Jessica ran down the stairs three at a time, heading to the crew quarters atrium to meet Cadman for their morning run. She'd slept through her alarm, only waking when the sun glared in the room. Thankfully the days were long at the moment with the sun rising early so she still had time to squeeze in a run before breakfast.

Cadman was stretching against the wall when she arrived, "I was beginning to think you'd never show."

Jessica shrugged as they started to jog down the corridor, "I slept through my alarm. If the sun wasn't up I wouldn't be here."

After jogging in silence for a while Cadman glanced at Jessica, "So...?"

"So what?" Jessica asked, wondering what Cadman was hinting towards.

"What'd you do to piss off the Major?"

Jessica stopped running, taking a moment to stare out the window as she stretched and admired the view, "Who said I did anything?"

"Well he's been, not himself, constantly in the gym. He's been avoiding you, not the other way around." She chuckled, "And a technician may have heard him shouting in the jumper bay. Didn't even know that man could shout like that."

They began jogging again as Jessica answered, "I may have disregarded what he said." She paused, "While we were under fire. And, went off by myself." When she said it like that, it did sound rather idiotic.

"You're an idiot." Cadman shook her head, "No wonder he's mad at you."

"Hello, Doctor here remember. Patients are priority. I was fully capable of handling myself. Anyway we've got training in an hour and I still need to shower and breakfast else you're gonna have a grumpy instructor."

Saying goodbye to each other Jessica jogged back to her room, having a quick shower before heading to breakfast. Her mind whirring over the fact the whole base probably now knew about their jumper bay spat.

The mess hall was busy, everyone grabbing food before starting their work day. Hesitantly Jessica sat at the table with Lorne, Reed and Coughlin. Almost immediately Lorne finished his food and left the table. Jessica didn't know why she was surprised, though she had thought Laura had been exaggerating about the Major avoiding her. Jessica hadn't noticed anything different, but apparently Cadman had been right.

"I've never seen him so pissed before." Reed commented.

"You should talk to him." Coughlin added.

Jessica finished her mouthful, shaking her head, "Cause that'll go so much better than the last conversation."

Reed and Coughlin exchanged looks, they'd both heard about the shouting match in the jumper bay. Coughlin shrugged, finishing his food and giving Reed a pointed look, silently telling him to deal with it, before leaving to do mission reports. Reed leaned back in his seat crossing his arms. Jessica raised an eyebrow at him.

"Coughlin's right." He said plainly.

"That's the annoying thing. He's not often wrong." Jessica muttered back.

"So..."

"So what?"

"So go and talk to him." Reed said standing up.

Grumbling Jessica put her tray away, joining Reed as they left the mess hall, heading for the infirmary, "Fine. Fine. I'll talk to him. After training. Come on, let's see if you can pass first aid."

Jessica took the longest route she knew to get to Lorne's office after the first aid training. She almost turned back multiple times. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to him, though if she was honest, she sort of didn't. It was more that she knew talking to him involved apologizing and she was terrible at apologies. Coughlin and Reed were both right though, she needed to talk to him, even if it was just to stop the flow of people ending up in the infirmary from sparring with him. It was purely self preservation and reducing the patient numbers, it had absolutely nothing to do with how uncomfortable it was being around him and how, almost desperately, she wanted them to go back to that civil borderline friendly relationship that established. At least, that's what she told herself.

She almost turned around again when she arrived at his office and saw him talking to Colonel Sheppard. Before she could though, they spotted her standing there.

"Dr. Allen." Lorne said coolly, "Can I help?"

Her eyes flicked between the two men, "Um, I was just, ah, wondering if I could have a word?"

Sheppard jumped up off the chair, a little too eagerly, "He's all yours, Doc. I was just leaving."

Lorne watched quietly as Sheppard ran out the door and Jessica took his seat. They sat in silence, watching each other and waiting for the other to speak.

Eventually Lorne sighed and spoke, "Yes?"

"Sorry!" Jessica blurted out before falling silent again.

Lorne bit back the chuckle that almost escaped. He was mad at her, he reminded himself, but he also missed her. He just wasn't going to be the first to talk, he could be stubborn too. He raised an eyebrow, "For? Doc, your apologies are like pulling teeth, just spit it out."

Jessica rubbed a hand over her face, hating how right he was, "Fine, fine. I'm sorry for ignoring your orders, Major. Happy now? You can stop being annoyed at everything."

He looked slightly taken aback, "You think that's what I'm pissed about? That you disregarded my orders?"

"Is it not?"

"Geezus, no! Well, yes it's frustrating but no. Jess, you could have died. Yes you're ex military, yes you can take care of yourself but we're a team, we watch each other's backs, not go running off by ourselves." He stopped, looking her in the eye and lowering his voice, "I was worried about you."

She dropped her eyes as it finally sunk in why he'd gotten so worked about it, "I, I'm sorry Major. That wasn't my intention."

