Last one. Almost three times the limit, but it's the last one so I didn't really care. ;)

MGM owns it. Not me.

Hope it's a happy enough conclusion to this fic (right Dani?).

Jennifer stared at the wall without actually seeing it, or much of anything for that matter. All she could think about was Rodney and what he was going through. When John had come by half an hour earlier to tell her that Rodney wanted to see her, she had almost agreed, but in the end she thought it was best to give him some more time.

She was still deep in thought about Rodney when something hit her bed with enough of a jolt to almost send her flying off the edge of her bed. She turned over and sat up, her eyes nearly bulging from her head at the sight before her, the sight of a United States Air Force Colonel pushing a hospital bed- complete with IV pole with monitor- towards her. And on that bed, was the man she loved- the very man whose life her own hand had almost taken.

"Damn it, Sheppard," growled Rodney as he gripped the rails of his bed. Jennifer couldn't help but notice that his growl wasn't up to its usual decibel level, not that it should have been of course. "Watch where you're going! You frightened Jennifer!"

At that Sheppard stopped trying to maneuver the bed around and looked up at Jennifer. "Sorry about that, Doc," he said with an apologetic shrug. "These beds aren't the easiest things to steer in tight quarters." Sheppard pushed on the bed and frowned when it wouldn't budge. "And before you go getting pissed at me," he pointed to Rodney, "it was his idea."

"Well she wouldn't come to me," griped Rodney with a pointed glare at his friend, "so drastic measures were called for."

Jennifer knew her eyes were wide and her mouth was hanging open, not to mention the fact that she doubted she could actually say anything even if she wanted to. So it was with that bug-eyed look on her face that she silently watched Sheppard pull Rodney's bed back a few inches and then push it forward and turn it so that it was parallel to hers. The Colonel had left a space between the beds and it was into that small area that he moved into next. He bent down and started fiddling with the railing of Rodney's bed, making several noises that varied from grunts of disgust to sighs of confusion.

When Jennifer finally found her voice she asked, "What are you doing, Colonel?"

Still bent over and looking at Rodney's bed, his reply was slightly muted. "Trying to get this rail down. I can never remember how to do it."

"Even after all the time you've spent in those beds?"

Sheppard straightened up faster than should have been possible, and like Jennifer and Rodney he looked towards the end of Rodney's bed and into the bemused eyes of Nurse Sandy.

Jennifer watched as Sandy smiled at Sheppard and motioned for him to move. When he did she moved to the side of Rodney's bed and easily lowered the rail and to her credit, she made absolutely no sign of hearing John's aggravated grumble. She moved to the foot of Rodney's bed and looked to Sheppard.

"Now, Colonel," she said as she took hold of the bed, "you push the head of the bed and I'll push the foot."

Sheppard did as he was told and a moment later Rodney's bed was snugly fitted against Jennifer's, effectively making one bed out of two.

Jennifer watched with pride and gratitude as Sandy locked the brakes on Rodney's bed and then moved up to thoroughly examine his IV and the monitor to make sure all that jostling about hadn't done him any harm. After a second check Sandy turned to her and gave her an imperceptible nod.

"If you two need anything, just give me a shout," said Sandy as she moved to stand next to Sheppard at the foot of Rodney's bed. She gave them a wry look. "I'll be at the desk figuring out how to explain this to Dr. Beckett."

Sheppard gave her his best charming smile. "I'm sure you'll come up with something convincing, Sandy."

Sandy returned his smile, but her tone when she spoke was steely. "Oh I'm sure we will, Colonel." She stepped back and pointed towards the desk- away from the patients- and said, "Visiting hours are now over. These two have had more than enough excitement for one night and need some alone time."

Sheppard gave Rodney and Jennifer a wave as he walked past Sandy, who turned and followed him out leaving Rodney and Jennifer alone. Jennifer watched them leave and wondered how she'd managed to find such good friends. The thought was short lived however, as the burning sensation that she was being watched overcame her until she turned to look at Rodney.

He was studying her, and she wanted very badly to run and hide from that intense scrutiny. Was he looking for signs of the person who had shot him? Was he remembering that?

She turned away from him and studied her fidgeting fingers that were laying on her lap. "Rodney…"

"It wasn't your fault."

Her eyes instantly filled with tears. Trust Rodney to get right to the point.

"If it's anyone's fault it's mine," he said, and he gave her a penitent smile when she turned to glare at him. "If I hadn't been so caught up in my work and we went to the movie on time, you never would have touched that stone. If you wouldn't have touched the stone, you and this Nivea or Nirvana or Neeva or whatever her name was wouldn't have traded bodies, and," he stopped and avoided her eyes as he painfully mumbled, "and you wouldn't have been shot."

Jennifer blinked, sending tears cascading down her cheeks and onto her pajama shirt. He wasn't blaming her at all. More than that, he was blaming himself for her getting injured.

God she loved this man.

"Rodney," she said softly, and when he finally returned his eyes to hers she added, "I shouldn't have touched it anyway."

Rodney sighed. "It doesn't matter. I…I ignored you for work- again- and it led…"

She could tell he was struggling, and her eyes flicked briefly to the monitor attached to his bed to make sure he was okay.

Rodney cleared his throat and she found his eyes again. "And it led to you almost being killed. I'm sorry."

The sorrow in his voice, and the way his apology was whispered with great difficulty broke her heart. She shimmied on her backside over towards him, and when she was at the edge of her bed she laid down and turned to face him.

Jennifer reached over with her left hand and touched his shoulder. She waited a moment and then moved her hand down along his arm until her fingers interlaced with his. "There's nothing to be sorry for, Rodney," she said as he turned his head towards her. She had been prepared for him to distrust her, to think of her as the person who nearly killed him. She hadn't been prepared to be the one on the receiving end of an apology. She certainly didn't blame him for any of this.

Rodney sighed and Jennifer squeezed his hand. "I mean it," she said when his eyes focused on hers. "I love you."

Rodney smiled but grunted in astonishment. "I'll never understand why."

"You don't have to," she replied, and she smiled when a grin played at his lips.

"I love you, too," he replied. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. As he lowered it back down he added, "More than anything." His grin widened and his eyes glimmered. "And when we get out of here and we're both, you know, able to, well, you know, I'm going to show you how much."

Jennifer laughed as a tear slipped onto her cheek, but for the first time in days it was not a tear of sorrow or dread, but one of happiness. "I'll hold you to that, McKay," she said happily. "I'll hold you to it."

The End. :)