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knitekatTitle: Predator Or Prey? (1/2)
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~3565
Characters: James Lester, Hilary Becker, plus Danny Quinn, Jenny Lewis, Lorraine Wickes, Tom Ryan, Abby Maitland, Connor Temple, Blade (OC), Lyle (OC), OCs,
Rating: 15
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
Warning: Peril? Angst?
A/N 1: Isamazed’s Secret Santa, hope you like it and that you had a great Christmas. Her prompts are these: 1) You’re an idiot. But you’re my idiot. 2) Soldiers were the greatest gossips. 3) I am not one to hold grudges and 4) I only finished what he/she started. All of them are in there, more-or-less.
A/N 2: Thanks goes to Fififolle for looking at it, all remaining mistakes are mine.
Part 2
I sat at my desk and resisted the temptation to put my head in my hands. The world learning about the anomalies had proven to be as chaotic as I had always believed, validating my stance on keeping their existence from the public.
I sighed as I recalled the incident when someone had decided to ‘save’ money by using a juvenile Triceratops to keep their lawn cropped short – something that had ended in several trampled fences, a crushed car and an attempt at suing the ARC for damaged. An attempt that, I was thankful, had been seen off by the ARC lawyers.
Then there were those idiots who thought they were experts from reading those ARC reports deemed suitable to be declassified and made public. Obviously the successful incursions with no or minimal injury, rather than those with members of the field team and/or the public being maimed or killed.
Today had been a prime example of the latter, when two mouthy, spotty teenagers thought they were a match for some time-lost creatures. They’d assumed the creatures would be harmless due to the small hoofed footprints they had left – they had clearly never seen an enraged cow defending her calf. An assumption which had almost resulted in their injury, if not deaths, when the Mesonyx pack they’d been tracking had decided the boys would be easy prey.
Of course, the minister had not been best pleased by events, especially when they’d put their side of the story on their… I believe Connor had called it their ‘blog’ page. A pack of lies, like many things on the internet. They’d made out they’d been the heroes and the ARC had tried to take credit for their actions in saving people. The little… idiots had lapped up the attention when the gutter press had picked up their story. Those self-same journalists, and some from more reputable papers, had proceeded to ambush my field team. I rubbed my head, for people who could easily deal with predators from the past, dealing with.. well, I suppose their modern day equivalents had proven impossible. I wasn’t sure who had been worse, between Abby looking like a deer caught in the headlights when asked a simple, albeit non-animal related, question, to Connor spouting techno-garbage to Danny… well, the less said about that incident, the better. I found myself wondering if I should send everyone on a public relations course, at least, if I should if my other plan didn’t come to fruition.
The fallout from those… calling them interviews would be a disservice to the term… hadn’t been pleasant. The dressing down certainly hadn’t been, as I’d been subjected to yet another pointless one-sided conversation with the minister. If that hadn’t been enough, the minister’s solution to the ‘media situation’ – as he referred to it – would be yet another disaster. Not that I had any option but to agree to the farce, well, not if I wished to remain the director of the ARC.
I glanced up at the knock on my door and straighten when I realised Lorraine was standing there. I glanced at the clock before frowning as I realised what time it was. “Isn’t it rather late for you to still be here, Ms Wickes?”
“I’m just leaving, sir,” Lorraine replied pointedly and I noticed the looming presence of Blade just outside my door, clearly present as backup in her attempt to evict me from my own office before nine.
“Excellent, I doubt the minister would appreciate any overtime at the moment.” I paused for a moment, debating with myself whether I could do anything useful if I stayed. I swiftly decided there wasn’t and, switching off my computer, I gathered my belongings. I noted the brief look of surprise cross Lorraine’s face at my easy capitulation. “Lorraine?”
“Sir?” Lorraine replied, her expression swiftly becoming professional.
My gaze switched to Blade when he shifted his weight, and I realised today could have been far worse but for the actions of my Special Forces personnel. “I should thank you and your colleagues for your excellent work today, Corporal Richards.”
“We were only doing our job, sir.”
“Under extreme provocation, I believe,” I replied, considering the abuse those ungrateful yobs had thrown at my soldiers.. and their comments to Abby, well, they were lucky Blade had limited himself to a mere glower.
“Sir? Is that all?” Lorraine asked, obviously keen to leave, at least, once she’d prised me out of my office.
