Chapter Three, Conclusion, The Barracuda

Jess had returned the gift to Stella and said she took it politely. Becker hoped it was over. He was relieved that so far, the day was Stella-free. His mood improved the more time he spent with Jess. They were going over reviews of the new recruits, when he suddenly remembered the chocolate he'd gotten for her but left in his car. He ran out quickly to surprise her with it.

As he turned into the car park he saw Stella bent over her car.

He sighed. He could make a run for it. He could also be a heel and walk on by. No, damn it, he was a gentleman, he reminded himself.

"Hey," he called.

He moved in on the miles of naked leg bent over the open hood. As she straightened he saw that she wore a shiny, black mini skirt with an embarrassingly high slit. Her shiny black knee-length boots clashed badly with it, or he imagined Jess would think so. She also wore a black and white bustier. 'How on earth did she get that passed Lester?' he thought, and then he saw a shiny black jacket lying on the hood.

"Trouble?" he asked. Yes, he thought, to himself, she is.

She smiled, like she was a cat and he, the canary which was flying into her paws. He gulped.

"Thank goodness, Becky," she oozed. "Oh, you are always here when I need you." Becker smiled, uneasily, and tried to keep his distance from her. "Oh, the whole thing's gone crazy. The radio is playing, the lights are on, the wipers won't shut off," and just then the horn honked. "It's like it's possessed. Please do something Becky."

She snuggled up to Becker, running her fingers along his chest, and placing her head against it.

Becker pulled away. "Let me just have a look…at the car, at the car," he said nervously.

She posed along the door as he got in to look at the dashboard. When he moved to look under the hood, she went with him, pressing her body close.

Becker was scared. This was probably just a ploy to get to him, but the car did have genuine electrical problems. He thought it could be worse, maybe even a computerized problem.

Then Becker smiled. Electric. Computer. Ha!

"You wait right here," he told Stella, "I know exactly how to fix this. I'll be right back."

Becker appeared a few minutes later. Stella had refreshed her red lipstick, taken her hair down so it fell about her shoulders, and pulled the bustier down to reveal even more of her cleavage. Becker was so glad he had brought along help.

"OK," said Becker. "Won't be long now. I brought some expert help."

Stella's face fell. "Help?" she asked, deflated. "You brought...can't you fix it?" Then she started wiggling her hips, jutting out her chest. "I know you can fix it Becky."

"Sorry," he said. "Electronics and computers are not my specialty, but lucky for you, she's brilliant with them."

Stella was about to lose it. "SHE?" She half yelled, half questioned, when Becker stepped aside to reveal the help.

Jess.

She smiled at Stella, and went to work. Becker acted as her assistant and soon the car was back to normal.

"Piece of cake," said Jess, not even getting grease on her purple and green outfit.

"Told you she was brilliant. There you go Stella," said Becker. "I bet you really want to get going. See you later. Come on Jess." Then, Becker took Jess' arm and walked away with her.

Jess called over her shoulder, "Have a nice evening."

Stella stood alone in the car park, flabbergasted.

Jess was still smirking as she and Becker walked back into the ARC. 'That was brilliant,' she thought, 'he was brilliant.' Bringing her to fix the barracuda's car had been his idea. He really didn't want Stella, not only that but he'd used Jess to avoid her. She was so happy that she just couldn't stop giggling.

"What's so funny?" asked Becker, amused.

"I'm sorry," she said, a tad embarrassed. "I know it's petty and a little mean, but I just loved sticking it to Stella that way." She giggled some more.

Becker looked at her. She was giggling, but there was no trace of malice or manipulation on her face. Unlike the barracuda, Jess was not into using others. Still she was feisty enough to stand up when others pushed her around.

"Thanks for helping me," he said.

"Are you kidding? Thanks for letting me be a part of it. You may be the first man in ARC history to escape the barracuda." She thought to herself, 'I hope so. God I hope so.'

"Small victory for men's lib?" he asked with a cheeky grin.

She smiled. "Absolutely." They both laughed as they walked to the ADD.

