Primeval fic: Broken Wings (14/17)
Jan. 27th, 2012 08:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
knitekatTitle: Broken Wings (14/17)
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~1780 (of ~27300)
Characters: Tom Ryan, James Lester, team and OC soldiers.
Pairing: James Lester/Tom Ryan, various.
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace. The OCs belong to Fred and Luka. 'Broken Wings' is a song by Mr Mister.
A/N: For Fred and her prompt of Lester/Ryan and Technical Hitch. Thanks go to Luka for looking at it and to the wonderful Fifi for the beta. Any remaining mistakes are my own.
A/N2: Continues from Part 13 and continues in Part 15.
Warning (for all parts): Timey-wimey AU: death!fic, dark!fic, dub!con, hurt/comfort, angst, slash, het, OOC-ness.
Ryan sighed softly as he stared at his meagre belongings piled neatly on his borrowed bed. It was a pity he had to leave. He had been made so welcome in this world, they had even asked him to stay, and not only because of his experience with the anomalies. He had almost been tempted, this world would have been perfect except for one thing - that James wasn't interested in him. Ryan didn't think he could stand working with the man but not be his lover. It would drive him insane to see James every day, to be so close to him and then have to walk away to his lonely bed. For all the friendships re-forged in his time here, Ryan knew he had to continue with his search. He just couldn't give up on his happiness. He needed to be with James, he wasn't complete without him.
He sat on his bed and pulled out the battered photo he'd kept close to his heart throughout his adventures. He smiled as he stared at it, remembering the day it had been taken by Stephen. James had just asked him to marry him and it had been the happiest day in Ryan's life. He and James had been arm-in-arm and smiling at the camera. So much in love.
It was still hard for Ryan to believe that it had all fallen apart less than a month later and he had been left alone. Bereft. His heart ripped out of his chest and buried with his lover. It had hurt so much to be in the church burying James when they should have been there getting married that very day. He had hoped that this world would have restored his heart to him, but he should have known better. Ryan shook his head, it wasn't like him to get all melodramatic, he was a bloody soldier not a poet.
A soft knock on the door had Ryan looking up into the sympathetic faces of Connor and Abby. He quickly hid the photo, it was too precious a memory to share. The two youngest members of the ARC exchanged glances loaded with conspiracy before Connor shrugged. Ryan's interest was piqued and he quirked an eyebrow at them. He frowned as the pair grinned back at him.
“No doubt about it. You're Lester's lover in your world. You've got his eyebrow thing down perfectly.”
Ryan couldn't hide his flinch or his look of pain at Connor's words.
“Connor!” Abby hissed as she elbowed him in the ribs.
“Ow.” Connor rubbed his side and looked at Abby in confusion. “What was that for?”
Abby ignored him, instead asking Ryan, “You and Lester really were together?”
“In my world.” Ryan was somewhat surprised at the bitterness in his voice.
Abby nodded thoughtfully as she looked at the pile of belongings and awaiting rucksack. “Which is why you are leaving us?”
Ryan nodded. “I can't stand being near James but not...” He shook his head. “I will miss you.”
“And we will miss you.” Abby pulled Ryan into a hug.
Connor shuffled his feet before looking up at his girlfriend. “Abby?”
“Connor!”
Ryan had the feeling Connor had just put his foot in something and looked enquiringly at both of them. “What have you got planned?”
Connor answered far too quickly for Ryan's peace of mind. “Nothing.”
Ryan sighed and then caught the glare Abby shot Connor. Oops. Someone was going to be sleeping on the settee tonight.
Ryan rolled his eyes as he followed Abby and Connor down the corridor. He now knew that they were planning on throwing him a leaving party, the glances Connor kept shooting Abby merely confirmed Ryan's suspicions. As much as he hated the very thought of it, of saying goodbye to James, Ryan knew he had to. They had given him so much in his time here, the least he could do was to attend. No matter how much it hurt to see James but not be able to touch him. To hold and kiss and... No, Ryan. Not a good place to go, an inappropriate erection is not on, certainly if it is a leaving do you're being dragged to.
Ryan sighed in relief, the party hadn't been as bad as he had feared. He had been presented with various useful little gifts to take on his travels. He tried to smile and be enthusiastic as he opened each one, but his eyes kept being drawn to the closed office door of the absent James Lester.
Jenny's voice almost made him jump. “He's missed you too, Ryan.”
Ryan spun around and raised that trademark eyebrow. “What?”
