2273 Words, this chapter. It's incredibly long, I know. I'm not sure why I didn't break it up, but to do it now would mean changing all the chapter numbers…big mess. Please forgive the long read.

Chapter Three, Transfer 3: Rio

Jess walked slowly into Brazilian Ops. She was wobbly; her stomach felt nauseas and her eyes and head hurt.

"Why do I always forget that I can't hold liquor?" she mumbled to herself.

She made her way to the station they'd given her temporarily and carefully sat down. She groaned as her body ached with any movement. She finished the first cup of coffee that Paula Fuego had brought her when she picked her up.

Thankfully, the private was incredibly smart and perceptive. She'd brought her a second cup as well. Jess swallowed some pain pills and slowly sipped the wonderful caffeinated brew.

She closed her eyes, grateful to her new orange sunglasses for hiding them. She sat a few moments until she heard someone enter. She didn't take off the sunglasses though.

"You know, technically, I should ask you to remove the eyewear."

Jess didn't turn. "You can try, but I may kill you."

Private Fuego laughed. "You can keep them, then. They're very cute."

"Thank you. I bought them at a stand just outside the hotel. It's awful nice of you people to have shops everywhere we tourists walk."

The private laughed. "We owe you gringos our lives."

"Hmm. Some of the merchandise is quite nice," Jess said. She then winced as she could practically hear Becker chastising her for thinking about shopping. "I'm not here to shop though."

"There is no harm in taking in our culture or taking our products home."

Jess laughed. "Ow, Paula, please be less funny."

"Sorry."

Jess sighed, glancing at her watch. "Long time until its business hours in London."

Paula smiled with sympathy. "I'm sure it will all work out, Jess."

"I hope so. I…really like him, Becker, I mean."

"Yeah. I kind of got that."

"We've been apart for so long! First it was Norway, then Yemen, and now stupid Rio."

"Wow, and here I thought you were pining for him for just a few days."

"I forget how long it's actually been." She sighed, a tear coming down. "I…need to get absorbed in work. Yeah."

"Ok," said the private. "You call me if you need anything, Miss Parker. Anything."

"Thank you. You've been very kind."

Paula Fuego smiled. "It's easy. You're sweet."

Jess laughed. "Ow!"

"Sorry! I'm leaving," said Paula.

Jess smiled, then, still wearing her adorable eyewear, she began going over the communications data. There was a lot to do. She needed to pinpoint where the weak signals were. She couldn't have any blind spots, not when lives were literally at stake.

The terrain throughout Brazil was challenging. It had mountains, beaches, valleys, and hills. Luckily, they had much better infrastructure than Yemen, for instance, and much better climate then Yemen or Norway.

The work was fairly easy, it was just time-consuming to go out in the field and manually hook up signals and repair old or broken ones.

As Jess worked, she continued the nervous glances to her watch. (Also a new purchase, it featured a bright purple Orchid and dazzling red and blue Macaw, both native to Brazil.)

She sighed. She wanted to speak to Becker so badly but she was terrified of what he would say. The first two hours passed. It was nearly time.

She smiled as Private Fuego reappeared. "I brought you a mid-morning snack," she said. "Papaya juice and Fuba cake."

"Fuba cake?"

The private smiled. "It's a cornmeal type bread."

"Oh." Jess took a piece. "Hmm. It's warm!"

"We like it with butter, maybe some cheese or papaya slices. I wasn't sure you could take cheese yet."

Jess giggled. "No. Thank you, Paula."

She nodded. "I hope you're feeling better."

Jess sighed. She looked again at her watch. "Honestly, I'm wrecked. I cringe when I remember last night."

"You weren't that bad."

"I was unprofessional."

"We were all off-duty, Jess."

"Yes, technically, but I knew they'd be calling in for updates," she said, breaking off more Fuba cake and eating it. "Becker is the last person I'd want to see me…inebriated."

"I still say you're too hard on yourself, Jess. I may be bias, because I was born here, but Rio is enticing. It's hard not to relax and just…let go."

Jess nodded. "I guess. Maybe Becker will overlook the tipsy-ness, but Pedro?" She began to tear up. "Why did I do that, pawing all over him? I don't really like Pedro!"

Paula chuckled.

