Chapter 7
Jennifer was one of the last to arrive at the briefing slipping into a chair just inside the door behind Ronon. Hopefully he wouldn't notice she was there. She wasn't in the mood to be on the receiving end of his wrath.
The mission was scheduled for 0800 hours in the morning and they'd all be gating to P2L-261, an uninhabited planet that housed a common meeting hall used for peoples of other worlds to gather in a neutral environment. Officials of Riota, a trading partner with Atlantis, had arranged the meeting for the people of a neighboring planet who were very reluctant to divulge their location. Riota vouched for the other planet explaining to Colonel Carter that their allies had transported their sick to the meeting hall on P2L-261 and were requesting medical assistance. From what little information they'd received it seemed the makeshift clinic was overflowing with patients many of them being children. Their healers just couldn't handle the load and were asking for help with diagnosis and treatment.
Sheppard's team would be taking Dr. Keller and her staff along with supplies. It was agreed they'd check in after six hours with a prognosis of their situation. Major Lorne's team would be on stand-by to shuttle additional personnel, equipment and supplies as needed.
As they filed out Sheppard could hear Ronon grumbling to himself. His patience with the man was near snapping as he pulled his teammate aside in the now empty conference room.
"Okay, what's the problem?" Sheppard asked sternly.
"Why is Keller on this mission?" Ronon growled.
"Because she's the CMO and knows more about medicine than anyone else," he growled back.
"She's a liability. I don't like having her on the mission," he answered.
"Unless you have healing skills I'm not aware of you need to suck it up and get along. What's with you two anyway?" Sheppard asked frowning. "I've never seen you ride anyone as hard as you do Keller. Anything you want to talk about?"
"Just don't think she belongs here," he answered evasively.
"Doesn't matter, your job is to protect her, leave the personal stuff in the gate room." Sheppard ordered.
oOo
Jennifer arrived in the gate room with her equipment and the team she'd put together, two technicians and Marie. The four of them should be able to handle the initial assessment of the situation on the planet. Making eye contact with Ronon she could see he wasn't happy with her presence on the mission. Why couldn't he give it a rest for just one day, she sighed to herself.
oOo
The meeting hall was located less than a mile down the path nestled in the foothills below the mountain with a stunning view out over the valley below. Turning away from the beautiful scenery Jen promised herself to return sometime when the circumstances weren't so dire.
Dr. Keller and her team worked with the healer for over three hours before forming a diagnosis. It appeared that the people were suffering from an infectious disease, hitting the children harder than adults. Teyla agreed, explaining that many Athosians had experienced the same disease as children and assured the healer that it was easily treated with drugs the Lantian healers possessed. After meeting with several officials from the infected planet it was determined that a sick trader had probably brought the disease last month. This discovery only added to the official's resolve to separate themselves from the rest of the galaxy.
Jennifer made out a wish list for Atlantis estimating they would be needed for 7-10 days. She felt confident that her team could easily handle the clinic with the help of their healer so the additional drugs and food supplies should take care of their needs.
The building was cut into two rooms by a wall that ran the width of the structure. The front area was already housing the sick and the smaller back area was set up as a bunkhouse. Riota had already brought in extra sleeping pads and blankets for the teams from Atlantis. Major Lorne's team arrived with the extra supplies just as the rain began to fall. This will probably be a miserable mission if the rain doesn't stop.
"Hey Doc," Evan called as he entered the clinic. "I think you forgot something," he grinned handing her the half-emptied tub of suckers.
"Hummm, my supply is getting low," she frowned looking at the meager offering. "It'll get us through this crisis but just barely."
"Daedalus should be here by the time we get back," he reminded her.
"That's true … perfect timing too, I'm running low on a lot of things. Thanks Evan."
"Do you need any help before we report to Sheppard?"
"If someone could make some sense of the back room it'd really help."
"On it."
oOo
By the end of the first day Jennifer had established a comfortable routine with Marie's help. Over the course of the first couple of days they'd seen to all the patients in the meetinghouse plus the additional dozen that had been brought through the gate from the infected planet. By the start of the fourth day they were beginning to see significant improvement in those infected especially the children who showed a remarkable ability to bounce back quickly.
Once their camp was established and security seemed sound Sheppard started sending some of the military back to Atlantis starting with Lorne's team. As the days progressed he whittled their presence down to his team minus Dr. McKay who naturally felt his presence was better used elsewhere than babysitting a bunch of medical personnel.
Several days in Jennifer found enough free time to begin a small instruction class for the healer and his assistants so they'd be able to carry on the treatments with new patients once they returned home. By the time they'd been there a whole week they were down to seven patients and all parties were packing and preparing to leave.
"Hey Doc, how are things going in here?" Sheppard asked as he entered the building. "Do you have anything else ready to move to the jumper?" Lorne had flown in earlier in the day to start moving equipment and personnel back to Atlantis. By nightfall they all should be back enjoying the luxuries of a soft warm bed and running water.
"We are just about done here. I'm waiting for the last of the patients to be moved back to their home world and then we'll pack up the last of our supplies."
"Do you have any personnel to send back?"