I recalled the minister’s instructions and bit back a sigh. “No, I will require a full field team meeting arranged for tomorrow.” I considered the members of my field team for a moment before adding, “Accept no excuses, Ms Wickes, not even dismemberment or death.”
Lorraine’s eyebrows escaped her control before she resumed her professional demeanour. “Of course, sir. Would this be about today?”
I nodded, after all I would require her presence tomorrow. “I’ll be requiring full minutes to be despatched to the minister…”
I trailed off, reconsidering that instruction, but before I could correct myself, Lorraine proved once again how much of an asset she was to the ARC and to me, personally. “I’ll prepare a suitable version for the minister, sir.”
“Excellent.” I glanced around my office before deciding anything else could wait for tomorrow. I headed down the ramp before we bid each other a good evening.
Even the snifter of brandy and listening to my music hadn’t soothed my thoughts. I had considered and rapidly dismissed almost every member of my team, before realising I really only had two options – Ms Emily Merchant or Captain Becker. As suitable as Emily would be, I had no wish for her to honestly answer where, or rather, when she was from. Not when I’d been insisting that we shouldn’t make any changes to the past. Which left Becker, suitable, professional, from this time and most definitely presentable.. and those were not thoughts I should be entertaining.
Thinking about the disaster which the minister’s plan would no doubt entail and the far pleasanter dreams involving Becker had resulted in a rather disturbed night. So much so that I had to resort to consuming far too many coffees in an attempt to remain awake enough to deal with my team.
I could hear my so-called professional staff before I even reached the door and closed my eyes briefly as I gathered my facade about me. I took a deep breath before opening the door to step inside the eye of the storm. Unfortunately, my team didn’t disappoint me. Connor was tapping away on his laptop, although from the little cheers he uttered, clearly not for work. Abby was reading through her notes, I assumed making her argument for increased funding for the creatures. Matthew appeared to be reading a plant catalogue and I wondered if I’d receive a budgetary request for them as well. As for Danny, he was holding court as he regaled anyone who’d listen about yesterday’s incursion. That left only Lorraine, Emily and Becker being professional as they waited for the meeting to begin. I cleared my throat and gained almost everyone’s attention – Connor was still tapping away until Abby elbowed him, and Danny was still grinning like a loon.
“Gentlemen, ladies,” I began before taking my seat and glancing down at the notes I’d made the previous evening. “Yesterday was a disaster...”
“No one died,” Danny interrupted.
“Be that as it may.” I glared at Danny until he subsided. “I was referring to what happened afterwards. That disaster at public relations.” I paused to dispense an equal opportunity glare around the table. “Now that the anomalies and the ARC are, unfortunately, public knowledge, the press will be interested in everything we do.” I paused to allow that to sink in.
“I believe that is why you spent considerable time convincing me to return, James.” I don’t believe I had ever been so happy to hear that well-known voice which spoke from the doorway. Every eye in the room turned towards her, mouths opened as they gawked at her and the man standing beside her.
Abby was the first on her feet, almost flying in her haste to hug both of them. “Jenny! Ryan! I didn’t know you were back.”
Connor wasn’t far behind as he asked, “Are you both back?”
Now that was the question I wanted answered, although I was fairly sure they wouldn’t have turned up in person just to turn my job offer down.
“We are,” Ryan replied, to the cheers of all my staff.
“Jenny will be resuming her role in PR, but won’t be directly involved in dealing with any incursions. Captain...”
“I’m retired, Sir… James,” Ryan hastily corrected both himself and me.
“Captain Ryan.” He might be retired on medical grounds, but Ryan had earned his rank. “Will be responsible for security at the ARC, allowing Captain Becker to concentrate on any incursion.”
“Good to see you again, S… Ryan.” Becker rose to greet his fellow officer.
“If everyone has quite finished?” This job really was like herding cats sometimes, although I hoped the addition of Ryan and Jenny to the team would help. I waited until everyone was once more seated before continuing, “As I was trying to say, the minister was not best pleased by yesterday’s events. Jenny will be working with you, all of you. Until you are capable of, at least handling an interview without making a complete pig’s ear out of it.” I allowed my gaze to rest on each of my problem team before I turned to Jenny, “I’m sorry the circumstances require your immediate attention, Jenny.”
“Think nothing of it, James,” Jenny replied with a practised smile.
I nodded before considering my next words, but putting them off wouldn’t make the situation any better. “However, considering the number of complaints he had received, the minister had decided it is absolutely imperative that we repair the relationship between the ARC and the press.”
