Chapter Three

Bilson was having a great day. After lunch, Becker trusted her enough to let her roam the ARC without a babysitter. They had weapons training earlier, and he had praised her.

There was a weird conversation she'd witnessed between Vale and the Captain. It looked pretty tense, but ended OK. Whatever was going on seemed to be settled. Vale even made the Captain grin and take a fake swipe at him. She meant to ask Vale later what it was about.

Vale was nice, and handsome, and she'd probably like hanging out with the energetic, funny lieutenant, but it was the Captain that had her attention.

She couldn't stop thinking about him. He was gorgeous, disciplined, but kind. Jess was right; he was the best soldier she'd ever met. Bilson was so relieved that Becker only thought of Jess as a friend. She was fairly sure Jess wanted to be more. It was sad, she liked Jess, but was beginning to like Becker a whole lot more.

Another anomaly came that evening. It was a pristichampus, large prehistoric crocodile. Bilson had a close call, she was scanning brush by a small river, when the huge beast jumped out at her. Becker pulled her back before the croc could reach her, and Flowers EMD'd it.

Bilson sat with Captain on their way to the ARC, and was about to ask him if he wanted to go for coffee, when he sprinted away. Bilson decided the invite could wait, and she went to turn the EMD into Carly.

Becker strolled into ops, and right over to the ADD.

"Hey, Jess," said Becker.

"Hey. Nice work," she said flatly.

"Thanks. Are you OK? You seem a little, tense."

"Of course," she said with a forced smile.

"It's been hectic lately, but it was worth it. I think we've got a good addition to the ARC in Bill."

Jess looked up from the ADD. "Bill?"

"Yeah, that's the guys' nickname for Sargent Bilson."

"Oh, I see," she said, great. Now he was so familiar with her he was using a nickname.

"It's great to have a new soldier who's so capable. I've been running her ragged getting her set up. I've been spending all my time with her."

"I hadn't noticed," said Jess, in a mock happy voice.

Becker looked at her. "You're angry."

"I am not. Why would I be angry? You're allowed to spend your time any way and with anyone you want. Absolutely."

Becker could not help but grin. "Of course, there is a fringe benefit to all my time with Bill."

"I don't want to hear it," she said, suddenly realizing that she said it out loud.

Becker smirked. "Well, now that she's familiar with everything, she can do the work I really shouldn't have to do: taking care of gun checks, assisting Flowers with reports, and sparring with Vale. I can do more important stuff."

Jess huffed. "How wonderful for you, but if you don't mind, I'm very busy."

"Oh, right, sorry. Well let me do this one crucial thing, then I'll get out of your way."

Becker reached across and set six candy bars in front of Jess.

She stopped working, and looked at the chocolate, then at Becker.

"These are an apology for being so busy and for failing to give you chocolate every day this week. They're also just because I was thinking of you."

Jess blushed, then smiled. "You were thinking of me, really? What about, um, Bilson?"

"What about her? I told you, she's all set with her routine, and I know she can handle the job, so I don't have to shadow her anymore. I can focus on ...other things, you, for instance."

He smiled and she blushed. "I'd like that," she said.

Becker smirked. "You know you look good in green."

Jess looked confused. She was wearing pink.

"But you don't have to be envious of the new sergeant."

"I'm not."

"You were."

Jess scoffed, and looked at him with disdain, but Becker only smirked.

"Shut up."

Becker smirked. "We're even though. I was a little...concerned...about you and Vale."

"What? Why?" she asked, completely stunned.

Becker said, "Well, he did have you laughing, and you even kissed him."

"On the cheek, as a thank you, for cheering me up."

"So, then, you're not interested in the lieutenant?"

"Of course not. That's a silly idea," said Jess. "He's wonderful, and fit, and handsome," and she noticed a slight growl from Becker as she complemented Vale, "but I don't like him in that way."

"Good."

Jess smiled. "Yes, good. You're not interested, that way, in Bilson?"

"No."

"Good," said Jess with a smile.

"Yes, good," agreed Becker, smiling at her.

Bilson loved the ARC. It was fascinating working with the creatures. The staff was cool, the pay was great, and she had lots of adventure. She was also crazy smitten with a certain Captain.

Ever since the incident with parasaurolophus, she couldn't stop thinking about him. There was something damn sexy about a man who had no trouble with a woman saving him.

Becker was wonderful. He was sexy, kind, strong, a good leader, and funny. She had it bad for him.

She was looking for him to ask him if he'd like to go for coffee, but she wondered if that was to vague. She wanted to ask him out for real.

It was quitting time, and she strolled into the locker room. Jess was in there, but no one else. Bilson was glad. She really liked Jess and felt bad that they crushed on the same man. She really felt bad because Bilson was fairly sure the Captain did not return those feelings, at least for Jess. She hoped he returned them for her.

"Hi Jess."

"Oh, hi Bill."

Bilson smiled. "You heard about the nickname huh?"

"I love it," said Jess with a grin. "It means they've accepted you. That's no small feat. Congratulations."

"Thanks, I don't know how it happened, I mean I didn't do anything special."

Jess smiled. "That's even better. They like you for you then."

Jess went back to her locker, combing her hair and reapplying makeup. She hummed the whole time.

"You're happy. The last few days you seemed kind of down," said Bilson.

Jess grinned. "There was a stupid misunderstanding. It's sorted now."

"Good."

"Any plans for tonight?" asked Jess.

"I hope so. I have to check something first," said Bilson.

"I wish I had plans. Hey, if yours don't go through, here's my number. We can grab a bite."

"Sounds great," said Bilson. "Hopefully they will."

Jess nodded. "Good night."

"See you tomorrow Jess."

