Jess sat in the locker room back at the ARC. She shook her head. Even on her day off, she couldn't manage to avoid coming into the office. Jess winced as she shifted her weight off her injured leg. After she'd returned with the others, she'd been sent to the medical wing. The medic had cleaned her laceration. Surprisingly, there was no sign of infection, nor any damage caused by blood loss. Apparently, it looked like more blood than it really was. He'd bandaged her leg and given her the clear to leave.

Abby had given Jess her spare shorts from her locker, as Jess' were ripped and bloody. Changing into the shorts had been difficult, and slightly painful, but Jess had managed. She now wore Abby's short, which were much shorter than the previous pair jess had been wearing. The legs on the shorts were centimeters over the bandage wrapped around her leg. Replacing her top was another story. Luckily, Jess had a spare shirt in her locker. She slipped the layered tank over her pink swimsuit. Jess shivered slightly. She'd founder herself colder since her return. Most likely due to her swimming and traveling through timelines. She pulled her light brown cardigan from her locker and slipped her arms through the sleeves. Jess tied the two halves together and closed her locker.

"There you are."

Jess turned. Becker was standing in front of the locker room door. "Oh, were you looking for me?"

Becker nodded. "For the past hour, actually."

Jess smiled lightly. "I'm sorry. The medic had to give me the all clear and then I had to explain to both Lester and Burton about why I went through the anomaly when I had no field training, which is not easy to do, and then-"

"Jess." Becker cut her off.

"Sorry. I'm rambling again. Did you want something?" Jess asked.

Becker nodded. "Yes. I wanted to say that what you did today was probably the most reckless and illogical action I've ever seen you do."

Jess eyes widened. She had expected Becker to reprimand her for what she'd done, but she hadn't expected him to be so…well…blunt about it. Jess took a breath, hoping to keep herself calm.

"What the bloody hell were you thinking diving into the reservoir with a Mosasaur ten meters from the boat?" Becker asked.

"I was thinking I could distract it while Matt got the child to safety." Jess snapped back. It wasn't often she lost her temper, but Becker was surly getting her to snap today. "If the boat had started without something to distract the Mosasaur, the boat would have been attacked. More people would have been in danger then."

"It wasn't your call to make, Jessica. You have no field training." Becker replied. "What you did today was reckless and nearly cost you your leg."

"It's a scratch!" Jess snapped. She turned to the beck and grabbed her bag.

"A scratch doesn't need stitched to ensure it heals." Becker replied.

"How many times have you returned injured, Becker?" Jess asked.

Becker shook his head. "I've been trained for this, Jessica."

Jess took a deep breath and straightened her back. "Look I may not have any military training, or know animal behaviors. I mean gosh, the first weapon I've ever held was the EMD pistol. But I do know that the only way that child and Matt would've survived, is if that Mosasaur had something else to chase. If there had been anything else I could have used to distract it, I would have Becker. But there wasn't. I took a risk, just like all of you out there. You saw for yourself that I made it to the spillway before the Mosasaur. I have my own training that you don't know about. Now, I'm sorry you feel that my actions were reckless, but I am not sorry for diving into that reservoir. And I am most certainly not going to apologize for it."

"You're actions nearly got you killed, Jessica." Becker replied. "Yes, you outswam the Mosasaur. Congratulations. You got lucky today, but you may not be so lucky the next time. And if Burton and Lester don't make sure there isn't a next time, I will. You're not field agent, your place it at the ADD."

Jess pointed her index finger at Becker. "Don't you dare tell me where my place, Becker! Have I ever tried to convince you or Matt from doing something stupid on a mission? No. I don't. No matter how many times you pull a reckless stunt, I don't say anything because you never listen. So what do you think gives you the right to-"

Becker cut Jess's words short. Before Jess realized what he was doing, Becker had his hands on her cheeks, pulling her closer toward him. His lips met hers quickly, cutting off her rant. For a second, Jess was shock, but after the shock had past, Jess melted beneath Becker's touch. Her bag slipped off her shoulder and onto the floor unnoticed. Her hands held onto his forearms, beneath his elbow.

Becker gently moved from Jess. His hand fell from her face, but stayed on her upper arms. He couldn't bring himself to look Jess in the eye. Part out of fear for what could have happened today. And part for ambushing her. "Don't ever scare me like that again. I thought I'd lost you, Jess."

Jess opened her mouth to speak.

"Becker?"

Becker's hand fell from Jess's face, simultaneously pushing Jess' hands from him. Jess stepped from Becker and eased herself onto the bench. Becker turned toward the door. Matt entered the locker room, oblivious to what he'd interrupted.

"What, Matt?" Becker asked.

"Lester and Burton would like a word with you." Matt explained.

"Right." Becker said.

Matt glanced between Becker and Jess. "Did I interrupt anything?"

Becker shook his head. "No." Without a second glance, Becker walked around Matt and left the locker room.

Matt turned to Jess, who was looking at the floor. "You alright Jess?"

Jess's head snapped up. She gave him a false smile, which he'd hoped would be real. "Yeah. I'm fine."

If Matt suspected Jess was lying, he didn't show it. He nodded. "Alright. Listen, if the medics given you the all clear, you should head home before your legs starts hurting."

Jess nodded. "Good idea." She grabbed her purse form the ground and rose slowly to her feet.

"Take it easy on leave." Matt advised.

"Only if you promise not to burn down the ARC while I'm gone." Jess replied.

Matt smirked. "I'll try."

Jess giggled light as she walked past Matt. She pulled opened the door and walked out of the locker room. She walked through the hall toward the elevator. She limped slightly, trying to avoid too much weight on her leg. Even with it slightly anesthetized, it hurt. Jess walked past the ADD, toward Lester and Burton's office. She could see Becker through the glass. He stood tall within his arms behind his back. Burton was talking at the moment. Jess past the office quickly. She stepped into the elevator, confused and hurt. She didn't understand what had come over Becker in the locker room. One moment he was furious with her, the next he kissed her, and then he pushed her away. Jess took a deep breath as the doors closed.

yeah, i'm really mean. i hope you guys aren't comepltely furious with me about the fight.