1970 words this chapter

Chapter Two, Rotation

After Jess left it only took minutes for the entire ARC to seem empty and dull to Becker.

The day crawled by. By lunch time Becker was positively forlorn.

"He's grumpier than usual," mumbled Connor, watching Becker pick at his lunch.

"Wonder why?" asked Matt with a smirk. "Hey Mate," he said to the soldier. "Not hungry?"

Becker shook his head, but didn't look up. He just stared down at the full tray.

The other men traded smirks.

"You two better cool it," whispered Abby. "I wouldn't mess with him while you-know-who isn't here to soothe him."

"I agree," said Emily. "Besides, Jess will return soon."

"What? Jess?" asked Becker, suddenly alert. "Is she here?" he began looking all around. w

"Dude! Chill!" cried Connor, laughing so hard, tea was coming out his nose.

"It's unbecoming behavior for our head Security officer," said Matt, chuckling.

"Oh, shut up!" Becker snapped, picking up his tray and leaving.

"Becker, don't go!" called Abby.

"I apologize," Emily said loudly.

Becker shook his head, dumped his tray in the trash and left the canteen.

"He's taking this badly," said Abby.

"I am concerned," agreed Emily.

"You two didn't help," Abby said to Matt and Connor. They continued laughing.

"Now, now, we all must endure," said a calm voice behind them. Lester. "For instance, the new Jess lost my dry-cleaning, ruined my lunch order, and refuses to stock my liquor cabinet." He scoffed. "Becker thinks he has it hard," he said, leaving.

"You know, I miss her too," Abby said.

Connor nodded. "Yeah. There's no one to talk with about Dr. Who," he said sadly.

"I cannot ask her to explain "frenemy" to me," said Emily.

Matt sighed. "It has been kind of quiet and bland today."

"And it's only been a few hours," said Abby.

They all got quiet until Connor said what they all were thinking. "Rotation sucks."

"Maybe we should apologize to Becker," Matt said. "Wonder where he went?"

A female soldier was walking by. "Excuse me, were you looking for the Captain?" When they nodded she said, "I just saw him. He said he was going to the shooting range."

They all looked at each other.

"Maybe apologize later?" asked Connor.

Matt nodded. "Definitely. I do not want to meet him while he's holding a gun in his current mood."

"No," they each said, shaking their heads.

Becker just tried to get through the cursed day.

He was worried that if there was a mission, Lester's stupid rotation scheme would end in disaster. He wasn't sure Jalissa could handle it. He knew she wasn't Jess.

He didn't have long to find out. Before end of shift, they had a mission. Ten foot long rats were threatening a major Opera hall. Connor, with awe, informed them the rats were the species Josephoartigasia monesi, the largest prehistoric rodent found.

Jalissa calmly directed the team into the hall and to the rats. She also guided panicked musicians and audience members to safety and handled the city brass.

They were very worried about high profile audience members and wanted Becker to escort them out personally. Jalissa intervened before Becker could take his frustrations out on them.

It was a fairly easy, quick mission with no human casualties and minimal damage. They drove back to the ARC.

"I hate politicians," Becker mumbled.

"I hate Opera," Jalissa replied, over comm. "Seriously, when I heard a few notes of their so called singing I was tempted to let the rats run all over their stage, but I'm a professional and I will not allow anyone to be harmed, Opera singers included."

Becker grinned slightly.

"Besides, Lester would have killed me. He already hates me for refusing to enable his drinking."

Now Becker smiled.

When he got back he spoke to her. "You did good today."

She looked surprised. "Thank you."

"You kept your cool, even with all those people shouting and screaming and idiot politicians breathing down your neck." He sighed. "You kept me from...reacting badly. I, uh, appreciate it."

She smiled. "Well, Miss Parker did ask me to watch over you...the team."

He blushed but smiled. "Sounds like Jess."

Jalissa nodded. "She keeps us on our toes. She's great, but she does require a certain...perfection."

He laughed. "Doesn't surprise me. Look at the fuss she makes with her perfect appearance."

Jalissa almost pointed out his use of the word 'perfect,' but she didn't want to spoil the moment. "She is particular, in a good way."

"She is," Becker said, smiling a bit too much as he thought of Jess.

"What I admire the most," Jalissa said, "is how she always says it's not just a job. We have your lives in our hands. It's really true."

Becker's smile turned even more sentimental. "She's professional but she...cares."

Jalissa smiled.

Becker just stood there, smiling as he thought of Jess. He realized Jalissa was looking at him. ' I probably look like a lovesick boy,' he thought. Then blushed as he realized he used the word 'lovesick' in his head.

"Ahem...anyway, good job," he said. "We're in good hands."

"Thanks, Captain," she said.

"You...can call me Becker."

She smiled.

He nodded to her and left. He had a stomach ache, like...something was missing inside. "I am acting lovesick," he muttered. "Get a grip, Becker."

Becker went to his office and looked at the new roster. He sighed with relief. Kirby was scheduled for third shift with Jess. He was one of Becker's best Lieutenants. God forbid there be some sort of breach in the ARC, he'd keep Jess safe.

Still...it didn't hurt to make sure. He dialed the soldier's cell. "Kirby, it's the Captain."

