One Week Later...

Stephen James Hart

Died: 4th March, 2007

Aged 32

Rest in Peace

The ceremony had been short and sweet. The whole ARC had turned out for the service, including people like James Lester and Marion Hopkins, she had taken over the day-to-day running's of the ARC since the death of Oliver Leek a week previous.

Even Stephen's family, whom Sofi had never met, had turned up. She was surprised to learn that he had a young brother, barely out of his teens. Joshua Hart was only sixteen and he looked hopelessly lost as he stood at his older brother's graveside.

With Jayden's arm around her shoulders, Sofi turned away. She still couldn't believe he was gone. It had only been a week, at most, for the coroner to sign off on the body, or what was left of it, and allow them to bury his remains.

"Come on," Jayden whispered. "I'll take you home."

Sofi wanted to argue with him and tell him no. She didn't want to go home. But she also didn't have the energy to do it. Her head, while full of questions and queries, was also full of fog and mist. She couldn't work out why it had to have been Stephen that needed to die for them. Sure, he saved Nick, and for that she was grateful, but Stephen still had so much to do in his life.

Why couldn't Helen have sacrificed herself? What did she offer to the world other than torment?

With Jayden leading her across the path, Sofi became aware of a figure in uniform standing beside her Mustang. She raised her head and frowned at the look on Graham's face. "What?" she asked, growing closer. "What's wrong?"

"It's Ryan," Graham said.

Sofi felt her world slow and her heart beat faster. The look on Graham's face didn't bode well with her. He looked like he had just watched a dog get run over. Thinking the worst, tears appeared in Sofi's eyes and she shook her head, all the while staring at Graham. "No," she whispered. "Please. Please, tell me he's okay."

"I'll do you one better," said Graham, his face suddenly split into a smile. "He's awake."

End of Season Two.

Sofi will return in her own adaption of Primeval Season Three.

It will be called Trials and Tribulations.

~Twix.