How Jennifer Made the First Move

37 - Mistaken Identity II

"What should I do? I've tried talking to him in the lab, his own turf, so to speak, so he wouldn't lapse into one of his nervous stuttering fits. He's always so deep in work I can never tell if he even hears me." Jennifer was getting more than a little annoyed with Rodney taking so long to ask her on a date so she sought advice from Colonel Sheppard.

"You have to use the right motivator to get his attention. That old adage about the way to a man's heart being through his stomach was created just for Rodney." Sheppard leaned back in his chair, resting one ankle on the opposite knee and both arms over the backs of the chairs on either side. "Take him food and while he's eating lay it all out for him. Remember, no beating around the bush."

She decided it was worth a try. Back in her office she began making plans. Rodney spent many nights working late. She'd have to find out when and just casually appear…with a full meal and words of love.

* * * * *

Jennifer wanted to scream! She'd been trying for two weeks to catch Rodney alone in his lab late at night with no luck. If he was there then she had to work. If she was off duty then he was offworld or working with others or had plans with "the guys". She'd just have to be a little more forward about requesting an audience with the *great* Dr. Rodney McKay.

She saw him up ahead and hurried to catch up. "Hey, McKay. What's on your agenda for tonight?"

"Tonight? Uh, well, I have some research to catch up on in Auxiliary Science Lab Four. I need to get it completed tonight. The IOA has been on my back about it for weeks. They want a final report in the next data burst. Why?"

"A bunch of us are going to meet at the bar for a beer. I was wondering if you wanted to join us but it looks like you have a full night ahead of you."

"Oh, okay. Next time then?" He didn't wait for her answer. Just waved as he walked into the nearest transport and was gone, already immersed in calculations.

She turned with a big smile and headed for the Mess Hall.

* * * * *

"Hello? Rodney?" Jennifer knocked on the door to the science lab where Rodney said he'd be working. A muffled voice responded and she took it as permission to enter. Pounding came from behind a huge Ancient device in the corner and she could see feet sticking out. She raised her voice to be heard over the noise. "I knew you would be too busy to get supper so I've brought us both something to eat. Your favorite, veal." She set two covered trays on the only empty space on the nearest table.

The voice sounded grateful though she still couldn't understand the words. The pounding stopped but there were still metal on metal sounds that indicated the work had continued.

"Um, I, uh…well, I just wanted to, uh, talk to you." The voice spoke again urging her to continue.

"Well, you see, I've always felt this…connection. With you, I mean. Ever since we first met, there was this indefinable…something between us. I, uh, well, I didn't know if it was the beginnings of friendship or-or-or something much more." She paced back and forth twisting her fingers together nervously.

"Then Amanda told me you were seeing…Dr. Brown and, uh, I decided that these…feelings were my imagination. That we, well, you and I were just meant to be...good friends. But that wasn't the case. The just being friends part. Not for me anyway." The sounds of working had stopped. No, it hadn't stopped. Now she heard the snap-pop of soldering. But he was listening. Okay, make it good, Keller!

"What I'm trying to say is," she took a deep breath "I've known how you feel about me since you were infected with the Second Childhood parasite. See, I don't know if you remember or not but during one of the video logs you told me you loved me and well, I just wanted you to know that I love you, too and have for quite a while." She waited for a reply but there was nothing but silence. "So, uh, nothing to say about my declaration of undying love?"

The legs pulled back out of sight. She heard a grunt and the scrape of rubber soles on the floor. There was a crash that sounded like a toolbox being knocked over.

"Kurva dr t!"

Her eyes went wide in shock. As far as she knew, Rodney did not speak Czech. A moment later Radek Zelenka emerged. He pushed the hair off his forehead with one hand and his glasses back up on his nose with the other.

"I am sorry, Jennifer. But Rodney is not here." At her confused expression, he explained, "When you first came in I said that he was not here but you just kept talking as if you did not hear me."

"He said he would be working in this lab tonight."

"Again, I am sorry. I was in the middle of a very delicate repair on this device that Rodney will need to complete the research the IOA is requesting and could not leave it unfinished. He was here but told me that he had, uh, gotten a better offer. Said you had asked him on a date. I offered to complete the repairs and he departed. That was over an hour ago."

She was speechless for several moments then started to get irate. Her hands came to her hips. "And you let me go on and on like that? I bared my soul, put my heart on my sleeve by declaring my love and you said nothing!"

"Jennifer, I truly am sorry but…" Radek took a step forward, one hand extended but a sound at the door had them both turning in that direction. There stood Rodney with a dark and angry expression.

"What the hell is going on here?"

* * * * *

Rodney stood there looking at Jennifer and Radek. What he'd just heard had pierced his heart. How could Jennifer be in love with him? Neither of them had shown the least bit of interest in each other...that he'd noticed. He looked around and saw the food trays. She brought him supper, too.

"Rodney, there you are." Jennifer looked relieved and uncomfortable at the same time. "I, uh…"

"Did you mean what you just said?" His arms twitched fretfully at his sides.

"Yes, every word." She took a step forward, one hand reaching for him beseechingly. It dropped to her side when he crossed his arms and stepped back. His face showed equal parts of hurt and dejection.

"Okay. I, uh, I'll just go." He turned and fled.

"But, Rodney…"

* * * * *

Rodney headed away from the scene of his heartbreak as fast as his legs could carry him without breaking into a run. He'd arrived at the lab just in time to hear her tell Radek she loved him and him tell her that he didn't share those feelings. What could I have been thinking? Of course she loves someone else but I thought it would be Ronon not Radek.

He was brought out of his near-trance by a hand on his shoulder. "Rodney, please stop." The traitor had followed him, no doubt to rub it in. "You have misunderstood. Jennifer did not come to see me. I was behind the machine and she thought that I was you."

"Really?" The physicist came to a halt turning to face his subordinate. Hope made his eyes shine.

"Yes. Please, go back. Listen to her. I would give anything for a woman to say such words of love to me. She even brought you veal for dinner. And I do not like veal, as you well know."

This last was said to Rodney's back as he hurried in the direction he'd just come from.

* * * * *

Rodney eased up to the lab entrance. Jennifer had her back to him and her shoulders were shaking. "Jennifer?"

Her head came up and a hand swiped at her eyes before she turned. "I-I-I came here to surprise you."

He gave her his shy embarrassed smile. "And you surely did. Sorry about before. You know, when I…"

"Don't be." She took him by both hands.

"So, you, uh, love me?"

"Yes! I brought your favorite dinner and had this whole speech about how I've felt this connection between us from the beginning but thought it was just friendship then it wasn't and how I've known you loved me for a while and I've loved you for a really long time and…"

"Wait! Say that again."

"Veal for dinner?" She said with a wink.

"No, the other part."

"Oooooh, the 'I love you' part?"

"Yeah, that."

They'd been moving slowly toward each other and were now just an inch apart. She put her arms around his neck. "I love you."

"Again."

"I love you!"

"Once more, please."

"I love-" He stopped her by kissing her.

They didn't see Radek in the doorway smiling. He gestured and Sheppard, Teyla, Lorne, Woolsey and a few others peeked in. They all watched a few moments then burst into applause.

Without stopping, Jennifer waved them away and kept on kissing the man she loved.

The End