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Monday, October 17th, 2011 11:05 am
Title: Coming Full Circle {1/8}
Author: [livejournal.com profile] enochiansigils and [livejournal.com profile] not_from_stars
Artist: [livejournal.com profile] azarsuerte
Fandom: Primeval
Pairing/Characters (if no pairing): Kahlil Pierce/Niki Becker
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Completely AU and makes mention of things that happened in the past for Niki's family. Some events made up or embellished for explanations of attitudes.
Word Count: 26,403
Summary: Being in love with the daughter of Captain Becker, Abby Maitland and Connor Temple isn't easy. It's even harder when you're the exact image of your uncle -- a man who hurt them more than anyone else ever has. However, Kahlil Pierce hasn't let that deter him -- especially when he knows that Niki Becker loves him just as much. When Niki doesn't return with the rest of her team after an excursion through an anomaly, Kahlil doesn't stop to think before he goes in to look for her. Finding his injured girlfriend was the easy part. Trapped on the wrong side of anomaly with no way to get home, Kahlil has to use all of his skills to keep Niki safe while at the same time having faith that her family will find a way to bring them home.
Notes: Written for [livejournal.com profile] oc_bigbang 2011. We do not own Primeval or the concepts, but Kahlil and Niki are all ours.






There were times when, despite the particular arrangement of who was in charge, a spectator would be inflicted on the ARC team. A government spectator, but with Prospero ties. The ARC staff privately thought this was why it was always the same man sent, an attempt to appease all sides. If it really had been, though, they'd have picked someone who wasn't an exact duplicate of Philip Burton.

In looks, at least. In personality, Kahlil Pierce was darker than his scheming uncle in some ways. The less charitable members of the ARC staff -- most of them, in other words -- would say that was a hard thing to manage. The more charitable members of the staff -- Henry Quinn, Dani Temple, and Niki Becker -- would say... the exact same thing, to be honest, they'd just be a whole lot nicer about it.

At least, Niki would be nicer about it. She'd better be, after all; she was Pierce's girlfriend and had been for the past several months.

Not that he acknowledged it overmuch as he arrived at the ARC, only to find Niki in heated conversation with someone. He knew better than to draw attention to their relationship. Kahlil was many things; a stupid man was not one of them. He simply waited until the other person walked away before he approached her.

"Hello, love." He smiled faintly. "Wasn't expecting to see you here today." He knew Niki was generally just part time at the ARC. "Whose day did you just ruin and why?"

Niki smiled tightly, but it was obvious that her anger wasn't directed at him. "He's an idiot," she said through her clenched jaw. "He had the balls to say that he didn't think it was in my father's best interest for me to be on the security team."

"I'm pretty sure your father knows what's in his own best interest." This was where Kahlil diplomatically left out the part where he brought up that he didn't like her on the security team. Of course, he disliked it for entirely different reasons. Details, details.

"Both of the dads do and that guy is just pissed because Lester trusts me more."

"Love, he's an idiot. He can't help his mental deficits. Everybody here trusts you."

"I've earned the trust, though," she said quietly. "I don't like people like him implying that it was just handed to me because of who my parents are."

"The only thing handed to you was the opportunity," Kahlil said. "And there's nothing wrong with that."

She nodded. "That's what I think, too."

He pulled her in for a quick hug while there was nobody else in the hallway. "What're you up to for the rest of the day?"

"Nothing. I was on the firing range already. The rest of the afternoon is mine."

"I'm lurking the halls for a while," Kahlil said. "Exciting, I know." The dry tone of his voice said he was about as thrilled to be there as her family would be to find out he was there again.

She squeezed his hand. "Is something besides the usual bothering you?"

"I don't like that I get sent here, love. I'd rather leave the ARC alone. Damn government."

"I know," she murmured. "I know you'd rather leave the people to do their thing without helping the government annoy them."

"Though I have to admit, it is entertaining to see just how much it takes to annoy Lester on any given day."

She laughed softly. "Henry is working with him today."

"And how's the little bureaucrat doing, anyway?" It'd been his nickname for Henry since the first time he'd met the younger man.

Niki smirked. "One of these days he's going kick your ass when he hears you call him that."

"I'd like to see him try."

She leaned against him. "I don't want to see the two of you fighting."

"Better fighting with him than fighting with anybody else in your family."

"And with Henry, you know he's not hoping you screw up so he can hurt you." Niki loved her mom and her dads, but they didn't trust Kahlil as much as she wanted them to.

"And he doesn't have quite the familial psychosis in regards towards protecting you," Kahlil said. "At least, not to the degree your sister does."

"That's because he has to split his protective tendencies between me and Dani, whereas Dani focuses on me."