"He's brash and bold, and frankly the playful advances border on harassment."

"Oh, he's been warned," said Paula.

Jess sighed. "He didn't force me to…practically maul him."

"Oh, come now. If that was mauling it was pretty pathetic."

Jess giggled. Her head barely hurt now. She was starting to think clearly, and if possible, she regretted her actions the night before even more.

"I can't help but think," she said, crumbling the cornmeal bread between her fingers, "that I've ruined my chances with Becker." A tear dripped down. "And for what? Pride? Anger? Simple stupidity?"

Paula smiled sadly. "You could just blame Pedro," she suggested. "He won't even mind, probably. He'll probably be proud of himself, having to rescue you by apologizing for his sexiness." She shook her head, laughing.

Jess chuckled. "No. it was my fault. I flirted back to make Becker angry. Besides, I need Pedro. He's a good technician and if I have any hope of getting back to London, I should at least remain friendly with him."

"I wouldn't chance friendly," said Paula. "The man has the biggest ego in the world. He'd misinterpret a casual smile. I'd just stay cordial with him, to be safe."

Jess smiled. "Good idea."

"We'll get you home soon, Jess. Home to…is his name, Becker?"

Jess nodded. "Becker. Yes. If he cares now." She looked again at the watch. The macaw's wing signaled it was time. "Now or never," she said. She began to connect to Britain.

"I'll leave you alone and keep everyone out," said Paula. "You know who, especially."

"I haven't seen Pedro this morning," said Jess. "I was relieved, actually."

Paula smiled. "They needed help cleaning some cages in the menagerie. I don't know who suggested him." She winked.

Jess giggled. "That was bad."

"Nah, it's good for him," she said. She walked to the door. "Good luck."

Jess smiled and nodded. She sucked in a deep breath as the ARCs connected. There he was, sitting at the ADD. Waiting. To do what, though?

"Hey," said Becker.

Jess winced as she took off her orange sunglasses. "Hey," she said.

"You look…um…"

"Yes, Becker?" she asked, laughing a bit. "I dare you to say 'good."

Becker laughed. "I've had my share of hangovers. You do look good."

She chuckled. "I should have been more careful about how much I was drinking. Though, I think Paula was right about Pedro giving me something strong."

Becker grunted. "Pedro," he cursed, mentally putting him on a target. "Shall I call in some contacts, and...take care of him?"

She giggled. "No. That's not necessary. I've learned my lesson. From now on, I will choose my own drinks, not that I'll be drinking anything alcoholic for a while."

Becker smiled. "I think that's a good idea, Jess."

"I wasn't shirking my work, honestly. I've been working nearly nonstop…"

"I know, Jess. I'm sorry. I was out of line."

"No, you weren't, not completely. Yes, I needed a break, but I could have been more…in control."

"I guess that's why I went insane," said Becker. "I was worried about you and furious with Lester for sending you there alone."

She smiled. "Thank you. I'm alright. I do have a guard, her name is Paula. She's a private. She took good care of me. You'd like her."

"If she helped you, then I already do."

She blushed. "She doesn't think much of Pedro, either."

"Oh, I love this woman."

"I don't want you to love her," she said, blushing.

He laughed. "I was speaking figuratively."

She laughed. "Good. Well, no more breaks. I'm getting this done and coming home."

Becker smiled. "Good, but don't over work yourself. I don't want that."

"I know. You're so sweet, but no more…parties."

He groaned. "I'm so sorry I said that."

"Becker, it's alright. I wasn't trying to throw anything in your face."

"Yeah, I know."

"I was enjoying myself a bit too much maybe. We didn't go out to party though. We were out in the field. The set up for communications here is crazy. We have to go out and redo all the transmitters essentially, especially in the poorer residential areas…"

"Jess, you don't have to explain."

"I want to Becker. I don't want you thinking badly of me."

"I don't, Jess. I promise."

"Really?"

He nodded.

She chuckled with relief. "Well, I'm going to explain anyway. We were in one of the tourist sections. It was me, and Pedro, the guy that…well, um, you know. Anyway, he came along because he's a top communications technician."

"Jess…"

"Please, let me continue."

"Ok."

