Chapter Three

Jess woke up three hours later. She sighed. She showered and changed, and went back to the ARC, back to Becker's bedside.

She looked at his face. Tears began to fall.

"Hey," said Abby softly.

"I didn't hear you come in," she said.

Abby smiled. "He's going to be fine, Jess."

Jess nodded. "I know."

"Then what's wrong?"

Jess sighed, and looked at sleeping Becker.

"Nothing."

"Jess?"

She sighed. "I'm tired. I'm tired of him getting hurt. I'm tired of sitting by his bedside. I'm tired of creatures, and anomalies, and…" she stopped. She began to sob.

Abby sat beside her, and put her arm around her. "I know."

"I love him. I do. But…"

"It's not easy to love someone who works in this crazy place."

"I can't blame him. He's saving lives for crying out loud. I just….wish he was safe."

"I'm sorry," said a thin, scratchy voice.

The women reacted with surprise, but happiness.

"Oh, Becker!" cried Jess, with sobs. She moved closer to him. She stroked his cheek. "Welcome back." She smiled at him.

Abby stood. "I'll tell the medics he's awake."

Jess and Becker were alone.

"I'm sorry," he repeated weakly.

"Sh. It's alright. You're alright," she said soothingly.

"You've… been crying," he said, a little slurred.

She chuckled through sobs. "Well, you were hurt."

"Sorry. I'm sorry." He looked like he could pass out at any moment.

"Sh. We won't talk about it now. Just get better."

He nodded sleepily. "Love you."

She smiled, tears running. "I love you," she whispered.

He made a small grin and fell asleep.

She smiled at him, but felt a dread building up. Jess spent most of the day beside his bed. She left for lunch and dinner with the others.

When she came back from dinner, a sexy smooth voice greeted her.

"Hey, gorgeous."

She smiled. "You're sitting up! You don't look pale anymore, either!" She ran to him and carefully hugged him.

He kissed her head. "I had an angel watching over me."

She chuckled.

"I'm so sorry, Jess."

She shook her head. "I know. It was the terror bird, not you."

He nodded, and held her hand. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

Jess scooted onto his bed. "If?" she said with a laugh. "Becker, I was terrified. Your heart stopped!"

"Yeah, I know. Remind me to commend Lester on his medics."

Jess sighed. "How can you joke?" she asked tiredly.

"I have to, Jess. It's a dangerous job. It needs humor."

She nodded. He put his arm around her and snuggled close. "I am very sorry."

"I know." She sighed. "I was just so scared. I thought…for a moment…that you were gone."

He sighed. "All I can say is that I'm sorry. I hate that you had to go through that. I'm not gone, though. I'm right here."

She nuzzled her cheek against his. "I know. I'm so glad. I love you, Becker."

"I love you too."

The days passed and Becker got stronger. Jess was with him all the way. It wasn't always easy. Becker was not the most cooperative patient.

"I want out!"

She chuckled. "I know, but for some reason, the medics don't trust you outside this section." They met each others' eyes. "Sorry, Captain. You do have a reputation."

"I wouldn't do anything too strenuous."

Jess shook her head, smiling. "You'd hit the firing range first. Then you'd check the monitors and the ADD. Then you'd check on your men. You'd probably try combat training too."

Becker scowled. "So."

Jess giggled. "You didn't even try to deny it!"

He chuckled. "You know me too well."

"Yes, I do."

He groaned. "Ugh! When do I get back to normal?"

Jess shrugged. "When the medics say you're healed." She sighed. "Normal. You mean back on duty."

He glanced at her. There was a sadness, a dread in her eyes. "Yeah. Back to work. You Ok?"

She nodded. "I just…don't relish the idea of you facing creatures anytime soon. I almost lost you."

He hugged her. "I know, but I'm a soldier. It's what I do."

She sighed with him. "I'm sorry, Becker, but sometimes I hate that you're a soldier."

He didn't reply right away. "Sometimes I don't like it either. We never did get to celebrate our anniversary."

She felt a tear drop down. "No." She felt a shudder down her back. "It's the future anniversaries I'm worried about."

"Future?"

"Yeah. Will we have very many more?"

He pulled her out of his embrace to look at her. "We will, Jess. You're still feeling the trauma of the last attack."

"The 'last' attack," she repeated sadly, "that implies there will be a 'next' attack."

Becker looked at her. He was somber and solemn. "I'm sorry. Really. People who love soldiers have their own battles to fight."

"I knew it wouldn't be easy, but…"

"You didn't think it would feel this awful?"

She chuckled sadly. "Something like that. I'm sorry too. I don't want to feel this scared. I don't want to add to your burdens. I just can't help it."

"You're never a burden, Jess, just the opposite."

She smiled. "You're sweet."

He laughed. "Tell that to the doctors. Seriously, try to persuade them to let me out."

She shook her head. "They know you too well, also."

"Yeah. I was afraid of that," he said.

Becker had another two days of his 'prison,' before the medical staff finally had enough of his charming behavior and sent him home.

Jess drove him home. They were barely inside his flat when he grabbed her. "How about we pretend it's our anniversary?" he asked, leering.

She smiled. "I can't have you back in medical so soon. Don't worry. I have a nice movie for us to watch and cuddle to."

"OK, not what I had in mind, but OK."

She giggled. "Let me make you dinner."

"You?"

She put her hands on her hips. "Yes. Me."

"I love you, Jess, but you can't cook."

"I should be offended but….you're right."

They both laughed.

"It's actually super easy. I can't even mess it up, well, according to the doctor."

Becker groaned. "Oh, good, hospital food at home."

"Oh, hush. You'll like it. Two grilled turkey breasts…"

"Grilled by someone else," said Becker.

"Naturally. I bought them just before I picked you up," she said. "I open a rice box…"

"Need help with that?" he asked with a grin.

"Stop it! Then I read the directions on the box, microwave it, and voila…dinner."

"Uh-huh. Let me just check that the fire extinguisher is in working order."

"You're bad," she said. She wasn't too upset. "Now, scoot and let me prepare."

"OK, Jess."

Becker went to watch TV. Twenty minutes later she brought their dinners out to the couch.

"Well?"

"I owe you an apology. It's good."

"Thank you. It is."

Jess popped the DVD into the player after dinner. She turned down the lights.

"I like that we're at my place," said Becker. "We can get…entwined."

Jess giggled. He pulled her over his lap and they began kissing. Becker ran his hands all over. He had her top unbuttoned when she went for his. Then she saw the healing wound from the Terror Bird.

She stopped.

"What's wrong?"

She blinked back tears, and scrambled off him.

"Jess?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I…you're still hurt. We shouldn't…."

"Jessica. What happened?"

She sobbed. "Your wound. (Sob) It reminds me of how I almost lost you."

He wrapped her in his arms. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault. I'm sorry. Can we…just watch the movie?"

"Sure," he said.

She was quiet the rest of the evening. They went to sleep early.

End of Chapter Three