keeping Nick safe, from himself and from any creatures that wandered through the anomaly.
