Primeval 4x02

One-shot

Becker/Jess

Sharing Chocolate

It was still light outside as Jess grabbed her purse from her assigned locker and headed for the door. Her day at the ARC was beginning to wind down and all she could think about now was going home to take off her shoes –that and eating the special bar of chocolate tucked inside her bag.

Waving to Lester across the room, she smiled at the nonchalant shrug he gave her in return. She couldn't help thinking that if the man acted anymore disinterested she might actually start believing he meant it. Still, she'd read his file, and knew that despite his standoffish exterior, James Lester was a fair man who cared about his employees –Abby and Connor were a testament to that.

"Abby and Connor." Jess muttered to herself. She'd forgotten she was supposed to meet them at her car in ten minutes. This was a momentous occasion for her, since she'd never had flat mates before.

Scanning her ident bracelet against the pad beside the time-clock, Jess waited for the tiny light to turn green signaling her shift had officially ended. Shaking the sleeves out of her grey raincoat, she slipped it on and grinned at the security guard standing beside the exit.

"What a crazy day, eh Norman? A couple more like this and I'm going to need a month long holiday!"

The man didn't reply as usual. He never did. Jess was determined to one day see his stone face crack. Maybe then she'd get to hear what his voice sounded like.

"Well, have a good evening Norman!" She said and pushed open the glass doors.

Outside the waning sun cast a pink glow across the cityscape and a cool breeze was sweeping in, rustling her skirt hem. The parking lot was slowly loosing its array of multi-modeled vehicles as ARC employees began to leave one by one. Soon, however, the second shift would be pulling in to fill the emptying spaces.

Pausing beside a planting barrier, Jess glanced toward her car. Abby and Connor were nowhere in sight. She had a feeling she'd be waiting a little while. Sighing, she opened her purse and began digging around for her keys.

"Abby told me to tell you, they'd be out in a few minutes." A voice suddenly said from somewhere behind her.

Startled, Jess turned quickly around to see Becker crossing a stretch of tarmac toward her.

Her stomach flipped and she swallowed nervously, feeling foolish. After a moment of composure, she tried to relax her posture.

Channel Lester. Jess thought.

"Oh, okay." She said as casually as she could. Her voice trembled a bit and she wanted to kick herself.

"Yeah," Becker continued, oblivious. "Apparently Burton has them signing revised confidentiality wavers since they've been reinstated as ARC personnel." He stopped a foot in front of her and hefted his black duffle bag to one shoulder.

Jess found it interesting the way he emphasized the name Burton. She had noticed he did that quite often.

"You don't like him much do you?" She said without thinking. Becker tipped his head inquisitively.

"Don't like who?" He asked.

Jess blinked, taken aback that she'd spoken her thoughts out loud.

"Um, Philip." She managed, momentarily distracted by how intensely the man's brown eyes were watching her. He seemed to be trying to read her expression, the very thought of which caused a sudden rush of heat to spread to her cheeks.

Great, I'm blushing like an idiot. Jess berated herself inwardly. She tried to focus on perfecting her blasé stance in an effort not to notice how handsome Becker looked in a hoodie, jacket, and jeans.

Placing one hand on her hip she bent slightly to the left relaxing her shoulders. If there was one thing she kept forgetting to do it was to breathe.

"He's alright." Becker said after a pause. Adjusting his bag, he started walking again passing within inches of her as he made for his truck.

Jess held her breath till he'd passed. Inhaling deeply to gain courage, she caught a trace of a musky-sweet scent hanging in the air he'd walked through. She guessed it was the remnants of a brand of aftershave still clinging to his civilian clothing.

Jess found she liked it.

Closing her eyes for a brief second in an effort to settle her stomach, she turned and trotted after him her heels clicking on the pavement.

"He does seem to be a very private person…" Jess continued, desperately trying to find away to carry on the conversation. She lengthened her stride to match his, which wasn't easy in a skirt as short as hers.

Goodness he's got long legs. She thought.

"Get that from reading his file did you?" Becker said sarcastically, staring straight ahead.

Jess frowned. "I only read files on the people I'm interested in." She stated, mildly defensive.

Becker glanced down at her as they walked side by side across the parking lot.

"Is that so?" He asked

Jess nodded. Side stepping a puddle, leftovers from an earlier rain shower, she missed Becker's amused half-smile as he watched her. When she finally looked up he had turned away.

"Besides, he won't let me read it. I don't have clearance." Jess added sulkily.

"Ah." Becker countered, slowing to a halt as they reached his parking space.

Tossing his bag into the flatbed of the pickup, he turned to face her.

"So…" he began, crossing his arms over his chest. Jess wondered if he knew any other way to stand.

"Yeah…" she replied, nervously brushing a stray tendril of hair from her eyes as the breeze tried to toss it back.

For several moments a heavy awkwardness settled between them. The two looked at each other uncomfortably. Jess smiled weakly, absentmindedly playing with her ident bracelet as she tried to find something to say. Suddenly she remembered the candy bar in her purse.

"Would you like some chocolate?" she blurted out, cutting Becker off as he opened his mouth to speak.

"What?" He asked confused.

Jess blushed when she realized she'd been rude. "Oh I'm sorry! You were going to say something and I just completely cut you off, you must think I'm so inconsiderate!" She babbled giddily.

"No I…" Becker tried once more.

"I can talk too much sometimes…" Jess interrupted again and then winced. "Goodness I just did it again I'm sorry what were you saying?" She bit her lip to keep from rambling further. Whenever she got nervous her mouth tended to run amok.

Becker raised an eyebrow, hesitating as if to be sure there were no more outbursts. "Nothing, I was just going to say goodnight." He finally managed to finish.

Her flush deepened, but Jess squared her shoulders with resolve. He wasn't going to get away so easily.

"Well, at least take some chocolate with you." She said pulling the bar out of her purse.

Becker shook his head. "It's alright Jess…" he began but she silenced him with a waggle of her forefinger.

"No, you gave it to me and now I want to share it." Pulling back the wrapper, she snapped off a block of squares. Holding the piece out to him, she smiled broadly, encouraging him to take it.

"But there's no orange in it." Becker complained innocently. Taking the chocolate from her hand, he seemed fully aware as they brushed fingers. Jess felt hopeful that he'd done it on purpose. Pulling her hand away she tucked it self-consciously behind her back.

"Oh, well, if I'd known you liked orange…" she floundered, realizing too late that Becker's eyes were laughing at her.

"I'm joking." He said with a half smile. "I hate anything orange, like you said it's…"

"Weird." They both finished together.

Jess giggled. What was it about this man that made her feel like a silly school girl?

Becker looked past her and then nodded toward her car. "Looks like Abby and Connor are waiting."

Jess glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of Connor's teasing wave. The two were standing beside her compact, appearing suspiciously like they were enjoying the scene.

"Oh, yes new roomies." She said almost apologetically looking back.

"See you tomorrow then." Becker said moving to the driver side door on his truck.

"Um yeah, full shift." Jess replied.

Feeling their conversation had ended, she began to turn away.

"Hey." Becker called after her. Jess paused, surprised.

"Thanks." He said, half lifting his piece of the bar in a mock salute.

Jess smiled back at him in response, delighted.

A/N: I'm hoping to do more of these short "missing scenes" from series 4. I've been really inspired lately. Mostly they will be Becker/Jess related, but I do have ideas for other characters as well. Thanks for reading!