A/N: Thank you for the comments. I think I have finally decided where I am going with this, but that also means it is nearing the end with probably just three or so chapters to go.
"Morning sunshine." Laura greeted as Jennifer opened her eyes.
"Laura?" Jennifer asked confused before bolting upright and asking. "The Colonel?"
"Easy." Laura said as Jennifer gingery touched her head. "The Colonel is fine, kind of. He came through surgery and will make a full recovery. It'll just make take a bit of time."
"How did I get here?" Jennifer asked relaxing back onto the bed.
"You fainted." Laura said. "Or in Rodney speak, you heroically collapsed from exhaustion. To be fair it was probably related to your head injury as well." She explained as Jennifer sat up again. "What are you doing?"
"Getting up."
"No. You are here for at least another twenty five hours on concussion watch." Laura said.
"Twenty five?" Jennifer asked.
"Forty eight less the time already spent here."
"I've been here twenty three hours?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes. Good news is you can still do math." Laura said. "If you want I can move your bed over to the far side."
"Why would I want that?"
"So you can be closer to the Colonel."
"I'm fine here." Jennifer said as Marie approached them.
"Dr Keller, you are awake." Marie smiled.
"Hi Marie." Jennifer smiled back. "How is Colonel Sheppard?"
"The pole didn't severe anything important so apart from blood loss didn't cause major problems. He does have three broken ribs and several soft tissue injuries. If he follows instructions he should be back on active duty in four to six weeks. But right now you are my patient and I need to run some tests." Marie said.
"I'll see you later." Laura said as she left.
-00-
"What are you doing?" Lorne asked the following day when he saw Jennifer dressed and standing.
"Leaving." Jennifer said.
"Shouldn't you be setting a good example and staying?" He asked.
"I've been cleared. I'm fine." Jennifer said as they heard raised voices from the far side of the infirmary.
"What's that?" Jennifer asked as Marie walked past.
"Colonel Sheppard." Marie said. "He's refusing to listen to Dr Tanaka."
"Already? It has only been two days." Jennifer said.
"Already." Marie confirmed.
Sighing Jennifer walked towards the commotion. As she arrived, the debate was getting further heated and she once again asked.
"What's going on?"
"The Colonel thinks he knows better." Dr Tanaka said. "He is refusing to follow the programme."
"Colonel you need to what Dr Tanaka is telling you." Jennifer said calmly.
"What I need is to get out of here. I don't need to be used as a human pin cushion. I don't need be be given this cocktail." He said waving a cup of pills. "And I don't need to follow these instructions. I know my body and what it is capable of." John said.
"What you need is to lie down and listen to people who are trying to help you." Jennifer said calmly.
"No offence you aren't even on duty and even if you were you aren't my doctor. You have no idea what I need."
"I trust Dr Tanaka's medical assessment." Jennifer said picking up the tablet and reading Tanaka's notes. "And if he says you need to stay in here for two weeks, that is what you need to do."
"What I need is to get out of here."
"You had major surgery less than forty eight hours ago. Before that you were pinned under a building. You aren't going anywhere. What you need is to rest and listen to my team."
"I don't need people with no real life experience to tell me what to do." John shot back.
"You done?" Jennifer asked calmly.
"No-" John started only for Jennifer to cut in.
"If you don't like the medical assessment provided by my team you do have options, well one actually. The Apollo arrives tomorrow. We can transfer you onboard, where you will receive care by their medical team until you arrive back on Earth."
"You are threatening to send me back to Earth?" John asked.
"I am giving you the option. If you want to grow up and stay here instead you are more than welcome." Jennifer argued as some of her team sniggered.
"Grow up? Me? You are barely out of college." He shot back.
"I'll sort out the paperwork for your transfer." She said walking away as other members of the infirmary staff stood round looking awkward.
"You're transferring him?" Lorne asked as she reached him.
"No. But hopefully the threat will calm him down. I'll see you later." Jennifer said.
-00-
"You okay?" Ronon asked as he saw Jennifer sitting in the mess hall the next day.
"I'm fine."
"I heard about Sheppard. He didn't mean it."
"I know. It's a natural response."
"So you're good."
"I'm good." Jennifer smiled.
"So you don't want me to punch him?" He asked. When Jennifer turned towards him wide eyed he added. "Just joking." As he walked away he added. "Kind of."
"What? Ronon wait!" Jennifer called, but he had already gone.
"You okay?" Lorne asked as he sat down opposite Jennifer.
"Yes."
"Yet you look concerned."
"Ronon offered to punch him." Jennifer said.
"Him?"
"Colonel Sheppard."
"Sounds like Ronon. Did you take him up on the offer?" Lorne asked.
"Of course not."
"Because you don't hold a grudge?"
"Grudges have nothing to do with it. Ronon shouldn't punch the colonel, especially when he is injured."
"Uh-huh, so why are you here and not in the infirmary?" Lorne asked.
"I am meant to be resting. And after the Colonel's outburst I started to think that maybe I needed to set a better example."
"So you are not avoiding the Colonel?" Lorne probed.
"No. Not exactly.
"That wasn't a denial."
"I think he might need time to cool down, I am not sure I really helped defuse the situation earlier. Telling to grow up wasn't exactly professional."
"Well technically you weren't on duty. Besides he stopped shouting at Tanaka, so I'd say you did a pretty good job." Lorne smiled. "But if you are not avoiding the Colonel, why have you asked to be put back on the roster?"
"I'm fully fit. There is no reason not to go on missions." Jennifer said.
"That's not what you normally say." Lorne pointed out.
"I'm just following your advice and trying to embrace the Pegasus experience." Jennifer shrugged.
-00-
"Teyla." John said when he saw his friend approach a couple of days later.
"John." She said slightly frostily.
"How are your people?"
"They are fine."
Recognising the disapproving tone he asked. "You heard?"
"About your temper tantrum? Yes."
"I wouldn't call it a tantrum." John said.
"Whatever you call it, have you apologised yet?"
"I've not seen her since. Which makes sense. I wouldn't want to see me either."
"Quite."
"Is she avoiding me?"
"She denies it."
"But?"
"Where do you think she is now?"
"Her quarters?"
"Off world."
"She went off world again?"
"Although not avoiding you exactly, she thought you'd prefer not to see her."
"I will deal with this." John said.
"Make sure you do."
TBC..