Chapter 3

"Whoa!" was the oh-so professional reaction of Dr. Keller to finding Atlantis' military leader about to kiss a very pregnant-with-someone-else's-baby, Teyla Emmagan. John's back was to the doctor and he didn't turn to look at her, but simply watched Teyla's face to see what her reaction would be to the situation. Would she feel embarrassed or ashamed to be seen kissing him? It surprised him that he himself felt neither of those reactions -- he only felt happy, and protective of Teyla and the baby. It was no one else's business what they did in their private lives but he wasn't naïve enough to believe that everyone on the base would react positively to seeing them together.

Teyla met Jennifer's eyes but there was no embarrassment there, only a silent plea for understanding from one woman to another. Jennifer recovered quickly. "I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you guys. I just wanted to let you know that you're free to go, Teyla. Take it easy though and keep your headset handy so you can call me if you have any further pain or contractions." Teyla nodded her head in agreement and then asked in a slightly shaky voice. "What will happen…..if the contractions start again and you are not able to stop them?" It was a valid concern and John was anxious to hear the answer as well. Jennifer stepped closer to the bed, wanting to calm some of Teyla's fears.

"You're at approximately week 28 of your pregnancy and the baby would very likely be just fine if he did come now. I have an incubator and all the equipment I need to care for a premature baby. But….it would be better if you could go at least 6 more weeks to give the baby's lungs more time to develop. If you continue to have pre-term labor, you may have to go on complete bed rest which means no physical activity of any kind." Teyla blanched at the doctor's words. Complete bed rest sounded like pure torture to her!

John stood and cleared his throat causing both women to look his way. He reddened slightly. "How 'bout I step out so you can get dressed, then I'll walk you home, okay?" Jennifer didn't miss the way Teyla's expression softened as she smiled up at him and told him that they would need to stop by the cafeteria on their way because "Junior" was hungry again. John just grinned at Teyla for a moment, then gave Jennifer a sheepish look and ducked around the curtain. "Man, he's got it BAD!" thought Jennifer to herself.

After Jennifer removed the IV, Teyla swung her legs over the side of the bed and tried to push herself up with Jennifer immediately coming to her aid. Nothing was said between doctor and patient as Jennifer retrieved Teyla's clothes from a locker and then helped her with the back closure of her filmy blouse. Jennifer had thought that there might be something between John and Teyla when she first came to Atlantis but had never seen them act on it before. She was pretty sure she had interrupted them as they were about to kiss tonight though. Jennifer wasn't sure if she should say anything about it or just pretend like she didn't see a thing. In the end, she decided to just keep it professional. She figured that if Teyla wanted to talk about it, then she would be the one to bring it up. Otherwise, Jennifer would just keep quiet about it.

A few minutes later, Jennifer watched as John and Teyla walked away from the infirmary, down the hall towards the cafeteria. Teyla was beginning to have a definite sway to her walk and John stayed close by her side. They were talking low and Jennifer heard Teyla's distinctive soft laughter tinkle as they rounded the corner out of sight.

Jennifer leaned against the wall and sighed wistfully. She sometimes tried to hide it with sarcasm, but at heart she was a romantic, sentimental woman and couldn't help but long for a close relationship like those two seemed to have. She didn't know where their relationship was headed but hoped that they would find happiness together. It was not every man who would welcome and love another man's child, but Jennifer was sure that John would not have any problem with it. It was clear that he adored and respected Teyla and that she felt the same way about him.

With another sigh and glance down the hall, Jennifer turned to go back to her office and promptly ran smack into a wall – a wall with arms. They were wonderful, bare, muscular, tan arms that could only belong to one person. Startled, Jennifer jumped and darted a glance up, way up, to Ronon's face. An unwanted, but beautiful, flush crept up her neck and cheeks as she wondered how long he had been standing there.

"What are you doing here?" she blurted out. It wasn't what she'd meant to say and she cringed inwardly at her own sharp tone. "Came to check on Teyla. Guess she's okay?" Ronon rumbled with a nod in the direction that John and Teyla had just gone. Jennifer nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, the contractions have stopped for now. I told her to take it easy and call if she had any more pains."

Ronon then stepped away from the wall and Jennifer assumed he was leaving, possibly to catch up to John and Teyla. She was surprised, however, to find him following her back into the infirmary. She was curious as to what he might want but continued on to her desk without asking. Jennifer knew from experience that Ronon did things his own way and would eventually get around to asking what he wanted to know or to tell her what he was there to tell her. Even though it killed her to do so, she was learning not to push or prod him, which was a sure way to get him to leave.

She sat down at her desk and busied herself with updating patient files, glancing up every few seconds to find Ronon's eyes on her. He stood, leaning in the doorway of her office with his arms crossed and a thoughtful expression on his face. Finally, when she could stand it no longer, she asked him "Did you…..um, need something?"

A flash of white teeth showed briefly as he grinned at her and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I need to see if the Chief Medical Officer has bothered to eat today." Her eyes widened in surprise. He had come to check on her? He cared if she had eaten? Another flush threatened to creep up her neck and she gulped audibly. "I.…um, I had a half of a sandwich...earlier. One of the nurses brought it to me and I guess that was about 11:30 this morning….and then Colonel Sheppard called about Teyla and then I monitored her all afternoon and evening and….." Jennifer stopped abruptly, realizing that she was babbling.

"So it's been almost 12 hours since you've had HALF a sandwich?" Jennifer nodded her head, not sure what to say and was totally shocked when he continued, "Good thing for you that I know where there's some of those leftover grilled pork chops and fresh fruit you like. They're stashed in the cafeteria." Jennifer smiled. "Yeah, stashed unless Teyla has found them. That's where she and John were headed." Ronon looked horrified. "Let's go! There may not be anything left if Teyla finds them first. That woman can eat!" Again with that devastating grin, thought Jennifer, and how did he know that she liked grilled pork chops and fresh fruit anyway?