1624 words
Chapter Five
News traveled fast within the ARC. Of course, Abby and Connor found out first. Abby found Jess crying on the sofa. She told her.
"What do you mean you broke up?" asked Abby.
"I didn't want to," said Jess. "I just can't take the injuries, the near-deaths."
Abby nodded silently. "I'm so sorry."
Jess nodded.
"How did he take it?"
"Very well. He was perfect, as always."
"Are you OK?" Abby asked.
Jess shrugged. "Not really. I love him."
Abby held her. "It's not easy."
"No. It isn't." They sat quietly. Then Jess got up. "I have to get ready for work. Can I ride in with you guys?"
"Of course," said Abby.
"Will you…tell Connor? I can't face him."
"Sure."
Jess nodded, and left.
Connor stumbled across the flat, mumbling sleepily.
"Connor. We need to talk something serious has happened."
"Oh, God. Helen Cutter's been cloned."
"It's almost that bad," she said.
They all drove to the ARC. Jess didn't say anything to anyone. Abby said she'd be quiet, but no, Jess wanted her to spread the word. Her or Connor.
And Connor was a gossip. He said nothing mean, just spread the word. Everyone took it sadly.
Jess looked up from the ADD to see the techs all looking and smiling sadly.
"Well, I guess they know," she mumbled quietly.
"Hey, Jess," said Epstein. "Want a chocolate biscuit?"
She smiled. "Thank you. It's so sweet. No, thanks though. I'm not hungry."
Epstein nodded, walking away sadly.
A little while later, Abby checked on her. "How is it going?"
"OK. Everyone's been sweet. You guys have been busy."
Abby smiled. "I only told my staff and we barely talked about it although we all agree that Becker is stupid."
"Abby! IT's not his fault."
Abby laughed. "He's still stupid."
Jess chuckled, shaking her head. "Becker is perfect. I love him. He loves me, so it should be good. It isn't."
"It's this place, the anomalies," said Abby.
Jess nodded. "Sometimes, I hate this place."
"You could leave. Both of you just leave."
"I can't ask him to do that."
"I bet you wouldn't have to do much persuading Jess."
"He's a military man, from a military family. I can't change that. I don't want to. I just want to stop the constant fear and pain."
"I get it," said Abby. "So, how are you going to handle working with him?"
Jess shook her head. "I don't know. It's been less than a day. So far it's awkward. He's such a gentleman, of course. He hasn't yelled, or even frowned at me. He just keeps saying that he understands."
"Really?"
Jess nodded. "Like I said, he's perfect."
"You don't sound exactly happy."
"I'm not, Abby. I'm not. I'm just coping, trying to get through my days. It's hard."
"I'm sure."
In the Armory, Becker had unwanted company.
"She broke up with you because you're Action Man?"
Becker laughed. "That's not what I said, at all."
"Getting hurt and almost dying are the results of being Action Man," said Connor.
Becker shook his head. "I don't really want to talk about it."
"We understand," said Matt. "We don't care."
Connor nodded. "You need to make it up to her, that's all."
"Make almost dying up to her? How do I do that Connor?"
Connor shrugged. "I don't know. A roomful of chocolate maybe?"
Matt smiled. "How about a quiet weekend away?"
"No. It's beyond making up," said Becker.
"Don't think like that, Mate," said Matt.
Becker sighed. "I knew sooner or later we'd have to face the soldier issue. It's not easy to be with one. I know. My mum's a military wife."
"Yeah, but your folks are still married, right?"
"It doesn't mean it's easy. Or that Mum's completely happy," said Becker. "I think of all the fights, all the times Mum locked herself away crying. I can't stand the thought of Jess doing that."
The guys were silent.
"Tough," said Matt.
Connor nodded. "But how is breaking up going to help? She still sees you here. You're still a soldier. She's going to be worrying anyway, whether you're together or not."
"Brilliant, Connor," said Matt. "Go and tell Jess that: you think she should quit the ARC."
"That's not what I meant!"
Becker laughed. "Actually, I've been thinking about it."
"What? Quitting?"
"No way! Action Man, no!"
Becker stared at them, his mind elsewhere. "Think of it, guys: no more incursions, anomalies. No more Lester. Just you and the woman you love and a house, with kids that look like both of you."
The guys were stunned to silence.
"Sounds good," said Matt finally.
"It does."
Becker nodded.
"Think you can just forget all this?" asked Matt.
Becker sighed. "That's the question, but I would, for Jess."
