Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or its characters

Secrets

Chapter 4 – Shopping

Jess was sitting at the ADD waiting for the monthly diagnostic to finish running so she could clock out for the day. Looking at the timer Jess groaned, she had another 45 minutes to wait before it was done. For some reason it was taking longer today than it normally did. Sure it was a lengthy process that usually took a few hours to complete, that was why Jess had set it to run as soon as she had returned from lunch. It should have finished an hour before Jess' shift ended, but here she was half an hour passed the end of her shift, and still waiting. What made it worse was that because the diagnostic was still running; Jess was still logged into the system and couldn't log out, meaning she couldn't hand over to her replacement, who was wandering aimlessly around the hub, looking for something to do. This made Jess feel even more frustrated.

Surely he has some paperwork or something that he could be doing.

Jess felt a presence come up behind her, but, assuming it was the irritating lab technician waiting to replace her come to check on the status of the diagnostic—again—Jess didn't bother turning around.

"So, apparently I know nothing about fashion," said a familiar voice; one that Jess found considerably less annoying then the one that had been interrupting her thoughts every ten minutes for the last half an hour.

"Becker, why exactly are you telling me something I already knew?" Jess said turning around to face him.

"Because I may be in need of your help again."

"And why's that?"

"Because Lily's starting dance lessons and needs all this equipment, which is just all clothes and shoes, and apparently everything I bought her was wrong."

Jess laughed at the image of Becker buying clothes for his three year old daughter to go dancing in. She could picture him purchasing items more suited for playing sport than dancing in.

"I'm glad you find my struggles so funny. You know I didn't have this problem when Maddie started playing football."

"Of course you didn't, you probably played football when you were growing up. Lucky for you, I danced as a child, when does she start?"

"This Saturday."

"Okay, that doesn't leave a lot of time. I'll tell you what, everything's open late tonight, why don't I come over once this is finished running and we'll go shopping together. That way I can show you the appropriate dance attire."

Becker sighed in relief. "Thanks Jess, that'd be great."

"No problem. I'll be over as soon as this diagnostic has finished running."

If it ever finishes running.

It took another half an hour for the program to finish, and by the time Jess got to Becker's it was after six o'clock. Parking her car in the drive way Jess went and knocked on the door.

"Hey Jess, come in," Becker said opening the door. "The girls are just having something to eat; we'll go as soon as their done."

Jess followed him into the kitchen. As she entered the room, something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. Turning, she saw that it was the photo of her, Maddie, and Lily that she had taken last week at the zoo, taped to the fridge. The three of them were sitting close together—so they would all fit in the frame—holding up the butterflies that had landed on each of their hands. Jess bit down the grin that was threatening to come over her face at seeing the photo on display.

Calm down Jess it's not like he put the photo up because you're in it, he put it up because it's a photo of his daughters at the zoo, looking adorable.

Still, he didn't crop me out, that has to mean something.

You're reading too much into this.

Or maybe I'm not. I've only ever seen photos of Lily and Maddie around the house, now there's on that includes me as well…

"Jessie!" Lily exclaimed, drawing Jess' attention away from her internal argument.

"Hey girls."

"Are you going help find dance clothes for me?"

"I am."

"I don't know why Dad didn't just ask for your help to begin with." Maddie added, rolling her eyes.

Jess repressed a smile.

Someone's teen attitude is coming through early.

"Okay you two, hurry up and finish or Lily's going to be stuck with the clothes I bought her."

Lily gasped in horror.

"Why don't you show me what you bought and I'll tell you if you can use any of it."

Becker nodded then left the room, gesturing for Jess to follow. They crossed through the living room, which was a lot cleaner than the last time Jess had seen it, and continued down the hallway attached to it. He led her to the room at the far end of the hall, which had Lily's name spelt out on it in colourful foam letters.

"Wow. This looks like my room did when I was little." Jess said as she followed Becker into the room.

The walls were painted a pale pink and decorated with faery, butterfly, and princess decals. The bed was covered with a Disney princess bed spread and had stuffed animals lined up across it. At its foot sat a large wooden chest, the words 'Lily's toy box' written across the top in glittery pink paint. Lined up across the top of Lily's dresser sat framed photos of her, Becker, and her sister.

