A/N: Hey everybody, this is the first story of my trilogy.
For those who know "I'm here to protect you", it follows this story in the time order.
For the others, you don't need to know above-said story. ^^
Intro
Jess has a fierce crush on Becker, everbody knows and can see it.
But being the emotional retard he is, Becker isn't so sure about his feelings for the little bubbling Field Co-ordinator.
He know he likes her, a lot, and that he cares for her, a little more than he is supposed to do. But does he really love her or is it just her lively, funny and witty behaviour, her pretty face and her young age that makes him act so protectively around her.
As a new soldier arrives and make approaches towards her, Becker is forced to finally face his feelings he had locked deep inside his heart. Is he able to deal with them or will he break by the emotional rollercoaster?
Thanks to lovingthis for your beta-read. You are awesome, how did your exams go?
Enjoy!
Lester sat in his chair, watching Becker pace up and down.
"I don't need a new soldier." The Captain declared to the Head of the ARC, looking at him with a grim face.
"You do." The man replied, frowning at his Head of Security. "You have a lack of men."
"We can cope with that." Becker assured his boss.
"No! Not with this casualty rate and working in new soldiers take their time. You need one, now."
"Do you forget what the last one caused?" Becker stood still, gazing at the sitting man and clenching his fists.
"Of course not. But that was two month ago now." The older man answered in a calm voice, pointing at the stack of documents on the table he added: "You need new men. It's about time."
Peering at the files the Captain denied again, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I won't choose any of them."
"I might have known it. That's why I picked one of them and hired him." Lester announced and looked at his watch. "Oh, he should already be here."
"Lester!" Becker shouted frustratingly at the man in front of him.
"Captain Becker, as much as I esteem your attendance and work, remember that even you are replaceable." The man rose his voice to call him to order.
Immediately the Captain straightened himself, standing at attention in front of his boss. "I understand. My apologies, Sir." He stated, his voice clear and calm, suppressing his anger. He turned around and left the office.
"Sometimes, I feel like I'm a preschool teacher." Lester sighted, rolled his eyes and stood up, searching for his whisky at the back of the top shelf.
/-/
At a smart pace, Becker reached the entrance, seeing only one of his men standing there.
"Has the new recruit arrived already?" He questioned his soldier with a steady voice.
The Private turned his head, looking at his Commander. "Yes, Sir. Five minutes ago." Knowing what the Captain could question next he added, "LCpl Donalds and Pvt Jenkins took him along, they wanted to show him around."
"Where are they?" The Captain asked.
"Um, don't know exactly, but they wanted to start with the training room." The soldier replied.
Becker walked at full pace to said room. He knew his men well enough to know that they would be up to no good. In a rush he opened the door, seeing his two soldiers talking insistently to somebody against the wall.
He stepped further, overhearing their conversation.
"Did you ever disobeyed orders?" Donalds questioned, utilizing his deep minatory voice.
Someone, who Becker couldn't see due to the large soldiers blocked his view, answered in a slightly nervous tone. "No, never."
"How are your combat skills?" Jenkins asked, his look threatening.
"Um, good but could be better." The man replied.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" The Second in Command applied.
"Yes, but she's living in Newcastle and -." The new recruit was cut off by the other soldier.
"Why is she living there and not here?" Jenkins heckled him.
"Because she didn't want to leave her family and her workstation." He answered bewilderedly.
"So you respect it when women say 'No'?" Donalds questioned.
"Of course. Why shouldn't I?" The new one asked in return but got no answer.
"What about your parents? Any siblings?" The Private changed the subject.
"Um, my parents are separated. I lived with my mum and my two older sisters in Newcastle, but now I have a single apartment here."
"And how do your sisters normally dress?" Jenkins asked again.
"What?" The new recruit was flabbergasted.
"Answer the question." LCpl Donalds ordered him.
"Don't know! Normal?" He answered, wondering what the hell his sisters clothes had to do with his new job.
"Do you have pictures of them?" Jenkins questioned further.
"Is this a regular introductory discussion?" He asked back doubtingly.
"You are not allowed to ask questions. Answer him, Private." Donalds rebuked him.
The Captain grinned at his soldiers behaviour, although he felt a little bit sorry for the new recruit, getting grilled by them. Deciding to break their questioning he stepped forward, standing right behind their backs.
Tensing his body and putting on a solemn face, he shouted. "Aside!"
Immediately his men scurried apart, standing at attention.
Becker gazed into space. Surprised at seeing nobody he lowered his head and raised an eyebrow in disbelief as he beheld the person, belonging to the voice he heard answering.
A 5''5 ft little, slim boy with dark-brown hair, wearing a camouflage suit, looked up at him.
'Oh my god. Lester can't be serious.'
Becker thought, starring right into the recruit's emerald-green eyes, which seemed to penetrate directly into the Captain's brain.
There was only one question running through his mind and finding the exit through his mouth. "How old are you? 15?"
"No, Sir. I'm 22." The recruit corrected, looking at the third person who towered over him, showing not a bit of fear.
From the reactions of the two soldiers, LCpl Donalds, who introduced himself as the Second in Command and Private Jenkins, the new guy was positive that this new soldier must be the Captain, who fitted perfectly between the 6''2 ft and 6''0 ft tall men.
"All right. I'm Captain Becker, the Head of Security in the ARC. Nice to meet you, your name?" Becker greeted friendly and put out his hand.
