Under the Weather, Becker's Turn, Part One
Rated: G
Spoilers: None
Description: At the end of Under the Weather, it was revealed that Becker was sick. Jess told him she would take care of him. This is that story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or the characters.
Pairing: Jess/Becker
Author's Note: Sequel to Under the Weather, which was a secret Santa for moviefreak4634, who requested a sick Jess and Becker trying to take care of her, but getting called back to work. This story follows that premise. Pre-relationship.
4320 Words, two parts
Under the Weather, Becker's Turn, Part One
"You didn't have to come," said Becker, his usual smooth and sexy voice was thin and scratchy.
"You helped me. What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't help you?"
Becker sighed, and sunk into the couch.
Jess laughed. "You are sick. You're not fighting me at all."
"I'm just tired."
"Yes, I know. You need to go to bed, come one," she said, trying in vain to pull him off the couch.
Becker sat still, coughing occasionally and doing nothing to help.
"This isn't fair," she said, tugging on his arm. "You picked me up easily."
"I don't remember you protesting."
Jess stopped her efforts. She looked at him. "That isn't the point."
He chuckled, but started to cough.
"Oh, no," she said with concern. "Come on, get up. Let's go to bed."
He smiled and slowly got up. "You should have started with that."
"You can barely walk or talk, but still have the energy to tease, that's encouraging," she said.
Becker climbed into bed, and Jess covered him up. She ran her hand over his forehead. "You've got a fever. Luckily, some knight in shining armor came to my rescue and I still have what he brought."
She pulled up a bag that had been on her arm, and rummaged inside. She pulled out a bottle. "Now, if you'll just be kind enough to swallow these pills for me, we'll get that temperature down."
"Shouldn't you check it first?"
"Don't tell me how to nurse. Besides, its obvious you have a fever: You're sweating, you're clammy and pale but your eyes are red. Do you really need to know how high it is?"
"No offense Jess, but I think (cough) I was better at this."
"Oh! I should just get up and leave you here..." she trailed off as she saw his eyes. "You little sneak! You want me to leave, don't you?"
"I don't need a nurse. I'm fine. I should be at the ARC."
"No. You should not be there, contaminating everyone with your germs. I'm sorry, big strong hero, but you are my patient. I'm not leaving and neither are you. Now, swallow these, and be quiet."
"Your bedside manner is horrible."
She smiled. "You just don't like someone else in charge."
He coughed.
She dug into the bag more. "Let's get rid of that cough. I prefer syrup, but what do you want?"
"Syrup's (cough) fine (cough)."
"You poor thing," she said, pouring the syrup. "Sit up, please." She exaggerated the please.
He smirked but swallowed the syrup and then the pain/fever reducing medicine.
"Thank you, Captain."
"Ugh. (cough) Glad you're hap...(cough)... py."
"I'd be happier if you didn't feel so bad."
"Me too, Jess," he said, with a weak scratchy voice.
"Now, I know it might seem like I'm stealing your ideas, but you were such a good nurse," she said, pulling out the small CD player and the CDs Becker had brought to her when she was sick.
He smiled.
"I'm guessing you wouldn't choose Disney?"
He chuckled, and coughed. "Thunderstorm was good."
She smiled. "Storm it is." She put on the CD, dimmed the lights, and closed the shades.
Becker closed his eyes and listened to the rain and thunder. Then he felt a light, cool touch against his face.
"Relax," Jess whispered, as she tenderly stroked his cheek. "I'll be right back."
She stood up, but his arm quickly caught her. "Don't. Please, stay."
"Alright, but you are going to have to let me up eventually. You need some juice, and a cool cloth, and..."
"I just need rest," he said, closing his eyes again, "and you."
She smiled. "Do you realize what you just said?"
Becker nodded slightly, then coughed.
She kissed his cheek. "Well, don't worry. I'm here."
He smiled, and they sat in silence for a while. Jess held his hand, and when it became very warm and sweaty, she was concerned. She rubbed his forehead lightly.
"Becker?"
"Mm?"
"You're burning up. I need to cool you down. I promise I won't be gone long."
She pulled her hand from his and got off the bed. She came with a thermometer, cool cloth, and juice.
"Drink this, please."
He groaned, but sat up. "It's a good thing you're cute," he said with a light grin.
She laughed. "Yes, it is. Good boy," she said, as he swallowed the juice.
She wiped his face with the cloth, and left it on his forehead. "Open, please," she said, holding the thermometer.
He grinned. "Decided to check, huh?"
"Don't be smug," she said. "I just want to see if it's high enough to take you to a doctor."
He groaned. "Don't need a (cough) doctor."
"We'll see," she said, sliding the thermometer gently in his mouth. "I'm sure it will be loads of fun taking you to a doctor."
"Mhm ot mmh octor."
"Hush," she said. "And you said I couldn't be still."
Jess sat quietly, smiling at him. He obediently lay still for her.
