A/N: Thank you for the comments.
Bobbi- I hope the Covid situation is improving. There won't be much more of this, maybe just one or two chapters. But hopefully it'll end the way you want.
"Morning doc." John smiled as he entered the infirmary.
"Colonel." She replied.
"You ready for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" Jennifer asked confused.
"The mission."
"With you?" Jennifer asked.
"Assuming Tanaka signs me off." John said.
"Aren't I banned from missions with you?"
"You were, but then you dumped me." John reminded her.
"But now we are officially fake dating."
"We are going on one date, which everyone knows is fake. Hence no restrictions. Besides we need to get back into the groove." John said.
"What groove?"
"The groove where you are not avoiding me. Otherwise Rals will never believe we are dating."
"And you want to get back into the groove by going on a mission?" Jennifer asking.
"Yes."
"Shouldn't I be relaxed to get into the groove?"
"Yes."
"So how will going on a mission help?"
"Missions are fun." John said.
"You and I have very different feelings about missions and fun." Jennifer said.
"Relax, we'll look after you." John said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
-00-
"Hey doc. Welcome back to the A team." John smiled as Jennifer entered the control room, fully kitted, but lacking enthusiasm the next day.
"Colonel."
"Where's Fletcher?"
"He said he'd meet us here." Jennifer said.
"We don't need him on this mission." Ronon said.
"While I hope that is true, he has a job to do." John said as Fletcher entered the control room. "Okay, now everyone is here, any questions?"
"Do we have a plan for when it all goes wrong?" Rodney asked.
"We'll deal with it like we normally do." John said.
"You mean by nearly dying?" Jennifer asked.
"I meant through sticking together and coming up with a good plan."
"So nearly dying then." Rodney said.
"Such cynics all of you." John said. "There will be no nearly dying."
"So you are actually going to kill us this time?" Rodney asked earning a glare from John.
"Let's go." John said.
-00-
"See no disaster, no danger. Fletcher may actually get to count this mission as one of his debt." John mused several hours later as they walked back to the gate.
"Are you trying to jinx us?" Jennifer asked.
"You need to relax doc." John said.
"I will, when I am back on Atlantis."
"What exactly do you do to relax?" John asked.
"You are asking me this now?"
"Well, when I was stuck in the infirmary I realised that I never figured that out." John said.
"A girl needs her secrets." Jennifer smiled.
"That makes it sound like you have something to hide." John countered. "But I won't push. I'll let my imagination take over."
"That sounds worrying." Jennifer said.
"Well then you could show me."
"Show you?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes. I mean you played golf, it's the least I can do."
"There is no need." Jennifer assured him.
"Then can I buy you dinner?"
"You know food is free right?" Jennifer asked.
"Stop nitpicking." John smiled as Rodney trudged a few feet behind scowling at the pair.
-00-
"What's wrong with you?" Laura asked as she heard Rodney lay into one of the scientists that evening.
"I am surrounded by ineptitude." Rodney grumbled.
"That opinion doesn't normally make you this cranky." Laura pointed out.
"I don't know what Jennifer was thinking when she started dating John, but I tried to be happy for them. Then when they split I thought I might have a chance. But apparently I don't."
"She turned you down?" Laura asked wondering when Rodney had had time to ask Jennifer out.
"No."
"Then why are you so miserable?"
"John and Jennifer were flirting the whole way round."
"They were?" Laura asked surprised.
"Don't look surprised, you are her best friend. You know she is smitten." Rodney said. "Now if you are finished gossiping I have incompetence to fix."
-00-
"Rodney thinks they were flirting." Laura said as she sat in the Mess Hall with Teyla and Lorne.
"They did seem friendly." Teyla confirmed.
"So they are actually interested in each other?" Lorne asked confused.
"Yes." Laura said. "But I am not sure they know it yet."
"But you know it?" Lorne asked sceptically.
"Yes."
"You are really telling me that you know how the Colonel and Jennifer feel, even though they apparently don't?" Lorne asked.
"Yes." Laura repeated. "The hard part is making them figure it out."
"But you have a plan?" Teyla asked.
"I do."
"Why do I sense a headache about to come on?" Lorne asked.
"Because you are a cynic." Laura suggested before adding a belated. "Sir."
"It's alright for you, when you upset the Colonel you may get yelled out. I get buried in paperwork." Lorne complained.
"So what is your plan?" Teyla asked.
"Jealousy."
-00-
"Okay, no more sitting around you need to get back out there." Laura said approaching Jennifer in the infirmary.
"Out where?" Jennifer asked confused.
"On the dating scene."
"Dating is far to much hassle." Jennifer said.
"You do remember you weren't actually dating."
"And even that was too much hassle." Jennifer complained. "No more dating, fake or real for me."
"That's not entirely true." Laura said.
"What does that mean?"
"You have to do your off world pretend date thing."
"Errghhh, I'd forgotten about that." Jennifer said.
"It'll be fun." Laura said.
"I doubt it. But one more fake date. That's it."
"I agree, because after that you will be moving onto the real thing."
"No I won't."
"I've seen the flowers."
"That doesn't mean I want to date the giver."
"rs." Laura said.
"What?"
"Rs as in givers plural. You should take a chance, what could go wrong?" Laura asked.
"Everything. Besides the whole point of fake dating was to stop suitors, not gain them."
"Maybe it is a sign and you should take the plunge."
"If that is what you really think then you date them."
"Doesn't work like that." Laura said. "Don't worry I will organise something for you."
-00-
"Part one is done." Laura said as she sat with Teyla
"Part one?"
"Setting Jennifer up on a date."
"With John?"
"No. Someone else."
"You are encouraging Jennifer to pursue a romantic relationship with someone else." Teyla asked.
"No I am encouraging her to date, in the hope it sparks something in the Colonel."
"People form Earth approach relationships in a very complex way." Teyla commented.
"It's part of the fun." Laura smiled.
"Sorry, am I interrupting?" John asked as he approached the table, turkey sandwich in hand.
"No, we were just talking about Jennifer's date."
"You mean our fake date?" John asked.
"No I mean her real date." Laura said.
"What real date?"
"The one with flower guy." Laura said glancing at her watch. "I've got to go."