MHA #13 - Tuesday Morning

[itsananomaly]

Cutter hadn’t felt like returning to his flat after they had said goodbye to their kids, so he had spent the evening and then the morning at Connor’s flat.

Then his phone started ringing and he went to answer it.



“Cutter,” he said into his phone and winced when the dry sarcastic voice of his boss James Lester answered.

“So you do know how to answer your phone, I’ve been trying to call all weekend,” he said dryly.

“Oh,” Cutter blinked a bit, he hadn’t checked his phone all weekend, “it’s … we were busy Lester,” he wasn’t even going to try and explain the alternate kids right then, “um…it’s a long story,” he admitted.

“and I don’t want to hear it,” came Lester’s response, “the reason I’m calling is it’s been getting rather busy with the anomalies, I need you to come back to the ARC, immediately,”

“Now?” Cutter inwardly groaned and then he tried another tactic, “can it wait til later this week? It’s finals week for my classes and -“

“As much as I appreciate your dedication to actually turning up to your classes this time Professor, I need you back now,” there was a reluctant pause, “you can bring Mr. Temple too, if that will help, god knows we need all hands on deck right now, I trust there’s no further objections…especially after that nice little expensive sojourn to Washington DC that you and Mr. Temple took courtesy of my credit card,”

“Oh you got your credit card bill,” Cutter tried to sound casual at that.

“Yes Professor that is what happens every month, I get a piece of paper that tells me how much you’ve been spending …so I’ll expect you and Mr. Temple tonight then?”

Cutter sighed, “we’ll be there,”

“Good,” and with that Lester hung up.

Cutter sighed as he stared down at his phone, he hadn’t been expecting to head back home for a while now but now it seemed like things had gotten even busier since he and Stephen had gotten stuck in the Silurian.

[for Connor, whose flat has been modded with permission. After this Connor and Cutter will be heading to Cutter’s home for a canon update, where time will speed up a little for them. They’ll be back before the first week of classes!]

Comments

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Lester huh?" Connor said as he walked over, his expression falling a little. "I knew he would be calling you back at some point.... didn't know it would be so soon."

Connor walked over and stood behind Cutter and wrapped his arms around him. "Of course, I'm coming. So long as you don't mind me tagging along on ARC business and all that."

[itsananomaly]

“Neither did I,” Cutter admitted as he leaned into Connor’s arms, “I couldn’t even use the excuse it was finals week…I should have known that all those times I didn’t turn up for class was going to come back to bite me huh?” he said with a small smile.

“And of course I’d love you to come along, I won’t mind this trip home so much if you’re there,” Cutter added with a smile, “Lester didn’t give us much notice, he’s expecting us tonight, apparently he’d been trying to call all weekend,” he said sheepishly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"We'll manage. Would be good to see the team too" Connor said encouragingly as he pulled him close.

"And you would have to give me a direct order to stay here to keep me from going with you, Nick. I do hope you realize that?" Connor said with a smile as he leaned over and kissed the top of Cutter's head softly.

[itsananomaly]

“Well you’re in luck, I won’t be giving any direct orders to stay, quite the opposite really,” Cutter grinned as Connor pulled him in closer, “and I know the rest of the team will be excited to see you as well,” he paused, “I guess this means we should also tell the rest of the team about us?” he said softly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Good as a time as any I guess," Connor said gently as he held Cutter close and rubbed his back gently. "But we don't have to if you aren't ready. Whatever you feel comfortable with, Nick."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded, “I think I’m ready to tell the team,” he said softly, “I mean, if you’re ready as well,” he added, “I was thinking we should probably tell my Connor first before we tell the others,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Sounds like a plan" Connor said gently. "We'll get through it together. And I really don't think Connor is going to have any problems with this" he said encouragingly.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded, feeling slightly more encouraged at that, “I didn’t want this to be weird for him,” he said softly, “even though I’m pretty sure he may have a thing for Abby,” he had noticed the two of them getting closer.

He hesitated, “the only person I can see potentially having a problem is Stephen,” he said quietly.

He wasn’t looking forward to telling Stephen but he knew he did have to tell him, he couldn’t tell the whole team and not include Stephen.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Well get through it together. No matter what happens..." Connor said softly, holding Cutter close.

He knew there was history between Nick and Stephen and he could only imagine what this was like for Nick. Connor didn't know if he could do anything to actually make it better but he was determined to be there for Nick no matter what.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded as he leaned against Connor, “I know if you’re there, it’ll be easier to tell them,” he said softly, “it’s ..the whole thing with Stephen is complicated,” he sighed.

That was an understatement Cutter.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"I will be here, Nick" Connor said with a quick kiss to his forehead.

He had no clue how the whole telling Stephen thing was going to go. Connor wasn't even sure what he felt about all that anyway. Complicated really was a bit of an understatement there Cutter.

[itsananomaly]

“Thank you,” Cutter said softly as he wrapped his arms around Connor , “I really appreciate this, coming back with me and helping us,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Of course, Id be a crap boyfriend if I let you do this alone" Connor said as he returned the hug. "Besides, I can't turn down a chance to see some actual ARC action."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled as he hugged Connor, “even though I feel like I should warn you that Lester knows about the DC trip, he got his credit card bill,” he said a bit sheepishly, “he may be grumpier than normal “

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"So slightly more Lester than normal, got it" Connor said with a laugh. "Shouldn't be too much of a problem. Guess we better pack the outfits though, at least show him what we spent his money on?"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled at that, “actually that could work, he might appreciate that we spent money on actual suits, he couldn’t complain about that …” he tilted his head, “even though it is Lester we’re talking about,” he admitted.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Maybe a Lester annoyed at the quality of the suits would be more tolerable than a Lester that is just annoyed about the money?" Connor offered with a hopeful shrug.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled at that, “hopefully, maybe he’ll think the suits are a good investment?” he tried, “or…he’ll offer to buy suits for us instead?” he knew that one was a longshot but Lester being that annoyed that they hadn’t gotten the right suit material and buying more suits for them could work as well, “I mean in addition to the suits he’s already generously provided for us,” he grinned.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Right. At least we didn't spend the money on something frivolous! Lester should be glad we bought nice clothes with it!"

Connor leaned in and gave Cutter a quick kiss.

"Im sure the trip back will be good and everything will be fine,Nick."

Famous last words there Connor....

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled at the kiss, “I’m definitely going to use that as an argument if Lester brings it up,” he said and then wrapped his arms around Connor in a hug, “I mean what’s the worst that could happen right? We get stuck in the Silurian again?”

If only it was that simple…the Silurian was definitely going to be preferable to what was coming.