Okay so this is kind of a fluff chapter. Emotional Becker, comforting Jess with a little bit of smut. Fear not the creepiness and action (of the violent sort *wink*)will return soon. Enjoy.

P.S. last chapter was my first attempt at smut ever, so I hope it was good.

Becker's POV

Becker was cold, but it was the first time he hadn't had the nightmare as soon as he closed his eyes so he really didn't care. However if he was cold then Jess would be too. Becker rubbed his eyes with one hand trying to get them to fully open, and took in the sight that greeted with a mixture of happiness and regret. Jess was wrapped around him still asleep, her hair had fallen across her face brushing Becker's chest. He registered a slight tickle every time she breathed out causing the strands to dance across his lips were still flushed pink and swollen from the ferocity of his earlier kisses. It made her look incredibly sexy, but Becker did have a bit if a bias since he was the one who'd given that satisfied look. His eyes drifted to the hand that was resting directly over his heart. He frowned at the bruise he could see beginning to form. The caveman in him roared with pride at the fact that he'd marked his mate, but the gentleman regretted treating her so roughly. Not that she seemed to mind, he thought to himself rubbing the deep bite mark on his shoulder. He never would have pegged Jess as the biting type, but he definitely wasn't complaining. The first time Jess had sunk herteeth into the crook of his neck Becker could have sworn his eyes had rolled back in his head. He was reluctant to move, afraid he would wake her, but he was naked and she very nearly was. He shifted slightly, reaching for the blanket that had crumpled at the foot of the bed. Jess sighed and snuggled closer without waking up making him smile. Grabbing the blanket without waking Jess proved difficult, but not impossible. Soon enough they were both tucked under the blanket and Becker pulled Jess a little closer. Not worried about nightmares for the first time in a week he drifted off to sleep.

He jerked awake at the sound of shattering glass. He scooped his boxers off the floor and sped towards the kitchen, only slowing down when he saw Jess cleaning up the shards of glass from the kitchen floor. She looked unbelievable wearing his shirt and the sight made him want to drag her back to bed.

"You alright?" He asked. Jess didn't look away from her task as she answered.

"Totally," as soon as the words were out of her mouth Becker knew they were a lie. She was moving stiffly and Becker winced again at the harsh treatment she'd endured from him. His heart sank as he realized she probably regretted sleeping with him, something he could never regret.

"Jess-," he started.

"Do you have a vacuum," she asked not moving from where she stood. It took Becker a moment to register the change in conversation and to realize it wasn't a good idea for her to move until they had all the glass cleared. He nodded when she looked at him, happy that they'd finally made eye contact. When he'd finally freed the vacuum from of all the jackets that had been thrown over it Jess was back to looking at anything but him. Becker felt his heart sink at the thought of losing her just when he'd finally realized that he needed her in his life desperately. He handed her the vacuum and watched as she meticulously cleared the kitchen floor of glass. She handed the vacuum back to him without a word and he set it by the table, not wanting to walk away from her. Becker and Jess stood where they were, in an awkward silence that Becker had no idea how to interrupt. In the end he didn't have to.

"I'm gonna," Jess said waving in the general direction of the bedroom, "get dressed." she wouldn't look up as she tried to push her way past him. His arm wrapped around her waist before he even realized what he was doing, but he had to clear the air between them.

"Jess, I'm sorry about earlier. I..." he said. Jess cut him off before he could continue.

"It's alright," she said, Becker wondered if she even realized she was gripping his arm to her. "We can pretend it never happened if you want. I won't tell anyone, or expect anything," her voice was quivering a bit and it dawned on Becker for the first time that she might think he regretted the sex entirely. He shook his head and pulled her in closer so she was pressed against him. He dropped his head to rest on her shoulder, hoping she wouldn't pull away.

"I don't regret it Jess," he said pressing his lips to the soft curve of her neck. She shuddered slightly and Becker had to fight back a satisfied smirk at her reaction,

"Then why were you apologizing?" her voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard her anyway. His hands slid down to gently massage the bruised skin of her wrists.

"I just wish I'd done it differently." Becker stood there with his arms wrapped tightly around Jess enjoying the silence, and the feeling of holding her pressed against him.

"Becker. Why did you tell him you're my boyfriend?" Becker sighed and stepped away from the embrace. Jess took the opportunity to turn around and look at him. This time it was Becker who refused to make eye contact.

"Becker?" she asked taking a step towards him. She placed a hand on his arm and gave it an encouraging squeeze.

"Because I want to be," he said turning away from her and dropping onto the black couch. Jess followed him slowly, her confusion evident on her face.

"Is that really such a bad thing?"

"When you know it can never happen, then yes it's a bad thing." Becker said dropping his face into his hands.

"It can if you want it to," Jess said softly.

"No it can't Jess," he said sharply looking up at her. He softened his tone when he saw her face fall. "People around me tend to get hurt Jess, or die." he sighed running his hands through his hair. He wasn't comfortable talking like this, but he found that he couldn't stop. Not with Jess looking at him expectantly with those soft eyes.

