A Safehouse - London

[itsananomaly]

Now that Becker was asleep, Cutter thought he had his best chance to try and make a break for the truck and head back to the ARC where he could turn himself in. He carefully let go of Becker’s hand and then he began to make his way out of the room and towards the door. He quietly snuck past Jenny and Sarah, who were getting more supplies for Danny and Becker to help look after them and then once he was sure they were well and truly distracted, he made a beeline for the door and then it wouldn’t be long before he got to the truck and he could make this right. [Adapted in parts from Series 3 Episode 6 'For the Birds'. Preplayed with the amazing anomaly_research_nerd. NFB for distance but OOC welcome!]

Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor was nowhere in sight inside and that was because he was outside at the truck. He looked up as Cutter stepped outside. "Going somewhere Nick?" he asked as he leveled his gaze at Cutter.
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter stopped in his tracks as he noticed Connor standing by the truck, “uh … “ he stared sheepishly at Connor, “I was just um…well the truck … I thought …” his voice trailed off, “um …” He shifted awkwardly, he didn’t really want to admit to Connor that he wanted to turn himself in, “I thought … I could … I wanted to …”
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"If you are looking for something out here in the truck" Connor said with a nod towards the truck as he took a few steps towards Cutter, "we can look for it together."
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter shifted awkwardly, maybe there was still a chance that he could distract Connor enough that he could make a beeline for the driver's seat? He felt bad for thinking that but he still thought that it was the only way that he could make things right. "Uh ... yes that's uh what I was doing ... looking for something in the truck," he nodded, "uh ... yes the truck," he fumbled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor gave Cutter a bit of a knowing look and then nodded and headed back to the truck and climbed into the truck bed. "Well, let's get to looking then. See if we can find whatever it is you are looking for?"
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Oh that was going to be a bit of a challenge then, coming up with a reason why he was looking in the truck, "uh ... I was looking for ... for ... ah ... a ..." he faltered, "a screwdriver?" he tried lamely. Yeah he hadn't quite thought this through.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"Right.... screwdriver..." Connor said, giving Cutter a curious look as he started rummaging around in the back of the truck. He was almost certain that the last thing Cutter was actually looking for was a screwdriver. "There might be a tool kit under the seat in the back?"
Cutter(itsananomaly)	"Screwdriver yes," Cutter nodded as he moved to the back of the truck to start looking, "right ...um I'll have a look and see if I can find it," He started to look under the seat to see what he could find.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor watched Cutter through the back window for a bit before he jumped out of the truck bed and came around to get in the front passenger seat to check the glove box. "So.... Nick? Care to tell me what this is really all about?"
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter hesitated, "I really need a screwdriver," he nodded, yes he knew that Connor likely didn't believe one word of what he was saying but he needed to keep Connor distracted enough so he could run over and jump in the front seat, "its for uh ... maintenance?" Yeah Cutter had clearly never used a screwdriver before and it showed.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"Right.... Maintenance. In a safehouse that looks like it hasn't been used in almost a decade, you need a screwdriver to fix something" Connor shook his head as he leaned over and pretended to riffle through the glovebox. Sorry Cutter... Connor wasn't buying any of this one bit and he was definitely not getting out of the truck anytime soon.
Cutter(itsananomaly)	"Yeah I thought it might need a look over? Maybe something's been missed in those ten years?" Cutter tried as he continued searching, "you know have a project to keep myself busy?" He glanced over at that driver's seat, he really needed to get over there and try and drive away but he couldn't do it with Connor in the truck.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"Keeping busy is good" Connor said simply. "Keep yourself distracted, so ya don't get any crazy half-baked ideas... but we might have to try and thnk of something else. Don't think there's a screwdriver out here."
Cutter(itsananomaly)	"Uh ... right," Cutter said awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck, he stared over at the front seat, "uh ... maybe we can um see what else is left in the truck?" he tried, "maybe I'll find something else that we can use instead of a screwdriver?" He bit his lip as he stared nervously at Connor, he knew that Connor wasn't buying this for one minute but it was worth a try.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"Sure. We can trade places, see if we can find something the other overlooked" Connor said, humoring Cutter at this point. Connor opened the door and slipped out of the passenger seat, giving Cutter room to slide into it while he walked around to get in the back seat. He had a pretty good idea what Cutter was going to try so he made sure he was to the back seat quickly to not give him time to try anything stupid.
