Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.

Lots of angst and arguments in this chapter! Dear, dear, as the saying goes- 'the course of true love never did run smooth!'

The venom clamors of a jealous woman poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth.
William Shakespeare

Please, please review!

Double Dating

Chapter Eighteen- Misunderstandings

The evening got off to a good start, everyone was mingling and even Abby seemed to be enjoying herself. A.J. appeared to be interested in Monica, and she was laughing and joking with him. Becker stood beside them, arm around Jess' waist, which turned her cheeks pink and made Abby smirk to herself. Jess couldn't settle, though. She kept noticing Monica's furtive glances at Becker and how her eyes had travelled from Becker's arm down to where he was holding Jess at her waist.

"So..." she began "are you two...?"

"No! Of course not!" Jess replied.

"None of your business!" Becker interjected, smiling to soften his words.

They looked at each other, and Jess felt guilty at the puzzled look Becker threw her. Why had she said 'no!' But she couldn't have said yes- she didn't know if they were together or not- well not yet! She felt upset when Becker let go of her and turned away to talk to Abby, but this evening wasn't destined to be good - she knew that, so she put on her brightest face and tried to carry on and look like she was having fun.

It seemed forever before they settled down at the table in the kitchen to have the take away Jess had ordered, and Becker hadn't been near her since she had stated so nervously that they weren't together. Jess jealously watched Becker and Monica as they laughed easily together, Monica slapping Becker's hand when he said something to her. She decided she'd been totally taken in by him- he couldn't be interested in her one little bit! She sighed sadly. How could she have been so stupid to have a crush on someone like Becker- she was just a childish 'geeky' girl and he was way out of her league!

Becker watched Jess as he talked to the others. He just didn't understand what had gone wrong. One minute they were fine- more than fine. After the kisses they had shared, he'd begun to think she felt the same as he did but she'd said 'no' so forcefully when Monica asked if they were together that she couldn't be interested after all. He hadn't thought of her as the kind of girl to kiss someone like that without it meaning anything. She was just a tease, he decided- playing with people's emotions. He wasn't all that experienced with girls, even though they seemed to like him and he felt confused and embarrassed at her vehement 'no' and even worse- 'of course not!' as if he wasn't of any importance to her at all. He's been stupid to think a girl like Jess could ever be interested in someone like him who was only interested in guns and tanks! She was way out of his league! He sighed sadly as he turned back to listen to Monica.

Abby picked at her food and finally gave up all pretence of eating.

"I'll just put some aside for Connor, he should be here soon." she announced and started spooning food onto a plate, looking at her watch. Good- it was ten minutes past nine- not long to go now! Even though she was still cross with Connor, she missed him so much, and wanted him back here in her arms dancing with her, kissing her!

A.J. began a conversation with Jess, remembering a time they'd gone out for a meal with their university friends. As they reminisced, Jess noticed Monica and Becker chatting quietly together. It appeared to her that Monica was getting too 'up and personal' with Becker for her liking- the woman had her hand on Becker's knee! Suddenly Monica leaned forward and kissed Becker on the cheek and he didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed pleased and actually laughed as she pinched his cheeks in both hands like an aunty might do to her small nephew! Jess couldn't believe it- right in front of her too! She sadly turned her attention back to A.J. - she must have misread the signals after all. Becker just wanted a girl- any girl would do. If Jess was too slow, then he'd have Monica. What a fool she'd made of herself- well, she wasn't going to give either of them the satisfaction of seeing her upset!

Jess suddenly became the life and soul of the party. She laughed and flirted with A.J. She pushed the sofas back and danced crazily around the room, partnering anyone that was near her with total abandonment. She made sure everyone's glasses were topped up, and offered them snacks and crisps. She was the perfect hostess, and to all outward appearances seemed to be having a wonderful time. When Becker finally came towards her, she veered off and made a beeline to A.J, pulling him onto the 'dance floor' and leant in to whisper in his ear, furtively glancing at Becker to see what he was doing. She wished she hadn't- he had changed direction and went to sit with Monica where they were quietly whispering together.

Suddenly deflated, Jess excused herself and went to the bathroom. Once she had locked the door, and was alone, she burst into tears, and sobs racked her body. She cried until she was all cried out. She got up from the floor where she had huddled in her grief and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked a total mess, she thought in horror. Her nose and face were red and blotchy- her eyes were swollen and her mascara had run in long streaks down her cheeks. She grabbed a handful of loo roll, and gave her nose a huge blow. This was ridiculous! She couldn't let Becker get to her like this- she wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing her fall to pieces just because he preferred Monica 'Bitch' Bishop! At least she finally knew where she stood. As she looked in the mirror at her reflection, she felt calmer and slowly repaired her make up. She nodded to herself in satisfaction when she had finished- there! Nobody would notice a thing. She sadly turned and left the bathroom- she couldn't wait until this evening was over...

~~oOOo~~

Abby was smiling at the others as they chatted or danced, sipping her wine now and again as she watched. She laughed at Jess' mad cavorting on the dance floor with A.J. But even though she was amused and having fun, she kept glancing at her watch. Nine thirty. Nine forty five. Ten- at last! She went to the window and looked out- not a sign of Connor. Where was he? He'd promised!

"You OK?" a voice said in her ear.

"Yep." She replied

"He'll be here soon, don't worry." Becker said concerned that Abby was upset- no one seemed to be having much fun tonight! Abby nodded, pretending she was fine, but she wasn't really. She knew she could trust Connor, she really did- but where was he! The door suddenly burst open, and Connor crashed through.

"Abby!" he cried loudly, making everyone jump. "I'm back! Told ya I wouldn't be late, didn't I?"

"Connor? Are you…are you drunk!"

