"Hey." Sheppard greeted as Ronon entered the gym whilst he blocked Teyla's strikes. "The doc okay?"

"No."

"What happened? Has she relapsed?" Teyla asked, immediately stopping her attacks and looking at Ronon.

Ignoring the Athosian Ronon looked at John and asked.

"Did you know?"

"Yes, but not until two weeks ago." John said immediately knowing what Ronon was talking about.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ronon growled.

"It wasn't my place." John said calmly, relating to Ronon's anger. "I was told in confidence. She had enough trust issues without me betraying that confidence."

Ronon glared at John before accepting he was correct. Growling in frustration he added. "What happened isn't right."

"Damn straight it isn't. But we can't go back."

"So what do we do?" Ronon asked.

"I don't know."

"Then you are both idiots." Teyla commented, causing both men to spin and face her.

"Sorry, forgot you were there." John said sheepishly.

"Whatever has happened to Jennifer she has chosen to confide in you. You must return that trust with friendship and support."

-00-

"Mornin' sunshine. How're you feeling?" Laura greeted as she walked into Jennifer's quarters carrying a tray.

"Better than I was." Jennifer said from her bed. "How'd you get in?"

"I have temporary access to your quarters, until you have proven that you can take care of yourself." Laura explained, earning a muttered response from Jennifer, before the doctor asked.

"How's the leg?"

"It's fine." Laura replied, seeing the look Jennifer threw her way she added. "Seriously it's fine. I'm even able to lightly jog on it. But even if I wasn't aren't you the last person who should be giving advice on looking after oneself?"

"Funny."

"Wasn't joking, you had us all worried."

"Sorry."

"Just don't do it again." Laura said as she placed the tray down.

"Contracting, or not, a cold is not something within my power." Jennifer pointed out.

"Firstly, it was flu. Secondly, confining yourself to bed rather than going on a mission is."

"I'm in bed now." Jennifer pointed out.

"Yes you are, which leads me to my next question, is something wrong?"

"You just pointed out I had flu."

"Yes, had. You are almost recovered and your entire staff thought you'd try to work today. Yet, here you are."

"Resting, like I should."

"Resting, like you never normally do. So what's up? Has it got something to do with the dynamic duo?"

"Dynamic duo?" Jennifer asked confused.

"Your overly protective military might." Laura explained without explaining. Seeing the blank look on Jennifer's face she added. "Sheppard and Lorne. If it makes you feel better they have been told to tone it down a little."

"They have? By who?"

"Woolsey. He beat me to it. So they should be back to acting normal, for them."

"That's good I guess." Jennifer said.

"So are you going to come for a walk after your meal?"

"I don't think so." Jennifer said avoiding looking directly at Laura.

"Did something happen on the mission? Apart from the whole flu thing?"

"Not really. Kind of." Jennifer said.

"Care to be less cryptic?" Laura asked.

"I had a bad fever, which apparently caused me to have a few nightmares. Ronon tried to wake me from one of them and I kinda freaked out. Teldy saw and was convinced that Ronon had attacked me."

"What happened?"

"She banished Ronon from the hut. But he was concerned about me and refused to go very far so stayed outside the entire time, including the storm."

"That's either sweet or creepy." Laura commented. "Why didn't you explain he wasn't the bad guy?"

"I wasn't conscious. The fever didn't break for another day. It was only after I woke up and Teldy asked me if he had attacked me that she allowed him back in." Jennifer explained coughing again.

"And after he came back in?"

"I was drifting in and out for a while. But then I woke and I guess it was from all the cold meds but I wasn't thinking and I told him what had happened and Teldy was there as well. I don't want to see either of them."

"We better pray the enemy never gets hold of you, all they need to do is give you a drink or a cold remedy and you would be singing like a canary."

"That's not funny." Jennifer said.

"Sorry." Laura apologised. "You do know you can't hide in here forever?"

"I know, but a few days can't hurt." Jennifer said.

Before Laura could ask anything else Jennifer's door chimed.

"I'll get it." The marine said moving to the door, half expecting Ronon to be on the other side. Instead she found Major Teldy on the other side.

"Captain." The Major greeted. "Is Dr. Keller awake?"

"Yes Ma'am." Laura said backing away from the door to let the Major in.

"Doctor." Teldy greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"Better thanks."

"Good." The Major said before looking at Laura and saying. "Can we get some privacy?"

"Umm sure." Laura replied glancing at Jennifer, guiltily ignoring her pleading look before leaving the room.

"How are you feeling?" Teldy asked.

"Okay I think. Sorry you got stranded out there." Jennifer said.

"Don't worry about it. How are you doing with everything else?"

"Getting there, fever induced nightmares apart."

"May I?" The Major asked pointing to a chair.

"Sure."

"I wanted you to know that you are not alone. I know at times it may not feel like it, but trust me there are people here who want to help."

"Colonel Sheppard and Evan keep looking at me like I'm about to implode. It's kinda disconcerting and off putting."

"Well they're men, good men." Teldy shrugged. "What happened to you doesn't fit into their view of the world. They're confused and by trying to help make it worse. Eventually things will get back to how they were with them, it'll just take time. But they're not the only people on base and there are better choices to get help from." Seeing the doubt in Jennifer's eyes she went on. "When I was first assigned to a unit I went on survival training. Part of it was to hunker down in a foxhole for twelve hours. I dug my hole and jumped in. A couple of hours later the CO joined me. Told me there was a change of plans and we were all doubling up due to the deteriorating weather conditions. Over the next few minutes he got closer then his hands started roaming. Told me there was nothing I could do, no one would believe a newbie over a seasoned vet. If I did say anything my career would be over."

"What happened?"

"I just lay there, too afraid to do anything else. When I finally got out of there I was too scared to report it. Thought it would ruin my career if I did. The worse part was I started to rationalise it and justify it. I convinced myself that groping wasn't really assault. So I did nothing. A few weeks later he got a new command in Iraq, I never saw him again, he never made it back. After that there didn't seem any point in reporting it. So I just lived with it. It took me a long time to come to terms with it and believe that I wasn't to blame. During that time my personal life was on hold. I only really moved on when I opened up and told someone. I'm not going to lie to you, it was hard. The worse part was the looks of pity that some people gave me. There is no escaping that. But talking does help and if you ever want to talk I'm here."

"Can I ask something?" Jennifer asked.

"Sure."

"If you were in that situation again what would you do?"

"Break his hands and make sure he couldn't contaminate the gene pool."