A/N: Thanks so much to those of you are reviewing. It's been a great introduction to the community. I was a little nervous at first, but you have all been very gracious. On with the show…

Chapter 3

IOA DELEGATION VISIT DAY 3

Jennifer walked past the room Evan was in for the third time in thirty minutes, noting him still involved in conversation. She made a ten minute loop around the hallways and circled back for the fourth pass, only to find him leaning in the doorframe waiting for her.

"Something I can do for you, Doc?"

She never thought she was sneaky, but was hoping she wasn't quite so blatant. "That obvious, huh?"

"Well, let's just say you should leave the covert operations to us professionals," he said with a smile. "Now, what did you need?"

Jennifer took a few small tentative steps down the hall silently beckoning him away from the room and his team. He followed, falling into stride beside her. "I have a favor to ask."

"Shoot," he said without hesitation.

"Exactly," she answered.

He was quiet for a minute waiting for her to finish, eventually deciding to clarify. "Am I supposed to know what the favor is yet?"

"It comes in two parts. I was hoping you would teach me something, and maybe you would help me keep it quiet."

"I am the picture of discretion," he promised.

Jennifer kept walking. It took no more than a few minutes to reach her destination. When they stopped in front of the firing range, she just stood by the door.

Evan waited for her to continue on her path, never thinking for a minute this would be her objective. They exchanged looks until finally it dawned on him.

"Aww, shoot." Evan had a feeling if Sheppard or Ronon were in the city instead of off-world he wouldn't have found himself in this predicament. He could feel an unfortunate sparring session coming his way if either of them found out.

"Exactly."

"Maybe it would be better if you asked Shep or Ronon, you know. You're off-world with them more often then anyone, maybe they have a better idea of what you might need." He was trying to get out of it.

She heard the explanation in her head: It's been a long time since you completed basic firearm qualifications. Basic hasn't been enough in the Pegasus Galaxy. You want to be better prepared. Sheppard and Dex think you should, but you think Lorne would be a better teacher. You want it to be a surprise.

"Just been a long time since I did my quals. I need to be better prepared with the way my luck is going off-world. Sheppard and Dex have been on me about doing some training, but I just think you'd be a better teacher."

"No denying I am the superior instructor." Evan was a sentence into a joke about him besting the Colonel and Ronon in something when he played back her last sentence in his head. "Wait. Did you just call Ronon 'Dex'? Don't ever think I have heard you do that."

"Did I? Hadn't noticed."

Evan gave her a puzzled look. Something seemed off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He thought about the request, though, and in truth, she could probably use the training.

"And nothing is wrong, right, Doc? Just some training? You aren't having any trouble?"

She thought about his question, but the answer was already playing in her head. Its been a long time since you completed basic firearm qualifications. Basic hasn't been enough in the Pegasus Galaxy. You want to be better prepared. Sheppard and Dex think you should, but you think Lorne would be a better teacher. You want it to be a surprise.

"I just want to be better prepared, and I want it to be a surprise." Jen looked with a pleading face. She finally gave in and added a pathetically desperate "please" for comic effect.

Once Evan started laughing she knew she had him. He opened the door to the armory and held it opened as he beckoned her in.

"And you'll keep it just between us?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about that, Doc. Ronon finds out and I'm in much more danger than you."

IOA DELEGATION VISIT DAY 4

Sheppard was looking for Jen. He tried catching her in the mess, but hadn't seen her there in two days of trying. Their briefing schedules were different as they were assigned different IOA Representatives to baby-sit. On top of that, his need to keep Ronon out of the IOAs line of site put his team off world a lot, so finding her wasn't as easy as it sounded. John could have used the communicator, but he was asking a favor, so he wanted to surprise her and rely more on personality than technology.

When he finally tracked her down it was in a most unexpected place. He and Teyla were running and crossed paths with the Doctor, winded, making her way back to the main complex.

"Ahh, Dr. Keller. Just the doctor I'm looking for."

