Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

A/N: A collaboration with Mijo54.

8.7-A Journey Begins

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Becker was waiting outside his flat, eagerly watching traffic for any sign of Jess.

The early morning sun was shining gently down between the buildings, highlighting the trees, leaving shadows on the sidewalk. It hardly seemed bright enough for the man to require the big reflective sunglasses that covered his eyes.

Perhaps the sunglasses and shadows impeded his view. Or it might have been simply that Becker wasn't expecting the old, battered yellow mini to pull up to the curb in front of him from the opposite direction, but it startled him. He jumped.

Connor's sister was driving. She leaned out the driver's side window.

"Hi Becker," Beth called "come on around and get in back… your bag can fit too if you squish it."

On the other side of the car, Jess opened the car door. Becker could see her turning in the front passenger seat, her back to Becker as she started to step out into the roadway.

"Jess," called Becker loudly "stay in the car. I'll get in on this side."

"But Hil…," Jess started.

"I don't want you catching cold," Becker replied.

The phrase had its desired effect. Jess stopped. Becker smirked as he watched her slide back into the seat and pull the door shut. They had been dating exclusively for two years, and had developed a code language all their own. She turned to look at him, lips pouting, eyes questioning him. He pointed. Jess turned to look in at the oncoming traffic.

The white panel van that was coming up the roadway in the adjacent lane was in no danger of running into Jess, but as it passed the yellow mini, it splashed through a puddle, spewing streams of gray dirty water down the sides of the battered old car. Wet and dirty… it wouldn't be a good way to start a trip thought Becker. And apparently Jess agreed; she blew him a kiss.

Becker craned his neck to look down at Beth. Connor's little sister was still sitting in the driver's seat oblivious to her surroundings. He glanced briefly into the car's tiny back seat and said, "Park the car…you don't let people get out into traffic…"

Beth turned the engine off. "You sound like me Mum," she grumbled as she stepped out of the small car and onto the sidewalk.

"I sound like the chief of security," replied Becker "and you forgot to pop the boot."

"Didn't forget," objected Beth as she pulled the seat back "maybe you didn't hear me… I said for you and your bag to get in back… the boot is full."

"Just pop the boot," replied Becker "I'll put my travel bag in there… I can make it fit."

Beth rolled her eyes, but bent to pull the lever opening the boot. Becker walked to the rear of the car, lifted the lid and stared.

The boot was stuffed full. Inside were three graduated sizes of Louis Vuitton hard cased luggage, one each in fuchsia pink, turquoise blue and royal purple. There was a coordinated hand tote in lime green. The bright checkered personalized name tags, a concoction of all four colors, identified the pieces as Jessica Marie Parker's luggage.

Becker pushed the boot shut and returned to the front of the car. Beth was standing by the door having watched his inspection of the boot.

"Told you so," she said with a broad grin.

Picking up his black duffle, Becker tilted it sideways and shoved it into the back seat. Climbing in afterwards, he tried to angle his long legs behind Jess and lean further back as Beth pushed the seat back.

Becker looked towards Jess. She was twisted around in the front seat in an impossible position, facing him. Jess smiled. Becker's breath caught in his chest.

"Good morning Jess," he said and then felt foolish… he should have said something… something more personal… more romantic… really, they were going on a vacation together… to France… to her cousin's wedding. But apparently his greeting was just fine. Jess's smile brightened even more.

"Morning Hil," she replied in a soft tone.

As Beth started the car again, Becker asked "Why did you come from this direction?"

She held out a cup of cappuccino towards him. "To start the trip off right," she answered with a chuckle.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess and Becker were taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Beth pulled the car over to a parking area when they arrived at St Pancras International. She pulled the lever opening the boot and hopped out quickly to join Jess at the rear of the car where her friend was already unloading her luggage. Becker pushed the driver's seat up and forward and stretched his long legs. Setting his foot on the pavement, he reached a hand to grasp the roof of the mini and pulled himself out of the tiny car. Rather like getting a sardine out of a can, he thought as he reached a long arm into grab his black duffle. He pushed the car door shut and walked back to join Jess and Beth.

"Let me take that," he said reaching for the largest piece of luggage.

"Oh no," protested Jess "you don't have to carry it… they all have wheels."

"Jess," Becker replied "I've got it."

He watched as she stacked the lime green tote atop the smaller royal purple wheeled case, buckling the straps to hold them together. She then thanked Beth for driving them to the train station and hugged her room mate goodbye, admonishing the younger woman to keep the flat neat. Grabbing the handles of the wheeled pieces of luggage she turned to head into the train station.

Becker followed carrying his black duffle and Jess' largest case… he just wished it had been one of those brown monogrammed pieces like his mother favored, or even the turquoise blue case. He fervently hoped that no one else saw him carrying Jess' fuchsia pink suitcase.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess and Becker approached the check in barrier. Jess had already printed their tickets at home, so she scanned hers and started to go through pulling her luggage behind her.

An unctuous little man came towards her, rubbing his hands together and smiling.

"Oh miss," he said "I'll need to charge you for excess luggage."

"What?" asked Jess.

"You're only allowed two pieces, plus one hand carryon," explained the man with a snide little smile. "It's twenty-five pounds for each extra piece… it looks like you've got three pieces there, plus your laptop carryon."

"No," exclaimed Jess "it's just two."

"No," said the man pointing to the buckles holding the green tote atop the purple case, "this counts as two separate pieces."

Becker scanned his ticket and came through the turnstile.

"What's the problem?" he asked as he towered over the smaller man. The man looked at the pink suitcase Becker was carrying.

"Is that your luggage sir?" asked the man.

"Yeah," replied Becker "and so is the green tote my girlfriend is carrying. Do you have a problem with that?"

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Becker didn't take the big reflective sunglasses off until they reached their seats on the Eurostar.

"Oh," gasped Jess, reaching a hand towards the side of his bruised and battered face. His eye was swollen shut, the skin puffy and blue green in color. "Your poor eye!"

"It's not that bad," replied Becker "thanks to you and that ice pack."

Jess stood on her tiptoes and reached her tiny hand behind his neck to pull his head down towards her.

"I'm so glad you're coming with me," she whispered.

Becker started to smile and say something in reply, but the woman was already bringing her lips to his. Whatever response he might have made was lost in the warmth of her touch.

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