Chapter 4: The Inspiration of Love

"Did you know Keller was interested in McKay?" Ronon stood to the side of the corridor with his arms folded across his chest, waiting with Teyla as the debate continued over the best way to get Rodney and Lieutenant Spencer out.

"Yes," Teyla said simply. "I believe that Rodney has feelings for her as well."

"And you didn't think that might be something I should know?" Ronon glared at her.

"You appear to have come to the realisation on your own," Teyla pointed out without remorse.

"She told me," Ronon growled, "after I'd already made a fool of myself!"

"I am sure your pride will recover," Teyla smiled at his disgruntled look.

"Yeah, well maybe it was more than just my pride," Ronon retorted with a frown. "You could have said something."

"I did not believe you truly desired Doctor Keller as a partner," Teyla replied complacently.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ronon demanded, whispering harshly so those around them wouldn't overhear.

"She serves as another means of distraction from the issues you should be dealing with," Teyla's expression dared him to deny that. "The fact that it placed you in direct competition with Rodney was an amusement that added to the attractiveness of your chosen course of action."

"It wasn't like that!" Ronon protested. "I like Jennifer."

"I do not doubt that," Teyla replied. "But she is not interested in you romantically and you are interested only because she reminds you of Melena," Teyla's voice turned gentle as she put a hand on Ronon's arm in comfort. "You have done nothing wrong ... this is often the way with the first person we find ourselves drawn to after such a loss. In dealing with them we learn to deal with the past so that we can truly be ready to move on."

"Liking someone else doesn't mean I'm ready to forget Melena," Ronon turned away with a frown.

"No," Teyla agreed. "Remembering Melena would serve you much better in that regard."

oOo

"How're you doing Rodney," Jennifer continued to check in with her patient every fifteen minutes as promised. In between times she paced worriedly, letting Rodney's team be the ones to comfort him while wishing she had position enough to act as more than just the Doctor in charge.

"I'm really starting to like this place," Rodney said sarcastically. "In fact I might build something similar for my next vacation home."

"So about the same then?" Jen quipped.

"Have they decided how to get us out of here yet?" Rodney asked the same question he asked every time she spoke to him.

"Ah, no – sorry," Jennifer replied apologetically, hating to continually disappoint him.

"And I suppose the Daedalus is still out of commission?" Rodney queried.

"Zelenka said that if I stopped checking in every fifteen minutes he'd have more time to help them with their repairs," Jennifer admitted.

"Typical," Rodney muttered. "When it's me that needs saving suddenly everything takes ten times longer to fix!"

"They're working on it Rodney," Jennifer assured him. "You just have to hang in there a little longer. Now, you know the drill. Tell me how Lieutenant Spencer's doing."

Rodney gave her the stats in quick succession ... the numbers were of some concern but more worrying was the fact that Spencer still hadn't regained consciousness two hours after the event.

"This is my punishment isn't it?" Rodney said miserably. "I switched on the Attero device and probably killed thousands ... maybe even millions. This is some kind of cosmic payback!"

"Don't be silly Rodney," Jennifer admonished. "Colonel Sheppard said that explosion shook the whole Tower ... it stands to reason the damage would be greater than just what they could see within the Control Room."

"Yeah but it had to be me standing underneath the faulty ceiling, didn't it?" Rodney persisted. "I mean, I thought blowing up five sixths of a solar system was gonna be as bad as it got, but no. I had to take it one step further and set off something that may have blown up every Stargate in the galaxy and killed millions!"

Jennifer frowned when Rodney let out a whimper at the end of his tirade. "Rodney?" she asked in concern.

"I'm okay," Rodney said in a voice that clearly said he wasn't.

"What happened?" Jennifer resorted to her stern doctor voice, the one reserved for particularly difficult patients who wouldn't do what they were told.

"Nothing," Rodney replied, trying to be casual even though he sounded like he was still in pain. "Just a ah ... sharp pain in my head and ah ... maybe my nose is bleeding just a little bit."

"Damn!" Jennifer said angrily, glaring at the wall of rubble that was keeping her from treating him.

"Oh God, this is bad isn't it?" Rodney asked worriedly.

"It probably doesn't mean anything Rodney," Jennifer strove to reassure him. "I just really, really want to get in there so I can see for myself."

"Well unless you can walk through walls we're stuck with this," Rodney replied. "It's not so bad ... I could be unconscious too and then you'd have no way of finding out anything. Although to be honest a bit of unconsciousness would go a long way right about now."

"Walk through walls?" Jennifer repeated thoughtfully as the beginnings of a plan occurred to her. "I'll be back in a minute Rodney, I've got an idea."

"Jennifer?" Rodney queried worriedly. When she didn't reply he risked overtaxing his tired and sore brain trying to figure out what she could possibly be planning.

oOo

"You want me to let you get to McKay and Spencer through that hole in the ceiling?" Sheppard looked at Jennifer incredulously.

"It's big enough isn't it?" Jennifer asked like that was the only reason he might say no.

