"Jennifer, there's something I wanted to, um. . .while I still remember, while I still can; there's something I wanted to say before, um. . . ."
Keller waited behind the video camera, knowing Rodney would get around to sharing what was on his mind. He couldn't be rushed, but he did need to be encouraged. She nodded to him. "Go ahead."
"I. . .I. . .I love you."
Jennifer drew in a sharp breath at the statement.
"I've loved you for some time now," Rodney continued. He smiled, looked down, and then regained his composure. "Okay. Where was I?"
Jennifer stared, unable to answer him. She didn't know half of the things that he knew. She couldn't solve even a fraction of the equations he did in his head. And he loved her? Since when?
As he finished his memorized script, she forced herself to act natural. To ignore the stirring within her chest. She'd been drawn to Rodney McKay before, particularly after he saved her life in that Genii mine. But this was different. She already grieved for him. If he died before she found a cure. . . . She refused to complete the thought. Too much depended on her ability to find a cure.
Jennifer Keller knew the truth, and she let out a deep breath. Her heart depended on Rodney McKay's continued survival. On his snappy comments and irritating hypochondria. Without him coming into the infirmary, where would she be? She shook the thoughts and returned to her work. She would find a cure. And, after she did. . . .She smiled. Once she found a cure and returned Rodney to himself, she planned to make sure he remembered this statement every day for the rest of his life.
Author's Note: So, since issuing a challenge of my own, I thought I might want to take up this one after all. I've always loved this little bit of "The Shrine" and decided to record Jennifer's thoughts at the time of the incident. It comes to 299 words minus the author's note. Special thanks to Gateworld for the transcript of the episode. Hope you enjoy. ~lg