"Wow," said Connor. "I can't see you as Inaction Man."
Becker and Matt laughed. "Maybe change is good," said Becker.
Day two, after the breakup, and Jess was practically swamped with offers of relationship advice. Still, the offers were better than the pitiful looks.
She sighed as she walked. She had forms to distribute, and her route took her past the armory. It was one of her favorite places. Even now, the scent of guns pulled at her.
She stopped, and crept slowly forward. She peaked inside. There he was, sitting on a bench polishing his guns. It was one of his favorite things to do, especially if he was upset.
She sighed. She'd made him upset. It was so hard to keep herself from running in and jumping into his arms. She could. She could beg him to take her back.
No, it wouldn't solve anything. Her fears would keep overpowering her. Sadly, she moved on.
The next morning, Jess was at the ADD when Becker walked in. "Hey, Jess. How are you?" he asked.
"Fine. Thanks. You?"
"Yeah," he said. He smiled. "Have a good day." Then he left.
That's how their meetings started to run: short and awkward. It was to be expected though.
Finally, it was one full week since their breakup. Jess walked quickly through the ARC. She was sick of the sympathy, looks, and advice. Lately she kept as low a profile as possible. She avoided people. She avoided Becker, and he avoided her. For the most part. They were still polite. They just weren't…connected, like before.
And it made her miserable. She missed him. She missed her easy-going, chatty self. She just wanted to go home and cry.
Unfortunately, as she approached her car, she saw that Becker was waiting.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey. I…I'd like to talk with you."
"Becker, please. Don't. I had a bad day, and…"
"Easy, Jess. It's just me. I won't bite."
She laughed. "Sorry. The ARC seems to be taking our breakup worse than we are."
Becker chuckled. "Tell me about it. Vale keeps bringing in relationship books."
"You're joking."
He shook his head.
"Wow."
He laughed. "Look, you have to eat, right? Let's go grab some dinner. I just….want to talk to you."
"Ok."
They had a nice dinner at a café. Becker gossiped about the soldiers: Vale hitting on women, Flowers' day offs with his toddler, Bilson's new self-defense moves she practiced on Vale, and Carlson, baby-talking to his beloved guns.
Soon Jess was more relaxed than she'd been all week. "Thank you. I needed this."
He smiled. "Anytime. I just hope I don't ruin things now."
"Uh-oh. Why?"
He sighed. "I've been thinking…about the situation. We were OK, right. You and me?"
"Minus the creatures and life-threatening situations, yeah. Why?"
"Jess, if the ARC is the only real problem, maybe we shouldn't break up with each other, but with it."
Her eyes widened. "Becker, are you suggesting we quit?"
He nodded. "I'm thinking…" He sighed. "Jess, I want a life with you. I want us to be together, and someday, get married."
"Honestly?"
He nodded.
"I…don't know what to say. We've never really talked about it."
"I know. We should."
She was dumbfounded. "I just assumed you'd be commitment-shy."
He chuckled. "Actually so did I. I'm not, apparently."
She smiled. "I…I just don't know."
He nodded. "It's kind of sudden."
"It is."
"Think about it, OK?"
She nodded. "I will. I promise."
"Good. No pressure."
"Ok. Thank you," she said.
He smiled. "How about dessert?"
"I'm not hungry."
Becker caught his breath. That was not a good sign.
Becker drove her to the ARC so she could get her car and drive home. Her head was swimming. Marriage? Kids? She'd never considered it. She was awfully young. She figured that kind of thinking was years away.
Not that she hadn't dreamed of life with Becker. She honestly thought he wasn't the settling down kind. Actually, she had tried not to think about it. She was afraid he wasn't into marriage. Here he was, practically proposing.
Two days later, she called him over. Abby and Connor were out, so they had the flat to themselves. "I've been thinking about what you said and I can't…not now, not yet. I'm not even 21 yet!"
He nodded.
"I'm sorry, Becker. I'm…confused."
"I understand."
"Stop saying that!"
"Why?"
"Because. You should be mad at me. You should hate me."
"I can't. I don't."
She began to cry. "That doesn't help."
"Jess, I can't help if I don't know what you want."
"Then we have a problem, because that's the situation: I don't know what I want."
He nodded. "Fair enough. Take some time. I'm here, though. I love you and I want you."
She looked at him. She'd never felt so young and immature. "I know."
He nodded, and left.
Jess fell onto the couch. She felt miserable.
End of Chapter Five