Cutter(itsananomaly)	And Cutter saw his chance and immediately made a beeline for the drivers seat, quickly getting in and slamming the door shut. His hands fumbling for the keys so that he could start the ignition, he was a bundle of nerves and he didn't have a lot of time to work with but he couldn't get the truck started. "Dammit," he swore as he tried again.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor was in the back seat in a matter of moments and simply sat there looking at Cutter as he finally got the truck started. It was a stern look on his face and also a slightly hurt and disappointed one as well. "If you are planning on going somewhere... or doing something stupid Nick.... looks like I am tagging along for the ride."
Cutter(itsananomaly)	"No ...Connor I have to do this please," Cutter trembled, his hands on the steering wheel as he looked back at Connor, "it's ... I can't ... I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me, Christine wants me ... she can have me,"
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"Nick..." Connor said softly as he put a hand on his shoulder. "Christine isn't going to care. You turn yourself in, shes still going to just keep coming after us. She wants you. She wants me. She wants the ARC. She wants the anomalies. She's not going to stop trying. And if you turn yourself in, all you are going to do is give us one less person to stand with. We have to stand against Christine.... together."
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter let out a sob, "I just want this to stop, I'm so tired of everything ... it's over Connor, Christine's won, I don't ... I don't want to keep fighting her," he slumped in the driver's seat as the tears began to fall down his cheeks.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"Hey, hey... easy there Nick" Connor said trying to get him to calm down a little. "Can you turn off the truck for me? Alright?" Connor asked as he started to climb up into the front seat to sit beside Cutter.
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter cried as kept his hands on the wheel, his hands shook and then very slowly he reached over and turned off the truck. "I'm sorry," he sobbed.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor slid into the front seat and slipped an arm around Cutter once he turned the engine off. "I know this is hard. I know this is exhausting. But if you don't want to fight Christine then fight for the team. We have to stick together to get through this."
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter kept crying as he leaned against Connor, "I ... I'll try," he finally sobbed, "but I don't know how much more fight I have left ... she's ... everything she's done to us ... to the team ... I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me,"
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"They are getting hurt because of Christine. She wants us to start pointing fingers at each other, blaming each other. She's trying to drive a wedge between us" Connor said simply. "We're not going to let that happen. No one is blaming anyone, and that includes not blaming ourselves" he said gently as he held Cutter close. "I know its hard, Nick... but we have to stay together now more than ever alright? The team is here for you, just like I know you are here for us."
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter sobbed against Connor as he tried to calm down, to process everything, "okay ... I ... I won't turn myself into Christine," he said softly, "I ... I'll stay with the team, I'll stay with you,"
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	"Good. I know this is hard Nick. But we're going to get through this... together. None of us stand a chance against Christine on our own. Danny and Becker went through everything to keep us safe, keep the team safe, to stand up against Christine. We both can help them best by staying and fighting with them." Connor sat with Cutter for a while, holding him close and rubbing his back as he slowly calmed down. "Whaddya say we head back in and see how Danny and Becker are?" he asked softly.
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter let out a few more sobs as he began to get his breathing under control, "okay," he trembled, "I .. I think I'm ready to go back in," he said softly, "and help look after Becker and Danny,"
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor sat with Cutter until he was ready and then with a nod he gave him one last hug and then slid out of the passenger seat. As his feet hit the ground he breathed a sigh of relief that Cutter at least for now wasn't going to try and run off on them.
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter trembled but slowly he opened the door and began to lower himself out of the truck. Once he was out, he leaned against the truck and took a moment to try and steady himself.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor walked around to Cutter and put an arm around his shoulder. "I'm right here Nick, I'm not going anywhere" he said softly as he gently started to lead Nick back towards the safehouse a few mmiutes later.
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter trembled as he leaned against Connor, “thank you,” he said softly, trembling as he started to walk in the direction of the safe house, “I’m sorry,” he said quietly again.
Connor(anomaly_research_nerd)	Connor gave his shoulder a squeeze and leaned his head against Cutter's for a moment as they slowly made their way back to the house. "All is forgiven Nick. Just... don't ever do that to me again ok? I... I cant do this without you."
Cutter(itsananomaly)	Cutter trembled at that and then nodded, "I promise," he said quietly, "I ... I won't try and leave on my own again,"