Hey everyone, it's been ages i just haven't had any inspiration and I've been busy at work but this came to me the other night lying in bed :)
Prompt: this one centres around a blackout in the ARC causing some embarrassment and gossip among the staff which in turn taps into Beckers protectiveness of Jess.
hope you like the story and once again I do not own Primeval enjoy! :)
They were standing at the ADD when it happened. Everything went black.
"Oh!" Jess exclaimed with surprise. "The power went out."
Not being able to help himself Captain Becker smirked. "I can see that."
Rolling her eyes she was thankful he couldn't see the blush heating her cheeks. "I can hear you smirking Captain. And for the record you technically can't see because it's pitch black in here."
A soft chuckle escaped before a large warm hand brushed her shoulder. "Come on we should go see if we can find out why the back ups never kicked in.
"You're right, Connor better not be playing with the switchboard again. The last time he did that Rex stole my lunch."
His smirk widened. "Be thankful it wasn't the Dracorex, she likes strawberries, a lot."
"I do recall that from the report. Okay, um, take a step back but watch the edge of the platform so I can get out of the chair."
"Maybe you should take off your heels."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because they're dangerous enough in broad daylight."
"Becker have you ever known me to actually fall or stumble without a proper reason whilst wearing heels?"
"Well no."
"Exaclty, I am not leaving my shoes behind, besides the floors are terribly cold."
"You have taken them off at work!"
"Only a handful of times at the ADD, when no one's around, and only to stretch. I try to keep my feet off of the floor because it's so cold. Maybe I should bring a small rug in."
"Jess," before he could cut her off however his mobile started ringing. "It's Connor." He answered the phone and put it to his ear. "What did you do now Temple?"
Jess could hear Connors slightly muffled and tinny voice on the other end due to the silence.
"I didn't do anything! Wait why would it be me?"
"You know why Connor, every time we have something go wrong it's almost always you."
"Is not!"
"Really name one time." When silence met him from the other end Becker smirked. "Exactly now how or when will it be fixed? Jess and I are literally in the dark here in Ops."
"Really?" Becker just knew the scientist was grinning from ear to ear. "On your own?"
"Temple." he growled pulling Connor from his childish tendencies.
"Right, that's why I called you, I was hoping you would be in Ops so you could get Jess to the switch board. I need a hand with the wiring. My hands aren't small enough."
Becker sighed. "Alright, we're on our way but it'll be slow going, Jess refuses to leave her shoes behind because the floors are cold."
"Becker!"
He chuckled before turning serious again. "We'll need to go slowly so that we can get there in one piece, in the mean time keep trying to get the emergency lights on so we can at least see."
"Got it, fine day for Lester to be in an out of ARC meeting at the council."
"You got that right." He ended the call before turning in the direction he was sure Jess was in a moment ago. "Right we're-"
"Heading to the switch board to help Connor, I know, I uh, couldn't help over hearing because it's so quiet without the hum of the computers and lights."
His smirk returned. "Right, now first things first. Getting you off that platform without an injury."
She giggle lightly. "Alright."
Jess swung the chair around and stood up swiftly. Unbeknownst to her Becker had reached out to steady her in case her balance failed and unfortunately came into contact with something he shouldn't have.
Jess squeaked before dodging to the side and taking a few steps back losing her balance over the edge of the platform the ADD resided on. Another short squeal erupted before a resounding thud echoed through the whole of Ops.
"Jess! Jess! Are you okay?!" he asked worriedly.
"Oh, owie."
"Jess!" he barked.
"I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine. You sound like you're in pain. Did you break anything?"
"No I think it's just a sprain."
"I told you to take those bloody heels off."
Jess' eyes narrowed. Unbeknownst to them Connor had finally gotten parts of the system working. The doors were now accessible and Lester was rushing to Ops in hopes of finding everyone in one piece; and the teamhad been listening for the last couple of minutes without use of the P.A.
"Becker it's not my shoes."
"You lost your balance and fell Jess."
"Only because you touched me and I was shocked and embarrassed!" she hissed.
"Why would you be embarrassed Jess, I only touched you."
Jess sighed and blushing furiously realised he didn't know where he had touched her. "Becker you uh, you-"
"Spit it out Jess."
"You touched me somewhere you shouldn't have."
He frowned for a moment. "what do you-" his eyes widened. "That wasn't your shoulder."