"Course not…" Connor slurred, laughing maniacally. He put his fingers to his lips unsteadily as he continued "I haven't had a drop! Not one drop has passsssss…ed my lipssss!" He went towards Abby, tripping over his feet and landed on the floor where he giggled crazily.

Abby couldn't believe it! Here she'd been waiting for him patiently all evening, longing for him and he'd been out somewhere- drinking! How could he! She slammed off into her bedroom, leaving Connor to scramble up to sit on the couch where he immediately fell asleep, snoring loudly.

Jess was also shocked. What on earth could have possessed him to do such a thing? Connor wasn't usually like this! Someone must have coerced him into drinking too much- one of Becker's men, perhaps? Jess looked at Becker and was amazed to see him laughing with Monica.

"I don't think it's funny!" she said to them. "Poor Abby!"

"He hasn't killed anyone!" laughed Monica, "He's just a little bit drunk! Let the poor henpecked sop have some fun, hey Becker!"

Becker couldn't help himself- he just smirked at Monica's words, he thought that Temple was funny when he was drunk, which seemed to make Jess even more angry at him. He couldn't understand what was going on- he'd had a rotten night so far- for some reason she'd been mad at him all evening and she wouldn't let him come within an inch of her. She'd pushed him away and yet she was mad at him for some reason. He couldn't fathom it out! He was lucky Monica had been there to talk to him, and commiserate with him. She thought Jess was just a little immature, but she'd be fine and come round- once he could figure out what he'd done to annoy her. She'd advised him to get her alone a little later, and talk to her and sort it out.

Becker had been wonderful to her, Monica thought. He'd really helped her get over this divorce with John. He'd offered to help her move to her new flat next weekend, and even supply a few of his men to help her with the heavy furniture. She didn't have much money- John had left her with just her ARC wage to live on. After what she'd been used to as John's wife with a five bedroomed house, a pool and a huge garden, well, it seemed to her that her new lifestyle would take some getting used to! She could do it, she knew that now- it had taken Becker to help her realise that. If she could help him and support him with his blossoming relationship with Jess, she'd happily do everything she could to repay him for his kindness to her.

Jess felt her blood boil. She felt that Monica had now turned Becker totally against her and his friends. For Becker to think it was funny when Abby was so upset, especially after New Dawn was unthinkable! Monica was definitely not a good influence on Becker, she thought.

Monica and Becker started dancing slowly to a tune that Jess had been dreaming that she and Becker would dance to with their arms around each other, looking deep into each other's eyes. Becker would lean in towards her and draw her into an intimate kiss….She shook the thought away- it made her eyes fill up with tears. She quickly dashed them away and grabbed A.J. and wrapped her arms around his neck, snuggling into his shoulder as she tried to compose herself, struggling to stop the tears from falling.

Becker suddenly saw red. He'd been hoping for a nice evening- his triple date! It wasn't supposed to be like this. It should have been Jess and him- Abby and Connor and Monica and A.J. Now it seemed that all the 'couples' were split into the wrong pairs. Monica and him- Jess and A.J. - Abby alone in the bedroom and Connor drunk on the settee! He grabbed Jess' arm, spun her around and hissed at her.

"What do you think you're doing! What's going on, Jess?"

"You tell me-Becker!"

"What's going on with you and A.J?"

"What! Me and…and A.J? You…you…!"

Becker and Jess stood furiously facing each other. A.J and Monica looked around uncomfortably, unsure what to do.

"Jess…" Monica started to say tentatively…

"You! Don't you dare speak to me!" Jess screamed.

"Jess! Don't speak to Monica like that!" Becker shouted.

"It's OK, Becker…" Monica tried to intervene. This time they both turned on her...

"No! No- it's not alright! Jess, apologise to Monica!"

"Apol….apol… me! When that…that woman's ruined my date! Never!"

Abby carefully opened her door when she heard all the shouting. She peered out, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She couldn't believe what she saw. Becker and Jess were having a full blown row in the middle of the room, with A.J and Monica standing by looking like they'd like to be anywhere but here- and Connor still snoring through it all!

"I…er..I think I'd better be off." Monica said, approaching Abby.

"Me too!" A.J. agreed. "I'll give you a lift if you like?"

"Thanks!" Monica accepted.

"I'm so sorry it's ended like this!" Abby said to the pair as she showed them out. "I don't understand what's gotten into them!"

"They'll be fine- a lover's tiff. Sexual Tension, and all that! That's all! Well, goodbye, Abby- I hope it all works out…"

Abby slowly closed the door, turning back into the room where Becker and Jess were still yelling at each other. Connor was finally woken up by the noise and sat there stammering drunkenly.

"Wha? What's goin on?"

Becker finally had enough. "I'm leaving! You can have your precious A.J! I don't care anymore! What kind of a stupid name is A.J anyway!"

He barged his way towards the door. Jess shouting after him "It's short for Andrew James! A nickname! Even you must know what a nickname is. And talking of stupid names… Hilary...!"

The door slammed shut to the sound of silence. Jess just stood in the middle of the room, a shocked look on her face.

"What?" said Connor again.

Abby rounded on him. "And you can get out too! Go on! OUT!" With that, she threw his leather jacket at him, hitting him full in the face, which started him giggling furiously again. She grabbed him by the collar and all but dragged him to the door.

In between laughing, Connor managed to stutter "But Abby- where am I gonna go!" giggle "No… no it's not funny" giggle "really, Abby…I…" But the door had slammed behind him.

"Go to your mate Becker!" he heard Abby call. "You belong together!"

Jess and Abby looked at each other- sadness on Jess' face, tears streaming down her cheeks, fury on Abby's face.

"I'll get the ice cream!" Abby announced.

"I'll get the spoons!" Jess smiled through her tears.

To Be Continued…..

So sorry about all the angst- things will look a lot better in the morning- or will they? Watch this space to find out!