Jenny frowned as she meet my gaze. “You haven’t mentioned this before, James.”
“No, the minister only informed me of this… this yesterday.” I paused before forging on. “He has made it clear that representatives of the ARC are to meet and greet with select journalists in an attempt to improve our future interactions.
“Representatives?” Jenny asked, clearly wondering who I would be taking if not her.
“Unfortunately, yes. As Director, I will be required to attend but I require one of the current field team to accompany me, as they caused the problem in the first place.”
“I’ll go, guv.” Danny leapt in, as usual, in his size 10s.
“You don’t even know when it is,” I pointed out.
“Ah, right. I’d have to check my calendar first.”
I wasn’t sure if I was the only one who didn’t believe Danny, but I had no interest in his social life, or lack of one. “The chosen individual will need to be able to represent the ARC in a positive and professional manner,”
“So, not Danny.” Becker grinned at his playmate, at least when it came to testing security at the ARC – another reason I had asked Ryan to take over security at the ARC.
“Oi! I can be professional.”
“You weren’t yesterday,” I informed him, suppressing a shudder as I recalled his antics. Before I could name Becker as my choice, hopefully in a subtle manner, I noticed Jenny and Ryan exchange a glance. “Jenny? You had a suggestion?”
“I believe Captain Becker would be the ideal choice, James.”
I wasn’t going to agree too hastily, although from the look my staff shared, I had to wonder if Lyle had a bloody book on a relationship between us… which lead me to wonder if I’d missed something and if I’d been rather more obvious than I would have wished. “I suppose he is the only one with a modicum of decorum.”
“Sir?” Becker sat to attention. “When is it?”
“The minister wants this situation nipped in the bud as soon as possible, so it is this weekend. I do hope you didn’t have any plans, as this…”
I couldn’t think of a suitable word to describe the upcoming disaster, until Jenny came up with the suggestion of, “Conference.”
“Thank you, Jenny. As I was saying, this conference begins with meeting a selected group of journalists at seven on Friday evening and finishes at seven on Sunday.” I paused for a moment before adding, “As it will take the entire weekend, you can have Monday off.”
Lorraine looked up from her minutes taking. “I’ll change the rota, Sir, for both you and Captain Becker.”
I glanced over at Jenny, met the determined look in her eyes and conceded, knowing this was a battle I was unlikely to win. “Now, is there any other business? Good. Everyone is dismissed.” I left to allow my people to renew their friendships or be introduced to Jenny and Ryan.
The only highlights of the week were the ease in which both Jenny and Ryan re-integrated into the ARC, almost as if they’d never left, and the lack of anomalies. Unfortunately, with each passing day, the conference drew closer and, for once, I found myself hoping for a difficult anomaly to open on Friday. I groaned softly when the clock ticked over to four pm and the ADD still remained stubbornly silent.
“Sir? Are you OK, sir?”
I looked up to meet Becker’s concerned gaze and swallowed my suddenly dry throat, I had thought he looked good in his uniform, but the sight of him in casual clothing… Bloody hell.
“Sir? Sir!”
“I’m fine, Becker.” Not that I was, not with Becker looking that hot and… Not, definitely not thoughts to be having when I needed to be professional and, fuck, I would have to spend the entire weekend with a group of nosy journalists, all of whom would have at least a modicum of perception to do their jobs and I had no wish for my unrequited feelings to provide the story… Oh fuck, now I was getting bloody soppy. I mentally shook myself and took a deep, calming breath before rising. “Right, Becker. Ready to leave?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, lets get this..” I swallowed what I was going to say. “Disaster over and done with.”
“It might not be that bad…” At my incredulous look, Becker shrugged, “We could always hope for something newsworthy to happen, elsewhere.”
“I’m not that lucky,” I murmured, grabbing my briefcase and heading towards my car.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Are we going to take both cars?” Becker asked.
“Is there a reason we shouldn’t?” Especially when I could think of a very good reason not to.
“It’s a long drive, sir. We could take it in turns to drive.”
Bloody hell, Becker had a good point, but I had hoped to avoid spending any longer than I had to in close proximity with him. And a several hour drive was exactly what I had wanted to avoid. However, I could see no legitimate reason to disagree with his suggestion and it was already clear that this weekend was going to be a strain on my temper and self-control.
