TITLE: Older Sister

AUTHOR: by Pinkcat4569

RATING: T for bad language, and adult situations

SPOILERS: for series 4 maybe 5

DESCRIPTION: Jess is not quite ready yet for Becker her older sister. This is pre-ship; they are not a couple (yet)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters or the show Primeval. I'm just borrowing them.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Written for hurricanepixie - Just Kiss Her Already: A Jess/Becker Drabble Tag. taraljc wrote: Jess' sister comes to stay with her, and Jess is not quite ready yet for Becker to meet any of her family. Especially her older sister.

New Note: Same story, re-edited and fixed for grammar and spelling.

Chapter One

"So," said Becker, "Tomorrow's the big day, two Parker women in one country, yikes."

Jess Parker smiled at the oh, so gorgeous captain with the playful grin. "I know, it only happens every few years, just like when the planets align," she said with a chuckle.

"How long do we have to muddle along without you?"

"Only two days," said Jess. "She's coming in today and leaving Monday. Lester insisted I take tomorrow and Friday off. Between you and me, I didn't want those two days. Life is easier if I see Bethany as little as possible."

"Jessica, don't you play well with your sister?"

"Stop it, please. I know you're only teasing, and you don't mean to patronize me, but I'm in for days of it, and Bethany means it."

Becker looked concerned. "Is it that bad?" Becker drug a seat over to her, and sat down beside her, in front of the ADD.

Jess sighed. "No. I love her, I really do. It's just...she's older than me, prettier than me, more confident, she's the toast of Parisian social life, her job is so important..." Jess was rudely cut off by Becker.

He laughed, loud and boisterous. He was actually crying, he laughed so hard. Jess looked at him, like she was going to cry. Becker never laughed at her, never.

"I'm sorry," he said, grabbing her arm so she wouldn't turn away from him, "I'm not laughing at you I swear. You direct a team, sometimes several teams, on a daily basis while they are hunting down dangerous, prehistoric or future creatures, and her job is important? How many people has she saved? Because I've lost count how many times you've saved me."

Jess smiled.

"Don't let her play with your head Jess. You are confident; no one handles your job better. She's older than you? Who cares? And I promise you, there is no way on this earth, past or future, that she is in any way prettier than you."

She blushed and smiled.

"Thank you, honestly," she said, reaching up and kissing him on the cheek. "I may need a few emergency pep talks from you over the next few days."

"Anytime," he said with that charming grin. "In fact, why don't I take you and your sister out for dinner tomorrow?"

"NO! I'm sorry, and it's nothing about you, honestly. It's her. I don't want you anywhere near her. She has a way of grabbing onto my friends, especially the male ones."

"She steals your boyfriends?"

"No, I haven't had many, anyway, but I guess she'd turn them into her boyfriends before I had a chance. I know this sounds dreadful and immature, but if you and she...got together...I think it would kill me."

Becker was struck by this statement. It was slightly forward of her, but she didn't blush. She sounded sad and scared; scared she would lose her best friend. He was touched that she thought so highly of him.

Jess continued. "I know I sound awful. I have no right to mess in your private lives, but...she's like a siren, she has some magical power, turns everyone to her control."

"I could stuff cotton in my ears." Becker said. "Order the whole ARC staff to do it to."

Jess grinned. She was being silly, but Becker didn't patronize or belittle her.

"Ok. I guess I could use some support, so dinner tomorrow night would be nice," she said returning her attention to the ADD.

"Good," said Becker, returning the borrowed chair, and leaving to go to the armory, with one last look at his Miss Parker.

Several hours later, Jess braced herself as her sister looked over Jess' apartment.

"So, this is your new flat?" asked Bethany Parker. She was beautiful, but she resembled her sister a lot, apparently more than Bethany thought she did. She was taller, but by about an inch. She was older, but didn't really look it. They were only 3 years apart anyway. She had the same auburn brown hair that Jess had, but she wore hers short and curled under, coming just below her jaw line. She wore lots of makeup, manicured nails, and huge, gaudy earrings.

Despite the earrings she was immaculately dressed. She did work for a Parisian designer after all. She knew fashion, and it reflected in her appearance.

"You're in my room, with me, if that's ok. If not, I'll take the couch."

"Really, Jessie. This is your flat, right? So why on earth did you take flat mates in? If you couldn't afford the rent, you should have just taken a smaller flat."

Jess counted to ten. "I can afford the rent perfectly Beth. I just wanted to help out some people in need."

"I really wish you wouldn't be such a push-over Jess. I mean, you let people take such advantage of you. Who are they, anyway, starving artists?"

"No, they work with me. Abby is a professional animal behaviorist, and Connor, well, he does a little bit of everything. He's a genius."

Bethany wrinkled up her nose. "A vet and a nerd, perfect."

After moaning about her flat mates, Bethany announced she was famished. Jess decided to walk down to the corner shop and grab some sandwiches and tea. Bethany insisted on coming with her. That is when Jess' quiet evening stroll changed.

"London sure is smoggy," observed Bethany. Jess said nothing.

Bethany, however, was just getting started.

"How do you stand the noise?"

"I thought you said you lived in a nice area, Jessie, but it's so rundown."

"How much for a sandwich? We could have made one this small at your place for a lot less. You really should be more careful with your money Jessie."

"Oh, I remember tea tasting better, but then my taste buds have evolved. It has to be the top-notch Parisian cuisine and fine wines."

Jess was too tired to complain about Bethany's complaining. She closed her eyes and focused her mind on happy thoughts: shoes, chocolate, fuzzy bunnies, more shoes, and more chocolate, but one image kept popping in her mind and driving all the bad thoughts away.

Becker.

At least Bethany was one of the only people in the world who didn't make some comment: teasing or in shock, about her wardrobe and her shoes. The Parker girls had similar taste in fashion, though perhaps Jess was a bit more colorful and youthful in her choices.

Bethany was dressed for travel in brown Capri's, and an orange top accentuated with a western-style necklace. When Jess picked her up, she had a long-sleeve, light brown jacket slung over her shoulder, that she now wore due to the nippy evening air. The outfit was finished with flats in a coordinating orange color. Jess told her she looked stylish, and frankly, successful.

Bethany's reply: "But of course, Jessie. Did you expect anything else?"

After sandwiches, tea, and a depressing evening of Bethany's reviews of the 'dreadful British TV programming.' Jess was knackered, and she knew Bethany was too, despite her assurances that she could 'take jet setting with the best of the social classes.'

Jess quickly made up the sofa bed, and hugged her sister good night. Bethany, despite all the belittling and complaining gave her sister a sweet hug and even a goodnight kiss with a kind, "goodnight Jessie."

Jess was confused, like always when she was with Beth. She was a definite snob, intent on letting Jess see her disproval, of well, everything, and yet there were those tiny, unguarded moments of genuine affection and love.

Or maybe she was just a sadistic bitch playing with Jess' head.

End of Chapter One