I'm sorry that these are all so short but it's just the way that they ended up when I wrote them!
A fair number of you made guesses- and you all guessed the SAME thing! Come on people be original! :P
This chapter is dedicated to a friend of mine who doesn't read FFN- as far as I know seeing as no-one I've physically met knows I write here (It's my special secret for me! :D )- but he's had a tough 48 hours as someone who he was close to crashed his car and sadly died as a result. This is for you my dear friend.
Enjoy this chapter people.
The next morning the anomaly alert sounded. As he heard the feet passing him, almost hidden by Jess sharing information, Becker shot out a hand, stopping Matt in his tracks.
"I'm coming."
Becker made the decision that morning. He had to take his mind off all the drama that enfolded is life and the best way he knew how was to work. Really work.
There was a moment's pause as Matt scrutinised him. Becker looked like his old self again, strong and muscled, holding his -still patchy stubble covered- head with confidence and his fitness was back up to scratch.
Then, he nodded. "Okay."
"NO!"
"Jess!"
"No. He's not doing it!"
"It's not your place, Jess. It's mine."
"If I remember correctly it's my place to say who goes on missions and who doesn't." No-one had even noticed Lester arrive. "You're not going, Becker."
The blind man heard Jess's small huff of satisfaction.
"Sir, I kno-"
"That's final. I can't risk staff members."
"If you're not going to let me out on incursions what am I even doing here?" He spoke forcefully through his teeth, frustration and anger layering his words.
"I've been asking myself and Anderson the same question."
Becker stilled in shock and almost backed down from the fight. Lester didn't want him there, didn't think he was useful, didn't… He broke his train of thought before he dug himself into a bad place. He was back where he started.
Then he remembered his first night with Bounty.
"What are we going to do, girl?" She licked his nose and he chuckled. "Whatever the hell we like?" She licked his nose again. "Sounds like a plan to me."
His resolve was made. "I'm going whether you want me to or not."
"I believe that I- "
"I don't care." Bounty lifted a paw to slide down his leg. "Nor does Bounty Hunter. I'm going as a concerned member of the public with my dog. If I remember correctly we've found a couple of civilians doing this sort of thing before. And there's nothing you can do about it... Sir."
Lester opened his mouth to argue but Becker had already told Bounty where they were heading and the two ran away.
Lester clenched his jaw, looked at Matt and spoke in a deadpan voice. "Make sure I don't have any more tedious and unnecessary paperwork."
It was his way of saying 'don't let him get hurt.'
"That goes without saying, sir." Matt took a black box for Becker from Jess's desk, placed a hand on his boss's shoulder and took off.
"MATT! You can't let him!" Jess watched with tears in her eyes as they left. She was being forced to watch over him again. Forced to give instructions which could, if it went wrong, lead to his death. Couldn't they see that she couldn't be trusted to look after him? Couldn't they see that she didn't want to look over him? That it was too hard? She started to panic as she worried, falling into a vicious cycle in her mind, sure now, without a doubt, that something would go wrong and she would lose him forever.
Although no-one was left to hear her, she whispered once more. "You just can't."
You just can't!
Anyone want to change their guesses or are we keeping them the same?
You all know what to do!
Thanks guys!