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Primeval Secret Santa: Masquerade Part 2
Title: Masquerade (Part 2)
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 3519
Characters: James Lester/Danny Quinn, various OCs and a small bit of Hilary Becker and Connor Temple.
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures and Norman belongs to fredbassett. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N 1: Secret Santa for Eriah211. I've managed one prompt (Costume Party) and a side-swipe at a couple of others (Too many complaints and 'Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time' (Terry Pratchett's quote). I hope you like it and that you've had a great Christmas.
A/N 2: Thanks go to rain_sleet_snow for the beta. Modified somewhat after that, so all remaining mistakes are mine.
Part 1
Danny nodded and left his lover to call the ARC while he got everyone out of the room. When he noticed one enterprising fool try to grab one of the shards, Danny muttered, “Oh for fuck's sake!” and yanked the idiot away from the open anomaly. Danny shoved the man away and turned his back to the anomaly, even though he knew how dangerous it was, and yelled, “Get back!”
One of the fake Beckers opened his mouth to yell at Danny before he did a double-take and then said, loudly, “I say, Greg, it's that man from the TV, works at that ARC-thing. You remember, he rode a motorcycle through one of these spinning shard things being chased by a pack of raptors.”
Danny noticed his lover flinch at that reminder and recalled how he'd almost been relegated to the settee over that incident. “At least they've confirmed my credentials, James.” He didn't really believe it would make James happier about that anomaly, although it might make clearing the room easier... at least Danny hoped it would.
“Do you work at the ARC too, James?” Em asked, her expression clearly saying she should have known this fact and that James had been remiss in not telling her.
“He's the governor,” Danny said as he grabbed another idiot before the man could touch the anomaly.
“And as the ARC Director,” James raised his voice, the tone calm and collected and ringing with authority. “Could I ask that everyone leaves this room.” He turned to Em and Charlie. “Em, Charlie, if you could ensure everyone leaves and find somewhere safe for them until my people arrive to deal with this anomaly.”
“A locked room should do,” Danny added. “I would say outside but it is bloody perishing out there.”
“We could help?” Charlie suggested, the look in her eye making Danny believe James' comment about her ability with a shovel. Danny had the feeling that he'd like her, assuming the shovel talk went OK.
“Thank you, Charlie,” James began.
“But no thanks,” Em finished for him. “We'll make sure everyone is safe, James dear, won't we Charlie. After all, we are the hosts and our guests are our responsibility.”
Charlie nodded before fixing Danny with a glare. “And that means you,” she said pointing at Danny. “Look after him.” And she pointed at James.
“Course I bloody well will,” Danny muttered, as if he'd let James out of his sight with an open anomaly nearby.
“Good,” Charlie replied, apparently satisfied. She turned towards the still loitering crowd of guests. “If you would all follow Em, thank you.” She folded her arms and just glared at the nearest guest before the man nodded, took his partner's arm and headed towards Em.
The other guests slowly started to trail after the couple and Danny breathed a sigh, before closing his eyes when the anomaly shivered and something hopped out to the enthralment of the nearest people. It was only about knee-high and covered in feathers, and its short, roundish head had large eyes and buck-teeth. It obviously didn't look dangerous to those nearest to it as they moved closer and one of them reached out to stroke it, totally oblivious to the fact its teeth were sharp and that it had a large, killing claw on each back foot.
“Fuck!” James exclaimed. “Now that just proves humans can be relied upon to do something stupid.”
Danny agreed, wading through the crowd once more to grab those nearest to the small raptor and drag them to safety. Sometimes he didn't think he was paid enough for this crap. “Get back and get out of here. It's a bloody raptor!”
“Er,” Greg – one of the fake Beckers – said. “Like in Jurassic Park?”
“Same family,” James replied. “Now, out!”
“You should go as well,” Danny said as he looked around for something – anything more useful in wrangling than his fake sword. When he noticed James didn't look happy at that suggestion, Danny added, “You're still healing, James. I don't want to lose you.”
James looked as if he was about to argue before nodding. “I would say be careful, but I know you.” He smiled and then, discarding all decorum, tugged Danny into a kiss, to Em's cheers.
