-Five weeks later
"Captain." John greeted as the redhead knocked on his office door as he and Lorne made their way through paperwork. "Welcome back and congratulations on the promotion."
"Thank you Sir." Laura Cadman smiled.
"Sorry for not greeting you when you arrived, I was a little tied up, saving the galaxy and all."
"Saving the galaxy?" Laura asked trying to keep a straight face.
"Problem Captain?" John questioned.
"Sorry Sir, it is just that Rodney had a different interpretation." Laura said, feeling she may be digging herself into a hole.
"Did he?" John asked. "What exactly did he say?"
"Probably best for me not to share that." Cadman said, quickly adding. "Sir."
"Cadman, I am ordering you to tell me what Rodney said." John said sternly. Noticing Lorne pull a face he asked. "Something you want to share Major?"
"No Sir. It just seems this may be going outside the scope of justifiable orders."
"Fine. Cadman, off the record, what did Rodney say?" He then glanced at Lorne and asked. "Better?"
"Much." Lorne said trying to keep his sarcasm hidden, as both men looked at Laura.
"Well Sir, he said you scored a date with a hot Ancient." Laura said, trying to keep her expression neutral.
"It's the burden of leadership." Lorne chipped in not helping Laura's battle.
"I am going to kill him." John said getting fed up with the ribbing he had taken over the last few days. Aware that Lorne and Cadman were looking at him he decided to just change topic and get the meeting back on track.
"The reason you are here is to find out if you are ready to go on a mission tomorrow."
"Yes Sir." Laura said immediately.
Still feeling guilty for ambushing Laura with the request John went on."Normally we don't throw people in the deep end, but seeing you know the ropes…"
"It's no problem Sir. I'd prefer to be out doing something anyway, especially after spending two weeks on the Daedalus with Kavannah."
"Excellent, hopefully we will sort out your new team in the next few weeks, in the mean time we'll be having you fill in as required and I'm sure Major Harding will be glad of an extra pair of hands on this mission, especially with Dr Keller accompanying."
"Is there a problem with Dr Keller?" Laura asked, confused by the comment.
"No, just that her first few missions were eventful, so she developed a bit of a reputation that has stuck despite her last eighteen-"
"Twenty." Lorne interrupted.
"Sorry, twenty missions, being trouble free. Regardless teams still fear the worse when she is on a mission and like to go prepared."
"That's all there is to it?" Laura asked.
"Expecting something else?" John queried.
"Um well, can I ask something off the record?" Laura asked.
"Sure."
"When Carson described Dr Keller I got a very distinct image in my mind, the woman in the infirmary just now was nothing like that image. Has something happened?"
"Wish we knew." Lorne said sadly. "She was always shy, but also friendly and approachable, then one day she retreated back into her shell. Won't really talk to any of us now other than what is required for duty."
"It coincided with the death of one of the teams here. She was friends with them and it hit her hard." John said. "I guess she just finds it easier to not get attached." He added, not leaving Laura convinced. Seeing her doubt Lorne added.
"Those deaths followed very closely to her getting kidnapped off world and then the runner she saved disappearing."
"And that followed McKay getting some odd parasite and nearly dying, she blamed herself for not spotting it." John chipped in.
"And that followed her being taken over by some alien and nearly killing the whole city." Lorne finished. Seeing both men could go on Laura said.
"I get the picture, but if she has been affected that badly should she even be here?"
"That's where it gets tricky. There is nothing wrong with her work and she seems completely stable. She just won't interact, which on any other base would be normal for a CMO." John said. "She has also refused to go back to Earth, even for time off."
"We're hoping she'll come round." Lorne said.
"But in the meantime we are keeping a careful eye, if anything changes we'll act." John finished.
-00-
"Why is everyone so tense?" Cadman asked Lieutenant Harris as they walked towards a village the following day.
"Um, well ma'am, we have Dr Keller on the mission." He said quietly nodding towards the doctor who was walking by herself several feet away.
"So?"
"Well she has a reputation for being jinxed."
"I thought her last twenty missions have gone without any problem?"
"They have. That's the problem. The more missions without a problem, the more likely the next one will be a disaster." He said.
Shaking her head she muttered. "Good to see this galaxy is just as whacky as it was last time I was here." She then sped up and fell in line with Jennifer.
"Doctor." She greeted.
Looking round Jennifer replied, "Captain."
"How's it going?" Laura asked, trying to break the ice.
"Fine." Jennifer said, keeping her eyes on the horizon.
"You know, I don't see it?"
"See what?" Jennifer asked confused, glancing back at Laura.
"The big target on your back that the rest of this team seems transfixed on."
"Target?" Jennifer asked more confused.
"The impending sense of doom?" Cadman tried again.
"They're just cautious. My luck has not been the best."
"Been fine recently." Laura pointed out.
"Luck is fleeting round here." Jennifer said as suddenly one of the team shouted.
"Wraith!"
On hearing the word Laura pushed Jennifer to one side and moments later the area rocked with explosions and everyone else dived for cover.
Jennifer shook off the effects of the shove and tried to ignore the loud bangs as she looked around trying to figure out what was happening. Hearing P90 fire from all around she tried to see any of her teammates, but couldn't through the smoke and dust. Finally, with the dust settling she heard a grunt. Following the sound she saw a Wraith kneeling over Laura's body about to lower its hand to feed. Not thinking she pulled her handgun and emptied her clip into it's back. Although the bullets did not wound it, they did get its attention. Moving faster than Jennifer was expecting it lunged at her knocking her to the ground. Dazed from hitting the deck so hard she tried to focus on the blurry Wraith in front of her and reach her knife. Before she had a chance though she heard P90 file erupt and the Wraith fell lifeless to the ground. Pushing if off her she looked up and saw Laura standing with her P90.
"You okay?" Cadman asked.
"I think so. Thanks."
"Technically you saved me first." Laura smiled as she helped Jennifer stand. "Although for the record P90s are much more effective than 9 mils."
"So I noticed." Jennifer said dryly.
"Let's find the others. Stay on my shoulder." Cadman instructed as she headed towards the smoke and where the now silenced bursts of P90 fire had come from.
"Cadman that you?" Harding called.
"Yes Sir, got the doc with me as well."
"Good. You two okay?" He asked as they came into his line of sight.
"Better than the Wraith." Laura shrugged. "How about everyone else?"
"We're all okay." Harding said. "It was a scout through the Gate. All the Wraith have been neutralised. Smith is dialling a safe site. Our priority now is evacuation of the locals."
"Yes Sir." Laura replied.
"Dr Keller is your responsibility."
"Yes Sir." Laura agreed.
-00-
When the team finally returned to Atlantis they were greeted by Sheppard who jogged down the steps, Lorne at his shoulder.
"Everyone ok?" John asked.
"Yes Sir. After the initial skirmish we had no more contact with the Wraith." Harding explained. "The locals have all been moved to a safe site."
"That's good. Go get cleaned up and then we'll have a briefing." Noticing Harding's hesitation he asked. "Problem Major?"
"Well Sir, more of a philosophical quandary."
"Which is?" John pressed.
"Well seeing Cadman's track record with the Wraith, is this incident put against her or Keller?"
"Everyone's a comedian." Laura said glaring at her sniggering teammates. Lorne's eyes though travelled to the door where Jennifer was silently exiting alone.