Author's Note: Long chapter, but it reads better all together I think. 1978 Words

Chapter Four, Becker Doesn't like Birthdays

Lunch. Jess had slipped out, thanks to her friends in Ops covering for her, and she prepared the canteen. Again, she had help. The canteen staff were wonderful, and everyone wandering in wanted to help as well.

"Black," said Abby, strolling in.

"With blue," said Jess, hanging a streamer with soldiers' help. "And burgundy, with some gray. The theme is actually checks."

"Tasteful and manly," Abby said. The streamers were black, alternating with several shades of blue, dark burgundy, and light and dark gray.

The plates, table cloths and napkins all had checks, black with one of the colors.

"I think its OK," said Jess. "Camouflage was just too tempting."

"I like it, Jess," said one of Becker's senior officers.

"Thank you."

The other soldiers nodded.

Jess sighed with relief. "I decided not to put out anything else. I was thinking of toy tanks or guns, but that would be silly."

Abby nodded. "I agree. I like it."

Jess smiled. The staff brought out finger food: crisps, pretzels, granola, and fresh fruit.

"Miss Parker," called one of the cooks. "We're ready with the special entrees."

Jess smiled. "Thank you."

Abby raised her eyebrow.

"I had them make steamed prawns, prawns with pasta, and prawn crackers."

Abby laughed. "Becker likes prawns?"

Jess blushed, and nodded. "Thanks for the tip about strawberries," she said. "I asked for one of the cake layers to be strawberry.. I also know he likes white cake, he selects it often. So, I had them add a strawberry filling with it. Is it too much strawberry?"

Abby smiled and shook her head. "You've done a nice job, Jess. Becker will love it. He'd love anything you did for him."

Jess blushed again. "I hope so."

"Party! Party! Hey, there's no music!" cried Connor.

Abby laughed. Jess freaked out.

"Connor! Are you kidding me? You begged me for that job! I was all prepared with music, when you insisted..."

"Whoa! Whoa, Jess!" Connor cried, laughing. "I've got it all covered. Promise. Sorry."

Jess scowled. "You should be. I'm nervous enough." she walked off, overseeing everything.

"Knock it off, Connor," said Abby. "She's serious about this."

Connor grinned. "You mean she's serious about him."

Abby chuckled. "True. She wants to impress him."

"Abby, this is Jess. She could offer him day old tea and a ration biscuit and he'd be in heaven."

Abby laughed, and whispered, "You're right. Be nice, please."

He nodded, and kissed her. "OK, I'll behave." Then he called to Jess. "No worries, on the music. I stole Becker's ipod."

"You did not," said Jess.

"He did," said Becker.

"No!" cried Jess, running up to him. "You can't come in, yet! I'm not ready!"

"I'm hungry, Jess. It's my lunch break."

"Becker!" she cried, and then to Becker's horror, she actually teared up.

"Jess. Please. Don't get so worked up. This is why I hate birthdays. People get so upset over trivial things."

""It's not trivial! I want everything perfect for you!"

Becker smiled sweetly. "Are you going to be here?"

"Of course."

He chuckled. "Then what else do I need? Or want?"

Abby smiled, and looked at Connor. Thankfully, he didn't "awe."

Jess did. She ran into his arms, and held him. "Thank you. I'm sorry. I get loopy over planning sometimes."

"I know," he said, wiping away the few tears she had. "It's adorable."

She smiled. "OK. The birthday boy should get the honor of being the first served." She took his hand, and led him to the canteen's serving line.

Matt and Emily, Lester, and others walked in to hear an excited, happy shout of "Prawns!"

Then, to their surprise, they witnessed something they never thought they'd see.

Becker kissed Jess, right in the cafeteria line. He saw what she'd arranged for his birthday, and he turned to her, pulled her to him, and kissed her.

He let her go, blushing, and embarrassed. "Sorry. Prawns get me all excited."

"Oh," she said sadly. "It's...the prawns."

Becker looked at her, and winked. "I didn't kiss the prawns, you know."

She laughed. "I'd be worried if you had!"

"So...you're OK with...me kissing you?"

Jess blushed, and smiled so bright it could have been mistaken for an anomaly. "OK? No. I'm more than just OK with it."

He smiled, saw the people looking at them, then whispered to her, "Good."

She smiled, picked up her tray and followed him to a table, sitting right next to him.

"Thank you, Jess. You're brilliant."

She smiled. "No thanks necessary. You mean a lot to me."

He picked up a prawn, but before he put it in his mouth, he said, "You're important to me, too." He slid the prawn in his mouth, and chuckled. "Delicious. Jess, you do know how to convert a non-believer. Birthdays rock."

She smiled. "You bet they do. Thank you for not torturing me by being addicted to chocolate. I'm afraid having to get a bunch, and give it all away may have ruined this beautiful friendship."

Becker laughed loudly. "True. It's fortunate we like different things."

"I know. The prawns are yummy, but not like chocolate."

"Sorry, Jess, but to me, prawns are better. One of a few things."

"What else?"

"Let's see. Someone petite, brunette, giggly, stylish, and super sweet comes to mind."

She blushed.

"Oh, no. Sorry, doesn't count. She's made of chocolate."

"Almost," she said, giggling, and holding his hand.

He didn't pull away. They sat, holding hands and grinning at each other, until others joined them at the table.

They all sat, eating and joking, many of Becker's soldiers joining in. To Jess' relief, Becker was relaxed and talkative. He seemed to be honestly enjoying himself.

Jess had to keep on schedule. She promised Lester the party wouldn't hold up the ARC's business day.