Danny wasn't happy when James pulled away before he remembered the small problem of the raptor and open anomaly. He shifted his attention back to the crowd, which, thankfully, had started to edge away from the anomaly. Even if they were still seemingly fascinated by the small raptor, especially when it stretched its neck up and let out a series of chirps. Danny's hopes of herding it back through the anomaly faded when several more of them hopped through, especially when the crowd broke and ran and the raptors gave chase, nipping at their heels.
Danny had no choice but to go with the flow driving him through one of the doors, he twisted around, trying to see James but couldn't spot his lover's black-clad form. Bloody hell, Danny wanted to go and find him but knew he needed to get everyone away from the anomaly first. He trusted Em to lead everyone to safety, all he had to do was make sure the raptors didn't get anyone. With that thought in mind, he dropped back until he was at the back of the group and slammed a door closed in the face of the nearest raptor, hearing the pack scrabble at the firmly closed door. He glanced around the room – from the shelves of books he assumed it was the library – he was in and yelled, “Find something to barricade the door.” He watched as several guests manhandled an antique-looking desk over to keep the door closed.
He ran a hand through his hair as he took a quick headcount (not that he knew how many guests were at the party but he hoped the thought counted), smiling when he spotted Em organising the guests. His smile faded when he realised James wasn't at her side and he headed towards Em. “Have you seen James?”
Em shook her head, her eyes revealing her worry. “And Charlie's not here, I think I saw her with the group going out the west door.” She squeezed Danny's arm before telling him, “I'm sure James is with her.”
Danny nodded, knowing that he wasn't the only one missing a loved one. He looked around the library before asking, “Is there another way out of here?”
Em nodded. “It is an old house, Danny, we have secret passages.” She took Danny's hand and led his over to a shelf which looked exactly the same as all the others. “This one opens up in the ballroom, where the anomaly is.”
Danny glanced around the library again, looking for something more suitable than his fake sword to take on a pack of bloody raptors. Apart from a few more swords – possibly real – he couldn't see anything helpful. “Keep everyone here, Em, and don't open the door unless you can talk to whoever is on the other side.”
“I'm not stupid, Danny.”
Danny looked up into Em's eyes, bright with worry and determination, and gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I'm just worried about James.”
“And I'm worried about Charlie,” Em replied before she said, “Wait here.”
Danny frowned. If he'd known how to open the secret passage he'd have been gone, the need to find James almost overwhelming, especially when his lover was still injured and... He shook his head of the image which rose, of James falling behind when the others ran. He recalled far too many close encounters when he'd been lost in the past, of hunts escaped and witnessed. He knew that each time, the predators had picked off the stragglers...
“Here,” Em cried as she hurried towards him, a mace in one hand and a shield in the other. “I thought these might be useful.”
“Thanks,” Danny said as he took them and waited for Em to open the passage, he paused as he peered into the gloom. “Got a light?”
Em rolled her eyes and hit the light switch in the passage. “Charlie and I light-proofed the exits. We didn't want to be stumbling around in the dark.”
“Right,” Danny grinned as he hefted the mace and shield, feeling far more confident now he was armed, although an EMD would have been preferable.
“Find them, Danny,” Em said, fear making her voice wobble slightly.
“I will,” Danny promised before he paused and passed her his phone. “Call the ARC, tell them about the raptors and where we are.”
“Won't you need this?” Em asked, a worried frown on her face.
“Last thing I want is someone ringing me and letting the raptors know where I am.” Danny turned and headed off down the passageway, hearing the door close behind him and the scrape of a desk being dragged in front of it.
Danny paused at the end of the passageway, listening intently for anything on the other side of the door before opening it a crack. He could see the anomaly from where he was and breathed a sigh that at least the room appeared to be empty. He slid out of the door, closing it firmly before cursing, he had no idea how to open the bloody thing. He shrugged, checked his weaponry and felt like something out of a bloody film, clad in armour and wielding a medieval mace and shield.
He took a moment to peer around the room before crossing to the set of doors he'd left through earlier, closing them to contain anything else which might wander through the anomaly. He turned towards the other set of doors – the ones James must have left through – and hurried towards them, closing them behind him as he set off to search for James. He knew he could have just waited for help but... well, waiting for the cavalry had never really been his style.