The journey was even worse than I’d expected, as we’d been caught in traffic. I should have expected that to be a warning, and I knew something else had gone wrong when I finally followed Becker inside the hotel the conference was to be held at and caught his expression. “Becker? Is there a problem?”
“Um…”
I turned my attention to the receptionist and repeated myself, an eyebrow raised in question.
“Er, Sir James?” The receptionist, one Sally Mayhew from her badge, asked.
“Yes?” I replied, glancing at Becker who refused to meet my gaze.
Sally looked between us before almost stammering, “I think there’s been a mistake in the bookings, sir. We… er. The booking was made for a Sir James Lester and a.. a Captain Hilary Becker.”
“That is correct,” I said, waiting for a moment for her to continue before asking, “What is the problem?”
“They thought we were… together.”
Ah, well, the distaste in his voice put pay to any thoughts I might.. that I had harboured for something more with Becker, it was clear be didn’t feel the same. “I see.” I swore slightly when I realised what their reactions meant. “I assume there are no other rooms available?”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“I’m sure we’ll manage.” Not that I had any choice but to share with Becker, not if I wanted to keep control of the ARC. I half wondered who I’d pissed off, as this weekend was becoming more and more of a disaster and I really couldn’t wait until I was home.
“I’ll show you to your room, sirs. The meet-and-greet is due to start at seven in Conference Room 3, sirs.”
“Thank you, Sally. We’ll be there.” I told her, before frowning, “Is that formal or…?”
“No, sir, casual.”
I relaxed on the rather comfortable double bed and waited for my turn in the bathroom, sipping the whisky I’d found in the room’s bar. I told myself to keep my thoughts firmly on the conference and not on Becker or, as I could hear the shower running, exactly what he might be doing in the bathroom. It wasn’t working and I tried to think of anything to distract myself. I glanced up when the bathroom door opened and I felt my eyes bulge as I took in the sight of Becker, hair wet but still carefully groomed and I felt my cock twitched at the thought of messing that perfect hair up as we... I gulped my whisky and quickly rose. “About time, Captain.”
“Sir?”
I ignored Becker’s question, instead I gathered up the clothes I was going to wear and quickly entered the bathroom. I switched on the shower and slumped against the door for an instance before rousing myself. I had no wish to start any rumours by being late, journalists, like soldiers, were the greatest gossips at any opportunity.
I swiftly stripped and stepped into the shower, dealing swiftly with my problem and cleaning myself thoroughly. Oh, Becker might not be interested but I wasn’t going to sleep in the same bed as another man without being prepared… Fuck. That was not a thought to have and I shivered as I turned the shower to cold. The knock on the door had me jumping and I hurried as Becker called out it was almost time for the meet-and-greet.
I rapidly dried and dressed before exiting the bathroom to grab my wallet and other belongings. I caught a glimpse of Becker eyeing me up as I combed my hair in the mirror and his slight blush as I met his eyes. Could he be interested after all? My mind replayed events, to the look on his face when I’d told Becker not to expect a kiss from me, to the shoulder squeeze after my injury during Convergence. I turned towards Becker, not exactly sure what I was going to say. “Becker…” I began before our phone alarms went off and it was time for the bloody meet-and-greet.
“We’ve got to go, sir.”
“I did realise that, Becker,” I almost snapped, gathering my facade about me as I prepared to enter the lion’s den.
There were ten journalists waiting for us, each reminding me of predators waiting for their prey. I shook hands with each before grabbing a drink, I knew I wasn’t going to get through this debacle entirely sober, although I wasn’t foolish enough to get drunk in the presence of journalists just waiting like circling sharks for a juicy story. Well, that and I didn’t want to impair my faculties if Becker was interested… and that was definitely not a thought to entertain in the presence of my current company.
With a drink in hand, I circulated the room and made sure I was eating enough of the nibbles to offset the alcohol I was consuming. I noticed Becker was also being moderate with his alcohol consumption, although I did wish he wasn’t stuffing his mouth with sausages.
The journalists were just as annoying as I’d expected, wanting to know all about the ARC and the various incursions. I had to field off several top-ups as they tried to ply me with alcohol to loosen my tongue and gain gossip on the team. Still, the evening was, in my opinion, a moderate success, at least, it was until my mobile rang, closely followed by Becker’s. I exchanged a glance with Becker as we reached for our mobiles, not that we had a chance to answer before Sally bolted into the room, screaming. “Anomaly! These an anomaly in the kitchen.”