Jess held his hand. It was red, and still wet. She then put a hand on his pajama top. "Becker, you're soaked with sweat. You need to get out of these pajamas"
His eyebrows went up.
"Don't look at me like that. You're over-heating. I'm concerned with getting the fever down, and keeping from getting pneumonia or ….oh, hush."
He chuckled, as the thermometer beeped.
"Wow. It's a 103," she said.
"That's just one degree higher than yours."
"Yeah, but Becker you're so hot."
He smirked. "Thank you."
She shook her head. "You're impossible, even sick. Where are some dry pajamas?"
"Top drawer, right ahead of you."
She got a lovely light blue set, and pulled Becker up.
"I can manage, Jess."
"Can you?" she asked.
Becker could barely sit up on his own. He didn't want to tell her that she was a little blurry. "I guess you can help," he said.
Jess smiled. She pulled his dark gray pajama top off. Her pulse sped up at the sight of his naked, hairy chest. Even sickly pale, flushed and sweating he was gorgeous.
"Um, Jess. Kind of cold. (cough, cough)."
She snapped out of her trance. "Sorry, I'm holding the dry top, aren't I?" She helped his arms into the top and buttoned it up for him.
It was quite an experience, buttoning the shirt slowly, Becker gazing at her. Her fingers trembled.
"There," she said finally. "Better?"
"Yeah." He felt awful. His head hurt, he was clammy and hot, and he felt like lead was in his veins, but he still had the urge to tease her. "How about the trousers, Miss Parker?"
Jess blushed deep red. She caught his smirk.
"Absolutely. Let me help you up," she said, returning the smirk.
It was a battle of teasing, who would give in first?
Becker smirked as he let her pull him up and out of bed. She met his gaze stubbornly. He looked at her and cocked his head Well? He was saying.
If he thought she couldn't match his teasing he was mistaken. He was trying to get to her, and it wouldn't work.
"Let's get these off," she said.
"Fine."
They stood, staring and smirking at each other.
Becker grabbed his waist band, looked at her, and began to pull them down.
She turned red, and darn it, she turned away.
She fumed as she heard his laughter behind her.
But then he started coughing, and Jess heard a thump. She turned immediately, and Becker, wet pajama trousers around his knees, was on the floor.
"Gosh, are you alright?"
"I'm. (cough) fine Jess, but my dignity's passed away. (cough) I'm fine."
She giggled. "I should have helped you. Here, stand up," she said, pulling him onto the bed. She pulled the trousers off.
"I'm sorry. I (cough) shouldn't (cough) have teased you."
She threw the pajamas into a corner. "It's alright. Put your leg in here," she said, helping the new trousers on. "Now the other one, good. Do you think you can pull them up?"
He nodded.
She looked away, as he stood up, and pulled the trousers up. "I didn't mean to...embarrass you or anything," she said.
"I don't usually like (cough) standing in front of colleagues in my underwear. (cough)"
"Well, I promise I won't tease you, like Connor or Matt would."
"I'd appreciate that Jess," he said, crawling into bed. He collapsed against the pillows, utterly beat. "I don't feel so good."
"I know," she said, sweetly, "but you'll feel better soon. This bug moves fast."
He started having a coughing fit. Jess produced the eucalyptus rub, and started to unbutton his shirt.
"Jess?"
"Don't argue with me. You're so feeling horrible that I doubt you could do this." She gently rubbed the stuff on his chest, feeling his eyes on her. She blushed, but Becker's breathing distracted her.
"You're wheezing," she said.
He nodded. "So, were you."
"I remember, but this made me feel loads better. I'm not rubbing too hard am I?"
He mumbled something that sounded like a no.
Jess took a risk and looked at him. His eyes were closed, and he smiled contentedly. She blushed. Her touch made him smile like that. Or was it just the eucalyptus?
"How is that?" she asked.
"Better."
"Good," she said. "I'm going to..."
Her mobile interrupted her sentence.
Becker laughed. "Here we go again."
Jess spoke into her mobile, "Yes, Lester, I am feeling better, thank you. As I explained earlier, I'm looking after a sick friend. What? Well, uh, yes, actually it is Becker, but it's not really anyone's business..."
Becker chuckled.
"The system's doing what? Well that's not good. No, Lester I don't want valuable state secrets erased. Fine. I'll be right there."
"I think this bug calls people back to work," said Becker.
"I know, it's vicious," she said. "I have to go and fix the ARC's system."
"I heard. It's OK. Thanks for taking care of me."
"I'll be back."
"You don't have to."
"Yes, I do," said Jess, kissing his cheek. "Now, be good. No standing, walking, or cleaning guns. Promise?"
He smiled. "I promise."
Jess smiled back.
"Jess, in a small container on the table by the front door are my keys. If you're coming back, may as well let yourself in."
Jess beamed. "Good idea, and I am coming back."
"OK," he said, closing his eyes.
"Feel better," she said as she tiptoed out.
End of Part One