Disclaimer: I do not own SGA or the characters.
A/N: This is a sequel to The Hunt and The Training Plan. Although it may not seem obvious at the start it does follow on from The Training Plan. It starts after Tracker. It will eventually be a Ronon - Jennifer story.
"Dr Keller?" Woolsey asked looking up from his computer. "Is there a problem?"
"Do you have a minute?"
"Um, of course, please come in." He said saving his report and giving his full attention to Jennifer. "There is still no news on Kiryk I'm afraid." He stated as he guessed the reason for Jennifer's visit.
"I know, well I assumed I would have heard if there had been."
"Well, quite." Woolsey agreed, when Jennifer said nothing else he asked. "Is Celise okay?"
"Yes, she is recovering very well."
"That's good." Woolsey commented. When Jennifer did not respond he shifted in his seat waiting patiently. When she continued sitting in silence he said.
"I am just finishing the report for your last mission, you handled yourself remarkably well. I am glad to see you are putting in so much training. I imagine it is not easy fitting it in round everything else." When Jennifer continued to sit silently he decided to be direct and asked.
"Dr Keller is there something I can help you with?"
"Um, yes." She said, before pausing as if she was drawing strength. Finally she said. "I would like to spend more time off world."
"Of course." Woolsey replied before his mind caught up with what he heard. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I would like to spend more time off world." Jennifer said, more confidently this time.
"Why?"
"Part of my role is to discover new technologies or techniques that could help the field."
"Which you do." Woolsey pointed out.
"Mainly from the infirmary. I let others in my team do the hard work, going off world, then I try to come up with a way of using their findings. I think the process would be more efficient if I spent more time off world, seeing effects and uses first hand."
"You are sure about this?" Woolsey asked. "I mean no offence when I say this, but you have not had the best track record stepping through the gate."
"I know. You think I am not capable?"
"Not at all. I think you are more than capable, but I would have thought you would prefer to not have the stress. If this is what you want I will support your decision."
"It is."
"When would you like to start?"
"Today?" Jennifer questioned.
"Dr Keller, has something happened to cause your sudden desire to go through the gate?" He asked concerned.
"No." Jennifer replied quickly, causing Woolsey to pin her with a long hard stare. When Jennifer remained unmoved he said.
"Very well. If you are sure. Colonel Sheppard's team is going to-"
"No." Jennifer suddenly interrupted.
"No?"
"I mean isn't it dangerous to have the heads of military, science and medicine all on the same mission?" Jennifer said.
"Well yes, but that never normally stops anyone here."
"As you said I have not had the best luck, isn't it best not to risk the majority of the senior staff?"
"Well, yes." Woolsey conceded. "Very well. Major Lorne is also leading a mission this afternoon, assuming you have no objections."
"None."
"Very well. The briefing is at ten."
"Thank you." Jennifer smiled as she stood.
"Dr Keller," Woolsey said. "I want you to know that if there is anything you want to talk about my door is always open."
"Thank you." Jennifer replied before leaving.
-00-
"Anything else?" John asked as the briefing drew to an end.
"As always I ask you not to start a war on another front." Woolsey said.
"I will do my best." John shrugged.
"Good. That will be all then." Woolsey said. As everyone stood he added. "Colonel Sheppard, could I speak to you privately?" The request causing everyone to stop and look at John. Looking back at his team he said.
"Go get ready." Before sitting down again.
Woolsey waited for everyone to go and the door to shut before saying. "I would like to discuss something, off the record."
"Um, sure." John said surprised with the request.
"I don't want what we are about to discuss to be discussed with anyone else, including your team."
"Okay." John said starting to feel uneasy.
"Have you or your team had any falling out with Dr Keller?"
"No. Why?" John questioned.
"She came to see me this morning and asked to go on more off-world missions."
"She did? That seems strange." John said.
"The strange part was when I suggested going with your team today she resisted."
"She say why?"
"Just that it was dangerous to have the heads of military, science and medicine all on the same mission, but it was clearly an excuse, albeit completely valid."
"So you grounded her?"
"No, she is going out with Major Lorne's team."
"Is that wise? If she is having issues she shouldn't be out on a mission."
"Normally I would agree, but the mission is a simple trade with a risk rating of two. I am hoping being on an uneventful mission will help."
"I don't like it." John said.
"I can tell, but she was adamant she wanted to go. I don't think it is wise to stop her. I have every confidence in Major Lorne. We are having this discussion so you can work out why she is trying to avoid your team. I will work on why she wants to go off world."
-00-
"What's wrong? The lack of kidnapping boring you?" Lorne asked, worried with how quiet Jennifer had been all mission.
"Sorry, what?" Jennifer asked as she was pulled from her thoughts.
"You okay doc?" Lorne asked.
"Why?"
"You have been a bit distant all mission."
"I'm fine." Jennifer assured him.
"Try to relax, we'll look after you." Lorne said. "It's about time you had a simple mission, try to enjoy it." When Jennifer didn't respond and seemed to be so lost in her thoughts the Major wasn't sure if she remembered he was there he reached out and grabbed her shoulder causing Jennifer to visibly flinch.
"Sorry." He said, quickly letting go, "didn't mean to pull you out of your thoughts so quickly. You just seemed to be somewhere else."
