Title: Becker Doesn't like Birthdays, Chapter One
Author: Pinkcat4569
Rating: K
Spoilers: Series 4, 5—basic plot, some specific episodes
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Description: Becker's birthday is coming, and Jess is excited. Becker is not, and it's driving Jess nuts. Pre-relationship.
Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or the characters. This is only for fun.
Author's Note: My birthday is still coming, and I'm still in the mood. This is not a sequel to Jess' Birthday, sorry. I may have to write that version, though. Jess trying to figure out how to top everything he did for her sounds fun. For now though...
Chapter One, Becker Doesn't Like Birthdays
"Stop smirking at me, and give me some useful information, Becker!"
Becker smirked. "I am giving you useful information, Jess," he said. "I don't want anything for my birthday."
She growled. "You must want something."
"Nope."
"Well, how would you like to spend your birthday?"
"Free from anomalies, creatures, and Temple." He smirked.
Jess stomped her foot and huffed. "You are impossible! Just tell me how you want to celebrate, and stop being difficult!"
He laughed. "I'm not being difficult, Jess. I don't want to celebrate."
"Why?'
He shrugged. "Birthdays just aren't a big deal to me. I really don't care."
Jess gasped. "Are serious?"
He nodded.
She shook her head. "I don't believe it. I love birthdays!"
He chuckled. "Yeah, you would."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, offended.
"Nothing, Jess," he said, with a laugh. "You're bright, cute, colorful, and happy. Obviously you would love birthdays."
She smiled.
"I'm dark, scary, grumpy, and I love black, so naturally, I hate them."
She giggled, and swatted him. "You aren't scary or grumpy, at least not all the time," she said with a smirk. "Sorry, Becker, but you are having a birthday celebration, and it will be brilliant."
He groaned. "Whether I want it or not?"
She smiled sweetly. "Yes."
Becker was going into his gym, when he heard the clip-clops of high heels. She was trying to blend in with the others on the street.
Good thing she wasn't conspicuous at all, in a tiger-striped short skirt and brilliant blue top.
He smiled, and stealthily snuck up on his would-be tail.
"Jessica."
She screamed. "Don't do that!"
He chuckled. "What are you doing here?"
She turned pink. " Just...out and about. What a surprise to run into you!"
"Are you following me?"
"Of course not!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Fine! Yes, I'm following you."
He laughed, and shook his head. "Obviously. Yesterday I saw you skulking outside the newsagent by my home."
She opened her mouth in surprise.
"Day before," he continued, "you were hard to spot in your bright lime rain coat and tangerine hat, standing outside my chemist."
She sighed, and crossed her arms. "It's your fault. If you'd just share anything about your life, or your interests, I wouldn't have to resort to other means."
He laughed. "Why is it so important?"
"Because you're my friend. I want to celebrate the fact that you were born, and that I have the pleasure of knowing you."
He looked into her face, and dropped the smirk.
Jess bit her lip. She said way too much. Like always. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't mean to pry into your life or invade your privacy. Honestly, I'm not a stalker, or a nut. At least, not a bad nut."
Becker chuckled, and smiled, blushing a little. "You're an incredibly sweet person, Jess. Thank you for thinking of me. I'm just private, I guess. I don't like lots of attention or fuss."
She nodded.
"But...I guess a little attention won't kill me, and if you really want to do something for my birthday, I guess the least I can do is let you."
She smiled brightly. "Thank you. Yay!"
He laughed again. "Just stop following me okay?"
She nodded. "You've got to give me some ideas, though. OK?"
He nodded. "Look, why don't you meet me at the pub down the street in an hour?"
She smiled again. "You'll talk?"
He smiled. "Yeah, I'll talk."
She grinned. "See you in an hour."
An hour later, Jess sat in a pub, happily waiting. She felt a little buzz when the handsome Captain walked in.
For his part, as soon as he saw her, he broke into a wide smile. He couldn't help it, she was so adorable and appealing. He joined her, seeing several shopping bags beside her. "I guess you found a way to pass the time."
She smiled. "Yes, I did, and I found several cute outfits, too."
He sat patiently, actually enjoying the fact that she took them all out to show him.
'When the hell had this happened?', he thought. Here he was, with a woman not only droning on about fashion, but showing him pieces, and in public. Not only was he not complaining, he was enjoying it.
Jess folded them all back up and put them in the bags. She then sighed happily.
Becker laughed, and ordered a beer.
Jess took note of the brand. She also thought back to the other drinks she'd seen him order on occasion. Not that she noticed things like that. Or anything about Becker.
She smiled slightly as she realized he had a definite taste for beers, particularly stouts. The brand he drank now was one he ordered often.
"What?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"You're smiling."
"I'm always smiling," she said, smiling.
"This is true, but I have the feeling, that there is something going on with this smile."
Jess took a sip of her tea. "I have no idea what you mean."
"Fine," he said, smiling. "So...what do you want to know?"
She smiled. "Hmm...What's your favorite thing to do?"
"Shoot."
She frowned. "Becker!"
"It is, Jess."
"Fine. OK, what's your favorite place?"
"Shooting range."
"Stop it!"
He laughed.
"You're toying with me."
"Am I?"
"Becker, you said you'd talk."
"Right. Sorry. I guess, if I can't shoot, then...a soccer field."
"Ooh, really?"
"Yeah. I love football, have since I was a kid."
Jess smiled. She could work with this piece of information. "Are you on a team?"
"Sort of. I can't play regularly. You know why."
She nodded. "Our schedules are a little unpredictable."
He laughed. "Just a little. There are two teams that I play on sometimes. They know I'm in the military and they let me play when I can."
"That's nice. You have to play again soon, and I want to come along and cheer."
He laughed. "That sounds fun, actually. Although, you don't any embarrassing cheers, do you?"
"No," she said, smirking. "I can learn, though."
He laughed again. "Don't threaten me, Jessica."
"Hee hee. I bet you're cute in your uniform. It's not black, is it?"
"No. One's blue and white, and the other is red and yellow."
"Very colorful! Now I have to come just to see you in something besides black."
He smiled.
"What's your favorite food?"
He laughed. "Guess."
She frowned. She'd seen him eat lots of different things. Then it came to her. "Prawns."
He smiled. "You got it."
Jess smiled, and thought. "Do you have any hobbies?"
"Not really. I fish occasionally. It's a good way to relax, but after a while it's kind of boring."
She laughed. "You are Action Man, you know."
He nodded with a smile. Then his face lit up. "There is one thing I really do like. It's exciting, and liberating."
"What?" she asked with interest.
"I've acquired a motorcycle."
"Yeah, Danny Quinn's."
He looked at her. "Don't tell me that's in my file."
"No," she said, chuckling. "I've seen you ride it to work, and when Danny was back, he asked Lester about it."
"Yeah, he would," said Becker with a laugh. "I didn't see the sense of letting it languish."
"So you like motorbikes?"
He smiled like someone with a crush. "Yeah."
She giggled.
"Wanna go for a ride some time?"
"Oh, um...It seems a little scary," she said.
"I think you'd like it." He stared at her with those deep brown eyes and said, "I'd keep you safe."
She blushed. "I know you would."
End of Chapter One