Bilson took her hair down, and pinned it at the sides with barrettes. She took off her uniform and changed. She had left a knee-length denim skirt in her locker, just in case she wanted to look girly leaving work. She put the short sleeved green sweater on that she had come to work in, but left the jeans she'd worn that morning in the locker.

She lightly brushed pink blush on, and a tiny hint of green eyeshadow over her eyelid. Finally, she lightly applied pink lipstick. She didn't want to look made up. She just did not want to look like a soldier when she asked Becker on a date.

She was scared. He was her superior. She had known him less than two weeks, and they had a good work relationship going. She realized that she was taking a huge risk, but she was a risk-taker, always had been. She couldn't just sit by and pine away for him in silence. If he didn't feel the same way, or thought it inappropriate than it was better to get it out now. They were both professionals, and if that was all they would ever be, should could take it, but she wanted to know that now.

Luckily, she caught him leaving the men's locker room.

Becker met her with surprise. He'd never seen her out of uniform. She looked beautiful.

"Hi," he said pleasantly.

"Hi," he said. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Would you like to go out, with me, for dinner, just the two us, you know, on a date?"

Becker was stunned. He had no idea she liked him, in that way. He'd also never been asked out by one of his command before.

"Um, I , uh," he stuttered nervously, and ended with a nervous chuckle.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I know its a little awkward, and we can forget this conversation ever happened if you want. I have no intention of interfering with your command or my job."

Becker smiled. "Good."

She smiled back. "I'm not subtle, Becker. As a woman in service, I can't be. I think your kind and decent and I like you."

Becker blushed.

"I want to ask you something, and I need an honest answer, and not as my superior."

"OK, ask," he said. She deserved that much.

"Do you like me?"

Becker laughed. "I thought it was going to be a hard question. Yes, I like you very much Bilson."

"It's Nicole."

Becker sighed. "No, I think it's better if we keep it Bilson."

Bilson caught her breath, but her face remained calm and firm. "I see. Fine, and I apologize, sir."

"Hey," said Becker quickly. "Don't apologize. I'm flattered. I'm not as comfortable as you in detaching my soldier self, in fact, I can't do it. I wish I could. I'd love to go out with you, but I can't. I'm your superior, and for me, that's all I can be. I am sorry. Just so you know, I've never had the inclination to go out with a subordinate before."

Bilson laughed. "Thank you sir. Now, I'm flattered. So, are we good?"

Becker smiled again. "You're amazing, Sargent Nicole Bilson. Yes, we are very good."

Bilson smiled. "I am disappointed," she said with a smirk.

Becker laughed. "I am sorry."

Bilson nodded, and left the ARC.

Becker leaned up against a wall and sighed. He really hoped everything would be OK between them. Being rejected was never easy.

"Becker? What's wrong? You look awful!"

"Thank you, Jess."

Jess chuckled. "Sorry, but you're obviously not OK. Can I help?"

"No. Thank you, though."

"Well, do you want to talk about it?"

Becker chuckled. "No, and I'm sorry, Jess, but I don't have the right."

.

Jess pondered this statement. "It's about someone else, isn't it? Is everyone OK? Did someone get hurt?" Jess was working herself into a panic.

Becker grabbed her shoulders, and smiled. "No, nothing like that. No one's hurt, well, I hope not."

Jess frowned. "You're confusing me, Becker."

Becker laughed. "Sorry, but the situation is confusing."

Jess looked at him. His cheeks were pink, his eyes held shock in them, and he was nervous.

"Oh, my gosh! Someone asked you out, and you said no, and now you're worried about them!"

Becker glared at her. "How in the heck did you do that?"

Jess laughed, then gave him a small hug. "Oh, it's OK, Becker."

Becker accepted the hug and shook his head. "I"m not discussing...anything with you."

She smiled kindly at him. "It isn't easy being the reject-or is it?"

He shook his head, and watched her. She didn't say anything, but kept giving him sympathetic looks, holding his hand, and patting his arm.

"I'm not discussing it with you, Jess."

She pouted. "Fine. I wasn't going to gossip, you know. I just thought, if I knew the girl, it is a girl, isn't it? Anyway, if I knew who it was, then I could help."

Just then Jess mobile rang. "Oh, it's Bilson."

Becker's eyes got wide, but Jess was looking at her phone, not him.

"Her plans must not have worked out. That's too bad, she..." Jess looked up and saw the uncomfortable look on his face, and how he was trying to avoid eye contact.

"Oh, my gosh! Her plans fell through, someone asked you out, and she obviously likes you. It was Bilson! She asked you out!"

"Jess, Drop it right now. I mean it. It doesn't concern you."

"You said no," Jess said, then her face broke out into a huge smile. "You said no," she repeated, but this time in a whisper.

Becker saw her reaction, and couldn't help but smile. "You were jealous of her."

"I was not. I hope you didn't break her heart. You can be very mean, you know."

Becker smirked. "Why's she calling you?"

"Oh, I asked her earlier if she wanted to go for a bite to eat," she said. "I'm texting her back. You want to come along?" she said with a smirk.

"I'm mean?"

Jess smiled. "OK, all set. Us girls are going out for fish and chips. I just hope I can console her."

Becker did not appreciate her tone or that smirk. "What are you going to say?"

"Nothing, don't worry, honestly. I'm very tactful. I'll just tell her how she lucked out because you're a total creep."

"Thanks."

Jess giggled.

"I think you're a little too happy about this, Miss Parker. Why are you so relieved that I said no?"

Jess' eyes grew wide. "I'm not. It would just be weird, you two going out. It would affect your men. The whole ARC would be disrupted."

Becker smirked. "You're right. I should say something to Lester about employee fraternization."

"Don't you dare."

He laughed. "Well, have a good time."

"We will," she said, as she walked away, she looked over her shoulder at him with a teasing smile.

"Seriously, Jess. What are you going to talk about?"

End of Chapter Three