Last part! Thank you so much to those who've been reading it x

Monday morning dawned far sooner that she would like it to. Jess reluctantly dragged herself out of bed when the alarm on her phone went off for a third time and stood in front of her wardrobe, debating what to wear, needing an outfit that wouldn't draw too much attention as being 'unJess-like' but one that would make sure everything that needed to be covered was.

One long-sleeved button up blouse and pencil-skirt later, she left her flat without having anything but a quick cup of coffee for breakfast, not sure she'd be able to keep anything else down as her stomach was churning too much with nervous anticipation.

When she got to the ARC and made it through the second security checkpoint without seeing any sign of Becker, she began to worry that maybe she'd left him too early. Maybe he'd still been under the virus's influence when she'd crept out of his flat, maybe...

No. She shook herself mentally as she stood in the lift and hit the button for the right floor. If he hadn't been safely out of the danger zone, he would have followed her to her flat. He would have known he'd be welcome... wouldn't he?

Lost in her thoughts, Jess didn't notice the person waiting for the lift to arrive when it reached her floor until she stepped out and almost walked into them. Looking up when she felt hands on her shoulders keeping her upright, her eyes widened in surprise to find a very sheepish, very embarrassed Sergeant Harrison standing in front of her.

Struggling to keep her voice calm – and to keep from instinctively looking around to see if there was anyone else in the vicinity – Jess forced a smile. "Good morning, Keith. Are you feeling better?"

"Much, yeah. Thank you." Harrison ran a hand through his hair, his posture tense and awkward. "I was just... Doc Fraiser just released me from the med bay but I'm off duty for the next week. I was going to look for you, actually. I hoped I'd get a chance to see you before I left."

"Oh?" She tried to keep her voice steady. "You were looking for me?"

"I wanted to apologise." Harrison let his hand drop to his side and met her gaze. "I would never hurt you, Jess. I never meant... If I could go back and change it, I would."

Her features softened into a genuine smile and Jess reached out to touch his arms. "It's okay, Keith. Really. You're not to blame for it. You weren't yourself; it was the virus."

"That's what I keep telling myself but it's gonna take a while for it to sink in, I think." His expression was troubled, his eyes shadowed. "But thank you for being understanding. And I'm sorry, again. Now if only I could find the Captain to apologise, I'd be on my way out of here."

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of Becker but she tried to cover it with a smile. "I'm sure he'll forgive you for the fighting," she said instead, thinking that Becker couldn't possibly hold a grudge against the other man when he knew what it was like to be under the influence of the virus's thrall. "He might challenge you to a rematch, though," she added with forced cheer, "just to prove he can beat you when you're not hyped up on prehistoric viruses."

"He's never had any problem there," Harrison admitted with a wry grin. "But I should really apologise for that, and for making a move, if you could call it that, on his girl."

For a moment, Jess was going to ask who else he'd made a move on. And then she realised he meant her, and couldn't help the surprised laugh that bubbled out of her, cringing when she heard it and realised it sounded almost bitter. "I think you're safe on that score, Sergeant. I'm definitely not his girl."

She told herself she didn't sound disappointed but wasn't sure Harrison was convinced when he gave her a solemn look. "If you say so."

"I do." Jess started to move past him when movement out of the corner of her eye stopped her. She knew, even before turning to look, who was approaching by the way Harrison suddenly tensed and stood at attention. Fixing what she hoped was a convincing smile on her face, Jess turned to greet Becker as he covered the distance between them. "Morning, Becker. Keith was just looking for you so I'll leave you to it."

Becker's expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and searching when they locked with hers. "Jess, I need to speak to you."

"It can wait. Keith needs to see you first, before he goes." She turned back to Harrison before Becker could reply. "Enjoy your week off," she told him lightly, "and please, don't worry about it. You've got nothing to apologise for."

Harrison flashed a quick grin in her direction. "Thank you."

Giving him a wave, Jess skirted past Becker and hurried to the hub, knowing he wouldn't risk causing a scene.

He knew she was avoiding him and, at first, he couldn't blame her.

And then he read Doctor Fraiser's report.

Stalking through the corridors of the ARC, Becker didn't care about the curious glances he got on his way towards the hub. He was almost there when Matt appeared as if from nowhere, blocking his route.

"Get out of the way, Matt," Becker ordered gruffly, his eyes narrowed.

