"Doc?" Sheppard asked as Jennifer approached. Shaking her head she responded.

"I'm sorry, we did all we could, for a moment there it looked like he might come back, but the damage to the heart was too great."

"Crap." Sheppard muttered as the commander of SGA-5 asked.

"What happened to him? Why him?"

"I'm not sure yet." Jennifer replied.

"How can you not know?" The youngest member of the team demanded. "You're meant to be a doctor."

"Back off Redmond." Sheppard ordered. "Dr Keller did all she could."

"Sorry Sir." The young man mumbled.

"He showed no signs of anything being wrong?" Sheppard asked, although he was sure of what the answer would be.

"No sir." All the men replied.

"Ok then. Go try and rest. You're off duty for the next week." Sheppard ordered before turning back to face Jennifer. She waited for what was left of SGA-5 to leave before saying.

"I'll perform an autopsy, but based on the results of the others I'm not expecting any answers."

"In the morning." Sheppard said.

"In the morning what?"

"You can do the autopsy in the morning, right now you need some rest."

"I have some more test results to look at." Jennifer said shaking her head.

"Results you've looked at before?" Sheppard asked.

"I could have missed something." Jennifer said.

"I think that's unlikely. Also McKay has taught me through repetitive learning that you can achieve nothing on an empty stomach." Sheppard smiled.

"I'll grab something later."

"I'm not leaving here without you."

"I really don't want to eat."

"Doc, you need a break." Sheppard pressed.

"Fine, I'll go get some air." Jennifer said, hoping to get rid of the Colonel. However, he continued to stand in front of her. When she stared at him he said.

"Good, I could do with a walk myself."

"Before you say anything you regret, my walk is going to involve reporting this to Mr Woolsey." Jennifer said.

"I can handle that if you want a break."

"I appreciate the offer, but he'll want a medical report and I don't think being the holder of second place in the hours spent as a patient in the infirmary competition qualifies you in his eyes."

"There's a competition?"

"I assumed that's why you, Ronon and Rodney were always trying to out do each other." Jennifer said, forcing a smile that was not mirrored in her eyes.

"Ok, maybe I wouldn't be the best substitute." Sheppard conceded. "But he'll want to see me anyway, so I'll come with you."

"Just let me grab my computer." Jennifer said moving to the back of the infirmary. The moment she was out of sight Marie approached John.

"Colonel." Marie greeted approaching John.

"Marie." Sheppard nodded. "Something I can do for you?" He asked sensing she wanted to say something.

"I know it's not my place to say but I'm worried about Dr Keller. She's not left the infirmary for more than a couple of hours at a time since Lieutenant Fowler. Then today, she really thought she'd got Lampard back, when she pronounced it got to her."

"As soon as we've met with Woolsey I make sure she gets some rest." Sheppard assured the nurse moments before Jennifer reemerged.

-00-

"Another one?" Woolsey asked when he saw Jennifer and Sheppard at his doorway. Silently Jennifer nodded and entered the office.

"Who?"

"Lampard." Sheppard responded.

"Part of SGA-5?" Woolsey asked.

"Yes."

"Same as before?" Woolsey asked.

"Yes. Cardiac arrest with no obvious cause." Jennifer explained.

"His team?"

"Shocked, but not showing any symptoms of anything." Sheppard answered causing Woolsey to raise his eyebrows and ask Jennifer.

"Do you share that medical opinion doctor Keller?"

"Yes. I had my staff take blood samples when they reported to the infirmary, just in case. There'll be a wait for the results but bps were all normal."

"Ok then. Why don't you get some rest. There is nothing you can do for him now." Woolsey said. His words were meant in kindness but gnawed away at Jennifer.

"Come on doc." Sheppard said when Jennifer did not stand immediately. "We're probably in time for a late meal anyway." He added as he led Jennifer from office.

Jennifer was so caught up in her thoughts, considering all the results she had looked at, she did not even notice that they weren't heading to the canteen. It was only when Sheppard led her onto a balcony she said.

"This isn't the mess hall."

"With that level of observation you could replace McKay." Sheppard said as he scrutinised Jennifer, concerned by her paleness and almost defeated look.

"Why are we on a balcony?" Jennifer asked, not showing any reaction to Sheppard's statement.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you look like you need some rest and someone to talk to." John said, not fully answering Jennifer's question.

"Until I've got to the bottom of this I can't see rest happening." Jennifer said.

"You won't be any good to anyone if you work yourself into the ground."

"I'm not much good to anyone as it is."

Hating see Jennifer look so lost he awkwardly pulled her towards him for a hug, surprising both of them. So much so they both stood rather rigidly.

"Sorry." Sheppard said embarrassed, as he began to pull away. "I just thought it'd help. Elizabeth was big on them when she was stressed or upset. I thought you'd...sorry." He tried to explain. Jennifer, however, responded by loosening up and wrapping her arms round him whispering.

"Thank you."

Not sure how he was meant to respond he just held her, surprised as his body automatically relaxed. He continued to hold her until a growl sounded. Pulling away from a blushing Jennifer he looked down at her stomach and said.

"I think that was a message your stomach wants to eat."

"I guess there's not much point denying I'm hungry."

"Nope, not really." He smiled, keeping his hands on Jennifer's shoulders. "But apart from the hunger how're you doing?"

"Apparently not so good."

"Hang in there. You'll get to the bottom of this." John assured her.

"Thank you. For everything."

"Not a problem. And doc if you ever need a shoulder, you know where to find me."


A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'll try to get chapter 3 up in the next couple of days.