A/N: I'm sorry I took so long to update this. Thanks to KoineKid and Betherdy Babe for their brief betas. All mistakes are mine.
Jennifer was still shaking after crossing a suspended rope bridge over half an hour ago. Ever since the physician was about ten, she was terrified of bridges. It made no logical sense because she didn't mind being up high, but put her on a bridge and she panicked.
The rope bridge built by the Athosians was her worst nightmare come true. Of course she had to slip as she crossed it and needed Teyla to pull her back up. The brush with death once again pushed the physician to vow that she'd never go off world once she got back to Atlantis. Assuming I live to return.
"T-teyla?" she stammered, taking a deep breath and trying to force her body to stop shaking.
"Yes?" Teyla replied in a clipped voice. "Do you need more medicine for your hand?"
"N-no, the rope burn is fine." Jennifer held up her bandaged left hand. I hope this doesn't leave scars. I've got enough of those already. "I wanted to know what the plan is for the morning."
"Plan?" Teyla was sitting at the entrance to the hunting blind, which was made up of several fallen trees with shrubs naturally growing around them. The Athosians made mats of leaves and brush to cover the roof of the natural structure.
"Yes. We need to warn the guys about the Bola Kai," Jennifer repeated. Her heart was ratcheting up as she imagined Rodney walking through the gate and getting hit by an arrow or worse.
"We must rest," Teyla said as her gaze swept the area around them.
The moon was high in the night sky and no clouds obscured the stars so Jennifer could see the Athosians' face, which was set like stone. "We'll need to get the radio from the Bola Kai." Jennifer decided she'd talk herself through the plan and if Teyla had any advice she'd listen to it.
"There will be more of them than one weapon can handle so going to the camp is unwise."
Jennifer knew if the Athosian had been with Ronon or Sheppard, she'd never say that. "So then we need to get to the DHD…"
"We cannot dial Atlantis because of the shield if we do not have a radio," Teyla explained, sounding tired and thoroughly annoyed.
"I know that," Jennifer snapped. She was terrified if they didn't find a way that the man she loved was going to be harmed. "I'm talking out loud to try to sort this out. It's the way I work out a seemingly impossible problem."
Teyla turned to look at Jennifer, her eyes narrowing. "It would appear you and Doctor McKay have something in common."
At the mention of Rodney, Jennifer felt her anger at Teyla strengthen. "Yes we do. And I'm doing this to make sure he is going to be safe so I'm asking you help me."
"If you are so concerned then why are you ashamed to be seen with him?" Teyla asked.
Jennifer's eyes widened at the blunt question. "I am not ashamed of Rodney. I'm lucky that he's interested in me."
"Why are you hiding your relationship? It is not forbidden for the two of you to be together." Teyla stared at Jennifer and was studying every movement of the younger woman's face.
Jennifer looked at the woman before her, wanting to get out from under the intense gaze. Warrior. Leader. Friend and teammate of the man I love. If anyone has a shot of getting out of here it's her. Those thoughts gave her an idea. "Teyla, what if we went to another planet, an ally's planet? Then called Atlantis."
Teyla raised her eyebrows as she considered Jennifer's suggestion. "We still need to get past the Bola Kai guarding the gate and hope they do not follow us through."
Jennifer's eyes fell on the gun clutched in Teyla's hand. "You stand the best chance of taking them out."
"There are a great deal of them and protecting the Stargate will be their top priority."
"Besides hunting us," Jennifer added.
Teyla nodded and then looked back out the opening. "The hunt appears to have stopped for the night. I can hear some of the animals moving about."
Jennifer swallowed as she imagined the savages she saw around the gate and the warnings that Teyla gave her. "So we'll have to give them something to hunt while the other gets to the DHD."
Teyla turned back to look at Jennifer. "Bait?"
"Yes." Jennifer swallowed and sat up straighter. "I can run pretty fast and you're much better with a gun than me."
