Chapter 5

"Have you seen Rodney anywhere yet?" Teyla asked as she settled down with John at a small table on one of the balconies quite exhausted from dancing.

Sheppard shook his head. "I have no idea where he is. But if I know him, he will certainly appear at any moment."

Unfortunately, that was pretty likely. John really wanted to be alone with Teyla for awhile to enjoy her presence undisturbed for once.

The fact that New Year's Eve in Atlantis was not in the middle of the winter had its advantages. You could enjoy the lovely night air above the ocean and the fresh sea breeze blowing around your nose. And the sky was especially terrific today, as if it knew that there was something to celebrate.

"You seem so relaxed and satisfied," Teyla noted smiling.

"I am relaxed and satisfied, at the moment, very satisfied," John said and grinned back. How could someone not be satisfied when he was allowed to accompany a woman such as Teyla?

"That's good. You should relax more often. You know, I think I'm not the only one who has many obligations and sometimes forgets to pamper herself."

"Thanks for the insight." said John and ignored the rest of her comment. He hoped she would let go of the issue and tonight would not remember her commitment to Torren. "What do you think about some champagne and us relaxing even more?"

Teyla raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to get me tipsy?"

"Would you resist?"

Teyla laughed. "Probably not at the moment."

"Then wait here for me and don't run away. And most importantly, don't let strange men seduce you into drinking champagne. Wait until I get back for that."

John winked at her when she giggled girlishly and then quickly went inside to fetch the promised champagne.

"Good evening, Colonel Sheppard," Jennifer suddenly greeted him as he stood at the bar.

"Hello, Dr. Keller, I was just wondering where you were," John said.

"You were wondering where I was?" Jennifer asked confused.

"Well, let's say, I was wondering where Rodney is. However, he has a date with you… or did he forget?"

John got the champagne and turned around to Jennifer. He saw a small furrow appear on her forehead.

"Yes," she said taking a glass of champagne, "we had a date. And no, he did not forget. But he can't come."

"Oh!" John now realized that the wrinkle on Jennifer's forehead was showing disappointment and concern. "What happened? Do you want to talk about it?"

Just at that moment, when the fateful sentence was out of his mouth, John noticed just what he had maneuvered himself into. He really wanted to go back Teyla, but now he presumably had to listen to the lovesick Dr. Keller - or at least to her anger and disappointment about Rodney. McKay had done it yet again. That man could foil his plans even if he wasn't there.

"Talk about it? The fact that Dr. McKay had to stay in bed?" Jennifer asked confused. "Didn't you know that he's in the infirmary?"

"Well, I knew that he wanted to visit you. But why did he have to stay in the infirmary? And why is he in bed?"

Jennifer smiled pitifully. "Dr. McKay was trying to be nice. He thought that I would like flowers and so searched the botany station. Well, that's where it happened."

"What? What happened? "John stopped for a moment. "Oh no!" He moaned. "Don't tell me that he has fallen in love again with Katie Brown and now he's spending the evening with her ... but no, he would not do that in the infirmary ... oh no, no, no, he wouldn't do that at all, but ... Umm ...what happened?"

"Okay, but don't tell anyone," Jennifer whispered conspiratorially, looking around as if checking that there was no one close enough to eavesdrop.

"Just don't make it too exciting," John said impatiently. Teyla was still waiting for him and the champagne out on the balcony

"Don't ask me how, but when Rodney was picking flowers he stumbled into a bed, fell and then ... and then impaled his backside on a rake. He had some really nice holes to patch up. Now he's still dazed by the anesthesia. Therefore it made no sense to drag him here. And also he won't be sitting in the near future."

"Criminy," John laughed. "How does Rodney always do that? The last time it was an arrow in the ass."

"I feel really sorry for him. And all this because he wanted to give me a couple of flowers. ... Katie will be appalled tomorrow morning when she sees what the bed looks like. Not much left of it."

John could quite vividly imagine what chaos Rodney must have left behind after his encounter with the rake.

"And now you're all alone here?" Sheppard asked and in the next moment he wanted to slap himself. Of course, she was alone here. And the gentleman he was, he now had to invite her to keep Teyla and him company. Well, bye bye to spending the evening alone with Teyla.

"Yes. Before the anesthesia made an impact I had to promise to Rodney that I would still come to the party."

That really surprised John. Should a selfless streak actually slumber in Rodney? Well, how could he now be so selfish and leave Jennifer to herself? "Teyla and I are sitting outside on the balcony. Would you like to join us?"

Dr. Jennifer Keller smiled cheerfully. "Colonel, you shouldn't spare anytime for me. I certainly won't be bored and I don't want to disturb you and Teyla."

"You won't disturb us," John threw in halfheartedly.

"I'm sure I would. And now you should go back to Teyla. Have a nice evening."

John nodded to Dr. Keller, pleased that she would be okay on her own. "Have a nice evening yourself," he said, took the champagne glasses and wandered back to the balcony.

Somehow John was almost surprised when he found Teyla still alone when he came back out. A few streaks of her reddish brown hair were flying in the wind, while she gazed out to sea, completely lost in her own thoughts.

The quiet clink of the glasses as he put them down on the table brought the Athosian back to the present. "John, now I really believe that you want to get me drunk," she said smiling, as she saw that he had not only organized two glasses, but a whole bottle of champagne.

"That's a possibility. But, you said that you wouldn't resist it."

He filled the two glasses and gave one to Teyla. "To whatever the evening and your tipsiness has in store for us."

"John!" Teyla shouted feigning exasperation.