Chapter 5. No Strings Attached

When Becker woke up the next morning, he found the space beside him empty, he glanced at the clock and found it just after five in the morning. He slid out of bed and pulled on a pair of boxers and jeans, before walking out into the living room, still trying to figure out what he should say to Abby about the previous night.

He found her tending to the lizards, and leaned against the doorway watching briefly before announcing his presence.

"Morning," he said finally.

"Morning," she replied, turning to face him, not completely meeting his eyes.

"Abby…about last night, I'm sorry, you were upset and I took advantage of that…of you."

"Last night was as much me as it was you Becker, I didn't exactly say no. I just feel like I'm betraying Connor, I mean we were together while we were trapped, and he loved me… it just doesn't seem right."

"It's fine Abby, you don't owe me any explanations," he told her.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"Like I said it's fine, I'm not upset, look I've got to head into the ARC early, I'll see you when you get there."

He sat in the armory checking over all the tasers when Jess came in.

"Morning Becker!" she said, her normal, chipper self.

"Morning Jess, how are you?" he asked, not looking up from the charging dock.

"Fine, but you're not, what's wrong?" she asked, pulling herself up to sit on the counter next to the charging dock.

"I'm fine Jess," he tried to assure her.

"Liar, what's going on?"

He sighed, "It's just personal stuff."

"It's Abby," she stated simply.

"What…what makes you assume that?"

"One you're defensive, so now I know it's her, two, I know you,"

"Alright, fine, you were right, I love her, happy?" he snapped.

"Not really, cause you're not, what happened?"

"Look Jess, I can't really go into it, let's just say I did something I shouldn't have and blew it."

She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder,

"I wouldn't be so sure you blew it, just give her some time to sort things out, then maybe breech the topic again."

"That is a topic that does not need to be breeched again," he said quickly.

"Oh…OHHH," she giggled, "Okay so maybe don't breech it the same way, but let her know how you feel, first at least."

"Jess whatever you're thinking, I'm pretty sure you're wrong," he lied.

"Oh I don't think so lover boy, I think I'm dead on the money, but don't worry my lips are sealed," she said mimicking zipping them and throwing away the key, before hopping off the counter.

"You're crazy," he called after her as she walked off.

"But not unpleasantly so!" she called back.

He couldn't help laughing before he turned back to his work. He saw Abby come in and head to the menagerie about an hour later, by that point he'd finished in the armory and was talking to a couple of his men in the main room. She gave him a small wave, and he gave her a small nod in return.

I need to talk to you, she mouthed.

He met her eyes briefly and nodded almost unperceptively. He finished up with his men then headed back to the menagerie, finding her inside feeding the mammoth, standing on her tiptoes so it could reach.

"Abby," she turned at the sound of his voice.

"Hey," she said with a small smile, "I've been thinking and I'm going to find somewhere else to stay, it's just not fair to you, especially after last night."

"What! No! I mean…you don't need to do that, nothings going to be weird between us," he said trying to compose himself, he didn't want her to leave.

"How can they not?" she asked.

"Abby…I understand that things are strictly platonic for you and I'll respect that, I promise, but don't leave."

"Becker, that's the problem, things aren't strictly platonic for me, but I can't just jump into another relationship, it's not right…"

"Alright, so we'll give it some time, I don't want you to leave though Abby, I like having you there."

"This might be a bad idea,"

"Why?"

"Because I know I'm not ready for another relationship, but I don't know if I can keep things from happening if I'm in the same house with you," she said with a small laugh.

"Alright what about this, if they happen, they happen, no strings, no expectations?" he said, knowing he sounded completely unlike himself.

She laughed, "Alright, I'll stay, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure those things don't happen, at least not until I'm sure I can be with you 100%"

"Alright," he said smiling at her, "As long as you'll stay."

"Feels like I'm running, running as fast as I can, feels like I'm trying, trying to understand why I keep crashing as hard as I can into you." Alexz Johnson

**Sorry guys, I know Becker is crazy OOC in this but I had a weird muse with this chapter, so I ran with it.