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Chapter 2: Undercover

Becker walked toward the locker room to change his shirt. After much struggling and Becker getting attacked, he and Matt had managed, with Abby's help, to securely place the Archaeoceratops in the menagerie seclusion cell.

Abby had managed to sedate the creature while he and Matt attempted to hold it still. Unfortunately, Abby hadn't gotten to them before the creature practically rat-tailed Becker in the arm with its tail.

The only comfort that Becker got out of the whole ordeal was that after Abby had sedated it, the creature had an involuntary muscle spasm and kicked Matt in the chest as they went to set it down in the seclusion cell.

As he took off his bulletproof vest and black t-shirt, Becker noticed in the mirror that he had a fairly large bruise forming on his arm near his shoulder.

"Great." He muttered.

It hurt, but he'd been through worse. This was nothing; hopefully, he could cover it up later where he'd have a harder time explaining that a dinosaur rat-tailed him.

"Detective work?" Connor tried to conceal his excitement.

"Yeah, kinda like spies." Jess beamed.

"Cool! Wait, are we gonna have cool nicknames?"

"Like what?" Jess asked skeptically.

Connor shrugged. "I dunno, like Eagle One and Speckled Egg?"

Jess made a face.

"How about we just use our last names? Parker and Temple." She opted.

"I—was gonna suggest that next." Connor replied sarcastically with a smile.

"That way we'll sound like real detectives, like Holmes and Watson, only better looking and equal." Jess bargained.

"Brilliant! Meet you here at five to begin phase one." Connor grinned widely before turning to leave.

"See you then."

Just as Jess turned to put her earpiece back in, Connor came running back over.

"Almost forgot about this." He said picking up his earpiece.

"Yeah, that's kind of important."

"Oh, and don't sell us out to your kryptonite just yet, yeah?" Connor gave Jess a look.

Jess blushed. "Well, duh. If I do that, then there's no point in even trying to find out then, is there?"

Connor pretended to lock his lips, before putting his earpiece back in and walking back to his office.

Jess sighed. Only five minutes into the partnership and he was already having doubts. Or was he teasing her?

Still, they'd soon know Becker's secret and then he could be normal like them. Well, normal by ARC standards.

"Ready to go?" Abby asked, standing in the doorway to Connor's office a few hours later.

Connor forced himself not to gulp. He hated lying to Abby, but he really wanted to find out what Becker did outside the ARC; and he had a feeling that she might tell Becker what he and Jess were up to if he let her in on the detective scheme.

"I, uh, I've got to um, stay late tonight. I just got swamped by paperwork that has to be sorted and filed tonight. Sorry Abs." Connor explained.

Abby sighed.

"Alright, I'll see you later then, yeah?"

"Of course." Connor smiled as he kissed Abby.

"Bye."

"See ya later, Abby!" Connor waved.

"Jess," Abby called as she entered the Main Operations Room.

"Ready to go? Connor's staying late tonight. So he won't be heading back to the flat with us."

"Actually, Abby," Jess began, turning in her chair.

"You have to stay late as well?"

"'Fraid so. I've got to run diagnostics and install updates. It'll be a few hours." Jess replied, trying to sound disappointed.

Abby raised an eyebrow, "This has nothing to do with Becker, does it?"

"Course not." Jess smiled. "What would make you think that?"

"Just a hunch."

"Tell, you what." Jess fished for her car keys, "you can borrow my car to head back, if you like."

"How are you and Connor going to get back then?"

"We'll borrow a truck." Jess replied matter of factly.

"If you're sure." Abby said hesitantly.

Jess nodded.

"See ya later, Jess." Abby waved with a smile as she left.

"Bye, Abby." Jess called after her.

When Jess and Connor were certain that Becker and the others were gone, they ditched their earpieces for keys to one of the trucks and headed to where Becker lived.

"I don't think Abby bought it that we both had to stay behind." Connor stated as he drove, following the gps.

"I don't either." Jess agreed. "I think we need a better plan of attack if this is going to happen on a daily basis, until we find out."

"Leave it to me, I'll figure something out." Connor smiled as he pulled in a block away from Becker's residence.

Abby had text Becker that there was the possibility that Jess and Connor were digging deeper, trying to find out about whatever it is that he does outside the ARC.

Becker had to laugh.

He knew they were persistent, but he'd had to come up with something to blow them off the scent, otherwise, they'd never let him live it down.

His private life really wasn't at all that interesting that he'd think his coworkers would want to pry.

Becker was still mentally kicking himself for taking his black box with him from the ARC a few days ago and left it on until he nearly got to his destination.

Jess would have found out then and there and shared with Temple. Then Becker would really have his hands full trying to stop Connor from his fits of laughter.

Becker let out a deep breath as he picked up his mobile and dialed.

"Hello?" He asked.

"I'm really sorry to have to call in again so soon, but something's come up and I've been called in for an emergency."

"It's alright; I'll have everything rescheduled for tomorrow?" A female voice asked over the phone.

"Tomorrow will be better, thank you."

"It won't be the same without you tonight."

"I understand. Thank you again. Goodbye." Becker said before hanging up the phone.

Perhaps a glass of wine or maybe even something stronger would make up for his reluctant status as couch potato tonight courtesy of suspicious coworkers.

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