Chapter Four

The next few days, Jess was attentive and caring, but there was a distance Becker noticed.

"You go back tomorrow," she said simply. "Back to the ARC and the creatures."

Becker looked at her. "Yes. Can you deal with it?"

She shrugged. "I don't have a choice."

"I'm sorry."

She looked at him. "I know it's your job. I just don't want you hurt again."

"I know," he said. "I don't want you worried all the time."

"I can't help it."

"I know, Jess. What should we do?"

She looked at him for a few moments then shook her head and hugged him. "I don't know."

He kissed her head. "Me either."

Becker went back to work, despite Jess' uneasiness.

Not thirty minutes into his first day back, they had an alert.

"Oh, God!" Jess whispered harshly.

"It's OK," said Abby.

"Yeah, we'll just mop it up and get back," said Connor. "No one gets hurt."

She nodded. Becker looked helplessly at her. "I'll be careful."

She smiled, but couldn't stop the twisting in her stomach. She tried to hush that annoying voice in heard that asked, 'Is this the day I lose him?'

The anomaly turned out to be creature-less. Jess was so relieved.

The next day, however, her worst fears struck.

Becker and the team staked a Smilodon in an office high rise. She was as professional as ever.

"Watch yourselves," she said over comms. "Your floor's alarm was just triggered."

"Copy," said Matt.

"I've got it on CCTV. Damn. It's practically on you," she said.

"It's OK," said Becker softly.

Suddenly Connor yelled, "There! A brown streak!"

"Where?"

"I don't see it."

"It's up in the ceiling now," said Jess. "It's moving toward Connor!"

"Connor! " cried Becker, drawing the cat's attention. It leaped onto him.

Jess screamed.

Becker jammed his EMD between its teeth and managed to zap into its mouth. The others all fired as well, and the cat fell down, asleep

Becker chuckled.

Jess did not. She met him in the locker room. "You didn't have to do that."

"Do what?" he asked, gingerly pulling his shirt over two bandaged bites on his shoulder.

"Draw it onto you. Matt's right. You always have to be the hero."

"Jess. It's my job to protect them."

"At the cost of your own life?"

Becker remained calm as Jess got more upset. "I know we've had some close calls…"

"We haven't. You have. You always get hurt. Why?"

"It's my job."

"Stop it! You could be more careful! Do you want to die?"

He took her hand, stroking her hair with the other. "No. I don't want to die. I have a bigger reason to stay alive than I ever have. I have you, Jess."

She didn't say anything, just wept softly. Then she hugged him. "I'm sorry. I just love you so much. I don't want to lose you."

"I know."

The weeks passed, and Jess tried to get over the fears. Her stomach kept twisting. She bit her nails. She became quiet and sullen.

A mission came up with giant locust-like creatures invading a large open-air produce market.

"I thought our locusts were bad," quipped Connor.

"Stay alert," said Matt. "These things are big enough to drag a man off."

They split up. Abby and Becker had the far end of the market. Suddenly six of them flew at them.

Becker brought down two. Abby the others.

"I see the anomaly," Becker said.

"Lock it," ordered Matt.

"Roger," said Becker. He carried the device to the anomaly. Just as he was about to hit the switch, he heard Abby screaming his name.

Then he heard loud buzzing just above him.

"Becker!" screamed Jess over the comms.

Becker had no time to react. His leg was grabbed by one of the locusts. It flew, dragging him off, but not into the woods.

It flew with Becker into the anomaly.

"Becker!" screamed Jess at the same moment that he vanished from her screens.

Jess flew into a panic, but managed to contain it. "Becker is through the anomaly! Repeat, we have a man down and on the other side of the anomaly."

"We copy. On our way there," said Matt.

"I'm going in for him" said Abby.

"No!" cried Jess.

"Abby, No!" screamed Connor.

"Hang on," said Matt. "Do not go through!"

Jess watched Abby pacing back and forth in front of the anomaly, occasionally picking of a locust that flew too close. She was pissed. "We have to get Becker!" cried Abby.

Jess sat helpless inside the ARC. She was crying.

Matt and the others appeared. "What's the status on the creatures?"

"They're…pretty much contained," said Jess, barely controlling her sobs. "Becker's soldiers are mopping up the last of them."

"Right," said Matt. "Ok. We go through."

Jess stifled a sob. She wanted Becker back so badly, but she didn't want to lose anyone else. Then there was a change in the anomaly.

Becker jumped through. Jess screamed his name.

"Jess," he said through pants. "I'm….OK."

She began laughing. "Thank God!"

"Yeah. Thanks for saving us a time trip," said Connor.

Becker laughed.

Back at the ARC, Jess ran into his arms and hung onto him for dear life. "You're safe. You're here."

He chuckled. "Yeah."

She looked at him. Her eyes were red and tear-stained. She had an odd expression: sort of relief mixed with terror.

"I'm sorry I keep doing this to you."

"So am I."

That night was quiet. Jess was too quiet.

"You're not OK," he said.

She shook her head. Becker could see she was terrified.

"I can't get these knots out of my stomach."

"I'm sorry."

"I know. There's nothing you can do. I can't do anything either. Becker…" She sighed deeply. "I can't take much more."

"Yeah. I know."

Three days later came the last straw for Jess Parker. They were chasing a herd of raptors. Becker fired at one. Emily had the other, until it jumped sideways and fell onto Becker. Emily quickly shot it. Becker was fine.

Jess was not. She'd reached her limit.

Somehow Becker knew it. They drove to her flat in silence. They went to her room, shut the door and sat on the bed. He kept eying her. She felt it.

"I'm sorry," she said sadly.

"I know you are. It isn't your fault."

"I love you. I do."

"I know that too."

"I just don't think...Becker. I don't think love's enough."

He sighed. "I…understand."

She cried hysterically, and he held her.

Jess said through sobs, "I love you so much , but I can't deal with the injuries. I can't keep waiting…"

"Waiting for what?"

She cried. "For you to die."

He nodded.

"Becker, I'm sorry!" she cried in his arms.

"Sh," he said gently. "It's alright. I understand. It's asking a lot."

"No, it isn't. You're the one in danger."

"You're the one who sees it all as it happens, on your screens," he said.

"I can't keep dreading every day. I never know when you'll be snatched from me."

"I know. I don't want you going through this every time. "

She nodded. "I don't want to. I'm so sorry. I can't…do this. I'm sorry."

Becker sighed. "So am I Jess, but it's not your fault. It's the job."

She nodded. "I think…I have to break up with you." She fell into hysterical crying.

Becker held her. "It's alright."

She shook he head, no.

"Jess, I'm from a military family. I understand, I do."

"Do you hate me?"

"How can I?"

She sat beside him, sniffling.

"I guess…we should go our separate way," he said, unnervingly calm.

She began to cry.

"Hey," he said, gently. "I'm not leaving your life, you know."

"We still work together," she said.

He nodded. "I still care about you."

"Me too."

"It's going to be OK, Jess. It will."

She nodded.

"I'll get my things and go."

"Now?"

"Why put it off?"

Jess nodded. "OK."

He kissed her head.

Jess sat on the bed while he gathered his few things he kept at her place. She didn't move. She didn't talk. She just watched.

He smiled. "I'll see you in the morning, at work."

She nodded.

"Call me if you need anything."

She sobbed. "I'm….sorry."

"Hey. It's OK. It's not your fault."

She felt awful.

With one last smile, he left the flat, and her life as her boyfriend.

End of Chapter Four