Disclaimer: I'm only going to say this once: I don't own any of the characters and I'm not making money off of doing this. This is simply for fun.
Two months and three weeks later…
"Doctor Keller, welcome back!" Samantha Carter says in greeting as Jennifer Keller walks through the stargate.
"Thank you." Jennifer says absent-mindedly, looking over her shoulder at the disappearing puddle. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
"Don't worry. You will." Carter says, and then adds "In time."
Turning her head to face the colonel, Jennifer worriedly says "From the sound of your voice, am I to assume that I'll be going off world more than I think."
"By more, how much do you mean?" Carter asks with a smirk.
"More than once a month."
"Ha!" She yells in an amused voice. "Not even close."
"That's what I was afraid of."
"Part of the job description doctor." Samantha reminds her. "You knew what you were getting yourself into when you signed up for this."
"I know, I know." Jennifer sighs in defeat. "But I was hoping that since I was being really honest with my lack of self defense skills or any other skills that involve violent bodily contact I wouldn't have to do much outside the city."
"But that's the whole point of being out here." Samantha points out as they walk up the stairs. "To explore. Don't you want to learn more about other species? Didn't you like it when you went off world when you came here almost two months ago?"
"I did." Jennifer admits. "But at the same time, I was afraid. Space vampires. That's something out of science fiction."
"Fiction to the rest of the world." Samantha says. "But definitely not to us."
"I was hoping that the reason why we have technicians and the military is because they would do the legwork." Jennifer confesses when they reach the office.
"Doctor Keller, don't make me regret my decision in letting you join this expedition. There are a lot of people who would drop everything they have just to be in your position." Samantha says, a little bit annoyed.
"I'm sorry colonel." Jennifer apologizes. "I don't mean to be such a… baby." Swallowing the lump in her throat.
"I understand your reluctance." Samantha tells her. "It's a bit overwhelming, and not to mention, daunting." She sits behind her desk and gestures to one of the arm chairs. "And to clarify things, no, the military is not here to do experiments. At least not all of them. They're here for our security." Leaning back on her chair she adds "Speaking of security, since you don't have any knowledge of any form of protection…"
"I know how to use pepper spray." Jennifer cuts in to lighten the mood.
"I doubt if that would work on a Wraith or Iratus bug." Samantha says, a laugh escaping.
"Have you tried?"
"Can't say that I have." Samantha answers. Jennifer cocks her eyebrows. "Regardless, you need more ammo than that. You need formal training. Both in weapons and hand to hand combat."
"Can I just do weapons?" Jennifer asks her. "I've fired a gun before"
"You need to be trained in both." She tells her. "You won't always be armed."
"Okay. Good point." Jennifer agrees. "So who's brave enough to train me? Who's the unlucky soul?"
Samantha smirks at this. "For weapons, I think you've met Major Lorne."
"Evan, yes, at the SGC." Jennifer smiles.
"Okay, good." Samantha nods her head. "And then for hand to hand combat, you'll need the best. I had a hard time choosing. I had a choice between Teyla and Ronon. But Teyla has too many responsibilities. Not only does she have Torren to take care off, she also has her people. So I've got Ronon Dex lined up for you."
"Ronon Dex. He's the alien that Colonel Shepherd and his team rescued.
Shaking her head, Samantha corrects her. "Can't really say rescued. "More like adopted." And then adds "I see you've been doing your homework."
"Always a good idea to get a head start on who I'm going to be dealing with. No surprises." Jennifer explains. And then she frowns a bit. "Although Ronon's file was somewhat incomplete."
"Ronon is not very forthcoming when it comes to things like that." Carter tells her. "The fact that his world was destroyed and most of his people's history have been forgotten doesn't help at all."
"He doesn't even have a picture in his file." Jennifer points out.
"Oh that." Samantha says with a laugh. "The poor technician who was gonna take his picture almost peed his pants. I guess Ronon was waiting too long for him to get everything ready that he got fed up and just left."
"So why did he pee his pants?"
"You'll understand when you see Ronon."
"Why? Is he that scary?" Jennifer asks, a worried expression on her face.
"It's hard to say." Samantha says thoughtfully. "Not a lot of people get him. There are only a few who do. Hopefully, you'll get through to him, too, like some of us. I haven't even told him that he's training you."
"So how will I know it's him?"
"Oh." Samantha says with a knowing smirk. "You'll know. He's hard to miss."
X
"Colonel Carter, you called for me?"
Looking up from her laptop, she says "Yeah, come in Ronon." Folding her laptop she tilts her head up to look at him. "As you already know, we have a new doctor on base."
"I heard. Yeah."
"I don't know if you met her, but she was here over a month ago. I doubt you did, she read your profile and didn't know what you looked like."
"So what has that got to do with me?"
"I'll cut to the chase…"
"Let me guess. You want her to do some tests on me."
"Not exactly. I wouldn't put it that way." Samantha tells him. "I need two things. She does need to know a little bit more of your background. Your history."
"What about Teyla?"
"Teyla's history is a lot easier. We already have extensive research on her people. But yours… yours is a bit more complicated. Actually, I really don't want to ask this of you, but we might have to go back to Sateda." She waits for his reply, when a few seconds pass, she asks "It's up to you. Dr. Keller can still obtain information about your background through you. And the only way I know that this will be bearable for you, since I know you wouldn't want to sit still for something like an interview, is for it to take place while you train her. It might be a bit informal but…"
"So is that the second thing you want me to do with her? Train?" He asks, cutting her off.
"Yup."
"Has she had any basic training at all?"
"None, whatsoever."
Ronon nods his head. "Good. No bad habits. I'm saying yes to the training and the background check. I'm not so sure about going back to Sateda."
"That's fine, Ronon. It's okay to say no. It was just an idea."
Ronon shrugs. "I'm not saying yes. I'm not saying no."
"Okay."
"So when do we start?" he asks her.
"She needs to settle in first. The day after tomorrow would be best. After her shift at 8 in the evening, training room of course." She answers.
"Gotcha." Ronon says as he turns to leave the office.
"And Ronon, go easy on her."
"You want me to train her or what?"
"Just do as I say. I have my reasons. Basic training for now. More on defense moves. But nothing too heavy… or damaging." Ronon raises one eyebrow at that. "She is the doctor, whoelse is gonna patch her up?" Carter says jokingly. Ronon smirks at this and proceeds to leave the room.
X
Ding ding!
Jennifer skips over her things cluttered allover her floor to get to her door. She swipes her hand over the sensor to reveal Laura and Teyla standing before her.
"I just heard!" Laura almost gushes.
Jennifer gestures them to come inside her room. "Sorry about the mess…"
Laura waves her hand in dismissal. "This is Teyla, by the way." She says absentmindedly as she looks around Jennifer's quarters. Picking up a magazine on the bed.
Teyla takes a step forward, puts her hands on Jennifer's shoulders and bows her head. Laura nods her head, urging Jennifer to do the same. Jennifer imitates the gesture and then the step back to look at each other. "I'm sorry that I did not get to meet you when you came here the first time."
"That's quite alright; I heard you were with your people."
"Yes I was." Teyla says proudly. "I visit them every chance I get. Colonel Carter mentioned that you would like to spend some time with me and my people."
"Yes. I know that Dr. Beckett has already done his own research. But I'd like to make my own observations. Is that okay?"
"Absolutely, Dr. Keller. Two heads are better than one… is that how the saying goes?"
"Yes, that's right. But please, call me Jennifer." She tells her with a smile.
"Jennifer." Teyla repeats, returning her smile.
"Holy shit… this kid is hot!" Laura says, holding up the magazine.
"Ah yes, Robert Pattinson. I can never get enough of Twilight." Jennifer says with a sigh.
"Who?" Teyla and Laura say in unison.
Jennifer looks at Laura with an amused and confused smile.
"Don't look at me like that." Laura says. "It's not like we get to see the latest movies out here. We get reruns of old shows and movies like Die Hard, because of course, only the men thought about bringing movies. And I wouldn't count on them bringing anything like Sixteen Candles or A Walk to Remember.
Jennifer smiles brightly. "Thank God I came along, huh?"
Laura clasps her hands together in delight. Teyla looks from Jennifer to Laura and then back to Jennifer. "Oh please tell me you brought chick flicks?!"
"Of course!"
"What are chick flicks?" Teyla asks them both.
"Oh-ho-ho!" Laura says. "Chick flicks make the world go round. Chick flicks are what keeps us hoping that we will find Mr. Right… or at least Mr. Right now."
Shaking her head in amusement, Jennifer asks Teyla "What have Col. Shepherd and Dr. McKay been showing you?"
"I've seen a few funny ones. And there were some scary ones too."
"Don't worry, I've got plenty of movies to last us a long time." Jennifer assures them.
"So, what else did you bring back from Earth?" Laura asks, lightly lifting the corner of Jennifer's suitcase. Jennifer notices that Laura says Earth instead of 'home'.
Jennifer opens her tiny refrigerator to show them. "I've got Mochi Balls."
"Mochi Balls?" Teyla asks.
"Mochi Balls!" Laura squeals.
X
"So, she's here?" McKay asks John as he sets up a DVD player.
"Yep. She just got here. Teyla and Laura are already in her room nosing around." John tells him.
"Women." Rodney says with a snort.
"I'm gonna visit her later." John says, his eyebrows cocked up while he tinkers with a robotic prototype on the lab desk. "She's probably got a bunch of stuff that she brought. Like magazines. Books… food." That perked Rodney up.
"Food?" Rodney says. "Do you think…"
"I dunno, Rodney." John says with a shrug. "You weren't the nicest person when she came for a visit…"
"I was reserving judgment." Rodney says defensively.
"Well she didn't know that." John tells him, getting up from his seat. "And no. You were not."
"But… but…"
"Not my problem, Rodney." John calls out as he walks out.
X
"So what say you to a bottle of wine to celebrate?" Laura suggests.
"I can't." Jennifer says, confused.
"Why not?"
"Why not? My condition…"
"What condition?" Laura asks, looking more confused than Jennifer. Teyla cocks an eyebrow in understanding.
"Did you for… didn't Colonol Carter inform you of my condition?" Jennifer asks.
"What condition?" Laura asks, throwing her hands up in confusion.
"I guess not." Jennifer says, shaking her head and then looking at Teyla to see an understanding expression on her face.
TBC.
