A/N: This story is numbered 50 but it is actually the 49th in the series. (Remember, Festivus was a two-parter.) The actual #50 is nearly finished but may take a couple of weeks to get posted as it is longer and more complex than most of the other chapters in the series. Hope you're up for it! JJ

"Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life."

How Jennifer Made the First Move

50 - The Most Important Ingredient

"I think the best thing we can do is stay out of it." Sheppard waited for a response from Teyla, Lorne or Ronon. When none was forthcoming, he lifted his eyes from his plate to see that all three were staring at him as if he'd grown a second head and a third arm. "What?"

"John, are you actually suggesting that we not interfere?" Teyla asked.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." He took another bite of his steamed broccoli and baked chicken. He knew it was good for him but he still didn't like it. However, it was better than listening to the lectures he got from Medical when his "good" cholesterol was down and his "bad" cholesterol was up…again. "Rodney and the Doc will get together eventually. They don't need or want our help."

"Sir, I have a question."

"Ask away, Evan. And you can call me John when we're off duty and talking about meddling in the affairs of Canadians in love."

"No disrespect intended, John, but…who are you and what have you done with the real Colonel Sheppard?"

Sheppard rolled his eyes at his SIC then laughed at the expression on the faces of the other two. "It's a joke. You see, there's this movie called 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers.' This doctor discovers that people in his community are being replaced by alien duplicates that grow out of these giant pods. Now the duplicates look and act just like the originals except they're emotionless. When someone says 'who are you and what have you done with…' it's because that person is acting so wildly out of character, and it can be in a good or a bad way, that it's like they've been replaced by a pod person. Hey! Are you saying that I'm a meddler?"

"Yeah, we are." Ronon responded with a smirk.

The Colonel cleared his throat. "Well, not this time." He pushed his food around on the plate just for something to do. There was more to come and he was stalling for time.

"Because…?" Teyla prompted when he didn't continue.

And there it was! He knew they wouldn't let him off easy. "Because… (heavy sigh) Rodney told me to butt out or he'd do something…uncivilized. Like what he did the other night."

"And that was…?"

Keeping his head down so he wouldn't have to meet their eyes, he reluctantly said, "He, uh, programmed my toilet to flush at random intervals while I'm taking a shower."

Lorne was the only one who laughed. When he explained to the others why it was funny, they laughed too.

"And…somehow he's managed to do the same to the showers in the gym but only if I use them."

"Why would Rodney do this?"

"On our…last mission I…told him I'd, uh, replaced the water in his canteen with lemonade."

"John! How could you do such a thing? He could have died!"

"I didn't actually do it. I just told him I did." He looked up to see three accusatory faces. "Anyway, he's disabled the commands…for now. If I get out of line again, all he has to do is tap a few keys and, well, you can figure it out. And he's changed his password so I can't go in and fix it even if I knew how.

"But the threat has served its purpose. I am keeping my nose out of his business for the foreseeable future. So, if any of you have anything planned in that direction, do not get me involved." He flicked his eyes at each of his dinner companions to see if the seeds he'd planted had taken root but Lorne had his head down over a slice of apple pie and Teyla and Ronon stared back with blank expressions. What's wrong with them? Can't anyone take a hint anymore?

*****

"Why are we doing this?" Ronon wanted to know.

Teyla sighed. She'd explained her reasoning several times but he just couldn't seem to grasp the concept. "We are doing this because Rodney and Jennifer are our friends and we want them to be happy…and also because John will not."

"That's a stupid reason."

"Rodney and Jennifer need a bit of encouragement to find each other because they have both been hurt in the past and are reluctant to become involved in case it does not work out. And, because John is hesitant to intervene, we must." She stood up and he followed her down the hall. "We will put our plan into action tonight. You will take care of Rodney and I will see to Jennifer."

"I think it's a bad idea."

"We shall see."

*****

Ronon entered the main science lab and found it empty except for Rodney. He was hunched over his workstation tapping industriously at the keyboard and was so deep in concentration that he jumped when Ronon spoke. "McKay."

"Aaaaah! Why are you sneaking up on me? Put a bell around your neck or something."

"I wasn't sneaking."

"Humph!" Rodney turned back to his computer. "What do you want?"

"Supper."

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, this isn't the Mess Hall. You'll find it on the gym level. Now, if you don't mind…"

The Satedan crossed his arms and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I came to see if you wanted to have supper."

