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.
"I'm having my first training session after dinner." Jennifer says to Laura as they walk down the hallway, coming from the direction of the mess hall. They're both carrying trays of food so they can eat their lunch at Jennifer's office.
"Who's training you? Teyla or Ronon?" Laura asks.
"Ronon." Jennifer simply says.
"Lucky." She comments. "Although you probably won't learn anything since you won't be able to concentrate."
"I'm assuming most of the women in Atlantis have trouble training with him, then." Jennifer says with a smile.
"And some of the men." Laura giggles.
Jennifer shakes her head. "I have got to see this 'Ronon'." Swiping her hand over the door sensor to the infirmary she says "At first, I thought, hmm, alien, and then no picture on file, people getting intimidated… I pictured him as this big hairy scary, well, alien. Or Abominable snowman."
"Close." Laura replies. "Only, a hot Abominable snowman." Laura gets an amused look from Jennifer before they step through the doors.
At almost the same time, coming from the opposite direction from where the ladies came from, John and Ronon turn the corner into the hallway, barely missing Jennifer and Laura.
"So you're training Dr. Keller tonight, huh?" John says.
"Yeah." Ronon answers. "What of it?"
"Oh nothing." John replies. "Just go easy on her."
"Why?" He asks. "It's not like I've ever gone easy on the other women."
"Yeah, but the doc is different."
"Why, what's wrong with her?"
"Nothing's wrong with her."
"Then why are you telling me to go easy on her?"
John is debating whether it would be a good idea to tell him that the doctor's pregnant or not. Sam had told him in confidence. And she had reasons for keeping it a secret. At least until Jennifer decides to make it known that she's pregnant. He shakes his head. "Just do what as I say. Don't be too hard on her. She's never had training before."
"So have some of the other people I've trained." Ronon argues. "What's so special about her?"
"Look, buddy, that's something you're going to have to ask the doctor yourself." John finally says. Washing his hands clean from explaining her condition to his bestfriend. "Anyway, let's change the subject. Let's talk about, hmmm, say your mystery girl."
Barely keeping his excitement down he asks "Did you find her?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." Looking unsure for a moment, John asks him "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yeah." Scowling, Ronon asks "Why? Is she married?"
"No." John quickly replies. "She's not. She was. She's divorced."
"Divorced?" Ronon asks with a frown.
"Means that you were bound together once, and then in front of a court, you separated. Not just separated. Sort of like severing ties. So she's not married anymore." John explains.
Ronon obviously does not approve of the practice.
"Anyway, so, she's single." John says, trying to be cheerful. "A son. She's worked with the IOA for about seven years now. 5'-5" in height, honey blonde hair, brown eyes." And then clearing his throat he adds "She's the one, right? I couldn't print out the picture but, that's her right?" Ronon nods, the corner of his mouth curving upwards. "Although, ahem…"
"What?" Ronon asks.
"It's just that, I didn't know that she was your type."
"My type?"
"Yeah, you know, sort of like, having standards for something you like in a person." John explains. "I always figured you'd like someone taller, willowy… hot. Basically, your average model." John says with a big smile.
"Why would you think that?" Ronon asks as they walk into the mess hall.
"Because on earth, guys like you are usually seen with girls like the one I just described." John tells him. "Hell most guys on earth would like to have one of those."
"Teyla isn't tall." Ronon points out as he piles his tray with food.
"No, but I'm not like all guys." John points out.
"And you think I am?" Ronon counters.
"Good point." John nods his head. "Anyway, you'll be glad to know I have a name. Of course."
"What is it?"
"Alice Beauchamp."
Ronon frowns. "It doesn't suit her." John's eyebrow shoots up. "The name. It doesn't fit."
"Really?" John asks slightly amused and incredulous. "I actually think it fits her really well." He counters, picturing Alice's face. Slightly older. Okay, that's not the entire truth – A lot older than Ronon. Ronon's about twenty-nine or thirty. And the woman looks to be at least ten years older. Oh well. To each his own.
"So Ronon, what is your type?"
X
"I really don't have a type." Jennifer says to Laura as she takes a bite out of her sandwich. "I notice though that I've gone out mostly with doctors."