Part 2
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~3565
Characters: James Lester, Hilary Becker, plus Danny Quinn, Jenny Lewis, Lorraine Wickes, Tom Ryan, Abby Maitland, Connor Temple, Blade (OC), Lyle (OC), OCs,
Rating: 15
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
Warning: Peril? Angst?
A/N 1: Isamazed’s Secret Santa, hope you like it and that you had a great Christmas. Her prompts are these: 1) You’re an idiot. But you’re my idiot. 2) Soldiers were the greatest gossips. 3) I am not one to hold grudges and 4) I only finished what he/she started. All of them are in there, more-or-less.
A/N 2: Thanks goes to Fififolle for looking at it, all remaining mistakes are mine.
Part 2
I sat at my desk and resisted the temptation to put my head in my hands. The world learning about the anomalies had proven to be as chaotic as I had always believed, validating my stance on keeping their existence from the public.
I sighed as I recalled the incident when someone had decided to ‘save’ money by using a juvenile Triceratops to keep their lawn cropped short – something that had ended in several trampled fences, a crushed car and an attempt at suing the ARC for damaged. An attempt that, I was thankful, had been seen off by the ARC lawyers.
Then there were those idiots who thought they were experts from reading those ARC reports deemed suitable to be declassified and made public. Obviously the successful incursions with no or minimal injury, rather than those with members of the field team and/or the public being maimed or killed.
Today had been a prime example of the latter, when two mouthy, spotty teenagers thought they were a match for some time-lost creatures. They’d assumed the creatures would be harmless due to the small hoofed footprints they had left – they had clearly never seen an enraged cow defending her calf. An assumption which had almost resulted in their injury, if not deaths, when the Mesonyx pack they’d been tracking had decided the boys would be easy prey.
Of course, the minister had not been best pleased by events, especially when they’d put their side of the story on their… I believe Connor had called it their ‘blog’ page. A pack of lies, like many things on the internet. They’d made out they’d been the heroes and the ARC had tried to take credit for their actions in saving people. The little… idiots had lapped up the attention when the gutter press had picked up their story. Those self-same journalists, and some from more reputable papers, had proceeded to ambush my field team. I rubbed my head, for people who could easily deal with predators from the past, dealing with.. well, I suppose their modern day equivalents had proven impossible. I wasn’t sure who had been worse, between Abby looking like a deer caught in the headlights when asked a simple, albeit non-animal related, question, to Connor spouting techno-garbage to Danny… well, the less said about that incident, the better. I found myself wondering if I should send everyone on a public relations course, at least, if I should if my other plan didn’t come to fruition.
The fallout from those… calling them interviews would be a disservice to the term… hadn’t been pleasant. The dressing down certainly hadn’t been, as I’d been subjected to yet another pointless one-sided conversation with the minister. If that hadn’t been enough, the minister’s solution to the ‘media situation’ – as he referred to it – would be yet another disaster. Not that I had any option but to agree to the farce, well, not if I wished to remain the director of the ARC.
I glanced up at the knock on my door and straighten when I realised Lorraine was standing there. I glanced at the clock before frowning as I realised what time it was. “Isn’t it rather late for you to still be here, Ms Wickes?”
“I’m just leaving, sir,” Lorraine replied pointedly and I noticed the looming presence of Blade just outside my door, clearly present as backup in her attempt to evict me from my own office before nine.
“Excellent, I doubt the minister would appreciate any overtime at the moment.” I paused for a moment, debating with myself whether I could do anything useful if I stayed. I swiftly decided there wasn’t and, switching off my computer, I gathered my belongings. I noted the brief look of surprise cross Lorraine’s face at my easy capitulation. “Lorraine?”
“Sir?” Lorraine replied, her expression swiftly becoming professional.
My gaze switched to Blade when he shifted his weight, and I realised today could have been far worse but for the actions of my Special Forces personnel. “I should thank you and your colleagues for your excellent work today, Corporal Richards.”
“We were only doing our job, sir.”
“Under extreme provocation, I believe,” I replied, considering the abuse those ungrateful yobs had thrown at my soldiers.. and their comments to Abby, well, they were lucky Blade had limited himself to a mere glower.
“Sir? Is that all?” Lorraine asked, obviously keen to leave, at least, once she’d prised me out of my office.
