"Think you just got measured for a wedding ring".
"What?" Jennifer's shocked cry stopped all conversation in the Infirmary for a moment.
"I said, I think.... "Philips quietly started to repeat himself, as people around them began talking again.
"Damn, I have to go. Terry, enjoy your visit with Ina and if anyone asks where I've gone......"
"I'll tell them you've gone to punch someone?" he asked with a hint of a smirk that was so like John Sheppard's that Jennifer couldn't help grinning.
"No... I'm not going to.... well maybe.... actually it's not such a bad idea" she muttered heading out of the door.
She looked both ways down the corridor but could see no sign of the big man. She walked quickly to their quarters, poked her head inside and called his name. No answer, not that she had really expected one, and no indication that he had been there since that morning. Jennifer paused for a minute to gather her thoughts. Even though she and Ronon had been working up to it, the M word hadn't actually been mentioned yet and in that moment Jennifer decided that she really wanted him to ask her.
She started to list in her head all the likely places where she could find Ronon and decided to try the gym first – usually a good bet. The gym was occupied but unfortunately not by the person that she was looking for and nobody had seen him that morning. Jennifer was loath to call him on the com, partly because she didn't want him to know she was looking for him so desperately.
She was debating her next move when she saw way ahead of her but coming in her direction, the unmistakeable figure of Col Caldwell along with John and Sam.
'Blast' she thought, knowing that they'd seen her and escape wasn't an option. As they drew level she prepared herself for whatever snide comment the Daedalus' commander would make, but he just nodded at her and carried on walking.
"I'll catch up to the two of you in a minute" called Sam as she stopped next to Jennifer, who let out an audible sigh of relief.
"So Col. what did he want me to go on this jaunt for?"
"I have absolutely no idea. There's no medical reason and he has a fully manned sickbay, in any case. So I have to conclude that it was personal".
"That's not good. Did you tell him that it was Ronon I was with?"
"It wasn't any of his business Jennifer. I have no doubt though that someone will enlighten him, Hawkins probably seeing as he's returning to Earth on the Daedalus this trip".
Jennifer shivered as she remembered the Marine who had attempted to stab one of the Pegasus elders, threatening their tentative friendship.
Sam continued, "Fortunately the Daedalus won't be here long, in fact they'll be heading back to Earth as soon as they report on MX 401. And on that note I suppose I'd better go and rejoin John and Caldwell, before I get summoned".
"Col. before you go, you wouldn't happen to know where Ronon is, would you?"
"Not off hand, but I can always find out". Sam checked with the control room. "Try Geology Science Lab 3" she added with a smile, "though what he's doing there, I have no idea".
"Me neither but I think I'll go and find out. I'll see you later, Col?"
"Of course Doctor. Lunch in say... an hour?"
"I'd like that" Jennifer answered before moving to the transporter that would take her reasonably close to the Geology labs just as Sam received a panicked call from Rodney that stopped her meeting up with the two Colonels.
It took Jennifer 5 minutes to reach Science Lab 3.
Unfortunately for her, that was 4 minutes too long.
When she arrived at the open door of the lab only Dr Khan and his assistant were present, Ronon having been beamed up to the ship to join Caldwell and Sheppard while they investigated the Wraith presence on MX 401 – and Dr Khan wasn't talking. Jennifer asked nicely, she pleaded, begged and eventually threatened but the doctor refused to tell her why Ronon had been down in his lab.
So it was a rather dejected Jennifer who met Sam for lunch.
"You want to talk about it?" Sam asked, as Jennifer picked at her food.
Jennifer shook her head. "Nah, it's okay. I'll see him later when the Daedalus drops them off".
"Jennifer, I know this is none of my business and you can tell me to shut up if you want to – but have you told your family about the baby yet? I'm only asking because in the next few weeks both Teyla and Ronon are going to be required to go to Earth for interviews with the IOA and I wondered if you wanted to visit your father at the same time".
