"Hey Jess," Becker called from the lounge room. "Can you come here?"

Jess poked at the eggs and bacon simmering on the pan in front of her. "Not unless you want your breakfast to burn," she replied.

"Smells good." His voice came from beside her and she gasped in surprise.

"How do you always manage to sneak up on me?"

"I'm a trained soldier," he quipped. "Sneaking is my specialty."

She pursed her lips and turned her attention back to her cooking.

Becker cleared his throat. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Oh?"

"I was wondering..." He stopped and made a thoughtful sound.

Jess glanced over at him and noticed he was shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Yes?" she prompted.

"Well, it's just..." He huffed quietly and carded his hand through his hair.

Jess turned off the stove and faced him properly. "Is everything okay, Becker?" she asked.

He pointed a finger at her. "That," he said suddenly.

"What?"

"What you just said."

"Is everything okay, Becker?" she repeated carefully, trying to find the problem.

He made a face. "Why do you call me Becker?"

"Because it's your name."

"It's my surname," he corrected.

"So?"

Becker looked at the ground sheepishly. "So, why do you call me that?" he asked.

Jess studied him for a few moments. "It bothers you that I don't call you by your first name," she concluded.

He looked up at her and nodded. "It does," he affirmed.

"Would you like me to?" she asked.

Becker tilted his head. "Do you know it?"

"I'm a trained field coordinator," she mimicked his voice from earlier. "Files are my specialty."

Jess waited for him to laugh, but he didn't. Instead, he stared at her apprehensively.

"I knew it before we even met," she continued, searching for a response from him.

She found it.

Becker swallowed nervously and finally spoke. "Is there a reason you don't use it?" he asked.

"Oh my god." Jess gaped at him. "You think I'm embarrassed to use your first name," she said incredulously.

He shrugged. "It's not very common nowadays," he said plainly. "I wouldn't be upset if you were."

"I'm not," she insisted. "I just thought you didn't like it."

He arched an eyebrow. "Why would you think that?"

Jess snorted. "You introduce yourself as Becker."

"No, I don't."

She gave him a disbelieving look.

"I introduce myself as Captain Becker," he mumbled.

Jess smiled knowingly. "Neither of which is your first name," she pointed out.

Becker sighed. "Yes. Okay," he conceded. "I don't tell anyone because I don't want anyone to use it."

"Which is the only reason I haven't," she explained.

He took a step forward and rested his hands on her hips. "I'd like it if you did," he said softly.

Her mouth fell open. "W-Why?" she asked.

"Because you're not just anyone."

Jess beamed as Becker pulled her closer. He bent his head, so his lips hovered over hers. "What do you say?" he asked.

"I would love to be on a first name basis with you," she paused and added in her sweetest voice. "Captain Becker."

Becker growled and captured her lips with his. She felt him smile against her mouth.

Jess pulled away after a minute. "So..." she began eagerly.

Becker raised an amused eyebrow. "So?"

"When can I use it?"

"Whenever you like."

"At work?"

Becker considered that for a moment. "Except at work," he said. "Temple would never let me hear the end of it."

Jess laughed. "Okay, so basically," she said. "I'm allowed to use it...when we're alone."

Becker smirked. "Have I ever told you how brilliant you are?"

"You may have," she said coyly. "I can't seem to remember." She grinned and looked up at him expectantly.

Becker chuckled and leant down to whisper in her ear.

"You are truly brilliant, Jessica."

"I know, Hilary."