Danny advanced into the corridor, spotting several open doors and paused as he considered what to do. He knew, no matter how much he wanted – no needed – to find James, that he would have to check each room for raptors and shut the door after him once he had.
Several checked rooms and firmly closed doors later had Danny champing at the bit and moving faster than was wise. He closed the door behind him as he left the latest room he'd checked and moved past a statue, not noticing until it was almost too late that its shadow was wrong.
He barely had time to twist out of the way and raise the shield between him and the statue before the bloody raptor landed on the shield. He could hear its claws scrabbling noisily for purchase on the metal surface. He gave a shove and heard a faint squawk as it flew through the air to land in a heap. Unfortunately it quickly regained its feet, shook its head and let out a series of cries. Just what he needed, more of the buggers arriving to cause him trouble... although, if they were after him, at least they wouldn't be troubling James, wherever James was. All Danny could hope was that his lover was safe.
Danny turned his attention back to the raptor and considered clouting it firmly on the head to shut it up when he heard the arrival of its friends. Unfortunately, they weren't stupid and kept out of the range of his mace, hopping back when he swung it at them. They had also obviously learnt not to leap onto the shield.
Danny barely saw one dart in from the side, knocking it back when he felt another one fasten onto his leg, luckily onto one of the greaves he was wearing and not onto his flesh. He sent it flying with a kick and hopped back himself. They were bloody clever, darting in and out to test his defences and he knew he'd be overwhelmed if he stayed in the open. He saw no option but to retreat and find somewhere to put his back, preferably were they couldn't climb and jump down on him like the first bugger had done.
He was so busy watching them that he didn't watch where he was going and cursed when he almost tripped over something. The nearest raptor took a chance and lunged for him, before being sent flying though the air when Danny managed to give it a glancing blow with the mace. It rose to its feet, staggering slightly, before another of its packmates nudged it and seemed to be helping to support it. Well, Danny thought, two down if not out was better than none.
He carried on retreating, noticing the two raptors seemed to be having a discussion before the injured one limped off, back towards the ballroom and he wondered, for a moment, what it would do when it found the doors closed. He forgot all about the raptor when his gaze caught on what he'd tripped over, he'd recognise that cane anywhere... so where the hell was James?
Danny slowly backed down the corridor, knowing he was being herded and smiled, maybe they weren't so clever after all if they thought this was a dead end... or maybe they knew it wasn't and more of their friends were on the other side of the door just waiting for him to open it.
He stopped when he felt his back hit the door and watched the raptors form a half-circle in front of him, chattering away to each other and he knew they were planning their attack. He swung the mace in their direction, watching as one hopped back but the others didn't move, obviously realising they were out of range.
“Come on you buggers!” Danny yelled as he set himself for their charge, before he let out a yelp and almost fell backwards when the doors opened. He felt his arm grabbed before he was dragged to one side as the pack raced through, the door slamming shut behind them.
“Fuck!” Danny swore when he took in James, dishevelled but apparently whole, standing over a downed raptor with a frying pan, of all things, in his hand. “You were supposed to be safe behind locked doors.”
“And leave you to have all the fun?” James replied before following Danny's gaze to the frying pan. “Well, it worked for you.” He nodded to the raptors watching them. “Keep them busy while I get rid of this one.”
“Yes, guv,” Danny replied, wondering just how he was supposed to do that and watching as James cautiously nudged the raptor to make sure it wasn't just playing dead before he picked it up and tossed it through the open anomaly.
Danny swung his mace and considered his options as he watched the pack watching him. He really wished Becker would show up about now, being rescued by the cavalry would be worth putting up with Becker's comments. The raptors seemed to be having another conversation and kept looking at James, which was when Danny realised James was holding his side as if in pain. He waved his mace and yelled out, “Oi! Come here, you buggers!”
James snorted and then grimaced in pain and Danny couldn't help wonder if he had aggravated his injures, not that Danny could do anything about that, not right now. He could only heft his mace and move towards his lover to protect him, placing the shield between James and the raptors, while his lover flourished his borrowed frying pan.
The raptors seemed to finish their conversation with a final round of chirps and then, as one, they charged. Danny braced himself for their impact but the raptors ran around them. He spun, one arm grabbing James to keep his lover safely behind him and then said, “What the fuck?”
