A/N: This chapter's more focused on Abby/Connor at the start than Jess/Becker. They just kinda intruded on the story. Again, thanks for all the reviews :D. They mean a lot. Do feel free to be more critical. I'm planning on doing Professional/Creative Writing at Uni next year so all criticism is wanted and appreciated.

Chapter 3: I Need A Wish Right Now

With his feet pounding the pavement, Becker revelled in the sunlight that made its way through the grey skies. He ran past people strolling through the park with the ease of practice. They were, after all, easier targets to avoid that agitated creatures. It wasn't often he got to run through the city's premier park and he was enjoying every minute of it. He kept glancing down at the mobile strapped to his arm, expecting it to go off any second. It had been one of those weeks.

Becker put on an extra burst of speed, trying to forget the events of the past week. It had started off well enough with Jess returning his shirt with a bright green thank-you note in his locker. How she'd gotten into his locker she never said. He'd even tried to bribe her with chocolate – nothing with orange though- to no avail. Then came the new recruits. With their gleaming CVs and even more polished references he'd expected a lot, maybe too much because he was disappointed. One of them took one look at the Woolly Mammoth and went running for the door. Another saw the Dragcorex and nearly fainted from shock then declared he had a phobia of lizards. Matt had barely contained a chuckle when Becker had reported this. Connor wasn't much better; suggesting they introduce a creature taming course to the Special Forces training regime.

The shrill alarm tore him from his musings, letting him know he'd received a text. He grabbed it and opened the message without breaking his stride. If you see Connor, don't let him to anything stupid – J. It was from Jess but he didn't understand what she was talking about. Of course he wasn't going to let Connor do anything stupid – that was his job. But he wasn't supposed to see Connor today. A slight frown formed on his face; Jess wouldn't have texted him if it weren't important. He mentally shrugged off the worry and decided to call her when he got home. It couldn't be that bad, he thought as he made a U-turn and headed home.

Connor leant against the wall opposite Becker's flat and was nearly run over as Becker exited the elevator.

The military man looked at him in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Connor glanced down at the floor, scuffing his boot at the fraying grey carpet. "Abby and I had a bit of a row."

Becker nodded sympathetically. That made sense of Jess' text. She'd probably heard the whole thing and was worried. He opened the door and walked inside, gesturing for Connor to follow him. "It's not very clean, I warn you."

Connor shrugged nonchalantly. "I've seen worse."

"So…" Becker ventured awkwardly, "How bad was it?" He'd never been good with dealing with relationships, be it his own or other peoples.

"She kicked me out of the flat," Connor looked back at the ground, not meeting his friends eyes. "It was pretty bad."

"How did she kick you out? Aren't you living with Jess?"

"Mate," Connor scoffed, "you've never seen Abby in a bad mood. And I screwed up. Like majorly screwed up."

"What did you do?" Becker moved to the kitchenette and pulled a couple of light beers from the fridge. It was only 11:00 but Connor looked like he needed it.

"You know how Phillip wanted to get rid of the creatures? Well, I said I kinda agreed with him. And it just kinda escalated from there. And there was … other stuff."

"Maybe she just needs time to calm down," Becker tossed him the beer bottle.

Connor opened the bottle and skulled half of it down. "She was furious. I've never seen her so angry. And I've seen her angry before. Hell, I've made her angry before but not like this. She was crying and everything. Abby never cries. Ever."

Becker tried to think of what to say. "Did you try to apologise?"

He nodded, "She threw a candle at my head." He gingerly touched the spot where it had hit. "I'd forgotten she had such a good aim."

"Flowers? Chocolate?" Becker went through all the apology methods he'd seen in the chick-flicks he'd been dragged to with previous girlfriends. "Badly written poetry?"

"Hates them. Doesn't like it that much. Do you want me to end up dead?" Connor answered the questions in order. He put his head in his hands. "I'm screwed. She's never going to want to talk to me again."

Abby threw herself onto the couch. "I never want to speak to him again!" She screamed into a bright red throw pillow.

"Here," Jess put down a tray of tea and chocolate cake on the coffee table in front of the couch. "This might help."

Abby lifted up her head, grey rivers of mascara had dried to her cheeks. "How?"