"Not until you hear what I have to say." Matt spoke casually, shrugging when Becker only glared at him. "I know."

"You know what?" Becker asked, distracted by thoughts of how he was going to get past the team leader.

Matt glanced along the corridor to check they were alone but lowered his voice anyway. "I know what Jess did."

Becker stared at him, gaping for a moment. Annoyance and anger flashed in his eyes and he grabbed Matt's arm roughly, dragging the other man into an empty room just off the corridor. "What do you mean 'you know'? Did you tell her?"

Pulling his arm free, Matt reminded himself that Becker was justified in his anger and moved to lean against one of the tables in the room. "She overheard me talking Emily out of sending a security team to retrieve you."

"Did you tell her what to do?" Becker's eyes flashed. "Damn it, Matt. She could have been hurt."

"I had nothing to do with what she did." Matt crossed his arms over his chest. "It was entirely Jess's decision, and I think we both know why she made it."

His jaw clenched, Becker began to pace the small room. "She shouldn't have done it. You shouldn't have let her."

"So we should've let you go crazy instead? Or maybe kept her at the ARC and waited until you were completely under the influence of the virus and came back looking for her?" Matt shook his head. "It was the best way, Becker. At least this way, you both had a choice."

"A choice?" Becker stopped pacing long enough to scowl. "You think either of us really had a choice in what we did?"

"Jess chose to go to you. To be honest, I don't think she actually thought it was her you'd, well, need." Matt shrugged when Becker only looked at him. "Look, let's cut to the chase. Jess went to you because she knew you wouldn't be able to admit you needed help. She decided to lie because even though she doubts you have the same kind of feelings for her, she knew it was the only way you'd let her help you."

"I. Hurt. Her." Becker spoke through gritted teeth, guilt and regret in his voice. "I was rough with her. Damn it, I swore I would never... I promised myself I would never hurt her."

"You'll hurt her more if you go and shout at her now." Matt held Becker's gaze and stood up straighter. "She's been avoiding you all day because she's scared, Becker. Not because she thinks you're going to hurt her physically, but because she thinks you're going to break her heart and tell her it meant nothing to you. That it was a mistake."

"It was a mistake," Becker bit out. "It wasn't supposed to happen that way."

"But you admit it was supposed to happen. Or would've done, eventually." A flicker of triumph flashed in Matt's eyes. "Just tell her. Tell her you regret that it happened the way it did but you don't regret that it did happen. You can't be angry with her, mate, when you know if the situation was reversed, you'd have done the same thing in a heartbeat."

Becker shook his head in denial. "I wouldn't have done that. I wouldn't have taken advantage..."

Matt's eyebrows shot up. "You think Jess took advantage of you?"

"No, but it's not the same..." Becker shook his head and ran a hand through his hair in obvious frustration. "She'd just been attacked, Matt. She was vulnerable..."

"It was her choice," Matt repeated firmly. "One she made because that girl is completely head over heels in love with you and knew how much you'd hate it if we sent out a team of your own men to drag you back here. Remember that when you go and see her, Becker. Remember that whatever you say or do the next time you see her could have an impact on the future of your relationship with her. Screw it up and you might not get a second chance."

With his advice issued, Matt strode out of the room, leaving Becker alone to brood and think about what he'd said.

When Becker had composed himself enough to go and see Jess, it was to find that she'd done the unthinkable and actually left on time for once. Admitting defeat, Becker headed for his truck. He made it halfway home before turning around, knowing from his experience the night before that there was no way he'd be able to sleep in the bed he'd shared with Jess without her in it.

Avoiding him had been surprisingly easy. Of course, it helped that she was the Field Co-ordinator and had passed along several requests for information that only the Head of Security could provide, keeping Becker busy until late afternoon.

Once she was safely behind the locked door of her flat, Jess let herself relax. She made it to the stairs leading up to her bedroom and bathroom, planning on taking a long, hot bath to soothe her nerves before indulging in a Chinese takeaway from the place around the corner, when she heard the determined knock on the front door.

Swallowing hard, she spun on her heel and walked to the entryway. She stood at the top of the three small steps leading down to the door, biting her lip as the knocking sounded again.

