A/N: I know there are about a ka-gillion of these stories out there, but I wanted to add mine to the mix. It's a little different, and definitely not canon to the original episode, so turn back now if you don't like deviations. I might write about their reunion if I get any interest, which would definitely bump this up to an M.
I love reviews and favorites!
While spending some much needed time on Earth, Doctor Rodney McKay had asked Doctor Jennifer Keller to accompany him to a scientific presentation given by one of Rodney's rivals, Malcolm Tunney. The invitation boast huge advancements to the scientific community, but the resident geniuses of Atlantis found themselves rather unimpressed. What the scientist on Earth were coming up with was nothing in comparison to what they had found, and were still finding in Atlantis.
Jennifer was a little star struck when she got to meet Bill Nye and Neil Degrasse Tyson, much to Rodney's dismay. It didn't help that is was those same men that insinuated that Rodney was paying the beautiful young Doctor to accompany him, but Jennifer quickly shut them down and linked her arm through his. Overall it was a very enjoyable night, plus the two department heads got to see each other dressed up, which is something they both secretly enjoyed.
They returned to the SGC after being picked up at the airport, both dwelling on the fact that they would be parting the following day to see their respective families. Both of them hoped this little outing would be what they needed to push their relationship to the next level, but they were each too nervous to be the one to take the next step. Their conversation was easy, as it normally was when they were together, and anyone looking in from the outside might assume they were together anyway.
"Well, here I am." Jennifer motioned to the door of her temporary quarters. "Thank you for inviting me to join you this evening Rodney, I actually had a very good time." Jennifer offered him a warm smile.
"I should be thanking you. Today would have been a lot less bearable without your company." As normal when he was around her, Rodney spoke before thinking, and instantly wanted to stick his foot in his mouth.
A light blushed warmed Jennifer's cheeks as she smiled at his slip. "I'm glad I could help make it a more enjoyable evening." There was a mischievous look in her eyes, thinking of ways that it could be more enjoyable.
"Yes. Um. Well, good night." Rodney nervously shifted and started to wring his hands together. She knew his tells.
"Good night Rodney." Jennifer reached out for his arm and stood on her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on his cheek. She slowly returned herself to a neutral position, hoping he would take her hint. Instead he had a dazed look in his eyes and a small smile tugged at one side of his lips.
Jennifer turned to unlock her door and Rodney turned to walk down the hall, not wanting to make a bigger fool of himself. Sadly, Jennifer turned to look at him, knowing that he would never make the first move like she wanted. Could she be brave enough to do it? She had never been very forward with a man before, but Rodney was making her stretch her comfort level.
"Rodney?" Jennifer wasn't sure what compelled her to call out to him, but she knew she wasn't ready to say goodbye.
The physicist turned to face the pretty physician with hope glowing from his eyes. "Yes, Jennifer?"
Jennifer paused for a moment, but before she could ask what she really wanted, the butterflies in her stomach got ahold of her and she lost all of her bravery. "Do you want to grab breakfast tomorrow before you head off to Jeannie's?"
The small smile tugged at his lips again. "I would."
"Um, my flight to Chippewa Falls leaves pretty early. Do you mind if we meet up around 7:30?" Jennifer blushed and felt bad, taking away one of his few chances for him to sleep just so she could spend a little more time with him before they had to separate.
"I'm sure I'll be up by then, my jet lag is pretty bad from one galaxy to the next." This time he gave her a full smile, one that was usually only reserved for her.
Rodney's smile was rewarded with a small giggle from the blonde, one of his own favorite sounds. "Perfect, I'll see you then."
"See you then." Rodney was in a daze. He didn't think this woman had any idea what she did to him. As he watched her walk into her temporary quarters and close the door, he let his mind wander to a place he rarely let it; hope. Hope that she might return his feels, hope that he may one day be able to hold her in his arms, hope that one day he could call her his own. The usually grumpy genius turned to walk the short distance to his room with a big smile on his face. Their short time together would definitely be enough to inspire his dreams while he was away from her.
Inside her room, Jennifer was not quite as content. She leaned against the door and sighed, frustrated with both herself for chickening out, and at Rodney for not having the nerve to make the first move himself. She let out a sigh as she pushed off the door and further into her room. She discarded the dress that she had carefully chosen to try and get Rodney's attention and dug through her suitcase for her pjs. She pulled on her oversized Harvard Medicine t-shirt and her black and yellow Batman pants and attempted to distract herself by re-packing her suitcase. It wasn't helping much as she caught sight of the one pair of lacy underwear she had packed, in hopes of having someone besides her see her underwear.
Jennifer picked up the offending garment, glaring at it momentarily, before tossing it back in her bag and heading for the door. "That is it!" The blonde pulled her door shut behind her as she stalked down the hall towards the only man who could cause her such a wild array of emotions.
Jennifer stopped in front of his door, took a deep breath and put her fist to the door. "Rodney!" She called out, not giving him the chance to ignore her.
Rodney was started by the sudden pounding on his door. Thinking there was some kind of emergency, he rushed over and answered it as quickly as possible.
He was shocked to see Jennifer on the other side of the door, and she did not look happy. "Jennifer? What..." He was cut off by her rushing past him into his quarters.
"Rodney, I'm getting really sick and tired of this." She was pacing around his room; a trait she has picked up from him.