"Excuse me," she said. "I'm sorry to interrupt those of you still eating, but we need to present the guest of honor with a few tokens of appreciation."

Becker smiled. She gestured for him to join her by a small table with the gifts. Everyone clapped as he did so.

Jess handed him a large box.

"Wow. Heavy," he said. He looked at the tag. "From my soldiers."

They whooped and hollered.

"It isn't explosive, is it?" he asked. They laughed, and cried "No," and "Yes!" Some made explosion noises.

Becker grinned as he opened it. His mouth dropped open, and he looked at them with a large smile. "Very nice!" He held up a large case of beer. They clapped and hollered more. "Not just any beer, either," he said. "It's my favorite! Thank you!"

"Jess arranged it."

"Jess! Jess ! Jess!"

Becker laughed, and looked at her with a grateful smile, that lingered on her eyes.

She blushed. "They...paid for it. And approved the idea. I...didn't do much."

"She's lying!"

They both laughed.

"Thank you," Becker said to his men again."

"Do we live?"

Becker chuckled. "Yes. You live."

"Yay!"

Jess pushed a large briefcase with a large blue bow on it, toward him.

He picked it up, and it clanked. "What could this be?" He read the card. "From Matt, Emily, Abby, Connor, Lester, and Jess."

HE smiled at her first, and a little bit more warmly than the others. Then he opened the case. "Whoa! Holy...This is brilliant!"

"What is it sir?" asked a soldier. "Guns?"

"As if," said Jess.

"Actually, it's better," said Becker.

The whole canteen gasped.

"Better than guns?"

He laughed. "Yeah. I have everything I need for my guns. I don't, however, have a totally incredible barbecue set with everything I could ever need. Brilliant!" He looked at Jess, and smiled.

She blushed, and felt a rush of energy run through her.

"We did help," said Lester.

"With the bill," added Matt.

"The idea was all hers," said Abby.

"This is correct," agreed Emily.

"I'm not surprised," said Becker still smiling at Jess. "I'm wondering how you knew."

"That's me," said Connor. "I blabbed that you can cook meat over a roaring fire."

The soldiers laughed.

"He's actually very good," said Matt.

"I'd love for you to cook for me sometime," said Jess softly.

"Anytime, Jess. Just ask."

She smiled, and blushed. "Let me show you this stuff. See, there's all these gadgets, and pans, and a basket for seafood and other small food."

"Prawns!" he cried.

She giggled. "Exactly."

"You're the best, Jess."

They stood smiling and staring, forgetting briefly that they were standing in a crowded room

"Yes, she is," said Abby, bringing them back to reality.

"Miss Parker, your time is almost up."

"Right, Lester," she said. She moved toward the kitchen, then ran back to kiss Becker's cheek. She then ran back to the kitchen, and came back. "Who wants cake?"

The canteen clapped.

"I'm not sure I can eat it," said Becker. "I'm stuffed.

Jess smiled. "Well, we'll see."

The cooks carried out a square cake of several layers, all decorated in checks. The bottom layer was black and gray, the second layer deep burgundy and black, and the top royal blue and black.

Across the top was a large chocolate "B," surrounded by several fondant figures: a soccer ball, a large gun, obviously, and a motorbike.

"Well?"

"It's very nice," said Becker. "I know the "B" is chocolate, but I hope the motorcycle isn't, because you're not eating that baby. Or the gun."

Jess giggled. "No, just the "B," sorry, but that's mine."

"Deal," he said. "I love it Jess, thank you," and he kissed her cheek.

"Yay!"

"You missed," said Lester. "You kissed her cheek."

Becker and Jess blushed, but felt better after Abby kicked Lester under the table.

"Let's cut this thing," said Becker, holding a large knife. "Help me?"

Jess smiled, and grabbed the knife along with him. The canteen got really quiet, with a soft murmur of light snickering. There were plenty of winks and smirks.

Becker and Jess didn't notice, busy on their task, and their minds on each other.

They got the knife through the layers.

"Is that...strawberry?" he asked.

Jess nodded. "Do you like it?"

He smiled. "Yeah. I haven't had strawberry cake since my grandma baked it."

"Aw..." said the canteen.

"I didn't know that. I did know you like strawberries, though."

Becker laughed. "Jess, you just get more amazing. Thank you."

She blushed, and chuckled. "You're welcome. I'm so glad you're happy."

Becker put two pieces on a plate, along with the chocolate "B," the gun and motorbike, then he took Jess' hand, and walked to an empty table.

The team looked at each other, and laughed.

"I guess they don't need us," said Connor.

"I don't think they see us," said Matt.

Lester got the next piece of cake, and munched on it. "I don't suppose they'll be back to work with any punctuality."

"I doubt it, Lester," said Abby, getting served a piece of cake from canteen staff.

"Yes, well, I suppose I can live with it," he said. "Fortunately, I am quite happy today, the lunch was good, and the cake is sublime."

"Now if you can just rustle up one of those birthday beers," said Connor.

"Please," said Lester. "Beer? Cognac, yes. Scotch, obviously. Wine, of course. Beer? No. I am far too sophisticated for that."

"Sorry," said Connor.

Emily smiled. "They look happy," she said, nodding to Jess and the Captain.

They sat close, chewing cake and laughing. At one point, Becker lifted his fork to her mouth, and she took a bite.

"If nothing comes of this," said Matt. "I'm going to lock those two in a closet."

"Don't be heartless," said Lester. "Lock them somewhere with a tad more room, and something horizontal."

"Lester!" cried Abby. Emily looked aghast. The men laughed.

Jess and Becker however...didn't even notice the canteen howling with laughter.

End of Chapter Four