Just a Costume

Rating T

No spoilers

I do not own Primeval or the characters.

Author's Note: This began as a one-shot, but I have so far written a sequel that is now chapter two. Thanks.

Just a Costume

"You have got to be teasing me," said Becker.

"I'm not," said Jess. "Would you like to come?"

"Jessica, why on earth would I want to come with you while you shop for a Halloween costume?"

"I don't know. It could be fun."

"It really, really does not sound like fun to me, besides, why ask me?"

"I need an opinion, a man's opinion, someone I trust. I don't want to go too sexy. Some men get a little drunk and frisky. I want something a little sexy, and short, showing my legs. I have nice legs, don't you think? It needs to be cute, obviously, maybe a little low cut, not too much. So, if you could help, I'd appreciate it."

Becker mulled some of those words over, "sexy," "legs," "low-cut," and "sexy."

He looked at Jess' trusting cute face, and couldn't help an involuntary glance at the a-fore-mentioned legs.

"Let me get this straight," he said finally. "You want me to sit at a costume shop for hours as you try on loads of skimpy, sexy Halloween costumes in front me?"

"Yes," she said.

Becker's face slowly smiled. "I'm in."

Becker sat in an uncomfortable bucket seat chair. He was in the woman's section of the costume shop, surrounded by bustiers, corsets, girdles, and other unmentionables. He felt hugely uncomfortable. On top it all, he held Jess' large fuchsia pink purse with a huge yellow daisy painted across it. He felt like a prized idiot.

"How much longer, Jess?" he called into the changing stall.

"Almost ready," she said.

He felt more and more self-conscious. Then it happened. A cute young couple, a girl and guy walked past., and the young punk said, "Nice bag, mate."

Becker jumped up, dropped the bag, kicked it under the chair, and sighed. In panic, he walked up to the curtained booth Jess was in.

"Jess, if you don't come out right now, I'm leaving."

The pale red curtain parted and Jess came out.

Becker looked her up and down, and down and up, and looked behind her, and looked at her front.

"That's good, Becker," she said. "Give it a good once-over," she said seriously and business-like.

Becker coughed. His face turned pink, but he was at the moment looking over her backside, so she didn't see.

"Well," she said, "What do you think?"

He chuckled. "I can't tell you what I think or you'll call security."

"Becker!" she said, playfully swatting at him. "Honest opinion. Is it too much?"

Jess was dressed as a butterfly, a very sexy pink butterfly. The top was light pink and very low, showing a lot cleavage. The middle was a laced up corset, in darker pink.

"The corset's fake," she said, "I can breathe," she said with a chuckle. The fake corset led into a tiny skirt in the same light pink of the top.

"Um, Jess? I think I can see your knickers."

"Don't look!" she cried, blushing.

"I guarantee that other guys will look, Jess. I'm having a hard time resisting, and that may be a fake corset, but trust me, it's alluring. Then there's the top, um, I'm going to look away now," he said.

"Right," said Jess. "Too sexy. Thank you," she said, leaning up and kissing his cheek. "Okay, next one," she said and disappeared behind the curtain.

Becker chuckled, shook his head, sat down, and tried to clear the image of Jess in that corset, fake or not, out of his mind, along with the peak-a-boo knickers, and her cleavage.

"This was stupid," he mumbled.

"Did you say something?"

"No, Jess."

"K...Be out in a minute."

Why did he agree to this? The chance to see Jess in skimpy outfits was too much of a temptation, but now reality hit. He had feelings for her. He tried to ignore them for the sake of the missions. Now, with images like the 'butterfly' in his mind, it was going to be impossible. He was doomed.

Jess appeared quickly, or so it seemed. This time she wore a tiny little tank that ended just under her breasts. Her tiny little skirt didn't start until under her navel. The skirt was bright yellow, and the tank was white with tiny, frilly yellow sleeves. She wore knee high socks in bright green.

Becker sat still, in shock. He was mesmerized by her naked navel.

"Well?"

"Huh? Oh," said Becker, shaking himself out of the shock. "You look great."

She smiled.

"I don't get it though," said Becker. "What are you supposed to be?"

