MGM owns all characters.
A/N: Thanks to scr1tno, dwparsnip and others for your support. These first few chapters were already written. It will be a little slower going forward. I'm glad you like it so far.
Jennifer was more depressed than she could ever remember. She didn't really remember her mother's death because she was seven and had been injured in the accident herself, but she had to believe this felt almost as bad. The young woman cried on and off all the way back from Antarctica.
Her father was surprised with her arrival in the middle of the night since she said she'd be gone for six months. By her actions and manner, he could tell something had happened to her but the response he got was that she could not discuss it. Robert Keller knew she was doing something for the government; having served twenty years in the Navy and Naval reserves he knew a thing or two about classified projects. As her father, he still pressed her for details. When he asked what was next, she said she was being transferred to a new location. If he asked about Carson Beckett, the friendly Scotsman that he spoke to on the phone a few times, she got teary eyed and said he had a new assignment as well.
Jennifer had been moping around the house since she got home that Tuesday and now it was a warm Friday afternoon in mid-September, which was rare in their region of the country. Robert said he wanted to have a picnic so he sent his daughter out to the grocery store to get some steaks for grilling. As the man sat on the front porch with a bottle of beer waiting for his daughter to return a large black SUV pulled up the long dirt driveway. After it parked in front of the house two men exited. The taller of the two men had a black jacket and tan slacks; the other man was dressed in a dark blue jacket with dark pants.
"Mister Keller?" the taller man asked.
"Who's asking?" Both men looked extremely out of place and glanced around like they were looking for something. What the hell is going on?
"I'm Doctor Rodney McKay and this is Doctor Carson Beckett. We're colleagues of Jennifer's and were hoping she was here." Rodney looked at the man who must be Jennifer's father. He realized he didn't know what the man did for a living, but his broad shoulders and muscular arms pointed to something physical. Mister Keller looked much like his daughter except that his hair had a lot of grey, blending with the light color. The man had been relaxing on a porch swing with a beer, but got up to walk toward the step when Rodney spoke.
"Carson Beckett?" Robert had spoken several times to the Scotsman on the phone.
"Aye, it's nice to meet you in person, Mister Keller." Carson stepped on to the porch and shook the older man's hand.
"I knew she ran out on you. No way could she be that excited leaving here and then come back like her life was over without doing something wrong." Robert loved his daughter but felt she was hiding at school, getting more and more degrees instead of putting them to use in the real world.
"She didn't run out on us. Our research project took a different direction and Jennifer had an opportunity to move to another location and she did," Carson continued.
"Let me guess. She used me as an excuse?" Robert knew Jennifer felt responsible for him. He shook his head, noticing the other man who stood awkwardly at the bottom of the steps, he said. "Come on up, Rodney, is it? Would you guys like a beer?"
"Yes, sir," Rodney, for the first time in his life, had a feeling of what guys went through when they met her father for the first time.
"I know who Carson is so who are you?" Robert asked in a very no-nonsense tone.
"I'm the head of research, sir."
"So, what has my little Jenny gotten herself into?"
"Well, sir, in order to tell you we need you to sign this form." Rodney pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket.
Jennifer pulled up the driveway and saw a large, black SUV in front of the house. Her heart dropped. Something happened. No! She screeched the car to a stop, kicking up dust and ran up the steps and through the door, screaming, "Dad!"
The house was empty. She heard her Dad yell, "We're out back, Jenny."
Jennifer raced through the house, holding her breath with a pain in her chest. Once she got to the back deck she came to a complete halt at the sight before her eyes. Carson was seated with her father at the picnic table on their deck having a beer and Rodney was leaning against the deck railing, drinking as well. The physicist stood up straight when he saw her.
"What's going on?" Jennifer gasped. She couldn't do good-byes all over again. Why are they here?
"Jennifer, I have to be honest. If someone told me I could travel to another galaxy, I'd say hell yes as fast as I could. I love you more than anything, but I wouldn't pass up the adventure of a lifetime for you." Her father stood and walked over to her. "Your friends say they need you to go with them and came all the way here for their last few nights on Earth. I gotta be honest, guys, coming to Chippewa Falls to hunt down Jennifer is not what I'd want to do my last nights on Earth." He shot both men a suggestive look with raised eyebrows; both men blushed furiously.