“Quite,” James agreed as the two men watched the raptors run straight through the anomaly without a backwards glance.
“That was easy,” Danny muttered in disbelief.
“Are you complaining?” James asked before he dragged Danny in for a kiss, a thank-fuck-we're-alive kiss which left Danny somewhat light-headed.
A cleared throat had James pulling away, much to Danny's dismay, before he heard his lover's voice. “You're late.”
“Sorry, sir” Becker said. “We hit every red light.”
Danny snorted. More than likely Becker's men had been on another bloody tea break.
“The creatures, sir?” Becker asked as he turned back from giving orders to his men.
“Have gone home,” James informed him. “However, I want your men to sweep the house to make sure there are not any stragglers.” He paused before adding, “Oh, and make sure you call out before entering the kitchen or the...” He looked at Danny, an eyebrow raised in silent query.
“The library,” Danny replied.
“Or the hosts might take you for raptors,” James continued.
“Charlie hasn't got a shovel?” Danny asked.
“She's got another frying pan and she's just as adept with that,” James replied before his voice grew cold. “Mr Temple, continue to mime behind my back and I'll have you hung by your heels in a pit of scorpions.”
“How?” Connor began before shutting his mouth before he incriminated himself.
“And shut that bloody anomaly,” James added, smiling when Connor hurriedly returning to the locking device.
Danny frowned, wondering how James could have known what Connor was up to before he followed James' gaze and saw their reflections in a glass display case, including Connor throwing the odd confused look over his shoulder when he thought James wasn't watching. “Hold on,” Danny said. “I thought you said you didn't know who the Patrician was?”
“No, I didn't.”
“What?” Danny could have sworn James had said that.
“I was merely questioning your choice,” James said.
Before Danny could reply, he heard the raised voice of one of the soldiers followed by a muffled omph. He turned at James' snort and shot his lover a questioning look.
“Charlie,” James murmured before raising his own voice. “Charlie, please do not injure my people.”
“Then tell him not to get in our way, James,” Em said as she entered the room. She paused, peering at the locked anomaly before turning her attention to James, her eyes narrowing when she took in the cane James was leaning on and the way he was holding his side. “Are you OK, James?”
“I'm fine,” James replied.
“Really?” Charlie said as she entered, a frying pan in her hand and her disapproving gaze on Danny.
“I was hurt weeks ago, Charlie,” James told her.
“Convergence,” Charlie stated, at James' confirming nod, she glanced towards Danny with one eyebrow raised in silent query.
Before Danny could speak in his own defence, James took hold of his hand and said, “Danny was lost through an anomaly until recently.”
“Oh, James,” Em cried and carefully hugged him, making Danny feel even more of a dick for leaving James alone, especially when he'd gone after Patrick without thought. How could he have just left James without a second thought when he knew the man had been broken by the loss of his wife?
“I'm fine, Em,” James told her with a smile, handing her his handkerchief when she released him. “Danny's back now.”
Em dabbed her eyes and gave James a faint smile before turning towards the anomaly. “While, Charlie, I don't think we'll get too many complaints about this party being boring.”
“Although I doubt we'll be able to top it next year,” Charlie remarked as she took Em's hand. “Now, lets check on our guests while James' people finish up here.”
Danny shook his head as he watched them leave before he turned to James and tugged his lover into a kiss. “Home, James?”
James rolled his eyes before turning his attention to Connor, surprising the young geek who had been staring at him once more and causing Connor to cry out when he stepped back and almost tripped over one of his own boxes. “I believe Temple, along with Captain Becker and his men can be trusted to finish up here.” He paused and then added, “Assuming, that is, that Temple doesn't manage to trip over and open the anomaly again...”
“I won't,” Connor promised.
“It is almost Christmas, James,” Danny pointed out, deciding his lover had been reading up and, fun as it might be, he really wanted to get James home, safe and well, before anything else decided to come out of an anomaly.
“True.” James winked at Danny. “I expect I can save the scorpions for another occasion.” He started to limp towards the doors, turning back to Danny and quirking an eyebrow at him. “Coming, my dear boy?”
“Definitely, guv.” Danny grinned at the eyeroll he received. He hurried after James and took hold of his free hand, leaning in for another kiss before murmuring, “I believe I have an appointment with you, that robe and those boots.”
