1302 words, this chapter. I'm a little torn with what I decided to do with Stella. I think maybe I should have left it more open…

Chapter Six

When Emily and Matt, followed by Stella and several Security officers, walked out of Lester's office they found Becker sitting in Jess' chair with Jess on his lap. She was running her fingers through his hair as he looked lovingly at her.

"Don't you two look cozy," said Matt, smiling.

"It's sickening," said Stella.

Becker laughed. "Do you think so? Too bad…Stella baby."

Jess giggled. "Where are you taking her?" she asked.

"To a detention cell for now," said Lester, coming out of his office. Seeing Jess and Becker, he said, "Good Lord, that's hardly appropriate for the work place."

"Don't care," said Becker, smiling. Jess giggled.

"You've been under an emotional strain, Captain," said Lester, "so I'll overlook that comment."

Jess giggled more. "Thank you."

Lester rolled his eyes. He signaled to the security officers. Abby and Connor walked in as they escorted Stella out.

"What's going to happen to her?" asked Connor.

"Well, for starters," said Lester, "I terminated her employment."

"It's about time," mumbled Jess.

"I heard that Miss Parker," said Lester.

"I am afraid I find pleasure in this news," said Emily. "I shall not miss her. I am surprised however, that you were finally allowed to end her tenure."

"See, Emily agrees with me," said Jess. "It took too long to get her out of here."

"Yes, I suppose that is true," admitted Lester, "however, it was not my fault. I needed a solid reason to fire her and that did not occur until today when Miss Blanch confessed to harassment."

"Unintentionally confessed, you mean," corrected Jess.

"I don't care what her intentions were, the fact is that she condemned herself with her own words," said Lester. "I love a good confession; it makes everything so much easier."

Everyone laughed.

"The barracuda finally got caught in her own nets," said Abby.

Connor laughed. "Yeah, she went belly up." He smiled. "She's floating at the top of the ARC fish tank."

"Stop it Connor," said Matt, shaking his head and groaning.

Connor didn't stop. "We harpooned her. She's finally swimming with Davy Jones." He smiled proudly.

"Connor, you better stop," said Abby. "If Matt doesn't force you to, Becker will."

"Huh? Not me," said Becker, still holding a lap full of Jess. "I'm too comfortable.

Jess giggled.

"Connor, you can joke, actually you can't," said Lester, causing the others to laugh. "You can try to be humorous about Miss Blanch's fate, but things are going to get quite serious for her," said Lester.

"How serious?" asked Matt.

"We may have a criminal case."

"I hope so," said Becker. He smiled at Jess. "Picture Stella in prison."

Jess shook her head. "I almost feel sorry for her, having to wear prison garb." Becker raised his eyebrow. "I said almost, Becker. I don't, actually." She smiled widely.

Abby laughed. "What crime did she commit?"

"Fraud, when she signed the delivery log book as the Captain," Lester answered.

"Wow," said Jess. "I bet Stella didn't anticipate criminal charges."

"She should have. One can't go around plotting the disruption of an essential government facility and not expect repercussions. That may be treason, in fact," said Lester, "I need to bring that up to the solicitors."

"I'm not sure she intended to disrupt the ARC," said Matt.

"No matter," said Lester. "She has caused me a great deal of distress. Look, she's got my chief of Security and my field coordinator unabashedly acting like a pair of high school lovebirds. Ew."

"Well, it is Valentine's Day," said Jess.

"I'm aware of that fact, Miss Parker, but good Lord, show some restraint."

Jess giggled as Becker nibbled her ear.

Lester shook his head with disgust. "It's the end of the work day. Miss Blanch is under arrest. There is nothing to keep you all here. Go home."

Becker smiled. "Is that an order?"

"It is. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my leave. As Miss Parker keeps reminding us, it's Valentine's Day and it so happens I have a lovely woman waiting on me."

Jess called after him as he left, "It better be your wife!"

Lester smiled as he left.

Jess turned to Becker and kissed him. "I'm so relieved," she said. "It's over."

"And we can all enjoy a nice Valentine's evening," said Abby.

Connor nodded. He whispered something into Abby's ear and she giggled. "Excuse us," he said. "We have plans."

Abby smiled at Jess. "I'll see you later."

"Or in the morning," said Connor, smirking.

"Ew, Temple, don't make me nauseous."

"Now you know how it feels Soldier Boy," said Connor, taking Abby's hand and walking out of Ops.

"Have fun!" called Jess.

"We should leave as well," said Emily. "I have a candlelight dinner to prepare."

"Would you like some help?" asked Matt.

She smiled. "That would be lovely."

Matt smiled. "So…what do you two have planned?" asked Matt.

Becker smiled. "As soon as you and Emily leave, we're going to strip off our clothes and make Lester sanitize every inch of his office."

"Oh my God! Becker!" cried Jess, turning a dark shade of red.

Even Emily blushed. "I believe I am no longer hungry."

"Nausea's going around," muttered Matt. "Thanks, Becker."

Becker smirked. "You're welcome. Now, scram."

"Becker, stop being rude."

"Its fine, Jess we're leaving," said Matt.

"Finally, we're alone," said Becker.

"Yep, just you, me, and the night crew," she said, looking at the others in Ops.

"I don't really know these people that well," said Becker. "So I don't care what they see…or hear." He leered at her.

Jess poked him in the chest. "You're being bad."

He smirked. "It's Valentine's Day."

She laughed. "And boy has it been a weird one."

"True, but you're in my arms now and I don't care about anything else," he said.

Jess smiled. "Me either. I love you."

"I love you too, Jess." She leaned in for a long lasting kiss.

"I was serious about Lester and the sanitizer."

"Becker!"

"We'll pull the shades down in his office."

"I'm not…getting…romantic…in public!" she cried. She realized she had been a bit loud and she looked around. Several smirking grins disappeared quickly.

Jess blushed. "You're getting me in trouble," she scolded.

He laughed. "You like getting in trouble with me." He winked.

She giggled. "Maybe…Let's get out of here."

"And find some trouble?"

"I don't know about that. I'd rather find something chocolate," she said.

"Oh…that can be arranged," he said, he kissed her cheek. "In fact, it may have been already arranged."

She smiled. "Good."

"How about something red and lacy, too?" he asked.

She blushed. "That may be in the works as well."

"Yeah, it may be," he said. He helped her climb down from his lap. He then walked with his arm around her toward the exit.

"Goodnight," she called to the Ops crew.

Several voices called "Good night," and as Jess turned to wave she saw the same smirking faces from before.

She sighed. "I'm not sure I like being the center of gossip and entertainment," she said as they walked out of Ops.

Becker smiled. "Think of it this way, they envy what we have."

"Or they're grateful we aren't discreet."

"That too," said Becker with a laugh.

They neared the sentry guarding the outer exit. It was a different soldier than the one in the morning. "Night Captain, Miss," he said.

"Goodnight," said Jess. Then she shook her head. "You got orders not to look at me too, huh?"

"Oh, no, Miss," said the sentry, looking above her head. "I'd call it more of a suggestion, a very strong suggestion."

Becker chuckled. "Good man. Carry on," he said, pulling his girlfriend along.

As they left the Arc, she said, "You have issues, Becker."

He smiled.

End of Chapter Six