Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

Little Known Facts

7.6 Closet Space

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Jess padded quietly down the corridor of the gymnasium. This early in the morning, the place was almost empty. Her bright green socks muffled the sound of her light steps. She carried her pink checkered trainers in one hand and the broken pink lacing in the other. Her path from the aerobics class to the ladies locker room led her past the exercise equipment room.

"I don't mean to be sounding like some sort of Victorian relic," said the sandy haired man, "but Jess is the baby of the family. We all sort of watch out for her."

Jess stopped at the sound of her brother-in-law's voice. She glanced inside the room. Becker grunted as he pushed the heavy barbells up above his head. Jess's brother-in-law stood beside Becker with his back towards the open door, spotting the soldier.

"Jess might be the youngest sibling," gasped Becker, "but you really don't know much about her if you think she needs watching."

Jess smiled at Becker's words, but she could see her brother-in-law shake his head. He moved his hands to guide the barbell back to its slot.

"I'm saying this all wrong, but I don't exactly know a right way to say it," replied the sandy haired man. "What exactly are your intentions towards my young sister-in-law?"

"The usual," said Becker.

Jess plastered herself against the wall as Becker rolled off the weight bench and stood up.

"I'm a dastardly scoundrel that wants to have his wicked ways with the innocent young woman," finished Becker.

He reached for the towel and began mopping the sweat off his forehead. The two men moved towards the treadmills.

"Right," said her brother-in-law. He shook his head in obvious disbelief. "I know you better than that Hil."

"This is important," said Becker as he stepped on the machine, "and I want to make sure I get it right."

"What… is there an army procedure manual on the proper way to maintain a relationship?" asked the sandy haired man.

Becker shook his head as he began pressing buttons on the treadmill.

"Jess is important," said Becker, "and I want to do this right."

Jess's brother-in-law shook his head. He stepped onto the treadmill beside Becker. He set the controls to a slow, steady walking pace, while Becker began running on the machine next to him.

"You're together nearly all the time," said the sandy haired man. "I just don't understand why you aren't married or living together already. It seems silly to maintain two separate places."

"I'm saving up for a bigger flat," answered Becker, "My tiny place doesn't have even enough room for Jess's shoes."

"And why don't you move into her place?" asked his friend. "Surely it's big enough."

"It is huge," agreed Becker. "In her bedroom, she's got two closets full of clothing and shoes, and there are two other bedrooms."

"Then what's the problem?"

Becker slowed his pace and looked at his friend. Jess tried to read the expression on the soldier's face.

"That flat is always going to be her parent's home first," said Becker. "I want us to have a place that's ours."

In the corridor, Jess inhaled sharply. She remembered Becker asking long ago how many people had keys to the flat, but he had never said a word about feeling out of place there. Her sister was coming up the corridor towards her.

"Jess," asked her sister "aren't you going to come back to aerobics class?"

Jess flashed a bright smile. She held up her trainers.

"As soon as I change the laces," Jess answered.

Her sister walked with Jess to the locker room. The two women chatted as Jess changed out the laces on her trainers.

"What else have you got planned for today?" asked her sister.

"Spring cleaning when I get back to the flat," replied Jess. "Do you want to help sort through some old stuff in the closets?"

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