"For you, probably," Sheppard admitted, "but that entire area is unstable. I don't see how we're gonna get you up there in the first place."

"That's where you come in," Jennifer explained. "The Jumper Bay is intact right?" When John nodded she continued. "Normally that part of the floor wouldn't be accessible but the Gateroom is just one giant open air section now that most of the Control Room has collapsed."

"Oh you are not suggesting what I think you're suggesting," Sheppard shook his head in disbelief. "Are you insane?"

"Lieutenant Spencer hasn't regained consciousness which means he has a potentially serious head injury," Jennifer said urgently. "The longer he goes without treatment the less chance there is he'll recover. And Rodney's condition is deteriorating as well. I can take a portable scanner in there, give them both some basic medical treatment and start working out what we need to do for them in the longer term. You have to let me do this John."

"This is the part where you remind me about Teyla's rescue isn't it?" Sheppard ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"I would never hold that over you," Jennifer denied. They both knew she was telling the truth ... she would never be that blatant!

"Okay," Sheppard agreed abruptly. "Let me check with the team up there, see if the area over their position is clear enough to give me the room I need."

"Thank you," Jennifer relaxed the muscles she didn't realise she'd been holding so tense.

oOo

In short order the plan was assessed as doable. Now all Jennifer had to do was tell Rodney ... without aggravating his condition. Sheppard had time to fill Teyla and Ronon in while she procrastinated, trying to decide how Rodney might react so she could prepare her arguments in advance.

"He's gonna be mad no matter how you phrase it," Sheppard advised impatiently when he returned,"so just tell him already."

"I'm going to," Jennifer replied insistently. "Just ... ," when John looked like he was going to jump in and do it for her Jennifer launched into nervous speech.

"Ah Rodney, you still there?"

"Where else would I be?" Rodney pointed out the obvious irritably.

"Right, of course," Jennifer's voice trembled before she calmed herself. "Listen we finally have a plan to get some help down there to you."

"I'd prefer to hear about the plan for getting us out of here," Rodney remarked sarcastically. When Jennifer remained silent he sighed. "Okay - what have you got?"

"I'm coming in through that hole in the ceiling," Jennifer announced, trying to imbue her voice with confidence. "Colonel Sheppard's gonna use a Puddle Jumper to get me close enough and then Teyla and Ronon will lower me down."

"No!" Rodney said firmly almost before she'd finished her explanation. "It's too risky. We have no idea how stable that ceiling is ... you're not putting yourself at risk to help me."

"It'll be fine Rodney," Jennifer said reassuringly. "Besides, it's not just you that needs help, remember?"

"Lieutenant Spencer wouldn't want you sacrificing yourself for him either," Rodney retorted. "He's a marine – they're all about saving the civilians, not using them to survive!"

"Well, Colonel Sheppard has already agreed so you don't get a say in it," Jennifer countered. "I just need you to confirm that the area below the hole is clear enough for me to land on safely."

"It's not," Rodney said dismissively. "I don't think you'll fit through the hole either."

"Rodney," Jennifer admonished. "Don't do this ... I'm coming down there even if I have to land on top of you!"

"It's clear," Rodney gave in grimly. "Now tell Sheppard I want to talk to him ... privately!"

"He wants to speak to you," Jennifer looked at John who'd stood quietly listening to her side of the conversation.

"I rather thought he might," Sheppard replied knowingly. "Go get your gear together and meet me back here in ten."

Jennifer ran from the room, trying not to worry that somehow Rodney would convince the Colonel to scrap her plan.

oOo

"You can't let her do this John," Rodney almost pleaded. "It's too dangerous."

"You surprise me McKay," Sheppard said conversationally. "Usually you'd be pointing out how much more valuable your life is than everyone else's."

"Not hers," Rodney muttered. "And don't make me admit to why that is."

"I don't need you to admit anything," Sheppard grinned at the chance to tease his friend even in the midst of the current crisis.

"This isn't more of your 'I've seen the future' stuff is it?" Rodney asked irritably. "You should just tell me what you saw if you're gonna keep teasing me with all these hints."

"Didn't need that either," Sheppard replied complacently. "It isn't exactly a secret that you've completely lost it over Keller – you've been mooning over her for months! I just hope this experience pushes you to do something about it."

"Get me out of here without risking Jennifer and I promise I will," Rodney bargained. "I'll completely embarrass myself in front of the whole team if that's what it takes."

"As appealing as that offer is I'm gonna have to decline," Sheppard's tone turned serious. "It's a good idea Rodney – the only one we've got. Every plan we've come up with to get you out of there carries too high a chance we'll bring the rest of that roof down on top of you. We need to give the Daedalus more time and Keller being down there with you will buy it for us."

"Fine," Rodney said angrily, realising he wasn't going to change John's mind. "Just so you know, if something happens to her I won't forgive you ... assuming I'm alive ... hell maybe even if I'm not."

"Understood," Sheppard agreed easily - he wouldn't forgive himself either if this plan went badly and one of them got hurt.

Authors Note:

Sorry this took a little longer to get posted that I was expecting ... hope it was worth the wait!