"Well, yeah, eventually." His attention was drifting away from the conversation and back to work.

"I meant with me."

"Excuse me?" Rodney looked around to be sure Ronon wasn't talking to someone else. "You want me to have supper with you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"We're friends." Ronon stated as if it were obvious.

"But you've never invited me to eat with you before and I've always thought you'd rather eat alone. What's going on?"

Ronon sighed. This wasn't going according to Teyla's plan. "Do you want to have supper or not? I'll be in the Mess Hall at 2000. Be there!" He turned and left the lab without waiting for a response.

O-kay. Now that was weird. Well, it wouldn't hurt to have supper with the guy. Rodney shrugged, set the alarm on his watch to remind him and went back to work.

*****

Jennifer looked up when she heard a soft tap on her open office door. "Teyla, please come in. What can I do for you? Is Torren alright?"

"Torren is doing very well. He is with his father visiting our people on the mainland. Kanaan wished to show off his son's new abilities." Teyla's eyes glowed with motherly pride. "He has taken his first unaided steps and said his first word."

"That's wonderful!" She hugged the Athosian.

"To celebrate, I would like for you to share the evening meal with me tonight in the Mess Hall at 2000."

"I'd be honored."

Teyla nodded with a smile and left Jennifer to get back to work.

*****

Ronon and Teyla peeked around the corner of the patio. They saw Jennifer sitting alone with a bottle of water in front of her. She checked the time then took a drink.

Rodney came out a few minutes later, looking around for Ronon. Jennifer waved and he stopped to talk. She smiled and gestured to the seat across from her. He checked the time then sat down and offered her half of his sandwich. She accepted with a smile.

Teyla gave Ronon a smile and they went around to the main entrance to get their own supper and allow the couple some privacy.

*****

Jennifer and Rodney talked and laughed seeming to have forgotten that they'd had plans with others. He offered her his fruit cup then dug into the bowl of blue Jell-O. When they finished their shared meal, they bid each other good-night and went their separate ways.

Ronon and Teyla watched from the patio door again, exchanging frustrated looks.

"It did not work or they would be leaving together. We are very poor meddlers." Her brow knitted in thought. "I have another idea but we will need some assistance." She took off with the Satedan on her heels.

"Where're we going?"

"I believe Radek can best assist us with implementing my next idea."

He shrugged. "Okay." They walked in silence for a few minutes. "Did I mention this was a bad idea?"

"You did."

*****

"Excuse me?" Radek pushed his glasses back up his nose.

"What did you not understand, Radek?"

"Nothing. I mean, I understand what you wish for me to do but…"

"But…?" Teyla leaned her hip on the edge of the table next to the scientist's workstation with a sigh.

"This sounds more like something that Colonel Sheppard would do."

"So?" Ronon interjected.

"So…I am wondering why it is the two of you asking for my help instead of the Colonel."

Teyla and Ronon exchanged a glance and the big man shrugged. "John has other things to occupy his attention at this time so Ronon and I are doing this for him."

"I still do not understand but it is for a good cause so, yes, I will help you." The smile Teyla gave him was more than worth the time it would take him to implement her request. "I must finish what I am working on then I will be happy to provide the services you requested and will let you know when they are complete."

Ronon slapped him on the back with a smile. "Thanks, Doc!"

*****

"Well, Radek?"

"It is done. I have sent an email to Rodney from Jennifer and one to Jennifer from Rodney each inviting the other to dinner. What will you be doing next?"

Teyla smiled her thanks. "I have contacted the manager of the Mess Hall and she will have a romantic meal prepared for the two of them. She has agreed to have it brought to the level 22 East balcony along with a chilled bottle of champagne. Evan will be providing music suitable for slow dancing. From there, as I believe the saying goes, nature will take its course." She clasped her hands together in front of her and waited for her friends and co-conspirators to praise her efforts.

Radek and Ronon just looked back at her with gloomy expressions.

"I still think it's a bad idea."

*****

Ronon followed Teyla, Lorne and Radek as they crept quietly toward the balcony where Rodney and Jennifer were scheduled to have their romantic supper. "Why are we here?"

"We are here to appease our curiosity as to the end result of our ruse. If the plan has worked, they should be nearly finished with their meal and about to begin dancing."