Part 1
Author: knitekat
Word Count: 3519
Characters: James Lester/Danny Quinn, various OCs and a small bit of Hilary Becker and Connor Temple.
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures and Norman belongs to fredbassett. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
A/N 1: Secret Santa for Eriah211. I've managed one prompt (Costume Party) and a side-swipe at a couple of others (Too many complaints and 'Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time' (Terry Pratchett's quote). I hope you like it and that you've had a great Christmas.
A/N 2: Thanks go to rain_sleet_snow for the beta. Modified somewhat after that, so all remaining mistakes are mine.
Part 1
Danny nodded and left his lover to call the ARC while he got everyone out of the room. When he noticed one enterprising fool try to grab one of the shards, Danny muttered, “Oh for fuck's sake!” and yanked the idiot away from the open anomaly. Danny shoved the man away and turned his back to the anomaly, even though he knew how dangerous it was, and yelled, “Get back!”
One of the fake Beckers opened his mouth to yell at Danny before he did a double-take and then said, loudly, “I say, Greg, it's that man from the TV, works at that ARC-thing. You remember, he rode a motorcycle through one of these spinning shard things being chased by a pack of raptors.”
Danny noticed his lover flinch at that reminder and recalled how he'd almost been relegated to the settee over that incident. “At least they've confirmed my credentials, James.” He didn't really believe it would make James happier about that anomaly, although it might make clearing the room easier... at least Danny hoped it would.
“Do you work at the ARC too, James?” Em asked, her expression clearly saying she should have known this fact and that James had been remiss in not telling her.
“He's the governor,” Danny said as he grabbed another idiot before the man could touch the anomaly.
“And as the ARC Director,” James raised his voice, the tone calm and collected and ringing with authority. “Could I ask that everyone leaves this room.” He turned to Em and Charlie. “Em, Charlie, if you could ensure everyone leaves and find somewhere safe for them until my people arrive to deal with this anomaly.”
“A locked room should do,” Danny added. “I would say outside but it is bloody perishing out there.”
“We could help?” Charlie suggested, the look in her eye making Danny believe James' comment about her ability with a shovel. Danny had the feeling that he'd like her, assuming the shovel talk went OK.
“Thank you, Charlie,” James began.
“But no thanks,” Em finished for him. “We'll make sure everyone is safe, James dear, won't we Charlie. After all, we are the hosts and our guests are our responsibility.”
Charlie nodded before fixing Danny with a glare. “And that means you,” she said pointing at Danny. “Look after him.” And she pointed at James.
“Course I bloody well will,” Danny muttered, as if he'd let James out of his sight with an open anomaly nearby.
“Good,” Charlie replied, apparently satisfied. She turned towards the still loitering crowd of guests. “If you would all follow Em, thank you.” She folded her arms and just glared at the nearest guest before the man nodded, took his partner's arm and headed towards Em.
The other guests slowly started to trail after the couple and Danny breathed a sigh, before closing his eyes when the anomaly shivered and something hopped out to the enthralment of the nearest people. It was only about knee-high and covered in feathers, and its short, roundish head had large eyes and buck-teeth. It obviously didn't look dangerous to those nearest to it as they moved closer and one of them reached out to stroke it, totally oblivious to the fact its teeth were sharp and that it had a large, killing claw on each back foot.
“Fuck!” James exclaimed. “Now that just proves humans can be relied upon to do something stupid.”
Danny agreed, wading through the crowd once more to grab those nearest to the small raptor and drag them to safety. Sometimes he didn't think he was paid enough for this crap. “Get back and get out of here. It's a bloody raptor!”
“Er,” Greg – one of the fake Beckers – said. “Like in Jurassic Park?”
“Same family,” James replied. “Now, out!”
“You should go as well,” Danny said as he looked around for something – anything more useful in wrangling than his fake sword. When he noticed James didn't look happy at that suggestion, Danny added, “You're still healing, James. I don't want to lose you.”
James looked as if he was about to argue before nodding. “I would say be careful, but I know you.” He smiled and then, discarding all decorum, tugged Danny into a kiss, to Em's cheers.