She blanched and then blushed furiously. "I don't think that would be a good idea just yet" she muttered remembering her father's e-mail reply to her news and Ronon's wicked grin as he offered to carry out the promised chastisement in his place. "It's going to take my Dad a little while to come to terms with everything – he's a bit old fashioned. Threatened to tan my ass the next time he saw me".
"Okay then, so no visit home for a while". Sam laughed and after a few seconds Jennifer joined in.
"Well since it seems to be the day for awkward questions, here's another one for you. Has anyone been giving you grief over your relationship with Ronon – anything that you can't handle, I mean?"
"Nobody's said anything directly but I'm not stupid Colonel, I know there are people talking about us behind my back. I'm positive though that there's no-one who's going to cause a problem. Most are probably just jealous because I've managed to snag him".
"I agree, but well... jealousy can be dangerous, even deadly".
"I'm pretty sure on Atlantis at least it's all talk and while I don't particularly like people talking about me – I'll survive. I expect they'll have someone else to tear to shreds in a week or so".
"Okay but if things do get out of hand, I hope you know you can always come to me".
"Thanks Sam, but I have a feeling Ronon will take care of any problems that my two self appointed guardian angels can't cope with".
"Well just tell him not to go too far".
"I just hope he isn't going too far, up on the Daedalus" muttered Jennifer, as she finally started to tuck in to her lunch.
At that moment high above MX 401 Sheppard was doing his best to keep Ronon out of Caldwell's way just in case the Colonel said the wrong thing regarding Jennifer. They'd managed to find a table away from the ship's regular crew in a corner of their Mess room and were conversing quietly.
"Look Ronon, all I'm saying is that if he say's anything about the baby being mine... or hell if he say's anything you don't like, just keep quiet, okay".
"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't take him apart" Ronon growled.
"He outranks me for one and I'd like to get dropped back onto Atlantis when we're done here. And he could make life difficult for Jennifer – you don't want that do you?"
Ronon took a deep breath before answering. "No. Things will be bad enough when the IOA discover she's having an 'aliens' child".
"Don't you dare go down that route, you're as human as any of us" Sheppard said angrily. "Now an Iratus bug – that's alien".
"Col. Sheppard, Ronon.... report to the bridge immediately" came Caldwell's voice through the ship's PA system.
"Wonder if they've found anything" muttered Sheppard as both men left the Mess and made their way towards the command deck.
"Tell me again why I'm here" demanded Ronon.
"He requested your presence. It would have looked suspicious if I'd said no – I didn't think we needed that".
Col Caldwell was in his usual position when they arrived and he didn't look terribly happy.
"We've completed our scans Sheppard. Whatever the Wraith were doing on that planet they're not doing it now. There's no trace of them or any of their ships, either on the surface or in orbit".
"Maybe they were trying to find something the Ancients or that other group left behind" suggested Ronon.
"Maybe..... and it may just have been a coincidence that the refugees from Herista ended up there but I doubt it. Still it doesn't matter now, the Wraith aren't here so there's no reason for us to hang around, is there? Col. thanks for taking the time to check".
Caldwell nodded and gave the order to return to Atlantis to drop them off and pick up their prisoner. It didn't take long for the exchange to be made and John and Ronon were beamed down in front of the Gate to be met by Sam.
"I'm going to go and find Jennifer" muttered Ronon once Sheppard had reported the absence of the Wraith and Sam had returned to her office.
"I'll walk with you. I want to see how Major Preston's doing".
They walked in silence until they reached the Infirmary where they literally ran into Terry Philips who had finally been thrown out, so that Ina would get some rest.
"Sorry Sir" he stuttered.
"It's okay kid".
"Erm... if you're looking for Dr Keller" he glanced up at Ronon "she's not here. I think she went to your quarters..... I mean the quarters you share. She's a bit upset with you" he mumbled.
Sheppard let out a huge sigh. "What've you done this time?"