"And if it has not worked?" Radek wanted to know.

Lorne chuckled ironically. "Then nothing. We come up with yet another idea for getting them together."

Teyla waved them quiet again when they heard voices. Loud voices. Loud, angry voices. Rodney and Jennifer were having one heck of an argument. They pulled back into the shadows when Rodney stormed past. He didn't even see them.

"Come back here, McKay! We aren't through!" Jennifer was angrier than any of them had ever seen her. Rodney, too.

He stopped walking but did not turn around. "Maybe you aren't, but I am!" Disdaining the transport, he headed for the stairs startling the onlookers even more because the physicist never walked when he could take a transport.

Seconds later, Jennifer walked quickly past their hiding place, stepped into the transport and was gone.

The four friends stepped out into the light with cheerless expressions and Ronon said, "I told you this was a bad idea!"

*****

Lorne, Ronon, Sheppard, Zelenka and Teyla sat at their usual table in the Mess Hall. Off to their right was Jennifer, to their left, Rodney. Both were sitting alone playing with their food instead of eating, their backs to each other. Neither would even acknowledge to their friends that they'd had an argument much less what it was about.

Sheppard watched as Teyla put her chin in her hand and let out a sad sigh. This had been her show from the beginning and, to put it in Earth parlance, the ratings sucked! He waited for someone, anyone, to come up with a new plan but so far, nothing.

"Maybe we should…" Teyla began but was interrupted by Ronon.

"No! No more plans."

Lorne added his voice. "Ronon's right. Everything we've done so far has just made things worse."

"I agree with Major Lorne." Radek put in.

"Perhaps you are right. If they never tell each other how they feel because of this, I will not be able to forgive myself."

The Colonel looked from one to the other unable to understand how they could give up so easily. He couldn't take it anymore. Damn the consequences. This ends now!

"Okay, that's enough! I can't believe the four of you working together couldn't come up with even one plan that might actually have had a snowball's chance in Hell of working!" He looked around at their startled faces then sighed in resignation. "I guess it's up to me."

"But, John, what about the penalty Rodney has said he would exact upon you for interfering?"

"William Somerset Maugham said, 'You can do anything in this world if you are prepared to take the consequences.' I'll just have to take one for the team if it means I won't have to watch him be miserable and alone for the rest of our lives."

"Oh, John, you do care about Rodney, despite your assertions to the contrary." The Athosian gave him a brilliant smile and kissed him on the cheek making him blush. "Tell us. What is your plan?"

Sheppard motioned them forward conspiratorially. "Here's what were going to do…"

*****

Rodney shuffled his feet as he walked back toward his lab. He still didn't know what had caused the argument with Jennifer. One minute they were having a nice romantic dinner and the next they were shouting at each other. He couldn't remember everything he'd said but didn't think it was anything unforgivable…at least he hoped not. What did it matter anyway? She wasn't speaking to him nor was he speaking to her.

His mind eased away from his misery and began working on his current research project. So engrossed in calculations was he that he didn't hear someone walk up behind him until it was too late. He started to turn but something was thrown over his head plunging him into darkness.

"What the…Ow!" He was poked in the ribs indicating that he should stop speaking so he did. A moment later he was lifted and flung over someone's shoulder. It made him nauseous to hang upside down so he began to complain. "L-L-Look, I don't know who you are or how you got into the city but you-ulp-won't get away with this. Do you know who I am? My friends will come looking for me and they won't take kindly to me being treated with such blatant disrespect. How did you get into Atlantis anyway? We have strict security protocols that, uhn…" Another poke in the ribs and he decided, to paraphrase William Shakespeare, that shutting up was preferable to being jabbed in the ribs.

It wasn't long until he heard the sound of a door whooshing open just before he was lowered and forced to sit on the floor. The sudden change in position made him lightheaded so he just sat there waiting for the vertigo to end.

He heard the door close and all was quiet. No, not completely quiet. He could hear harsh breathing close by. There was also a familiar scent in the air as well as that feeling he got when… "Jennifer?"

"Rodney! Oh, thank God it's you. Where are we? What's happening?"

Rodney battled his way out of the cloth covering his head to find himself in total darkness. He reached out in the direction he'd heard Jennifer's voice coming from and she gripped his hand like a lifeline. She felt around until her hands touched his shoulder and threw herself into his arms. He pulled her tight against his chest, the scent of fear rising between them.