"I know. I know it wasn't. You were worried about your patient. But you've got to see the bigger picture."

She nodded, automatically replying, "Yes sir." Before pausing and adding, "Also, I've passed Reed for his first aid, and I believe you're up to date. So I'm no longer required on your team."

The turn of conversation caught Lorne by surprise. He knew it was coming when they didn't need her on the team but he'd gotten so use to her being there he started to forget it was temporary.

"We'll still be accompanying you to M3X-592." He commented as they returned to the professional relationship.

She nodded remembering the mission that was scheduled for next week, "That's right. The off world clinic. Well, I promise I'll be on my best behaviour."

"Yes, yes you will." He smiled.

Reed looked up as he heard the Doctors voice wobble, almost sounding like she was about to cry as she explained to the pregnant woman that the baby had died while still inside. As the woman slowly walked off, crying in the arms of her husband, Reed gently placed a hand on Jessica's shoulder. It was never easy being the bearer of bad news.

Jessica hung her head, rapidly blinking the hot tears away. Taking a deep breath she was grateful for the hand on her shoulder, steadying her. Reed didn't know what she had been through but even he could see how much it effected her.

"Time for a break, Doc." He murmured to her.

She shook her head, wanting to keep working, it was a good distraction.

"No arguments." Reed whispered before looking at the waiting villagers, "The Doctor will be back shortly," he informed them as he gently grabbed her arms and pulled her up, "Come on, let's go join the others, grab a bite to eat, then you can come back a bit more refreshed."

Silently she let him lead her away, knowing he was right. She needed a moment to gather herself and honestly, food sounded good. As if in agreement her stomach gave a loud grumble causing them both to chuckle. Yes, food was a good idea.

A warm breeze rustled through the small camp Lorne and Coughlin had set up just outside the village. Sun streamed into the clearing as they sat to eat some lunch. Coughlin handed Jessica a sandwich, asking how the clinic had gone.

"Same shit, different day," she grumped, her mouth half fill.

Lorne raised an eyebrow at her, surprised at the tone in her voice, "That bad huh?"

Jessica looked away, taking a deep breath to steady herself, "I'm gonna take a walk." She didn't want to sit around talking about the clinic, about the poor mother who wouldn't get to hold her child, the grandfather whose lungs were failing, she didn't want to talk about their poor health and her helplessness when she knew there was nothing she could do.

"Reed will go with you." Lorne said quickly, not wanting her to go off by herself.

She met his eyes, a touch surprised at the obvious concern she could see in them, "I'll be fine, won't go far."

"It wasn't a request."

That was final. She sighed as she stood. There was no point arguing with him, nor did she want to, not after the dressing down she got from the higher ups last time she ignored him. She wasn't about to repeat that experience and risk her ability to go off world. Turning she looked at Reed then walked off, he'd catch up.

Before Reed followed her he looked at his team, "She'd just told a pregnant woman her baby died before I told her to take a break. It's hit her hard."

Nodding, Lorne looked up at Reed, "Look after her." If he couldn't look after her himself at least someone he trusted could.

"Yes, sir."

Jessica heard the footsteps behind her, Reed wasn't trying to be quiet. She sighed, still annoyed at Major Lorne. She understood why he sent Reed with her, but she had really wanted to be alone.

"You didn't have to come. I am fine." She said as he fell into step beside her.

He held his hands up innocently, "Majors orders. You won't even know I'm here."

A half smile graced her lips. She'd gotten to know Reed quite well, thinking of him almost as a big brother. He had a steadying presence that kept a person grounded.

They walked along in a comfortable silence, though Jessica felt the need to apologize, "Sorry about being a grump."

Reed chuckled, "If that's you grumpy then I'll take it. Trust me, I've seen much worse. But, no apologies needed," he paused briefly, unsure of whether to continue, "That last patient hit you pretty hard."

Jessica stayed quiet for a little, staring at the ground as they walked through the forest, "It's never easy delivering bad news, especially when it involves kids. It's not something you ever get used to."

"No, no I can't imagine-"

Jessica turned as Reed cut off mid sentence. His eyes were wide and a hand on his neck. Small green feathers stuck out between his fingers. Jumping forward Jessica tried but failed to grab him before he hit the ground.

"Reed? Reed!"

She fell on her knees beside him. His hand had fallen away from his neck revealing a small dart embedded there. Quickly Jessica yanked it out and checked his pulse, still there, breathing was fine, but she had to tell the others. Radio. Reed had his radio on his vest. Just as she pushed down the button she felt something bite into her neck.

As if in slow motion she tilted to the side, her hand flew to the dart, trying to pull it out, to lessen the impact of whatever it was. The trees started to blur as the forest turned sideways. Booted feet crunched on the leaves, stomping towards her. One pair of boots was particularly dirty as if they'd trekked through a swamp to get there.

"Take him too," Muddy Boots spoke gruffly, "He may be useful."

The world turned black and Jessica lost the fight for consciousness.