"Hey," he said, "Are you busy tonight?"

Jess eyes jumped to three times their size. "No..."

Becker grinned. "How about a little victory dinner? Pizza maybe?"

She could not contain the smile radiating from her face. "Just you and me, no Stella?"

Becker laughed, "No Stella. I don't want to ruin my appetite, after all. I want to eat the pizza."

Jess giggled. "That sounds very nice."

"Great, shall we just leave from work? I'll bring you back afterwards and you can drive home from here."

"Perfect," said Jess.

Becker normally turned in early, getting up at 5am to go running. So, at 11:30 that night, he had been asleep when his doorbell rang. He stumbled across the flat mumbling, 'better be bloody important,' opened his door, and there on the doorstep, clad in an overcoat, was...

...the barracuda.

The first word that popped in his head was ungentlemanly, so he said nothing.

"Aren't you going to invite me in, Captain?"

Becker didn't say anything, he was too flustered, so Stella pushed past him. Finally, he found his voice, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, my captain, it's time we stop flitting about each other," she said opening her coat. She was wearing a black teddy, black stockings and garters, and black stilettos. She held her coat beside her, dramatically dropping it down. She pranced up to him, and tried to kiss him.

"Um, Stella, you...somehow you've gotten the wrong idea."

"No I haven't Becky. I want you. I know you want me."

"No, I don't," he said firm and emotionless.

Stella drew back. She'd had men play hard to get before, but she'd never had a man act like this: like he really had no interest.

"Are you gay?"

Becker snickered, "How come if a man isn't interested, women assume he's gay? No, I'm not. And no, I'm not interested...in this. You and me isn't going to work."

"Oh, trust me Becker, you and me will work just fine. It will be one hell of a passionate night," she said drawing closer and trying to kiss him again.

"Please leave."

"Are you kidding me?" She was angry. "A gorgeous woman shows up on your doorstep, no strings, offering you one night of mind blowing sex, and you say no?"

"I say no," and he held open the front door for her.

Stella stood a moment. She'd never been in this situation. She was not rejected, ever. For a second she did not know what to do. Finally, the barracuda left, looking extremely confused and more than a little angry.

Stella knew from an early age that she was pretty. She learned in her teens, that men would do anything she wanted if she paid them attention. College years taught her that holding sex over them gave her control. Stella had honed her craft, even earning herself a suitable nickname:

Barracuda. She loved it. She was a man-eater, and proud of it. She was unbeatable. Every man she'd ever set her sights on had been hers: rock stars, a-list actors, politicians, generals, anyone. No captain was saying 'no' to her. She'd have him needing her so badly he'd beg. Then, as always, once he couldn't function without her, she'd throw him away. Like she always did.

Other women? What other women? She'd broken up marriages and engagements, left broken relationships everywhere she roamed.

A 19 year-old girl was no match for her. Poor Jess Parker would be left in tears when the barracuda was done. And Becker? He'd never want another woman once he'd had her.

Stella's revenge began the morning after Becker's rejection. She knew the ARC gossip; in fact she played into it. When she'd learned they expected her to show up with food when she was 'hunting,' she sought out the best delicacies money could buy. According to the gossip, the day after her 'conquest' she celebrated victory by passing out decadent chocolate. The gossipers knew her better than she did. She did bring something chocolate to celebrate a conquest won.

Oh, there would be chocolate this morning, and she'd make sure Jess knew why.

Stella passed the chocolate truffles all around. She noticed the look on Anderson's face. He knew. He'd been one of her first dalliances at the ARC, joining around the same time. They'd had a brief fling. She enjoyed the look of concern on his face, and knew where he was going next: to comfort Jess.

"Why is everybody so concerned with me today?" said Jess to Epstein. He looked at her sadly, patted her shoulder and offered her his chocolate truffle. She took it of course. It was divine. Still, she wondered why everyone, the men especially, were acting so strange.

"Hey, Jess," said Matt, looking at her with sympathy.

