Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, nor does the song "Irreplaceable" nor the song "Holding Out For A Hero". This is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

A/N: A collaboration with Mijo54. A/N2: story takes place after Detour.

10.3 Were You Jealous?

…left…

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess's simple question brought Becker up short. Yes, he'd felt jealous and left out. Jess had been sending pictures and text messages all week showing images of Australia and the only image the soldier could remember was of Jess standing beside another man. The couple stopped swaying and stood still on the dance floor while other dancers continued to move around them.

"Um… uh… yes," admitted Becker. "You were half the world away, with some handsome stranger, and… and… I… I…"

Jess looked up at the tall soldier. Her eyes squinted as she gazed at Becker. The expression on her face was one the soldier had seen before, usually when the anomaly detector was acting up. She was trying to identify the source of a problem.

"You should trust me," replied Jess softly.

Becker blinked. He'd been waiting all week to hear her soft voice. And trusting Jess was not the problem. The soldier knew the woman in his arms loved him absolutely, loved him as much as he loved her. Becker hoped he never did anything to shake her faith in him.

"I do! I do trust you Jess," continued Becker, "it's… I just don't trust Richard, or any other man that looks at you like that!"

"Looks at me like what?"

"Like you're the most beautiful person he's ever seen," mumbled Becker. The soldier looked down at Jess. In his mind, Jess was the most beautiful woman on the planet. "I don't know whose cousin this bloke Richard is, but I don't want him trying to… to..."

Jess rolled her eyes at Becker's words. The music and dancers continued to swirl past the standing couple.

"Hil," interrupted Jess, "you know I'd never replace you with someone else."

"I'm sorry. This is about me being stupid, and feeling insecure," whispered Becker contritely. "I'm not the brilliant one in this relationship you know."

Jess clapped her hand across her mouth. Her shoulders shook as she tried to stop herself from chuckling at Becker's words. Her fiancée seldom talked about his feelings. How could the man who made her feel safe and secure just by being in the same room possibly feel insecure? One of the other dancing couples bumped into Becker. The soldier rocked forward, stepping closer to Jess.

"No standing on the dance floor," teased the other dancer. "Either dance or get off the floor."

The questioning look in Becker's eyes let Jess know the decision was up to her. She placed a hand on Becker's shoulder and leaned her head against his chest.

"We are dancing," replied Jess. The dark haired beauty felt the tension in Becker's muscles relax as they slowly began to sway side to side once more.

"Richard is Gillian's cousin," explained Jess. "He works at the zoo here in Sydney."

"Ahh," replied Becker. "That explains the echidna and the thorny devil lizard."

"Mmm hmm," nodded Jess as she closed her eyes.

Becker pulled her even closer to his body. One hand was on the small of her back, the other hand was now stroking her hair.

"So I suppose I should be jealous too," said Jess.

"What?" asked Becker.

"Richard was looking at you like you're the most beautiful person he's ever seen," answered Jess. She opened her eyes and looked up at Becker's face to watch her fiancée's reaction. "And Richard's gay."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

The song finished and the vocalist announced a twenty minute intermission. Becker followed Jess back to the table. Hank and Gillian were sitting there talking with Kate and the man she introduced as an old mate from school. Becker glanced around the room. The crowd appeared to be closer in age to Kate and her friend Peter.

"University crowd come here often?" asked Becker. "Is that why you chose the place for your last singles night party?"

"We used to come to the Oxford Art Factory when we were at university," explained Gillian.

"It's where we met," chuckled Hank. "Gillian wouldn't dance with me at first, but I kept asking her."

"Yeah," interjected Gillian, "he kept asking every night for six months!"

The chuckles had died down by the time Evie and Richard joined the table. The talk turned to music.

"I wasn't expecting to hear songs I could find on YouTube at an Australian club," said Becker.

"What?" smirked Hank. "You were expecting nothing but Olivia Newton-John or Savage Garden?"

"No," teased Kate, "Hilary was hoping for something more like AC DC."

Becker's eyebrow went up.

"Actually, all that would be great," replied Becker. "I was mainly really happy not to hear Guy Sebastian."

"Augh!" exclaimed Hank. "Can't stand him!"

"Oooh!" exclaimed Gillian "I love his song Angels Brought Me Here."

Across the table Kate and Richard were both nodding in approval, while Hank was shaking his head in dismay. The big man reached his hand towards Gillian. Hank lifted her fingers to his lips.

"Gillian dearest," said Hank, "I love you… in spite of your taste in music."

Everyone laughed. The waitress arrived then and began clearing away empty glasses.

"If you really want to hear the best of Australian music," volunteered Kate's friend, "you should stay for the Homebake Concert later this month."

Jess leaned against Becker and covered her mouth as a small yawn escaped.

"Actually, we're both tired," said Jess. "I was thinking Hil and I should probably head back to your flat Kate, if that's alright with you."

"What?" exclamations clamored from the others at the table.

"No," said Hank. "Hilary just got here!"

"Horseback riding, swimming, a long car ride," reminded Jess. She yawned again and looked up at Becker. "And I'm sure Hil is tired after his long plane ride."

"Yeah," agreed the soldier. "Hardly got any sleep on the plane… changed and shaved in the loo at Perth. A shower and bed would be wonderful."

Hank narrowed his eyes and looked at Becker. Becker wore black denims and a long sleeved black button down shirt. Even after travelling half way across the world, Becker looked impeccable. No scruffy whiskers and not a hair out of place.

"Stay for the next set," urged Hank. "You really haven't heard the best of Australian music until you've heard tonight's singer performing her own music."

"You've got to hear her," agreed Kate. "Some people describe her as a female Gotye, but…"

"Better!" chimed in several voices.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

The vocalist flashed a bright smile… tossed her dark hair back and began. Her rich, bluesy voice, started low.

"Since the Dreamtime… I've been dreaming of you… ooh…"

Becker found himself standing, holding out his right hand. When Jess placed her small fingers in his big hand, the pull of the music sent them both to the dance floor. The soldier lost himself in the reflection of Jess's eyes. The music soared through the room… called to Jess… called to Becker… filled them.

"Dance the dance… sing the song… sing my way to you…"

Later that evening, Kate and Evie decided to go with Gillian to her place. Jess and Becker found themselves alone together in Kate's lovely flat. Jess pointed to the chair as she pulled out the sofa bed. Becker walked across the room and picked up the pillows and comforter.

"I haven't been sleeping well all week," confided Jess. "Evie said I've been tossing and turning every night."

"Bad dreams?" asked Becker.

"Oh no," replied Jess, "I've been dreaming of you…"

Becker's lips curled up in a smile. He handed Jess the pillows.

"I dreamt of you too," replied Becker.

Later that night, as they slept wrapped in each others embrace, the refrain of a certain song filled both their dreams.

"Sing my way to you… dream the dream… dream my way to you…"

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