Jenny smiled slightly before she continued, “I've seen the way you look at him, Ryan. When you think no one is watching.”
Ryan shrugged. “It doesn't matter. James... he isn't interested in me.”
“I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ryan. I've seen the way he looks at you too.” Jenny smiled at Ryan's confusion. “I never knew you in this world, Ryan. You died before I joined the project. But I do know James took your death hard. Very hard.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Why would he?”
“Oh, Ryan.” Jenny chuckled. “Why do you think?” She pushed him in the direction of James' door.
Ryan looked at her in shock. Could she mean what he thought she meant? It would explain James' reactions when they had first met in the interrogation suite. Ryan shook his head, he couldn't risk his heart breaking again. He still woke at night, his heart hammering in his chest as his mind replayed that terrible day. It hurt too much and Ryan couldn't face that pain again when this James rejected him. “I can't.”
Jenny sighed. “Please, Ryan. Just promise me you will think about it before you leave.”
Ryan had his rucksack packed and was ready to go as soon as the ADD located an open anomaly. He pulled out Helen's journal and stared at it for a moment before nodding. He would leave it with the professor and Connor, they would make more use of it than a simple soldier. It was a small way to pay back all that they had given him. He was sure the professor would like to have it for purely sentimental reasons... although, Ryan wasn't sure he should tell the man how he had come by his ex-wife's journal. It would be enough of a shock to read that Helen had killed him. Bloody hell, should he give it to him after all? Ryan stared at the journal and tried to think what was best. They had done so much for him and Ryan knew he had to give the professor the chance to save himself from his mad ex-wife. He couldn't let the man die and leave his lover bereft, all alone and desolate; Ryan knew how much that loss hurt.
The knock on his door was a welcome distraction from his thoughts. He turned and smiled when he caught sight of his visitor, “Lyle?”
“Sir.”
Lyle smiled in a way that had Ryan tense, he knew his bloody second was planning something. God, wasn't the party enough? Although, if he was on about a few pints down the local Ryan might reconsider, who knew when he'd next get the chance of some proper pub grub. Ryan smiled as Finn appeared with a six-pack and glanced back over his shoulder. “All clear, boss.”
“Good.” Lyle motioned for Ryan to lead the way, continuing as they walked. “We're got a little space in the menagerie. One of the unused pens where no one will disturb us and we won't disturb anyone either.”
“And one six-pack will last us how long?”
“We're got more.”
As they reached the menagerie, Finn managed to trip over his own feet and Lyle sighed. “Just in there, boss.” He pointed to one of the closed pens and walked towards Finn, Ryan assumed to help Finn back to his feet or possibly, and more likely, to rescue the six-pack. “Bloody hell, Finn, sometimes I wonder how you don't shoot your own feet.”
Ryan chuckled softly before he opened the pen door and stepped inside. No one else was present, what the hell was Lyle playing at? And there were only two chairs. He heard the door start to close behind him and spun around to meet the grinning face of Abby as she stood looking in through the gap in the closing door. “What the fuck?”
Ryan paced the cell, for that was what it was. Had something gone wrong? Had they decided not to let him leave after all? He didn't know, and after his experiences in – he really did need to start naming the parallel worlds he'd visited – OK, since it had appeared to be the mirror image of his own, Mirrorworld. Ryan smiled slightly, Connor would have loved that name...
Movement outside the cell drew Ryan's attention and he moved to one side of the door, ready to leap out and attempt to escape. He could hear voices... was that James? Yes, he was talking to someone about Monty. Who the hell was Monty? Ryan shook his head, did it matter who this Monty was? Possibly, a little voice in his head muttered, if he's an interrogator.
Ryan tensed as footsteps approached, getting ready to pounce and... no doubt get caught by the armed guards waiting outside. Maybe he should just hear them out and see what was going on, it might all be a mistake... who was he kidding? Ryan decided he would have to take his chances – until he heard James' voice just outside the door. He couldn't attack his... well, James, he just couldn't.
Ryan moved into the shadows and waited with a heavy heart as a crack of light appeared in the door and it slowly opened to reveal James peering into the gloom.
“Why did you move him?” James sounded confused as he half-turned to look over his shoulder.
Ryan's heart froze as he realised this might be a coup, that James might be as much a victim as he was. But before he could yell out a warning, James gave a yelp as he was shoved inside and the door clanged decisively closed, leaving them standing in the deepening gloom.
