When Jennifer finally woke up on a bed rather than the cold ground she guessed she was in the infirmary. Remembering the events that brought her here she scrunched her eyes further shut, too scared to open them incase she saw nothing. However, as time progressed her curiosity grew and she knew she would have to look some time. Taking a deep breath she cracked open her eyes just enough for her optic nerve to be assaulted by a blurry white light. Sighing with relief she slowly re-opened her eyes allowing more light in. She kept blinking until finally she could see that she was in the Atlantis infirmary. Wanting to fully test her vision she lifted her hands into view. That was when she realised her left hand was holding something. Looking down at the small white object, the joy of being able to see was replaced with dread as in her hand was another business card. Looking round she saw no one in the large infirmary. Despite its size she still started to feel claustrophobic and had to get out. She managed to reached the store room, change into scrubs and leave the infirmary before anyone realised that she was no longer on the gurney.
Having escaped the infirmary Jennifer headed towards her quarters. However, as she stepped into the transporter she remembered the fact that someone else had access to her quarters. Someone who was working for the IOA. Someone with an agenda that involved her betraying her friends. As she remembered, her quarters no longer seemed appealing so she changed her destination. Randomly hitting the pannel in the transporter she waited for the doors to open, then she started to wander. Her body ached from the effects of the poison and the antidote, but still she walked, aimlessly. Eventually the strain of recent events took its toll and Jennifer felt like she was about to collapse. Looking round she realised she had no idea where she was and that she was the only person around. Loosing the will to go on she slid down the wall and shut her eyes.
Moments later she sensed someone else was around. Guessing it was her personal IOA observer she threw her head back and called. "You can come out, I know you're there." When she got no response she called again. "What do you want from me?"
"To make sure you're ok." A familiar gruff voice said.
"Ronon?" Jennifer asked surprised.
"Yeah. Who'd you think it was?"
"Doesn't matter." Jennifer answered quickly, questioning if Ronon was the IOA man, before deciding she was being paranoid.
"How're you feeling?"
"Better, thanks."
"Should you be roaming the city?"
"No."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Yes... But I can't."
"Yeah you can."
"I can't, they might...it doesn't matter." She said, causing Ronon to get concerned.
"Why are you here?" The Satedan asked.
"Here?"
"Empty part of the city." Ronon clarified.
"Didn't want to go to my quarters. Then I got thinking."
"'Bout what?"
"Life, the universe and everything."
"Forty-two." Ronon said, causing Jennifer to look at him surprised. "Sheppard." He explained as he slid down the wall and sat next to Jennifer. "Why'd you come back?" He suddenly blurted out. "I mean you're not happy here so why return?"
"I didn't have a choice." Jennifer said in a tone, which Ronon recognised as having an element of finality in it. The two sat in silence for a while before the Satedan stood. Holding out his hand to Jennifer he said.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Teyla's quarters."
"Why?" Jennifer asked, not wanting to go.
"Because you don't want to go to your quarters and it's cold down here. Also the doctors won't look there when they realise you escaped the infirmary."
Jennifer sat not wanting to go, but not wanting to stay. Craving company but fearful about who she could trust. Finally she raised her arm and allowed Ronon to pull her to her feet.
-oo-
"Jennifer, should you be out of the infirmary?" Teyla greeted as Ronon led Jennifer into the Athosian's quarters.
"It's ok." Jennifer said causing Teyla to look to Ronon who gave a barely perceptible nod
"How are you feeling?" Teyla smiled directing Jennifer to a chair.
"Better thanks." The young doctor replied as the door slid shut, trapping her in the room, making her suddenly feel claustrophobic again.
"I'm not just talking about the bite." Teyla pointed out.
"I'm fine." Jennifer said firmly, but without making eye contact.
"You have been very withdrawn, we're worried." Teyla said moving to a more direct approach.
"There's no need. I'm fine."
"Jennifer, no one sees you anymore. You hide in your quarters or the infirmary."