"Dad!" Jennifer squealed.
"Relax, Jenny. They're taking my little girl to another galaxy. They're now part of the family whether they want to be or not. I'm going to grab those groceries so you can talk. I imagine you'll want to go out to eat the next couple of days because you'll be eating MRE's for a long time." With that, he walked back into the house.
Jennifer stared from Carson to Rodney and back again. "What're you doing here?"
"We came to get you, love. "Carson got up and walked toward here. "I couldn't think of another person on this planet that I'd want with me to explore the unknown than you. You're the smartest person I ever met."
Rodney coughed at that comment, eliciting a laugh from Jennifer and a glare from Carson.
"There is more to brains than fixing problems. I don't think you're smart enough to babysit a child for instance or even to ask a woman on a date so be quiet."
Rodney muttered an angry hey but that was all he could manage. Seeing Jennifer with her hair in pigtails in a Harvard t-shirt and blue jeans literally took his breath away. How could a woman be that beautiful in a t-shirt and jeans? He thought Samantha Carter was pretty, but Jennifer surpassed her in his mind. The physicist was certain it was because he hadn't seen Sam in a couple of years, but a little voice said that wasn't the case at all.
"How did you get permission to tell my father about this?"
"It was nothing. Just called in a favor," Rodney said. "Your father knows where you're going now…" He paused staring at her, awaiting her reply. Her brown eyes, which were open in shock, stared back. He had a sudden urge to step forward and grab her into a hug. Where the hell did that come from? He'd never been a physical guy. Sure he'd been with women before, but always just to satisfy his needs. It took way too much time and energy that he could be devoting elsewhere for anything more. "You said you wouldn't go because your Dad wouldn't know what happened to you, so…"
Carson looked expectantly at her as well.
Jennifer looked at her two friends; one had been her friend and mentor for years and the other a recent addition who already was very special to her. "I… I'm going to another galaxy," she finally shouted. "I'm going to another galaxy." Jumping into Carson's arms and hugging him, Jennifer finally laughed.
Carson was trying to steady himself after having Jennifer basically jump on him, "Aye, thank you. If I had to experience Rodney's driving for nothing, I would have been very cross with you, young lady."
Jennifer pulled back from Carson to look at Rodney standing slightly behind the Scot. He looked really nervous. Better not hug him. "Thanks, Rodney. I'm sure you had a big part in getting Elizabeth to approve this."
"It was nothing and there's nothing wrong with my driving, Carson." Rodney was both terrified that Jennifer would hug him and saddened that she didn't.
Jennifer's father could be heard in the kitchen with the grocery bags. "I'd better go and help."
"We should say good-bye anyways. Your father was very nice to us," Carson said, looking at Rodney and nodding toward the house.
"Oh, yeah, we should be going." The genius didn't want to leave. He'd never felt welcomed by anyone like he'd been by Jennifer's father.
"You two are staying here with us unless you have family to visit," Jennifer's father said after the men told him they would be leaving.
"Dad, I'm sure they have better things to do than watch me pack." Jennifer was surprised her father was so adamant that they stay in Chippewa Falls. She honestly didn't think her Dad would care too much for a couple of scientist. Contrary to what Rodney said Carson was a scientist first and a physician second.
"Actually," Carson started, "we're just going to the hotel and then flying back to Colorado Springs in the morning."
"Nonsense. You boys will stay here with us. The house is big and I'd like to have some company. Besides, you boys are responsible for my little girl now. I'd like to get to know you better." Robert saw the affection they each had for his daughter. Carson was like a big brother according to Jennifer and he saw the look that passed over Rodney's face when Jennifer came out on the deck. This man liked his daughter more than simple friendship. Since they were going to be isolated, perhaps for the rest of their lives in this other galaxy, he would not pass up the opportunity to get to know the head of research.
"Dad, I'm twenty-five. I think I'm responsible for myself." Jennifer was getting red. She couldn't believe her father was embarrassing her like this. And calling two men in their thirties boys.
"Yeah, right. Sorry. I forgot. You were just going to turn down the chance of a lifetime because you felt responsible for me. Great judgment, honey," her father said with his normal deadpan delivery.
