As Jennifer started to awake from her slumber she slowly became aware of something warm to her side. Something that was the perfect temperature to snuggle into, so she moved closer to the heat source, wrapping her arm round it, and started to drift back to sleep. Before she had completely succumbed to the darkness she felt something moving up and her shoulder and back. Slowly opening her eyes she found herself looking at a muscular torso. Craning her neck upwards she saw John looking down at her, with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
"Morning." She said shyly.
"Morning." He replied, continuing to run his hand up and down her back. "You ok?"
"Yes." Jennifer said, closing her eyes again.
"You sleeping on me?" John asked amused.
"Um hum." Jennifer said, moving her finger round on John's chest. "Unless you have a better idea?"
"I have several." John replied.
"Like what?" Jennifer asked looking up again.
"I think they need a demonstration." John said moving down the bed, capturing Jennifer's mouth with his own.
"I like your ideas better." Jennifer said when they broke for air. Smiling Sheppard was about to resume the kiss when the mood was broken.
"Colonel Sheppard please report to the gateroom." A familiar voice suddenly said. John immediately clamped his hand over Jennifer's mouth and irately said, from Jennifer's point of view to empty air.
"Chuck what have I told you about patching into my room's PA?"
"Sorry Sir, but you weren't answering your personal radio." Chuck explained, causing John to look at the deactivated device on his bedside table.
"What's the problem?"
"You were meant to be in a briefing that started fifteen minutes ago."
"Crap." John exclaimed. "I'll be up shortly."
"Very good Sir." Chuck responded before silence descended. John waited a few moments then called.
"Chuck." He waited then called again. "Chuck, you still there?" When he was again met by silence he relaxed slightly and looked down at Jennifer. Realising his hand was still clamped over her mouth he released it and said.
"Sorry. I didn't know if you'd want to be on radio control room this morning." He explained.
"Why does Chuck have a direct link to your room? Please tell me the link is only an audio."
"Don't know, he was showing initiative or something and I really hope so. Then again he does have shifty eyes." John answered. Before kissing her as he started to slide out of bed. "I'm sorry to run, but I need to go to that meeting."
-00-
"About time." McKay said as John hurried into the briefing room.
"Sorry." John apologised taking a seat.
"Is everything ok?" Woolsey asked, concerned by Sheppard's out of the normal behaviour.
"Yeah. I overslept."
"Are you sure you are ok?" Woolsey questioned.
"I'm fine." John assured the bureaucrat as McKay eyed him suspiciously.
"If you're sure, perhaps we can start the meeting?"
"Sure." Sheppard said, happy when it was Rodney who was subjected to the first round of questioning. As McKay talked about all the experiments he was planning John found that he was finding hard to concentrate on anything other than the doctor he'd left in his bed. He was eventually snapped out of his thoughts by Ronon throwing a ball of paper at him. Looking round he saw that everyone was staring at him with a mixture of expectance and concern.
"Sorry." He said meekly.
"Are you sure you are ok Colonel?" Woolsey questioned.
"I'm fine." Sheppard said. Woolsey looked at him for awhile before saying.
"So Dr Keller?"
"Dr Keller?" John parroted.
"How was she?"
"Excuse me?"
"Last night, how was she?" Woolsey said slowly, growing increasingly concerned by John's mental state. When John seemed to be struggling to answer he added. "Dr Beckett said you went to talk to Dr Keller last night, how was she?"
"She was good."
"Good?" Woolsey asked, his voice full of doubt.
"Yeah good."
"Are you sure you're ok Colonel?" Woolsey asked.
"I'm fine and Jennifer's good."
"Very well." Woolsey said jotting down some notes. "Do you have anything about military operations you wish to contribute to this meeting?"
"Nope."
"Ok then. Thank you all for your time and some of you thank you for your attention."
"That's it?" McKay asked cheerfully.
"That's it." Woolsey confirmed.
Not needing another invitation the other occupants stood and headed to the door.
"What's wrong with you?" McKay asked Sheppard as they left the briefing room.
"Nothing."
"Really? Because I have seen more attention from some of the drones in the geology department."
"Just tired." Sheppard shrugged.
"How can you be tired you overslept?" McKay asked, convinced his friend was hiding something. Then with out warning McKay grabbed one of John's arms and started to examine it.
"What are you doing?" Sheppard exclaimed.
"Looking for signs of parasitic entry."
"Rodney there is nothing wrong with me." Sheppard said irritably. "But if you keep this up you'll be searching your body for bullet entry."
"Nothing wrong? Then what's that?" Rodney asked pulling Sheppard's shirt down revealing a dark mark on his neck. As the others all looked Sheppard shrugged Rodney off him then barked.
"Rodney, touch me again and I'll replace you with Zelenka." The tone in his voice made Rodney back away, but as he did so he muttered.
"Cranky too."
John raised his finger at Rodney then turned and jogged down the steps of control room.
"Seriously you should check him out before there is another city wide disaster." Rodney said looking at Carson.
"Rodney." Carson said calmly. "I am sure there is nothing to worry about."
"But you saw the mark." McKay protested.
"Yes I did." Carson said giving a knowing smile to Teyla before leaving the group.
"Has everyone lost their minds?" Rodney asked. Getting no sympathy from Ronon or Teyla he stormed out of the control room.
Grinning Ronon and Teyla headed into the corridor and when they were alone Ronon said.
"So he made his move."
"It would appear so." Teyla replied.
-00-
John hurried back to his room unsure if Jennifer would still be there. Keying in his entry code he entered his quarters and saw the bed was empty. Shutting the door he sat down on the vacant bed wondering if he had rushed her, wondering if she was regretting the relationship. He was so lost in his thoughts he nearly jumped off the bed when a hand waved in front of his face.
"You ok?" Jennifer asked.
"You're here?"
"Did you not want me to be?" She questioned.
"No, I mean yes. No I mean no." Sheppard said, trying to remember exactly what the question was. "I thought you'd left." He tried to clarify. "I'm glad you're still here. Where were you?"
"Shower."
"Which is why your hair is wet." John concluded.
"How was your meeting?"
"I kind of phased out. It was hard to concentrate." John confessed
"Why?"
"Other things, well another person on my mind." John said tugging Jennifer down onto his lap. "Now Rodney thinks I am being taken over by some malevolent alien being."
"I'll remember that at his next medical." Jennifer replied causing John to grin.
"So how are you doing today?"
"Ok."
"Ok enough to go get some food?" Noticing her hesitation he added. "I'll be with you the whole time. You'll be safe."
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"You don't want to be seen with me?" John said, unable to hide the hurt in his voice.
"No, kind of. But not in the way you think." Jennifer tried to explain. "I'm worried how Rodney will take it, well us."
"You knew?"
"He dropped a few hints."
"Yeah a month ago he did give you the last piece of chocolate cake." Sheppard said.
"I don't want to hurt him, and because it's you I think he'll take it harder." Jennifer explained.
"I know." John said. "Why don't we get you some food and I'll talk to Rodney afterwards."
"Ok." Jennifer said kissing John.
"For the record." John mumbled. "This type of behaviour would give the game away."
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Final chapter up tomorrow.
