Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate: Atlantis or any of it's characters. I'm just playing in their world.

Author's Note: With the New Year approaching, I thought I'd issue another challenge since it's been a while since the last round. For those of you waiting for my next big story, I assure you that it is in the works. That one should start posting sometime early January. For now, enjoy this little flash and, if you'd like, take up the challenge at the end. Enjoy! ~lg

oOo

Jennifer Keller had never been on a successful date in her life. Oh, she'd had the odd date here and there, but those ended in disaster. Either she made a medical comment that turned the guy's stomach, or he expected more of her than she wanted to give. No matter the cause, she'd never shared a romantic dinner with anyone. With New Year's approaching, she decided she wanted to go on a date. Not just any date. She wanted a successful date that led to more dates and, maybe, a relationship.

Normally, her single status wouldn't have bothered her, but things had changed in recent months. Her appointment to Atlantis had exposed her to some of the more horrific things the universe could offer. And she'd discovered that she wanted someone waiting for her when she returned home, someone to hold her, comfort her, and listen to her. But she refused to compromise her personal ideals. Deciding that she'd been alone long enough, Jennifer made a New Year's resolution: she would find herself someone with whom to spend her time.

And she had someone in mind. One of Atlantis's most eligible bachelors, he was the subject of many rumors. Everything from his marital status to orientation floated around the city as woman after woman tried and failed to get his attention. Some speculated that he had a wife or a girlfriend back on Earth. Others thought his tastes swung the other way. Still some thought that, maybe, he'd been widowed young, leaving him unwilling to have a relationship. Jennifer didn't know which of those rumors—if any—to believe. But she needed to know if she had a chance.

The infirmary doors opened, and he walked in, looking rather angry. Dirt covered him from head to toe, and he glared at his team member. Jennifer pushed herself off of her stool, wiped her hands on the legs of her pants, and walked his direction. "Major?"

He turned, his glare melting away into an unreadable mask. "Hey, Doc. We're here to have our hearing examined."

She gave him an uncertain glance. "I can definitely administer hearing tests along with your post-mission exams." She fell back on years of training and led him to a bed. "What, exactly, happened?"

"Coughlin happened." He sounded so irritated that Jennifer almost laughed. She smiled, and he frowned. "Doc?"

"Sorry." She shrugged. "You just sounded like a little kid who didn't get his way."

Her comment broke through the anger, and he actually chuckled. "Sorry about that."

"Now, what really happened out there?" Jennifer continued the exam, listening as he told how Coughlin had detonated some experimental explosives without warning. After assuring him that his hearing was just fine, she sent him on his way, sighing as he left the infirmary.

Just how was she to get Major Evan Lorne to agree to a date?

~TBC

The New Year's Resolution Challenge: In no less than 300 and no more than 500 words, write a flash of your favorite SGA character(s) making and keeping a New Year's Resolution. This one comes to 487 words on my word processor, minus disclaimer and author's notes. Hope you enjoy the challenge! ~lg