Jess groaned as she realised exactly what it was that she had just offered. She couldn't cook! What had she been thinking? Still, how hard could it be? Connor cooked all the time and didn't seem to have any trouble with it. Connor! That was perfect; it was his turn to cook tonight. She'd just watch what he did and then repeat it at Becker's on Saturday. And with that thought, the grin that she hadn't been able to wipe off her face all day had returned.

Becker had invited her to dinner! Sorta. Chill, Jess, she told herself. It's not a date, he was just being polite because it was the right thing to do after you offered to cook for him. It was no use though, the grin was still there. Besides, he had also told her a bunch of secret stuff about his private life and that had made her feel extra special.

She was just finishing up at the ADD when Becker showed up at her side again, leaning on the desk while he watched her. She blushed like she always did when he came to tell her that he was done for the day and turned to him. "You off now?" she asked in a voice that she hoped sounded casual.

"Yeah, look Jess, I was just gonna say, if you're still serious about coming and cooking for me on Saturday…"

"I am!" she said quickly.

"Well, then, the least I can do is pick up the groceries ahead of time. Can you write me a list?"

"Uh, well, the thing is I haven't actually thought about what I'll make yet. Can I let you know tomorrow? I mean, I've been a bit busy here, it's not like that dinner is the only thing I've been thinking of. I mean I have been thinking of it, I didn't forget or anything, but I wasn't planning anything yet and…" Shut up, Jess, she reminded herself. He was making that expression with his eyebrows again.

Becker shrugged, "Yes, of course. See you tomorrow then, Jess."

"See ya," she replied with a grin and did her best not to watch him until he had left the room.

Connor was just pulling some food out of the fridge when Jess got home from work. To his surprise, she grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and hopped up onto the bar stool at the counter across from him.

"Just some last minute paperwork," she told him, "Boring stuff really, just ignore me."

Connor shrugged and went back to work. He'd never actually seen Jess fill out her paperwork on blank loose leaf with a pencil before, but before he could ask, Abby waltzed into the room with a grin.

"You'll never believe who just called!" she said sang out happily.

"Who?" Connor and Jess asked in unison.

"Jenny! She said Michael's taking her on a trip to Italy and she needs some new clothes and wanted to know if I'd meet her for a girly shopping trip along with manicures after!"

"Wow," Connor said. "Haven't seen her since the wedding? How's she doing?"

"Well, she's somewhat newly married and heading on holiday to Italy, so I'd say she's doing fantastic!"

Jess giggled and Abby turned to her, "Wanna come?"

"Uh, now?"

"Yes now."

"I'll pass."

Abby looked at her, puzzled, "But Jess, you have to. This is Jenny we're talking about. How often do we get to see her?"

"Abby, I know she's your friend and everything, and of course I've read her file so I do feel like I know her, but I've never actually met her. I mean, I'd love to and all, but I'm really, really busy right now."

"Yeah, you look it." Abby answered sarcastically.

Jess held up her piece of paper, being careful to hide the actual contents of it from her friend still and said simply, "Paperwork."

Abby shrugged then, "Well, alright. Maybe some other time then."

"Definitely," Jess agreed. She felt a bit bad and it was a shame as she really did want to meet Jenny. She'd watched the girl's wedding over a laptop webcam from the ARC, but that was it. However, this was more important. She couldn't miss out on what Connor was doing or she'd make a fool out of herself on Saturday, and that was something she'd done more than enough times in front of Becker already.

Abby left and Jess turned back, only to notice that Connor had been working the entire time they'd been chatting with Abby. Great, she was sure she'd missed something. She quickly wrote down what she could, but this was proving quite difficult. She grabbed her mobile and took a quick picture of what the food was looking like so far before shoving it back into her purse.

Connor was mixing up some ingredients into a bowl when suddenly he saw a bright light flash around him. He turned to Jess who was buy writing still, "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That light."

Jess shrugged, "Didn't see it, sorry."

Connor sighed and went back to his work, but when it happened a second time he turned and stared at Jess accusingly, "Why? Why did you just take a picture of me?"

"I didn't," she spoke honestly.

Connor wasn't buying it though. He stopped what he was doing and came around the counter quickly and tried to grab her mobile from her. Jess held it out of his reach, but he simply grabbed her waist and tickled her and she let her guard down as she shrieked and giggled. Connor let go of her and triumphantly held up the phone.

Jess sighed; she hadn't really wanted him to know what she was doing. She didn't need him asking questions about why she so suddenly needed to learn to cook. Then again, maybe it'd be better. Maybe he could help her out. So far her list was not turning out so well.

Connor raised his eyebrows when he saw the photos of the food. "Jess, what's this about?"

She didn't answer, still debating with herself what to tell him, but Connor noticed her hesitation and grabbed the paper in her hand, reading off of it, "Mix the red powder with the tan powder and two… wait three… types of green leafy powders and some lemon juice. See picture. Cut up a tomato. See picture."

He turned to her and waited silently for an explanation and Jess sighed, "I'm trying to learn to cook."