"I'll take whatever I can get," Kahlil said with a faint laugh as he stepped back, hands going into his jacket pockets. "Care to walk with me for a bit, see where we end up? See how long we can avoid running into your family this time?"

"This sounds like a good plan," Niki said with a smile.

"So, how's the day been?" he asked as they started walking. "Besides the jackass from a couple minutes ago, that is."

She shrugged. "It's been pretty normal. Just going over the field notes with Dad and Mom and working on the firing range. I came closer to Dad's score today."

"Very good," he said with a smile. "I'm proud of you."

She grinned. "Thanks, that means a lot to me."

"I'm always proud of you, though." He had to resist the urge to wrap an arm around her shoulders.

"I hope you always feel some pride in the things I do. I know you don't like all of them."

"I may not like all of them, but I will always be proud of you for doing them well."

Niki nodded. "Why do something if you're not going to do it the best you can?"

"That's my girl," he said with a smile.

That would, of course, be when they ran into a member of her family. One of her fathers, to be precise.

"Mr. Temple," Kahlil said, giving the older man a slight nod.

Connor stepped back from Kahlil just slightly; it was usually harder for him to face Kahlil than it was for the others. "Kahlil."

"Hey Dad." Niki stepped up and gave her father a warm hug. "How are things with you this afternoon?"

"They're fine," Connor replied, returning the hug. "Reasonably productive, too."

"Oh? Have you done something that's going to make Mom laugh or try to hide you from Dad for a bit?"

"Possibly a little bit of both." And that would be Connor hiding a grin.

"Dad..."

"This is what happens when you let me work with Jess, I've told people this before."

Kahlil was doing an admirable job of hiding a laugh.

"What did the two of you do, Dad?"

"We may or may not have tweaked a few of the systems..."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "How badly did you tweak the systems? Am I going to have to placate Dani tonight?"

"No!" Connor protested. "Well... maybe. It was all Jess's fault, though. I swear."

Niki pulled back and gave him a look she had learned from Abby and Becker. "Dad, I know very well that you and Aunt Jess take turns coming up with ideas. Last time she got blamed. This time, it's your turn. What happened?"

"Jess is trying to fix it. But it's not like we broke anything."

"Daddy..." Oh now that was playing dirty, but she knew he melted when she and Dani called him that.

"I'll go see if Jess got everything straightened out," Connor said finally.

"How much trouble are you in with Mom and Dad?"

"Enough that they told me I'd have to deal with Dani's resultant freak-out."

Kahlil couldn't help laughing at that. "Just turn her over to Henry. He never minds dealing with her."

"I know how to handle my family, thank you, Kahlil," Connor said coolly.

"Be nice," Niki warned. "Or I'll call Dani right now." She reached for Kahlil's hand.

Kahlil took Niki's hand, lacing their fingers together. He understood Connor's antagonism, though, for all he didn't like it.

"Niki, I'll see you later," Connor said, giving the two of them a brusque nod.

"Dad, don't be like that, please?"

Connor just looked at his daughter helplessly for a moment before turning and walking away.

"It's okay, Nik," Kahlil said softly. "I'm a reminder of a dark part of his life. I understand that."

Niki was hurt that Connor had walked away, but she swallowed. "But you're not the one that caused so much pain. It's not right to hold you accountable."

"It's hard for him to do anything else when he looks at me and sees my uncle."

Niki swallowed again, trying to bury the hurt. "You're not to blame for your family."

"Give him a little time," Kahlil said, squeezing her hand. "He'll apologize to you later, you know he will."

She nods. "I know. It tears Mom and the Dads up when Dani and I are upset. But, I also know it hurts you, too."

"I'm used to it," Kahlil said with a shrug. "Your parents aren't the only ones who dislike my uncle for things. I've grown up with this treatment."

"I don't like that you get the same treatment from my family," Niki said, her voice sad. "And it's not just my parents, it's all of the family here. I've seen it."

"My uncle wasn't exactly kind to this place," Kahlil said as they started walking again. "And you have to admit, the people here have long memories when it comes to someone hurting their loved ones."

She sighed and there was sadness coloring her words. "Why would you even want to be with me when this is the reception you get?"

"Because I love you," he said simply.

"But is loving me worth the way you get treated, Kahlil?"

"I'd put up with anything if it meant I got to have you."

She stopped walking and turned to look at him. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"I don't say things I don't mean," he replied. "At least, I don't say them to you."

"I hope you don't ever come to regret that, love."

"I never will."

She squeezed his hand as they continued to walk, though her mood was changed now.

For his part, Kahlil didn't pull his hand away even though it wasn't the most professional of things to be holding hands with his girlfriend while working. The world could sod it at the moment.

