Disclaimer: Not mine, no copyright intended

A/N - Feedback and comments very welcome! I'm not sure how far I'm going to develop the relationship between Connor and Nathan, I do have a couple of people pushing me in the direction on slash...

Connor always felt strange going back to the University. It was now over three years since he'd been a student there, and although the place hadn't changed, it felt like a different world. He'd been clearing out Cutter's office these last few weeks, the University wanted it for someone else. The team had decided that Connor was probably the best one to decide what should be kept and what should be thrown away. Problem was, he didn't have the heart to get rid of anything.

All the research that Cutter had done over the years had been taken to the ARC and filed there. It had been quite an emotional afternoon when he started going through the files, and he was secretly glad he'd been alone. Other things, like models and fossils, Connor had taken home for himself. Most were proudly displayed around the flat, a couple were placed in Connor's room, and Abby had a small fossil for herself.

Today, he was going through the last cupboard of paperwork. This proved even more difficult than previous sessions, a lot of the files in here belonged to Stephen. It became too much, and Connor had to go and stand outside for a while. He glanced back into the room, the place he had first spoken to Cutter and Stephen and showed them the newspaper article about a creature sighting in the Forest of Dean. Today, he was closing the door on that chapter for good. This wouldn't be "Professor Cutter's office" any more.

Connor went back to clearing out the cupboard, piling the files into the large box he had brought with him. The dust made him cough, and he wondered just how long some of these had been there.

"Hello?" a voice came from the doorway.

Connor stood up. A man was stood there, carrying a heavy looking box. "Here, let me help you." He said. The two staggered over to the desk and placed the box on it.

"Thanks. Professor Nathan Griffiths." He held out his hand to shake Connor's

"Connor Temple. I'm just finishing clearing out Professor Cutter's things. Are you moving in?"

Nathan nodded. "I start my job next week. I'm a lecturer in Computer Sciences. Were you Professor Cutter's lab assistant?"

Connor laughed. "No, I was just his student. I worked for him on an outside project before he …" Connor dipped his head and swallowed uneasily.

"I see. I suppose this must be hard for you. I'll stay out of your hair whilst you finish off." Nathan said, and he turned to leave.

"No, it's OK. I'm almost done. Make yourself at home. Think there's still a kettle around somewhere and you might find some teabags I left here last time."

Nathan found the kettle pretty much straight away and set about making two cups of tea. Connor watched him. He seemed very familiar, an untidy crop of ginger hair, a thick jawline … but he couldn't place where he knew him from.

"Have we met before?" Connor said.

"Don't think so. I used to live around here as a kid, but I moved away up north. I've only been back here a few weeks." Nathan handed Connor a mug. "Couldn't find any sugar, and it was powdered milk, hope that's OK?"

"It's great, thanks." Connor sat down, and for the next half an hour, the two chatted like old friends about computers, games and sci-fi. Connor realised this was the first conversation he'd had with someone outside the ARC since Caroline. Nathan even had the limited edition 'directors cut' of the original Star Wars, something Connor had longed to get his hands on.

"Give me your address, I'll drop it round one evening." Nathan said.

"Seriously? Thank you!" Connor found some paper and wrote his address and phone number.

"Not a problem. It hasn't been out of its box for ages, it's good to find another fan who will appreciate it too." Nathan smiled. Connor stared again, why did he seem so familiar?

"I should be going, I need to get these to the … research centre." Connor said, picking up the box of files. "I think I have everything now, this is all yours."

"Thanks." Nathan said, and as Connor was leaving he said. "I'll see you later in the week with that DVD."

Connor nodded and stepped outside. He glanced back. Chapter closed. It was finally goodbye to Cutter and Stephen at the University.

-o-

When he got back to the ARC, he took the box straight to the office where he had stored all the others. Abby was in there, clearing space for the things she knew Connor would be bringing. She saw the look on Connor's face and guessed he'd had a difficult afternoon. She hugged him.

"You OK?" she said.

"Yeah." He replied. "This is the last lot. There's some of Stephen's things in there too." He sighed.

Abby swallowed. "I see." She said quietly. "So the office is empty now?"

"There's someone moving in already. A Computer Sciences guy called Nathan, decent bloke. He's letting me borrow his copy of the Star Wars directors cut." Connor smiled.

Abby rolled her eyes. "Great. Another sci-fi geek, just what I need." Connor pouted. "You know I don't mean it, Conn!" she laughed.

There was a knock on the door and Danny stuck his head round the door. "I'm pulling a late one to get that report finished, thought I'd get a pizza in, can I get you guys anything?"

"No thanks, we'll be heading off home shortly." Abby said. "Unless Connor wants anything?" she turned to Connor. He had a strange look on his face. "Conn?"

"Hmm? Sorry, no, I'll pass on the pizza." Connor said.

"You OK?" Danny said. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I met a guy this afternoon at the University, and I thought I'd met him before. He seemed so familiar and now I know why. He looked like you. He could almost be…" Connor stopped. It was crazy. It was just a coincidence wasn't it?

