MHA #13 - Monday Lunchtime

[itsananomaly]

Cutter didn’t know how to deal with what had happened over the weekend at all. He had spent so much of the weekend talking and trying to process everything with Stephen and Ryan and even though it had been nice to talk to them and see them again, it had also been a lot to deal with emotionally as well.

He hadn’t felt like being alone in his flat and he wanted to see how Connor was doing so he had decided to get some Chinese food, getting the dishes he knew that Connor was fond of and made his way across the hall to Connor’s flat and knocked.

[for Connor, whose flat is modded with permission!]

Comments

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor smiled at that. He had been expecting as much but it was good to finally be talking about it.

"I feel the same really" he said slowly. "I.. I want to still help the team. Tom helped remind me... of why I started doing this in the first place. It was to help others... to make a difference. And I... I think I still can do that.I think we both can."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled warmly at hearing that, "I'm glad that you feel like that, I ... I don't know if I want to lead the team again but I, I want to go back and help the team, I ... I miss doing what we did with the ARC, working with the team, I think I'm ready to go back," he said softly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"There are other ways to help and be involved. You know more bout the anomalies than anyone, and most of your ideas and theories turned out to be at least mostly true," Connor said with a nod. "Im sure Lester wouldn't mind tweaking things and figuring out a new team dynamic. I....I just hope there's still a spot for me on the team. Always kind of just been backup and logistics. I'd be a lot easier to replace..." Connor dropped his gaze to his hands for a moment, the biggest self-doubt he had about his future with the team finally coming out.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter reached out to place a hand on Connor's knee, "there's always going to be a spot on the team for you Connor," he said gently, "you're a valuable member of the team,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor nodded slowly and gave a small smile at the hand on his knee. "I guess... we need to get in touch with Lester... find a time to meet with him and talk about all this huh?"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded, "I guess we should do that, ... I ... probably sooner rather than later, I ... I know we have to do a physical and psychological assessment to be cleared to return that will probably take a while," he said softly, "maybe I can give James a call tomorrow after class? See about going home and starting the process to get cleared?"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Yeah it will be a process. But getting started sooner rather than later will be good" Connor gave a small smile to Cutter. "Let me know if you need anything from me or want me to talk to Lester with you when you do" he said, wanting to help and support Cutter as much as he could through all of this.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter gave a small smile, "I would like that," he said softly, "I ... I'm a bit nervous about this, if you ... if you wouldn't mind being there when I talk to James, I ... I would really like that a lot thank you,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Of course Nick," Connor said with a nod. "We can maybe have a video call and talk to him and figure out what our next steps need to be?" Connor wanted to get back to the team, back out in the field, but he was still a little nervous about it as well.

[itsananomaly]

"A video call would be best I think," Cutter nodded, "I ... I know James and Becker talked a little about what was involved in getting cleared to return to duty but I ... I'm still ... it's a little overwhelming after all these months," he admitted.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"It'll be a process for sure... and it will be a bit of work. But I-I think it will be good for us. Get back out there, be with the team... It might not ever be just as it was before, but I just want to be with the team again, working on tech, seeing cool creatures..." Connor gave a fond smile.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter gave a small smile at that, “I want to be with the team again too,” he said softly, “I miss being with them and I …I think this is the right step moving forward, joining the team and getting back to the ARC,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Dr. Jones has been saying that a big part of recovery is finding that new balance and still doing what you love while admitting what has changed and what cant be the same anymore" Connor gave a small smile. "I... I think, for me at least, getting back to the ARC and finding my place with the new team dynamics is what I need."

[itsananomaly]

“Dr. Taylor says something similar, he says that focusing on what I can control is important and I’m the one who can control my future,” Cutter said softly, “ I don’t want to be afraid of the future anymore,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor nodded and then shifted on the couch a little and leaned over to grab the food off the coffee table. "Well, I think for the immediate future, we need some food" he said as his stomach growled loudly now that he was finally claimed down enough to think about anything other than the weekend.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled at that, "food definitely sounds like a good plan for the immediate future," he agreed as he grabbed some of the dishes, "I made sure to get the dishes that you liked as well, so there'll be enough for leftovers,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"And that is why you rock" Connor said with a grateful nod as he handed one of Cutter's containers over to him and grabbed one of his own. There was a lot to figure out and a lot to make important decisions about, but right now, this just felt right, lunch and taking with Cutter... like old times.

[itsananomaly]

"I do sometimes have my moments," Cutter grinned as he took the container, relaxing slightly as he began to have his wonton soup, "but this is really nice, having lunch together,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Yeah I guess you are alright," Connor said with a wink. He didn't know what was going to happen exactly but he knew they would figure it out, together.