Disclaimer: I do not own Primeval or the characters.
Chapter Summary: Becker joins them at the pub and learns something new about Jess. Enjoy X
Chapter Length: 1918
Open Mic Nights
Chapter 2 – Take a Chance on Me
Becker was on his way out of the ARC when he was asked to go over a new security detail. By the time he was done with that and on his way home, it had been almost an hour since he had spoken to Jess.
Arriving at his flat, Becker was tempted to stay home. He didn't know why he'd said yes to Jess, he had been trying to avoid the weekly team nights out for months now. I should just stay home, it's not like I really wanted to go in the first place anyway. As he decided to stay in, Jess's face flashed through his mind. He remembered why he'd agreed to go. He couldn't take the disappointment that had come over Jess, and he hated that he was the one to cause it. Running inside Becker put away his work gear, changed, and went to meet the team.
Becker didn't know what he expected to find when he arrived, but a drunken Jess throwing herself at him hadn't been it. Acting on instinct he grabbed her around the waist to steady her, holding her until she had regained her balance. Though he had to admit, part of him enjoyed the two of them being that close. When she took his hand and led him to their table, he couldn't help but notice how nice her small hand felt in his larger one.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up," Connor said as the pair reached the table.
"Sorry, but some of us have jobs to do that are actually important," Becker replied, trying to agitate Connor.
"Okay," Jess cut in before it could go any further. "I'm going to get drinks, the same for you guys?" The others all nodded their agreement. "Becker what did you want?"
"That's okay Jess, you don't have to…"
"Nonsense, it's my turn to get the drinks anyway. If it makes you feel better you can get the next round."
"Okay, I'll have a beer."
"I'll help you," Abby said as she got up, Connor sliding out of the booth behind her. "Connor, I think Jess and I can handle five drinks between us."
"I know. I have to go to the loo." With that, he turned quickly and marched away. Laughing at Connor's retreating form, Jess and Abby made their way to the bar. As the girls pushed their way through the crowd, Becker was unable to tare his gaze away from Jess. She looked amazing; sexy yet tasteful. Her short skirt showed off her legs but the opaque stockings she had paired with it kept her looking classy. She looked nothing like she did at work. Well, except for the shoes, she's wearing the same sort of ridiculous heels she would to work.
"Enjoying the view mate?" Matt asked, noticing where Becker's focus was.
"What?"
"You were staring at the girls, and since I don't think you're the type of guy to go after a friend's girl, I'm assuming its Jess you were checking out."
"I was not."
"So you don't think she looks good tonight?"
"Of course I do, she's gorgeous."
Matt smirked at Becker's admission.
"I was not checking her out!"
"Who wasn't he checking out?" Connor asked, sitting back down at the table.
"No one," Becker said at the same moment Matt said; "Jess."
"About time you started noticing the girl, she's had feelings for you for at least as long as me and Abby have been back."
"She doesn't have feelings for me."
Connor opened his mouth to reply, but Abby and Jess returned with the drinks and the topic was dropped. For the moment at least, Becker had a feeling Connor would be bringing it up again. That or he'd tell Abby and she'd have a talk with him.
Placing the drinks on the table, Jess squeezed into the booth next to Becker, causing Matt and Connor to share a look, and Becker to want to punch them both. The truth was he had been checking Jess out, but he'd sooner go jumping through an anomaly than he would admit that fact. Besides—despite what Connor thought—it wasn't like Jess returned his feelings, he'd know if she did. Not that I have feelings for her anyway.
The booth was a small one, which meant they were all sitting pretty close to one another. Really the only way Jess could sit any closer to Becker was if she was sitting on his lap. As it was he could feel her leg pressed up against his and he was trying incredibly hard to focus on anything other than the feel of her against him.
"This band needs to replace their singer, he sounds horrible," Becker said in an attempt to drag his thoughts away from Jess.
Matt laughed. "That's not a band mate, its open mic night."
"Ogh, dat remunds meh," Jess said around the olive she had just put in her mouth. "I'm next." With that she was gone and pushing through the crowd again.
Since when does Jess sing? Becker wondered, turning to the others with a quizzical look on his face. Before any of them could answer him the emcee started speaking.
"Up next is none other than our Friday night favourite; Jess Parker."
"Friday night favourite?"
"Yep, turns out our Jess was hiding one of her talents from us. She's not just a computer genius; she also has an impressive voice."