"No." She squeaked.
"Oh god Jess! I am so sorry! God! I can't I just-"
"It's okay."
"No it's not, it's sexual harrassment!"
"Becker it was an accident."
"Still."
She smiled. "It's okay, I'm okay."
"Where are those bloody lights?"
Jess bit her lip to keep in a laugh. "We'll get there just see if you can come over here and help me."
"Why?"
"Cos it's a little hard to get up in these heels with one hand."
"You sure you want me anywhere near you after that?"
Jess did let a laugh escape this time. "Yes I'm sure. I trust you Captain, let's just be a little more careful."
"It's not funny Jess, I violated your personal space."
"Trust me when I say I've experienced worse."
He thought for a moment before realising they needed to get to the switchboard if they ever wanted lighting again the way Connor was going. "Alright I'm coming over but I'll be careful this time."
Jess grinned. "Okay."
"Keep talking so I can find you. Maybe you should tell me about those worse things." he said as he sat on the platform then sunk to his hands and knees opting to crawl to her so he didn't step on her accidentally.
"So you can track the men down and kill them no thank you. Do you think it really was Connor that did this?"
"I would bet my lunch on it being him or something relating back to him. It always is."
"That's so mean."
"I can hear you grinning Jessica." he smirked as he reached out again coming into contact with flesh and bone.
"Maybe, oh!"
"Oh god what part of you have I got this time?" he asked guiltily, ready to snatch his hand away the moment she told him to.
"Can't you tell that's my ankle?"
"I was pretty sure that was what it was but last time I thought I had your shoulder so I thought it should check this time."
She bit her lip. "Right well um how do we go about this?"
"I'll have to find your uninjured hand then get us up somehow."
"Well your on the wrong side, my left wrist is the sore one try the right one."
"You're finding this funny aren't you."
"Maybe a little."
"Jess this is serious, we need to get the lights on and get your wrist taken care of."
"Yes I know but isn't it a little funny? I mean we're kind of playing marco polo in the dark."
He sighed. "Stay still so I can find your hand. The only way I'll find it this way is to follow your uh-"
"The line of my body?" she finished.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. This sounds so inappropriate. I just don't want to hurt you."
Blushing furiously she bit her lip harder before letting it go. "It's okay my hand is on the ground next to my hip, follow my leg and you should find it."
"Okay." he murmured before letting his hand slowly start gliding up Jess' leg.
All was silent as his hand trailed over her bare skin, both trying to keep their breathing and reactions under control. When his fingertips reached the ends of her skirt Jess gasped.
"I'm sorry Jess." he murmured before the lights all of a sudden came back illuminating the room in a sudden burst of white.
Both adults froze and blinked a few times at each other to adjust before a booming voice broke their gaze.
"What in good god are you two doing?!"
"And that's how you found us sir." Becker reported from his corner of the small office hands behind his back, face a blank mask.
"So you're telling me you were trying to find her hand so you could help her up and go to help Connor?"
"Yes sir."
Lester took a quick look at Jess who sat silently in the chair opposite him with a very red face as she kept her eyes on the ice pack on her wrist. "Can I ask you a question Captain?"
"Of course sir."
"Do you really expect me to believe that?"
Beckers jaw dropped open in shock but after a moment of silence when Lesters gaze didn't falter he cleared his throat. "Yes."
"You had your hand basically up my field coordinators skirt and you want me to believe it was nothing?"
"Lester he was just trying to help me without over stepping-"
"Miss Parker, I do appreciate your coming to his defense but you two, oh never mind. If I can't stop Abby and Connor or Anderson and Miss Merchant then what hope have I got to stop you two? Dismissed."
They left the office feeling shell shocked. Only to be met with smirking and grinning faces outside. Jess ducked her head in an attempt to hide while Becker scowled at them.
"Not a word. Any of you." he growled.
"We heard everything." Connors grin widened to an impossible width.
"Temple." Becker growled in warning before Abby stepped in.
"We heard everything over the comms. Conn got them working just as you were helping Jess out of the chair."
"Why didn't you say something?" Jess squeaked.
Beckers eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell Lester?"
"We did." Matt drawled.
"But he did not believe us, he in fact said that even with that he did not believe there nothing was going on."
