Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis because I would not cancel it.

Spoiler: Trio, Kindred 1&2, The Seed, The Shrine

A/N: This is my first fan fiction, so I'm quite nervous about the reaction. If anyone thinks I should continue the story, please review and let me know. Thanks for Reading!

"So…the next time I'm in the infirmary, I'm gonna tell her how she can really make it all better."

The laughter and back slapping that accompanied the completion of the young Marine's story about Doctor Jennifer Keller was the final straw for Rodney McKay. He was heading for the Gate Room and their next mission, but he abruptly stopped and turned to face the Marines. He had never been so angry in his life and that was saying something. If there was one thing Rodney was known for throughout his career, it was being angry. What set him off this particular morning were the comments these young Marines had made about his Jennifer. He didn't know when he started thinking of her as his, but he did. He felt as if she was always there, even before he met her. Poor Katie Brown never really had a chance. Normally, he would never give any indication of his feelings to her or anyone else but a sudden possessive, protective side of Rodney that he did not know he had reared itself.

"Doctor Keller is the Chief Medical Officer of this expedition and patches up you morons after your stupidity gets the best of you day after day. She does so with grace and genuine concern for your well-being, which you obviously don't understand or you'd never speak about her in such a…a…vulgar juvenile manner!" Rodney snapped at them. "If I ever hear of any of you saying anything like that about Doctor Keller again, I'll…"

He could not get it out. How dare they talk about Jennifer like that? She was the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate person he knew. She greeted everyone with a smile and wanted nothing but the best for them. He knew how upset she got when anyone died or got seriously injured and that she dedicated every waking moment of her life to saving him from the parasite that invaded his brain and saving Carson after they rescued him from Michael. The snarky astrophysicist felt his hands clench into fists and was ready to take a swing at them.

"You talking to me?" said the largest of the three Marines, laughing. They were all much larger than Rodney now that he really looked at them making him realize that he was going to be visiting the infirmary much sooner than he had planned. It was too bad because Jennifer was going on this away mission and would not be there to patch up the damage these guys were going to inflict.

"Who do you think you are, DeNiro?" a female voice said from behind McKay.

"More like Jackass" said another slightly deeper female voice.

Rodney wanted to turn and see who it was, but was afraid to take his eyes off the three big Marines.

Lieutenant Laura Cadman and Sergeant Dusty Mehra came up on either side of him. Dusty was holding a really big gun over her left shoulder. Laura had a pissed off expression on her face.

"I'll finish McKay's threat from earlier," said Dusty in a calm voice. "If we ever hear any of you talking like that about Doctor Keller, I'll ram this…"

"Good Morning everyone" came the voice of Major Lorne. He apparently did not sense the tension as he approached.

All the soldiers came to attention and turned to face the Major. He nodded to them and McKay, who returned the nod.

The three young Marines filed into the Gate Room after Major Lorne while Dusty and Laura stayed with Rodney.

"Who would've thought you had it in you." said Dusty shaking her head and smirking with an admiring grin.

"That took some nerve to stand up to those Jarheads. I'm really proud of you. We all knew you have the hots for Jennifer, but this means you really care about her." Added Laura with a huge grin on her face.

Laura laughed as Rodney looked horror-struck. Are my feelings that obvious? Dusty just laughed and shook her head. Laura threw an arm around Rodney's shoulder and leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek. "That was the sweetest thing I've ever seen. Maybe I'll find a guy like you to defend my honor some day." Laura kept her arm around him all the way to the Gate Room.

"What honor?" Dusty could not stop laughing.

"Thanks," was all Rodney could mutter. He really was thankful they showed up. He knew they could each kick his ass and had no doubt they could take down the three Marines as well. He also knew that they both liked Jennifer. He saw her with Laura, Dusty, Major Anne Teldy, and Amelia Banks having lunch at least once a week. Sometimes Teyla joined them. Jennifer said it was a female-bonding thing and that he would never understand.