"That doesn't surprise me, sometimes the two of you remind me of each other so much it's scary. I have no idea how she turned out to have such a big personality, or such a love for bright colours, though I suppose I have you to thank for her sudden shoe obsession."

"She may have seen the inside of my closet when they were over on Saturday. As for the other thing, does Melissa have a big personality? Because if they spend a lot of time together she could have got it from her."

"Not really, besides she spends more time at childcare than with Melissa."

"Well, there's your answer, she would've picked it up from someone there."

"I guess so. Anyway, this is what I bought." Becker pulled a shopping bag out of the wardrobe and handed it to Jess.

Jess looked inside the bag. "Did they give you a list of what she'd need?"

"Yeah." Becker handed Jess a piece of paper he pulled out of his wallet.

Jess looked over the list and compared it to the items in the bag. "Oh Becker, you weren't kidding were you."

"That bad, huh?"

"Well," Jess said as she started pulling things out of the bag. "These are ballet flats, and despite the name, there no good for dancing, you want point shoes, or canvas slippers, or soft leather slip ons, it depends on the style of dance. And these are leggings, not tights, you'll need to buy tights but I'd hang onto the leggings, she may get some use out of them. I don't see any leotards in here and I won't even go into what's wrong with the dress and skirt."

"Why do I have a feeling this is going to be a long shopping trip?"

Jess took them to a dance supply shop in a local shopping centre, and soon enough she had Lily in the dressing rooms trying on countless outfits while Becker waited outside.

"Okay, all we need now is shoes." Jess said as she and Lily emerged from the changing rooms. "Lily why don't you go with Maddie and give that stuff back to the lady and tell her you won't be needing it."

"Okay." The two girls hurried off together.

"Jess," Becker said as soon as the girls were out of hearing range. "Is all of that really necessary?"

"I swear Becker; I only got the bear minimum."

"No, the amount isn't the problem, it's just some of those tops and shorts were…well…quite short."

"I thought you liked short clothing?" Jess said, teasing him.

"Yeah, on you, not my daughter." Becker's face went red when he realised what he said.

Not wanting to embarrass him further, Jess let the comment slide, though she was secretly thrilled to hear he paid so much attention to what she wore.

"The tops and shorts are only for lessons, the dresses are what she'll perform in, so hardly anyone will see her in them. Plus, you're meant to wear jogging bottoms and a jumper over your practice clothes when going to and from the studio. But if it bothers you that much you could get a leotard instead, though she said she found them uncomfortable."

"No, I don't want her to be uncomfortable."

They purchased the clothes and then went in search of a store that sold children's dance shoes, finally finding some in the third place they tried. They found a pair Lily liked and Becker was surprised to learn that they cost less than the shoes he had bought mistakenly. Jess laughed when he mentioned this and told him he needed to go shopping with her more often, she could probably find him everything he needed at half the price.

"Jessie," Lily said from besides Jess. The two of them were walking hand in hand back to Becker's car.

"Yeah sweetie?"

"It's my birthday next week."

"Is it?"

"Mmhmm. We're having a party with all my friends on the weekend."

"Well that'll be fun."

"You should come," Becker called from ahead of them. "I'll need someone to keep me sane around all the kids."

"Won't Melissa be there?"

"Yeah, like I said, I'll need someone to keep me sane around all the kids."

Jess laughed.

"You'll come, won't you Jessie?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Lily beamed up at her, clearly happy with the answer.

Jess knew she shouldn't be spending so much time with this little family; she didn't want the girls to get the wrong idea. But she loved being around them, plus it was Becker, how could she possibly say no to anything he asked of her.

Back at Becker's they said their goodbyes out in the driveway. Lily gave Jess a hug, thanking her for coming shopping and telling her that she couldn't wait for her to meet her friends. Maddie on the other hand just said goodbye before following her sister to the front door.

"Thanks for the help." Becker said when it was just the two of them by Jess' car.

"No worries."

Taking a chance Jess steps forward and wrapped her arms around Becker, pulling him into a hug. There was only a slight hesitation and then Becker was returning the embrace. Jess could have sworn she felt him press a light kiss to her forehead, but it was so faint she might have imagined it.

Pulling away Jess smiled up at him. "Bye," she said softly.

"Bye," he replied in an equally low voice.

Getting into her car Jess pulled out of the drive way. Looking back she waved at Becker and saw that Maddie was watching from the door step, a contemplative look on her face as she observed her father.