A/N: After a bit of prodding from Vana1970 I have decided to continue this story. I don't know where it is going exactly or how long it will be, but will be light hearted.
"Hey doc." Lorne greeted as he approached her in the infirmary.
"Major." Jennifer replied turning round looking for signs of injury.
"Relax. I am not hurt."
"Is there a mission?" Jennifer asked paling.
"No. And you need to relax." Lorne chuckled.
"If there isn't a problem why are you here?"
"Firstly, can't I want to visit my friend?"
"You can, but not when you are on duty, which you are now. So if there is no problem, why are you here?"
"Technically I didn't say there wasn't a problem." Lorne said.
"Why are you here?" Jennifer repeated.
"Your absence from the mess hall has been noted. So I am here to drag you from the infirmary."
"I'm busy."
"No you're not." Lorne said looking round. "And you need to rest. If you don't, when we do need you, you won't do any good." Seeing Jennifer was going to keep arguing he went on. "If you want I can get Woolsey or the Colonel to order it."
"Fine." Jennifer said. "I'll take a break. But I don't need to eat."
"And you call yourself a doctor." Lorne said shaking his head in an exaggerated manner.
"I meant I'm not hungry."
"You're cute when you lie." He grinned. "But I thought you'd say that so I have brought food with me." He said holding up a bag. "Come on. Let's go." He said.
-00-
"So who are you avoiding?" Lorne asked as they walked along an empty corridor.
"You really have to ask?" Jennifer asked before frowning and asking. "Are there multiple people I should be avoiding."
"I don't know. Are there?" Lorne asked.
"Don't play innocent." Jennifer warned.
"Why don't you tell me who you are avoiding and I will add to the list if I think you are missing anyone." Lorne offered.
"Or we could just not talk about this and go for a walk in silence."
"Sure." Lorne agreed.
"Really?" Jennifer asked.
"Of course not." Lorne said.
"You're mean." Jennifer said.
"It's for your own good. You can't avoid them forever."
"I can try."
"And when they end up in the infirmary what then?"
"I don't know. I let the hole of humiliation swallow me up."
"Slightly overdramatic." Lorne said.
"No it's not. How can I face him?"
"Him?" Lorne asked.
"Don't play dumb. You know I am talking about Sheppard."
"Ah, the infamous kiss." Lorne said.
"You are enjoying this a bit too much." Jennifer said.
"If that were the case I would be pointing out you are missing two people off your list to avoid."
"I was hoping if they didn't see me for awhile they would lose interest."
"Your optimism is endearing, but completely misplaced." Lorne said. "If it makes you feel better they are focusing their efforts on glaring at the Colonel."
"Why would that make me feel better?" Jennifer asked feeling guilty.
-00-
As John walked down a corridor he saw Jennifer jog off into the distance. Calling after her he got no response so he started to chase after her.
"Doc." He called again placing a hand in her shoulder.
Screaming Jennifer spun round to face her attacker only to trip over her own feet and fall backwards.
"Doc." John called again as he tried to catch her only for both of them to end up in a heap on the floor.
"Colonel." Jennifer said as she lay on her back, trying to get her breathing under control.
"Sorry doc. Didn't mean to scare you." He said getting to his feet and offering Jennifer a hand.
Noticing how much Jennifer's hand was shaking as he took it, he guiltily added.
"I did call."
"I was listening to music." Jennifer said as John hauled her to her feet.
When John saw her wince he asked. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I just went over on my ankle. It'll be fine."
"Let's get you to the infirmary." He said hooking her arm over his shoulder and taking her weight.
"Really I'm fine."
"You're limping." John said. "If you'd prefer I could carry you."
"I can walk." Jennifer said quickly.
"Okay then." John said guiding her back to the infirmary. "Now, you are stuck with me I was hoping we could clear the air."
"I'd like that." Jennifer said. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" John asked confused.
"About what happened on the planet."
"The planet?" John asked. "You mean where you helped me in the fight? Why are you apologising for that."
"I think you mean the planet where I saved your life." Jennifer corrected.
"I could have taken him."
"No you couldn't." Jennifer said shaking her head. "But anyway I'm sorry. I was completely unprofessional."
