Author's Note: 499 words. Enjoy! ~lg

oOo

Evan watched Jennifer settle across the table from him, a smile in place as he took stock of her features. She looked tired, a little pale, but better than she had in days. Then, he went back to his breakfast. Who was he kidding? She looked great, and he let out a quiet breath at seeing her up and on her feet again.

Through the breakfast, Coughlin and Reed made sure she knew the happenings of the base. Evan listened with one ear while he kept an eye on Jennifer. She clearly wanted to stay up and active, but she began to droop as breakfast came to a close. He didn't need to tell Coughlin and Reed this. The two stood, said goodbye, and headed off for their first day off in two weeks.

He narrowed his eyes. "I was going to suggest an outing, but I think you need a nap."

"I need to get back in shape."

"Which you won't do without adequate rest."

Jennifer stubbornly met his eyes. "What did you have in mind?"

He shrugged. "I was going to take a Jumper to the mainland. Do some exploring. Maybe get out and enjoy the sunshine for a bit."

"Sounds wonderful."

Evan pushed to his feet and moved to Jennifer's side. Bending down, he spoke directly into her ear. "Take a two hour nap, and you can come along."

She blinked and glanced at him, flushing slightly. "Okay," she agreed.

Satisfied, Evan left her alone. He went to his quarters, changed into his painting clothes, and gathered his gear. What would Jennifer say when she discovered the trip was nothing more than an excuse to put paint on a canvas? He didn't share that side of him with many people, but he knew he could trust her.

Two hours later, he made his way to the Jumper bay and loaded his gear into the back of the Jumper. Jennifer joined him with a small pack. Dressed in a lavender baby doll top and form-fitting jeans, she looked like a college co-ed rather than CMO of the base. He decided he liked this side of her.

Then, she frowned. "What is that?"

"Equipment." He grinned. "Don't worry. I'm not going to make you do anything strenuous. In fact, Amanda threatened me with unimaginable horrors if I made you so much as cough."

Smiling, Jennifer settled into her seat. "That's good. I have a book and a blanket. That should keep me occupied for the day."

"I hope so," Evan muttered. When she shot a quick glance his way, he shrugged. "Just saying it might be a long flight."

As he piloted the Jumper away from Atlantis, Evan forced himself to relax. He'd found a breathtaking panorama of mountains on his last exploration of the mainland, and he'd decided he needed to paint it. Jennifer's reaction aside, he resolved to thoroughly enjoy the day.

~TBC