A/N: So I watched "Berserker" again today and I was thinking that Jackie would have pressed the issue about Skinner further, especially after he tried to come on to her. Here is what I came up with, hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The Right
"Ground rules Skinner: this is my desk, I expect you to respect that."
"Are you sure you don't mean 'hands off Jackie Reid'?"
"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer."
Even if he hadn't responded to the question, both men had known that was what he meant. The punch in the jaw that Michael had given Skinner later on had only served to confirm the unspoken subtext to Michael's comment.
He tried to tell himself that he would be that incensed over Skinner talking about any woman that way.
But even he didn't believe it.
This wasn't just any woman, this was Jackie. He wasn't even concerned as her boss or her friend, what really riled him up was that she was his.
And he had absolutely no right to feel that way.
Jackie was the only one who had the right to say "hands off" but just couldn't help himself. Skinner had pushed too many buttons and he'd just snapped. The fact that she could look after herself was irrelevant. Some primal instinct to protect what was his had kicked in and he'd been unable to control himself.
There was no way that Jackie was going to end up as another name, date and place in Skinner's little black book. She deserved better than that.
He glanced across the table at her. The real problem, he decided, would be trying to explain to Jackie – or anyone else who might ask – why he'd snapped.
Jackie had all ready asked him about it and he'd fobbed her off, but he knew it wouldn't be long before she asked him again.
He looked up from his dinner to find her watching him.
He knew then that the moment he'd been dreading had finally come.