"My grandmother said tea solves everything," Jess answered and sat down opposite the blonde. "Well, tea and tequila," She added with a little shrug.

"Your grandmother told you that?" Abby asked, surprised.

"Yep," She nodded.

"Wow. Mine told me to never kiss a boy until we were married to them," Abby rolled her eyes. "Look how that turned out."

"What did Connor do?" Jess asked before she could stop herself. "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to."

"He did what he always does: pick someone else over me. And this time it's not even a girl."

Jess blinked. "Connor cheated on you with a man?"

Abby snorted, "No. As if. Connor wouldn't cheat. He's just a liar. And a hypocrite and a chauvinistic idiot genius."

"Abby, what happened?"

"Didn't you hear the screaming?" Abby asked, pushing herself up into a sitting position.

"I was listening to my i-pod. It didn't seem right to listen," Jess said, biting her lip. "I mean, I wouldn't want anyone listening to me my…" She trailed off, not knowing how to address Connor. She didn't know if they were friends or more than friends.

"Thanks Jess," Abby smiled at the younger girl. "At least someone cares about my privacy."

Jess bit back the question she was dying to ask. It wouldn't do to nag Abby at the moment; she needed a friend not a curious puppy. "I think I have ice cream in the freezer."

Abby's eyes lit up at the implied offer. "Cookies and Cream?"

"Maybe. I don't know," Jess stood up. "I'll check."

Abby reached for the cup of tea, "I'll love you forever if you do."

There was a clang from the kitchen as Jess emerged triumphant with a container of cookies and cream ice cream and two spoons. "I figured bowels wouldn't matter."

"No need to be fancy," Abby reached over and grabbed the container. "Ta." Abby dug in, relishing the desert. "Well this is a healthy breakfast," she laughed humourlessly.

"Speak for yourself," Jess replied. "I had cereal." She tugged the container out of Abby's hands and ate some. "What are you going to do at work?"

"Shove him through an anomaly?" Abby offered, half serious. "I'm joking," she added, seeing Jess' alarmed face. "No," she sighed heavily. "I'll have to talk to him eventually. Until then, ice cream is good." She took the container and started eating.

Becker walked down the hall, drying his hair with a towel after his shower. He'd left Connor alone to think things through while he cleaned up thinking that the techie needed the time to clear his head. Becker heard the fridge open and close and rounded the corner to see Connor somewhat clumsily opening up another beer. "How many of those have you had?"

Connor took a swig of beer before answering. "Um three. You don't mind do you?"

"It's not even midday yet and you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk!" Connor retorted indignantly. "Maybe a little buzzed," he added after he stumbled a little. "I'm a bit of a lightweight when it comes to beer."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Becker said dryly.

"I just needed some liquid courage."

"For what?" Becker asked suspiciously. This probably wasn't going to end well.

"For my master plan," Connor declared with a flourish. "I am going to apologise to Abby until she's so sick of it, she'll forgive me."

"And how will you get through the front door?"

"I'm still working on that."

Connor walked up to the front door and raised his hand to knock then turned around and ran back. "This is a bad idea."

Becker nodded, "True. Do you have a better one?"

Connor's shoulders slumped, "No." He turned and went back to the door. He knocked twice. "Pizza delivery!" He called out, deepening his voice and putting on a strange accent.

"That's original," Becker chortled.

"Shut up," Connor retorted, casting a quick look back. "I can hear someone coming."

Jess' voice floated through the door. "I'm sorry, we didn't order any pizza." She opened the door and her eyes widened. "Connor," She immediately started to close the door but Connor grabbed the handle and pulled the door wide open. She strained to close it, not wanting to let him in.

"Jess, please. I need to talk with her," Connor begged.

She stopped trying to close the door and the lack of force made Connor stumble backwards. His hand slipped from the door handle and Jess grabbed it and slammed the door shut. "Abby, Connor's trying to break in," She yelled.

"She's stronger than she looks," Connor commented as he straightened.

"She'd have to be," Becker replied. "So what are you going to do now that your brilliantly construed plan failed?"

"He's going to leave!" Abby yelled from somewhere in the townhouse.