"It's better that way."
"For who?"
"Rodney. He doesn't deserve what I did to him. Forcing him to see me everyday isn't right."
"Then why come back?" Ronon asked, repeating his question of earlier.
"I had to. They wouldn't let me leave unless...it doesn't matter I'm stuck here, ruining Rodney's life."
"Who wouldn't?" Teyla asked growing concerned.
"It doesn't matter." Jennifer answered quickly.
"Jennifer how much do you remember after you were bitten?" Teyla asked changing tact.
"Not sure, some of it seems fuzzy. Why?"
"You said some things that concerned us." Teyla continued, whilst Ronon hovered by the door.
"Like what?"
"Like not wanting to betray us and feeling alone." As Teyla spoke Jennifer paled. Sensing the conversation was heading towards a place she didn't want to go Jennifer stood.
"I need to go." Turning she rushed to the door, only to find Ronon blocking it.
"Sit." He ordered.
"Jennifer, we are your friends. We are worried about you." Teyla said from behind.
"I'm fine."
"No you're not." Ronon said bluntly.
"I can't do this." Jennifer said.
"Do what?" Teyla asked gently.
"Talk about it."
"Would it help if John was here or Major Lorne?" Teyla suggested.
"No." Jennifer said very quickly. "I know that you want to help, but I can't talk."
"Why?" Ronon asked.
"It's not safe."
"Jennifer, has someone threatened you?" Teyla questioned.
"No, not exactly." Jennifer said desperate to escape the room, but every word she spoke only spurred Teyla and Ronon on.
"Jennifer if you are in danger you need to tell John." Teyla said.
"No. I'm not, it's not me. I don't matter. I don't care what happens to me. If I did I wouldn't be here. It's not me who they want." She rambled.
"Who wants who?" Teyla questioned, now concerned and confused.
"I really can't do this." Jennifer said as she moved towards the door again. Only before she made it the door chimed, resulting in Jennifer flinching and suddenly retreating.
Turning Ronon opened the door surprising the person on the other side.
"Teyla what big eyes you have." Sheppard commented. When Ronon remained silent he added. "I'd talk about your teeth but I don't think it would help. Teyla around?"
"Yeah." Ronon replied as Sheppard tried to move past the Satedan. Catching sight of Jennifer the Lieutenant Colonel said.
"Hey doc. I've been looking for you. Should you be out and about?"
"I'm fine." Jennifer mumbled, turning away from Sheppard.
"What's going on?" Sheppard asked picking up on Teyla's concerned expression. Forcing his way past Ronon he approached the two women. "What's happened?" He questioned.
Teyla, who stood furthest from John, but facing him, immediately looked down at Jennifer, whose face John could still not see.
"John, now is not a good time." Teyla started, although her voice did not mimic her words.
"I should go." Jennifer said turning and almost sprinting past Sheppard, hoping that Ronon would not try to stop her in Sheppard's presence. That hope, however, was in vein and she found herself unable to get past Ronon.
"Sit." Ronon ordered again.
"I need to go." Jennifer pleaded with the Satedan.
"Ok, someone tell me what is happening. Why are you holding the doc prisoner?"
"Ronon please." Jennifer begged, ignoring Sheppard's question.
"Not until you tell us."
"Tell us what?" Sheppard questioned, beginning to get irritated.
"I can't. I don't know who I can trust. It could make everything worse." Jennifer protested.
"Jennifer we are your friends. You are safe here. Tell us what happened and we will see to it that what you are worried about does not happen." Teyla said calmly as she approached the doctor. When Sheppard heard what Teyla was saying his irritation turned to concern and he too closed on Jennifer.
"Doc, I'm not sure what has happened, but I promise you that I will do all I can to put it right." He said.