Danny wasn't happy when James pulled away before he remembered the small problem of the raptor and open anomaly. He shifted his attention back to the crowd, which, thankfully, had started to edge away from the anomaly. Even if they were still seemingly fascinated by the small raptor, especially when it stretched its neck up and let out a series of chirps. Danny's hopes of herding it back through the anomaly faded when several more of them hopped through, especially when the crowd broke and ran and the raptors gave chase, nipping at their heels.
Danny had no choice but to go with the flow driving him through one of the doors, he twisted around, trying to see James but couldn't spot his lover's black-clad form. Bloody hell, Danny wanted to go and find him but knew he needed to get everyone away from the anomaly first. He trusted Em to lead everyone to safety, all he had to do was make sure the raptors didn't get anyone. With that thought in mind, he dropped back until he was at the back of the group and slammed a door closed in the face of the nearest raptor, hearing the pack scrabble at the firmly closed door. He glanced around the room – from the shelves of books he assumed it was the library – he was in and yelled, “Find something to barricade the door.” He watched as several guests manhandled an antique-looking desk over to keep the door closed.
He ran a hand through his hair as he took a quick headcount (not that he knew how many guests were at the party but he hoped the thought counted), smiling when he spotted Em organising the guests. His smile faded when he realised James wasn't at her side and he headed towards Em. “Have you seen James?”
Em shook her head, her eyes revealing her worry. “And Charlie's not here, I think I saw her with the group going out the west door.” She squeezed Danny's arm before telling him, “I'm sure James is with her.”
Danny nodded, knowing that he wasn't the only one missing a loved one. He looked around the library before asking, “Is there another way out of here?”
Em nodded. “It is an old house, Danny, we have secret passages.” She took Danny's hand and led his over to a shelf which looked exactly the same as all the others. “This one opens up in the ballroom, where the anomaly is.”
Danny glanced around the library again, looking for something more suitable than his fake sword to take on a pack of bloody raptors. Apart from a few more swords – possibly real – he couldn't see anything helpful. “Keep everyone here, Em, and don't open the door unless you can talk to whoever is on the other side.”
“I'm not stupid, Danny.”
Danny looked up into Em's eyes, bright with worry and determination, and gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I'm just worried about James.”
“And I'm worried about Charlie,” Em replied before she said, “Wait here.”
Danny frowned. If he'd known how to open the secret passage he'd have been gone, the need to find James almost overwhelming, especially when his lover was still injured and... He shook his head of the image which rose, of James falling behind when the others ran. He recalled far too many close encounters when he'd been lost in the past, of hunts escaped and witnessed. He knew that each time, the predators had picked off the stragglers...
“Here,” Em cried as she hurried towards him, a mace in one hand and a shield in the other. “I thought these might be useful.”
“Thanks,” Danny said as he took them and waited for Em to open the passage, he paused as he peered into the gloom. “Got a light?”
Em rolled her eyes and hit the light switch in the passage. “Charlie and I light-proofed the exits. We didn't want to be stumbling around in the dark.”
“Right,” Danny grinned as he hefted the mace and shield, feeling far more confident now he was armed, although an EMD would have been preferable.
“Find them, Danny,” Em said, fear making her voice wobble slightly.
“I will,” Danny promised before he paused and passed her his phone. “Call the ARC, tell them about the raptors and where we are.”
“Won't you need this?” Em asked, a worried frown on her face.
“Last thing I want is someone ringing me and letting the raptors know where I am.” Danny turned and headed off down the passageway, hearing the door close behind him and the scrape of a desk being dragged in front of it.
***
Danny paused at the end of the passageway, listening intently for anything on the other side of the door before opening it a crack. He could see the anomaly from where he was and breathed a sigh that at least the room appeared to be empty. He slid out of the door, closing it firmly before cursing, he had no idea how to open the bloody thing. He shrugged, checked his weaponry and felt like something out of a bloody film, clad in armour and wielding a medieval mace and shield.
He took a moment to peer around the room before crossing to the set of doors he'd left through earlier, closing them to contain anything else which might wander through the anomaly. He turned towards the other set of doors – the ones James must have left through – and hurried towards them, closing them behind him as he set off to search for James. He knew he could have just waited for help but... well, waiting for the cavalry had never really been his style.
Danny advanced into the corridor, spotting several open doors and paused as he considered what to do. He knew, no matter how much he wanted – no needed – to find James, that he would have to check each room for raptors and shut the door after him once he had.
