Three days later, Jess bounced out of the elevator. To her amazement, the facility was still standing and running well. Never had she been so thankfully and so anxious to get back to work. All she had been able to do for the past three days was lay around her apartment. It had been nice to finally have time to herself for some personal activities, but she found it rather boring alone. Abby and Connor had been gracious enough to tell them what had happened during the three days of her absences, but it wasn't the same.

Jess waved to Lester sitting behind his desk. Lester merely nodded and looked down at his paperwork. Jess bounced down the halls toward the locker room. She was absolutely ready to start back to work. No matter what the world sent to her.

Jess pushed open the locker room and froze. Becker leaning over the bench in front of his locker. He laced up his shoes, not looking up. Jess felt her heart beat against his ribs. She was ready for anything but this. Suddenly her leg ached more than it had. Jess shook her head. This was childish. She walked into the locker room and passed Becker. She walked to her locker and opened it up.

The room was silent, save for the few moves they made. Jess kept her eyes from Becker. She hung her purse up in her locker and pulled off her jacket. She could hear Becker moving behind her, but she refused to look at him. Jess hung up her coat and closed her locker. She quickly spun around, instantly colliding with Becker's chest. Jess gasped and stumbled against her locker.

"Sorry, Jess." Becker said.

Jess held up her hand. "No, no it's fine. I probably shouldn't have been in such a hurry."

"Are you alright?" Becker asked.

Jess nodded." I'm fine. But I should be getting to work. There's no telling what Connor's done to the ADD while i was gone."

Before Becker could reply, Jess quickly walked out of the locker room. Her heart thundered inside her chest. Jess took a deep breath and quickly walked to the ADD. She prayed silently for an anomaly. Anything to keep her from Becker.


Abby stood in the main room, leaning against one of the tables. Connor was beside her, working on some project for Burton. She watched Jess carefully, occasionally shifting her eyes to Becker, who was standing as far from Jess as he possibly could. Abby frowned. Something was wrong. Throughout the entire day, Jess had seemed less, enthusiastic about work. She threw herself into everything and did all she could to avoid being within four meters within Becker. Something had happened between the two of them. Something big. Replaying the past three days in her mind, Abby tried to remember if Jess had mentioned anything that could explain her actions now. But Abby couldn't think of anything.

Abby turned her head from Jess, to Connor. "Connor?"

"Eh?"

"Have you noticed something odd between Jess and Becker?" Abby asked.

"How so?" Connor asked.

"Jess can't seem to stand being near him. Usually she can't take her eyes off him, but…not today." Abby explained.

Connor looked up. He looked at Jess and then toward Becker. "Huh, that is weird."

Abby nodded. "I'm about Jess, Connor."

"You should talk to her. Try and see what's wrong." Connor suggested. He shrugged. "Maybe I can see what's goin' on with Becker?"

Abby smiled. "Good idea." She pushed herself off the table and walked to the ADD.

"Hey Abby." Jess smiled.

"Hey Jess. I was about to go out for some lunch. I thought, maybe you and I could go out together. Have a little girl time." Abby suggested.

Jess thought for a moment. "Um…well, I'm not sure now's the best time. With three days out, I'm way behind-"

"Three days that you needed. And you need lunch in you if you want to make it through the day." Abby said.

Jess sighed, smiling. "Okay."

"Great." Abby smiled. "My car?"


save them Abby! please save them!