"I cannot allow you to risk yourself that way," Teyla said.
"Too bad. I'm a doctor. I don't think I could kill a person. You could. If there were three or four at the gate I'd put my money on you in a hand-to-hand fight. You've got thirty rounds." Jennifer nodded to the gun. "Piece of cake. Besides you know who to dial better than me."
"Do I need to remind you of what will happen to you if you get captured?"
"No," Jennifer said with a forced smile. "I'm thinking about it constantly, but this is the best chance." Her resolve was solidifying as she imagined Rodney being tortured.
Teyla slowly nodded. "If you are certain?"
"Yes. I love Rodney and this is the best chance we have of protecting him," Jennifer stated. A confidence she lost over the last few months returned. "Teyla, I need you to tell Rodney that I love him if I don't survive."
"Doctor…"
"Please don't stop me. I need to tell someone," Jennifer interrupted. "I haven't been honest with Rodney, or anyone else since I got here. It started as a simple secret of omission but the longer I held it, the harder it got to admit. Now it will be viewed as a betrayal of trust in Rodney's eyes." The young woman couldn't stop the tears from flowing. "He won't forgive me because if I loved him and trusted him I would have told him a long time ago." An angry swipe at her eyes with her jacket stung, but she welcomed the pain.
Teyla didn't speak but it was obvious from her darkening look that the Athosian was going to defend the man she thought of as her brother if need be.
"I… My uncle is… I'm Jack O'Neill's niece." Having finally said the words made Jennifer feel a little better. Why couldn't I do this with Rodney?
"You did not tell anyone for fear they would judge you based on your family," Teyla stated.
"You understand?" Jennifer questioned.
"Yes. I do understand your struggle. I am the daughter of Taggan and Torren, rulers of my people. I was destined to lead. Do you think anyone saw me when I was younger? I often told no one who I was when I went to visit new planets. The desire to be judged for ones own merits is common."
"Uncle Jack was married to my Aunt Sarah. They've been divorced for a long time but my dad and I were so close to him that we stayed in touch. Jack and my dad are closer than he is to his brother, George." Jennifer chuckled. "I guess you'll have to tell him about this too. He'll be pretty upset."
"I have been on plenty of missions with your people that should have ended in our death and we succeeded."
"Because of Sheppard and Rodney. Two extremely stubborn men."
"Yes," Teyla said with a gentle smile. "Rodney is a stubborn man. Once he sets his mind on something it takes near death to keep him from going after it. I do not believe he will leave you once you tell him about your uncle."
"Except that my uncle will threaten to kill him." Jennifer sighed as she suddenly settled back to rest.
Rodney was standing on a balcony looking over the city of Atlantis at night. A gentle breeze blew over his bare skin.
"Rodney?" a soft, sexy voice called from the room behind him. "Where did you go?"
"I just needed to get some air," he replied unable to keep a grin off his face.
"Too hot in here for you?" the voice was right behind him now.
Rodney spun and captured his lover in his arms. "You are a hot woman, but I've never backed away because of the heat."
Arms slid around his shoulders. "Not what I heard. Lorne says you were worried about sunburn on your sensitive skin…"
"Did you have to bring up another man at a time like this?" Rodney pulled her close and leaned down…
"Doctor McKay! Doctor McKay, please respond." Chuck's voice pulled Rodney out of his slumber.
"Argh!" He glanced at the clock, noting it was 2am. "What the hell?"
Blinking to get the sleep out of his eyes, Rodney found his earwig. "You better have found a ZedPM," he snapped at his countryman.
"General O'Neill wants to talk to you immediately. He's on his way to your quarters since you didn't answer the page."
"My quarters?" Rodney had no clue why Jack O'Neill would come to Pegasus and need to talk to him so much he'd come to his quarters in the middle of the night. Thank goodness I was only dreaming about Jennifer and she's not here.
TBC
A/N: I have an irrational fear of bridges so I'm giving it to Jennifer.