"Lorne." John greeted as he spotted the Major enter the infirmary. "You know as much as I appreciate your company you don't have to spend your waking moments at my bedside."
"That's kind of you to say Sir, but I was actually checking up on the doc. Why has she been moved? " Lorne asked, noticing that Jennifer had been placed on the other side of the infirmary.
"Rodney was making too much noise and Cole didn't want to disturb her."
"Has she woken up?"
"No, not yet."
"Good." Lorne replied drawing a surprised look from John, causing the Major to explain. "I wanted to be here when she woke."
"I didn't know you two were...dating." John stated, fishing for information.
"We're not." Lorne quickly corrected the assumption. "We're just friends, good friends but friends."
"You are?"
"You sound surprised."
"I just hadn't realised you'd got close to the doc."
"Yeah well, she was there for me after I did the whole sleep walking thing and she was really forgiving about me running the city as a police state during that amnesia virus."
"None of that was your fault." John pointed out.
"Doesn't always feel that way." Lorne shrugged before quickly changing the focus of the conversation back to Jennifer. "Anyway she's been having a hard time recently and I don't want her to wake alone."
"Hard time?" John asked. "Why?"
"That's not my place to say." Lorne said, unwilling to betray his friend's trust.
"Fair enough. But you're looking out for her?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good. Well if I can be of any help let me know."
"Yes Sir." Lorne agreed.
"Don't suppose you've made any progress tracking down our new friends?"
"You know Woolsey has ordered me to not talk to you about it?"
"Didn't think that would stop you." John challenged.
"Orders are orders." Lorne said awkwardly. "So I can't tell you that so far the search has been fruitless. Nor can I tell you that none of our allies recognise those pendants. I also can't tell you that I have another mission scheduled where my team will be talking to the Genii."
"I appreciate your dedication to following orders." John replied. "Make sure you take care on the mission I don't know about. And Major make sure you get some rest you look like you need it."
"Yes Sir." Lorne responded before heading towards Jennifer, bumping into Cole enroute.
"Hey." Lorne smiled. "How is she?"
"The fever has broken, the hand is looking better, just need her to wake up now. You going to sit with her?"
"That okay?"
"It's fine. But make sure you get some rest too. Call if you need anything."
Smiling his agreement Lorne went to Jennifer's bedside where he sat until Woolsey summoned him to the briefing room.
-00-
Jennifer woke lying on something soft and hearing something familiar. Forcing her eyes open she realised she was in the infirmary. Lying on gurney with no one around she tried to remember why she was here. Feeling a throbbing from her hand she looked down and saw it wrapped in a clean white dressing. Seeing the bandaged hand suddenly unleashed her memories and her thoughts immediately turned to Ronon and Sheppard. It was then she heard a lively conversation from the other side of the infirmary. Turning her head she saw two other populated gurneys. One holding John and the other Ronon. Both of whom were glaring at Rodney, who sat next to Teyla who was shaking her head. The scene was in stark contrast to her empty bedside. Rolling over she cradled her painful hand and drifted back to sleep.
-00-
The next time Jennifer woke up she once again found herself alone, but this time the infirmary was quiet. Rolling over onto her back she looked round and saw Ronon lying on a gurney sleeping. John, Teyla and Rodney had all disappeared. The fact John wasn't there made her wonder how long she had been asleep. She didn't have long to think though as Marie was quickly at her bedside.
"Dr Keller, nice to see you awake." The nurse smiled.
"Marie." Jennifer croaked, surprised that her throat was so scratchy. In response the nurse handed her some water and asked.
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay I guess, hungry."
"I'm not surprised." Dr Cole said joining the conversation. "Bits of powerbars are not enough to keep you going."
"How's Ronon and Colonel Sheppard?" Jennifer asked, ignoring the comment.
"Difficult." Cole responded. "Colonel Sheppard was enough of a pain to be discharged. His ankle didn't require surgery. Ronon will recover, he just needs rest. So how did someone with your qualifications allow her hand to get so infected?"
The question caused Jennifer to look down at the bandaged hand in confusion.
"You don't remember?" Cole guessed before asking. "Do you remember anything?"
"We were shot down, I cut my hand escaping the Jumper. Then we started to walk towards the gate, we were short on food and it was raining. Colonel Sheppard broke his ankle then Ronon was shot and I tried to find the gate. I remember walking and it was cold...but nothing else. What was wrong with my hand?"
"It developed a nasty infection. It seems to be under control now, but I'll be keeping a tight eye on it and you for the next week."
"So can I go?"
"No." Cole replied, barely believing that Jennifer was asking. However, when the doctor saw how determined Jennifer looked Cole relented.
"If you are okay in a few hours and have eaten something we'll talk."
-00-
Winning her battle Jennifer escaped the infirmary that evening and made her way to her quarters with every muscle screaming in complaint. Once she reached her room she had planned on showering and changing before heading to the mess hall for another meal. However, once she had seen her bed her body had different ideas. Wearily sitting down for a minute Jennifer found herself getting very sleepy and within a minute had collapsed, sleeping soundly.
-00-
John sat in the mess hall having another turkey sandwich. He'd had four since leaving the infirmary and although McKay's complaints about loosing a Jumper weren't enough to make him not savour the taste or the texture of his favourite sandwich it had caused indigestion. So now he sat alone in the mess hall tucking into another sandwich determined to enjoy it in peace. That was until he saw his second in command enter the mess hall and look around wearing a confused, concerned and lost expression. Waving Lorne over John asked.
"Problem?"
"Not sure. Looking for the doc."
"Have you tried the infirmary?" John asked, wondering if Lorne had suffered a head injury on his recent mission and developed amnesia.
"Yes. Cole said she was discharged over an hour ago and that she'd said she was coming here."
"I haven't seen her." John said. "She could have just decided to get some sleep. Grab a tray of food."
"I'm not hungry." Lorne said, silently questioning why Sheppard would think he was.
"I wasn't suggesting you eat." John said. "I imagine the doc is starving. Grab a tray and we'll drop it at her quarters."
"We?"
"You might need me to use my override code to get through the door."
With a tray in hand Lorne walked next to the limping Colonel towards Jennifer's quarters. As they walked John asked.
"Any news?"
"No. The Genii claim ignorance."
"You believe them?"
"They're Genii. But there didn't seem any recognition on their faces."
"So what's next?"
"Just keep searching." Lorne said wearily.
When the two men made it to Jennifer's quarters they found the room unlocked. Shaking their heads as the door slide open they saw Jennifer sprawled out on the bed. Rushing to her side Lorne felt first for a pulse then for a fever. Relaxing when he was convinced she was okay he nodded to Sheppard who commented.
"She's probably exhausted. I'll leave a note. You try and get her comfortable." Noticing Lorne fail to suppress a smirk the Colonel asked. "Major?"
"Sorry Sir. I just never imagined you ordering me to tuck some one up."
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up on Monday.
