An Old Fear

[deeperwonderment]

Title: An Old Fear
Author: not_from_stars
Fandom: Primeval
Pairing/Characters: Connor Temple
Rating/Category: PG-13
Summary: Connor hated boats.
Words: 512
Notes: Spoilers for Season 4, Episode 2. This popped into my head when I was watching the second episode of the new season.





Connor hated boats.

More to the point, he hated the idea of Abby being on a boat. After all, the last time she had been on a boat, he had almost lost her forever.

It was a memory that was never going to go away. When it happened, they didn't even know that the mercreatures existed or that they were what had been attacking people. To be honest, they hadn't even known what they were looking for. As far as they had known, they were searching for another shark like the one that had almost killed Jenny. One moment the three of them were on the boat as Cutter was searching the water. The next thing he knew, something had grabbed Abby out of the boat and had disappeared beneath the dark water. They weren't able to find her and when he called for help, he could see in Stephen's eyes that he didn't hold out much hope, either. One of the divers later told him that if she was found, they would only be bringing back her body.

When they were focused on chasing the Kaprosuchus down along the docks, Connor hadn't really given much thought to the water or the boats. He was thinking about how they were going to catch this thing, while at the same time keeping his old mate safe and out of harm's way. Then on the communications through the earpiece Matt had handed him, he heard Abby's voice telling them that the creature had gone into the water. Hearing those words, he felt the first tightening of fear in his chest.

"I'm on it," Abby said and it sounded like she was running.

Connor didn't like the sound of that. He frowned and looked at Matt. "What does she mean, she's 'on it'?"

From the look on his face, Matt didn't know what Abby meant, either, and then over the earpiece, Connor heard a sound that caused his breath to catch.

It was the sound of a small boat motor.

Abby was on a boat chasing a prehistoric monster through the water.

Again.

He could lose her to something in the water again -- and this time he knew without a doubt that it would kill him. He survived it once, he wouldn't survive it again. He wouldn't want to survive it again.

Connor bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from yelling at Matt to go faster. Giving into his rising panic wouldn't do any of them any good. No matter how much he wanted to yell, to somehow make them get to Abby faster and before anything might go wrong, he managed to keep himself under control. Barely. He tried to focus on keeping his breathing calm even while his mind was begging anyone that might hear to keep Abby safe.

It seemed to take forever to get to the cargo ship. It wasn't until he saw with his own eyes that she was off the water and safe that Connor was able to breathe normally again.

Comments

[lsellersfic.livejournal.com]

I remember thinking how the boat scene was vaguely familiar but I hadn't linked it back to the merpeople episode and how Connor must be feeling!

[raptor-moon.livejournal.com]

Good insight!

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

I saw that part of the episode and went "Poor Connor. He must be feeling freaked." My daughter asked me why and I reminded her about the last time Abby was out on a small boat. She told me that I had to write his thinking and I told her I just did. :D

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[telperion-15.livejournal.com]

Yep, I remember thinking at the time that Abby was putting herself in a simliar situation to in the merpeople episode - it makes sense that Connor would remember that too. Nice ficlet :)

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :) It was something that I just had to write up when I saw that.

[fredbassett]

Nice little scene :)

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

Good observation! It hadn't occurred to me that he'd be thinking like that.

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

I was surprised that it came along so easily with how tired I was.

[bigtitch.livejournal.com]

Oooh I can see Connor feeling and thinking this!

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It just popped into my head during that scene.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Nice look at Connor, I can see him really not liking Abby on a boat.

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :)

[gypsylady.livejournal.com]

When I saw Abby on that boat the first thing I thought was, "Have you learned nothing, woman?!?" It didn't occur to me that Connor would react but it makes sense. Nicely written piece.

[canadian-jay.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Clever, that. I can definitely see Connor thinking of this. (I know I thought 'oops, they better not get tipped over!')

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

*grins* I was thinking along the same lines. :)

Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed.

[eternalscribe.livejournal.com]

Poor Connor. I just had this image that the idea of her being on a boat again was not something he liked. :)

Glad you liked.

[deinonychus-1.livejournal.com]

ooh, good ficlet. Poor Connor, he's going to be reminded of that day with the mer creatures every time he sees a boat, no wonder he doesn't like the thought of Abby going near one again.