Ryan's softly muttered, “Fuck,” the only sound in the pen.
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~1780 (of ~27300)
Characters: Tom Ryan, James Lester, team and OC soldiers.
Pairing: James Lester/Tom Ryan, various.
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace. The OCs belong to Fred and Luka. 'Broken Wings' is a song by Mr Mister.
A/N: For Fred and her prompt of Lester/Ryan and Technical Hitch. Thanks go to Luka for looking at it and to the wonderful Fifi for the beta. Any remaining mistakes are my own.
A/N2: Continues from Part 13 and continues in Part 15.
Warning (for all parts): Timey-wimey AU: death!fic, dark!fic, dub!con, hurt/comfort, angst, slash, het, OOC-ness.
Ryan sighed softly as he stared at his meagre belongings piled neatly on his borrowed bed. It was a pity he had to leave. He had been made so welcome in this world, they had even asked him to stay, and not only because of his experience with the anomalies. He had almost been tempted, this world would have been perfect except for one thing - that James wasn't interested in him. Ryan didn't think he could stand working with the man but not be his lover. It would drive him insane to see James every day, to be so close to him and then have to walk away to his lonely bed. For all the friendships re-forged in his time here, Ryan knew he had to continue with his search. He just couldn't give up on his happiness. He needed to be with James, he wasn't complete without him.
He sat on his bed and pulled out the battered photo he'd kept close to his heart throughout his adventures. He smiled as he stared at it, remembering the day it had been taken by Stephen. James had just asked him to marry him and it had been the happiest day in Ryan's life. He and James had been arm-in-arm and smiling at the camera. So much in love.
It was still hard for Ryan to believe that it had all fallen apart less than a month later and he had been left alone. Bereft. His heart ripped out of his chest and buried with his lover. It had hurt so much to be in the church burying James when they should have been there getting married that very day. He had hoped that this world would have restored his heart to him, but he should have known better. Ryan shook his head, it wasn't like him to get all melodramatic, he was a bloody soldier not a poet.
A soft knock on the door had Ryan looking up into the sympathetic faces of Connor and Abby. He quickly hid the photo, it was too precious a memory to share. The two youngest members of the ARC exchanged glances loaded with conspiracy before Connor shrugged. Ryan's interest was piqued and he quirked an eyebrow at them. He frowned as the pair grinned back at him.
“No doubt about it. You're Lester's lover in your world. You've got his eyebrow thing down perfectly.”
Ryan couldn't hide his flinch or his look of pain at Connor's words.
“Connor!” Abby hissed as she elbowed him in the ribs.
“Ow.” Connor rubbed his side and looked at Abby in confusion. “What was that for?”
Abby ignored him, instead asking Ryan, “You and Lester really were together?”
“In my world.” Ryan was somewhat surprised at the bitterness in his voice.
Abby nodded thoughtfully as she looked at the pile of belongings and awaiting rucksack. “Which is why you are leaving us?”
Ryan nodded. “I can't stand being near James but not...” He shook his head. “I will miss you.”
“And we will miss you.” Abby pulled Ryan into a hug.
Connor shuffled his feet before looking up at his girlfriend. “Abby?”
“Connor!”
Ryan had the feeling Connor had just put his foot in something and looked enquiringly at both of them. “What have you got planned?”
Connor answered far too quickly for Ryan's peace of mind. “Nothing.”
Ryan sighed and then caught the glare Abby shot Connor. Oops. Someone was going to be sleeping on the settee tonight.
****
Ryan rolled his eyes as he followed Abby and Connor down the corridor. He now knew that they were planning on throwing him a leaving party, the glances Connor kept shooting Abby merely confirmed Ryan's suspicions. As much as he hated the very thought of it, of saying goodbye to James, Ryan knew he had to. They had given him so much in his time here, the least he could do was to attend. No matter how much it hurt to see James but not be able to touch him. To hold and kiss and... No, Ryan. Not a good place to go, an inappropriate erection is not on, certainly if it is a leaving do you're being dragged to.
****
Ryan sighed in relief, the party hadn't been as bad as he had feared. He had been presented with various useful little gifts to take on his travels. He tried to smile and be enthusiastic as he opened each one, but his eyes kept being drawn to the closed office door of the absent James Lester.
Jenny's voice almost made him jump. “He's missed you too, Ryan.”
Ryan spun around and raised that trademark eyebrow. “What?”
