1273 Words, this chapter

Chapter Two, Transfer 3: Rio

Cherry just sat, staring at the laptop.

"Is he…gone?" Jess yelled.

Cherry nodded.

Jess pushed Pedro away and picked up the laptop. She walked to the back, weaving a bit, and went into an office. She shut the door and sat down.

Cherry watched as her tears came. "Oh…Jess..."

Jess nodded, crying more. "I know. I was awful. I couldn't help it. He made me…so mad." She sobbed, and then hiccupped.

"Jess, honey…It's ok."

"It isn't."

"Yes, it is. He'll calm down."

Jess shook her head. "He hates me."

"He doesn't. He's only mad because he cares about you so much. He worries."

"I know," she said, through tears.

There was knocking at the office door. "Meu amor!"

"Go away!" she screamed. Then she grabbed her head. "Ow. I think the hangover's starting early."

Cherry laughed. "Honey, are you going to be OK? Can you get back to the ARC or wherever?"

Just then, the door opened. "Pedro, get back," said a feminine but firm voice. "Someone sober him up."

"No! The night is too young to be sober!"

"Yeah, tell that to the boss in the morning, Pedro."

He yelled Portuguese as a tall, dark-skinned woman shut the door and turned to Jess.

"Are you alright, Miss Parker?"

'Yes, Paula," she said, not sounding alright.

"No, she isn't," said Cherry, from the laptop.

"Yes, I suspected that."

"Honestly, I didn't drink much," Jess said, hiccupping. "Did I?"

The tall woman, who was dressed in a uniform with the ARC insignia, smiled. "You had wine with dinner and then a house cocktail that the owner insisted you try, and finally what Pedro gave you."

"Oh. That's more than I thought," Jess admitted.

Cherry shook her head. She looked to the other woman. "Can you please escort her to wherever she's staying?"

"Of course, that is my job. I am Miss Parker's bodyguard while she is in Rio."

"Or babysitter," mumbled Jess. "I deserve one. I was so…bad." She began to cry.

"No, Miss Parker, you are too hard on yourself. We've seen worse, believe me," said Paula.

"I like her," Cherry said.

"Oh, sorry, Cherry, this is Private Paula Fuego."

The two women nodded to each other.

"I din't mean to have...(hiccup)…so much to dink," Jess said, slurring slightly.

"I have a feeling that this is Pedro's fault. He likes his drink strong," Paula Fuego said. "Take some advice, Miss Parker, and stay alert around him. He isn't dangerous really, but he does like to indulge."

"In what, alcohol?" asked Jess.

"In everything."

"The private is politely telling you that the man's a cad," said Cherry, "and that you should be on your toes around him."

Private Fuego smiled. "Yes, exactly."

Jess was having trouble focusing. "I actually got that impress…ion," she said, burping. "Ecuse me. She sighed. "I'll be…more…careful," she said, hiccupping.

"If you remember this conversation," said Cherry.

"I shall remind her."

"That would be wise," said Jess. "K. Gonna pass out now, Cherry."

Cherry laughed. "OK, the connection's going anyway."

"I know! I been working on it. 'Cept for when we were (hiccup) here at the club, but that was the creatures' fault."

"Jess, it's fine. You don't have to explain."

"I do...at least…to Becker."

"Maybe you can tomorrow."

"No. He hates me."

"I promise…(static)…doesn't…(static) You'll apologize…he'll apolog…will be fine."

"You're breaking up, Cherry."

Jess couldn't hear, but she saw Cherry's head nod. She waved and Jess waved back and then the connection was lost.

Jess sobbed. "Come on, Miss Parker. Let's get you to your hotel."

She blubbered as Fuego helped her up. "Ruined..." she said, sobbing, "it's all ruined."

"No, Miss Parker. Your friend was right. I guess you're upset about someone?"

"Becker. He thinks I'm interest in Stupid Pedro." She sobbed. "He only thinks that because I threw myself at him!"

"So you do like 'Stupid Pedro?"

"No!"

The private shook her head. "Sorry, I'm not following, Miss Parker."

"Pedro's not my type. Becker's my type, at least," she said, pausing as she sobbed, "he was!" She broke into hysterical sobbing.

"Easy, Miss Parker," said Fuego. "After you get some sleep, you'll feel better tomorrow."

Jess shook her head. Fuego helped her out of the club, fighting Pedro back, and into a car. She drove Jess to her hotel and even put her to bed.

She stayed for about an hour, making sure Jess was safe. Then when Jess finally stopped crying, moaning, and sobbing Becker's name, the private decided she was asleep and it was safe to leave her.

She left the room without hearing Jess mumble in her sleep. "Stupid Rio."

Meanwhile, Becker took his anger out on a practice figure in the combat training room. He jabbed, kicked, hit, and at one point, even had the thing in a choke hold.

He wanted to kill that Pedro bloke.

Jab!

Jab!

His face went red as he thought about that mocha hand around her waist.

He nearly took the dummy's head off.

He saw those crude maroon lips kissing up her arm. Then he imagined the kisses moving up to her soft, rose lips.

"Yah!" he screamed, karate kicking the dummy's legs. They bent unnaturally.

He let loose a flurry of jabs all over the body, wishing it was mocha-colored instead of plastic blue. He finally stopped, grabbing the dummy as he collapsed against it.

He felt sick to his stomach. Was she gone? Was she out of his reach forever? Was she…with Pedro right now?

He hit the dummy with his head, screaming in his mind that he'd blown it.

He tried to let reason in, telling himself that she'd never have an impulsive fling.

Still…she was clearly drunk, and she wasn't acting in a manner he expected. What if she did other things he didn't expect? What if she was…with Pedro in a way he wanted to be with her?

"Captain?"

He turned and saw Cherry standing in the door. She gave him a soft, compassionate smile. "I thought you might like to know that Jess is safe. She's being escorted out of the club by an ARC security officer. A female officer."

Becker sighed with relief. He chuckled. "Thank you. I appreciate that, Cherry."

She nodded. "For what it's worth…she feels awful."

"Sure, she's toasted."

Cherry laughed. "No, I mean that she feels awful about fighting with you."

Becker hung his head.

"It just got out of hand, Becker, and now she's terrified that you hate her."

"I don't."

"Yeah, I told her that."

Becker looked at Cherry. "She…actually asked if I was mad?"

Cherry shook her head. "Oh, Captain," she said, chuckling. "She adores you, you idiot."

Becker chuckled.

"And you…feel the same way."

He simply looked at her.

"Don't you?"

For once Becker didn't blurt out denials. He was tired. "Yes."

Cherry's smile was bright. "Thank God. Finally, you admit it. Now all we need is Jess to."

Becker sighed.

"Go home, Captain. Sleep. Tomorrow you two will apologize. Then, you can start dancing around each other all over again."

She smiled and turned. "Or," she said, over her shoulder. "You can try something new…and see what happens. Goodnight."

Becker sighed. He showered, changed and drove home, all the while thinking of Cherry's words.

He lay in bed. He still had a chance. Jess wasn't with Pedro. She wasn't lost.

Yet.

Was he brave enough to take a risk and try to have something with Jess that he'd never had with anyone else? Was he ready to be in love and take the next step, with all the risks that came with it?

He sighed. He just didn't know.

End of Chapter Two