Disclaimer: Don't Own, Don't Sue! ;D

Summary: Sequel to My Boy Builds Coffins. Following the events of the predator invasion, Jess finds herself separated from the others and looking for answers that may or may not put those she loves in danger.


Here Tomorrow Gone Today

Prologue

Jess walked outside the cottage she had been residing in for the past twenty-two weeks and made her way to the garden behind just around the side of the house.

She still had no idea how she'd gotten here; but she knew that here was some small seaside village in Ireland.

She went out to the garden everyday to keep her mind clear and not focus on the terrible events that happened four months ago, she would revisit it after the baby was born.

She was too close to giving birth that any level of stress would cause her to go into labor.

She wasn't allowed to leave the land she was allotted.

Nothing made sense.

The caretaker took care of everything and otherwise treated Jess like a child.

But she didn't feel threatened here; just lost.

Jess picked some roses and returned to the cottage through the back door.

As she finished arranging the roses in a vase and filling it with water, she heard a knock at the front door.

Apart from the caretaker, she really had no visitors.

A part of her felt happiness and anticipation wash over her at the thought of Connor being behind the door.

She brushed the hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear as she answered the door.

He stood in the doorway dressed in a pair of jeans, black boots, and a black tank underneath a green and black flannel long-sleeved shirt. His hair tossed about from the wind that rolled up from the sea.

"Becker." Jess gasped.

Several emotions overcame her at once, only to be quickly flooded out by the questions.

"Are the others with you? Where's Connor? What's going on? What happened?" She rambled as she practically dragged the soldier into the cottage.

Something wasn't right.

He looked different.

The only word Jess could conjure for the expression on his face was: torn.

"You're lucky you got out." He spoke finally, not meeting her eyes. "However you managed it."

"I didn't." She admitted. "Someone kidnapped me and I woke up here sometime—days, weeks—later."

"Where are the others?"

"There was a—a—" Becker swallowed the lump in his throat. "Massacre."

"Massacre?" Jess asked incredulously.

"I barely made it out alive." He stumbled in his speech. "The others—they're—dead."

Jess felt tears rushing down her cheeks.

"You're lying."

He flinched.

"Connor's not dead! And neither are Abby and Matt!" She shouted.

He forced himself to look into her eyes. "I—"

Jess sobbed uncontrollably.

"They're not dead!" She shouted again, before her hands flew to her stomach.

"Jess, be careful. You're putting too much stress on the baby." Becker spoke worriedly, reaching out to steady her.

Jess's breathing became labored.

"I think—the baby's on the way."


Becker sat in the waiting room.

It had been a couple of hours and he'd heard nothing from the doctor's on Jess or the baby.

He hadn't meant to show up and upset her and cause her to go into labor.

He hoped they were both alright.

His mind began to wander to about a month ago and the events that had brought him here.

"Captain Becker, a word?" Phillip had called from his office whilst Becker was on patrol.

Becker clenched his teeth.

After everything that had happened and the disappearance of Jess, the last thing he wanted right now was a word with Phillip.

Everyone was worried about what had happened to Jess and no one was more torn up about it than Connor.

Connor had shut himself away from everyone, trying to find some plausible reason or lead on the disappearance of Jess and their unborn child.

Becker entered Phillip's office and closed the door behind him. "You wanted to see me?"

"Please, have a seat." He gestured to the seat across from his desk.

Becker did so and watched as Phillip folded his hands.

"I understand Ms. Parker's disappearance has been quite—hard—on the team."

Becker nodded.

"I also understand that there has been a semi-organized movement of sorts to search for her whereabouts."

"With all due respect, I don't like live with the knowledge that I didn't do my job properly with protecting members of this team. I'd like to think she's still somewhere—alive and well."

Phillip nodded. "It seems as though we are almost on the same page, then."

"Sorry?"

"I have a proposition for you, Captain."

"What kind of proposition?"

"I've been conducting a more professional search for Ms. Parker as well. An associate of mine has located her."

Becker's face lit up, giving way to his emotions.

"How would you like to make a deal?"

"What type of deal?"

"Ms. Parker's whereabouts in exchange for your resignation." Phillip stated evenly.

"You want me to quit in order to find Jess?"

"I would like your resignation, your promise to never return to the ARC, and to deliver a message to Ms. Parker."

"Seems rather weighty—"

"I think it's a fair bargain for the whereabouts of a lovely young woman and her child. Don't you?" Phillip cut him off.

Becker said nothing.

"I want you to agree to the aforementioned terms and then deliver the following message to Jess: tell her that Connor and the others are dead and that the ARC has been suspended once more."

Becker gritted his teeth.

"Why not offer this to Connor? Jess is his girlfriend and she's carrying his child. Better yet, why not have this associate of yours bring Jess back here?"

"The work we do here at the ARC is strictly professional and dangerous. It is no place to bring a woman in Jess's position back into. And as for Connor, he is crucial to the success of the Anomaly Research Project. After the Project has been resolved, he is of the freedom to what he wishes."

"And what's to stop me from going to tell the others everything you've just told me?" Becker questioned, appalled.

"You're exceptional at protecting people, Captain Becker. It would be a real shame to turn such a small white lie into a horrid reality."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I'm merely giving you an incentive to do what's right. Surely, you can understand that, Captain."

Becker narrowed his eyes.

"Now, do we have an accord?"

Becker was snapped from his thoughts as a doctor came forward to inform Becker that Jess and the baby both survived and are in good health.

Becker swallowed yet another lump in his throat before standing and following the doctor to Jess's hospital room.


This will remain Connor/Jess no matter what. Promise!

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