I recalled the minister’s instructions and bit back a sigh. “No, I will require a full field team meeting arranged for tomorrow.” I considered the members of my field team for a moment before adding, “Accept no excuses, Ms Wickes, not even dismemberment or death.”
Lorraine’s eyebrows escaped her control before she resumed her professional demeanour. “Of course, sir. Would this be about today?”
I nodded, after all I would require her presence tomorrow. “I’ll be requiring full minutes to be despatched to the minister…”
I trailed off, reconsidering that instruction, but before I could correct myself, Lorraine proved once again how much of an asset she was to the ARC and to me, personally. “I’ll prepare a suitable version for the minister, sir.”
“Excellent.” I glanced around my office before deciding anything else could wait for tomorrow. I headed down the ramp before we bid each other a good evening.
***
Even the snifter of brandy and listening to my music hadn’t soothed my thoughts. I had considered and rapidly dismissed almost every member of my team, before realising I really only had two options – Ms Emily Merchant or Captain Becker. As suitable as Emily would be, I had no wish for her to honestly answer where, or rather, when she was from. Not when I’d been insisting that we shouldn’t make any changes to the past. Which left Becker, suitable, professional, from this time and most definitely presentable.. and those were not thoughts I should be entertaining.
Thinking about the disaster which the minister’s plan would no doubt entail and the far pleasanter dreams involving Becker had resulted in a rather disturbed night. So much so that I had to resort to consuming far too many coffees in an attempt to remain awake enough to deal with my team.
I could hear my so-called professional staff before I even reached the door and closed my eyes briefly as I gathered my facade about me. I took a deep breath before opening the door to step inside the eye of the storm. Unfortunately, my team didn’t disappoint me. Connor was tapping away on his laptop, although from the little cheers he uttered, clearly not for work. Abby was reading through her notes, I assumed making her argument for increased funding for the creatures. Matthew appeared to be reading a plant catalogue and I wondered if I’d receive a budgetary request for them as well. As for Danny, he was holding court as he regaled anyone who’d listen about yesterday’s incursion. That left only Lorraine, Emily and Becker being professional as they waited for the meeting to begin. I cleared my throat and gained almost everyone’s attention – Connor was still tapping away until Abby elbowed him, and Danny was still grinning like a loon.
“Gentlemen, ladies,” I began before taking my seat and glancing down at the notes I’d made the previous evening. “Yesterday was a disaster...”
“No one died,” Danny interrupted.
“Be that as it may.” I glared at Danny until he subsided. “I was referring to what happened afterwards. That disaster at public relations.” I paused to dispense an equal opportunity glare around the table. “Now that the anomalies and the ARC are, unfortunately, public knowledge, the press will be interested in everything we do.” I paused to allow that to sink in.
“I believe that is why you spent considerable time convincing me to return, James.” I don’t believe I had ever been so happy to hear that well-known voice which spoke from the doorway. Every eye in the room turned towards her, mouths opened as they gawked at her and the man standing beside her.
Abby was the first on her feet, almost flying in her haste to hug both of them. “Jenny! Ryan! I didn’t know you were back.”
Connor wasn’t far behind as he asked, “Are you both back?”
Now that was the question I wanted answered, although I was fairly sure they wouldn’t have turned up in person just to turn my job offer down.
“We are,” Ryan replied, to the cheers of all my staff.
“Jenny will be resuming her role in PR, but won’t be directly involved in dealing with any incursions. Captain...”
“I’m retired, Sir… James,” Ryan hastily corrected both himself and me.
“Captain Ryan.” He might be retired on medical grounds, but Ryan had earned his rank. “Will be responsible for security at the ARC, allowing Captain Becker to concentrate on any incursion.”
“Good to see you again, S… Ryan.” Becker rose to greet his fellow officer.
“If everyone has quite finished?” This job really was like herding cats sometimes, although I hoped the addition of Ryan and Jenny to the team would help. I waited until everyone was once more seated before continuing, “As I was trying to say, the minister was not best pleased by yesterday’s events. Jenny will be working with you, all of you. Until you are capable of, at least handling an interview without making a complete pig’s ear out of it.” I allowed my gaze to rest on each of my problem team before I turned to Jenny, “I’m sorry the circumstances require your immediate attention, Jenny.”
“Think nothing of it, James,” Jenny replied with a practised smile.
I nodded before considering my next words, but putting them off wouldn’t make the situation any better. “However, considering the number of complaints he had received, the minister had decided it is absolutely imperative that we repair the relationship between the ARC and the press.”
