A/N: This is my newest submission to the dwparsnip FF challenge to do a fic of 500 words or less about Rodney and another with a song title but no lyrics.

In an operation like Atlantis, the Mess Hall would be manned by soldiers. However, for the purpose of this story, it isn't. 'Nuff said.

I'm issuing a coffee/food alert just in case.

Word count: 500

Rodney and Significant Other Challenge

Hemoglobin Highway

"Suction." Jennifer's voice was calm, controlled and dispassionate-sounding as she performed surgery on Rodney. How he'd been injured didn't matter. All that mattered is that his teammates were able to get him back to Atlantis before it was too late. "That's the last of the bleeders. Let's close him up."

~~O~~

Pulling off her surgical gown and shoving it into the incinerator, Jennifer sighed in relief finally letting her emotions to show. At least a little. If she let them all the way out, she'd end up in a sobbing heap on the floor and have to spend the next month being evaluated by the staff shrink.

No. Her best course of action was to wait until she was off duty and in her room. Then she could cry, scream, laugh hysterically, whatever she felt like doing to get it all out. Sometimes sparring with Teyla or Ronon worked wonders but it was late. Her only choices for a workout partner would be Woolsey, Chuck or Ms. Nussbaum, the Mess Hall manager.

John pushed off the wall he'd been holding up as soon as Jennifer appeared. "How is he, doc?"

"He's doing great considering what he's been through." Teyla and Ronon didn't say anything as they moved closer. "Now that his hemoglobin highway is back on course, he's going to be fine. Why don't the three of you get some rest? I'll call you if anything changes."

At first they didn't want to leave their friend but Jennifer can be persuasive and finally convinced them to go.

Hours Later

Rodney's vital signs had stabilized and Carson exercised his right as Jennifer's elder and mentor to order her to go get some rest. She'd spent hours sitting at Rodney's bedside while Carson watched from the corner he'd claimed as his office.

He checked Rodney's vitals, adjusted the flow on his IV and pulled a chair up next to the bed. "Ach, Rodney, ya'd do enythin' to get outa going fishing, won't ya? Well, it's not gonna be that easy this time, my friend. Samantha was delighted to reschedule the trip for after you've recovered. With the Ancient medical database to assist, you'll be back to yer old self within three weeks. Then it's just you, me, and the fish on some uninhabited by humans planet. The only rub is it'll have to be catch-and-release because our lovely commander won't allow us to bring enythin' back with us.

"Just so ya know fishin's just an excuse to spend quality time with my best friend that doesn't include Wraith attacks, coronal mass ejections, mutated children's diseases and bombs planted within the city." Carson patted Rodney's hand where it lay on his chest and went back to his office.

When he was gone, Rodney opened his eyes just a slit thinking about what his friend had just said. Going over his schedule for the next month, he mentally penciled in 'fishing with Carson' for exactly one month from today. That done, he drifted back to sleep again.

End

A/N: The song "Hemoglobin Highway" is performed when Phineas and Ferb are traveling through Candace's body in a miniature submarine in the episode "Journey to the Center of Candace" of Phineas and Ferb.