"It's fine. I was just thinking about my research." Jennifer said.
"Right, okay then. I'll leave you to it then."
-00-
"Welcome back Colonel." Woolsey said as John's team walked through the gate.
"Woolsey." John nodded. "As hoped, no new wars." He grinned.
"That's good. If there is nothing urgent, head to the infirmary and we'll debrief in two hours."
"Sounds like a plan." John said noticing Ronon and Rodney were rushing out of the control room. Throwing a suspicious look at their backs he noted he should query their rush later before looking back at Woolsey and asking.
"Lorne back yet?"
"He is. The whole mission was uneventful."
"Good." John replied, "I'll catch you in a bit." With that he and Teyla left the control room only to be stopped just outside by Lorne.
"Major." John greeted.
"Sir, can I have a word in private?"
"I will see you in the infirmary." Teyla said walking off.
"Is this about today's extra team member?" John guessed.
"Yes Sir."
"I thought the mission went without a problem?"
"It did Sir."
"But?"
"The doc wasn't her normal self. She was really withdrawn and jumpy."
"You ask her about it?"
"Yeah, she insisted she was fine and was concentrating on some research problem."
"But you didn't buy it?" John guessed.
"Not really."
"So she didn't mention being ticked with anyone on my team?"
"No. Should she?"
"No idea. Apparently she asked not to go on my team's mission."
-00-
"Hey Jennifer." Rodney smiled as he beat Ronon into the infirmary.
"McKay." She said barely looking up from her computer.
"I'm here for my check up." He said, his smile faltering at hearing her use his surname.
"Dr Cole is handling them." Jennifer said.
"Right, I'll go over there then." Rodney said backing away. Having seen the exchange Ronon asked.
"You okay doc?"
"Fine." Jennifer said, not looking up from her screen.
"So you want to train later?"
"No, I'm good. In fact I think I have learnt all I can for now. With our busy schedules I think it would be easier if I joined a class instead."
"If that's what you want." Ronon said taken aback.
"It is."
"Ok." He said before he withdrew and sat near Rodney.
"Hey doc." John greeted as he entered the infirmary and walked up to Jennifer, unaware of the recent exchanges. "I hear you actually had a mission where nothing went wrong." He smiled.
"Colonel." Jennifer replied. "You here for your post mission check?"
"Yeah." He said, surprised with her abrupt tone.
"Okay, well Dr Cole will be done with the others in a minute."
"Okay." John said, wondering what he had done to upset the doctor. His next question was cut off by Jennifer tapping her ear.
"Keller here." She said before listening and adding. "Do we know anything else?...Okay we'll be right up." She finished causing John to raise an eyebrow.
"you're needed in the gateroom. Jumper accident, we're needed on a rescue mission. I'll meet you on Jumper one."
"Who's involved?" John asked.
"Don't know." Jennifer said apologetically.
"Which bags do you need?" John asked.
"Those three." Jennifer said nodding at three large bags on the shelf.
"Chewie, get over here, carry these up to the Jumper bay. I'll meet you there." With that he ran up to the gateroom.
-00-
When he finally made it to the Jumper he checked his team and Jennifer were there before shutting the door and launching.
"What happened?" Teyla asked.
"Team eleven radioed in to say that they had engine failure and were crashing. Since then no radio contact." John explained.
"Which one is eleven?" Rodney asked.
"Andersen's team." John said.
Sitting alone in the back of the Jumper no one saw Jennifer stiffen.
"Rodney when we are through start scanning, look for anything that is a distress beacon or wreckage."
"I know the drill." Rodney replied as he changed the heads up display.
"Anything?" John asked Rodney.
"Yeah, picking up a signal." Rodney said. "Red dot on the screen." He added as he tried to radio the Jumper. After several failed attempts he said. "No answer." Moments later they saw the Jumper crashed into the ground.
"Looks like a crash." John said scanning the area for hostile forces, as he landed the Jumper. "Keep trying to reach them." He ordered Rodney.
Once the Jumper was landed Sheppard's team immediately went to work trying to access the crushed and mangled Jumper and communicate with the team.
"Anything?" John asked Rodney after several minutes.
"No, but the Jumper is emitting a whole heap of abnormal signals, could be throwing the signals off. Which could be why they're not responding to radio."
"Okay, I'm going to try to get in." John said.
"Not going to work." Ronon said as he tried to remove wreckage. "No way you'll fit through there. Even Teyla would struggle."
"I could do it." Jennifer said, causing the men to turn towards her.
"She'd fit." Ronon agreed. "But we don't know what it is like closer to the cockpit."
"You sure you're okay doing this?" John asked, not entirely happy throwing the CMO into a potentially dangerous situation when something was causing a shift in her behaviour.
When she nodded John took her bag from her and warned. "Careful. The fumes probably aren't good for your health."
Silently nodding Jennifer slid through the wreckage and into the cockpit where she was greeted by four still bodies. Three on the ground and one still in the pilot's seat. Moving to each body on the floor she checked for vitals shaking her head when she found none. Finally she made it to Andersen in the pilot's position she reached out to take his pulse, shutting her eyes and pausing momentarily before touching his neck. Finding no pulse she slid out through the wreckage and looked at John.
"I'm sorry, they're all gone."
TBC