"Connor?" Abby said.

"It doesn't matter. Forget I said it." Connor said. Danny looked at him. "It was just the red hair I suppose, I'm being stupid."

Danny closed the door. "What was that about?" Abby said.

"Nathan, the guy that's moving into Cutter's office. Same colour hair, same eyes, same jawline. He could be Danny's brother." Connor knew what he was saying was impossible, but something was tugging at him inside.

"Don't be daft, Connor! Patrick disappeared over fourteen years ago. There's no way your Nathan could be Patrick." Abby said.

"I know, I know. You're right. Forget I said anything." Connor turned away and began to stack files from the box onto the shelf Abby had cleared. He knew Abby was right and he pushed the thought to the back of his head.

-o-

Abby was dancing around the kitchen, singing along to the radio. Connor was having a bath, and it was her turn to cook dinner. It had been a while since they'd had an ordinary evening at home and it was a good feeling to just be normal. She'd made far too much chilli as usual, and knew they would be eating it for the next week, but she didn't care. The doorbell rang, which annoyed Abby slightly. She turned off the radio and went to answer the door. If this was a double glazing salesman, she was going to commit murder! When she opened the door, she did a double take. This must be Nathan, and she could see exactly what Connor had meant.

"Hi, I think I must have the wrong place. I'm looking for Connor Temple." He said.

Abby couldn't help but stare. He was a younger, maybe slightly slimmer and taller, version of Danny. After a moment, she composed herself. "This is the right place, I'm Abby, his flatmate… you'd better come in."

"Thanks. I'm Nathan, by the way." He said. His eyes scanned the flat as he followed Abby to the lounge. "Sorry for turning up un-announced, I was just passing and I'd said that Connor could borrow my DVD. I won't stay, it smells like your dinner is almost ready."

"No, its fine. I'll just shout him. Make yourself at home." Abby said. She banged on the bathroom door. "Conn! You've got a visitor. Nathan."

"Be out in five, Abs!" he called.

"He won't be long." Abby said to Nathan. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Um. OK. Yeah, Coffee would be good." Nathan looked a little uncomfortable. He watched Abby busying herself in the kitchen through the open door. "So, are you a palaeontologist as well?"

"No, I'm a keeper at Wellington Zoo, lizard expert." It was a well rehearsed line for Abby.

"I see, lizards and dinosaurs, go together well. How long have you and Connor been together?"

"Oh, we're not together in that sense. We're just good friends." Another well rehearsed line. Abby was beginning to feel like a broken record.

"So, Connor's single then?" Nathan asked as Abby came in with a mug of coffee. That question threw her. Usually, if a guy was asking her if Connor was her boyfriend, it was followed up with some kind of flirtatious comment.

"Yes, he is." Abby said. She felt a little awkward, she wasn't sure she liked the idea of another man liking Connor – but it was none of her business. At that moment, Rex flew overhead and circled before landing on the arm of the sofa next to Nathan.

"What on earth is that!" he said.

"That's Rex, he's a rare lizard. Very tame. Stroke him if you like." Abby said. Nathan tentatively ran his fingers along Rex's back, and was rewarded with a series of contented chirps.

"Cool." Nathan smiled. The bathroom door opened and Nathan looked up. Connor was making a dash from the bathroom to his bedroom, dressed only in a towel. Abby noticed a glint in Nathan's eyes as they followed Connor across the room. Did she warn Connor? He was slow on the uptake about a lot of things at the best of times, but something like this would never even enter his head.

"Be with you shortly!" Connor called.

"Take your time." Nathan replied. "I'm just getting to know Rex and Abby."

Connor rolled his eyes as he disappeared into his bedroom. Typical, I leave my new friend alone with Abby for five minutes and he's already chatting her up.

When Connor finally emerged, fully dressed, Abby was setting the table. "I've asked Nathan to stay for dinner. There's plenty to go around. Then I'll leave you boys to it, I'm going to take Sarah up on her offer of a girls night in front of the TV."

As they ate, Abby studied Nathan whilst he chatted to Connor. There was no denying the resemblance to Danny, it was quite un-nerving. What if this really was Patrick Quinn? He was about the right age. She had to do some digging.

"You seem quite young to be a Professor." She said.

"Only qualified a couple of months ago. This is my first job." Nathan said.

"Have you been into computers a long time? I bet you were a real geek at school!"

"Abby!" Connor said.

"Its OK, I'm used to being called a geek. Truth is, I don't know. I was in an accident when I was a teenager, lost my memory."

"Oh god, I'm sorry." Abby said.

"Don't be. I just got on with my life really. Had to. Bit awkward not having any childhood memories to talk about at times like this, but I've accepted that."

"You don't remember anything?" Connor said. "Your family must have filled in the gaps for you?"

"No-one knows who my family are. I was found unconscious with head injuries, no identification on me at all. No-one reported anyone of my description missing and I didn't have a clue who I was." Nathan swallowed nervously. "I had to invent a whole new identity for myself so that I could rejoin the human race."

Abby and Connor looked at each other. They were both having the same thought.