"Thank you. So, um…oh, we had escorts, soldiers to keep me safe from criminals who target tourists. I look out of place, apparently."

"You? In Rio, with all the bright colors?"

"I know! Anyway, they came along, which would prove very useful. We were replacing an old power hookup right outside that club when we got an anomaly signal. Then we saw these bat things flying around and some went into the club."

"Bat things?"

"I don't know what they were. Don't care."

Becker laughed. "Go on, Jess. I'm hanging on your every word."

She blushed. He smiled that easy, Becker smile again. She blinked back happy tears. "OK, so the soldiers rounded up the bat things while me and Pedro evacuated the club. Then we found the anomaly nearby in an alley and closed it."

"Piece of cake."

"Exactly. Well, the club owner was so grateful that he invited us all in for dinner and drinks. It was end of our shift, and we were all so relieved that the incursion went well…so we took him up on it."

She finished her story and looked at him, hoping for forgiveness.

"Thank you for explaining," he said. He sighed. "Jess, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have judged you or gotten angry."

Jess sighed. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have used Pedro to make you jealous."

Becker stared at her. Had she really just said that? "Jealous?"

Her eyes bugged out. Oops, she said that aloud. "Um, I mean…" she paused and looked at him. She was so tired of pretending. "Yes."

Becker smiled brightly. "Well…it worked."

Jess caught her breath. Did she hear that right? She smiled and blushed.

He blushed and looked around Ops anxiously. Then he said, "I, uh, wanted to be there, with you, dancing and…flirting."

Jess blushed. "I wasn't flirting. Ok, maybe I was, but…I don't like Pedro that way."

"No?"

"No."

"That's good. You probably just saved his life."

Jess broke into giggles. "I would point out that he's here and you're all the way in London, but I know you'd find a way."

"You bet I would."

She smiled. "I miss you. I do, so much, that's why I went inside the club. I was sad and depressed. I thought I could cheer myself up."

Becker smiled. "Would it be horrible to say that it kind of makes me feel good that you missed me?"

Jess giggled. "No, not at all."

They stared silently, grinning with slight embarrassment at each other.

Jess giggled again. "I can't believe you were jealous of Pedro."

"The guy's kind of good looking, Jess."

She looked at Becker with longing. "I hadn't noticed," she said flatly.

Becker now burst into a big smile. "Then I guess I won't go AWOL, fly to Rio, and hunt him down."

She giggled, blushing even deeper. "You don't need to do that, but I do wish you could come here. I'd love to be in paradise with you."

"It does sound brilliant."

Jess smiled. "It does."

"Maybe some other time. Soon," he said.

Jess smiled. "Definitely." She sighed and gigged with relief. "Well, I have lots to keep me busy. We have more districts to connect and then I have to run trials on all the connections and do a diagnostic. Maybe then I can come home."

"Whenever you do, Jess, I'll be waiting."

She actually felt like her heart was melting. "Will you?"

"Yes."

Tears flowed down her cheeks. "I'll be waiting for you too."

"Even with all those hard bodies around?"

"I already have a hard, hot body that I'm interested in," she said, "unfortunately…it's in London." She blushed.

"Fortunate for me."

She giggled and sighed. "I think it's time I tell you." She looked into his eyes. "Becker, I…lo…"

The connection was lost.

"*&^%&!" yelled Becker.

"Thank you for that colorful phrase, Captain," said Lester. "Do I have to ban you from all communications? Please stop swearing!"

"Bring Jess home, then!" he cried and stomped out of Ops.

Lester turned to Cherry, who was smirking. "Well, that's nearly an admission," he said.

"Yeah, and I'm sure Jess was in the middle of declaring her love for him."

"And then the communications went out?" Lester asked. Cherry nodded. "You mean that we were this close to having a resolution to this adolescent love drama?" he asked, showing a tiny amount with his fingers.

"A slight resolution," said Cherry, "they're still separated, but yeah, it probably would have calmed the Captain considerably if Jess had been able to say more than "I lo…"

Lester stood there, his hands on his hips. "Well… #%&#."

End of Chapter Three

Author's Note: Sorry, I need to explain AWOL for some of you. It's an American military term that means you have deserted basically, you've left your job and group without permission. You're in big trouble!

AWOL= Absent Without Leave