"You're right. I never should have thought twice about leaving you," Jennifer shot back.
Carson couldn't help but laugh. Rodney, however, didn't want to give Mister Keller any reason to dislike him. The desire for this man to approve of him was so strong he actually kept his mouth shut.
"We really don't want to impose, sir," Rodney finally spoke. "We'll grab a hotel downtown and came come back tomorrow."
"I said you're staying. Now get your suitcases out of the car and I'll show you a couple of guest rooms you can use." Robert spoke with a voice that was meant to be obeyed.
Rodney quickly nodded and turned to head out to the SUV.
"I'll give him a hand," Carson said, leaving Jennifer alone with her father for the first time since he learned about what she was doing.
"Dad, are you sure about this?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, I'd like to get to know them better and make sure they have the best of intentions involving my daughter."
"Dad!" Jennifer blushed, "I mean are you okay with me perhaps leaving…" She couldn't finish.
"I don't think you will be gone forever. That Rodney fellow is sure he will get you all back and Carson agrees. He told me Rodney is one of the smartest men on the planet. Nice to know someone is smarter than you," her Dad said, winking.
"There are a lot of people smarter than me on this expedition," she said as she put vegetables in the fridge.
"Good, none of the guys will be intimidated by you like the losers you went to medical school with." Robert always felt sorry for his daughter. She never had many close friends because she was so much smarter than everyone else. He drove her to classes at the university starting when she was eleven. By skipping through school to graduate high school at fifteen she was younger than her classmates. In college she didn't have any real friends only Carson and he was in Scotland or somewhere out West. Instead of being depressed, she managed to always smile and never complain just like her mother.
"Dad, please. I'm not going to another galaxy to… pick up men!" She couldn't believe her father would bring up her lack of a social life, especially with two men coming back in with their luggage to spend the night. Rodney will be sleeping in my house. That thought sent a strange sensation shooting through Jennifer.
After getting Rodney and Carson's luggage settled in guest rooms, they all came into the living room where Jennifer was staring at a wall of DVDs.
"Trying to decide what movies to take?" her father asked.
"Yes. I get one personal item, but I was hoping to copy a couple of my favorite movies onto my computer and some music and some pictures. Now that I think about it, I won't have any time to eat in the next couple of days." Laughing, Jennifer turned to look at them.
"Oh, I can take care of that," Rodney said. "Did you keep your SGC laptop?"
"Yes and you don't have to." Jennifer pointed to her computer bag with the SGC label on it.
"We came here to collect you. The least we can do is help you get ready." Rodney had already picked up her bag and was removing her laptop. "Where's the DVD player?"
"Over here." Jennifer opened the entertainment cabinet. Her father was an electronics buff and in addition to building cars, he liked to tinker with things. "Just make sure you don't mess it up or my Dad will find a way to the Pegasus Galaxy to kill us." Jennifer smiled.
"That's right. Took me several days to get the DVD, surround sound and HDTV all to work together." Her Dad walked over toward them with concern in his voice.
"Well, looks like you did everything right, sir. I won't have to change anything. I do need an output cable that it doesn't look like you have. Is there an electronics' store around here?" Rodney said, pulling his head out of the back of the cabinet and straightening up. As he stood, he caught a whiff of something flowery and glanced briefly at Jennifer who was standing next to him. It must be from her; some type of soap or something. He felt a strange sensation in his stomach and his mind suddenly went blank.
"I got a bunch of cables in my workshop in the basement. I'll show you," Robert said, turning to go.
Rodney stood a moment longer trying to remember where he was. Jennifer noticed he looked kind of confused. "Are you all right, Rodney?"
Rodney heard her voice and looked at her. She was even prettier up close. "What? Oh, cables. I'm coming, sir." He turned and followed her father out of the room.
Carson looked at his friend and saw the excitement on her face. He was very happy to have her coming with him. A small voice said he could be putting Jennifer in danger, but the louder voice said he wanted her by his side if they did face any problems.
"So, has anyone else backed out?" Jennifer asked.
"Not that I know of. You knew Harrison and Brinks decided not to go. Didn't want to leave Earth."