Jess frowned, and then said, "Oh, I forgot. Hang on," and she ducked into the changing room, and grabbed a white and yellow petal-ed headdress.

"I'm a daisy!" She smiled happily at him.

Becker frowned. "That kind of kills it."

Jess looked at a full length mirror set outside the booths. "You're right. It's too cute, silly-cute."

She let out a small sigh. "Next outfit coming up," she said, yanking off the petal-hat.

Becker sighed. He waited nervously, still debating the wisdom of his decision to come along.

He looked around the shop aimlessly and when he looked back to the booth, Jess was already dressed. She stood in front of him as a sexy special forces officer. She wore itty-bitty shorts, a low scoop neck tank, both in camouflage, and over the tank a short-short army-green jacket. On her head was an army-green triangle shaped hat.

"I like it!" said the ex-special forces officer. "It's perfect."

Jess giggled. "Stop it. I don't think it's going to work, and it's a shame. It is cute."

"Why don't you think it's going to work, Jess?"

"Well, the shorts are kind of...short."

"Yeah, but they aren't that bad."

"Maybe not in the front, but in the back..."

"Well, let me see," said Becker, moving toward her.

"No!" she cried, backing up. 'Take my word for it, they are too short. I'm only showing you this because its special forces. You are not looking at the shorts in back. No."

Becker smiled. "How short are they, Jess?"

Jess went deep pink. "You can...she my cheeks."

Becker chuckled as Jess backed into the changing booth. She pulled the curtain quickly, and Becker heard her sigh.

"I don't know why they make short and sexy vulgar?" Jess sighed again. "I'm not having much luck."

"Try the next one," he said.

"Oh, OK," she said sadly.

She came out in a purple and black Can-Can dancer outfit, complete with fish-net stockings. The skirt was lower on one side than the other. The longer side only went to mid-calf. The top was purple overlain with black netting. The skirt was mostly black with purple bow accents and purple ruffles underneath.

"Not bad," said Becker, moving around behind her. "Everything's covered," he said, exchanging smiles with Jess.

"Yeah," she said. "It's short, sexy," and she heard Becker growl, "but not vulgar or cheap." She stood in front of the mirror, turning to different angles.

"You're not in love," said Becker.

"What? Oh, you mean with the dress," she said, lowering her eyes bashfully, and blushing. Becker just smiled. "No, not really," said Jess.

"You don't seem as depressed as a few minutes ago, though."

"No, I feel better. This one is a step in the right direction." She smiled at him and went back to the booth.

She came out again, this time, wearing a 'serving wench' costume.

"What can I get you, sir?" she asked with a grin, "Some mead perhaps?"

Becker laughed. The skirt was mid-calf length and sage green, and the top was tan with brown trim. The outfit covered everything, and neither the skirt nor the neckline revealed too much.

"It's too earthy," she said, "and some idiot will try to get me to serve drinks."

She went back in, and Becker waited. She took a little longer.

"Are you OK in there?" He smirked devilishly and said, "I could come in and help."

"I'm alright," she said quietly. Her voice was frail and timid. It alarmed him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She opened the curtain and came slowly out. Becker's eyes bulged out of his head, and he looked around quickly to see if anyone was staring at her, any guys that is.

Jess was dressed as an angel, but Becker was fairly sure any respectable keeper of the gates would kick her out of heaven onto her little risque butt.

She wore a white, sheer in places teddy which was very low-cut. It had white feather accents and white lacing in front. It was paired with white stockings, and white garters. A white, feathery halo and white feathery wings completed the look.

"This is a costume?" He said. "To wear out?"

Jess was quiet. Finally she said simply. "Is it too much?"

"It's not too much," said Becker, "of anything, including feathers. This isn't an angel costume, it's too devilish."

Jess giggled slightly.

"I don't think this is what you want guys to see, not in public," said Becker.

"Yeah," said Jess. "This is pretty risque, isn't it?"

Becker nodded his head.

"Becker, as a man, if a girl wore this or something similar, is she...bad? I mean would she be "asking for it?"

"Jess, of course not. A guy is responsible for his own actions."