Jenny frowned as she meet my gaze. “You haven’t mentioned this before, James.”
“No, the minister only informed me of this… this yesterday.” I paused before forging on. “He has made it clear that representatives of the ARC are to meet and greet with select journalists in an attempt to improve our future interactions.
“Representatives?” Jenny asked, clearly wondering who I would be taking if not her.
“Unfortunately, yes. As Director, I will be required to attend but I require one of the current field team to accompany me, as they caused the problem in the first place.”
“I’ll go, guv.” Danny leapt in, as usual, in his size 10s.
“You don’t even know when it is,” I pointed out.
“Ah, right. I’d have to check my calendar first.”
I wasn’t sure if I was the only one who didn’t believe Danny, but I had no interest in his social life, or lack of one. “The chosen individual will need to be able to represent the ARC in a positive and professional manner,”
“So, not Danny.” Becker grinned at his playmate, at least when it came to testing security at the ARC – another reason I had asked Ryan to take over security at the ARC.
“Oi! I can be professional.”
“You weren’t yesterday,” I informed him, suppressing a shudder as I recalled his antics. Before I could name Becker as my choice, hopefully in a subtle manner, I noticed Jenny and Ryan exchange a glance. “Jenny? You had a suggestion?”
“I believe Captain Becker would be the ideal choice, James.”
I wasn’t going to agree too hastily, although from the look my staff shared, I had to wonder if Lyle had a bloody book on a relationship between us… which lead me to wonder if I’d missed something and if I’d been rather more obvious than I would have wished. “I suppose he is the only one with a modicum of decorum.”
“Sir?” Becker sat to attention. “When is it?”
“The minister wants this situation nipped in the bud as soon as possible, so it is this weekend. I do hope you didn’t have any plans, as this…”
I couldn’t think of a suitable word to describe the upcoming disaster, until Jenny came up with the suggestion of, “Conference.”
“Thank you, Jenny. As I was saying, this conference begins with meeting a selected group of journalists at seven on Friday evening and finishes at seven on Sunday.” I paused for a moment before adding, “As it will take the entire weekend, you can have Monday off.”
Lorraine looked up from her minutes taking. “I’ll change the rota, Sir, for both you and Captain Becker.”
I glanced over at Jenny, met the determined look in her eyes and conceded, knowing this was a battle I was unlikely to win. “Now, is there any other business? Good. Everyone is dismissed.” I left to allow my people to renew their friendships or be introduced to Jenny and Ryan.
***
The only highlights of the week were the ease in which both Jenny and Ryan re-integrated into the ARC, almost as if they’d never left, and the lack of anomalies. Unfortunately, with each passing day, the conference drew closer and, for once, I found myself hoping for a difficult anomaly to open on Friday. I groaned softly when the clock ticked over to four pm and the ADD still remained stubbornly silent.
“Sir? Are you OK, sir?”
I looked up to meet Becker’s concerned gaze and swallowed my suddenly dry throat, I had thought he looked good in his uniform, but the sight of him in casual clothing… Bloody hell.
“Sir? Sir!”
“I’m fine, Becker.” Not that I was, not with Becker looking that hot and… Not, definitely not thoughts to be having when I needed to be professional and, fuck, I would have to spend the entire weekend with a group of nosy journalists, all of whom would have at least a modicum of perception to do their jobs and I had no wish for my unrequited feelings to provide the story… Oh fuck, now I was getting bloody soppy. I mentally shook myself and took a deep, calming breath before rising. “Right, Becker. Ready to leave?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, lets get this..” I swallowed what I was going to say. “Disaster over and done with.”
“It might not be that bad…” At my incredulous look, Becker shrugged, “We could always hope for something newsworthy to happen, elsewhere.”
“I’m not that lucky,” I murmured, grabbing my briefcase and heading towards my car.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Are we going to take both cars?” Becker asked.
“Is there a reason we shouldn’t?” Especially when I could think of a very good reason not to.
“It’s a long drive, sir. We could take it in turns to drive.”
Bloody hell, Becker had a good point, but I had hoped to avoid spending any longer than I had to in close proximity with him. And a several hour drive was exactly what I had wanted to avoid. However, I could see no legitimate reason to disagree with his suggestion and it was already clear that this weekend was going to be a strain on my temper and self-control.