Jess ducked her head again from Emily's now curious gaze. It wasn't until Connor made a small sound of triumph then shock that Jess realized he was messing with the ADD.
"Oh, oh now I see why Lester didn't believe us, you guys look very cozy." everyone gathered around the computer to see the scene as the lights came on and the cameras picked up Jess and Becker in the room as Lester yells at them.
Matt snickered. "You sure you didn't know we were listening mate?"
"Matt!" Becker snapped. "Drop it would you. You're all embarrassing Jess even more than she already is!"
They all turned to see Jess, head down and seemingly shrinking into herself.
"Jess?" when said girl looked up Becker gave her a small smile. "Why don't I take you to medical to get that wrist bandaged."
"You don't have to do that I can go on my own." she murmured.
"I know but it's my fault so I'm taking you, no arguments."
She bit her lip then nodded. "Okay."
He waited until they were down the hallway before he spoke again. "I'm sorry about all of this Jess."
"What do you mean?"
"It's my fault all of this happened now people think-"
Cheeks on fire she cut him off before he could finish. "It doesn't matter. There have been rumors circling about me since I first came here to work."
Becker frowned. "There have?"
"Yes, I've lived with rumors my whole life Becker. These will be nothing new."
One of his eyebrows rose. "Rumors have spread about you sleeping with coworkers before?"
She laughed bitterly. "That's how half of the staff first thought I got my position here, before they saw what I could do of course. After they got a look at what I could do they realized or I suppose they did because the whispering stopped."
"Jess, it's not right. I won't let them think that about you. They have no right to gossip like school children about your private life."
She smiled sadly at him. "No they don't but they'll do it anyway because it's more exciting than believing the truth. I'm sorry you'll be dragged into this Captain."
"Hey, we'll figure this out okay?"
"Okay." Though he noticed a suspiciously wet gleam in her eyes he didn't mention it instead he gave her a smile and lead her into medical, asking one of the nurses to check her wrist.
They sat side by side as the nurse poked and prodded Jess wrist. She hissed a few times jerking or fidgeting here and there. The nurse pursed her lips in dislike before turning her sharp gaze on the Captain.
"Will you distract her or something, I need her still so I can determine how much damage has been done. Hold her still if you have to."
Becker blinked before nodding and scooting closer to Jess and taking her injured arm at the elbow while the other went to her shoulders. "I need you to hold still Jess."
"I'm trying."
"If you try a little harder I'll buy you an extra large block of chocolate."
Distracted, her eyes lifted from her wrist to his. "You will?"
He smiled. "Yep any flavor you like. I'll even go to the chocolate shop down town and get one in the shape of a shoe. As long as you keep absolutely still though or the deals off."
She grinned softly at him. "Okay." she missed the small smirk the nurse hid but Becker noticed it; and all of the looks they received from passers by.
By the time they were back in Ops Becker was in a very bad mood and Jess was none the wiser with her newly bandaged wrist.
The team were there when they got back, waiting.
"How did it go?" Abby asked.
Jess grinned. "Fine, it's only a sprain. If I'm careful the bandage will come off in a few days, maybe a week tops."
While the others congratulated Jess and helped her settle back in at her desk Matt pulled Becker to the side.
"You're in a mood."
Becker nodded. "They're already talking behind her back."
Matt frowned. "Who?"
"Everyone we've passed since leaving medical plus the nurse who bandaged Jess up."
Matt sighed. "Does she know?"
"No but on the way to medical she was steeling herself for it, trying to put her guard up. Doesn't matter it will bother her no matter how blank her face is I know it'll bother her."
"Becker-"
"She wanted to cry at the thought of more rumors but stopped herself because she knew I would start ripping people apart."
"What are you going to do?"
"Whatever I can."
"I'm in."
Becker arched a brow. "Wasn't asking you."
"I know but I'm in, safe to say Emily is too; and Abby and Connor if you tell them."
Becker nodded. "Jess doesn't need to know."
Matt grimaced. "Agreed. The last thing we need is crying upset women."
So for the next week while Jess nursed her wrist the team protected her from the various gossip mongers of the ARC. Anyone gossiping was spoken to immediately and realized the error of their ways under the Captains guidance. However by the end of the week Jess became suspicious of the fact people weren't speaking to her much in fact it was almost like they were avoiding her.
It wasn't until she went to the ladies quickly that two techs came in speaking animatedly about the Captain.
