Chapter 3

"Okay, this is the last delivery," Colonel Sheppard said and pressed pressed a package wrapped in brown paper into the hands of the young nurse. "I'm counting on you!"

"No problem. At your service," said nurse Mary grinning and rushed away to store away the package.

John grinned as enthusiasticaly, because his plan seemed to be working wonderfully. He was a little shocked when he turned round and suddenly Dr. Keller stood before him.

"Doc, dear god, you can give one a heart attack," he said.

"Bad conscience?"

"I? Uh ... not that I knew," John said gently.

"This is the fifth time today that you are sneaking in here and talk with nurse Mary. Or better: to speak with her secretly. And of course there are these packages you are smuggling in. Would you please explain what is going on in my infirmary, that I don't know anything about?" Jennifer asked strictly.

"Well ... this ... this is a private matter. Has nothing to do with your infirmary," John tried to avoid a statement. Dr. Keller and Teyla were good friends. So he couldn't risk that she got wind of his plan.

"A private matter on my station?" Dr. Keller stopped short. "Oh! I ... I understand. Well ... could you please meet Mary meet before or after her shift? And don't make the girls unhappy! "

"What? ... Why? ... Oh! Ooooh! ... No, no, you may think ... "

"I understand very well. You don't want to spread it around," Jennifer said and finally looked at John more friendly. "I'll stay mum. But please try to relocate your private life outside of my infirmary."

Jennifer nodded to him, pointed at the door behind him and waved at him again when she return back to her patients.

John hastily left the station. Oh dear, that was bad. He hadn't intended to give Dr. Keller this very wrong idea. Hopefully she really wouldn't tell Teyla anything about it. The gentle and always so friendly Athosian perhaps would try to play matchmaker for him and Mary. And what would Mary say? A few bags gummy bears, which he had painstakingly traded anywhere, certainly wouldn't be enough to placate her, if this whole matter would interfere with here beginning relationship with Chuck.

If he should warn the young man about the misunderstanding before he heard some gossip about him and Mary? But then again, that would mean that there was one more person, he had to explain his motives to. Better be silent and hope that Dr. Keller quickly forgot the matter.

Or ...

Yes, that was a good idea.

He needed only to ensure that Dr. Keller was so distracted until tonight that she wouldn't have any time to talk to Mary, or even Teyla about private matters.

Colonel Sheppard abruptly turned around and nearly bumped into a technician who was just walking behind him.

"Sorry, I'm in a hurry," John said and was already on the way towards McKays lab.

"Hey, Rodney, how are you?" John asked overly friendly when he saw McKay in the midst of several scientists.

"I'm busy. Don't you see that?" Rodney said briefly and then barked out some instructions to his staff. The Scientists hurriedly flew apart. Apparently, they had understood what McKay wanted, even if John had no idea what it was today.

"I have just returned from the infirmary." John was not to be swayed by Rodneys inattention and said simply. "I met Dr. Keller there."

"Nice for you. If you are sick, you should also stay there and not disturb me, or even more infect me," Rodney growled.

"I just wanted to warn you ... well, better I wanted to informe you."

"Hm" Rodney typed unperturbed on his laptop.

"There was a young soldier, who apparently put a great deal of effort in getting the attention of Dr. Keller."

"Yes, she is always considerate."

"The other way round, Rodney, vice versa."

"She's not considerate? John you are talking nonsense."

Sheppard shook his head. Any other man would have understood long ago what he wanted to tell him, but Rodney was once again completely absentminded.

"I said, the soldier tried to get the attention of Dr. Keller. As in: He wants a date with her."

Now Rodney looked up briefly. "That's not possible. Jennifer already has agreed to have a date with me." And once again he stuck his head into some papers, which he studied.

John shook his head incredulously. How could a man with so much intelligence be just so dense?"

"Are you sure Jennifer wont reconsider? After all, you don't make much effort with your courtship. You could be a little more attentive. "

"I am always attentive. I even listen to her when she wants to tell about her patients."

That was enough for John. Why did you always have to force Rodney into doing what was good for him? And why did you always have to force him to not destroy your plans?

Sheppard grabbed Rodneys shoulders and forced him to look at him. "Rodney, I fear, if you don't do something, by the evening you wont have a date anymore! Do you understand this now? "

"What? That cannot be! What would be a disgrace! Especially in front of Ronon", Rodney suddenly rattled on.

Inwardly John groaned heavily. Rodney seemed to waste no thought about Jennifer, but thought only about himself. Why was she even interested in him?

"Who is it? Couldn't you simply lock him up? Then he cannot interfere with my date."

"No, Rodney," Sheppard said," I cannot. That's why I wanted to warn you. You should pay more attention to Jennifer, bring her a gift and show her that she is important to you. Now do you understand that?"

"Yes. ... Yes, of course. A gift ... But what should I get for Jennifer as a gift? "

Colonel Sheppard now groaned audibly. What he had done to earn this? How could he have thought, that Rodney could be useful in his plan to distract Dr. Keller?

One thing was already certain for him: To forge intrigues, he was clearly not created. A good intent for the new year: In the future, always be direct. No more secrets.