Disclaimer: i do not own primeval or any of its characters, plots, settings etc.

I apologize in advance for any spelling or grammatical errors, my program doesn't have spell check etc on it and i have to reread through my documents and manually check then correct any errors and may have missed some.

Prompt: Jess decides to go to the museum on her day off to distract her from hacking into the ARC to do more work but accidentally gets caught up in a call out.

Jess washed her hands before checking her make up and hair in the mirror. So far her day off was going wonderfully. She'd come to the museum as a way of keeping herself from getting on her computer or laptop and monitoring the ARC's systems. Knowing she could get lost in the exhibits at the museum she had deemed it the perfect distraction and had so far immensely enjoyed herself. Happy that her make up and hair were still impeccable she exited the bathroom to find an empty hallway that had previously been packed with people.

Frowning she looked both ways, where had everyone gone? Not even three seconds after the thought had entered her mind Jess felt the ground shake beneath her feet in strangely patterned intervals. Almost like footsteps she thought. Jess took two steps toward the end of the corridor she knew would take her back to the entrance when she heard someone running towards her. She watched intently and a little confused as Becker rounded the corner. A sliver of fear ran down her back as Beckers' eyes widened in shock, recognition and if she wasn't mistaken fear.

"JESS?!"

She watched as an enormous clawed foot stepped down causing another small earthquake. Her fear built rapidly as she looked up and felt her eyes widen.

"Oh. My. God." she whispered.

"JESS! RUN!"

Becker raced towards her. She had two seconds to kick her pumps off towards the wall and turn around before she felt Beckers hand capture her wrist and pull her into a sprint. She tried to keep a lid on her rising panic as she felt the enormous dinosaurs steps behind them. They rounded the corner at a sprint and Jess realised they were headed for the science and experimentation arena. A dead end.

"Becker! It's a dead end this way!"

"I know."

"What?!"

"The anomally is in the arena. Stay with me and do what I say alright?!" When she didn't answer immediately he squeezed her wrist. "Jess?! Do you understand?! We don't have any other option!"

"Yes!" she squeaked as she fought to keep up with his desperate pace.

They raced through the open archway that Jess noticed seemed cracked in places. She turned back as they slowed for the first time and frowned when she didn't see the rex behind them.

"Jess I need you over at the locking mechanism. Get ready to open the anomally so we can send this thing back. It'll be here any second Jess."

Nodding she ran over to the locking device and typed in the commands before resting her hand over the button that would enter the code. Her whole body stood tense and ready as she panted for breath. Small tremors had begun to take hold of her hands by the time she saw Becker start walking backwards toward the anomally. A second more and she saw the legs come into view. An almighty roar tore through the air and she swore her ears were bleeding with the deafening sound.

"Get ready Jess!"

"Ready!"

He turned towards the anomally and started running as the rex burst into the room creating more cracks in the walls and causing plaster and paint to rain down on the floor.

"Open the anomally NOW!" her hand slammed down on the button as she watched the tightly compacted ball flicker before expanding to a brilliantly rotating sphere of what looked like shards of glass suspended in the air.

Realising she was too close to the anomally Jess looked for an alternative but was coming up empty until she saw the pool to the side of the anomally and an idea formed. She watched as Becker got closer and closer until she had the timing figured out and ran across toward him. She could see the rex gaining speed in the open straight stretch of space and knew if she didn't act she would see Becker either killed or pushed through to the other side with her following close behind. He noticed what she was doing at the last second but not why and frowned but kept pace.

"Jess OOF!"

As the rex swooped down Jess pushed herself and managed to push them just far enough out of the way and over the small barrier into the pool. The enormous creatures jaws clamped shut over air and its momentum sent the dinosaur back to its own era. Connor, Abby, Matt and Emily quickly ran into the room and Connor closed the anomally before they all looked around.

"Where is he?" Abby panted.

Matt frowned and touched his ear piece. "Becker, come in."

"He was just here he could not have disappeared." Emily's own frown deepened as the idea that he was on the other side struck her.

"No, he's here he has to be. Wait didn't he say Jess?" everyone looked at Connor and immediately paled.

It was then that the two people in question surfaced and gulped in large amounts of air. The Core team ran to the pool to find their head of security and field coordinator covered head to toe and standing in a paddling pool of jelly. Connor unable to help himself burst into a fit of giggles as Becker tried to lead Jess to the edge only for her to slip and drag him down with her as she fell. Becker managed to get them both standing before glaring at Connor.

