1290 words. Author's Note: I am ending this story here. I have ideas to further this along, but I have decided to put them into a sequel. Thank you for reading.

Chapter Ten, Transfer, Conclusion

Jess was relieved when an announcement came over the speakers. "Jess Parker to Ops."

Jess jumped up, upsetting her tray, and dashed from the canteen.

"I hope it is good news," said Emily. Abby nodded. The two followed after Jess.

"What is it? Is it Becker? Is he OK?" rambled Jess as she burst from the lift.

"Ask him yourself," said Michael the tech, as he moved to reveal a screen full of a handsome, yet clearly worn Captain.

"Becker!"

He chuckled. "Hi."

"Hi! Are you alright? You weren't hurt were you? It looked pretty rough in the boats, and then when all the creatures started swarming around you I was so worried! But I should have known you'd be on top of the situation. Not only did you round up the nasty shark things you actually plucked people out of the sea! You were marvelous!"

Becker stared at her, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. "Uh…how do you know all that?" he asked.

Abby and Emily laughed. "Jess is brilliant," said Abby, "that's how."

"Indeed," said Emily.

Jess blushed. "I'm sorry I gushed on."

"Oh…I don't mind," said Becker, smirking.

Jess giggled. "Abby and Emily are right of course, I was brilliant."

The girls and Becker laughed.

"She was," agreed Abby. "Finding that Japanese broadcast was genius."

Becker grimaced. "Please don't mention those…people to me."

"You didn't throw the reporter overboard, did you?" asked Abby with a chuckle.

"I couldn't. It would have set a bad example for the soldiers in my command. We had just bonded after all," said Becker.

Jess smiled. "Bonded by heroism," she said with a giggle.

Becker laughed and nodded. "They were brilliant. It could have been very bad. As it is, there are still fishermen unaccounted for, but at least the casualty list isn't as high as we feared."

"That's good," said Jess. "You never answered me, though. Are you alright?"

He chuckled. 'Fine. I'm a bit tired but I'll survive."

Jess sighed with relief. "I'm so glad to see you."

"You too, Jess."

"I was so worried, Becker. When the ADD lit up all of Norway, I panicked."

"Yeah. I was afraid of that. I tried to send off a text, but…"

"I know, the channels were all tied up and cell phone service was down."

"Yeah, and then they mobilized us and I didn't have a chance to try again. It took a while to get to the area. Did you know that this part of Norway is one of the furthest points north? The arctic circle's close by."

"Don't! Now I'm going to worry that you'll freeze to death."

He laughed. "I'm keeping warm. Actually, the fisher folk here make some very nice home brew. Keeps you pretty toasty."

"Dear Lord!" cried Lester, eavesdropping. "Captain Becker, as my personal representative I prohibit you to be sloshed while on duty!"

He laughed. "The locals forced me to drink it, Sir."

"A likely story."

"Don't worry, Lester. I'm sober and alert."

"Glad to hear it. If you are quite done bringing Miss Parker up to date on the bootlegging activities of the Norse, would you kindly debrief me?" he asked.

"Sure, Lester. Uh…can I have a few more minutes with Jess. Please?"

Lester rolled his eyes. "Since you asked nicely."

Jess giggled and the others stepped away. "Hey," she said to the screen.

"Hey. I just wanted to tell you again that I'm fine," he said. He chuckled a little nervously. "I was worried about you. I know how you worry."

Jess giggled and shook her head. "You're the one in danger and you worry about me."

"Yeah," he said, looking a bit awkward, but when he looked into her eyes, albeit though a screen, he smiled. "It's just good to see and talk to you. It's…comforting."

Jess blushed and looked sweetly at him. "It's comforting to me too. I've been on pins and needles here."

"I am sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't. You have nothing to be sorry for. It's your job."

"Hey, that reminds me. I'm supposed to pass along thanks."

"What? From who?"

"The communications staff."

Jess chuckled. "My biggest fans."

He laughed. "They are now. Whatever you did, when they followed your advice, it really improved their system."

"Are you kidding me? It was horrible! I couldn't get though!"

"But it didn't crash, Jess. They kept expecting it to and it didn't. Yeah, it was swamped apparently, but they eventually sorted it out. Well, I guess they're still sorting it out. Anyway, you made it easier for them and they send their thanks." He laughed. "They're still kind of…afraid of you, though."

Jess blushed and laughed. "Tell them I'm glad I could help and that I'm so sorry. Again."

Becker laughed. "Apparently you're formidable when you're fired up. Now, why were you so mad at the communications again?" he asked with a smirk.

"I don't remember."

"Fine, be coy," he said. "I know you miss me."

"Don't be cocky, Becker."

He laughed. "So you don't miss me?"

She smiled and blushed. "Maybe a bit."

"Oh. So I won't be getting any parties when I come back?"

"We'll see. If they ever let you go."

"They will. They'll get tired of my charming personality eventually."

Jess giggled. "I hope so."

"Besides, I think I'm kind of offending them with all my whining about Chinese take away."

She laughed. "Becker."

"Well…I guess I better go. Lester is probably having a cow."

Jess looked over where their boss was pacing and shaking his head. "A bit."

"OK. Tell him I'm all his."

"Hey…save some for the rest of us," she said.

"Jessica!"

She giggled and blushed. She called out to Lester. "He's ready for you."

"Oh…joy. Thank goodness the Captain is ready for me."

Jess and Becker both laughed.

"Transfer him to my office," Lester said, walking to it.

"I guess that's all the time we have," said Jess, sadly.

"For now," said Becker.

She smiled. "Stay safe."

"I will. See you soon, Jess."

She nodded and smiled, and tried not to cry. She then hit the buttons and Becker vanished from her monitor. She looked sadly at it. It seemed so bleak and empty now.

A while later, Jess had taken a break. As she sipped her tea she checked her emails. It was the usual quick notes from friends. Then she saw a number that made her heart skip a beat. It was Becker. She opened it and gasped with pleasure.

From her mobile shined a beautiful red and orange sunset over a rocky and cold-looking Norwegian shore. There was an accompanying text that said, "This made me think of you: cheerful and bright."

Jess giggled. She felt toasty warm inside. She blushed as she texted back, "Aw. That's so sweet. Thank you. It's beautiful. Maybe when you get back we can watch sunsets together."

She waited anxiously for a reply. Had she been too bold? After a moment, her mobile pinged. She read, "That sounds great. This sunset's pretty but it's too cold here to enjoy it. It's kind of lonely too."

Jess smiled, turning the color of the sunset. "It's a date…I mean…I can't wait for you to come home."

"Me either. I hope it's soon," said the text.

"I hope so too," she texted back. "Until then…I'm thinking of you."

"Me too, Jess."

Jess closed her mobile and looked across at the full canteen. There must have been close to a hundred people in the room but because Becker wasn't there she felt alone. And she knew she'd feel that way until he came back.

"You weren't the only thing transferred," she whispered. "My heart is in Norway too."

The End, but another story is coming…