How Jennifer Made the First Move

36 - This Was Not in the Brochure!

Rodney clung to the trunk of a tree as it floated out of control down the river. It could have been worse. Actually, it was worse. Jennifer was with him. She had finally stopped screaming and was now panting and shivering though from the cold, fright or a combination of both he didn't know.

"Jennifer! Jennifer! Look at me! We will be okay. I promise." He used his most reassuring voice.

"Th-th-that's not v-v-very helpful!"

"Sorry. It's the best I can do when we're white water rafting without a raft."

She made a sound of frustration. "Never again will I try to cross a river using a dead tree!"

Rodney silently agreed but said nothing. He was facing Jennifer and could not see what hazards and horrors awaited them. Instead, he concentrated on staying on their only salvation and trying to figure a way out of this. To his left he could see Teyla, Sheppard and Ronon running alongside the river. He tried to reach out a reassuring hand to the woman he loved but when he did so the tree began to wobble and she screamed again. Words had already been used to try to comfort her but they hadn't worked so he refrained from repeating the platitudes.

"This was not in the brochure!" Jennifer shouted above the water's roar.

"What brochure?"

"It's just an expression, Rodney." She tried to adjust her position and got splashed for her efforts. "Can you just think of something? I'd like to get back to Atlantis in one piece and without contracting pneumonia, if possible."

"I am thinking, but so far nothing comes to mind."

"That's-" What she was going to say was cut off when the tree hit some large rocks and spun them around three or four times making them both dizzy. She screamed again.

When it stopped Rodney was now facing in the direction they'd been travelling and what he saw chilled him even more than he already was. The river disappeared about two hundred meters ahead of them and it could only mean one thing: They were headed for a waterfall.

"Uh-oh!"

* * * * *

Sheppard ran alongside the river with Ronon and Teyla furiously trying to devise a plan that would save Rodney and Jennifer. Nothing was coming to mind and he hoped that one of the others would come up with something before it was too late. He'd already seen the falls up ahead and fear for his friends reared its ugly head begging for attention but he pushed it down. There would be time for that later, after they were all safe.

He was brought out of his reverie by a shout from Ronon. The big man pointed and the trio came to a stumbling halt. They slipped and slid down the hill to where they might be able to catch Rodney and Jennifer as they went by. Finally, a plan began to form in Sheppard's head.

* * * * *

"'Uh-oh?' What do you mean 'uh-oh'? Nothing good ever comes after 'uh-oh'."

"Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is the river looks a bit calmer just ahead." As he said it they slowed and stopped wobbling side to side.

"And the bad news?"

"There's a waterfall."

Jennifer hung her head then looked him in the eye with defiance. "Sharp rocks at the bottom?"

He shrugged. "Mmm-maybe."

She growled in frustration. "Okay, bring it on! But I have to warn you I don't know how to swim so it will be up to you to save me from drowning."

He'd begun panting as adrenaline flooded his system preparing him for fight or flight. In this instance it might be a bit of both. "It'll be my pleasure. Later, I'll teach you to swim. Deal?"

"Deal. So what's your big plan?"

"Plan?"

"Yeah, for getting us out of this. You always come up with a plan at the last second. It's one of the things I love most about you."

"Excuse me? Did you just say…"

She inched her hand slowly across the rough, waterlogged bark toward his and their fingers gripped tightly. "Yes, I love you. I wanted you to know, just in case."

"Oh, wow! I love you, too."

"I know."

The edge of the waterfall was upon them. "Hold on!" He shouted. "Here we go!"

* * * * *

Jennifer closed her eyes and screamed in anticipation of the long fall and cold, hard stop at the bottom. The sound cut off when they came to a sudden stop. She looked around and found that what had looked like a waterfall had only been a deep dip in the river and land around it. The tree they were on had become wedged in what looked like the beginnings of a beaver dam.

Sheppard inched out into water that came up to his hips. Ronon had hold of his hand and Teyla stood on the bank ready to assist. He grabbed Jennifer's hand and pulled her toward him then Ronon pulled her to where Teyla could help her onto the river bank. She collapsed and lay there watching anxiously while they rescued the man she loved.

Rodney was pulled to safety just moments before the tree broke loose and careened another hundred meters down river to shatter against large boulders jutting out from both sides nearly blocking the water's flow. He pulled Jennifer to her feet and swept her into his arms. They hugged each other tightly.

She couldn't help it. They'd almost lost each other and she just had to assure herself that they were both alive. Framing his face with her hands she brought his mouth to hers and kissed him.

"Hey, how come he gets a kiss and I don't? It was my idea that rescued both of you." The sound of a throat being cleared sounded to his left. "Well, Ronon and Teyla helped. A little."

"Oh, John, thank you for rescuing us." Jennifer gave him a kiss on the cheek and he blushed. She turned to Ronon and kissed his cheek too but without the blushing. Teyla received a hug.

"Okay. Okay. Enough of that. Let's get the two of you home before you get sick or something."

* * * * *

Rodney was happier than he'd ever been. Jennifer loved him, they made it out of the river without being badly injured or dying and all was right with the world. At least for the moment.

They had plans for tonight to go to supper then to movie night together. He didn't even dare to think that they might spend the night together. She would be the one to decide when they would take their new relationship to the next level.

The door chimed. He gave the room a quick once-over to make sure all of his dirty clothes and stuff were out of sight and the bed was made. A quick breath check then he palmed open the door and there she was. She was dressed casually in jeans, sneakers and a faded football jersey from the Chippewa Falls high school.

"You look comfortable." He gestured and she walked in just far enough for the door to shut.

"Yeah, didn't feel like dressing up or wearing my uniform. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Have a seat while I put my shoes on and we'll go get supper."

She took him by the hand and gave him a provocative smile when he turned to face her again. "I'm not really hungry. Are you?" Both hands went to his chest as she pushed him backwards towards the bed.

"Uh, no, not really. Whoa!" She'd given him a shove and he landed on his back with her on top of him. He watched her face as it descended toward him and rose up to meet her half way. Her weight came to rest on him and his arms went around her. They stayed just like that kissing and touching each other through the layers of clothing until she decided that she had to have more.

Her hands slid under his shirt to caress his chest. Just as her hands had gone to the hem of her jersey to remove it a voice came over Rodney's headset.

"Dr. McKay to the auxiliary science lab! Dr. McKay to the auxiliary science lab immediately!"

He sighed and reached for his headset but Jennifer intercepted him. She tapped the device to activate it. "This is Dr. Keller. Dr. McKay is unable to respond. He's…not feeling well and is under medical supervision for the next…twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Dr. Zelenka is in charge until then." She opened the desk drawer and dropped first his headset then hers in and closed it firmly. "Where were we?"

Rodney put both arms around her and rolled her onto her back. "Right about here." He lowered his head to kiss her and her arms went around his neck to pull him closer.

"Oh, yeah. Now I remember."

The End