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Dating Calculator

Chapter Four- Abby/ Becker

"So…where would you like to go?" Becker asked Abby, not having a clue where to take her.

"Erm…how about the bar down the road? It's nice and quiet there and we could have a meal, if you wanted?"

"Sounds good!"

With that they strolled down the street towards the bar. Becker was silent, desperately trying to think of something to talk to Abby about. His social skills weren't too good- he'd spent too much time around raucous soldiers to have the graces to chat to a woman comfortably.

"So you like animals…" he started to say.

"So guns are your thing?" Abby said at the same time. They both stopped and laughed self- consciously.

"Oh well, I was wondering- you seem to enjoy guns and weapons. How did you get into them? Was it before you became a soldier and that's why you joined the military or after you became a soldier?" Abby asked.

"Before." Becker answered shortly. Silence. He thought he'd better say a bit more, but didn't really like opening up too much. "My father's a Colonel, and he brought me up to love anything military. We used to go shooting when I was a child- stayed in tents and then hunted deer or rabb…" he suddenly stopped, seeing the glare Abby was sending his way.

"How could you! Killing animals for sport! That's why you're always so eager to shoot the creatures!"

Becker glared back- he'd been proud of his prowess in hunting. His father had paid him a lot of attention back then, sharing their love of shooting and guns, and father and son had bonded over it. He just couldn't see it as a bad thing

"I don't think we should go there…I think it'd be best just to agree to disagree on that one!" Becker said trying to diffuse the situation. This date was already off to a bad start!

"Look, Becker- I'm not having a go at you, really. But, especially with these creatures we've been given the privilege of seeing something no one else has. We have to at least try to get them back to their own time unharmed."

"Sometimes it's necessary, Abby. You can't always get them back as much as you'd like to!"

"I do know that Becker! I'm just saying don't be so eager to shoot first. Look at Princess…"

"Who?"

"Princess- the Dracorex. You wanted to shoot her! You didn't even try to get her back. Shoot first, ask questions later- is that your motto, Becker?"

"Now just wait a minute, Abigail! I'm just trying to do my job...protecting you. That dragon- thing was hurt and in my eyes that made it dangerous!"

"Yeah well, I can look after myself! I'm just glad I stopped you from shooting her, and I'd do it again!"

"If I remember correctly, your Princess charged at me and I got thrown back into a truck load of strawberries! Stained my uniform something rotten!"

"Hah! Better than killing an innocent creature."

"Oh yeah- it's coming back to me now! I was plagued by wasps for ages afterwards, smelling of strawberry juice! They just kept coming after me!"

Abby laughed at the memory. "Every time you tried to say something you had to…'thump'…"she slapped her thigh, demonstrating how Becker slapped at the wasps. "You looked like a girl flapping your arms and jumping around, trying to get rid of them! That was so funny!"

"Funny! I'm sure I got stung! That was NOT funny, Abigail!"

"Was from where I was standing!"

Becker took a breath. This wasn't working out the way he'd meant it to. At least Abby's mood had lightened as she was still laughing at his misfortune! They'd finally got their drinks and as they sat down at a table near the bar, Becker decided to steer the conversation away from him, the wasps, the Dracorex and shooting animals! Best thing would be to talk about Abby instead!

"So…how's your brother…Jack isn't it?"

"He's fine." Abby said shortly.

"Has he grown up a bit? Bit of a prat last time I met him." NO! Wrong thing to say! Sheesh! He was turning into Temple! Putting his foot in it at every turn! Abby didn't bother to answer. She just took a large swig of her beer, and glared at Becker. He decided to give it one more go before he completely ruined a perfectly good friendship.

"So, err…what kind of work were you doing at Wellington zoo?" Becker asked at last. It was the only thing he could think of that seemed a much safer topic of conversation.

Abby seemed to perk up at his question. She didn't want to fall out with Becker, but he really had no idea how to chat with her without starting an argument.

"I looked after the lizards- they're wonderful creatures. Did you know that the tail of some lizards separate from the body when the lizard is grabbed by a predator? The tail that is left behind wriggles, confusing the other animal, giving the lizard time to escape. It grows another tail, but it the new tail is shorter and a different colour. Oh, sorry…" she added, noticing Becker's eyes glazing over. "I sometimes forget that not everyone likes animals and reptiles as much as I do. People are much more difficult to communicate with, animals are so easy- if they trust you!"

"Yeah, I've noticed you and Connor have that prob…lem…" Oh, oh! Another faux pas! Abby choked on her beer.

"What d'you mean?"

"Well you two obviously like each other, yet neither of you say or do anything about it!"

"Becker! We're just friends, that's all!"

"Really? Because everyone else can see it…"

"See what?" she demanded.

"The way you sometimes look at each other. The way you're always together. The way he does everything you say, like a puppy. The way you were jealous over Caroline…" Stop Becker, his brain screamed at him, but his mouth just carried on. "You push him away, but he comes back for more. One day he won't!"

Abby was furious- part of her knew that Becker was right and that just seemed to make her angrier. She slammed down her drink and wagged her finger in Becker's face.

"This 'date' is over! Not a good one, Becker. You know, you really need to get out more and get some social graces. Even Connor can do better than you! Oh…just go and date your gun- you seem to like it more than you like people!"

With that she stormed out of the bar. Becker sighed and pulled out his green sheet. No- not compatible. It wasn't all his fault- they just had very different opinions. As he completed the short questionnaire, thoughts of a certain brightly dressed young lady filled his mind, and wouldn't go away. Now that was someone he would like to get to know better!

To Be Continued…..

So Abby and Becker definitely weren't a good match- they're more like brother and sister- always arguing! In the next chapter, we'll see how two more of our couples get on…

The story about the strawberry juice was a true one (embellished a little) - ALP told the story of Ben being unable to get the strawberry juice out of his costume, and that everywhere he went outside he attracted wasps. It's in the transcript of the Collectormania talk. (thanks goes to .com for sharing the transcript with everyone!)