A/N: Hello there, thanks for reading and I hope you're enjoying it. Reviews would be great. Also for any dates that I mention, they relate to the original air dates which are written on the IMDB site, so I'm assuming that it's the air date for England.

CHAPTER FOUR

Becker entered the A.R.C. with a heavy heart. It had been nearly a month since Jess had disappeared through the anomaly. He'd been hoping that she would walk through the front door with her beautiful smile and contagious personality. He hadn't known he could feel this much pain. When the others had disappeared he had felt like he'd been punched in the stomach and then when Sarah had died, he'd felt like he'd been shot. However those feelings paled in comparison to how he felt now. It was almost like someone had ripped out his heart, thrown it up against the wall and handed it back to him all bloody and broken.

Abby's heart broke for Becker. She knew that he'd fallen for Jess and she could tell that he was hurting. Usually he didn't let anyone see him like this. The only reason she was seeing it was because it was very early and he didn't know that she was even here. He'd been coming in this early every day since Jess disappeared, he would go over the anomaly reports looking for any sign of an anomaly that could lead him to Jess. He would sit in her chair as he did this. Although he was never sitting there when the other staff arrived, he was usually at his own desk or in the armoury. Today however, Abby walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder and he flinched. She saw him wipe his face before he turned around. When he did, Abby gave him a hug, knowing that he needed some comfort.

"I miss her Abby, so much." He whispered. "I can't live through this again."

"We'll get through it together. You know that we're here for you."

He looked up and smiled at her, nodding his head. She gave him another hug before she headed off to her lab. When she reached the door, she looked back at him and she wasn't surprised to see him engrossed in the reports once again. Sighing, she pushed the door open and went to work.

It had been nearly a month since she'd left the A.R.C. and she still had a month to go before her first check-in with Lester. The apartment that they'd found her was quaint. It was in one of the older buildings and although it wouldn't have been her first choice, she'd fallen in love with it. Lester had also found her a job. She was working as a logistics manager for a multi-national transport company. It wasn't as challenging as the A.R.C. but it was still an enjoyable job. Walking into the kitchen, she looked at the calendar and froze. Today was the 23rd of February. She began to shake and she slid down the wall. She had started to cry, not daintily but with big, loud sobs. She hated knowing that today was the day that Stephen died and she couldn't do anything to stop it. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone and called in sick to work before walking back to her bedroom and climbing into bed. She continued to cry until, exhausted, she fell asleep.

Several hours later, she woke up to the afternoon sunlight streaming through her window. For a brief second she wondered why she was in bed and then the memories came flooding back. Before she'd met him, she had been saddened and horrified when she had read the report of his death. He'd made the ultimate sacrifice, not just for Cutter but for the whole human race. Looking over at the clock she was shocked to realise that he'd been dead for over an hour. She'd slept right through it. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes again. Getting up, she walked into the bathroom and splashed some water on her face and then she let the cold water run over her wrists. When she turned the tap off, she looked up at her reflection. Crying didn't suit her, her eyes were red and puffy and her cheeks were blotchy. Taking a damp cloth, she wiped her face again. She turned away from the mirror and turned on the shower, she knew what she had to do. Even through she was hurting, she knew that the he would be worse. She need to do something and maybe being there for him would help her as well.

An hour later she was knocking on his front door. It took a while but finally the door was opened. She was staring into the saddest eyes she'd ever seen. Moving instinctively, she hugged Nick. He just stood there for a little while before he wrapped his arms around her as well. She felt him shake with emotion. Stepping back, she raised her hand and touched his cheek, wiping away his tears. She gently turned him around and led him into the lounge room. When he was seated on the couch, she poured him a scotch and told him to drink. When he had drained the glass he looked at her.

"You knew, didn't you?"

Jess just nodded her head and waited for Nick to get angry at her for not telling him but he surprised her by gently taking her hand and telling her that he was sorry. Sorry that she had to live with the knowledge of future events. He then patted her hand before letting it go and sitting back in the chair. For the rest of the night they talked about Stephen. Well, Nick talked and Jess listened. He spoke of the good times and of the bad. Jess let him talk, knowing that the needed to get it out. Eventually he stopped and Jess looked up at him to see that he had fallen asleep. She gently lifted his legs onto the lounge and covered him with the blanket that was draped over the back. She gave him a quick kiss on the forehead before letting herself out the front door and heading home.

Three days later, Jess stood on the far side of the cemetery, watching Stephen's funeral. She watched Abby place a flower on top of the coffin and then walk away with Connor. She watched as Cutter and Jenny spoke to each other and saw Lester come up to them. After that she walked to her car and drove away with tears streaming down her face.

