fredbassett | Fic, Falls the Shadow, Part 2, Stephen/Ryan, Slash, 15

Title : Falls the Shadow, Part 2
Author : fredbassett
Fandom : Primeval
Characters : Claudia Brown, Ryan, Stephen
Rating : 15
Disclaimer : Not mine, no money made, don’t sue
Spoilers : None.
Summary : Set after Interrogation Techniques A group of children are missing.
A/N : The remainder of this series can be found here
Tags : fic, slash, Claudia, Ryan, Stephen

Claudia Brown pulled away from the M6 toll booths and rapidly accelerated to a speed considerably over the legal limit.

Ryan had no complaints about his companion’s driving. Although he was probably the only person in the world who hadn’t, as she was hurtled the car along the motorways with a complete and utter disregard for speed cameras and police cars.

Manchester then Preston passed by in a haze of light pollution.

Lyle and the lads were no more than an hour behind, with Cutter and Connor following closely.

“Junction 36 next,” said Ryan, his voice flat and emotionless. “Follow signs to Kendal.”

This was the most Claudia’d had from him by way of conversation since she’d imparted the news that a group of school children and a teacher had gone missing in Kentmere on a trip to see the golden eagles. The group had included Ryan’s ten year old daughter.

He’d shut down almost instantly. Grey eyes harder and colder than she’d ever seen them, burning with a dangerous intensity. He’d turned on his heel without a word and headed for the door.

To Lester’s credit, he hadn’t even attempted to stop Ryan. He’d simply told Claudia to do the driving then had hit speed dial 2 on his phone and had ordered Lyle, in no uncertain terms, to keep the trouble to a minimum. Those words had followed her down the corridor. Claudia hadn’t found them comforting.

As she brought the car to a halt for only the second time since leaving the Home Office, Claudia understood what Lester had meant.

The woman standing in the brightly lit doorway, eyes red from crying, directed a look of pure poison at Ryan, then turned to the man next to her and ordered, “Greg, call the police, now!”

It had been a long and tiring drive. Claudia stepped forward, trying to radiate a confidence that seemed in very real danger of deserting her in the face of the woman’s obvious hostility.

“Claudia Brown, Home Office. I believe Sir James Lester telephoned earlier. As I’m sure he told you, Mrs Thornton, Captain Ryan is with Professor Cutter’s team. Now, is Dr. Hart here?”

Stephen stepped out of the shadows by the door, his expression as wary as Claudia’s. “I’ve checked the valley with the local police. Some residual magnetism, but nothing I could get much of a fix on.” The look he shot Ryan was apologetic, helpless.

“Cutter and the others will be here within the hour,” said Claudia, doing her best to sound reassuring. “We can check again then.” In the dark, and probably in the rain, but it won’t stop us looking. “Mrs Thornton, may we come in? We will do everything in our power to find your daughter and the others, and your co-operation will help. It would be more discreet if we could base ourselves here, but if not, we can find somewhere in the village. It’s your choice.”

The other man stepped forward, his face white in the light of the ornamental lamps. “I’m Greg Thornton, Ms Brown. We’ve plenty of space for your team here. The police have already set up an incident room in one of the guest cottages. I believe they’ve spoken to your office. Can we get you something to drink first?”

Relief bled into Claudia’s smile. At least he wasn’t openly hostile. “A cup of tea would be most welcome.”

Ryan’s ex-wife stood unmoving, tension radiating from every muscle, her eyes fixed on the soldier, like a mongoose might stare at a snake.

Greg Thornton turned to her, keeping his voice low and calm. “Amanda, Victoria’s Tom’s daughter too, and quite frankly, if he could help us get her back, I’d welcome the Devil himself with open arms. Now come on, inside, please.”

Amanda Thornton quite clearly didn’t agree, but she allowed her husband to take her arm and lead her back inside.

After suffering five minutes of painful sniping, Ryan went off with Stephen in search of the DCI in charge of the local police.

Claudia followed, leaving Amanda Thornton to comment loudly to the young WPC assigned as Family Liaison Officer, “He used to hit me. That’s why there’s an injunction. I don’t want him involved, no matter what the Home Office says. They can’t make me agree to having him here ………..”

Greg Thornton left with them. Their feet crunched loudly on wet gravel in a well-lit courtyard, but they were still some distance from the house before the shrill, angry tones faded into the darkness.

He turned to Ryan, unease clearly stamped across a thin, good looking face, “I’m sorry, Tom. I can’t pretend to have a bloody clue what’s going on, but nothing on God’s earth will convince Amanda that this isn’t somehow your fault …………” he faltered, looked uncertain, then finished in a rush, “You will find her, won’t you?”

Ryan stared at him without speaking.

It was left to Stephen to fill the gap. The younger man reached out and put a hand lightly on Greg Thornton’s arm, “We’ll find her.”

But his words were for Ryan, not for the man who was now the stepfather of his lover’s child.

Claudia just hoped Hart was right. But at the moment, it wasn’t looking good.

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: France

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

telperion-15.livejournal.com

Well, I really don't like the ex. What a bitch! "He used to hit me" - yeah whatever...any other delusions you'd like to air while you're at it?

Sorry, you seem to have provoked a rather extreme reaction here... *g*

At least the new husband seems more reasonable.

From:

Fic, Falls the Shadow, Part 2, Stephen/Ryan, Slash, 15

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