A/N: Methinks I doth read an overabundance of medieval romance novels. Thou shouldst also thank Lone-Ranger1 for the idea for this story. Hazzah!
How Jennifer Made the First Move
26 – In Defense of Honor
Rodney turned from the bar and headed for an empty table. Jennifer was due in a few minutes and he hoped that he'd finally have the nerve to ask her for a date. He sat where he could see when she arrived but at the next table a group of Marines were laughing and making all sorts of noise. There were several empty pitchers indicating that they'd already imbibed more than they should have so it was a good thing they weren't driving.
Rodney would have preferred a little less noise when he talked to Jennifer but there were no other empty tables. He brought the bottle to his lips just as she walked in and headed for the bar. All talk at the next table came to an abrupt halt. One of the biggest of the Marines said with a leer, "Mmm. Look at that, boys. I'd love to play 'doctor' with her. Just think of all the interesting things she could do with a stethoscope." His buddies smirked and added their own indecent remarks, mostly comments about the size and shape of portions of her anatomy and what they'd like to do to and with her in a variety of private and public places.
Rodney was appalled! How could they say those things about any woman much less the woman he loved? He tried to ignore them and took another swig. Yeah, he'd said and thought similar things about women in the past and yes, he was ashamed of it but he'd gotten a whole new perspective on such behaviors since he'd fallen in love with Jennifer. Even before he'd come to realize that he loved her, and without his conscious knowledge, he'd been influenced by her opinions, views and attitudes. He thought back and become conscious of the fact that it had all started when Jennifer, Sam and he had been trapped in the Genii mining facility. And despite the danger they'd been in he had enjoyed the time getting to know the pretty young doctor.
Fueled by too much booze and not enough common sense the men continued to make offensive and crude remarks, mostly about Jennifer but about the other women in the room, too. And not all of the comments were favorable.
He couldn't take it anymore! He had to defend Jennifer's honor as well as that of all women. Hopefully, this would make up for his past indiscretions. He got up and tapped the shoulder of the first guy who'd spoken.
"Excuse me. I find your comments about women in general and Dr. Keller in particular highly offensive and demand an apology on their behalf." The Marine whose name patch said "Kozlowski" came to his feet. Rodney looked up at him. And up and up. The guy had about six inches in height and forty plus pounds on the physicist. Rodney's face became a mask of fear but he didn't let the man's size deter him. Thiswas too important! He stood his ground. "I'm waiting."
The guy's buddies stood too. "Yeah? And what if I don't?" He poked Rodney in the chest with a massive finger. "What're you gonna do about it?"
"Ow! I-I-I, uh…I'll report you to Colonel Sheppard, that's what I'll do. He doesn't take kindly to a disrespectful attitude, especially toward women."
"I ain't afraid of Sheppard. What's he gonna do? Throw me in the brig just because I called someone a…" The last word was an extremely derogatory term for women in general. Rodney's temper snapped and he punched the guy in the stomach. No matter what, Rodney himself would never have used such a term for any woman! The guy barely moved and he was now scared in earnest. Oh, I am a dead man! He thought as Kozlowski reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt.
"C'mon, guys. Let's teach this science geek some manners." The group picked Rodney up and carried him out onto the patio. The people seated there jumped up and fled.
* * * * *
Jennifer's attention was captured by increased activity near the side door. Her eyes widened in alarm when she saw a group of Marines lift Rodney and carry him out onto the patio. She slammed her beer bottle onto the nearest table and hurried in that direction. When people saw the look on her face they quickly got out of her way.
Just as she got close to the side door a group of people ran in looking anxiously over their shoulders. One man was speaking urgently into his headset. As she passed she heard him say "Marines", "Dr. McKay" and "balcony". She pushed the door open on a horrific scene.
* * * * *
"Y-y-you know, this is just a-just a-a-a big, huge, massive mis-, uh, -understanding." Rodney said in his most reasonable tone. "A-a-and if you put me down, uh-uh-uh, I'd be willing to, ohmyGod, forget all about it. You know, let bygones be, well, bygones. What do you say guys? No harm, no foul?"
Kozlowski shared a smirk with his pals. "The guys and me have talked it over."
"Oh? That's, uh, good. So, you're going to, uh, let me up?"
"Naw! We're gonna drop you head first onto the East pier to see if you bounce."
"Aaah! Nonononono! I-I-I…"
"What the hell is going on?"
The Marines turned their heads to see Dr. Jennifer Keller standing behind them hands on hips and an expression that promised pain and suffering of the most heinous kind.
Jennifer was furious. She didn't know why, but a group of Marines had Rodney dangling upside down off the balcony. If they dropped him…
She turned her head to the side and cupped her right ear. "Sorry. Can't hear you."