"If you don't start helping in the next three seconds Temple you'll find yourself drowning in this stuff once I get out." he growled.

Snapping to attention Connor rushed forward and held out a hand as well as Matt to help Jess out of the pool. When she was safely standing back on the tiling again Emily and Abby took hold of her to check her over for injuries while the boys turned and helped Becker. When everyone was back on their feet and away from the pool Becker walked over to Jess.

"Do I want to know why you disobeyed a direct order and put yourself in danger?"

"The rex was getting too close. It was going to either kill you or take you with it when it went through and then, more than likely, me. I couldn't stand there and watch it happen."

"So you sprinted across the room and tackled me into a pool of Jello?"

Jess shrugged as a blush warmed her cheeks. "It was the only plan I had plus I was still out in the open and too close to the anomally. We were both going to die if I didn't do anything."

Becker frowned before his expression evened out and a small amused smirk stretched his lips as he stepped forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You are brilliant."

She exhaled shakily and gave him a small smile as her legs gave way. Becker quickly scooped her up and held her as she started to shake uncontrollably.

"W-w-what's happ-pening to m-m-me?"

It's okay Jess, you're in shock. You'll be okay. Matt get the medics. Connor go get the blankets form the truck, Abby, Emily, go get some paper towels from the bathroom and wet them so we can wash up a little."

"M-my shoes."

Becker looked down to her bare feet and realisation struck. "Her shoes should be against the wall by the bathroom. I remember you kicked them off to run, smart thinking Jess."

"G-glad I d-did."

Becker smirked trying to hide the fear he felt for her. "Yeah I don't think they would have survived the Jello. Jess you're going to be just fine I need you to concentrate on breathing and staying calm okay?"

She nodded as the tears started falling. "I'm sorry. I'm such a mess."

"Hey, shh, you're fine. You just ran through the museum at a full sprint from a tyrannosaurus rex I think you're entitled to being a mess."

"But you're not!"

"I do this every day Jess, you're not used to being in the field. It's okay to break down after facing up against a T-rex."

She sobbed a little louder and Becker pulled her closer when her head dropped to rest on his tac vest. He made soothing noises as she continued to breakdown. At one point he became aware of Abby and Emily returning with some paper towel and Connor standing off to the side with two blankets in his hands. No one dared say a word while she cried herself dry. Eventually she quietened down and Becker motioned the team forward. He worked silently wiping her face and neck down to get the sticky substance off as much as possible before taking the blankets from Connor and wrapping her up in them once she was back on her feet, though she stayed very much in his personal space. It wasn't long after that Becker broke the silence as he noticed her breathing coming back under control.

"Okay?"

She nodded slightly but didn't let go or pull away.

"Tell me something, what were you doing here today any way? Your day off and you go to the museum? That strikes me as something Connor would do. You I would have pegged to be out shoe shopping for more ridiculously high and inappropriate heels."

She cracked a smile at his words. "I came here to distract myself so I wouldn't hack into the system from home. I can get lost in the exhibits, there's so much to see. So much to learn. There's always something new when I come in and by the time I leave there's something I didn't know before I came in that I do when I walk out. I love the museum, it's one of my favourite places apart from the shopping centre that is."

Becker chuckled, relieved at her nervous babble, a sign she was getting back to normal. "I didn't know that. Wait you hack in on your days off?"

Her cheeks coloured somewhat as she pulled back a little and made eye contact. "Yeah, I can't help it. It's just to check in and see how everything's going and maybe do some admin while I'm at it."

"Jess, you should be enjoying your days off doing things you like not hacking into the system and doing more work."

"I do, do things that I like. Just not often and aren't you glad I don't? The one time I decide to make an effort to be normal I get dragged through the halls barefoot while being chased by a T-rex for gods sake!"

"Well when you put it like that. Maybe next time we should just go to a bakery and you can eat a big piece of chocolate pastry on the way to do some shopping."

"We?"

One of his brows arched. "You think I'm going to let you out of my sight without a black box and mic in the near future?" he murmured as the medics came into the arena.

Her blush darkened. "Oh."

"From now on I'm going to keep an eye on you on your days off. No more surprises got it?"

