"Hey there." Cadman greeted as she entered the infirmary and walked over to Jennifer's bed with Kiryk in tow. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I could recover just fine in my quarters." Jennifer replied.
"Well, fortunately no one agrees with you and seeing how you took a blow to the head your medical opinion means squat-diddly-squat." Cadman said as she sat down in between Jennifer and Celise's bed.
"What happened to you?" Jennifer asked noticing a bruise forming on her friend's face.
"Sparring accident." Laura shrugged.
"That's his line." Jennifer said motioning to Ronon who was on an adjacent gurney carefully watching her every move. "Maybe rather than discouraging you all from practicing all the time I should order you to all spar more, at least until you are good enough to pick up less injuries."
"You could work on your left guard then." Kiryk added gaining a glare from Laura.
"Did you do that?" Jennifer asked Kiryk.
"No, I was just observing." Kiryk replied.
"I was going to offer this to you." Laura said pulling a chocolate bar from her pocket. "But seeing how you just want to insult me maybe I will eat it myself."
"Not hungry anyway." Jennifer said causing Laura and Ronon to exchange a concerned glance.
"You two can cut it out." Jennifer said. "Anaesthesia always makes me feel sick."
"Uh huh." Laura replied. "Well seeing how not eating properly contributed to you being here I don't care if the thought of food turns you green, I am not going until you eat."
"Fine, but I am not eating chocolate." Jennifer said far from happy.
"Fine." Laura returned.
"Can I have it then?" Celise asked from her bed.
Laura looked to Jennifer who nodded. "It is not like my medical opinion counts round here anyway." With Jennifer's agreement Laura spun round and handed the chocolate bar to Celise who smiled.
"You have already learnt not to eat the food they serve round here? Smart kid." Laura smiled.
"Ronon smuggles me in good food." Celise said biting into the chocolate.
"Does he?" Laura and Jennifer asked simultaneously.
"Oh. Sorry Ronon I forgot I wasn't meant to tell Jennifer." Celise apologised as Ronon tried to avoid eye contact with Jennifer.
"Ok so you have learnt who to go to for food, what else have you picked up?" Laura asked.
"Colonel Sheppard can have Rodney removed, forcibly." She said stressing the forcibly.
"Always useful information." Laura grinned as she collected Jennifer a fruit cup from the side. "Eat." She ordered.
Before Jennifer could respond an irate looking Lorne came into the infirmary. Seeing Jennifer was awake some of the tension in his face disappeared. "Hey doc. How you doing?"
"I'm ok."
"You sure?" Lorne asked his voice revealing concern and guilt.
"I'm sure. I guess I should have listened to you and sat down." Jennifer smiled back.
"Well you will know better in the future." Lorne said. "But I didn't come to see you. Cadman I need a word outside now." Jennifer looked at Laura who looked almost as if she was expecting it. As Laura walked out of the infirmary behind Lorne, Jennifer asked Kiryk.
"What did she do?"
"I have been sworn to secrecy." He said as he sat down on the side of Celise's bed.
"It must be bad then." Jennifer muttered.
Outside Lorne dragged Cadman to an unoccupied room and said. "You want to tell me why there is a group of beaten up marines unable to go on their scheduled mission in one hour?"
"Well…" Cadman started.
"Don't even try to deny it I have witnesses placing you at the scene and the bruise is a give away."
"They-" Laura started before Lorne cut her off.
"You have been back here for all of five minutes and you have already caused trouble."
"They were bad mouthing Jennifer and concocting new rumours, she doesn't need that right now. I merely educated them on who Jennifer was and why it was not a good idea to start rumours." Laura finally explained.
"They are the ones who started the rumour?" Lorne asked.
"They have started another one?" Laura asked, thinking Lorne was talking about yet another rumour.
"No the one about Jennifer, Ronon and Rodney."
"If they did not start it they definitely spread it." Laura replied.
"In which case, why the hell are they still walking?"
"Sir?" Laura asked surprised.
"Sorry I shouldn't have said that." Lorne said as he turned to leave, clearly distracted by something.
"Sir am I in trouble for beating them up or not beating them up enough?" Laura asked confused.
"Both." Lorne said.
"Well thanks for the clarification." Laura said with an under-current of sarcasm. "Sir are you ok?"
"Yes. Why?"
"You seem a little…distracted."
"It is just I let her down." Lorne said as he left the room.