A month later, she had her first check-in with Lester. She arrived at the A.R.C. in the early evening and she sat in her car, waiting for the car park to empty. At 7.30 she got out of her car and walked into the building. Most of the lights were off; only Lester's office was lit up so she walked up the ramp and knocked on the glass beside the door. Lester looked up and motioned her in as he finished up the phone call the he was on. She sat down and waited for him to finish. It was another ten minutes before he hung up.

"Sorry Jess that was White Hall. They can be bothersome but I suppose with what happened last month…"

He let the sentence trail off. Jess didn't need reminding about what had happened, not only to Stephen but what Lester had had to face right here in the A.R.C.. She just nodded and once again waited for Lester who was uncharacteristically lost in his own memories. When he cam round they talked about what Jess had been up to. An hour later, they both stood up and after Lester had collected his briefcase and jacket he walked Jess out to her car. Wishing her a goodnight, he watched her drive away. Their next five meetings followed the same path and it wasn't until a year later that Jess remembered how risky things could get.

She had just entered the A.R.C. and was heading to Lester's office when she saw him at the anomaly detector. He was surrounded by Abby, Connor, Cutter, Jenny and Sarah. She double-checked the date. He'd been here for three days. When she reached the end of the hall, she just stood there and watched him. She'd missed him. It had been just over a year since she'd seen him smile, since she'd heard him laugh. A year later and she still loved him. Now she knew why she had never had a connection with the few guys she'd gone out on dates with, she still loved Becker. Not that he'd been hers. This Becker didn't even know who she was or that she even existed. She had made Lester and the others promise not to mention her to anyone new to the A.R.C., especially Becker. As she watched him, she saw him stiffen. Realising what was about to happen, she ducked around the corner, out of view.

Becker could feel someone watching him and he stiffened. He shifted his weight so he would be ready to go after whoever it was. Spinning around, he looked behind him. He couldn't see anyone but he knew that someone was there, watching them. He started to slowly walk towards the hallway doors. He had made it halfway when Connor called out to him.

"Where you going Becker?"

"I thought someone was here."

"I'm sure you're guys wouldn't let anyone in who wasn't supposed to be here." Jenny said reasonably. Becker gave a nod but still looked at the doorway, his instincts had never let him down before. His thoughts were interrupted by Abby this time. She'd walked up to him and had linked her arm through his.

"Come on Becker, we're all going to dinner. Come with us."

She didn't give him time to answer or to hesitate. She just pulled him towards the doors and motioned the others to follow. Sarah quickly joined them and they were laughing as they walked past Jess. She saw Becket bestow a dazzling smile on Sarah as his eyes lit up. Jess was engulfed in a wave of jealousy and had to close her eyes.

She held her breath so a sob wouldn't escape her lips. She held it until she saw them enter the locker room. When they had left the hallway, she stood up and leant against the wall. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she calmed herself down, wiped her cheeks and made her way to Lester's office. As she entered the office she heard Becker call out to Lester from below. She quickly sat down so Becker wouldn't be able to see her. Lester just raised his eyebrows at her before he stood up and went out to see what Becker wanted.

"Yes Becker, what is it?"

"We're all going to dinner. Would you care to join us?"

"Thank you but no, I still have work to do here."

"OK, but if you change your mind, we'll be at 'The Oaks'." Becker gave him a half salute and headed out of the room again. Lester watched him leave before returning to his office and sitting down opposite Jess. Taking out some files, he looked over at her and waited until she had composed herself before he started talking.

An hour later, Jess drove out of the A.R.C's parking lot. She had every intention of heading straight home but she ended up driving towards 'The Oaks'. She pulled up outside and sat in her car. She could see them through the big front window. They were laughing with each other. Becker was sitting next to Sarah, he looked like he was enjoying her company and now Jess knew why he'd been so devastated by her death. Why am I doing this to myself she thought. Unfortunately she didn't have an answer so she turned away from the window, started her car and headed home.

Becker watched Abby and Connor talking to Lester. Whatever they were talking about must have been serious; they hadn't seen or heard him approach. Just as he was about to interrupt, he heard Jess's name. He took a step back and listened to what they were saying.

"We have to find her. Come on Lester, we can start with the last address that you have for her." Abby said.

"Abby, don't you think I tried that. She disappeared, without a trace. She doesn't want to be found."

Becker saw red and he no longer remained quiet. "You knew where Jess was? How could you not tell me?"

The three of them looked at an angry Becker, none of them really knowing what to say to him. Becker was breathing hard, trying to contain his anger. Lester was about to speak when the anomaly detector alarm sounded but none of them moved. The anomaly was lighting up Lester's office.