MGM owns all characters and spoilers for Missing.

A/N: As most of you know I have about 5 active stories on this site in SGA alone, so my apologies that it's taking a long time to update them all. Thanks for all the reviews, which are a 'thank you' note to us authors so don't be afraid to leave them and thanks as always to Betherdy Babe for her beta.

"A twenty-four hour quarantine," Jack growled. "Me. General O'Neill."

"You've got germs just like the rest of us," Robert chuckled into the phone.

"Funny," Jack muttered. "Anything you want me to say to Jennifer when I see her?"

"Yes, I love you, sweetie, and I trust you are making good choices." Silence came from the other end of the phone after her father spoke.

"I'll be sure to pass it along," the General replied. "I'm off to get stuck in a tin can for a day."

"Enjoy. And Jack," Robert paused, "I meant what I said. Jenny seems really head-over-heels for this guy. Don't ruin it for her because he pissed you off."

"I'll talk to you when I get back," Jack said.

His anger had decreased from what it was after he first heard about McKay and Jennifer. To be honest, his anger was with Richards and anyone else who knew about this but didn't tell him. And with McKay, of course. He better be in love with her or Russia'll seem like a paradise next to where I'd send him.

"What a mess. Why can't I control myself around that man? He turns my brain to mush and my body melts in his arms," she muttered to herself as she dropped her bag next to the DHD while the sound of the gate closing filled her ears. "I bet Colonel Carter saw that."

"I don't think Rodney is interested in Colonel Carter." Teyla seemed to be barely holding in her laughter as she scanned the tree line.

"What? I just said that aloud didn't I?" Jennifer groaned as she adjusted her pack.

Teyla smiled.

"Great! I told him I wanted to keep things low-key. Why can't he ever listen?" Jennifer was upset she let her emotions slip in front of Rodney's teammate and snapped more at herself than at Teyla.

"You are dating Rodney, are you not?" Teyla turned to face her and the Athosian appeared to tense.

"Um… Well, we… Did he tell you we're dating?" She felt like he really cared about her and didn't think he'd violate her trust even with his teammates.

"Not with any words," Teyla replied in a clipped tone.

Jennifer suddenly felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. The way the Athosian surveyed her was frightening. What's wrong with her? "I thought we were keeping it quiet so I'm not sure why he suddenly found it necessary to show everyone."

"Perhaps because he cares a great deal for you and thought you might be nervous going off world," Teyla said.

Jennifer felt uncomfortable as the feelings of guilt at keeping her uncle's identity a secret from Rodney took over. She pushed them aside as the weeks went by and kept saying I'll tell him when the time is right, but it never was. Fearful of revealing too much, she tried to change the topic. "We should get going shouldn't we? I heard it's a long walk and I'm sure you understand why I'm not fond of forests anymore." Her attempt at lightening the situation didn't work.

The Athosian stepped in front of her, narrowing her eyes. "Why do you think I asked you to come here before the others?"

"I guess it's not to run a clinic for the Athosian children," Jennifer replied, feeling the woman's anger.

"Rodney is like a brother to me." Teyla did not move from her position slightly in front of Jennifer, but obviously blocked her path.

"I…" Jennifer was silent. She had no response other than the truth that was running through her mind. "You want to make sure I'm good enough for him. Right?"

Teyla did not reply. The Athosian surveyed the young doctor with a brown gaze as if waiting for her to break.

And Jennifer's heart was breaking. In the few minutes she'd spent with this woman who normally exuded calm and peace, her eyes were opened to what she had done. You're going to break his heart. Not because O'Neill is your uncle, but because you didn't tell him.

Unable to meet Teyla's penetrating gaze any longer, she looked at the duffel on the ground, hoping the soil would open to swallow her up. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and then looked back into a face like a protective mother's. "I'm not sure I am… good enough that is."

"We need to go. I'd like to get to the village before it is too late," Teyla said turning quickly. It appeared Rodney's teammate wanted her to know that she was being measured and came up failing.

The two women walked in silence for quite some time. Teyla was in the lead, striding purposefully through the forest to visit with her people. Jennifer lagged back because every step brought her one second closer to her fate, one that might send her back to Earth. It was blatantly obvious that when Rodney showed up tomorrow night, she had to tell him about her uncle and hope he would understand.

Looking into a forest of trees not unlike the world that had been full of monsters during her first off world mission, a chill ran down her spine. The only sound she heard was her beating heart and the occasional crunch underfoot as she walked. She realized Teyla was quite far ahead of her and increased the pace to catch up.

"Teyla," she called out when she got within a few steps of the Athosian. The hush in the forest made her use a softer voice.

Teyla glanced at her. "We are almost to the village. It's only over this hill before us."

"Oh, that's why it's so quiet." Jennifer felt relieved. The villagers must have scared the animals away. Maybe they just came through here gathering wood for the night.

Teyla stopped and Jennifer swore the other woman looked guilty.

"What's wrong?" Anxiety came back as the Athosian glanced around their immediate surroundings.

"It is… unusually quiet," Teyla spoke in a hushed voice as well.

"You hadn't noticed? You and Ronon are super warriors, or at least Rodney describes you that way." Jennifer couldn't help but smile as she thought of the admiration and affection in Rodney's face and voice as he described his teammates and their adventures. Including Sheppard.

Once again a strange look passed over Teyla's face and the girl from Wisconsin swore the exotic beauty was blushing. "You weren't paying attention? You really do have a hot date, like the Colonel said."

A look that should have sent Jennifer running for cover crossed Teyla's face for a moment, but then softened. "We need to go."

"Of course," Jennifer shifted her pack and the duffel back she had been carrying.

"Give me the bag," Teyla said and pulled it from Jennifer's hand before she could protest. She placed it like a backpack over her shoulders and the moved out as quickly as they could toward the top of the hill.

TBC

A/N: Sorry for the OOC Jack. I love the good General but need to manipulate him to do my bidding in this story.