"I know you're there, Jess. I saw your car outside." Hearing Becker's voice wasn't a huge surprise to her, but she told herself it was surprise and nothing else that caused her heart to speed up. He knocked again, the gesture sounding impatient. "You're not the only one who can pick locks, you know."

Gaping at the door, her face flushing with the thought that if he remembered that little aspect of their time together, there was no way she could still cling to the thin hope she was holding that he wouldn't remember all of the other details, too. She slowly took one step down, still standing two steps above the entryway, when she heard the click of the lock as he made good on his threat.

The door swung open and she froze, staring at him through wide eyes as he let himself into her flat and kicked the door shut behind him.

The expression in his eyes surprised her. There was heat, yes, but not anger. Determination, but also a glimmer of nerves.

Before she could ask what he had to feel nervous about, Becker covered the gap between them and took advantage of her being just that little bit higher up than him, taking her face in his hands and holding her still as he kissed her.

Softly. Sweetly. Tentatively. As if he expected her to push him away.

Knowing she could never do that, Jess lifted her arms to rest her hands on his shoulders and kissed him back, letting her eyes slide shut even as a tear slid down her cheek.

Breaking the kiss abruptly, Becker let his forehead rest against hers, his hands moving to her waist to hold her steady. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his own eyes closed. "I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"You didn't." When she heard him huff in disagreement, Jess opened her eyes and pulled back enough to look at him. "No more than I hurt you," she added, cheeks flushing again at the thought of the scratches she knew marred the smooth skin of his back. "I'm sorry I lied to you. But I knew it was the only way you'd let me help and Matt said..." Her blush deepened and she pulled away, suddenly feeling self conscious. "Um. Why are you here? You're not still...?"

"No. No, I'm fine." A little awkwardly, Becker let one of his hands fall from her waist to his side, lifting the other to run a hand through his hair. "Why did you do it, Jess? Why did you take the risk?"

Jess opened her mouth to speak but closed it without answering. She turned away from him instead, walking up the step into the main part of her flat. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, I'd like an answer." He followed her, walking up behind her as she stood at the counter, staring at the kettle. He put his arms either side of her, effectively trapping her but knowing he'd take a step back the moment she looked uncomfortable – or scared. "Please, Jess. I need to know."

"You already do." Her voice was quiet, her shoulders slumped. "What reason could I possibly have for doing what I did instead of reporting you to Lester?"

"I need to hear you say it."

"Why?" Her voice developed an edge, and Jess turned in the circle of his arms to stare up at him, blue eyes narrowed as she searched his face. "I think I've always worn my heart on my sleeve where you're concerned. You can't tell me you don't know."

"There's a different between hoping for something and knowing it for certain."

"Hoping?"

"Please, Jess." He shifted so he could lean his forehead against hers.

Closing her eyes, Jess exhaled on a shaky sigh. "I did it because I love you. Because I'm in love with you. And I know you don't feel the same way, and it could have been anyone and I was just convenient or it's because I was the nearest one to you when you were infected but that doesn't mean I'd do it any differently if we were in this situation again and I could..."

The press of his lips against hers, and the way he slid a hand into her hair to support her head as he deepened the kiss made her gasp and lift her hands to cling to him. It was nothing like the kisses they'd shared over the weekend they'd spent together, which had been passionate and desperate and driven by physical need and lust. It was almost... loving?

"It couldn't have been anyone else, Jessica," he murmured against her lips as the kiss came to a natural end. "It could only be you. It will always only be you." Pushing the hair back from her face, Becker pulled back to gaze at her. He inhaled slowly, as if steeling himself for saying the words she needed to hear. "I love you, Jess Parker."

"Really?" She couldn't stop herself, the disbelieving question popped out before she could stop it, accompanied by a blush as she bit her lip and looked up at him.

Becker grinned, relaxing now the words were out in the open between them. "Really." He cupped her cheek, kissed her again. "I'm just so sorry..." His hand moved so he could put his finger over her lips when she started to protest. "That it had to happen that way. It should've been different. I should've taken you to dinner, wined and dined you. Bought you flowers and chocolates."

Jess smiled at him, lifting her hand to take hold of his. "You can always take me to dinner now. Well, maybe not now, exactly, but soon."

Something akin to disappointment flashed in his eyes. "You have plans for tonight?"

Thinking of the bath and the takeaway she'd planned on having, Jess looped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him. "Nothing that can't be adapted for two."

End.