"You may as well take all the medical staff with you … they'll just be standing around otherwise," she suggested knowing everyone was looking forward to a hot shower and a real meal. "I'll stay behind in case the local healer has any last minute questions. I'm guessing maybe a couple of hours, three at the most."
"Sounds good, keep in touch," he instructed.
Sheppard grabbed two containers handing them off to Lorne once he'd gotten them outside. Giving the major an estimated departure time of thirty minutes he headed off looking for Ronon.
"Hey big guy, there you are," Sheppard announced finding his teammate coming back from the jumper.
"Yeah?" he grunted coming to a halt under a thick span of trees hoping for some shelter from the rain.
"Doc figures she has maybe a couple of hours to finish up. I'm taking everyone back with most of the supplies and I want you to stay here … contact us when you're ready to be picked up."
"Why isn't she ready now?" he grumbled, feeling a growing irritation with Jennifer. "Why can't you leave Teyla here?"
"You'll be fine. Stay out of her way and make sure she makes it home in one piece."
"Why do I have to suffer because she can't get ready on time?" he growled.
"Don't start in … maybe this will be a good time for you two to bury the hatchet," he suggested.
"What?" Ronon had no idea what he was talking about.
"Never mind. Just finish up and get home before dark." John walked back toward the jumper shaking his head hoping they could finish up without squabbling with each other.
oOo
Ronon kept his distance as Jennifer said goodbye to the last of the patients. Now it was just a matter of packing up the remaining equipment and organizing it in the room. She seemed to be making good time but still Ronon's attitude was deteriorating with each passing second. He continued pacing on the porch, which ran the length of the structure wondering why she upset him so much. He'd be the first to admit she'd done an excellent job on this mission even gaining a bit of unspoken admiration from him. Yet he wouldn't change his mind … she would be better off back on Earth, period.
"Hurry it up and get your stuff together, Sheppard wants us back before dark," he ordered clearly agitated as she swept the last of the dirt out the door.
"Why are you so mad at me," she yelled unable to bite her tongue any longer. "I didn't ask for your help or to be stuck with you either. Why are you so angry with me all the time?"
"I don't like you being here … you belong on Earth," he glared as he spit out the words.
"I've jumped through every hoop thrown my way since I got here. I've taken your self-defense classes, qualified for weapons and studied mission reports so I'd be more prepared off world. What is it going to take to convince you I belong on this expedition?" Jen barked at him.
"You'll never be able to convince me no matter what you do. You don't belong here," he hissed.
Jennifer could feel herself sag at his declaration. She'd tried her best to win him over finally realizing it was never going to happen. Ronon was determined to send her packing and nothing she could say or do would change that. If she didn't respect the man so much she would have just stuck her tongue out and stomped her foot. She stood staring at him for several moments before coming to a decision.
"Okay," she softly said with resignation.
"Okay what?" Ronon asked looking confused.
"I'll leave," she announced looking at the ground so he couldn't see the sorrow in her face.
"Why would you do that?" he groused rather puzzled.
"Because I care about you," Jen declared before retreating to the back of the clinic.
Ronon continued to pace back and forth in front of the meetinghouse more irritated than ever. Why were Earth women so confusing? Taking off toward the gate, he decided to check in with Atlantis and give them their status and expected departure time from the planet.
He needed to hit something … shoot something … anything to get that woman out of his head. And now she was actually agreeing to leave. Ronon was starting to worry it wouldn't be enough. Even with her light years away he was afraid she'd still invade his dreams at night.
Jennifer wiped away the tears as she began cleaning up the room. She stacked all the sleeping pads against the wall closest to the door knowing someone from the other planet would be back to pick them up as soon as the weather cooperated. Sitting down on the stack she blew her nose wiping the last of the tears away discouraged with Ronon's lack of enthusiasm over her decision to leave. Isn't that what he wanted? she asked herself. You'd think he'd be turning cartwheels instead of sulking somewhere in the woods.
Once she'd made her decision Jen had a startling revelation … she'd miss Ronon. She'd long admired his devotion and commitment in everything he set his hand to. Just look at his determination in chasing her out of the Pegasus galaxy and his persistence had finally paid off. Funny how that worked out, she thought to herself.
This man who'd lost everything was a walking definition of loyalty. She'd spent the last year living and working side-by-side with the brooding warrior noting all the positive qualities he brought with him to the city of the Ancients. She'd never met anyone as passionate or protective. She'd also never met anyone so stubborn or set in his ways.
Dr. Keller began taping plastic trash bags around her medical supply cases to protect them from the weather on the way back to the gate. The rain was still coming down in buckets and didn't look like it was going to lighten up anytime soon. She was beginning to wonder if this planet had a monsoon season.
Checking her watch again she realized it'd been an hour since she'd last seen Ronon. In that time she'd packed up her supplies and straightened the room stacking all her boxes by the door. Hopefully they'd send a jumper to retrieve them and all the equipment. The last thing she wanted to do was walk back to the gate with Mr. Sassypants. Right now she just wanted to take a long, hot shower followed by a good night's sleep.