"I can't believe he spoke to you like that!"
"I know right I was only relaying what everyone knew, and has been saying all week; Jess Parker is a little tramp. I mean there's a time and a place the least you can do is find an office and lock the door but in the middle of Ops? I know we were in a blackout but really. No class."
"Come on we should get back before they come back and tell us off again. There's no law against gossiping I don't know why they're so pent up about it most girls are pretty proud of Jess, especially for bagging the Captain even under the circumstances."
Jess waited silently until they left before leaving the stall and washing her hands. Anger quickly rising she marched down the halls in search of Becker. 'That no good, secret keeping, military minded, macho man, over protective silly Captain!'
Finding him in the armoury with a few soldiers she marched right in to the room without so much as a smile. All who saw her moved back and out of her way. Becker once having seen his soldiers moving away caught sight of her and froze. 'She knows...'
"Hey Jess."
her eyes narrowed as she let loose her thoughts. "Don't you 'Hey Jess' me you no good, secret keeping, military minded, macho man, over protective, silly man!"
"Uh Jess maybe we should-"
"Oh no, you are going to be quiet a moment. Guess what I just heard in the ladies? Two techs complaining about the fact that you had disciplined them for gossiping about what happened in the blackout! How could you go behind my back! How could you not tell me people were talking about me?!" by now her voice felt hoarse and her eyes were wet with tears.
His heart broke to see her so upset but his resolve strengthened. "I'm sorry Jess. I'm so sorry. I knew how upset you'd be if you found out so I left you in the dark. I just didn't want you to be upset. I figured if I could fix it before you knew then it wouldn't matter." when she simply hung her head and refused to look at him he pleaded with her. "Please don't cry Jess. The whole point of this plan was so you wouldn't cry."
Catching his soldiers eyes he glowered at them and tilted his head. Catching the signal they all silently left the room. When the door closed Jess grimaced at the sound.
"Jess? Will you say something? Please?"
"I feel like a fool, all week I've been walking around in a happy bubble, ignorant."
"No you've been the wonderful brilliant Jess that you always are, no one thought you were anything but."
"Wrong, they all thought I was trying to have sex with you in the blackout. They think I'm a tramp!"
Her first tears broke free and he panicked. "No Jess-"
"They do, that's exactly what the techs called me and they said everyone else thought it too!"
Having enough his panic faded as his dislike for the gossiping staff kicked in and his voice came out gruffer than expected. "Jessica! Do you honestly believe that everyone thinks that? It's only a select few jealous and off put women and men that started talking everyone else thought we'd started dating and wanted to be the first with the news. Believe me I know I spoke to a lot of people and they mostly all said they were happy for us, you know if it was true."
Jess' tears stopped as Becker wiped her cheeks. "They did?"
"Yes Jess, they did and for the record had you been trying to seduce me Lester never would have found us because we would have been locked in an office somewhere doing unspeakable things to each other." realizing what he'd said Becker blushed. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that."
"You're right, You should have said it a week ago and people actually would have had something to gossip about."
"Jess-"
She stepped into his personal space effectively cutting off whatever it was he was about to say and stretching up she placed a light kiss to his lips. "You are a wonderful man Captain Becker."
"Let me take you to dinner, or to a museum. Anywhere. Let me take you out. Do this properly."
Her smile was brilliant as she nodded and kissed him again. "You know you can't actually tell anyone off for gossiping about us now." His arms wound around her as he groaned.
"You're right this is terrible. Well I guess we'll just have to keep our extra curricular activities outside of work then won't we?"
"Becker!" she blushed.
He chuckled before leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Or you know, be careful and not get caught."
Jess' blush darkened considerably as she hid her face in Beckers chest. "Stop teasing I have to go back to Ops at some point you know."
"Yes and I have to let the men back in and try to get them to respect me again."
"They do respect you."
"Pretty sure they lost it when you came in yelling and crying and I crumpled like a piece of paper."
"Sorry."
"Don't be, if they won't fear me the least they can do is fear my girlfriend."
Jess bit her lip and looked up. "So, I'm your girlfriend huh?"
"I'd like you to be. If you want to be."
"I do, want to be."
"Good." he murmured leaning in for another kiss, hoping to make the most of the few moments they would have before everyone found out and their peace would be destroyed.