She nodded mutely as the medics pulled them apart for assessments. By the time they were free to go Jess was soaked to the bone, cold and sticky. Not to mention majorly irritated. They had kept her there for medical reasons then questioning. She had promised to type up a report at home and bring it in the next day so she could go home and shower as soon as possible. She walked away from the building slowly carrying her shoes. At least they had been saved but the outfit she wasn't so sure about.

The drive home was silent and done on autopilot. She hardly remembered it at all which somewhat scared her as she unlocked her front door. Aware that she was trecking red jelly through the flat she stayed to the hardwood floors and immediately beelined for the bathroom. An hour of scrubbing and soaping later she emerged fresh and clean to an empty quiet space. Things had been different since Connor and Abby moved out and now she felt out of place. Like it wasn't right being there alone. She needed someone, without missing a step she turned to her landline and quickly punched in the number of the one person she knew would not only answer but be at her doorstep in a flash if she said the words. Becker answered on the third ring.

"Is everything okay Jess?"

"I- how did you know it was me?"

"I have everyone's numbers work and personal in my phone."

She giggled for the first time in what felt like days. "Of course you do."

"Jess, is everything alright?"

"I, It's so quiet in the flat. I just-"

"Needed to hear another voice?"

"Yeah."

"Do you need anything?"

"Oh I,"

"Jess, if you need some company just say the word and I'm on my way."

She sighed. "I don't want to be a bother."

"Jess, you're not a bother. I'll be there soon."

"Thank you." she mumbled when she opened the door to let him in.

"It's no problem Jess, really."

She shook her head. "I'm just being a scaredy cat."

"You had an intense and rather traumatic experience that would have put a lesser person in a psych ward today. Not wanting to be alone doesn't make you a scaredy cat, it makes you a human being."

She belatedly noticed the takeaway bags in his hands and smiled as she led him into the main area of her flat. "You brought dinner."

"I figured you wouldn't feel like cooking."

"You figured right."

"Why don't we dish up and relax?"

Her smile widened a fraction as she turned into the kitchen and started searching for utensils they could eat with. "Sounds wonderful."

They huddled together on the couch with the take out before them on the coffee table. Eating straight out of the boxes they shared each others meals and chatted back and forth happily as they ate before putting any leftovers back in the kitchen. When the clean up, which only took a couple of minutes, was finished Becker sat awkwardly on the couch unsure as to whether he should leave or stay. When Jess returned to the couch and sat by him remote in hand he figured she wanted him to stick around.

Hours later after the sun had long ago set Becker blinked a few times before checking his watch. Noticing it was after ten he frowned and resigned himself to making an excuse before she threw him out herself. He turned to say so but promptly closed his mouth when he noticed she was fast asleep. He had felt her familiar pressure against his side as she cuddled next to him for the last hour and a half but didn't realise she had fallen asleep. Past experiences should have told him she'd fall asleep on him but the thought hadn't crossed his mind. The only thing on his mind had been to keep her relaxed and happy, not tense and upset like she'd been on the phone. She'd sounded lost. He sighed and tried figure out whether he should wake her up or just let himself out. After a moment of deliberation her decided to put her to bed, clean up properly then let himself out and leave her a note.

He silently removed the remote from her slack grasp and placed it on the table after turning off the soap they had been watching. Carefully he slid his hands under her knees and behind her back, lifting her easily into his arms. She snuggled closer to his warmth as he carried her into the deeper recessed of the flat where the bedrooms were located. He walked past the smaller bedroom he knew Abby and Connor had occupied for a few months and beelined for the master bedroom. Inside he puzzled himself over how to get the covers pulled back and get his slumbering team mate under those covers before coming up with a slightly awkward idea.

Approaching the bed Becker lifted his foot to rest on the frame blow the mattress before carefully lowering Jess' behind on to his knee. Once he was sure she wouldn't slide off and was balanced well enough he reached forward with the hand that had previously had her knees and pulled back the bed spread. Silently congratulating himself on his brilliant ideas Becker slowly reached back under her knees and slid her across onto the mattress without waking her. When she was settled back against the pillows he removed her heels and tucked the covers around her.

He returned to the kitchen and washed the utensils they'd used before making sure the food was definitely cooled down and putting it in the fridge. He collapsed the take out boxes and put them in the bin then wiped down the counters and the coffee table to make sure any spills or food bits had been cleaned up. He was just writing Jess a note for the morning when he heard it. A whimper followed by the rustling of bedding. His heart sank. She was most likely experiencing a replay of today's events or worse. Not even thinking it through he dropped the pen he had been writing with and rushed back to her bedroom where he found her tossing and turning tensely.