"Yes, I wonder if Major Sheppard is coming?" Jennifer thought about the Air Force soldier. She felt so at ease with him that she knew they would be good friends if they had more time to spend together. In the course of a couple of months, Jennifer went from one true friend, Carson, to having at least a half dozen: Peter Grodin, Isabelle Dumais, other scientists in Rodney's department, Rodney and Marine Sergeant Tommy Stackhouse. All of them were going on the expedition.
Excitement was building again in Jennifer's stomach. Exploring an Ancient city in another galaxy, I can't wait.
"I don't know. He left with General O'Neill and didn't return the last week. I guess we'll have to wait and see."
Rodney returned with her dad, talking about some new electronic gadget. "Wait and see what?" He caught the end of the sentence.
"If Major Sheppard is going to come with us. I can't wait to do some experiments under the scanner with him," Jennifer said.
Rodney suddenly clenched his jaw. "I'm sure it was a fluke. He was probably thinking about relaxing."
"I don't think so. It reacted too quickly and he seemed genuinely surprised," Jennifer said oblivious to the set in Rodney's jaw or the look of anger in his eyes.
Her father noticed, however. Spending years in the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, the equivalent of a Sergeant in the other branches of the service, he learned to read people really well. Rodney was obviously jealous of Jennifer talking with such admiration about this soldier. Oh crap, I forgot she wasn't just going to be there with scientists. "All right. I want to hear all about this Major. I don't want my little girl running around with a jarhead or a flyboy."
"Dad, they hate those nicknames and you know?"
"Getting pretty defensive. Now I really want to know about this guy. What branch of the service is he in?" He tried to get anger in his voice.
"He's in the Air Force, sir. A real pretty-boy pilot," Rodney spat out while he hooked the cable into Jennifer's computer and changed a few command code lines to accept feed from the DVD. He needed to write his compression program and then they could start copying DVDs.
"Enough! You stop being jealous of everyone who can work that Chair," she told Rodney, who audibly gulped, and to her father, "Stop acting like a protective father. A few minutes ago you wanted me to find someone to date!" Jennifer was not really thinking of what she was saying in mixed company.
Her father wanted to double over laughing. The look of shock on Rodney's face was priceless. Jennifer was working up her temper, which surprised most people since she was usually the most mild-mannered person you would ever meet. Like all parents, he knew how to push her buttons though.
"Hey, I've waited my whole life for you to have a boyfriend to bring home for me to harass. Since I won't be with you in this other galaxy, I need Rodney and Carson to look out for you with regards to men as well."
Jennifer turned scarlet. She was speechless. What did her Dad just say?
Rodney was shocked. Jennifer never had a boyfriend? Is that what her father just said?
"They are leaders of this expedition. They are not your proxies in another galaxy checking up on me!" Jennifer had never been angrier with her father or more humiliated. He just told Carson and Rodney that I never had a boyfriend before.
"Mister Keller, I can assure you that we'll watch out for Jennifer," Carson said. The glare he received when Jennifer turned to look at him almost made him regret saying it.
"What? Listen, Doctor Beckett, you're not my keeper. I know…" Jennifer started only to be cut off by Carson.
"Jennifer, I've known you since you were fifteen. I've already been watching out for you since you got to the Outpost. It's not going to change in another galaxy. And yes my looking out for you includes the attention you get from men." Carson was going to stand his ground. He was as aware as her father of her lack of a social life and was going to ensure no hotshot soldier took advantage of her. She's part of my family.
Rodney stood on the edge of this little debate in absolute shock. Jennifer never had a boyfriend? Honestly, he never had a real girlfriend either, not one he brought home to his family. His dating never lasted long enough to reach the girlfriend stage and usually always ended after they slept together. To learn that this perfect woman was as unskilled with relationships as him had made her more appealing and Rodney suddenly felt as protective of her as he was his own life.
Silence settled over the room. Jennifer was humiliated, angry and touched by Carson's concern all at the same time. If she was honest, she didn't know the first thing about having a relationship. Sure she was lonely and dreamed of having someone, but her education and research had been the most important things to her. No time for relationships.
"Well, I'm hungry. Where do you want to go and eat?" Robert broke the silence.