But Rodney was silent. The normally talkative scientist was speechless, thanks to Jennifer's little outburst and her appearance. This was the first time he had seen her in her pajamas, and it didn't go unnoticed by him that her pants had the insignia of his favorite superhero.
Not getting a response, Jennifer tried again. "I'm done playing this silly little game of ours." She looked him in the eyes for the first time since entering the room.
"Wha...What game?" He wasn't sure he liked where this was going.
"Rodney, do you like me or not?" Maybe she would get the answers she wanted if she was a little more straightforward.
"Of course I like you. You are one of my closest friends." He hoped that was the answer she was looking for, he wasn't sure his heart was ready to tell her the truth.
"That's not what I mean Rodney." Jennifer pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to think of a new tactic. She thought of one, but it was going to sting a little. She looked at him again and softened her expression. "Rodney, do you remember anything from your Second Childhood?"
The way his eyes widened temporarily told her she had pushed the right buttons.
"S-s-some of it. Why?" Suddenly the overactive mind of the scientist when blank, not giving him any help on how to deal with his current interrogations.
Jennifer took a few tentative steps toward him, as if he were a stray dog who could bolt at any time. "Do you remember what you said to me on Day 6?" She was right in front of him now, toe to toe and looking deep in his eyes.
"Day 6? I-I I d-don't really know which day was which I mean...Day 6, day 10, it's -it's all kind of one big blur." Rodney was flailing his hands, trying to get his brain to catch of with his ramblings.
"Rodney..." Jennifer coaxed, placing a hand on his chest where she could feel how fast his heart was beating.
There was a long pause, and it felt like the time around them had stopped. Rodney searched her eyes, trying to find some glimmer of understanding of why she wanted this from him. But being the somewhat clueless man he could be when it came to relationships and feelings, he found none. Slowly he closed his eyes and turned away from her, not sure he could take reading her expression. "That was the day I told you that I loved you."
Jennifer could see the pain throughout his features. He had no confidence in himself, or in her not breaking his heart. "Did you mean it?" She had to be sure.
He turned on his heels to face her, and she could see the hope written on his face. "Of course I did Jen, I could never make something like that up."
"I just had to be sure it wasn't the parasite speaking." Jennifer stepped up to him again and placed hand on his cheek. "I love you too Rodney, I have for some time now. I just didn't want to push you into something you didn't want."
Rodney couldn't believe she could think he didn't want her. She was the most amazing woman he had ever met; both stunning and brilliant; his perfect woman in every way. He didn't have the words to explain to her how much he wanted her in every way, so he let his actions speak for him.
Hesitantly, Rodney leaned forward and claimed her lips with his own. As soft and tender as the kiss was, it lit a fire within their souls that was anything but gentle. It felt like coming home, like this is where they should have been a long time ago. Rodney pulled Jennifer against him, sending an electric shock through his whole body. A soft moan escaped Jennifer's throat and Rodney knew he could listen to her moan for the rest of his life.
Rodney also knew that he needed to catch his breath, because this was neither the time or place to follow through with where his body wanted to go. Carefully, he pulled away from her, leaving his arms around her, afraid to let her go.
"I've never wanted anything more." His words were barely above a whisper, but Jennifer could clearly hear the truth and understanding that rang in those five words.
This time it was her turn to initiate the kiss. She was so overwhelmed by emotion that the only thing she was sure of is that she never wanted him to let go of her. Finally being able to tell Rodney how she felt, finally knowing that he truly loved her was more than enough for her to die a happy woman; though she thanked any divine deity that would listen for letting her live so that she could continue to kiss the man of her dreams.
Her arms tightly wrapped around his neck and she stood on her tiptoes in an effort to get closer to him. Her closeness caused him to moan and his hands slipped unconsciously over the curves of her of her bottom and pulled her against him. It was then that they both became painfully aware of the bulge in his pants. At the sound of her quick intake, Rodney quickly released her and took a small step back from the beautiful woman before him.
"I'm sorry. I may have gotten a little carried away." The blush on his face was deep, though whether it be from their kiss or his embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
Jennifer offered him a gentle smile and reached out for one of his hands with one of hers. She slowly started to walk towards his bed, pulling him with her.
"Jennifer? Y-you don't… I m-m-mean we don't… th-that's not what I…" Jennifer placed a finger to his lips to save him from himself.
"That wasn't what I had in mind. Tonight, I just want to fall asleep in the arms of the man I love before I have to be away from him for two weeks." Jennifer sat down on his bed, still holding his hand and hoping he would let her stay.
A smile spread across Rodney's face; one that most people never saw, a genuine one. "I think I can make that happen." He sat down next to her and placed a chastised kiss on her shoulder.
Jennifer twisted around to pull down the bedding and slid to the far side of the bed. Once she was settled, Rodney slid in behind her and pulled her to him.
"I'm still convinced this is all a dream, and if so, I don't want to wake up." He kissed at her shoulder again, memorizing how it felt to have her in his arms.
"If it's a dream, then we both are dreaming, which is never a good thing where we come from. So I'm happy that it's reality." She softly giggled and cuddled into him more.
Rodney could feel the sleep overcoming him, as he allowed himself to relax for the first time in a long time. He didn't want to sleep because he knew that meant that they would be leaving each other that much sooner. But he figured he could handle it if she could.
"I love you Jennifer." Rodney mumbled, barely awake.
"I love you too Rodney." Her response was just as sleepy, and they we happy just to fall asleep in each others arms.