Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, nor does the song "Holding Out For A Hero" or "Juste Avant".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.
10.3-8 Be Careful
…where have all the good men gone…
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Becker stripped. The bathroom at the top of the stairs had a laundry hamper, but he tossed the salt and seaweed encrusted clothing into the bathroom sink. The soldier reached into the basket of toiletries and picked up a container of white musk scented body wash. Then the dark haired man stepped into the shower and turned the water on full blast. He pulled the new loofah Jess had bought him Saturday off the tiny hook on the side of the shower wall and began to scrub.
"What on earth was she thinking?" Becker muttered to himself.
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Jess was curled up on her side of the bed. Her back was turned to the door and she was hugging Becker's pillow tightly. Tears streaked her face.
"What was he thinking?" whispered Jess forlornly.
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Becker squeezed the black tube again. The Body Shop logo and word SPORT on the side were barely legible as the crumpled plastic container gave a gasp and spit out the last of the citrus scented shower gel. The soldier tried to distract himself. Concentrating on an empty body wash container was less painful than thinking about what was really bothering him.
"A whole tube of body wash down the drain," grumbled Becker, "and now we have to go back to Oxford Street."
Hot steaming water rolled down Becker's head, neck and shoulders. Warmth streamed down his body, replacing the chill left by his encounter with the waters of a Jurassic beach.
"That water was really cold," muttered Becker.
The Jurassic was a warmer time, with tropical seas, but as Connor explained the continents were pulling apart, separating. Sudden depths of cold water like the one mere meters away from the beach where Becker had found Connor were filled with dangerous creatures.
"And I really can't believe that Jess thought Connor was just going to walk back through that anomaly on his own," sighed Becker.
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Jess knew the early days of the ARCs had been marked by frequent excursions into other time periods, but all that had changed after Abby, Connor, Danny and Sarah had gone missing.
"It was a miracle that Abby and Connor made it back from the Cretaceous," whispered Jess. She smoothed the damp pillowcase out before her, concentrating on getting every crumpled line straight. "No one is supposed to go into an anomaly."
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Becker wrapped the large white towel around his hips and opened the bathroom door. At the other end of the hallway, the door to the bedroom he shared with Jess was still closed. Becker closed his eyes for a moment, then turned to go down the stairs.
"Got to get these clothes into the wash," muttered Becker.
The soldier padded barefoot across the living room. The partial bath next to the kitchen contained a stackable washer and dryer. Becker peeled strands of seaweed from his clothing before he shoved the dirty black uniform into the washer. A splash of laundry soap and he turned the knob to the heavy duty setting. He put the white metal lid down on the machine and stood there staring into space.
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Upstairs Jess rubbed her eyes. Earlier, she hadn't wanted to listen to Becker's response that he was just doing his job, but now she couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said.
"You could have all been killed," argued Jess. "What you did is against all safety protocols."
"We weren't killed," stated Becker.
"After Sarah disappeared on that last rescue mission searching for Danny, Connor and Abby," continued Jess, "you insisted no one else go through an anomaly. It was your rule!"
"That was a completely different situation!" protested Becker.
"It was an open anomaly," said Jess firmly.
She crossed her arms over her stomach, and glared at Becker. He stared back at her in confusion.
"Jess you were the one who brought up Cutter's fault line theory," reminded Becker. "And you were right, there was a pattern to the anomaly. It did reopen."
"You should have waited for Connor to come out," scolded Jess. "There was no reason to risk more people going into an anomaly."
"You weren't there," said Becker. "Did you really think the anomaly was just going to open up and spit Connor back out?
Jess raised her hands up in the air and shook them in exasperation.
"Connor could have made his way back," insisted Jess. "Cutter did."
Her response caused Becker to take a deep breath.
"Connor very likely would have died on the other side of that anomaly if my men and I hadn't intervened," replied Becker.
Jess opened her mouth to say something, but Becker continued speaking.
"Cutter went into the anomaly voluntarily," reminded Becker quietly. "The Professor was equipped with a scuba tank and a weapon."
Jess nodded. She had read all the old field reports.
"Connor was snatched out of our time with no means of defense," continued Becker. "When I first entered the anomaly, Connor was pinned down by the creature that had taken him. Even if Connor had managed to get loose, the second creature…"
"Second creature?" gasped Jess.
Becker pointed to the damp throw rug beneath his feet. His clothes were dripping, and his heavy black boots squelched as he stepped away from the front door.
"How did you think I got all wet?" asked Becker.
Jess and Becker stared at each other for a moment, then Becker sighed.
"Based on the evidence at hand," said Becker, "entering the anomaly was an acceptable risk."
"Acceptable risk?!" Jess's voice rose indignantly. "Did Lester say that?"
Becker looked surprised at her question. He shook his head.
"Jess, in the field, I'm in charge of everyone's safety," reminded Becker.
"And who is keeping you safe?" challenged Jess.
"Jess," began Becker. He repeated those dreadful words, "It was an acceptable risk."
"Not to me!"
For a moment Jess and Becker stared at each other silently. Jess was breathing heavily, but Becker seemed utterly calm. Another drop of water plopped to the floor between them.
"I'm going to bed," huffed Jess. "It's late and I've got to work tomorrow."
The tiny woman turned quickly and hurried up the stairs ahead of Becker. She was already at the bedroom door by the time he reached the bathroom door. Jess entered the bedroom and pushed the door closed. If only it hadn't sounded so loud when the door shut.
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Becker pushed himself away from the washing machine and headed back into the living room. The drips left from his walk across the floor had already dried. The soldier placed his bare foot on the throw rug and dragged the damp fabric straight.
"Keeping people safe is what I do," muttered Becker, "It's not something that I can change. This is part of who I am."
Becker then approached the ottoman in front of the sofa. He opened the storage lid and pulled out an old gray blanket that he and Jess sometimes used when watching telly. The soldier wrapped himself in the warm woolen fabric and settled down on the sofa.
"Some welcome home," muttered Becker.
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