"No!" Connor answered, "I'm going to stay here until you forgive me."

"You're going to be there for years," Abby replied.

"Then I'll wait for years."

Becker sighed, leaning up against the wall then jumped as his mobile went off. He fished it out of his pocket and read the text. I thought I told you not to let Connor do anything stupid, it read.

He quickly typed a response to Jess, I tried. You know how stubborn he is.

"Who's that?" Connor craned his neck to see who Becker was texting. "New girlfriend?"

"A friend," Becker replied curtly. He didn't like people getting into his business, particularly someone who wouldn't let it go.

"Wish I had one of them," Connor said despondently. Realising what he said, he added, "Aside from you. A girlfriend. I mean a girl who's a friend. I've already got a girlfriend… kinda. Like Abby used to be. To help me understand Abby."

Becker commented sardonically. "I don't think anyone can help with that."

"She taught me how to flirt," Connor retorted.

"And how did that work out for you?"

"Stop with the mocking. I did get a girlfriend after that."

"Caroline doesn't count as a girlfriend, Connor. She was being paid." Abby interrupted loudly from the other side of the door.

"Eavesdropping is rude, you know," Connor called back.

"So is taking a tosser's side over your girlfriend," Abby retorted angrily, her voice sounding closer than before.

Becker's phone beeped again and he opened the message. I know, Jess' text read. They're both stubborn. I'm going to be stuck in here for hours.

Don't you have a fire escape? At least you have food in there, he typed quickly, his stomach rumbling, as Connor got up and made his way back to the door.

"Abby, I'm sorry. You have to forgive me. I didn't mean it," He leant his head against the door. "I'll always pick you; I love you."

"So why did you say Rex would be better of dead?" She demanded hotly, anger making her voice quiver.

Connor hit the door. "I didn't…. I didn't say that. I just meant…." He trailed off uncertainly. Words like this never came easily to him. Abby didn't reply. "Abby? Are you still there?" Suddenly Pink's So What started blasting from inside the flat. Connor turned and his back slid down the door. "She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you. She's just mad. Maybe if you give her some time…." Becker suggested.

Connor shook his head. "I'm staying here,"

Becker sat down, joining Connor on the floor. "Maybe you'll get points for persistence."

"Doubt it," The tech replied as Becker's phone beeped again. "Jeez, someone's popular. Didn't know you had any friends outside the arc."

"Are you saying I don't have friends?" Becker asked as he switched the message alert to silent. The frequent beeping was starting to annoy him.

"No," Connor said indignantly. "I meant that you don't talk about yourself much. I don't even know your first name." Connor caught Becker's dark look and added, "I'm guessing there's a reason for that."

"Yep," Becker nodded and checked the text. No fire escape. I know, totally unsafe. You don't have to tell me. Are you hungry? And at least you can leave.

"You're not gonna go are you mate?" Connor asked, obviously haven read the text from where he sat. "I need you. You're my wingman. You're the Shaggy to my Scooby. The Spock to my Kirk."

Becker raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"Well, you're the Kirk to my Spock," Connor amended. "If you ever have a tiff with a girlfriend, I'll be with you 100 percent. If, you know, you want me to be."

"Connor," Becker said slowly.

"Yeah, mate?"

"Shut up."

"Shutting up."

Becker looked back to his phone and texted out a reply. You should have a fire escape. And I can't leave. Connor just begged me to stay. He pressed send, purposefully not answering her question; there was no point complaining.

Her reply was almost immediate. I heard. Kirk to his Spock :P. That's cute. Do you like blueberries? He angled the phone so Connor couldn't read it this time.

How did you hear? And yes, I like blueberries. Why? He texted back and looked up at Connor. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm thinking," Connor said softly then he blinked as a sudden idea struck him. "Do you think anyone would notice if I kidnapped Rex and brought him back here?"

Becker's head almost collided with the plaster covered brick wall. "Yes Connor," he drawled. "I think someone would notice you carrying a bright green dinosaur out of the ARC."

"It was just an idea," Connor said, slightly hurt. "I just… I don't know what to do."