Which was good because Niki needed that contact. The moment she heard someone approaching, she'd let go because she didn't want Kahlil to deal with any more trouble at the ARC than he already did.

"You know I love you, right?" he asked after a few minutes.

She looked over at him. "Of course I do."

"Just wanted to hear you say it." He smiled at her. "Can't fault a guy for liking it when his incredibly beautiful girlfriend knows he loves her and is utterly confident in it."

That caused her to laugh softly. "I love you, Kahlil, and I know without a doubt that you love me."

"I'm glad you're willing to stick by me," he said. "Because it'd be easy for you to cut and run, given how much your family dislikes me. Not that you would. I know that. But you could."

"No, I couldn't. My heart is too involved."

"I'm sorry for the trouble and pain it's caused for you to be involved with me. I know it hasn't been easy."

"Kahlil, don't. There's nothing I want your apologies for."

"I'm just grateful you and your heart want to stick it out, is all I'm saying."

"I love you." To her it was as simple as that.

And he was grateful for that fact, more grateful than he knew how to communicate to her.

Niki let go of his hand as they came around the corner and passed through the hallway that opened into the main room of the ARC controls.

Kahlil did his best to look casual as they walked into the room. He glanced around, taking a mental note of who was there.

There were several people there, but most notable were Jess, Matt and Dani. They were at the main terminal and Jess looked like she was getting lectured by Dani while Matt was trying not to laugh.

"Looks like Jess is really hearing it from your sister," Kahlil murmured, fighting back a smile.

Niki nodded. "I should go save her. Dani unhappy about the computers is never good."

"Go on, love." He gave her a gentle nudge. "I'll be around."

She gave him a small smile and then hurried to the trio. "Aunt Jess!"

Jess looked up, clearly relieved. "Niki, tell your sister I didn't mean to break anything! Connor came up with something and I thought it was a good idea so we tried it and it didn't work the way we wanted it to and -- "

"Breathe," Matt said, snickering despite himself.

"Not helping, Uncle Matt," Niki said, her eyes full of laughter. She turned to her sister. "Dani, I already saw Dad and he said that he and Aunt Jess can fix whatever they did."

Dani had been bristling like an overprotective mama cat for at least the past ten minutes. "They still broke it!" she said defensively.

"But they're going to fix it so they don't have to deal with you, me, and Henry," Niki said in the voice that Henry had dubbed Sister Soother when they were little.

"And if I get upset, Henry gets upset." And that was a little bit scary to most people.

"Exactly."

There was a tense moment where Dani looked like she was about to say something else. Finally, all she said to Jess was, "Please try to stop breaking my things?"

Niki hid a smile and reached for her sister's hand.

Dani just grumped a little and took Niki's outstretched hand.

"Come on. Leave them to fix it before Mom and Dad get here." She gave her sister a small smile. "I saw Daddy in the hall." Daddy. Meant that she and Connor hadn't parted happily.

Dani pulled Niki out into the hall. "Talk to me, Nik."

Niki shrugged. "Kahlil."

"How bad was it this time?"

"That's the thing. It wasn't a fight or anything. He just... Kahlil tried to be teasing about calming you down. Said that Henry would help." Niki closed her eyes. "Dad made a comment and I told him to be nice. He walked away from me."

"Oh, Nik." Dani was angry at her father for that. "I'm so sorry."

She shrugged, trying to hide how hurt she felt by it. "It's no big deal. He doesn't like Kahlil and won't even give him a chance to prove he's not his uncle."

"Dad did fall for Burton's bullshit pretty hard," Dani said. "Doesn't surprise me it's hard for him to give Kahlil a chance. Still, though, he shouldn't have walked away like he did."

"No big deal," she said again. "It is what it is." Only her sister would be able to know that she was hurt by it.

"And it isn't fair," Dani said. "I mean, I might not like Kahlil but at least I don't walk away from you when you're with him."

"Kahlil loves me and is a good man."

"But he's a Burton, and I don't know if the parents will ever be able to see past that."

Niki sighed. "I guess I'm just lucky that it wasn't Mom this time. Kahlil gets sad and quiet every time he sees Mom go pale and try to go a different way."

"At least you have a good one," Dani said. "At least he cares enough to hate the way he makes the parents feel."

"I know, Dani, but seeing both sides hurt isn't exactly fun times."

"No, it's not. Makes me lucky the family likes my guy. Well, he was my guy. But still." Dani shrugged and reached out to hug her sister. "I don't know if it helps, but I'll keep trying to like Kahlil. I promise."

She hugged Dani back. "Please do. Because if you and Henry don't like him..." She didn't want to tell her sister how much that would kill her.

"At least I don't actively hate him anymore. Points to me for that?" She was trying to get Niki to smile. She didn't like when her sister looked so serious.

