Jennifer sat on the porch waiting for her father to return, chastising herself for forgetting her keys in her room on Atlantis. She was just beginning to doze when something warm and wet rubbed against her hand. Jumping she looked down and saw a welcome friend.
"Max!" She said rubbing her dog's head. Looking over the dog, who was affectionately trying to lick his way into her focus, she saw two figures approach the house. Standing, much to the dog's excitement, she started to walk towards the figures.
"Jennifer is that you?" One of the figures called before walking faster towards the house.
"Dad!" Jennifer said as she reached her father who immediately drew her into a hug. "I've missed you."
"Me too sweetheart. What are you doing here?"
"Um, I had some last minute leave and thought I'd surprise you. Happy Birthday, by the way." She said pulling away. It was then she remembered her father had been with someone and asked looking over his shoulder at the stranger loitering in the background. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Um?" her father started, looking a little lost.
"I'm talking about the woman standing behind you." Jennifer prompted.
"Oh right. About that, I hadn't planned on telling you like this, but I am kind of seeing someone." He said sheepishly.
"You going to introduce us?" Jennifer asked.
"Introduce you?" Her father repeated a little flustered. His awkwardness bringing another smile to Jennifer's face. "Oh right." He added turning to face the other woman and said. "This is Dawn. Dawn, Jennifer."
"Jennifer, it is so nice to finally meet you." Dawn greeted. "Your father is always talking about you."
"Nice to meet you too." Jennifer replied.
"I should go." Dawn said. "You need time to catch up."
"Please don't leave on my account. I'm the one who dropped in unannounced." Jennifer said. Sensing Dawn's reluctance she added. "Please stay. Besides you have the upper hand, I know nothing about you."
"If you're sure."
"I am." Jennifer smiled.
"Okay, I'll put the kettle on." Dawn said moving past Jennifer and pulling out some keys to open the door, making Jennifer wonder how serious the relationship was.
-00-
"So, you sure you're okay with Dawn?" Her father asked Jennifer later that afternoon, walking out onto the porch and sitting next to her.
"Does she make you happy?" Jennifer asked.
"She does."
"Then I'm pleased for you. You deserve to be happy." Jennifer said smiling at her father.
"Then why are you sitting out here?"
"Enjoying the view. I've really missed it."
"No views where you are based?" He asked.
"No, there are wonderful views there. But they're different and they'll never be this view." She said staring out.
After watching her for a couple of minutes he asked.
"Are you sure you're okay with Dawn, you've seemed a little subdued."
"I'm fine with Dawn. It's me. Lot's has happened over the last few months and I guess this is the first opportunity I've had to reflect."
"Are you okay?" He asked concerned.
"I am."
"Okay enough to come inside?"
"I don't want to intrude."
"You're not intruding sweetheart. This is, and always will be, as much your home as it is mine." He said wrapping an arm round her shoulder.
"Dawn seems nice." Jennifer said, resting her head against her father's shoulder.
"Well I think so."
"So, things are serious between you two?" Jennifer probed.
"They are."
"I'm happy for you."
"Happy enough to come inside?" He tried again.
"Sure I'm not intruding?"
"I'm positive."
"Okay then." Jennifer smiled.
"Just before we go, Dawn has reservations for a meal tonight. Are you okay coming?"
"I don't want to be a third wheel." Jennifer said.
"You won't be. Besides it more than just the two of us going, her foster son is coming as well. But if you prefer we can cancel and the two of us can do something."
"No. Absolutely not. A family dinner it is." Jennifer said.
-00-
"So, there is something you should know." Her father said that evening as they waited for Dawn to finish getting ready for dinner.
"Okay."
"Dawn's foster son is coming to dinner." He said as the doorbell rang. "That's probably him now."
"You mentioned that earlier." Jennifer reminded him.
"The thing, what I didn't mention is you went to school with him." He confessed.
"Who is he?" Jennifer asked, unable to think of a single person from school she wanted to spend time with.
"Jason Roberts." He said.
"Jason Roberts? The boy who tormented me for years? The boy you described as spawn of the devil?"
"Yeah. He's changed. Kinda a nice fellow now. He's in the Air Force actually."
"Good for him." Jennifer said, unable to believe her father had just sprung this on her. Before she could say anything else the kitchen door opened and Dawn and Jason entered.