"So you like the intellectual type then." Laura tells her.
Jennifer shakes her head. "I said I've gone out with them. I didn't say that I fell for them. After the fifth or sixth doctor who asked me out, I realized that they were only asking me out to prove something."
Laura scowls. "Which is?"
"Whether I'm smarter than them or not."
"Figures! Men!" Laura spits out.
Jennifer takes a sip of her soda and then continues. "These guys I've gone out with, ask me out and then on our dates, talk about achievements and work and all the stuff you shouldn't really be talking about on a first date. If they're intimidated then it doesn't go further than the first date."
"And if not?" Laura prods.
"If they're persistent and, for the lack of a better word, pig-headed, then they last until the third date. No further than that. By the third date, they realize that I'm smarter than them. Not that I'm bragging. But it's the truth."
"Of course." Laura nods sympathetically.
"So they can't handle me, a woman, being smarter and more capable then them. So, yeah, I don't have a type."
"Maybe you should do the exact opposite and date the, okay, maybe not dumb, but an average guy." She suggests.
"That could work." Jennifer says thoughtfully. She smiles wistfully and then her expression changes to a more somber one.
Laura purses her lips and then in a low voice she asks. "I'm probably stepping over the line here but I'll ask anyway, and you don't have to answer…" she hesitates and then continues. "The father of, um, your" In an even lower voice she says "baby…"
"Not average." Jennifer answers her.
"I wasn't gonna ask that but, that narrows it down then." She takes a deep breath and asks "Is he one of the doctors you mentioned."
Jennifer laughs. "Oh God, no!" She shakes her head. "And why are you whispering?" Laura shrugs. "If it gets out that I'm pregnant, then so be it. It's not like I'll be this size for the next six and a half months. By next month, which will be my second trimester, I'll probably start showing."
"I'm actually a bit surprised that they let you in the program." Laura says, and then quickly remedying what she just said, she adds "I mean, with all the morning sickness and peeing. I've never been pregnant, so I dunno…"
Smiling, Jennifer tells Laura "As much as the word implies it, I don't start vomiting until at night. That's why I have the earlier shift. It's weird, a woman's body is fantastic when it comes to pregnancy. It's like, since your baby is sharing your body, it cooperates. I had this patient once, she was very young and she had gotten pregnant. She was too afraid to tell her parents, and strangely enough, she wasn't increasing in size."
Jennifer grabs a pickle from a bowl and nibbles on it. "She was already six months pregnant and nobody could see it. And then when she finally told her parents, it's like she suddenly just grew over night. And all the nausea and urinating was more frequent." Laura nods in understanding. "For me, I think it's because the baby somehow knows that I need to work and keep myself busy to keep from going nuts."
"Really?" Laura ask with a smile. "So there's nothing scientific or logical about it."
"Oh, there definitely is." Jennifer says with a laugh. "I just didn't want to have to explain it. Besides, it's more romantic, don't you think?"
Laura laughs out loud at this.
X
"Where you headed buddy?" John asks as they walk out of the cafeteria after having dinner. "I thought training won't be until 8 or 9 tonight? It's only seven."
"Half hour past eight." Ronon corrects him. "Figured I'd get warmed up and let out all the steam before I start training her since you insist on going easy on her.
"You're really not letting this go, are you?"
"I really don't care." Ronon says with a shrug. "Hey so anymore info on Alice Beauchamp?"
John cringes at this. After telling Teyla of his findings she wisely pointed out that the woman might not reciprocate his feelings. He argued that it's not common for older women or men to be attracted someone a lot younger. But she then reminded him of the distance, and what it could mean for this woman. Alice has a son. One she might not want exposed to the dangers of this galaxy. And a mother's bond between herself and her child is very complicated and strong.
"Ronon, look, I know I agreed to locate her for you. But, I don't know how to say this, but I'm just gonna say it… How sure are you that she wants to see you again?"
"What do you mean?" Ronon asks with a frown.
"I mean that I know exactly how you feel about this woman. And I have never seen you so, I dunno, excited about anything."
"And?"
"It's just that, this woman has a life back on earth." John tries to explain.
"So? You do, too."