Jennifer decided on a place that had her favorite foods: steak, hot wings, fried potato skins covered with melted cheese and bacon, fried cheese curds and a lot of food that was bad for your arteries. If these were her last meals on Earth, she was going to enjoy the food. Rodney and Carson agreed.
Jennifer climbed into the passenger seat of the rental SUV next to Rodney. She was still annoyed and mumbled, " I can't believe my father told my friends what a loser I am. Never having a boyfriend by age twenty-five."
"I don't think it says anything about you at all. It just proves my point that medical doctors and biological researchers are a bunch of idiots," Rodney said, starting the SUV while they waited for her Dad to lock up the house and Carson to find his wallet.
"Now I'm an idiot?" Jennifer glared at Rodney.
"What?" He realized what he just said. "Oh, no. Not you. You're a genius. The guys in school with you were idiots. I mean if there had been a woman like you in school with me, well, I wouldn't have let her be alone. I mean…" Rodney stopped talking again. What am I saying? She's sitting next to me. You just said you would have asked her out in college. She'll want to know why not now. Because I'm a loser with women now and didn't realize it back then. Can't say that. "Not that I wouldn't now… I mean to say… We work together… Its not right or even allowed." Not entirely true, but she doesn't know that.
Luckily Carson and her Dad arrived to save Rodney. "Where are we going?" he asked, trying to regain his composure and program the GPS.
"That bloody thing almost got us killed," Carson complained.
"The GPS? What did it do to you, Carson?" Jennifer asked, recovering from Rodney's babbling comments. He basically said if he knew her when he was in college he would have asked her out, but not now because they are colleagues. This sucks, Jennifer thought and vowed then and there to forget the whole relationship thing. Rodney was her friend just like Carson.
"Rodney rewrote it so he could program it while the car was in motion. I thought he was going to kill us fiddling with the thing," Carson said.
"Stop complaining. If we listened to you we'd be in St Paul, by now," Rodney barked, trying not to look at Jennifer because his face felt very hot.
At the restaurant, Jennifer ended up in the booth next to Rodney with Carson and her dad across from them. They talked about movies and growing up in Scotland or Canada or Wisconsin. Her dad talked about the cars he'd built and other things he tinkered with. Jennifer had to admit she was nervous of how Rodney would treat her father. He could be an arrogant jerk more often than not. Her dad never went to college so she imagined Rodney would dismiss him entirely, but the genius surprised her. He showed great respect for her father and seemed to genuinely enjoy talking with him, laughing easily. The physicist seemed off-guard by the end of dinner. Great, more to dream about. I already know I can't have you, please don't make it more depressing for me.
They left the restaurant around nine. Once they got home her Dad headed off to bed and then Carson left, leaving her and Rodney on the couch.
Rodney had set up the computer to download all her music library and pictures, which had completed. He was now loading DVD after DVD into the player. His modifications to the DVD player and laptop had the movies transmitting their data to her computer so quickly, they had an assembly line of Jennifer opening boxes and handing disc after disc to Rodney. The genius put them in the player, clicked a few buttons on the laptop and seemed to reach for the next disc immediately.
The TV was on with some reruns of Star Trek in the background. "I like this one the best," Rodney said of the original Star Trek.
"Next Generation for me all the way," Jennifer said. "I love Data."
"The yellow robot or Brent Spiner the actor?" Rodney said with slight disgust in his voice.
"I'll always take cute and brainy over brawny and dumb any day." Jennifer suddenly flushed at the implications. She took a glance at Rodney but he was clueless to realize she considered him cute.
"I love an intelligent woman over a bimbo any day. A beautiful smart blond." Rodney stopped and flushed realizing what he said. "Ahh… I mean… a different." Shut up McKay! You have made a big enough fool out of yourself today already. "I…" Rodney started again.
"It's getting late," Jennifer said yawning. Better get out of here before you say something stupid in return. "Goodnight, Rodney," Jennifer said, leaving him to continue to feed DVDs. "You will obviously have first dibs when we get there on the movies. I really appreciate this."
"Thanks. And goodnight, Jennifer," Rodney said, watching the most amazing woman he ever met head to her bedroom. The combination of Jennifer and bedroom caused an intense feeling in his groin. Better learn to control that reaction or this is going to be a long expedition.
