Author's Note: Still a bit silly, and fluffy, and yes, the presents are expensive. Why settle? I do enough of that in real life. :)
Chapter Three, Jess' Birthday
Jess strolled into Ops, with a definite hop in her step. She was giddy.
"Good morning," she sang.
"Happy birthday!" cried Sara, running up and hugging her. "Nice outfit," she said, with a wink to Becker.
"Didn't my man do well? Thanks for your help."
Sara smiled. "My pleasure. It was fun."
Mayik ran over, also giving Jess a birthday hug. "Yes it was. You look fabulous," she said. "Happy Birthday, honey."
Epstein, walked over, holding a small tray with cups. "L'chaim," he said. "I wish you a life lived to the fullest. I know it's early, but please, let's all have a small toast to Jessica."
"Oh, a toast," said Lester, walking in. "Well, in honor of the day."
Jess smiled, and Becker, Epstein, Sara, Mayik, and Lester all toasted with her.
"Ooh, that's got a kick," she said.
"Sorry, those are the rules," said Epstein with a wink. "Just a small sip."
"Quite. Excellent start to the day," said Lester.
She giggled. "Thank you, Epstein. That was kind."
"Don't mention it. It's always rewarding to give a Jewish blessing on a special day," he said, smiling.
"He's right," said Sara, who was also Jewish. "L'chaim."
Jess nodded. "Thank you."
"Very nice," agreed Becker. "Now, this way Miss Parker," he said, dragging her to the ADD.
"Wait," she said. "That's a new chair!"
"Indeed," said Lester. "A little token of my esteem, arranged with help from your boyfriend and co-workers."
Everyone in Ops grinned.
"You're always sore," said Mayik. "Even with the ergonomic chair."
"This one has all those features, plus others," said Becker.
"Like a massager," said Sara.
Jess' mouth dropped open.
"And a built-in heating unit," said Epstein.
Jess smiled, and plopped herself on it. "It's soft, but supportive."
"Top of the line," said Lester. "You can even lay it back if you need to, but only in non-emergencies, and I swear if I see any...playing on it, it goes back." He flashed a look at Becker.
The group exploded in laughs.
Jess just smirked. "We'll make sure you don't see it then."
"Ew. Get to work," said Lester. He moved off to his office, and stopped. "Happy Birthday," he grumbled.
"Thank you!"
He shut himself inside, but did flash Jess a quick smile.
Jess giggled. "I love it!"
"It's very nice," said Mayik.
"We test drove it," said Epstein. "I would moan, 'why you?' but you get all the stress and tension. You deserve it Jess."
"Thank you. It was a thoughtful idea. Thanks to everyone."
They clapped and moved away. Becker leaned in. "Now you know what the conspiring was about."
"I do, at least with Lester and Ops. However, there was other conspiring: Abby, Matt, Bernie..."
He smiled. "No comment. I'll see you later. Have a great day. I love you."
"Oh, I love you too, but I'm sorry, I'm not leaving this chair right now."
He laughed, and walked out of Ops.
Jess turned on her computer unaware that the Ops techs were still staring. Plus, someone had snuck into the room.
"What the..." asked Jess. "Why is my computer acting strange?"
Suddenly, animated shoes walked across the screen, followed by walking chocolate bars. Kittens and puppies ran across, meowing and barking a birthday song.
Jess giggled.
Then the words, "Happy Birthday, please don't kill us, we didn't mess with anything else. Love, the computer techs, and Connor."
She turned around to see them, and Connor smiling.
"I'll let you live, but that was close," she said.
They giggled.
"We were going to install this, but we're...afraid," said Connor, handing her CDs. "It's a play list of songs we thought you'd like, some cool games we found, and a few adorable screen savers."
Then he kissed her cheek. "Happy Birthday, Jess."
"Thank you. I will install it. You're thoughtful...and smart. It's dangerous to touch my computer," she said.
They laughed.
The techs got back to work, and Connor began to walk out. "By the way, Action Man has you dressed like a pinata."
She laughed out loud. "I love it!"
"He did good. I'm proud of him," he said with a smile.
"Me too."
The next hour was quiet, everyone doing their jobs. Jess monitored the ADD, radio chatter, traffic reports, and so on.
Then, as she was going about her business in the silent Ops room, she heard a clear, loud, "Fire in the Hole!"
She turned just in time to see black clad figures, then a small puff of smoke, and heard a small firecracker-like pop.
Then small, foiled projectiles rained down in front of her.
"Ah! What?"
There were giggles from the techs, and from the soldiers.
Jess walked gingerly up to a projectile, picked it up, and unwrapped it.
"Oh my God! It's chocolate!" she cried, popping it in her mouth.
Becker and a few of his soldiers laughed. She giggled as Carly, Sargent Carlson, the ARC's weapon expert, prepared to fire again.
"Careful, Jess! Stay back a bit!" cried Becker.