The little man seized the proffered hand, shaking it and wanted to reply as he once more was cut off by Jenkins.
"His name's Private Caleb Newton, Sir." Aiden interrupted.
The Captain peered at the Private to his left. "Did I asked you?"
"No, Sir. I'm sorry, Sir." Jenkins replied and Becker turned his attention back to the new one.
His eyes fixed at Newton, he questioned his 2IC. "His file?"
"Here, Sir." Donalds replied, handing the report over to his boss, who opened the front page instantly and went over the lines.
"You were in the Royal Army Medical Corps? You're a medic?" He peered over the file, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Sir." Newton answered proudly with a light smile on his lips.
"A soldier and a medic? How does that figure?" Jenkins interrupted their conversation again.
Becker turned to his Private, lowering at him.
"Sorry, Sir." Aiden excused himself, already knowing what this look had to say.
"Armoury cleaning at the weekend." Becker punished him.
As the soldier nodded his understanding, he turned his attention back again to Newton, who explained the coherence.
"My mum is a nurse, I grew up with medical knowledge and always knew that I wanted to do something medical related. And my dad is an army soldier, Lt. Colonel to be more exact."
"He's Lt. C? Do I know him?" The Captain questioned, lowering the file in his hands.
The recruit denied. "I doubt that, Sir. He lives in Canada."
"I see!" Becker looked back onto the page: "You're a marksman?" As Newton nodded, he added, "how good?"
"I joined the rifle club as kid and won several first place awards. And I was the best in my unit, Sir." The Private recounted.
"So you could shoot the spots out of a die in 1000 yards distance?"
"When you give me a bullet which is small enough definitely, Sir."
'Medical know-how and a sniper, I must admit Lester did a good catch.'
"Good, good. Anything we need to know?" Becker questioned further.
"I'm a runner, Sir. I participate in the New York Marathon once a year and on short distances of 1000 yards I can run up to 25 mph."
Becker was deeply impressed at that statement, he definitely could use this boy in his unit. Closing the file, he handed it back to Donalds.
"So, you said your combat skills were good, lets do a little test." Becker commented and lead Newton to the trainings mat.
"Ten pounds says he can't stand for three minutes." Jenkins bet, crossing his arms as he watched his Captain and the freshman taking on position.
"Deal." Donalds nodded and started his stop watch.
Warming up, Becker started with passing light strokes, which Newton parried perfectly. Then he continued with faster moves, using arms and legs. It didn't take long and the new recruit laid gaspingly on the ground, held down by the Captain's firm grip, not able to move any further.
"Your combat skills are poor." Becker commented as he stood up, not even started to sweat by the fight.
"Does that mean I'm out?" Caleb questioned, worrying that this might be the shortest job he ever had.
"Nope. That means your in." He clarified, helping him up, a wide grin on his face, being glad that the new one wasn't as perfect as he seemed.
"So, I'm gonna fight against dinosaurs now?" Newton asked excitedly.
"Oh, no. You would be eaten within seconds, first you have to advance your fighting skills and learn to use an EMD." Becker denied. Seeing the disappointed look on the small man he appended. "Let's say: when you win fighting against Jenkins, you're ready for field work."
The young man started to beam with joy. "Great!"
Becker gestured him to follow as he left the room.
"How long did it take?" Jenkins questioned his 2IC.
Donalds grinned cheekily as he peeked at his watch, holding out one hand he answered. "Three minutes and seventeen seconds."
The Private sighed, slightly frustrated he grabbed his wallet, taking out the £10 note and handing it over to Donalds, commenting. "There is no relying on anybody nowadays."
/-/
The Captain with the new recruit in tow entered the locker room, placing himself in front of an empty one.
"This is your locker and here is your combination." He declared, passing a little sheet with numbers to Newton.
Handing him out his ID, he explained further: "This is your arm-ID, enables you to enter your permitted areas. I want you to be here tomorrow at zero six hundred. Then, you'll get your uniform and your trainings instruction. What is your size?"
"14, Sir." Newton replied shyly.
"Is noted. I hope we have that size." Becker chuckled and the new one grinned.
Grabbing the sheet with the new recruit's name, he put it into the space on the locker.
"Um, Captain?" Newton wanted to say something but he didn't want to say it right away, knowing that this would sound a little childish.
Becker turned his attention to the soldier. "Yes, Private?"
"Um, I'm used to Newt. I mean, my whole life everybody called me Newt, even my Staff Sergeant and comrades in my old unit. Newton was always my dad."
The Captain, slightly baffled, raised an eyebrow, not wanting to belief what he just heard. Rolling his eyes he put out the sheet, tore the two last chapters off and placed it back.
" You are 15!" Becker stated smirking. "All right, Newt. See you tomorrow." He said good bye and left the room.
/-/
The Captain headed to his office to find Donalds standing outside waiting for him. Both men grinned cheekily at each other.
"How much?" Becker questioned.
"£10." Donalds replied. "The half is yours." He offered to his Commander.
"No, no. Keep it. I don't feel it's right for me to con money out of Jenkins in that way." He said, grinning widely with a wink. The other man laughed, knowing the Captain didn't mean it in the slightest.
A/N: So, end of the first chapter and as you could read no Becker/Jess interaction. I wanted to introduce Newt to you first, but Jecker will follow I promise.
I hope you don't mind. ^^
Please review.
:o)