Jenny smiled slightly before she continued, “I've seen the way you look at him, Ryan. When you think no one is watching.”
Ryan shrugged. “It doesn't matter. James... he isn't interested in me.”
“I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ryan. I've seen the way he looks at you too.” Jenny smiled at Ryan's confusion. “I never knew you in this world, Ryan. You died before I joined the project. But I do know James took your death hard. Very hard.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Why would he?”
“Oh, Ryan.” Jenny chuckled. “Why do you think?” She pushed him in the direction of James' door.
Ryan looked at her in shock. Could she mean what he thought she meant? It would explain James' reactions when they had first met in the interrogation suite. Ryan shook his head, he couldn't risk his heart breaking again. He still woke at night, his heart hammering in his chest as his mind replayed that terrible day. It hurt too much and Ryan couldn't face that pain again when this James rejected him. “I can't.”
Jenny sighed. “Please, Ryan. Just promise me you will think about it before you leave.”
****
Ryan had his rucksack packed and was ready to go as soon as the ADD located an open anomaly. He pulled out Helen's journal and stared at it for a moment before nodding. He would leave it with the professor and Connor, they would make more use of it than a simple soldier. It was a small way to pay back all that they had given him. He was sure the professor would like to have it for purely sentimental reasons... although, Ryan wasn't sure he should tell the man how he had come by his ex-wife's journal. It would be enough of a shock to read that Helen had killed him. Bloody hell, should he give it to him after all? Ryan stared at the journal and tried to think what was best. They had done so much for him and Ryan knew he had to give the professor the chance to save himself from his mad ex-wife. He couldn't let the man die and leave his lover bereft, all alone and desolate; Ryan knew how much that loss hurt.
The knock on his door was a welcome distraction from his thoughts. He turned and smiled when he caught sight of his visitor, “Lyle?”
“Sir.”
Lyle smiled in a way that had Ryan tense, he knew his bloody second was planning something. God, wasn't the party enough? Although, if he was on about a few pints down the local Ryan might reconsider, who knew when he'd next get the chance of some proper pub grub. Ryan smiled as Finn appeared with a six-pack and glanced back over his shoulder. “All clear, boss.”
“Good.” Lyle motioned for Ryan to lead the way, continuing as they walked. “We're got a little space in the menagerie. One of the unused pens where no one will disturb us and we won't disturb anyone either.”
“And one six-pack will last us how long?”
“We're got more.”
As they reached the menagerie, Finn managed to trip over his own feet and Lyle sighed. “Just in there, boss.” He pointed to one of the closed pens and walked towards Finn, Ryan assumed to help Finn back to his feet or possibly, and more likely, to rescue the six-pack. “Bloody hell, Finn, sometimes I wonder how you don't shoot your own feet.”
Ryan chuckled softly before he opened the pen door and stepped inside. No one else was present, what the hell was Lyle playing at? And there were only two chairs. He heard the door start to close behind him and spun around to meet the grinning face of Abby as she stood looking in through the gap in the closing door. “What the fuck?”
Ryan paced the cell, for that was what it was. Had something gone wrong? Had they decided not to let him leave after all? He didn't know, and after his experiences in – he really did need to start naming the parallel worlds he'd visited – OK, since it had appeared to be the mirror image of his own, Mirrorworld. Ryan smiled slightly, Connor would have loved that name...
Movement outside the cell drew Ryan's attention and he moved to one side of the door, ready to leap out and attempt to escape. He could hear voices... was that James? Yes, he was talking to someone about Monty. Who the hell was Monty? Ryan shook his head, did it matter who this Monty was? Possibly, a little voice in his head muttered, if he's an interrogator.
Ryan tensed as footsteps approached, getting ready to pounce and... no doubt get caught by the armed guards waiting outside. Maybe he should just hear them out and see what was going on, it might all be a mistake... who was he kidding? Ryan decided he would have to take his chances – until he heard James' voice just outside the door. He couldn't attack his... well, James, he just couldn't.
Ryan moved into the shadows and waited with a heavy heart as a crack of light appeared in the door and it slowly opened to reveal James peering into the gloom.
“Why did you move him?” James sounded confused as he half-turned to look over his shoulder.
Ryan's heart froze as he realised this might be a coup, that James might be as much a victim as he was. But before he could yell out a warning, James gave a yelp as he was shoved inside and the door clanged decisively closed, leaving them standing in the deepening gloom.
Ryan's softly muttered, “Fuck,” the only sound in the pen.