***
The journey was even worse than I’d expected, as we’d been caught in traffic. I should have expected that to be a warning, and I knew something else had gone wrong when I finally followed Becker inside the hotel the conference was to be held at and caught his expression. “Becker? Is there a problem?”
“Um…”
I turned my attention to the receptionist and repeated myself, an eyebrow raised in question.
“Er, Sir James?” The receptionist, one Sally Mayhew from her badge, asked.
“Yes?” I replied, glancing at Becker who refused to meet my gaze.
Sally looked between us before almost stammering, “I think there’s been a mistake in the bookings, sir. We… er. The booking was made for a Sir James Lester and a.. a Captain Hilary Becker.”
“That is correct,” I said, waiting for a moment for her to continue before asking, “What is the problem?”
“They thought we were… together.”
Ah, well, the distaste in his voice put pay to any thoughts I might.. that I had harboured for something more with Becker, it was clear be didn’t feel the same. “I see.” I swore slightly when I realised what their reactions meant. “I assume there are no other rooms available?”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“I’m sure we’ll manage.” Not that I had any choice but to share with Becker, not if I wanted to keep control of the ARC. I half wondered who I’d pissed off, as this weekend was becoming more and more of a disaster and I really couldn’t wait until I was home.
“I’ll show you to your room, sirs. The meet-and-greet is due to start at seven in Conference Room 3, sirs.”
“Thank you, Sally. We’ll be there.” I told her, before frowning, “Is that formal or…?”
“No, sir, casual.”
***
I relaxed on the rather comfortable double bed and waited for my turn in the bathroom, sipping the whisky I’d found in the room’s bar. I told myself to keep my thoughts firmly on the conference and not on Becker or, as I could hear the shower running, exactly what he might be doing in the bathroom. It wasn’t working and I tried to think of anything to distract myself. I glanced up when the bathroom door opened and I felt my eyes bulge as I took in the sight of Becker, hair wet but still carefully groomed and I felt my cock twitched at the thought of messing that perfect hair up as we... I gulped my whisky and quickly rose. “About time, Captain.”
“Sir?”
I ignored Becker’s question, instead I gathered up the clothes I was going to wear and quickly entered the bathroom. I switched on the shower and slumped against the door for an instance before rousing myself. I had no wish to start any rumours by being late, journalists, like soldiers, were the greatest gossips at any opportunity.
I swiftly stripped and stepped into the shower, dealing swiftly with my problem and cleaning myself thoroughly. Oh, Becker might not be interested but I wasn’t going to sleep in the same bed as another man without being prepared… Fuck. That was not a thought to have and I shivered as I turned the shower to cold. The knock on the door had me jumping and I hurried as Becker called out it was almost time for the meet-and-greet.
I rapidly dried and dressed before exiting the bathroom to grab my wallet and other belongings. I caught a glimpse of Becker eyeing me up as I combed my hair in the mirror and his slight blush as I met his eyes. Could he be interested after all? My mind replayed events, to the look on his face when I’d told Becker not to expect a kiss from me, to the shoulder squeeze after my injury during Convergence. I turned towards Becker, not exactly sure what I was going to say. “Becker…” I began before our phone alarms went off and it was time for the bloody meet-and-greet.
“We’ve got to go, sir.”
“I did realise that, Becker,” I almost snapped, gathering my facade about me as I prepared to enter the lion’s den.
***
There were ten journalists waiting for us, each reminding me of predators waiting for their prey. I shook hands with each before grabbing a drink, I knew I wasn’t going to get through this debacle entirely sober, although I wasn’t foolish enough to get drunk in the presence of journalists just waiting like circling sharks for a juicy story. Well, that and I didn’t want to impair my faculties if Becker was interested… and that was definitely not a thought to entertain in the presence of my current company.
With a drink in hand, I circulated the room and made sure I was eating enough of the nibbles to offset the alcohol I was consuming. I noticed Becker was also being moderate with his alcohol consumption, although I did wish he wasn’t stuffing his mouth with sausages.
The journalists were just as annoying as I’d expected, wanting to know all about the ARC and the various incursions. I had to field off several top-ups as they tried to ply me with alcohol to loosen my tongue and gain gossip on the team. Still, the evening was, in my opinion, a moderate success, at least, it was until my mobile rang, closely followed by Becker’s. I exchanged a glance with Becker as we reached for our mobiles, not that we had a chance to answer before Sally bolted into the room, screaming. “Anomaly! These an anomaly in the kitchen.”
Part 2