Her last full day on Earth went by too fast for Jennifer. They went out for a huge breakfast, a fast food lunch at Burger King and got pizza for dinner.
That evening, they were still copying the DVD collection. Jennifer couldn't believe how much fun she was having with Carson, Rodney and her dad. After her father embarrassed her the first evening it seemed as if he really did consider the men part of their family. He had them out in the garage looking at the latest car he was working on. She took the opportunity to walk around the house and decide on her one personal item. With Rodney's compression program she loaded all her pictures, music files, audio books and DVD movie collections onto their two computers. Rodney said he would uncompress them into larger computers once they got to Atlantis.
Finding herself in her bedroom, she kept looking at Scruffy Dog. It was an old stuffed animal she got from her mom and dad at their last Christmas together. You're a genius recruited to serve in another galaxy. You could go there and never return to Earth and you want to bring a 20-year-old stuffed animal? You're pathetic. She turned to look at other things, but kept coming back to that stuffed dog. It carried so many memories; it had to come with her. She picked it up and hurried downstairs to stuff it in her pack before anyone saw it.
Settling on the couch and continuing to change out DVDs she thought about what happened with Rodney yesterday. It appeared that she once again liked someone not interested in her. It was the story of her life. At least he seemed to like her as a friend, which was something.
The men all came in around eight-thirty. Jennifer had her bag near the door and was now watching Galaxy Quest.
"This is a great movie," Rodney said, sitting next to her on the couch. "Did the DVDs finish?"
"Yup, I figured I'd watch one since we've been loading and unloading them for twenty-four hours almost."
"Well, I'm really tired, so I'm turning in," Carson said as he headed to his room.
Jennifer's dad sat in the recliner. "So, Jenny, what'd you pick?"
"What?"
"For your personal item, what'd you pick?"
For some reason saying I picked a stuffed animal in front of Rodney felt ridiculous. "Nothing special."
"Scruffy Dog," he said, embarrassing her yet again.
"Dad!"
"What's a Scruffy Dog?" Rodney asked, looking from Jennifer to her father.
"It's a stuffed dog she took everywhere with her. It's been to Antarctica. It might as well go to another galaxy."
"I brought a picture of my cat," Rodney said without any hint of embarrassment.
"Your cat?" Jennifer was surprised. She figured there was some gadget or something like that he would bring.
"Yes, not my current cat, but my last one. A big, white fluffy one." Rodney reached to scoop some M&Ms out of a bowl on the coffee table.
"It must have been a special cat?"
"She was," Rodney said around a mouthful of food.
"That's nice."
"Well, kids, I'm heading in. We'll have an early morning," Robert said getting up.
"Dad, wait. We should… you know." Jennifer didn't know how to say it.
"Well, come on. Let Rodney watch the movie in peace."
Jennifer and her dad went into the kitchen.
"Dad," Jennifer started but immediately got choked up.
"Jennifer, you and I both know that we're going to see each other again. If not here then with your mother so stop this. I spoke at length with Rodney and I know he'll get you back if you're stranded. It might take a while, but I know he'll do it. He's a good man, Jenny." Robert did have a lot to tell his little girl, but he was not that kind of a man. "I'll miss you but know you're in good hands."
Jennifer began to tear up. "Daddy." She threw her arms around his neck.
"I don't want you carrying on like this. I have plenty of things to keep me busy with around here. Who knows, when you get back I might have moved out of here. Gone to see the world."
"What? You'd never leave Wisconsin." Jennifer drew back, swiping at her tears.
"Without you to nag me, I might have a bit of freedom."
"Well, I should have gone to another galaxy sooner."
"Probably." Robert looked at his little girl with a different eye now. "You've always made me so proud of you."
"You're not… making this… easy. We still need to-to… say good-bye in the morning," Jennifer said, her voice breaking every few words.
"It'll be a simple one. I'll say my peace now and them I'm going to bed. I love you. You know that. I know you're smart, but sometimes you get mixed up about what's important. Don't try to save the world but neglect yourself. These men care about you or they wouldn't come here to collect you, don't dismiss that. You'll be in a potentially dangerous place and you can't go it alone." Robert was going to get upset if he didn't stop. In his gut, he knew she would come back and he knew these two men, who loved his little girl would protect her. Different types of love, but love nonetheless. "Now, I'm tired and need to get up early to send my little girl into outer space."
