Disclaimer: Goes for the previous chapter too and future ones, obviously none of it except the OC's belong to me, unfortunately.
Poker night. Jessica wasn't look forward to the questions she knew were going to come up. The looks Cadman and Emily had been giving her at the medical training whenever she helped Reed were nothing short of obvious. Of course, she was being friendly with him, she was trying to teach him something, just like he helped teach her at the weapons training. It didn't mean she was into him or anything, because she wasn't.
She finished tying her hair up, staring at herself in the mirror. Her hair had thinned out a lot, though she was starting to get the baby fluff of regrowth around the edges. She thought she looked tired, but what was new, especially after the training this week and there was still extra hand to hand to be added next week since she had pulled double shifts and missed the last two.
Splashing some water over her face she straightened at the knock at the door.
Assuming it was Emily checking if she was ready Jessica shouted for them to come in. Hopping out of the bathroom still pulling a sock on, she stumbled when she saw the spiky haired Major leaning against her wall. His crossed arms made his t-shirt pull tight across his muscles and she couldn't stop her eyes flicking him over.
"O-oh, um, hi." She stammered, suddenly a little embarrassed by the fact her bed was still unmade from the morning and she had clothes on her floor. It wasn't overly messy, and she wasn't a messy person, just rushed today and much more aware of it with him in the room.
A small smirk played across his face, "Hey Jess." He drawled.
"Ah, what are you doing here?"
She hated how he seemed to be enjoying her unease, and she hated how uneasy she was. It should of been simple. He grew cold and distant so she should quite rightly, at the very least, dislike him. But physically she couldn't. She couldn't stop the flutters whenever she saw him, the way her breath quickened and her heart pounded. She wanted to hate him for not being around, but she couldn't.
He laughed, standing up from the wall and walking towards her, "Well actually, I was just checking up on the people doing the firearm training." His voice lowered, "Why? Why did you think I was here?"
Jessica gulped, this couldn't be happening, not again. She wouldn't do it again. Before she could respond the door opened and Emily barrelled in.
"Jessica, you better be ready, we've got to- oh. Oh! I didn't realize you had company," Emily raised her eyebrows, a smile playing across her lips.
"I don't," Jessica stammered, "I mean, I do, but he was just leaving."
She stepped forward, pushing Lorne towards the door, trying her darnedest to ignore the burning in her face and tingles that ran up her spine as she touched him.
Emily laughed, "Cause that's what it looked like. Anyway, we have to go, I'm sure we've got plenty to talk about at poker night."
Leaving Lorne looking a little lost in the corridor Jessica let Emily drag her away.
He hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable and couldn't help slipping back into the flirtatious teasing they used to do. Lorne still hadn't managed a full conversation with her since she arrived. Whenever he showed up she seemed to leave and it was beginning to frustrate him. He couldn't think of anything he'd done to make her avoid him, sure, back at the SGC they'd stopped talking, but she hadn't kicked up a fuss at the time.
He meandered back to his room, changing into clothes more comfortable for running. Going for a run always managed to clear his head.
Possibly it was just coincidence that they hadn't had time to talk. She had always been straight up with him before, he didn't see why she wouldn't be now. Unless. Unless she did have something going on with Reed, then maybe she was finding it awkward with him. And Reed wouldn't think anything of it, he didn't know there was history there.
Lorne considered asking Cadman. She was always in touch with the rumour mill. But then again, he didn't need any rumours starting about him asking after her either. Maybe he'd just have to find a way to have a conversation with her where she couldn't escape. It sounded much easier than it was going to be.
A soft knock at the door disturbed Jessica. Looking up from her paperwork she smiled at the tall man in the doorway.
"Reed, what can I do for you? Training isn't for another half an hour."
Walking forwards he fell into the chair opposite her and waved a sandwich in front of her, "I'm up to date with my paperwork and as far as I can tell Doctors aren't aware of a little thing called lunch." He shrugged, handing the sandwich over, "Thought I'd introduce you. Doc, meet lunch. Lunch, met Doc."
Jessica laughed. Reed was right. Lunch rarely happened, if it did, she was unlikely to be sitting down for it. Often it was a matter of running to the mess hall, grabbing an apple and eating it on the way back. Thanking him, they ate their lunch with little conversation until they were done.
They got back to talking though Jessica was uncomfortably aware of how soon the training was. Which also meant Emily and Cadman would be turning up soon. They were convinced she had a thing for Reed, making that blatantly clear at the Poker night with their continuous questions about him. But she wasn't interested in him, and didn't think that he was interested in her. She just enjoyed his company, steady and dependable, friendly and made her feel welcome. He was quickly starting to become a good friend.
Medical training had gone without a hitch, not counting the looks from the girls whenever Reed made her laugh. Now, Jessica dragged her feet as she approached the main gym. Her least favourite part of the week. Hand to hand combat training. There was thirteen of them in the class, mostly scientists, and half female. Inwardly groaning she remembered how the women had fawned over Ronon. Oh Ronon, I need help with this. Ronon, can you show me this one again. It made Jessica cringe. She was the last one there, trudging in, eyes down.
"Nice of you to join us, Dr. Allen."
Her head shot up as she saw who spoke. Colonel Sheppard was standing beside Ronon, a twinkle in his eye. She apologized quickly, though she didn't think she was that late.
As everyone paired up preparing to go through the pattern they'd learnt last week Jessica was left awkwardly standing to the side. She had no idea what to do. Working double shifts meant she hadn't made the last lessons. Ronon began to approach her and her body went stiff under his scrutinizing graze.