"Yeah!" cried Lt. Vale. "Those suckers hurt!"
Jess backed up, to where she had been when the first barrage launched. She laughed. "How do you know?"
"Are you kidding? This fool's been firing at us for days!" cried Vale.
"Naturally, sir. Didn't want to hurt the young lady," replied Carly, firing again.
"But hurting us is OK," said Lieutenant Flowers.
"You're trained," said Carly. "Coming at ya again, Miss!" Another wave launched.
"I'm going in!" cried Jess, running over, and scooping the candy up. "Oh, I thought sure they'd be melted or burned."
"Nope. Practice," said Carly.
"He's gone through bushels of chocolate," said Sargent Nicole Bilson.
"Had to get the trajectory right," explained Carlson, "and adjust the charge as to not damage the chocolate."
"Damaged our waistlines," said Nicole.
"Sorry, Ma'am, someone had to verify it was fit for consumption."
Jess giggled.
"Then our Captain had to verify we were fit to perform our jobs," said Flowers. "There have been a lot of hikes and runs lately."
Jess popped chocolate in her mouth. "I'm awfully sorry," she said, chewing, "but I have to say, this is brilliant."
"OK, let's try the other one," said Carlson.
"Other one?" asked Jess.
"Had some bigger chocolates to deliver," said Carly, bending to the ground, setting the sight on another launching device.
"Is this safe?" asked Epstein.
"Obviously sir," said Carlson. "Tested it thoroughly. Here we go!"
This time, parachutes, in different bright colors drifted to the ground, carrying bars and small packages of chocolate.
Jess giggled. "It's so pretty! Like a rainbow!"
"Perfect distance too," said Carly. "Don't mean to brag, but I'm good."
"You are," said Jess, catching a bright purple parachute in her hand. She unwrapped the chocolate. "Mmm. I can confirm the chocolate is undamaged. I love it. This was so incredibly sweet of you all."
"No problem, Miss. Happy Birthday," said Carly. "Shall I fire some more?"
Jess nodded, backed up and clapped as Carly fired both cannons a few more times.
"I think that's sufficient Carlson," said Lester, outside his office. "Who's going to clean up this mess?"
"I am! It's my chocolate, hands off!"
Everyone laughed, and Lester shook his head and went back into his office. Jess ran to the soldiers.
She hugged Carlson first.. "Thank you Carly. You really are the expert."
He blushed. "My pleasure Miss. I promise I will never fire anything but chocolate at you."
Jess giggled. "Thank you."
"I have something else for you," said Bilson.
"Nicole! You shouldn't have."
"Right," said Vale, "Make us look bad."
"Only you," said Bilson.
Jess opened the small gift to find a beautiful enameled daisy pin in yellow and white, with tiny pave crystal birds of red and blue flying above it.
"Oh! It's lovely!" she cried, hugging Nicole. "Would you pin it on me?"
"I will," said Vale.
"Don't...even...think...about...it," said Becker.
"Just...checking your reflexes, sir," said Vale. "I'm...going to go clean the armory."
Nicole chuckled, fastening the pin on Jess, then hugged her. "Happy Birthday, Jess."
Jess thanked her, and all the soldiers again, then they all left Ops. Except Becker and Flowers.
"I have something too, but it's not from me. I'm just the delivery man," he said, handing her a small, folded piece of paper.
She opened it to find a colorful crayon scribble. It had, "Happy Birthday, Auntie Jess," written over the top.
"Aw..." she said.
"Obviously, my two year old didn't write the words, but she drew it just for you."
Becker smiled. "I like how she used all the colors for Jess. She drew me a picture one day, and it was all black."
Jess chuckled. "Child's a genius. This is for her," she said, hugging Flowers. "Please tell her I love it."
"I will. You'll have to come by and thank her yourself."
"I will, promise," said Jess, looking at the picture, and smiling. "She's a lovely little girl."
"Happy birthday, Jess."
After Flowers left, Jess said, "I love your soldiers. They're fabulous."
Becker kissed her, and chuckled. "They like you. Apparently I'm easier to work with now that we're together." Jess laughed. "They really wanted to do something for your birthday. I was just joking when I said shoot chocolate at you. Leave it to Carly."
She smiled. "I want to know how you kept this much chocolate hidden from me."
"Had help. Bernie kept some in the canteen. Lots of ARC women volunteered to store it in their lockers. Lost a lot that way."
Jess giggled. "Now at least I know what all the locker slamming was about."
"Yeah, all my secrets are coming out." He smiled, and kissed her. "I'll see you soon."
She nodded, and watched him leave. She sighed happily. She never got tired of that view. She looked over the floor of Ops, covered with chocolate projectiles. She grinned from ear to ear. She hummed, scooping it all up, even sharing some of the precious cargo with her friends.
"Brilliant birthday."
End of Chapter Three