"Yeah, but I have reasons why I volunteered to come here. And you know very well what they are." John tells him.
"What are you trying to tell me, Sheppard?" Ronon asks with irritation.
"What I'm saying is that she has a son and she might not be willing to move here just like that, especially knowing that her life and her son's life might be in danger. Look around you, Ronon, a lot of these people here made huge sacrifices to be here. But I can't name one person here that actually has children on earth." John tells him with regret.
"Then why the hell did you even help me find her?" Ronon growls out.
"Because I didn't know that she had a kid." John argues. "I assumed that she didn't have anything to tie her down."
"Even so, what makes you think that she might not want to bring her son here?" Ronon asks.
John just shrugs. "I just don't want to get your hopes up, buddy."
Ronon turns and walks away, and says over his shoulder "Too late!"
X
"So you never told me at lunch about – oh, Colonel." Laura says, suddenly standing in attention. As she sees John standing in the hallway alone.
John turns around, the frown on his face quickly dissipating when he sees Laura and Jennifer about to head to the mess hall. "Laura, we're both off duty, you really don't need to keep calling me that." He tells her with a smile. And then turning to Jennifer he asks "Jennifer, so how was your first day?"
"Not too exciting." Jennifer informs him.
"Don't worry, it's bound to happen sooner or later. And I'm willing to bet a month's pay that it'll be sooner." John says confidently.
"Nobody's gonna be dumb enough too take that bet." Laura says with a lugh.
"Worth a try." John says with a shrug. "Anyway, I see you ladies are about to have dinner, so I'll leave you to that." He mock salutes them and walks away and then turns around. "Oh by the way, doc, just to give you a heads up, Ronon is not in a very good mood tonight. I'm apologizing now, since it's my fault." With that said, John hastily turns the corner and disappears.
"Great." Jennifer mutters under her breath.
"Don't worry, when you tell him you're pregnant, I'm sure he'll go easy on you." Laura tells him. "I'll tell you a secret." Jennifer's eyebrow arches at this. "Ronon is actually a softie. He just doesn't show it. You should've seen him when he found out about Teyla."
Well, I guess I will have to tell him then." Jennifer says. "You were about to ask me something?'
"Yeah, about that… let me know if I'm overstepping here, but…"
"You wanna know who the father is." Jennifer guesses.
Laura nods tentatively. "You don't have to say anything. I totally understand." She says as she grabs two trays and hands one to Jennifer.
"No, actually, I want to. I mean, I'm actually relieved to tell someone. A friend." She adds softly. "I haven't told my dad yet. I wouldn't know how. The story is very… complicated."
"I'm all ears."
Jennifer then proceeds to tell her about how it all happened. By the time she was done, they were through eating already. Laura sat back with her mouth open. "So IOA? Wow. Totally unexpected." Jennifer nods and shakes her head at the same time. "So tell me, what does he look like?"
"He's..."
"Ladies!" Carson says as he strolls up to their table with a tray. Laura beams and jumps up to hug him.
"You're back!"
"Only for a day." He says, regret lingering in his voice. Laura's face falls at the news.
"I'll leave you two alone." Jennifer says with a smile.
"No." They both say in unison. Then Laura adds "Stay."
Jennifer gives her an amused are-you-serious look and then says "I actually have training. I need to change first." Grabbing her tray she says to Carson "Carson it's nice to see you again, and Laura, we'll continue our talk later."
"Okay." Laura says with a grin.
Jennifer waves at them as she leaves.
X
Jennifer hurriedly walks to training room. She swipes her hand over the sensor and quickly walks through the doors. She sees someone bent over, assuming that he's Ronon she says "Sorry I'm late. I got sidetracked for a bit." When Ronon turns around and stretches to his full height, She stops dead on her tracks and stiffens as she stares into a pair of intense green eyes.
X
Great. She's late. Ronon thinks to himself. But no more than five minutes later, while bent over his feet to kick off his shoes, he hears the doors swish open.
"Sorry I'm late. I got sidetracked for a bit." A familiar voice, one that has haunted his dreams for over two months, says. He quickly whirls around and stands up to find the object of his desire and the reason for his frustration standing only two feet away from him.
TBC.