"Copy me." He spoke gruffly before quickly going through the motions.
Clumsily she tried to follow along. Again and again, they went over the moves. Jessica inwardly cursed, she just couldn't get it right. Her body was tense and jerky. Jumping a little as he readjusted her leg she wiped her sweaty palms on her top. She just needed to concentrate on the moves she had to do.
Again, she tried to follow along, copying him but it just wasn't working. Sheppard had wandered over from supervising the others to check on the progress. Ronon tried to adjust Jessica's position again but she froze when his hands grabbed her shoulders.
"Ronon," Sheppard called, watching Jessica's face whiten, "Go watch the others."
With a quick glance between the two, Ronon strolled off. Jessica's shoulders drooped a little and she tried to roll the tension out of them.
"I'm sorry, I'm not very good at this stuff..." She waved her hand awkwardly. She should be good at this. She used to be good at this. She should be able to remember it and do it.
Sheppard smiled softly at her, "Come on. We're going to the smaller gym."
Confused Jessica nodded and silently followed him across the corridor to the smaller room. It was often used for sparring so mats were permanently laid out on the floor beside the benches. Thankfully it was empty.
Turning to her Sheppard met her eye, "Right, you're going to meet me here before breakfast every morning. We're going to get you up to speed so you can start going off world. Also, you'll probably have to wear something lighter," he tugged the sleeve of her long top, "You're going to get too hot in this."
Jessica automatically shook her head, "I-"
"Doc," Sheppard interrupt, "remember, I've read your file. All of it. And it's only me here. There's no judgement."
After a moment she gave a quick nod. He was right no matter how much she didn't like the idea of it.
"Alright. Let's see what you got."
It took her moment to realize what he meant but she couldn't miss the fist flying towards her and jumped out of the way. Next his foot came up and she avoided it again. Then the elbow towards her head, she threw up her forearm to deflect it. Sheppard continued throwing hits her way and she constantly dodged and deflected them. He was right though, she was getting hot with all the dancing around.
Before long he stopped and threw a drink bottle at her before taking one himself. After a quick drink he eyed her up again, "You're good at evasion. But you can't rely on that. You're gonna meet things out there you can't possibly imagine. You need to fight back. The best defense is a good offense. Plus, don't you wish you could just whack him one? Pretend I'm him."
Instantly her face went dark while her eyes traced the mats on the floor. Her mouth sat in a tense line and her hand clenched the bottle tightly.
Sheppard grimaced, knowing almost immediately it had been the wrong thing to say, "Sorry Doc, that was-"
"True," Jessica interrupted bitterly, "You were being truthful." She didn't add that at the start she had done exactly that, she had fought back, but it just made it worse. When you're unpracticed trying to fight a raging drunk the size of Ronon, there wasn't a lot that could be done.
"We'll work on some punches then call it quits for the night. But I want you back here in the morning." Sheppard tried to break the awkward silence.
Jessica merely nodded and followed the instructions, mouth in a firm line but a new dark determination shining in her eyes.
Sheppard looked up from his paperwork at the knock on the door. His XO stood there, casually leaning against the door frame, though his face betrayed a little nervousness. It had taken time but since Lorne's arrival in Atlantis Sheppard had slowly encouraged him to be more relaxed with him and not jumping to attention every time he walked in the room. It was a slow process but they were getting there.
"What can I do for you, Major?" He asked, wondering what could be making him nervous.
"I've passed Dr. Allen on firearm training, sir. I was hoping, once she's passed her hand to hand, if she could be temporarily assigned to my team while she gets used to going off world." He stood straight as he talked though his hands constantly moved.
"Why?" Sheppard met his eye. He had no issue with it, as long as there was logical reasoning.
"Her and Reed seemed to have developed quite a good relationship which I think will be beneficial for when she goes off world. And honestly sir, she'd be better than Dr. Adams."
Suppressing his laughter Sheppard nodded, "Her hand to hand is up to scratch. I was going to tell her at our session tomorrow. I'll assign her to your team, and shift Adams elsewhere. I'll tell her in the morning. Unless you wanted to?"
Lorne shook his head, he could see that conversation going down like a lead balloon, "I'll leave that in your capable hands, sir."
The next morning's training session went well. Jessica had come a long way in the week that Sheppard had been helping her. Then again, it was always easier to train someone who merely needed to remember it rather than learn it new.
Sitting down with their drinks after they had finished Sheppard casually started the conversation, "You're all set now."
Jessica looked at him sideways, "I can go off world?" She asked gleefully.
The Colonel nodded, setting his drinking down, "You're officially on off world duty. I've assigned you to Major Lorne's team for the time being but you'll be rotated as needed through the other teams too."
Jessica took a moment to close her mouth which had fallen open. Joining Major Lorne's team, as if her luck could be any worse. Quickly she thought about the email she exchanged with friends back on Earth during the weekly data bursts. She didn't have to like him, or be friends with him, she just had to work with him. And she would do that, she would be professional and unbiased. She could do that. She hoped.
"But I suggest you continue training at least twice a week. There's someone in the gym more often than not. We don't want you forgetting it again." Sheppard finished.
"I'll make sure I do. Thank you, Colonel, for doing my training."
He shrugged, "Trust me, the quicker we got you up to speed the happier everyone is."
Laughing Jessica agreed. Some of the medical staff were great doctors and while they were generally competent in the field, they had an attitude to rival Kavanagh when off world.
A/N Thanks for reading again! Please review, let me know how it's going if you like it or not!