"Not you too," said Jess. "All the men today have been looking at me like my puppy just died. What's going on?"

"Do you know what this is?" asked Matt, holding up a truffle.

"Of course," said Jess, "It's delicious," she said with a grin.

Matt didn't join her in grinning. He grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the ADD. "You and Becker aren't...seeing each other...officially, right?"

"Right," she nodded warily. "We're very good friends, I'd like to be more..."

Matt's face fell, and he took her hand. "Jess, these are what we, thoughtless men, call 'victory chocolates,' they're what the barracuda passes out when she's...gotten her man, after she's, you know, slept with him."

Jess shook her head. "No, you've got it wrong, or she's lying, or something. He wouldn't do that, not after yesterday." To Matt's questioning expression, she said, "I helped him avoid her yesterday, and as a thank you we went out. It was just pizza, and we didn't kiss or anything, but...it was nice. I can honestly tell you he has no interest in that woman."

Just then Stella strolled by, stopped, held up a truffle, sensuously took a bite, and then she winked at Jess. Smiling, she sauntered away. It was too much for Jess.

"No," she whispered. "No." She stood up and ran off to the lady's room.

Matt was going to kill Becker.

Luckily for Becker, he didn't run in to Matt that morning, but he did run, literally, into Jess Parker, crying.

"Jess! Good grief, what's wrong? Who did this to you?"

"You did, you asshole!" she cried. "Why play games with me? I honestly believed you had no interest in that...that...barracuda."

Becker's eyes were wide. "I don't. I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Stella's passing out to-die-for chocolate truffles because you had sex with her last night."

"Whoa! I did not! I swear! I did not touch her. She came to my flat, woke me up, which pissed me off, had the nerve to just barge in without my invitation, then she threw off her coat to reveal she was barely dressed."

"Oh, good! I bet you enjoyed that!"

"Actually, I didn't. She looked trampy. She's rude, inconsiderate, pushy, clueless, and apparently from her antics this morning a lying manipulative bitch. I never touched her. I threw her out."

Jess stared at him. She wanted to believe him. She did believe, but what if that was because she wanted to so badly?

Becker pulled her close, and said solemnly, "Honestly, are you going to believe her, or me?"

That was it.

"You, obviously," she said, tears falling down her face. "It's just hard to believe, that you wouldn't...I mean, she was throwing herself at you. I find it difficult to believe you'd turn her down."

"I had a good reason to turn her down. I don't want her, plain and simple."

He smiled at her and she smiled back. He was so close to saying, "I want you, Jess," but he didn't. He didn't know why. He just couldn't get past that damn wall that was up between him and everyone. He didn't know if he'd ever get over that wall.

He stood, holding her, cursing himself for being such a coward, when who should prance by, but the barracuda. Suddenly, Becker felt himself climbing over that wall.

"Jess, I am saying this because the barracuda is watching," he whispered, "but I swear to you it's true, every single word."

He pulled her back to look in her beautiful blue eyes, and he smiled. Then he looked at Stella's smug, evil grin. He raised his voice, making sure she heard, and said, "I want you Jess. I don't want Stella, ever. Only you," and he pulled Jess close, and kissed her.

Actually, he snogged the hell out of her, and she didn't mind one bit.

Even though Becker had kissed Jess for the barracuda's benefit, they soon forgot all about her… and the ARC… and the anomalies… and the team… and the world... and everything.

Matt stomped into the corridor, still looking for Becker, when he saw Becker and Jess making out. He shook his head and laughed, then noticed the barracuda. He gave her a little salute, and walked away, laughing loudly.

The barracuda huffed off. Becker really wasn't worth it. She turned so abruptly she almost didn't see the man coming around the corner.

"Good grief," he said seeing Jess and Becker, who were still kissing. "That is hardly appropriate behavior," said James Lester. Getting no reply, he shook his head, let the kissing couple be, and walked away.

The barracuda watched him leave, "Hmm," she muttered. "Oh, Mr. Lester," she called after him. "Have you ever tried one of my homemade muffins?"

THE END