Homemade: Jess tries Again

A few days after the party, Jess ran up to Becker and dragged him away.

"I have another gift for you," she said, "and before you argue that you love the mushroom Angel I gave you, I appreciate that, but I feel bad. I needed to do this, for my own sake."

"Do what?" he said, "and where are you taking me?"

She turned around, smiled, but said nothing. Soon, they entered Ops.

"Sit," she said, pushing him into a seat in front of a laptop. "I wish you had one," she said, gesturing to the laptop.

"I have a laptop. At home."

"You do? Seriously? You hate computers."

"Yeah, but I knew I needed one. My life's so crazy that it's the only way to manage my bank account and pay bills. Plus, my family and friends are scattered all over the world. Its nice to talk with them on Skype."

She playfully hit him. "Why didn't you tell me you're on Skype?"

"You'd skype me at 4 in the morning."

She smiled. "I would," she agreed. "Here, click the mouse on that. I need to get my hands on your laptop."

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"To put this program on it. Don't look at me like that. 'Laptop' is hardly a smutty word."

"Oh, believe me, anything can be smutty."

She hit him again.

"You're funny, and kind of cute when you're flustered."

"Kind of?" she said. "OK, here we go."

Becker watched as a calendar popped up on the computer. Slowly the numbered boxes turned into pictures that swirled around until they filled the screen.

"Cool!" said Becker. "That pic's from the day Abby and Connor came back."

Jess smiled. "I'd never seen you so happy."

Becker grinned. "I thought I hid it well."

"Nope, as you can see, I caught you with a smile."

Becker laughed. "I don't remember you with a camera."

"Please, you are so technologically naive. Some of my cameras are so tiny and camouflaged that you'd never see them."

The picture changed again, swirling and dancing onto the screen. It was a picture of Lester screaming as the dragorex trashed his office.

Jess and Becker both laughed. "Lester captured in his natural state."

"He looks insane," she said with a giggle.

"I know."

The picture zigzagged away, replaced with a picture of Becker cleaning his precious glock.

"Nice, you got Gertie."

"Excuse me, Gertie?"

Becker blushed. "Oh, did I say that out loud?"

Jess laughed. "OMG! You name your guns?"

"No."

Jess howled with laughter.

"Shut it."

Gertie and Becker faded and a picture of Connor and Jess fighting over a chocolate donut came up.

Becker smiled. "This is nice, Jess. I like this calendar a lot."

"Each day has a picture, and you can drag the pictures around. You can also set them as wallpaper."

"Cool."

Other pictures were of Becker with an EMD sneaking up on an oblivious Matt, Emily trying to figure out an electric kettle, Rex standing on Abby's head, Lester wrestling with Sid or Nancy over a bunch of papers, Becker in a macho pose on his bike and finally a lovely picture of Jess, sitting at the ADD.

She blushed. "I don't know who took that one, but it's nice."

"It's lovely, Jess," said Becker. "That's why I snapped it."

She looked at him. "How?"

He smirked. "I'm a soldier. You really think I've never heard of a spy camera?"

She smiled.

"I like that one the best," said Becker.

She blushed, and said, "You haven't seen them all."

"Don't care."

She smiled. "I can drag it out and send it to your computer."

He winked. "No need. I have it already."

"Are you stalking me?"

Becker laughed. "You're one to talk," he said, moving the mouse and picking a picture.

"Now who's the stalker?" he asked.

The picture was of a bare-chested Becker, putting on a shirt.

"How did that get in there?" said Jess.

"Didn't want me to see it?"

She smiled. "No, not really."

"Have anymore like this? Should I be worried?"

"No, unfortunately. By the way, that's my favorite picture," she said.

Becker blushed and smiled.

"Do you really have 365 different pictures?"

"Yep."

"Someone has too much time on their hands."

"They aren't all mine. I've been collecting pictures to make this."

"That was really sweet, Jess."

"Thank you. I should have made this for your gift all along. Stick to my strengths."

"I like the angle."

"Little Miss Mushroom? You're sweet, but you're mad."

He laughed. "Oh, Jess. I changed my mind, that's my favorite picture."

It was a portrait, clearly done professionally. Jess sat demurely, facing the camera. She didn't pose, just smiled sweetly. She wore a sapphire blue blouse and a red jewel around her neck. Her long brunette hair curled around her shoulders.

"You're beautiful."

She blushed. "Thank you. That was taken last year. My folks wanted a grown-up picture of me."

"You're very grown-up," he said softly. "I know why I like it so much."

"Why?"

"You look angelic. It's a picture of my real guardian angel."

"Aw. You're so sweet," she said.

Becker turned and they looked silently at each other. He got up and walked close.

"Thank you. I love it."

She lowered her eyes and smiled. "I'm glad."

He reached up and touched her cheek. She leaned up and he leaned down, and their lips touched. He put his arm around her, and pulled her into an embrace.

Her arms encircled his neck, and she relaxed into the kiss.

A light flashed.

They looked behind them, both annoyed, and saw the other team members and their boss, all smiling.

"That's a keeper," said Abby, holding a digital camera.

Jess started to pull away, but Becker pulled her close.

"Don't you lot have somewhere else to be?" asked Becker.

They all shook their heads.

"It is good that you have finally acted upon your feelings," said Emily.

"Yeah, finally," said Connor. "I want a copy of that, Abby." He smirked at the pair.

"As do I. I can use it to top the poster," said Lester.

"Poster?" asked Connor.

"Yes, the one that warns of the dangers of employee fraternization."

Matt smirked, "Like impairing alertness?"

They all giggled.

"Funny," said Becker.

"He has a point, Captain. If we were predators, you and the young woman in your arms would be dead."

"At least we'd be alone," said Jess.

Becker laughed. "I want a copy too, Abby. I want to add it to my calendar."

"On what day, Valentines?" said Abby, with a smirk.

"No. On today's date, obviously. It's an anniversary."

"Of what?" Jess asked.

"The day I got the best present of all," he said, kissing her again.

"Oh, wait until we leave!" cried Lester. "Have some decorum!"

Another flash went off as Abby took another shot.

The end of Homemade