A dark emotion surged through Becker when Matt called her 'our Jess.' She's not his anything, he growled internally, only to be shocked by his thoughts. Was he jealous?
"Come with me," Abby said.
"Where?"
"Up the front so you can see Jess preform, she's pretty amazing."
"Aren't you two going to come?" Becker asked, getting up.
"Nah," Connor relied. "We've seen her heaps of times, plus she says having all of us watching makes her nervous."
"Maybe we should stay here then, if it makes her nervous."
"No way, you need to see this at least once. Besides she won't mind if it's only the two of us."
Together they made their way to the stage, finding a place to stand up the front. Becker never thought of Jess as the type of person who could be at home on a stage. But she looked like a natural up there, and he realised that there was a lot he didn't know about the young brunette. Could this mean that Connor was possibly right in regards how she felt about him?
The stage lights changed and Jess sang the first line of the song, before being joined by the band. It took him a moment before he realised she was singing Take a Chance on Me by ABBA.
As Jess begun the first verse her eyes found his, and it was like she was singing to him specifically.
Wait, is she trying to tell me something? Is Connor right, does she feel something for me? The lyrics suggest that she thinks of the two of us together.
Jess walked to the other end of the stage as she went back into the chorus, leaving Becker slightly dazed. Had she been sing to him? Was she trying to convey something to him through the song? Stop this Becker, you're being ridiculous. It's just a song.
As she came to the next verse she was back in centre stage, and even though she didn't look at him as intensely Becker still felt like she was sing to him only.
She really understands me better than anyone. She knows what's holding me back, but it's not fair of me to make her wait for me. Would she even want too? Surly if she does feel something it's just a crush, it's not like she loves me.
That verse hit Becker harder than the last one, and he was beginning to think that she actually was trying to tell him how she felt through the song. But surely he was reading too much into it. She wasn't actually singing to him, it just looked like she was. This is ridiculous, I do not have feelings for Jess and she doesn't have any for me, Becker told himself. But he was finding it harder to believe his own words.
As Jess finished off the song Becker kept his eyes fixed on her. She looked so care free as she danced around the stage, you wouldn't think that part of her job was to deal with the possibility of death every day. It was what he loved about her, her ability to do what they did and not let it take away her joy.
The crowd erupted into cheers once she finished, and Jess bowed playfully before leaving the stage.
"Yeah we all had a similar look on our faces the first time we heard her sing."
Becker looked at Abby wondering what she meant. She laughed at him.
"Come on." Taking him by the arm Abby led him to the stairs by the stage.
"You were great tonight Jess, as always, and you managed to completely shock Becker, something I never thought I'd see."
Jess threw her head back laughing at Abby's comment, which caused her to trip on the last step. Luckily, Becker's reflexes kicked in and he caught her before she hit the ground.
"Thank you," Jess breathed, still standing in his arms, her hands pressed against his chest.
"Any time," he replied softly. Standing that close to her Becker was powerless against her big blue eyes. They were beautiful, like staring into two lakes of crystal clear water. He loved these eyes that were always filled with joy, and he knew that he would do whatever it took to keep them from ever filling with pain.
Realising he was still holding her against him Becker dropped his arms and took a step back.
"You sounded amazing up there, I had no idea you could sing."
"Neither did I until we started coming here. I mean I would sing all the time, but I didn't know I was actually any good. It wasn't until I got up on stage that first time and saw the crowd's reaction that I realised I had a good voice. I wouldn't have even done that if it hadn't been for Abby and the alcohol in my system. She dared me to have a go, and because of how much I had to drink that night I thought it would be a good idea. Now I love it, and I'm up here every week, regardless of how much I've had to drink."
Becker couldn't help but smile at Jess's nervous babbling.
"Hey Jess, you ready to go? Connor and I were thinking it might be time to call it a night," Abby said when Jess and Becker returned to the table. Neither of them had noticed when she left them by the stage, but there she was back at the table when they returned.
"Yeah that might be a good idea; I'm starting to feel a bit sick."
The trio said their goodbyes, promising to see the others Monday morning, then left the pub. Like he had been doing all night Becker watched Jess leave.
"Man you've got it bad," Matt said when the others were gone.
"What are you talking about?"
"Jess. You weren't just checking her out earlier, you actually like her."
"No I don't." Becker told him, but I may love her.
