Chapter 2. Chances Are

One thing Becker had quickly come to realize was that he intensely disliked Matt Anderson. To sum it up neatly, the man was a pompous, arrogant ass, who thought his accomplishments made him better than everyone. Who the bloody hell cared that he'd climbed Everest, it wasn't going to make a difference when they were fighting a T-Rex!

He stared out the window of the main operations room, transfixed on nothing in particular, it was people like Matt who made him miss his teammates even more. Thinking about them made him go back to his conversation with Jess and what she'd said about his feelings for Abby.

Was she right? Had he been in love with her? Was he still, all this time later? His mental contemplations were drowned out by the shrill ringing of the ADD. Part of him still looked for Connor to come running and start typing away at the keys to get the coordinates, but it was Jess who came running.

She printed out the coordinates and Becker took off, "Tell Anderson to meet me at the truck!" he called over his shoulder.

"So where is it?" Matt asked.

"It's at an abandoned warehouse, I know the place, it's where Connor, Abby and Danny disappeared from."

"I know it's going to be difficult Captain Becker, but don't do anything reckless when we get there. I told you and the rest of the team I'm not giving up hope that they're alive, but if anyone goes in, it will be with backup, and as a team."

"While your backup is appreciated, I would have gone in with or without your permission," he said coolly.

Matt let out a sigh of exasperation but said nothing.

Luckily for them, the soldiers were right behind Matt and Becker when they arrived at the anomaly site.

Becker turned to the men before Matt even had a chance to open his mouth.

"I want two men here guarding the anomaly, the rest of you grab your gear and let's move out, we're going through the anomaly to see what time period it is and if there is any chance of saving the rest of the team." he said it with such ferocity that no one questioned him, except of course Matt.

"You aren't in charge of these men anymore Captain Becker, I am, from now on it'll be me giving the orders."

Becker glared at the man, "I trained most of those men, Lester wanted me to come back and fill my old position, I'm here and that means I'm in charge, especially of this operation, you don't know them like I do Anderson, if they're out there, I'll find them."

"I'd try to stop you, but you'd probably taser me unconscious or something," Matt replied dryly.

"Oh no, tasering would be far too easy, I'd punch you, make myself feel better." Becker responded before walking off to join his men.

They went through the anomaly, firearms raised and ready for anything. Becker couldn't help but musing how much easier it would have been if they had Connor to tell them what era they were in.

"If you think you're leaving me behind, you're bloody out of your mind," Matt said following them through the anomaly and looking around, "Plant life says Crustaceous to me," he said offhandedly.

They walked for several miles, having to take down a couple very hungry raptors along the way.

"Sir!" one of Becker's men called, "I found something you might want to see!"

Becker hurried over to find the soldier kneeling in front of a cave, it wasn't the cave that was interesting, it was the fire that had been built in front of it, sign of human inhabitance.

"It hasn't been here that long either," he noted.

They split up to look around, he sent Matt with two of his men in one direction, the other three in a second, and he went in a third by himself. Probably not the smartest move he'd ever made, but he'd wanted to cover as much ground as quickly as possibly.

He had no idea how long he'd been walking when a rustling in the trees nearby caused him to stop dead in his tracks. He hadn't even had time to reach for something to defend himself with, when it burst out at him.

"It," was Abby, and she came out ready to fight, Becker easily caught her fist in his hand.

"Becker!" she cried, withdrawing her hand and throwing her arms around his neck.

"You're alive," he murmured into her hair, which was now down to her shoulders, "Thank god. Where are Danny and Connor?" he asked, still holding tightly to her waist.

"Chances are when said and done, who'll be the lucky ones, who make it all the way?" Five For Fighting