He was at her side in the blink of an eye. He reached for her gently and shook her awake. "Jess, Jess wake up. It's just a dream sweetheart, it's okay. Shh."

Her eyes opened and she started until she realised it was Becker then relaxed into him as he held her closer to him. "Becker..."

"Hey, it's okay. It was just a dream. You're okay."

"What time is it?" she murmured.

"Half ten, quarter to eleven maybe."

"Not that I'm not glad but why are you still here?"

"I was just leaving a note for you when you're nightmare started. You fell asleep on me. I cleaned up after I put you to bed then I was going to head home."

"Oh," Jess pulled back slightly to look up into his dark eyes. "Are you going to leave?"

One look at her sweet and frightened face and he knew what his answer would be. "Only if you want me to." he whispered huskily.

"I don't want you to leave."

"Then I'll stay right here until you tell me otherwise."

She seemed to relax at his words and tucked herself back into his side. After new dawn they had become slightly more at ease with each other. Closer than before but that also had something to do with the bomb and the beetles too no doubt. They had found themselves thrown together more and more often whether it was because they were dealing with Lester, reports or just in general around each other because of the others sneaking away, they had decided to make the most of it and become so much closer than they had been originally. Friends. Though both secretly wished it were something more though neither had had the courage to do anything about those thoughts.

It wasn't long before Jess' body relaxed and Becker felt himself cramping at being in such an upright position on a mattress. The effort to stay straight was weighing down on him, making him even more tired than he already was.

Seeming to read his thoughts she shifted back and looked up at him a blush freshly adorning her cheeks. "Becker?"

"Yeah?"

"You can lay back if you like. You look like you're uncomfortable and if you're going to stay then I'd rather you were comfortable while you're here."

He smiled and nodded before pulling away to bend over the edge of the bed to untie his boots. "I should probably take these off, don't want to get your bedspread dirty."

She smiled back. "Thank you."

"For not dirtying your covers? No problem."

Her smiled widened as she lightly slapped his shoulder when he turned back to her and rested back against the pillows. She willingly lay down and cuddled into him straight away. "For staying with me and letting me use you as a teddy bear. I know you're not exactly used to being all warm and fuzzy with people. And I know you're not good with this sort of stuff nor is it your job because we're not you know, so thank you."

He sighed. "It's fine Jess, really. I just want you to be okay. It's hard not to be able to shoot something to fix the problem like normal but I'll do what I can no matter how far out of my comfort zone I go."

She lifted herself up and watched him with an intensity he wasn't sure he was ready for. "Why?"

"Because you're important to me Jess and you don't have someone to do this stuff for you so I'll have to do for now."

She bit her lip then seemed to make up her mind and spoke. "How long are you willing to stick around and do this stuff for me?"

Knowing full well what she was asking wasn't about being there as a friend Becker took a deep breath before answering. "As long as you'll have me, if you'll have me."

"Forever?"

He smirked. "If that's what you want, on one condition though," She nodded with uncertainty and held her breath. "We should discuss some benefits that come with the job."

She expelled the breath in a laugh and smacked him square in the chest. "You are terrible."

He grinned. "But you love me anyway."

She froze for a moment and he thought maybe he'd messed up and taken one step forward then two steps back. That is until she lent forward pressing her chest to his as she spoke directly into his ear.

"Maybe I do and maybe I don't but that's a discussion for another time."

"Oh?"

"Mhmm. Right now though I'm thinking we should discuss those benefits you mentioned and maybe the title for this job."

He rolled them over so he was resting on his forearms above her and looking directly into her eyes, their legs tangled. "Well I was thinking the title of the job could start with boyfriend and maybe progress from there in time. As for the benefits, well we'll start with this," he lent forward pressing a light lingering kiss to her lips before pulling away. "Then well, we can negotiate."

Her tongue swiped her bottom lip as she fought the blush spreading across her cheeks. Reaching up she card her hands through his hair pulling his face closer. "You're hired."

He closed the small distance and kissed her with everything he had. "I'm gonna need to borrow your shower tomorrow morning before I stop home on my way into the office." One of her brows arched. "To save time with my morning routine Jessica, whether we sleep fully clothed or stark naked tonight is all your decision but either way I'm borrowing your shower."

She grinned and shrugged. "Well, if you're going to use it regardless."