"I don't know, Jennifer, but I'll get us out of this."

Her hand slid up to touch his face. "You will. I know it. I believe in you!"

"Y-Y-You do? Really?"

In spite of the frightening situation they found themselves in she chuckled softly. "Of course I do, silly. I could never love someone I didn't believe in and trust unconditionally."

"D-D-Did you just say…" Both hands cradled his face and he felt the warmth of her breath a moment before her lips touched his. "Wow! That feels like a yes."

"That is a hell yes!" They kept kissing until they'd completely forgotten about being trapped alone in the dark in an unknown location. "Oh, Rodney, I love you."

"I love you, too." He kissed her again as his hand slipped under the tail of her shirt to touch the skin of her back making her moan.

They pulled apart when a voice pierce the darkness. A very familiar male voice. "See? That is what a successful meddle looks like."

Another familiar voice, female this time, responded. "Yes, John. I see what you mean. Thank you for the demonstration. I will keep your advice in mind for the future."

*****

"Sheppard? Teyla? What is going on?" Rodney demanded. Jennifer pulled away and they climbed to their feet just as the lights came up. They blinked rapidly as their eyes adjusted to the increased brightness. Looking around, they found they'd been brought to one of the unused conference rooms.

In front of them stood Sheppard, Teyla, Ronon, Lorne and Zelenka. In Sheppard's hand was a tablet displaying an infrared view of the room in which they were standing.

His arm around Jennifer's shoulder, Rodney said, "Will someone please explain what is going on?"

Sheppard hesitated. "Uh, well, you see…"

"Never mind. I…we get it. You and the Snoop Squad," he gestured irritably at the others, "were meddling again. Have you completely forgotten what I threatened to do you if you didn't butt out?"

"Yes, Rodney, but I have no regrets. Just seeing you and Jennifer together tells me it was worth whatever you have planned. And it was all me. The others just came along for the ride."

"John is being noble. The truth is he did not get involved until the end. Before that, it was only the four of us, Evan, Radek, Ronon and me." She hung her head for a moment then moved in front of Rodney and Jennifer. "We only did it because we want the two of you to be happy."

"Well, it, uh," he looked down at Jennifer's face shining with love, "seems to have turned out much better than okay so…you're forgiven."

"And…" Jennifer prompted.

"I'll…remove…the programming that messes with your shower, John."

"And…"

He sighed and pulled her closer. "And…many thanks to all of you. It's, uh, good to have friends that care as much as you do."

The group exchanged smiles all around.

"Geez! That has to be some sort of record." Sheppard exclaimed waving his arms dramatically.

"Record? What do you mean, John?" They were all confused but only Teyla gave it voice.

"Yeah. A record. They're only together five minutes and she already has him whipped."

At the look in Rodney's eyes Sheppard said, "Oh, crap!" handed the tablet to Zelenka and ran from the room.

*****

Jennifer and Rodney stood outside his quarters kissing. Eventually, they came up for air, she said good-night and turned to leave. Rodney passed his hand over the censor and the door slid open.

"Uh, Rodney."

"Yeah?" He turned back to her but she was still facing away from him.

"I know you're not very good at this so…" He could hear the smile in her voice. "This is the part where you're supposed to invite me to spend the night."

"Oh, uh, well, I-I-I, um, would you, uh, like to…s-s-spend the night, uh, with me, here, in my, ahem, room?"

"Gee, I don't know. I'll have to think about it. Okay!" He jumped when she abruptly took him by the hand and dragged him into his quarters. Once inside she removed her headset, took his, dropped both in the desk drawer, and slammed it shut, effectively hanging out a "do not disturb" sign.

"May I take your jacket, Dr. Keller?" He eased the material down her arms, taking the opportunity to plant a kiss on her neck making her shiver.

She turned and pressed both hands to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he allowed himself to be pushed backward onto the bed taking her with him. She leaned down to kiss him and he rolled until he was looking down into her face.

"Mmm. I love you, Jennifer."

"And I love you. Now shut up and kiss me."

He did as she commanded then a thought popped into his head. "Uh, Jennifer, since we had that fight yesterday, can this be considered…make-up sex?"

Her brows came together in thought the she nodded enthusiastically. "Sure."

"Great! Now, where were we?"

Finis