"Yeah, but is this...teasing?"

Becker turned her around to look at her. "No. Jess, why are you asking me this?"

Jess sighed. "I wore a black cat costume last year, and it was a lot like this. It was a black, skin-tight leotard, with black stockings and knee-high boots. The night I wore it, I had a little incident at a club."

Becker felt like someone had just hit him in the stomach. The idea of anyone hurting Jess made him physically sick. "What happened?" he asked, a little fearfully.

"I was at a costume party, and this one drunk jerk would not leave me alone. He even followed me to my car! Luckily, the place had top notch security, and they dragged him away. He shouted that I was nothing but a dirty little tease."

"Jess, that's horrible!"

"I know! I know it wasn't my fault, I do. It's just I wonder sometimes. I dress for me, mostly," she said shooting a quick glance at Becker, "I like wearing cute little outfits, but what if I am just a tease?"

"You aren't at all. Guys like that jerk would blame you if you were wearing a suit of armor."

She smiled up at him, and he hugged her. She sighed in relief. "I needed to hear that I wasn't a tease, from you especially." She said. "I had no intention of wearing this one. I just wanted to see what you thought. I feel a little better, now. I can choose."

"This is what today was about, wasn't it? You were scared to pick a costume."

"Yes. Thank you so much for coming with me."

"It was no problem. Looking at your lovely figure in all those skimpy costumes was torture, but anything for a friend." He smirked at her. She chuckled.

"I actually think I know which one I want. I'll go put it on now." As she got to the changing room, she turned around, smirked and said, "I think I'll still buy this one though, and save it, for a private audience."

Becker grinned. "I hope I don't know the guy, because if I do, I think I'd want to kill him."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You do know him, very, very well," she said, blushing. "I may wait a while to wear it," she said.

Becker just smiled. "If he's a decent bloke, he won't mind waiting."

Jess smiled and headed to the changing room. Soon, she came out. Her demeanor had changed completely. She was bold, cheerful, excited, and rambling. She was Jess.

"Isn't this perfect? It's not too short, and not too long. It's sexy but not vulgar, cute but not silly, bright but still spooky. I love it!"

Jess was spinning around in front of the mirror, stopping to pose from side to side. Becker didn't see the outfit at first, he was stuck on that smile.

The outfit was that of a witch. It had a kelly green peasant top, whose sleeves could be worn on the shoulders or off, Jess wore them off. Just below her chest, the dress turned black, covered with shiny black pearls and black glitter. The black part laced up in front, letting the green of the top peak through. Finally, the green color, in tulle, peeked out under the black skirt.

Jess wore thigh high black stockings that folded into cuffs at the top adorned with black bows. Finally, a black and green pointed witch's hat sat atop her head.

"You look adorable," he said. He walked close to her, bent down and said, "and incredibly sexy." He saw her bright smile reflected in the mirror. Gently he turned her around. "You don't look cheap, trashy or vulgar at all."

"Thank you, but you may be saying that so I don't enchant you."

"Too late. You enchanted me a long time ago," he said, making her blush. "I was thinking, if you don't have any other plans, maybe I should accompany you on Halloween."

Jess started to squeal, but held it in, making a high-pitched moan instead. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I mean, if you want."

They both laughed. "I think it might be a good idea," he said. "I can keep jerks away."

"I'd be grateful." She jumped up and kissed him, aiming for his cheek, but somehow it ended up on his lips. She pulled back, embarrassed, and not knowing what to do. "Sorry," she said finally. "I missed."

"Oh, that's a disappointment," he said, and seeing her anxiety and embarrassment replaced with a relieved grin, he pulled her close and said, "I won't miss." He then kissed her, on the lips on purpose.

It was a nice, relaxed, satisfying kiss. They eventually stopped kissing, eventually, and pulled back to look at each other. They both smiled, no regret present on either face.

"I guess I should change, and buy this one," said Jess.

"I'll be out here, waiting," he said.

She smiled, and walked slowly to the changing booth.

"Hey, Jess?" he called. "Don't forget to get the angel costume too."

She smiled, blushing. "Oh, don't worry. I won't."

The End-Chapter One