Jennifer looked round at each of the other occupants, part of her desperate to tell them of the conspiracy, part of her too scared. As she saw the concern in each of their eyes she felt stupid for doubting any of them. Then she realised that a good undercover operative would be able to fake concern. She thought about who the people before her were and how little they had to gain from aligning themselves with the IOA group. Her mind wondered back to the meeting with the representative and the fact he said there were two on the list who worked for him. Currently there were three in the room, which meant even if two of them were undercover there was one potential ally. Still feeling unsure she slowly nodded her head and allowed Teyla to guide her back to a chair.
As she retold the story of the visit the others looked on in concern and anger. She finished the story by saying that she had been told that two of the list were secretly working for the IOA.
"What kind of things were in the statements?" Sheppard questioned, trying to get his head round the situation.
"It varied from person to person, it started with an element of truth before spiralling into full fabrication." Jennifer said softly. "With you it was attempting a military coup on Atlantis with an aim to break away from Earth completely."
"What truth was that based on?" Teyla asked.
"Insubordination, citing events with Dr Wier and Mr Woolsey. Then there were events here which seemed to undermine Earth, like making an alliance with Todd."
"Jennifer." Teyla said. "Surely you realise that we are your friends, none of us are involved."
"I thought that but then they got into my quarters." Jennifer explained.
"Who did?" All three asked simultaneously.
"I don't know who, but they were working for the IOA, they left a business card with the email I should use when I was ready to change my mind."
"Why didn't you report the break in?" Sheppard asked.
"I didn't know who I could tell. Then I thought if I changed the code it would stop it happening. But it didn't. No matter how many times I changed the code they kept getting in. I realised that to do that the person would need an override code, only four of us have them."
"Doc." Sheppard said when she had finished. "I know why you are hesitant to trust me, but I promise you that I am not in a dodgy pact with a dubious part of the IOA. But I will find out who is responsible. In the mean time I'm not happy about you being alone and I know Cole is not happy about you being out of the infirmary. So Ronon's going to take you back there and stay watching you tonight." As Jennifer began to shake her head he went on. "No arguments doc."
"But they're there." Jennifer said looking more stressed than before.
"Who's there?" Sheppard asked.
"Them, whoever they are."
"Jennifer," Teyla said placing her hands on Jennifer's shoulders, "do you know who it is that's doing this?"
"No." Jennifer replied shaking her head.
"Then why do you think they are in the infirmary?" Teyla pressed.
"When I woke up this was in my hand." Jennifer said holding out her arm and unclenching her fist revealing a scrunched up card. Taking the card from Jennifer Sheppard asked.
"Anything else, anything at all you need to tell us?" Jennifer just silently shook her head. Sheppard looked at her convinced she was hiding something, but eventually let it pass and said.
"Doc, Ronon is going to stay with you in the infirmary. No one is going to get near you. But we need to make sure you are ok so I really need you to go back to the infirmary and try to rest." Reluctantly Jennifer stood and allowed Ronon to guide her out of the room.
"What do you think?" Teyla asked when Ronon and Jennifer had left.
"Something doesn't make sense." Sheppard said as he began pacing. "Even if the doc is telling us the whole story."
"You think Jennifer is hiding something?" Teyla asked.
"She was holding something back. But even if we assume it is not directly relevant, the IOA, if that's who they are, plan seems odd. I mean if there are two insiders why use the doc? I think the story she was told was a mean to an ends."
"Such as?" Teyla prompted.
"Not sure yet. But the first step is to confirm whether or not the list she had did contain undercover operatives."
"How are we going to do that?"
"I'm working on that one. How long before Torren and Kanaan get back from their bonding trip?"
"It is a Athosian tradition, not a bonding trip." Teyla pointed out. "They will be gone for another week."
"Good." He said distractedly, before hastily trying to correct himself. "I don't mean that's it's good that they're away, because that must be really hard. I meant it was good because I can have your help on this and there will be no danger to either of them. And I have an idea, so I'm going to go kick it into action." He said hurrying to the door before he dug himself into a hole.
A/N: Chapter 5 up on Friday.