They fell into silence for a minute. There wasn't much either of them could say. Becker's phone vibrated in his hand and he opened the message. Look up was all it said. He obeyed the order and looked up to see Jess standing on the small alfresco balcony above them. She smiled and dropped a foil wrapped object. He caught it before it hit the ground.

"What is that?" Connor asked, glancing over at him. "Where did it come from?"

"Jess," Becker said simply, unwrapping the object to find a blueberry muffin. He looked back up, "Thanks!"

"No problem," She darted back inside.

Connor's eyes darted to the balcony, an idea forming in his mind. "How high to do you think that is?"

Becker bit into the muffin, "What?"

"The balcony. How high is it?"

Becker swallowed quickly. He realised what Connor was thinking off. "Connor, you'd never make it."

He stood up, "Gotta try though."

"Connor," Becker said in a warning tone. "You'll hurt yourself."

"Never stopped me before," He walked down the driveway and took up a runner's starting position.

Becker started to panic. He didn't think Connor had been that serious about it. "Abby!" He yelled, straining to be heard over the loud music. "Connor's doing something stupid!"

The music stopped just as Connor started running. He sprinted up the driveway and launched himself into the air as though he was Superman. Becker cringed, waiting for the sound of flesh meeting concrete but it never came. He looked up to see a pair of jean clad legs kicking in mid air.

Connor was holding onto the edge of the balcony for dear life. "It worked," He started laughing. "It actually worked."

The front door flew open. "Are you crazy?" Abby yelled, "You could have killed yourself!"

"I'll die if you don't forgive me," Connor replied breathlessly. His arm muscles burnt from holding himself up.

Abby rolled her eyes, "Get down Connor."

"Not til you forgive me," He panted, his arms straining even more. His legs kicked in the air, trying to propel him higher. Jess walked out the door, her eyes widened when she saw what was going on. Becker motioned for her to be quiet and she moved next to him.

"Connor…."

"My life is not worth living without you."

"Get down you daft idiot."

"I love you."

"Get down before you hurt yourself," Abby snapped.

"Say you forgive me," Connor counted, ignoring his protesting muscles.

"I forgive you. Now get down!"

Connor let go and landed hard on the concrete. "Ow," He rolled onto his side, holding his ankle. "That hurts."

Abby knelt down beside him, "Good. Serves you right."

"You know a little bit of sympathy wouldn't go astray," Connor glanced up at her and saw her angry expression. "Or not," He rolled from side to side. "It hurts. I think I broke it."

Abby lifted up his jeans and felt the swollen ankle. "No, just sprained," She declared and stood up. She offered a hand up and he took it gratefully.

"Thank you," He said as he stood on one foot. "I mean it, thank you." He wasn't just talking about the help up and she knew it.

"It's what we do," Abby shrugged. "Let's get you inside," She wrapped a hand around his waist, taking some of his weight, and helped him hobble into the flat.

Becker and Jess moved out of the doorway so they could get passed. Abby rolled her eyes at Jess as she went passed. Jess smiled and Becker looked between them, confused.

"Was that one of those private girl conversation things?" He asked softly leaning down so she could hear.

"What things?" Jess looked up at him.

"When you say things about the people around you without saying anything," He clarified, giving her a searching look.

She bit her lip, "Maybe." Jess didn't bother lying; she wasn't a good liar.

"Well, what did you say," He edged a little closer, using his height advantage against her.

She ducked under his arm, "I'm not going to tell you."

He grabbed her arm and spun her around like he was dancing with her. Becker nearly smiled at her doe eyed expression. "Tell me," He ordered.

"No," Jess' chin rose defiantly.

"Jessica…"

"Becker…" She parroted the whining tone.

He had to bit back the smile again. There was something about her that made him want to smile all the time. He let her go, "Fine. But I will find out one day."

She smiled at him playfully, "Maybe, maybe not."

A/N: So school has become a black hole time of a time sucker, which means updates won't be regular. I will try to be fast but please don't hate me for being an unpredictable poster. This is my senior year and in my system every piece of assessment is my final grade so I have to work hard. On a brighter note, who's seen episode 6? OMG…. Jess/Becker… so damn cute! I want to know how Becker knows where she lives… Hmmm plot bunnies are running wild now.