Connor grinned widely at her and grabbed her hand, pulling her around to the other side of the counter, "Come on then, I'll teach you! What made you decide to do this?"

Jess didn't answer as she grabbed an apron, but Connor saw her blush.

"This has something to do with Becker doesn't it?"

"Maybe," she agreed.

Connor grinned at his young friend and then reached for a bag of flour, sprinkling some teasingly into her ponytail.

"Hey!" Jess pushed him away, "What was that for?

Connor wasn't done though as he used his thumb to smear some across each of her cheeks as well, "If you're gonna cook like Connor, you gotta look the part." He informed her, "Cooking is messy!"

Jess giggled and flicked some water at him before turning serious, "Alright, but enough. I don't want to make this much mess at Becker's so teach me properly."

Connor raised his eyebrows and leaned on the counter, "Hey Jess, what's up?"

"What do you mean?"

"What's the story here? Why exactly are we doing this? You're going to be cooking at Becker's?"

Jess blushed, "I might have offered to make him dinner. It was stupid, I know, but well…"

"You were flustered and rambling," Connor finished for her.

"Yeah, something like."

"I know the feeling," Connor said sympathetically. "I used to be like that with Abby."

"Really?" Jess' face lit up.

"Sure," Connor smiled at her, "but you don't have to look so happy about it."

"Just good to know I have some hope then. After all, you got your girl."

Connor laughed, "Or she got me. Took years for us to actually get together. I'm a lot more confident now though."

"What made the difference?"

"Well, for one, she made the first move. And I guess a year in the cretaceous really matured me too. I had to be tough. Sometimes I feel like a whole different person than I was back then."

Jess groaned, "Brilliant. All I need to do is get stuck in the past for a year and wait for Becker to make a move."

Connor laughed kissed her cheek, "Nah, you'll get your man soon, Jess. Don't worry. Abby first kissed me before we were stuck in the past anyway. Blew me socks off it did."

Jess laughed and took the bowl Connor was holding out to her to stir, "So you think I'm okay then?"

"Yep. He likes you, Jess. I think he even knows he likes you, he just hasn't admitted it to himself yet."

"Hope you're right."

Connor grinned and, using his best Nick Cutter impression, replied, "Of course I'm right."

Jess didn't get the reference, but she giggled anyway and then glanced at him, serious again, "If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone else?"

"Of course, Jess, you can rely on me."

"Not even Abby? I thought you told her everything."

"I tell her all my secrets, yes, but this is your secret and it's not mine to tell. I won't say a word, I promise."

"In that case, don't tell her any of this, okay, not that I'm cooking for Becker or learning from you, or anything. Please, I don't want a bunch of questions later and she'll want all the details."

"Jess, I promise, what's the secret?"

Jess' face broke out into a grin as she replied, "He kissed my cheek today! When I offered to cook for him, he kissed my cheek!"

Connor grinned back, truly happy for his friend, "That's great, Jess. I remember the first time Abby kissed my cheek. I was so thrilled!"

"Tell me that story," Jess demanded.

"Here, that's stirred enough," Connor said quickly, taking the bowl from her, "I'll tell you in a minute, but first, I want you to spread this over chicken like so." He did the first couple chicken breasts himself before handing her the brush.

Jess took it and carried on, "Okay, tell me now."

"Well, it was the second time actually, the first time didn't count because I blackmailed her into it, but that's a story for another time. The first time she did so on her own she tricked me into thinking she was in danger and when I rushed into the room to save her, she leapt out and startled me by jumping onto my back. When I admitted that I was really worried about her, she kissed my cheek and thanked me. Pretty much turned me into a puddle of Connor since I melted on the spot. I was sure that she'd just done it as a thank-you, but she told me years later that she had had fancied me at that time."

Jess' face lit up and Connor knew that she was hoping Becker's kiss meant the same thing. She finished with the chickens and then started to write down what she was doing again and Connor glanced over her shoulder at her list.

"We'll have to make some changes here, especially that first section you did on your own," he pointed out with a grin.

Jess nodded as Connor put the food in the oven and began chopping up some vegetables and potatoes. "Here," he told her, "Don't worry about it. We'll get this done and then tell you everything to write."

"Thanks, Connor."

Connor grinned at her, "No problem, maybe we can have one more lesson before Saturday on your turn to cook."

"I'd appreciate it."

Connor grinned and thought to himself that he would too. Maybe they wouldn't have to have Chinese on Friday! Suddenly he had an idea. "Jess, look, I'm gonna keep your secrets and even help you with this, but perhaps you could do the same for me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I was thinking of making a cookbook, but can't be bothered to write down my recipes. Think you could help?"

"Sure!" Jess promised him, "That'd be great for me too, because maybe if I do a good job, Becker will let me cook for him more often. It'd be a shame to have to make the same thing every time."

Connor grinned, "Kitchen Buddies?"

"Kitchen Buddies!" she agreed with a grin and they sealed it with a high five.