"Yes, points to you for that," Niki said, smiling faintly. "I just wish there was a way to show that he's completely different than his uncle and how much he cares about me."

"You'll find something, I'm sure."

"I hope so."

"I know you will," Dani said firmly.

She gave Dani a better smile. "At least one member of my family has faith in me, still."

"Henry does and you know it. He just... doesn't always show it."

"I know, Dani," she said quietly. "It's just hard sometimes."

"That's what you've got me for, though," Dani said, reaching out to take her sister's hand and squeeze it. "We can face anything together."

"Of course we can. We always do."

"You and Kahlil are perfect for each other." She didn't think it was at all weird that she disliked him but thought he was perfect for her sister.

"Then why don't you like him?" Niki called her on that all of the time.

"He's... he scares me," Dani said honestly. And not much scared Dani Temple.

Niki blinked. "He scares you?"

"He's dangerous, Nik. He's hurt people. He's killed people, I'm sure. And yet he's this caring, concerned guy who adores you."

"But he would never hurt anyone we care about, Dani." She ran a hand through her hair. "Hell, people would call us dangerous because of the knowledge we have and the life we plan to lead."

"And I'd hack into the credit bureau and ruin their credit."

She laughed softly.

"I would!"

"I know."

Dani sighed. "It'll work out, Nik. I won't let anybody make you unhappy."

"You can't stop people from making me unhappy, Dans, but thanks for the sentiment."

"I'm a Temple. You'd be surprised what I can do."

She hugged her sister. "Thanks."

"Suppose we should get back in there," Dani said as they stepped back.

"Nah. Let Aunt Jess flail in private about fixing your network."

"You're mean." Dani let out a quiet cackle of laughter. "I love you."

She grinned. "I love you, too. Besides, she's going to be convinced that you're out here watching through the window."

"Should I stand here and watch, or should I wander off and just let her think it?"

"Oh, wander off." Niki grinned again.

"Again, I say you're evil." Dani grinned in return. "So what should I go do, then?" Ordinarily she'd bother Henry, but he was working.

She was about to tell her sister to go bother Henry anyway, when the alarms started going off. "Shit. Got to get to work. See ya later, sis." Niki waved and headed to the armory.

Kahlil met up with her there. He was damn well going to go along on this -- not to keep an eye on her, but because it was his job to observe. He'd stay out of the way, because he wasn't an idiot, but the armory was the easiest way to meet up with everyone.

Niki had time to give him a nod before she was suiting up and grabbing her vest and weapons. She hooked up her earpiece and tapped it to make sure it was working. "Jess? Where are we going?"

"Not far," Jess said, rattling off the relevant information. "Be careful, Niki. Your sister will kill me if you get hurt." Logical? No. But it was how their family worked.

"Aren't I always?" Don't answer that Jess. "I'll take care of my team, you know that."

"Had to say it, though." There was a smile in Jess's voice. "Good luck."

"Thanks, Jess." Niki turned to the rest of the team. "You heard her, let's go."

Kahlil made one last check of his own personal weapon, as well as the gun that he'd snagged from the weapons cache -- because going into the unknown with just a handgun was begging to get killed.

The team moved quickly to the vehicles and Niki jumped into the one she usually rode in. The ride didn't take long and soon the team was gathered in front of the anomaly. She gave Kahlil a small wave before she turned and headed through the anomaly with the team.

This was the part he hated, as was probably evidenced by the way he paced back and forth. All he could do for the moment was pace and wait and pray.

It wasn't too long before the team started making their way back through the anomaly.

Kahlil looked at the team, keeping the worry and anxiety off his face as he looked for Niki.

The last of Niki's team came through right as the anomaly started to flicker. Niki was nowhere in sight.

"Where's Niki?" Kahlil asked, his voice tense.

One of the men stopped, giving Kahlil a confused look. "What do you mean? She hasn't come through yet? She was right with us when the ground starting shaking."

"If she was here, do you think I'd be asking where she is?" he snapped.

"I swear to you, sir, she was with the group when we started to come back through. Maybe she's just in the crowd? There was chaos when the earthquake started."

"I know what she looks like and I don't see her!" Kahlil was already moving towards the anomaly.

One of the soldiers tried to stop Kahlil from getting any closer to the anomaly. "Sir, you can't come any closer. These things aren't safe and this one is about to close down."

"I don't care," Kahlil said. "I'm going after her. I'm not going to abandon her."

"You can't go in there!"

"Watch me," Kahlil said grimly before pushing past the soldier and sprinting for the anomaly. He was barely through the anomaly when it closed down behind him.

He hit the ground and came to his feet quickly. "Niki?" he yelled. "Where are you?"

His voice echoed, but there was no response to his call.



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