Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up! I got really sick, as in couldn't eat for a week and dropped 10lbs, for a while and I'm just now completely back to normal. Hopefully the next chapter will be up faster. Enjoy!

Becker held tightly to Jess' hand as he saw the blood drain from her face. Her sudden silence only served to make him angrier. Cecilia must been beyond the bitch he remembered to make his normally bubbly and outgoing wife suddenly meek. A soft squeeze got her to look at him and he tried to give her a reassuring smile, but he didn't feel very sure of himself. He was stuck on his back while every soldier instinct he had was telling him to put himself between Jess and the threat, however small.

"Hey," he said giving her hand another squeeze, "She can't do anything to us, other than annoy the hell out of us." Jess giggled, the little color that returned to her face calmed Becker's raw nerves. He had to admit to himself that he was nervous as hell to see his estranged sister after all these years. A very small part of him was hoping that she'd changed, and that she had just come to see that he was okay. But he seriously doubted it. Whatever reason she had to be here, it was all about her. Sure enough the door slammed open theatrically and Cecilia Becker walked in flaunting her glory.

"My poor baby brother!" Her arms flapped around, nearly slapping Jess as she made her way to the bed. Becker tugged Jess closer when one of his sister's hand came a little too close for his comfort. When Cecilia saw that, her lip curled up into a sneer.

"Why are you still here?" She tried to push Jess out of the way in her attempt to get even closer to the bed, which just served to piss Becker off.

"She here," Becker said pulling Jess over to sit on the edge of the bed next to him, "because she's my wife." Cecilia raised an eyebrow as she looked Jess up and down.

"Oh sweetie, you can do so much better. I've got some lovely friends I think you'll really like."

"Get out!" Becker roared, making Jess jump a little next to him. He was more than a little happy to see that Cecilia jumped even higher.

"You do not get to waltz into my life after sixteen years and insult the people I love. Now get the fuck out of my life for good." There was no mistaking the venom in his tone, but obviously Cecilia had no common sense because she just kept going.

"Hil, darling," she said condescendingly as she reached out to pat his leg beneath the blankets. Becker pulled his leg away before she could touch him. The move didn't seem to faze Cecilia in the least, as she just tried to budge Jess over to sit next to Becker. To Jess' credit she refused to move, which forced Cecilia to move around to the other side of the bed. Becker moved towards Jess as much as he physically could. The longer his sister was in the room, the more uncomfortable he became. He was seconds away from calling security to have her physically dragged out if needed.

"Sweetie," Cecilia said as she sat on the bed, "If we're going to introduce you into society, we'll need to work on you manners," Cecilia glanced at Jess once more, "and her wardrobe."
Becker tuned out anything else she said after that and hit the call button on the side of his bed. He wasn't entirely surprised to see his newly appointed second in command, Howell, enter a few steps behind the nurse.

"Morning Captain," he said brightly as he passed by the young nurse with a wink. Becker refrained from tolling his eyes when the young woman blushed and let loose a giggle that would have made any twelve year old girl proud.

"Good morning Howell," Jess said brightly, her mood obviously improving upon seeing one of her best friends, "Did you manage to hurt yourself again, or is it Ebola this time?" Becker snorted a little at her question, because basically everyone at the ARC knew Howell had a massive crush on the head medic and was constantly coming up with reasons to be the medical wing. Howell glared playfully at her.

"No," he said, "I'm just here to confirm that the invulnerable Captain is actually injured. There's a pool at work on how soon he'll be back at work." He leaned in close to Jess like he was telling her a secret, "My money's on tomorrow morning. He's none too bright on health care." Howell ducked to avoid the mock swipe that Jess threw at him and Becker's mood lifted just watching them bicker mildly, like family, until Cecilia cleared her throat loudly.

Becker groaned a little as he turned to look at his sister, only to have the groan turn to a growl when he saw the look of derision she was giving Howell.

"Why haven't you left yet?" He asked her, his normally boundless patience already gone.

"Seeing the company you keep," she said with what seemed to be an ever present sneer as she looked Howell over, "It's a good thing I came back when I did. A family of our caliber should only interact with the upper echelon of society. A few Generals and Admirals are acceptable as acquaintances, but anything below a Major isn't worth the effort." Becker took one look at Howell and lost it. His shoulder ached from the force of his laughter, and Jess was looking more than a little worried, but he couldn't stop.

"You do know he's a Captain right?" Howells voice came from his right sounding very confused.

"Don't be stupid," Cecilia snapped, "Of course I know my brother's position. A Captain is higher than a Major obviously. How else could they command a ship." Becker laughed even harder at the incredulous looks on Jess and Howell.

"I guess you got the looks and the brains Sir," Howell said once he realized the humor in the situation, "shall I pull the ship around." Howell tried and failed to keep a straight face, and soon Jess' tinkling laughter joined in. Cecilia was not as amused.

"I will not be mocked by some one of your standing!" she barked with a stomp of her foot. Howell looked over at Becker as if waiting for orders.

"Just get her out of here," Becker said, his laughter winding down as the pain intensified. He saw Howell nod once before he walked over to the chair in the far corner and picked up what he assumed was his sister's purse, though when she had put it down he had no idea.

"Hilary Becker," Cecilia started, pulling herself up to her full pompous height, "We have been estranged far too long, through no fault of my own I might add, and I have decided that it is time for you to accept your proper place in the society our parents enjoyed," She took another contemptuous look at Jess, who had moved so that she could snuggle into Becker's side, "I suppose we can work with her, if you insist, but she'll need a complete makeover and etiquette lessons. You should probably take them to come to think of it."

"I may not have the same etiquette you're used to, but I'll give you one chance to get the hell out of my room and my life before I have you physically thrown out," Becker bit out, feeling truly homicidal for the first time in his life and really wishing he had his favorite shotgun, or at least an EMD. When she simple crossed her arms expectantly, Becker simply nodded to Howell. Before she could turn around by herself, Howell had spun her around and tossed her over his shoulder.

"Excuse me," Howell said before walking out the door with Cecilia's large navy blue bag in hand and her over his shoulder.

"What on Earth! Put me down this instant!" Cecilia screeched in the hallway. Becker did his best to calm the rage that was racing through him, but he couldn't stop his fists from clenching which sent darts of burning pain through his arm and shoulder.

"It's alright," Jess leaned over to whisper in his ear, the feel of her warm breath sending shivers down his spine. She was gently running her hand across his chest and up the sensitive side of his neck, making his heart rate pick up for an entirely different reason. Eventually the hypnotic movements made his muscles relax and he sank further into the bed.

"Thank you," he told her as he leaned in to brush his lips against hers. Her mouth opened to say something once he'd pulled away, but she was interrupted by Dr. Hansen entering the room.

"Alright Captain," he said looking through the chart in his hand, "It looks like you're ready to be discharged. I just need to take one last look at your shoulder and you'll be set."

"Good," Becker said as he pushed himself into a sitting position with his good arm, "I need to get back to work." Jess sighed, dropping her head into her hand.

"Here we go again," she said.