"Hey, Cap. Everything OK?"

Becker sighed. He said only, "The new rotation starts tonight."

"I know. Got the email."

"Right. I'm just checking to assure that things go smoothly," Becker said. "I'm calling everyone...not just you. There's no reason I'd call just you..." He cursed himself. He sounded like Jess, babbling away. "Anyway, make sure everything is secure."

"Of course, Sir." There was a pause. "I'm on with Miss Parker, aren't I?"

Becker blushed. He was that obvious, huh? "As it happens, you are."

He heard Kirby stifle a laugh. "No problem. Everything will go fine, absolutely nothing to worry about."

Becker sighed. "I know, Kirby. Um...thanks."

"Sure thing. Hey...don't worry."

Becker laughed. "You've been with me how long?"

Kirby chuckled. "I know, but I can hope, can't I?"

"Right," Becker said and hung up. He felt even worse. He knew Kirby was competent and the chances Jess would be in danger were slim, but it was possible. He should be protecting her. "Stupid Rotation."

That night Jess stumbled into Ops. She yawned, despite being on her third coffee. "Night shift is the pits."

"You're not a night owl, huh?" asked a man in black.

Compared to Becker, he was short. Obviously, he was a lot taller than Jess, but still... He had dark hair like Becker's but his eyes were gray, not brown. He had a nice smile, but it didn't turn her knees to jelly.

In short, he wasn't Becker.

She was stuck with him. "Hello, Lieutenant," she said coolly and walked to the ADD.

"Hopefully we'll have a slow night," he said.

She smiled.

"Not that we want it so slow we're falling asleep."

She nodded and went about her business.

"You know, you can talk," Kirby said, "we won't tell Lester on you."

The other people in Ops, two techs, another soldier, and a cleaning staffer all winked or smiled.

Jess gave a chuckle. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm...upset...with being here."

"Feels like exile, doesn't it?"

Jess giggled. "It does."

He nodded. "I felt that way too. Back when I was first assigned, I was sure Becker was punishing me for something. Turns out he picked me special. He told me so. He trusted me to handle things alone. Night shift can be kind of isolated. So many people off duty. The rest of the world is asleep."

She nodded.

"I'm kind of psyched to be working with the boss of field coordination."

She smiled. "Don't be. Ralph is a hard act to follow."

"Nah, you're so much prettier," Kirby said. "Between you and me, Ralph was a bit of a grump. He's an excellent field coordinator, but at least you can smile."

She giggled. "Thank you."

He nodded. "If you need anything, let me know."

She nodded.

"Oh, and please don't go outside or even to your car without alerting security."

"Why?"

He smirked and bent down low. He said in a hushed voice, "I'm risking my life telling you this but, uh, Becker is very concerned about you and your safety."

She blushed. "It's his job."

Kirby scoffed. "Right. Just do me a favor, and let me or my people escort you to and from the building, please?"

She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you. I think we'll get along fine, Miss Parker."

"Me too, and it's Jess."

"We'll see. I'm not sure how the Captain would feel about a first name basis." He winked and left.

Jess blushed all over. Becker was worried. She sighed with relief. Maybe they would get through this.

End of shift, Jess waited at the main doors, just inside. She hoped to see Becker. Yes, it would only be for a few minutes, but it was better than nothing.

Someone walked up to the door! She caught her breath. How giddy she was at the thought of seeing him! Well it had been...not even twenty-four hours. She blushed. 'I've got it bad...' she thought.

"Ha, caught you," the person said.

Jess sighed with disappointment. "Morning, Lester," she mumbled crossly.

"Morning, Miss Parker," he said. "You're waiting to see your old team, hmm?"

"They're not old," she said with a grimace. "I'll be back with them soon."

"We'll see," he said. "It would not help my decision for you to keep them from beginning their shift on time."

"She won't," said that smooth voice that made her knees turn to jelly.

"Hi," she said, grinning from ear to ear as Becker walked in.

He smiled back. "Hi."

Lester rolled his eyes. "Two minutes!" He turned to the sentry, at the check point. "They have two minutes, then you have my permission to EMD Miss Parker and throw her outside."

"I wouldn't," growled Becker.

The sentry, paler than he was a moment before, smiled uneasily and shook his head. "Of course not, Sir."

Jess giggled.

"One minute, 45 seconds!" Lester shouted as he walked down the hall.

"You look well," she said to Becker. "Rested."

He shook his head. "Didn't sleep so well."

"I'm sorry."

"You OK? Did the shift..."

"We were fine. I'm fine. Kirby's a good man."

"He is," said Becker.

They stared and smiled.

"How was...Jalissa?"

He grinned. "She was good. Trained by you, so why worry?"

She giggled and blushed. Then they just stared in silence.

The sentry coughed.

"I...uh...should go," said Becker.

"Me too."

"Be careful driving, Jess."

She laughed. "Be careful doing everything, all day!"

He laughed too and smiled. Then he held the door as she walked out.

She looked back then slowly walked away as he watched.

He was still there when the sentry's phone rang. "Uh, Sir...Lester says you have ten seconds..."

Becker shook his head and walked passed the sentry. "He'll have less then ten if he doesn't bloody watch it..." he muttered.

End of Chapter Two