Thanks for the reviews :) This one will be a fairly long ride :)

Title: Family and Home
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Sheppard/Keller, Lorne/Keller friendship
Timeline: John and Jen's one year wedding anniversary
Summary: Hitting the year mark John and Jen find their marriage tested.

All too early the next morning….or more accurately later that morning Jennifer's alarm went off dragging her out of a peaceful slumber.
She cracked one eye open and stared at the red numbers…..four thirty. Jennifer groaned and reached for the offending clock. In one quick move Jennifer threw the clock off the night stand.

It bounced hard on the floor and skidded against the wall with a pathetic last beep.

John's laughter vibrated against Jennifer's back as he tightened his embrace.

"You know angel it'll be a month before you can get another one ordered in from Earth. They don't exactly grow on trees around here."

Jennifer turned in her husband's arms and smiled. "I'll live…..besides I have the best alarm clock in the world…..you."

John chuckled as he kissed her lightly. "And what if I'm not here?"

Jennifer thought for a moment. "I'll have Rodney rig the lights some how."

John shook his head as he pulled the blankets off. "Come on…..you know how much Woosley yells when somebody's late."

Jennifer kissed him. "I think he's punishing us for the fun we all had last night by scheduling this meeting so early."

John grinned. "It's Woosley he was at the party too remember? He just naturally rises with the roosters."

Jennifer laughed. "Yeah too bad he left before the line dancing started."

John held up his hand as if that would block the mental image. "Stop, angel, its bad enough I have McKay burned in my memory…..now I have that image…..thought you loved me?"

Jennifer kissed her husband once more before reluctantly getting out of bed. "I do. Happy anniversary, fly boy."

********

Jennifer entered the conference room and was surprised to see a sleepy Rodney sitting in one of the chairs being propped up by a large coffee mug.

Jennifer smiled and sat down across from the scientist placing her own coffee in front of her.

"Rodney….why……"

McKay held up a warning hand as he closed his eyes. "Please Jennifer, not so loud."

"Sorry."

The door opened and Richard Woosley stepped in a red file folder in one hand. "Good you're both here."

"Where else would we be?"Rodney muttered his eyes half open. "Oh right….asleep."

Woosley ignored the jibe and sat down opening the file. "I have a busy schedule today so I thought I'd brief both of you at the same time but you'll be on separate missions."

Rodney's eyes opened wider at that. "We will?"

Woosley nodded as he turned to Jennifer. "Doctor Sheppard, two days ago SGA-8 discovered an abandoned lab."

"We have such good luck with those don't we?"Rodney stated sarcastically as he took a long drink of coffee.

"Michael's?"Jennifer asked suppressing a shudder.

Woosley shook his head. "Their findings were inconclusive. Some of the technology looked familiar but the majority did not."

Rodney yawned. "So why is she going and not me?"

Woosley turned toward Rodney. "I'm getting to that."

"So you want me to see if this technology is someone we know?"Jennifer asked quietly with a shake of her head. "Mr. Woosley, I'm a doctor…..Rodney's right he's more qualified for this mission than I am."

"That may be, Doctor Sheppard, but as both of you know we are strapped thin at the moment with how busy this galaxy has become. Dr. Sheppard you may not know as much on the technology angle but between you and Major Lorne I am confident you'll be able to tell me who left that lab behind."

Jennifer nodded relieved that Evan would be going with. "When do I leave?"

"0700, I've already briefed Major Lorne."

Jennifer nodded as she glanced at her watch. "If you'll excuse me then, Mr. Woosley I'd better get ready."

"Dismissed."Woosley acknowledged as Jennifer left. After a moment Richard turned back to McKay. "Dr. McKay, on a mission last week SGA-3 discovered a group of ruins that held some rather interesting Ancient technology."

"Ruins and Ancient technology always a good combo."Rodney replied as he leaned forward.

Woosley passed him the report from SGA-3. "I think you'll find this interesting."

"Debatable."McKay replied as he took the piece of paper one hand still on the coffee mug.

"SGA-1 has a dial out scheduled for tonight."

"Good."McKay replied as he stood yawing. "I can catch a few more hours of sleep."