If you're re-reading this you may notice it is slightly different. Some of the sentences were awkward, and some of the scenes were too fast or choppy. I've re-wrote it a bit, but nothing major has changed.
Chapter Three
Becker was in shock. He had just seen creatures that should have died millions of years ago.
"Are you ok?"
He nodded silently.
"Sorry. I suppose it's all a bit overwhelming."
He nodded.
"Come on, let's take a break," she said, taking his hand and leading him back out of the menagerie. "We'll have a cup of tea."
She walked in front slightly. Becker had a perfect look at her long legs. She did like short skirts and loud colors, he noted. Then there were the shoes.
"You're shoes are ridiculous."
She turned around indignantly, put her hands on her hips, and pouted her lip. "Thank you," she said sarcastically.
Becker's grin was enormous. "No, no, Jess, I remember. I always say that to you, 'you're shoes are ridiculous,' and you always react just like that."
Jess' grin suddenly matched his.
"Yes, that's right," she said, giddy with delight. "Becker! You remembered!" Then she clapped a hand over her mouth. Luckily no one had heard. She gave him a quick hug. "Oh, this is wonderful. You ARE in there, somewhere, and we're going to find you."
"Yes," said Becker just as relieved and hopeful. "I remembered," he said in a whisper. "I was so afraid I'd never remember you."
She waited for him to take it back, or change the subject. He didn't. He was genuinely happy he'd remembered her. They looked at each other for a moment, then Jess turned slightly.
"You're going to remember more," she said. "I promise. I have just the place to jog your memory."
"This is your domain," she said, with a flourish, gesturing around the armory. She hoped he would instantly recognize things.
He didn't. He just stood there, lost.
She gave him a tour. "Here are the EMD cases, and the extra EMD racks. Over here are the power cells for the EMDS."
"Wait, what's an EMD?"
Jess cursed inside. "Sorry. EMDs are non-lethal but highly effective electronic stun guns..."
"Tazers, oh good."
Jess stood speechless for a moment. "Please don't make me shoot you," she said finally.
"What?" asked Becker.
"Last time you were skeptical too, and frankly a little rude, so to prove their effectiveness, Matt shot you."
"Can't wait to meet him," he said. "Do these actually work?"
"Yes, I swear. I've seen them with my own eyes. They'll get the job done." Jess spoke so earnestly that he found himself changing his mind.
"OK," he said, "I trust you."
There was so much impact in that statement for Jess. He had just met her, from his viewpoint. She had told him some outlandish things, real things, but he didn't know that. And still, he trusted her.
"Thank you," she said.
Becker smiled. "Tell me more about this…Matt."
"Good idea. You need to know the team members, if we're going to convince them you're alright. That is, until you really are alright, I mean when you get your memory back. Which you will."
Becker chuckled at her rambling.
"Sorry," she said, her face turning pink.
"Don't be," he said, smiling.
Jess smiled back. "Ok, then. Well, Matt Anderson…"
After nearly an hour alone in the armory talking about the team, they were interrupted.
"You just couldn't stay away," said an Irish brogue. "Afraid the ARC can't make do without brave Captain Becker, huh? Well, it's good to see you up and around anyway."
Becker gave Jess a nervous glance. Time to see how stupid their plan was. "Thanks...Matt," he said simply.
"You okay, mate?" Matt asked with light concern. "That was a pretty good whack on your noggin."
"Fine, thank you."
Matt looked at him, his eyebrow raised in surprise.
Jess pulled Becker back, so she could whisper without Matt hearing. "You're being too polite."
"Look, Becker," said Matt. "I know you hate medical leave, but we aren't talking about some drunken knock to your head. You were attacked, savagely, by a smilodon. Take a couple days."
"Do you doubt my abilities?" Becker hissed roughly. Jess turned her head to hide the smile.
"Of course, not" said Matt. "Sheesh. You want to be superman, go ahead." He walked off, but stopped, turned around, and said, "By the way, Morning, Jess."
Jess smiled pleasantly at Matt. "Good Morning," she said sweetly.
With another disdainful look to Becker, he left.
Jess sighed, leaning into Becker for an easy, backwards hug. She chuckled with relief. Becker turned, remaining a little stiff, the posture he'd adapted to be 'mean' to Matt.
"I don't like him?"
Jess chuckled again. "It isn't that. You're both alpha males. You fight over who's right, who's in charge, who's more stubborn, whose guns are better. You'll fight over anything, really."
"Do we fight over you?" he blurted out. He saw her blush, but she did not look displeased. "Um, I mean do we fight over women?"
Jess's face was red, but she wasn't unhappy, far from it. She liked that question and what it implied.
"No. Matt Anderson has no interest in me, or I in him. He's in love with Emily Merchant. And me, well," she said, looking straight into his eyes, "My eye is on someone else." She smiled at him and blushed.
"Good," said Becker, smiling. He felt a definite connection to her, even though he remembered next to nothing about her. "That's very good."
Jess continued to blush. "Let's, um, have that tea," she said, taking his hand to pull him gently out of the armory.
End of Chapter Three