Chapter Text
Denial
"C'mon, Abby, cheer up. I'm sure the anomaly will open soon. Look! I've rigged something up." He ran from branch to branch showing off his 'ADD'. "Bit lo-tech for my tastes, but come on, admit it: I'm a genius." He smiled his usual, irrepressible grin.
Abby didn't answer right away. She was sitting cross-legged with their packs spread out in front of her, doing inventory. Forcing a smile to her lips, she agreed, "Brilliant, Connor. Really."
He ignored the way her lips and her voice trembled. She ignored his reddened eyes. They both continued their self-appointed tasks.
Anger
"Connor! How many times have I told you not to leave scraps about camp? Do you want predators over for lunch? 'Cause that's a great way to go about it!"
She stood over him, arms akimbo, a fierce expression on her face. Frankly, Connor thought anger suited her - she was a passionate woman. Somewhere in his hind-brain, common sense was yelling for him to keep that to himself.
"Get up," she said grimly, taking a fighting stance.
Connor had been eager to learn kick boxing. Now he wished Abby had some other hobby to take her anger out on.
Bargaining
Abby lay with her head on Connor's lap, blanket spread over her. They'd had a close call with an angry Stygimoloch defending it's young and Connor was still fighting his adrenaline high. He gently stroked her head. Both their hair had become unmanageable, a subtle underscore to their predicament.
'Please, God,' he thought, not daring to wake her. 'I know I haven't prayed in ages. Or, well... ever, but if you save us I would do anything.' His breath hitched. 'If you can't get me out, I understand, but please save Abby. She deserves so much better.'
Depression
It was only when Connor was out scavenging that Abby could let go. Without witness she could cry and rage. After she'd given Connor a black eye, she vowed not to let him see her upset again. It wasn't fair to him.
So alone she sobbed out all of her fear and hopelessness and wondered why they bothered struggling to survive. What was the point, when some dinosaur was going to rip them to shreds long before the anomaly opened?
She heard Connor approaching long before he was visible. It was almost enough to bring a smile to her face.
Acceptance
Connor stalked their next meal through a stand of trees. Although he couldn't hear Abby he knew she was off to his left somewhere. Together they would bring it down and have fresh meat for the next few days. Like most of living in the Cretaceous, dinosaur meat had taken some getting used to, but they had managed.
As they finally stood over the creature's dead body, stone knives in hand, Connor smiled at Abby. They knew, now, that no matter what this era could throw at them, that they'd be ready. And no matter what, they had each other.