"I don't want you to get hurt," Jess looked like she would interrupt, but Becker didn't give her the chance. "I've lost friends and I don't want you, or anyone, to feel that kind of pain when I get killed by some creature." There was no reason for him to leave a chance of him surviving when he knew the job would eventually kill him. It was the fact that he didn't mind that bothered him. He frowned, trying to remember when dying had become the expected outcome. Maybe it was after they'd lost Sarah that his hope had died as well. He looked up again, expecting to see Jess still standing at the arm of the couch, but found her standing directly in front of him. She pushed him back against the couch and settled onto his lap facing him. His hands automatically settled on the smooth skin of her thighs, squeezing slightly. She tilted his head until he was forced to meet her gaze and kissed him softly. Becker felt s rush of emotion he wasn't ready to face and he burrowed his face in the side of her neck. Jess let her arms fall around his neck as he pulled her closer.

"I'm not willing to give up the weeks, months, or even years that we could be happy together because there's a chance you could die," her breath tickled his ear as she spoke making a shiver race down his spine. Jess pulled back to look him in the eye again, and Becker almost groaned at the loss of contact. He opened his mouth to argue, but Jess was quicker placing a delicate hand over his mouth.

"If you had the choice, would you trade all the happy times you had with Sarah or Danny just to erase the pain of losing them?" she asked. It only took a few seconds for Becker to realize that he wouldn't. He shook his head slowly, making Jess smile.
"So why aren't you willing to give me the same choice?" Becker couldn't come up with a good excuse for that question so he laid his forehead against hers.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said and was a little upset to hear how ragged his voice was. He'd gotten so used to keeping things bottled up that it was hard to accept that it was okay to feel.

"It makes me sick when I think of possibly losing you and I'm tired of not feeling anything." He said using one of his large hands to cup her jaw and brush the pad of his thumb across her dragged her hands down his chest leaving a trail of heat on his skin and bit her lip. Becker had to fight the urge to tub the lip away from between her teeth with his own. "I know whatever it is that we have didn't start out ideally, but will you give me a chance?"

Jess nodded and he kissed her. He'd meant for it to be a chaste kiss, however Jess apparently had other ideas. She deepened the kiss, tracing his lips with the tip of her tongue and sank deeper onto his lap. Becker twined his arms around her again and returned the kiss. There was a moment when he wished that their first kiss had been like this, but the thought was quickly swept from his mind when she lightly bit his lower lip. His hands drifted down to the hem of his borrowed shirt. He pulled away from the kiss for a moment.

"You look wonderful in my shirt by the way," he said with a smile. Jess giggled and leaned in closer.

"Would you like me better in it, or out of it?" she asked in a wickedly low whisper, nibbling on his ear. Becker groaned and his hands dug into Jess' hips as she managed to wriggle even closer.

"Definitely out of it," he said dragging the shirt in question over her head leaving her in just a pair of lacy red tried to pick them both up, intent on getting back to the bed, but Jess pushed him back down with surprising strength. He looked at her in surprise and she smiled coyly.

"I'm on top this time," she said.

"Yes ma'am," Becker responded, deciding he liked this side of Jess. He kissed her more firmly than last time and she rocked her hips against him eliciting a groan from the back of his throat. Becker ran hands slowly up her sides until he could cup her breasts. Jess gasped and arched into his touch as he massaged the sensitive skin. Her hips rocked harder against his hips at each rush of pleasure she felt. Her hands were traveling down towards the waist band of his boxer when his cell phone rang. Becker groaned when he recognized Connor's ring tone. Jess glared in the general direction of the ringing phone then looked back at Becker, who could read the question in her eyes.

"It's Connor," he said apologetically, "there could be an anomaly." Jess' eyes widened in understanding and she slid of Becker's lap, making him groan as her leg brushed across his erection.

"You did that on purpose." He accused, trying to glare at her and failing. Jess just smiled and stretched out on the couch putting her entire body on display to Becker, who nearly swallowed his tongue. Becker grumbled as he made his way to the phone.

"I'm gonna kill you Connor." He growled into the phone as soon as he flipped it open.

"Do it later," Abby said over the line, obviously she'd swiped her boyfriend's phone, "We've been calling you for over two hours. Is Jess okay." Becker instantly felt bad for snapping . He'd forgotten just how worried the team had been when Jess had left the ARC. He looked over to where Jess now sat on the couch, a slightly worried look on her face. She'd put his shirt back on, much to his disappointment.

"She'd fine Abby, " he said, "There's not an anomaly is there?"

"No," the blond said sounding impatient. Now put Jess on the phone." Becker held out the phone to Jess who instantly walked into the kitchen. She reached for the phone and Becker kissed her deeply before giving it to her. Jess swayed slightly, making Becker want to beat his chest in masculine pride.

"I'm fine Abby, really," Jess told her friend, "I didn't mean to scare anyone, I just wanted to go home for a bit." Jess looked at Becker and a coy smile danced across her lips when she saw that he was still painfully aroused. She turned around and leaned on the kitchen counter, giving Becker a full view of her red lace covered ass. Becker groaned and took an involuntary step towards her.

"Is Lester angry with me?" Becker heard her say, but at the moment all he could think of was getting her back to bed. He pressed against her and snatched the phone away.

"Hey," she protested smiling.

"She'll call you back Abs," he said and hung up before Abby could answer. He tossed the phone onto the couch and spun Jess around lifting her onto the counter at the same time. He stepped between her legs and kissed her thoroughly, pressing himself against her core. When he broke the kiss they were both panting.

"You can be in charge next time," he said picking her up. She laughed and wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bedroom.