Several checked rooms and firmly closed doors later had Danny champing at the bit and moving faster than was wise. He closed the door behind him as he left the latest room he'd checked and moved past a statue, not noticing until it was almost too late that its shadow was wrong.
He barely had time to twist out of the way and raise the shield between him and the statue before the bloody raptor landed on the shield. He could hear its claws scrabbling noisily for purchase on the metal surface. He gave a shove and heard a faint squawk as it flew through the air to land in a heap. Unfortunately it quickly regained its feet, shook its head and let out a series of cries. Just what he needed, more of the buggers arriving to cause him trouble... although, if they were after him, at least they wouldn't be troubling James, wherever James was. All Danny could hope was that his lover was safe.
Danny turned his attention back to the raptor and considered clouting it firmly on the head to shut it up when he heard the arrival of its friends. Unfortunately, they weren't stupid and kept out of the range of his mace, hopping back when he swung it at them. They had also obviously learnt not to leap onto the shield.
Danny barely saw one dart in from the side, knocking it back when he felt another one fasten onto his leg, luckily onto one of the greaves he was wearing and not onto his flesh. He sent it flying with a kick and hopped back himself. They were bloody clever, darting in and out to test his defences and he knew he'd be overwhelmed if he stayed in the open. He saw no option but to retreat and find somewhere to put his back, preferably were they couldn't climb and jump down on him like the first bugger had done.
He was so busy watching them that he didn't watch where he was going and cursed when he almost tripped over something. The nearest raptor took a chance and lunged for him, before being sent flying though the air when Danny managed to give it a glancing blow with the mace. It rose to its feet, staggering slightly, before another of its packmates nudged it and seemed to be helping to support it. Well, Danny thought, two down if not out was better than none.
He carried on retreating, noticing the two raptors seemed to be having a discussion before the injured one limped off, back towards the ballroom and he wondered, for a moment, what it would do when it found the doors closed. He forgot all about the raptor when his gaze caught on what he'd tripped over, he'd recognise that cane anywhere... so where the hell was James?
***
Danny slowly backed down the corridor, knowing he was being herded and smiled, maybe they weren't so clever after all if they thought this was a dead end... or maybe they knew it wasn't and more of their friends were on the other side of the door just waiting for him to open it.
He stopped when he felt his back hit the door and watched the raptors form a half-circle in front of him, chattering away to each other and he knew they were planning their attack. He swung the mace in their direction, watching as one hopped back but the others didn't move, obviously realising they were out of range.
“Come on you buggers!” Danny yelled as he set himself for their charge, before he let out a yelp and almost fell backwards when the doors opened. He felt his arm grabbed before he was dragged to one side as the pack raced through, the door slamming shut behind them.
“Fuck!” Danny swore when he took in James, dishevelled but apparently whole, standing over a downed raptor with a frying pan, of all things, in his hand. “You were supposed to be safe behind locked doors.”
“And leave you to have all the fun?” James replied before following Danny's gaze to the frying pan. “Well, it worked for you.” He nodded to the raptors watching them. “Keep them busy while I get rid of this one.”
“Yes, guv,” Danny replied, wondering just how he was supposed to do that and watching as James cautiously nudged the raptor to make sure it wasn't just playing dead before he picked it up and tossed it through the open anomaly.
Danny swung his mace and considered his options as he watched the pack watching him. He really wished Becker would show up about now, being rescued by the cavalry would be worth putting up with Becker's comments. The raptors seemed to be having another conversation and kept looking at James, which was when Danny realised James was holding his side as if in pain. He waved his mace and yelled out, “Oi! Come here, you buggers!”
James snorted and then grimaced in pain and Danny couldn't help wonder if he had aggravated his injures, not that Danny could do anything about that, not right now. He could only heft his mace and move towards his lover to protect him, placing the shield between James and the raptors, while his lover flourished his borrowed frying pan.
The raptors seemed to finish their conversation with a final round of chirps and then, as one, they charged. Danny braced himself for their impact but the raptors ran around them. He spun, one arm grabbing James to keep his lover safely behind him and then said, “What the fuck?”
“Quite,” James agreed as the two men watched the raptors run straight through the anomaly without a backwards glance.