The men looked at each other then back at her but said nothing. None of them had ever seen a more outraged female in their lives. Her brown eyes had literally darkened with her mood till they were almost black.
Urgency was brought back to the moment when a voice floated up from below.
"Um, hello. You know, I hate to butt in but um, could someone maybe pull me up?" Rodney's voice was strained. "I-I-I've been hanging upside down for a while now and I, uh, I'm getting a little, you know, nauseous."
The attractive doctor stalked up to Kozlowski, standing toe to toe with the big man while she poked him in the chest. "Pull him up!" They still didn't move. "Now! Or I will make sure your next physical is the longest and most painful experience of your life!"
Kozlowski's eyes widened in alarm and one of his buddies said tentatively, "Uh, Koz, maybe we better do as she says. I mean, she a doctor. No telling what terrible things she could do to us or what diseases she could give us."
He nodded and Rodney was deposited in front of her moments later. She put out a hand to steady him when he stumbled. "Whoa! Major head rush!"
She made a quick assessment of his condition then looked past him to the men who now looked ashamed. "What was this all about?" Rodney opened his mouth to respond but she silenced him with a look.
"Well…y'see-" One of the men started to speak.
Just then Major Lorne arrived with an armed detail. He surveyed the scene. "We had a report of an altercation involving Dr. McKay."
Jennifer turned to the new arrivals and smiled. "It's nothing, Major. There was a small misunderstanding and we all got a little," she laughed with embarrassment, "carried away. Sorry. It was entirely my fault."
"Jennifer, what are you doing?" Rodney whispered urgently in her ear. She waved a hand to silence him.
Lorne looked from person to person but the Marines refused to meet his eyes. Something, he didn't know what, had happened but if no one spoke up he'd just have to take them at their word. "Okay. Call if you need anything."
"Will do, Major."
* * * * *
The smile faded and the dangerous look was back when Jennifer turned to the silent group of men. "Okay, I want every one of you to apologize for what you did to Dr. McKay." Silence greeted her order so she reached up to touch her headset.
"Okay! I'm sorry Dr. McKay. I-i-it won't happen again." Kozlowski looked sincere but Jennifer was unconvinced. The others murmured apologies as well.
"What if Dr. McKay doesn't press charges and it turns out you're all lying? What if you do it again and someone really does get hurt and Dr. McKay could have prevented it? How do you think that would make him feel?"
"I guess he'd feel pretty bad." He exchanged glances with his pals. "We're really sorry, Dr. McKay. And all that stuff we said, you know, before? We take it all back. All of it and promise to be more…respectful of, uh, everyone from now on."
Rodney crossed his arms, his chin coming up. "See that you are. And remember, I can still press charges."
The now subdued group nodded and hurried back into the bar where they paid their tab and skedaddled.
* * * * *
Rodney and Jennifer chose a table in the back of the room and the bartender brought them each a beer paid for by the Marines. "Okay, what was that all about, Rodney? Spill it!"
He thought it over and decided against giving her the exact details. If he told her what they said about her specifically there was no telling what she might do. "Well, they had too much to drink-"
"That much was obvious."
"-and started making…unflattering remarks…about women in general and, uh, one woman in particular. When I, uh, objected then, well, you saw." He traced the lettering on the label of his bottle with a finger then brought his eyes up to meet hers. "Thanks for, you know, saving me…again."
"You're welcome…again. So who were they talking about?"
"Uh…" He looked uncomfortable.
She was taken aback. "Why, Dr. McKay, were you…defending my honor?"
"Um, well, yeah. A-a-and that of all, uh, women." He looked away with that shy smile of embarrassment she found so endearing. It was that smile as much as anything else that made her fall in love with him and she decided it was time he knew how she felt.
"Oh, Rodney, you are my hero! I love you!"
His head snapped around, his eyes so wide it made her laugh. "Um, d-d-did you j-j-just say…?
"Yes," She leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. "I love you, Rodney McKay. Now more than ever."
"Oh, wow!"
"Mmm. Wow indeed!"
"You know I love you too, right?"
"I do indeed. You want another beer? I'm buying."
He nodded with a smile. "Sure."
"We're getting it to go though." Her hand reached for his and pulled him to his feet.
"To go? Where're we going?"
"Your quarters."
"My quarters? Why?" He actually looked confused as she paid the bartender.
Jennifer handed him one of the bottles and put his free hand around her waist pressing his fingers to her. Her arm went around his neck. "Because you'll need your special mattress for your back." She winked at him.
His eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh! Right! So is this my reward for defending the honor of women?"
"Oh, yeah!"
"If I'd known, I'd have done it years ago."
"No way, Sir Rodney of Atlantis. You're my knight in shining armor."
The End