J - Journey

"Hurry up, Lester," Jess pleaded.

Lester raised one eyebrow, "Jess, this is ridiculous; I am already breaking the speed limit by…ooh, shit!"

Jess didn't even have it in her to smirk as the speed camera by the side of the road flashed. When this was all over, maybe she'd laugh at her boss's misfortune. But now, all she could think about was Becker.

Lester slowed to a more considerate speed, although he still gripped the steering wheel of the car. They were silent for a few moments.

"What did they say?"

"I've told you three times already, Jess."

"Yes, but I want to hear it again," she became uncharacteristically demanding as the worry got to her, "I need to know what's happening."

"I don't know much yet. He was found collapsed in the street outside his house by a neighbour walking a dog; he was taken straight to hospital, and we haven't heard anything since. That's all there is to it at the moment. When we get to the hospital, we'll know more."

"How can he have collapsed? He's strong, he's fit, he's healthy…"

"Well, maybe he just slipped and hit his head."

Jess was silent again for a minute, "We were going out for dinner, you know?"

"I do now."

"Maybe that's just his way of telling me he doesn't want to go."

Lester sighed and dropped one hand from the steering wheel to squeeze Jess's arm, "Don't think like that. I'm sure he'll be fine – and desperate to see you."

"Mmm."

"We're here," he pointed out unnecessarily. He parked the car beneath a shaded tree, made a big show of locking it, and lead her in towards the reception entrance.

"Hello, how can I…" the receptionist began, speaking to the woman at the front of the queue.

Lester grabbed Jess's arm and pulled her through the crowd, "Excuse me, we'll only be a minute. We just need to know where Hilary Becker is."

"There's a queue, sir."

"I know, but…" Lester glanced towards Jess; her head was down, and her hair concealing most of her face, "She's been hysterical in the car. We've been searching for him all day, and suddenly the police rang up to say he'd been found collapsed, and…"

"Okay," she relented, "His name? Becker, was it?"

"Yes. Hilary Becker."

She typed the name into the computer, scanning the screen, "Right. He was taken to A&E first; he's just been transferred to ward five. They'll be running tests and examinations on him at the moment, to find out what happened, but you can go up there, and they'll be able to tell you more."

"Okay. Thank you very much," Lester dragged Jess away with a grin at the receptionist, who managed a weak smile back.

"Lester, why…"

"Well, you're worried, aren't you?"

"Yes, but…"

"If you're born with authority, Jess, you use it," he examined the directions, "Okay, ward five's upstairs."

"Lester, wait…I…"

"Oh, come on Jess, it'll be fine."

They headed upstairs – well, Lester dragged Jess along – and quickly washed their hands with the gel outside ward five. Then he nodded to her, and pushed the door wide open.

XxXxX

Thanks for the reviews again! You made my day! Okay, so not a lot about Becker in this chapter, but Lester becomes more significant later in the story – bear with me please! Anyway, next chapter will be 'Karma', and Jecker are finally reunited... xxx