Doctor Jennifer Keller stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Laura kiss Rodney. Rodney did not pull away from her as they walked with her arm around him. The normally flustered Rodney McKay she knew and loved was nowhere to be seen.

Cadman and McKay? She had read the file about their incident, but did not really believe it. Laura and Rodney? It can't be. Yet there they were in front of her. Laura had kissed Rodney. She was touching him and he was not pulling away.

Jennifer had been looking forward to this mission for several days. Delivering some medical supplies and showing the villagers how to use them would be easy. There were some Marines going to train the villagers on how to use the new weapons Woolsey agreed to supply them with. Jennifer was hoping to spend some time alone with Rodney. He had not been to this planet before and there was an Ancient temple close to the village. She was positive he would like to poke around and look for Ancient technology. It was not much of a date, but at least they would have a little time to do something together. She still had not gotten up the nerve to ask him on a real date. The drink after the Genii mining incident did not really count. He had saved her life, so she owed him.

"Hey, are you okay?" Ronon's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"What?" Jen replied blankly.

"Are you okay?" Ronon had concern in his voice. He saw Jennifer staring into the Gate Room like she had seen a ghost.

"Yes, I'm fine" Jennifer decided she was going to ignore Rodney and Laura. It was for the best. Rodney would never be interested in a Voodoo Doctor anyways. Besides, she did not really think the words Rodney told her while infected with the parasite were true. He never seemed to have much recollection of what happened when they talked about it. He thanked her for saving him and apologized for how mean his team and sister were to her, but that was all.

"Good Morning, Doc. Looks like it's going to be a great day."

Jennifer looked up and saw Laura Cadman standing in front of her with a big grin on her face. Jennifer was suddenly angrier than she had ever been in her life and felt like taking a swing at Laura. She had never hit anyone in her life, but this was killing her. Laura, who claimed to be her friend, had kissed Rodney. Something that Jennifer wanted to do more than breathe.

"It might be for some, Lieutenant," She said in a frosty voice as she walked past Laura knocking into her shoulder.

Laura was floored. What happened to Jennifer? Did she hear what those Jarheads said and was upset? She followed after her friend. "Hey, wait up. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Jennifer said as coldly as possible and turned around to inspect the cases that were getting loaded in the jumper.

"Good morning, Jennifer," came the voice of Rodney McKay. He was very excited she was coming and hoped to get some time alone with her on the planet. She mentioned an Ancient Temple near the village. Maybe we can go there, alone.

Jennifer glared at him and said, "For some."

Rodney stared after her with a shocked expression. What had he done? He never remembered Jennifer being angry at him, even when he did not follow all of her medical instructions or when he insulted her. Something was definitely wrong. The protective side of him that showed itself this morning was still in control, so he vowed to find out what upset her and fix it.

She stormed past him and started yelling at the two medical technicians who were accompanying them. She scolded them for packing things wrong and she yelled at Major Lorne when he asked if she was okay.

"Do I look like I'm dying or something? I'm sick of everyone asking if I'm okay. I AM FINE!!"

Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard entered the Gate Room and walked toward the jumper. Jennifer turned to see him and growled, "Colonel Sheppard, I don't think your team has enough to do. You might want to give them more gear to pack."

Sheppard and Lorne looked at each other with raised eyebrows. "Lover's quarrel?" John asked Lorne. Lorne shook his head. Jennifer and Rodney, I hope not. He had no idea what set Jennifer off and had never seen her angry in the almost two years he knew her.

As she turned to enter the jumper, she was fighting back tears. What was going on? She was mad at Rodney and Laura. She should not be mean to everyone else and should not really be upset with Rodney. He finally found a woman he was comfortable enough with to let her kiss him in public. He was always flustered when she was near him. Oh No. She has been chasing after him and he was being nice instead of just telling her to get lost. Why didn't she see it before? She sat with him and his team in the mess hall, went down to his lab, always went to treat him when he came into the infirmary and ... My God, I'm stalking him. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall of the jumper. What an idiot?