"Sorry are we interrupting?" Dawn asked, noticing Jennifer looking a bit flustered.
"No." Jennifer's father replied.
"I think this may be my fault." Jason said.
"What's your fault?" Dawn asked.
"The look of annoyance in Jennifer's eyes."
"You know each other?" Dawn asked surprised.
"We went to school together." Jennifer replied, staring at Jason.
"You did? I had no idea. You never said anything Matthew."
"Well," Matthew Keller started only for Jason to interrupt.
"You remember just before you took me in when I really acted out and was always in trouble?" He asked looking at Dawn. "Including when I was nearly thrown out of school for bullying?"
"Yes." Dawn said, suddenly guessing where the conversation was going.
"Well, Jennifer was the target of most of the bullying." Before Dawn could say anything he looked at Jennifer and said. "I can't make up for what I did, but I want you to know that I am truly sorry. Would you prefer I left?" He offered.
"No it's fine." Jennifer said, trying to offer a smile.
-00-
As Jennifer wolfed down another slice of pizza her father looked at her confused by her increased appetite.
As she picked up another slice her father said. "Don't take this the wrong way, but is there something you want to tell us?"
"How do you mean?" Jennifer asked.
"Well you seem to be eating, a lot. A lot more than you used to."
"I'm hungry." Jennifer shrugged.
"So you're not, I don't know, pregnant?" Matthew Keller suggested causing Jason to choke on the drink he had been swallowing.
"No." Jennifer replied, her voice slightly raised. "I'm hungry because I burnt over a thousand calories in the gym this morning."
"You?" Jason asked, immediately regretting it as Jennifer glared at him. "Sorry, it's just that well you weren't known for physical exercise."
Sensing the tension Dawn decided to change topics and asked Jennifer. "So, are you seeing anyone?" The question causing Jennifer's father to wince.
"Yes."
"You are?" Matthew asked surprised.
"Why are you surprised? A second ago you thought I was pregnant." Jennifer pointed out.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you never mentioned anyone. But that's great. What's his name and when do I get to meet and vet him?"
"His name is Ronon and you don't."
"Meet him or vet him?"
"Definitely the latter, possibly the former. His home is a long way away." Jennifer explained as Dawn asked.
"Ronon? What's he like?"
"Caring, sweet, protective." Jennifer listed, smiling as she thought of him.
"He sounds wonderful." Dawn commented.
-00-
As Jennifer's father and Dawn went off to dance Jason looked at Jennifer and said.
"Once again, I'm sorry. Punish me any way you want, but please don't let my appalling behaviour as a teenager affect your view of Dawn."
"I won't." Jennifer said.
"Good, because they make a good couple."
"They do." Jennifer agreed watching the elder couple smile their way through a dance.
"So, would it be too weird to ask you to dance?" Jason asked hopefully.
"Yes." Jennifer said immediately.
"Good to know." He replied before he started playing with his coffee cup. Relenting slightly Jennifer sighed and attempted conversation.
"So, dad said you are in the Air Force and you are shipping out tomorrow?"
"Yes and yes."
"What do you do in the Air Force?"
"You know how you have the impression of me being shallow and uneducated?" Jason asked.
"Yeah."
"I'm not sure I can tell you what I do without reinforcing that impression."
"Now I'm curious." Jennifer replied.
"Okay, but don't judge me."
"No promises."
"I am employed by the Air Force to play computer games."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm a remote operator."
"Of what?"
"Anything really. I remotely fly drones, pilot robots and run battle simulations. All of which involve me sitting in front of giant TVs using a gaming controller."
"Well, it seems like a well suited job for you."
"I'll take that as a compliment. So, your father said you work with the Air Force on a foreign base?" Jason said.
"Yes and yes." Jennifer replied mimicking his response from earlier.
"So what exactly do you do?"
"I'm just a doctor."
"That's it?" Jason asked.
"What were you expecting?" Jennifer questioned.
"Well, I mean I know you are a doctor. But you are also some kind of genius so I was expecting you to be running some super secret research programme or making immortal pilots."
"Apparently we don't need them, there is an unlimited supply of gamers to take their place." Jennifer replied as the elder couple returned to the table.
-TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I will try to get the next chapter up tomorrow.
