********** I'm Not That Girl **********

Once more, the entire cast found themselves laughing happily and sharing a gigantic group hug, only this time the tech and backstage crews had joined them. It was an amazing scene hidden on the stage.

Jess was euphoric. Everything had gone so much better than she could have ever imagined. Her throat was rubbed raw from singing her heart out, and she was completely exhausted, but she felt incredible. There was only one thing that would make it better…

"Come on, let's go see everyone!" Connor shouted, heading for the curtains. He threw them open, and jumped down to stand next to Matt and Becker. The guys clapped him on the back with big smiles, and congratulated him on the performance.

Many of the other cast and crew members hurried to follow them, but Abby, Emily and Jess held back, looking at each other. Once everyone was gone and they were left alone on the stage, the girls shared a quiet hug, listening to the loud chatter happening on the other side of the closed curtain.

"Thank you," Emily said softly. They all pulled back to see her with tears shining in her eyes. "I couldn't have done this without either of you." Jess and Abby beamed at her, assuring her that it had been their pleasure and that they'd had a lot of fun doing it. She kissed them on the cheek, and then headed offstage, planning on taking the stairs down so she could go meet the crowd.

Abby and Jess watched her go, and giggled when the crowd out front stopped talking and cheered loudly (for her, they assumed). The girls shared a look, and then Abby looked at her feet.

"Jess, I really am sorry for earlier today. I don't know what came over me," she said, cheeks flushed with shame.

"Don't you?" Jess asked, her hunch from earlier floating back into her head.

Abby's head shot up, and she fixed Jess with a wide-eyed gaze. Jess met her look with a kind one, and Abby's jaw dropped. "You know?"

"I think so, but let's hear it just incase I'm totally off the mark."

"You know that I'm…" Abby trailed off, her hand instinctively coming to rest on her stomach.

"I was right then," Jess said, happy tears for her friend glistening in her eyes. Abby grabbed her in a tight hug and the pair of them laughed through their tears.

"How did you know?" Abby demanded once she pulled back.

"The only time you ever snap like that is when you have your monthly visitor, and since we're pretty much on-schedule together, I did a little mental math. Two plus two equals…"

"Baby," Abby whispered.

"Connor knows?"

"He's so excited. I've had to threaten him every night to not say anything to anyone. With everything happening, I needed to get through this first."

"How far along are you?"

"Nearly four months. Why do you think I did all the costumes myself? I didn't want to run the risk of someone else measuring me and finding out before everything was alright." Abby flashed a sneaky grin, and Jess couldn't help but laugh.

"Crafty," Jess admitted, smiling. "I won't say anything."

"I know you won't." Abby smiled back at her. "And I will tell everyone as soon as we have the next scan in a couple weeks."

"Including Lester?"

"While I'm not looking forward to that one because he'll confine me to desk work, yes." Abby grimaced.

"I'll help you get through it," Jess said, squeezing her friend's arm. Abby looked at her again and grabbed her in another hug. "Congratulations Abs."

"Thanks. Now come on, there are people waiting for us!"

"Let's go."

Abby led the way down the offstage stairs, and then made Jess wait a moment while she went out first. When Jess looked at her quizzically as to why, Abby just smiled. The crowd cheered for Abby as she came out, and Connor ran over to his beautiful girl to dip her into a low, deep kiss. The crowd whistled and hollered at that.

After about a minute, Jess emerged from the backstage area, and was met with the loudest roar she'd ever heard. Suddenly people were scrambling around her, hugging and congratulating her on a fabulous performance. She smiled at each one of them, and thanked them individually. But despite the accolades, her heart was only half in it. She was constantly looking for one particular figure in her peripheral…

"Jess!" Connor shouted, reaching her side. He grabbed her hand and pulled her over to their little group. Matt leaned over and kissed her cheek from his position with his arm around Emily's waist.

"You were spectacular," he told her, smiling widely. She blushed and thanked him sincerely.

"Yes, Miss Parker, you were truly a sight on the stage," Lester said, sneaking up behind them and causing Jess to jump a bit when he spoke. "I don't think I've seen such a powerful presence like that in a while."

"Thank you, Lester," Jess said, spontaneously hugging him. He didn't return it, but then, she hadn't expected him to. "You were smashing yourself."

"Well of course. It was an easy role for me."

"Why's that?" Matt asked.

"Because I already am all powerful," Lester said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. They all smiled at him before he turned to walk away. Once he was a safe distance, they all collapsed into chuckles and giggles.

"That man is the poster-boy for self-confidence," Abby said, pointing a lovely white rose in the direction their leader had gone.

Jess smiled at her friend, noticing her flower, and that Emily had a pink one as well. "Well look at you two with your pretty roses," she teased. "Someone must like you," she said, winking at Connor and Matt.

"Actually, it was Captain Becker," Emily said nonchalantly.

"Oh?" Jess said, trying to not sound too interested.

"Yes, it was rather sweet of him," Emily confessed.

"Where'd he go, anyway?" Connor asked, oblivious to the flash of sadness in Jess' eyes. Matt saw it though, and decided to help a bit.

"He got called away by some of the on-call soldiers. Something about an EMD malfunction." Jess shot him a thankful smile.

"Well, why don't the bunch of us head down to the pub for a celebratory pint?" Connor suggested. "We can text Action-Man and he can meet us after he's done."

"Sounds like a plan," Abby said, grinning. Matt and Emily nodded enthusiastically, and Jess smiled wide.

"I'm in, but I'll meet you guys there. I'd like to de-greenify a bit first."

"Oh come on Jess, we could all go in our costumes," Connor suggested. Abby and Emily looked down at their dresses and then met eyes with each other and Jess.

"We're going to go change," the two said in unison, Jess nodding vigorously.

"Just give us a few minutes and the four of us can go ahead of Jess. Connor, can you let Becker know?" Abby asked. When he nodded, she pecked his cheek, and then pulled the girls towards the costume lab.

Once there, Abby and Emily changed into their street clothes, while Jess put on her nightdress costume. It showed most of the greened area on her skin, so it would be easier to access it. A shower would take too long, but she needed to be somewhere with a mirror and a sink. When Abby and Emily were ready, they walked with Jess to the locker room so she could get the makeup off, promising to send a search party for her if she wasn't at the pub within a half hour. She grinned at the pair of them, nodded in agreement, and headed into the locker room while they walked away chatting quietly.

Jess laid out her makeup remover and some cloths on the counter in front of the sink, and then looked up at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were bright and sparkling, and there was a soft smile on her face. Despite the green hue, she looked perfectly content. She widened her smile a bit, and reached for the hairpins holding her black wig in place. She gently removed it, careful not to pull too hard on her hair or any pins she'd missed, and set it on the side of the counter. Jess pulled out the low bun she'd put in at the start of the night, and let her long auburn hair fall loosely around her shoulders, sighing softly at the feeling of air on her scalp again. As her head aired a bit, she started to wash the green off of her hands and lower arms. It took a good amount of makeup remover, soap and water, but she quickly managed to get her skin back to its normal colour again. When her hands were dry, she ran a brush through her hair, gently teasing it back to its normal volume. Once finished, she stared at her reflection again. Yep: still smiling.