"Uh oh. I don't like the sound of that," she said with a laugh.

"I needed to ask a favor. Minor favor. Hardly a favor."

She put her hands on her knees to catch her breath while she encouraged him to go on with hand gesture and a breathy "Out with it."

"Corporal Jennings."

"Brown hair, two broken fingers, severe respiratory infection?'

"Yes, that very one." John gave his most charming smile.

"What about him? Is he ok?"

"Oh yeah. Doing fine. Better than fine. Great, even. That's actually the favor. He seems to be at 100% and Lorne could use him on the mission tonight to MDX-423. I was going to see if I could get you to sign off on his duty status."

Jennifer's expression changed immediately. She stood up straight. She looked with frustration at John.

They don't take you seriously. They think they can run over you. That you are there for their convenience. They are only interested in your opinion if it helps their cause, but they don't want you to stand up to them. You need to show them your competence. You need to demonstrate your authority. Assert yourself.

"Based on your years of medical experience?" There was an edge to her tone he wasn't used to.

"Doc, he seems fine." He tried to be conciliatory.

"He isn't. Another week of restricted duty and everything will work itself out. Until then, he stays on Atlantis."

"It's a trading mission. I need another body. He's a perfect fit."

"Find another body." Jen's eyes turned cold in anger.

Teyla was keenly aware of the change in Jennifer's demeanor. She kept her tone even as she tried to mitigate some of the damage of John's approach.

"Perhaps if you could tell the Colonel a little more about the Corporal's condition he would better understand your concerns."

"He doesn't need to understand, he needs to comply." Sheppard's reaction to her words were clear as his head snapped into position staring right at her. Jen looked back into his glare. "Corporal Jennings stays where he is."

"Light escort support. It's a cakewalk." He was in disbelief.

"I'm certain if the mission was to walk to the village, complete the trade and be done that he would be fine. But when was the last time a mission went like that?"

"The last time you weren't on one." John was immediately sorry – partly because he hadn't meant to be mean, but also because he knew it wasn't getting him any closer to his favor.

The anger on her face turned to hurt in an instant. She faced Teyla and with as calm a tone as she could deliver, provided her final assessment. "Corporal Jennings has an infection in his lungs severely restricting his intake of oxygen and making him more susceptible to external factors. As I discussed with Major Lorne this morning, Jennings does not currently have the lung capacity for extended physical exertion."

The explanation softened her tone, as it always did. Jennifer was full of compassion and kindness when she spoke of someone's condition – it was her way. She had almost settled into a friendly tone when she heard the voice in her head again.

You need to show them your competence. You need to demonstrate your authority. Assert yourself.

Jennifer stepped into the space between her and John. "Lay terms: if he had to run from the village to the gate, he couldn't, and if you were relying on him to keep up or help another who might be wounded, he couldn't. In his current state he is a risk to himself and to the team."

John met that challenge as he always did – head on. He closed the last step between them. "Is that so, Dr. Keller?"

"It is, Colonel. Find another body."

Jen held Sheppard's eyes, but there were no more words.

It took only a few seconds for her expression to change again. He breathing quickened, and not from the recent exercise. She blinked rapidly, and began looking to the side, avoiding his stare.

She spun and took a few steps back towards the main building, stopping just paces into her journey. She had never spoken to a member of the team that way in her entire tenure. She was filled with regret, and turned back to offer an apology. She heard the voice in her head once more.

Every time you see how weak you are and how weak they see you as - respond with strength. Do some push ups. Go for a run. Do something that doesn't involve them.

Without a word Jen turned back out towards the path she had just come back from and took off again.

John's anger turned to concern. The CMOs behavior was not at all what he had come to expect in his time working with her. Then he took note of her direction and questioned Teyla.

"Wasn't she on her way back in when we ran into her?"

"She was."

"Does the Doc seem a little turned around today?"

"She does not entirely seem herself." There was worry in Teyla's voice as she watched the Doctor make her way away from the heart of the city at a steady pace.