"For saving my life?" John asked confused.
"No. Of course not. That's kind of my job."
"Then what are you sorry for."
"Kissing you." Glad that the dimmed lighting would hide her redness.
"I'm lost." John said. "It was a great diversion and allowed you to tell me the plan without raising suspicions."
"I shouldn't have done it." Jennifer said.
"Doc. It was a good plan." John said.
"But now Ronon and Rodney are mad at you."
"You know about that?"
"If by that you mean their conversation, then yes."
"How?"
"It was overheard and people gossip. A lot of the time they don't pay attention to their surroundings and don't notice I'm there." Jennifer explained.
"Right." John said not knowing what to say.
"The truth is I thought if I kissed you, Ronon and Rodney would back off. I didn't think they'd take it out on you."
"You are far more sneaky than I realised." John commented. "Not meaning to ask the obvious, have you just told them to back off?"
"I tried." Jennifer sighed as they entered the infirmary.
"What happened?" Marie asked.
"I tripped jogging. It's nothing. The Colonel wanted a second opinion though."
"I've got it from here." Marie said to John who felt like he was being dismissed.
-00-
"You're friends with the doc right?" John asked the next day as he sat opposite Lorne who was trying to complete John's paperwork.
"Yes Sir."
"And she tells you things?"
"Like how you scared her half to death last night?"
"It was an accident."
"She said that as well. She also denied you were responsible for her ankle." Lorne said.
"Good. But I kind of was. But it was good."
"Knocking her to the floor was good?" Lorne asked with a raised eyebrow.
"After that. We talked and cleared the air. But she did say something that worried me."
"What's that?"
"That she is bothered by Ronon and Rodney."
"Have they done something?" Lorne asked tensing.
"No. Not exactly. But she did say she had told them to back off and clearly they haven't."
"Both of them have big egos in their own way. They probably think she is too shy to confess her feelings." Lorne said. "You could tell them to back off."
"I will, but I am not sure that will help. I mean they never listen to me. But I think I have a way to get them to back off."
"What's that?" Lorne asked.
"For the doc to have a boyfriend."
"While technically true, one of the reasons she isn't interest in either Ronon or McKay is because she doesn't want a boyfriend." Lorne pointed out.
"I wasn't suggesting a real boyfriend."
"You want to set Jennifer up with an imaginary boyfriend?" Lorne asked.
"I was thinking more a fake boyfriend."
"Good luck finding anyone stupid enough to upset Ronon and McKay." Lorne said.
"So you don't want to?" John suggested.
"No. And before you think about making that an order, it would completely cross the line."
"So a no then?" John asked.
"A no." Lorne confirmed. "But, assuming Jennifer went for it. Which I don't think she would. But say she did. I can think of someone here who has nothing to lose as Ronon and McKay are already mad with them." Lorne said.
"Zelenka?" John asked after a moment.
"No. You." Lorne said. "After all, you have already shared a kiss in public."
-00-
"Hey doc." John said as he entered the infirmary where Jennifer was working alone, staring at a computer. Getting no reaction he called again. "Doc?" Again getting no response he moved closer and held out his arms just in case she fell of her chair. "Doc." He then said louder. This time Jennifer spun round.
"Colonel? What are you doing?" She asked seeing his arms out stretched.
"You were ignoring me and I wanted to make sure you didn't fall off your chair." He said.
"Thanks. I think." Jennifer replied before looking for injuries. "Why are you here?"
"I want to go on a date with you." John said.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" Jennifer asked.
"Hear me out." John said. "You want Ronon and Rodney to back off. And the best way for that to happen is for them to think you are already taken. So we pretend to date."
"Have you hit your head in training?" Jennifer asked.
"I am the best choice as they are already mad at me. All we have to do is share a few meals and everyone will buy it. Most importantly Ronon and Rodney will believe it and will leave you peace. Unless of course that isn't what you want." John went on ignoring Jennifer's question.
"And what do you get out of it?"
"Firstly, it is a thank you for saving my life. Secondly it might make Rodney and Ronon concentrate on their jobs which is safer for everyone. Plus maybe the new batch of civilians will leave me alone. It's win win … win. So what do you say?" He asked just as the alarms started.
-TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading.