Jennifer sat in the darkened mess hall on the Daedalus scanning the latest lab results from Atlantis, frustrated she was still two weeks away from her home. Reaching over to her coffee she took a sip and pulled a face when she realised it was cold. Surprised she looked at her watch and shook her head when she realised she had been there for over an hour. She thought about getting herself a fresh cup, but knew if she did that there would be no chance of sleep. Instead she pushed the mug to one side and went back to the lab results and reports.
She was so engrossed in what was on her screen she didn't notice another person enter the mess hall. Nor did she notice when the other person stopped, looked round and then crept forward towards her. She remained oblivious to their presence until she felt two hands on her shoulders, close to her neck.
Spinning round, unable to stop a small scream escaping Jennifer's expression turned from fear to relief to annoyance in under a second.
"Laura! Are you trying to kill me?" Jennifer asked.
"Just startle you. I'd say I did a pretty good job." The marine grinned.
"What are you even doing here? I thought you were on a SG team."
"I was. After your recent exploits they decided to increase the marine presence on Atlantis, so I'm being redeployed."
"You're staying on Atlantis?" Jennifer asked happily.
"I am." Laura grinned. "But enough about me I want to hear the truth about what's been happening with you. I've been hearing all type of crazy rumours about you."
"Like what?" Jennifer asked looking worried.
"That you've, personally, been fighting the Wraith. You told someone from the IOA to go jump. You fought to stay on Atlantis. Need I go on? So is this new found assertiveness you or have you been taken over by some sort of Pegasus parasite."
"Not that I know of." Jennifer replied.
"In which case how did you manage to fight off a Wraith? I mean no offence, but last time I saw you, you couldn't even fight off that butterfly on P27."
"That was not a butterfly, it was an evolved monster that happened to resemble a butterfly." Jennifer said firmly.
"It was a butterfly." Laura responded. "So when and how did you learn to fight?"
"Ronon taught me." Jennifer said, immediately wishing she hadn't when Laura broke out into a huge grin.
"He did did he? And were they private lessons?"
"Yes."
"You two alone in a gym, getting hot and sweaty?" Laura questioned, the smirk cemented in place.
"Do you have a point?"
"I can't believe you didn't tell me you and Ronon were together. You should have opened with that."
"We're not." Jennifer said.
"Why not? For him to give you private lessons he's clearly interested. Perhaps you need to give him a push."
"I did. The other way."
"What do you mean?" Laura asked confused.
"I told him I was interested in someone else."
"You did?" Laura questioned, looking surprised. "Who is it?"
"No one."
"No one? You lied? Why?"
"It's complicated."
"I'd expect no less from you." Cadman said. "Tell me all."
"Not much to tell, I got confused and scared and panicked."
"Ronon, the big muscular man who women throw themselves at, shows interest in you. How is that confusing?"
"It wasn't that that was confusing me. It was Rodney."
"Rodney? As in Rodney McKay? What has he got to do with this?"
"A while ago he got infected with a parasite, which changed him. I saw this whole other side of him, he was sweet and sensitive. And he recorded a video where he said he'd fallen in love with me."
"He did what?" Cadman asked. "Rodney McKay told you that he loved you?"
"Keep your voice down." Jennifer pleaded as she looked round the mess hall, checking it was still empty. "He didn't tell me in person, he recorded a video of which he has no recollection."
"So you fell for a Rodney that you'll only ever see again if you infect him with a parasite, who has no recollection of saying how he felt?" Laura summarised.
"Yes. No. Not exactly. I thought I might be falling for him, or the idea of us. I mean we're not all that different."
"Compared say to you and Ronon?" Laura guessed.
"Yes. I mean we're so different. I didn't think we'd stand a chance. And I didn't want to start something if I may have had feelings for Rodney."
"Fair enough, but you and Rodney you're not dating are you?"
"No. Rodney is back to being absorbed in his work. I doubt he'd be interested in a relationship."
"I'm sorry." Laura replied.
"I'm not. I'm still friends with Rodney, nothing has changed and I'm happy with that. Ronon on the other hand is a different story. I think I really hurt him when I said I was interested in someone else. Since then he's been distant and we have barely spoken. I really miss what we had." Jennifer said sadly.
"You could talk to Ronon." Laura suggested.
"You're suggesting that I have a heart to heart with Ronon?" Jennifer asked raising her eyebrow.
"Phrased like that, the idea needs work." Laura confessed. "Fortunately we've got a long trip to figure it out."
"Or we could just forget it." Jennifer suggested.
"Not a chance." Laura replied. "The big question is do you want what you had or do you want more?"