“That was easy,” Danny muttered in disbelief.
“Are you complaining?” James asked before he dragged Danny in for a kiss, a thank-fuck-we're-alive kiss which left Danny somewhat light-headed.
A cleared throat had James pulling away, much to Danny's dismay, before he heard his lover's voice. “You're late.”
“Sorry, sir” Becker said. “We hit every red light.”
Danny snorted. More than likely Becker's men had been on another bloody tea break.
“The creatures, sir?” Becker asked as he turned back from giving orders to his men.
“Have gone home,” James informed him. “However, I want your men to sweep the house to make sure there are not any stragglers.” He paused before adding, “Oh, and make sure you call out before entering the kitchen or the...” He looked at Danny, an eyebrow raised in silent query.
“The library,” Danny replied.
“Or the hosts might take you for raptors,” James continued.
“Charlie hasn't got a shovel?” Danny asked.
“She's got another frying pan and she's just as adept with that,” James replied before his voice grew cold. “Mr Temple, continue to mime behind my back and I'll have you hung by your heels in a pit of scorpions.”
“How?” Connor began before shutting his mouth before he incriminated himself.
“And shut that bloody anomaly,” James added, smiling when Connor hurriedly returning to the locking device.
Danny frowned, wondering how James could have known what Connor was up to before he followed James' gaze and saw their reflections in a glass display case, including Connor throwing the odd confused look over his shoulder when he thought James wasn't watching. “Hold on,” Danny said. “I thought you said you didn't know who the Patrician was?”
“No, I didn't.”
“What?” Danny could have sworn James had said that.
“I was merely questioning your choice,” James said.
Before Danny could reply, he heard the raised voice of one of the soldiers followed by a muffled omph. He turned at James' snort and shot his lover a questioning look.
“Charlie,” James murmured before raising his own voice. “Charlie, please do not injure my people.”
“Then tell him not to get in our way, James,” Em said as she entered the room. She paused, peering at the locked anomaly before turning her attention to James, her eyes narrowing when she took in the cane James was leaning on and the way he was holding his side. “Are you OK, James?”
“I'm fine,” James replied.
“Really?” Charlie said as she entered, a frying pan in her hand and her disapproving gaze on Danny.
“I was hurt weeks ago, Charlie,” James told her.
“Convergence,” Charlie stated, at James' confirming nod, she glanced towards Danny with one eyebrow raised in silent query.
Before Danny could speak in his own defence, James took hold of his hand and said, “Danny was lost through an anomaly until recently.”
“Oh, James,” Em cried and carefully hugged him, making Danny feel even more of a dick for leaving James alone, especially when he'd gone after Patrick without thought. How could he have just left James without a second thought when he knew the man had been broken by the loss of his wife?
“I'm fine, Em,” James told her with a smile, handing her his handkerchief when she released him. “Danny's back now.”
Em dabbed her eyes and gave James a faint smile before turning towards the anomaly. “While, Charlie, I don't think we'll get too many complaints about this party being boring.”
“Although I doubt we'll be able to top it next year,” Charlie remarked as she took Em's hand. “Now, lets check on our guests while James' people finish up here.”
Danny shook his head as he watched them leave before he turned to James and tugged his lover into a kiss. “Home, James?”
James rolled his eyes before turning his attention to Connor, surprising the young geek who had been staring at him once more and causing Connor to cry out when he stepped back and almost tripped over one of his own boxes. “I believe Temple, along with Captain Becker and his men can be trusted to finish up here.” He paused and then added, “Assuming, that is, that Temple doesn't manage to trip over and open the anomaly again...”
“I won't,” Connor promised.
“It is almost Christmas, James,” Danny pointed out, deciding his lover had been reading up and, fun as it might be, he really wanted to get James home, safe and well, before anything else decided to come out of an anomaly.
“True.” James winked at Danny. “I expect I can save the scorpions for another occasion.” He started to limp towards the doors, turning back to Danny and quirking an eyebrow at him. “Coming, my dear boy?”
“Definitely, guv.” Danny grinned at the eyeroll he received. He hurried after James and took hold of his free hand, leaning in for another kiss before murmuring, “I believe I have an appointment with you, that robe and those boots.”
Part 1