Jennifer couldn't stop the tears from flowing any longer. "Daddy, I'll always love you and I'll come back even if it takes years."
"I know, sweetie, I know." He gave her one last big hug and left.
Jennifer cleaned up her face and went back into the living room to sit with Rodney and finish watching the movie.
He smiled. "I promise we'll come back. It won't be as bad as we're planning for. The military is always prepared for the worse."
"I know. I trust you. I just didn't want my Dad to get some impersonal letter. I can't thank you and Carson enough for getting permission to tell him." Jennifer smiled a radiant grin at the scientist and he melted.
"Of course," he said, shifting uncomfortably.
They sat back to watch the rest of the movie. Jennifer fell asleep and her head slid onto Rodney's shoulder once, waking her up soon after. She looked embarrassed and left Rodney to dream of what might have happened if she did fall asleep with him on the couch. He had to shift once more in his seat.
The next morning was rainy, which Jennifer thought fit her emotions. She believed she would see her father again but it was not going to be easy to say good-bye. Her father told her he needed to talk to the boys before they left. Jennifer glared at him, but didn't fight because she didn't want their last time together to end like that.
Robert Keller pulled the two doctors into the den, leaving Jennifer in the living room. "I might move to Colorado Springs just to be closer to your base. I won't let on I know anything to get you boys in trouble."
Once again, Rodney was not as clueless as he usually was. The penetrating gaze of Mister Keller told him he knew it was not normal protocol to tell families about these things. Looking sheepish, Rodney hung his head. "I wouldn't be in trouble. It would only set a precedent the General didn't want," Rodney said. "Jennifer'll be happy to know you're close to the SGC."
"Don't tell her. She won't want to think of her home being empty. I won't sell it. I'll keep it for her some day. If she wants it." Jennifer's father knew she wouldn't be able to let go of the house because of all the memories but he needed to get away. With his little girl in another galaxy, seeing her stuff was going to be hard. "I know how smart my little girl is and I'm sure you need her more than I do but I do wish I'd have more time to get to know you." Robert looked Rodney in the eye. "I know how you feel about her. She doesn't, so don't worry. You can tell her when you're ready. But, don't wait too long. I'm sure there will be a long line of men waiting to break into my little girl's heart."
He reached out to shake the hand of a totally stunned Rodney McKay and, after a second, decided to pull the physicist into a bear hug complete with a big slap on the back.
"I'll get her back, sir." Rodney finally managed after recovering from the older man's words and strong hug.
Carson watched this exchange with a stunned look. Jennifer's dad noticed how Rodney looks at his daughter and isn't going to kill him? What a cool dad.
Robert reached out to shake Carson's hand and to wish him well. "I know you'll look out for her and I thank you for that," Robert said to Carson, who only nodded because he was close to tears. He felt Mister Keller was entrusting Jennifer to him and recognized the immense pressure that put on him.
When they all came to the living room, Jennifer noticed her friends both looked like they had done something wrong. Her brow furrowed, "Dad?"
"I just told them to protect you or else," he said and started smiling. "No sappy good-byes. We'll do it right here and you'll go with these boys and explore a new galaxy. Who would have thought I'd have my own little Starfleet cadet?"
"Don't you dare call me Doctor Crusher," Jennifer smiled back to her father. They loved Star Trek and often compared themselves to the characters. Jennifer was upset Beverly Crusher was so old; otherwise the female doctor would have been a role model for her.
"Well, respect the soldiers and listen to them. They're there to save your life. Don't fall in love with some strange alien and most important, remember I love you." Robert paused. Noting how much she looked like her mother one more time, he pulled her into a big hug. He held her a little longer and tighter than he usually did and Jennifer returned the hug as long and hard, hearing a sniffle he pushed her back. "Now get out of here and save the universe." He smiled and turned, walking past the two men in the corridor and nodding to them before he retreated to the back porch.
Rodney went into the living room to collect Jennifer's bags. "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Jennifer smiled in spite of the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Atlantis, here we come."
TBC