Two

Well, here they go. Today it's forest again, this time with the twist of a steady drizzle and early evening. But, well, drizzle's still better than glaring sun or heaps of snow. They've got a hike of about half an hour in front of them until the settlement they're supposed to greet the trade delegation. She's a little surprised not to hear any instant complaints from Keller, but that just serves to underline her suspicions that the doctor's predisposition towards off-world missions has changed a lot since her first one.

The only thing Keller does say after about ten minutes of walking is: "How long until the settlement, Laura?"

She sighs. "Half an hour, tops. The quicker your steps, the faster we're there."

She knows she should stop the needling but she just can't help herself. Keller is just a target far too easy. "Oh, ha ha. I have been working out, okay?"

From behind she can hear a suppressed snort and is ready to whip around and tell the Sergeant to keep his male Marine thoughts to himself, but he did get that idea himself, obviously, since nothing comes. So she turns back to Keller and says: "Really… With whom?"

"With Ronon… oh, crap. You just tricked me into saying that!" She genuinely grins and she's conscious of the fact that Meyers heard it as well. The things she does for keeping the rumor mill running and turning away from Evan and her…

"I believe you just volunteered this information, Jennifer." That's Teyla, an amused smile barely concealed.

"See? I tricked you into nothing." Keller just sticks out her tongue.

And then she gets back at her. "Okay, I let Ronon help me with working out. So what? And anyway, I wasn't the one being all grumpy this morning. Didn't get much sleep, did you?" Aw, not again.

"Not your business, Doc." Oops, that was probably a bit to harsh. And not exactly helping in the distraction department. Teyla comes up beside her.

"Laura… I hope you don't mind me asking… but is everything alright between you and Major Lorne?" That's really nothing she wants to discuss in front of a subordinate, no matter how low Teyla has turned her voice. But before she can answer, Meyers chimes already in.

"I just turned deaf, ma'am." She turns around and tries to look stern.

"I certainly hope you haven't, Sergeant." He grins.

"Did you just say something, ma'am?" She rolls her eyes. Good thing Evan or any of the other senior officers aren't around. But then again, Meyers wouldn't react to her like that if they were. He knows very well when he can allow himself a little slack and when he would get in serious trouble for that. And he knows that she can switch from bantering to commanding faster than he can blink.

"Just remember to get back that hearing before we enter Atlantis again."

He nods. "'Course, ma'am."

She sighs and turns back to Teyla. "We just… had a… kind of a row yesterday."

"Serious one?" Keller has dropped the insulted pout and turned back to just being a concerned friend now. She turns her gaze forward and stomps through the underbrush.

"Not more serious than the other ones. It's just… never mind." She's sure that behind her back, Teyla and Keller are sharing a worried glance. Her first impulse is to roll her eyes, but then again… they are friends, and once in a while she maybe should let her friends worry about her.

"You didn't make up, huh?" You can say a lot about Jennifer Keller, but not that she's totally oblivious about what got her friends upset. It's no use denying it, because she's sure that Teyla has come to the same conclusion.

"No. I kind of… ran out on him." Now, in the light of day and with three days away from him ahead of her, it all sounds kind of… ridiculous. But it isn't, she forcibly reminds herself. Both her female companions are silent for a moment, while Meyers still pretends not to have heard anything. But when she turns around to look at him, she sees understanding in his eyes. He's told her very few about his wife, but from what he did she could gather that he does miss her and takes great care to make the best of the time they get when he's on leave or during short video conversations.

In the end it's him who says something, not Teyla or Keller. "It'll be okay, ma'am. Boss is a sensible guy." Sensible… yeah, that's what Evan is. But even he's got his limits. And he's under a lot of pressure at the moment. She sighs.

"Didn't you say you lost your hearing, Sergeant?" He grins, recognizing her attempt at changing the topic.

"Miracle cure, ma'am." If she'd had something to throw at him he'd have to dodge now, but at least his easygoing manner once again helps her to get out of a rather gloomy state of mind.

"I agree with the Sergeant, Laura. There is, though, a saying among my people: Never let the sun set upon an argument." Well, she knows that herself. But Teyla's just trying to help, so she tries to reign in her temper.

She can't really hold the grumble out of her voice, though, when she replies: "My mum likes to say that."

Teyla just gives her an appreciative raising of her eyebrow and a small smile. "Then she is a very wise woman."

She snorts. "Still didn't stop her from not talking to me for three days when I wrecked her car." Oh yeah, that had been one of the not so smart things she'd done in her high school senior year. She briefly wonders what her mother's answer to the letter will be because there she'd mentioned for the first time that she has managed to fall in love with a guy not only seven years her senior but also her CO.

Keller barks a short laugh. "Lucky you. Mine just wouldn't stop yelling at me when I did the same to her car." Surprised she turns to the petite doctor. Now that's something she surely didn't expect from her. She'd always pictured the kid Jennifer Keller as a rather meek, bookish sort of girl, not one prone to wreck her mother's car.

Meyers chuckles a little and then tops Keller's admission: "That's nothing, ma'am. You should have seen mine when she found out I was already sleeping with my first girlfriend when I still told her we were doing nothing more than holding hands."

That makes Keller and her laugh and Teyla look a little like she doesn't quite get a strange Earth custom once again. Obviously, Athosian teenagers aren't quite as much under the thump of their parents as Earth teenagers often are. She can't hold back making a suggestive face and say: "Oh, naughty, naughty, Sergeant."

He gives her a suggestive grin of his own. "That's what my wife likes to say to me when… alright, shutting up now."

The settlement has gotten into view now. Time to cut the chatter and get back to business. She tells the Sergeant so. "Yeah, you better. There are our hosts." The local traders have built up a temporary settlement of tents and have already seen them approaching. A group quickly forms and walks out to meet them.

As they approach, she can make out three individuals, two women and a man. The women are wearing colorful dresses, while the man is wearing trousers and a shirt. So far, nothing looks threatening. Wouldn't that be nice? A mission were everything goes according to the plan? Even when someone blurted out the wretched "What could possibly go wrong?" at the start?

Halfway between the edge of the forest and the settlement, they meet their welcoming committee. Teyla, as their designated negotiator, steps forward to greet them. "Hamrash, it is so good to see you and your sisters being well!" They put their foreheads together in Athosian fashion. "Let me introduce you to my fellow travelers. This" – she gestures toward Keller, who sketches a short bow – "is Doctor Jennifer Keller. She is most interested in the herbs you have to offer. This" – now a gesture towards her, and she tries to copy Keller's bow – "is Lieutenant Laura Cadman. She is responsible for our safety and the leader of our group. And this" – now Meyers, who's bow is surprisingly smooth – "is Sergeant William Meyers. He will be assisting Lieutenant Cadman and Dr. Keller." Poor Will Meyers, eternal drudge. But she knows that he bears that fate with good-natured easiness every time he has to do it.

Hamrash bows to each of them, and then it's his turn to introduce himself and his companions. He presents them as his sisters, Elina and Wesaara. Then, when all the niceties are exchanged, he takes Teyla's arm and leads all of them to the tents. In the briefing Teyla had told them that it was custom with these traders to exchange pleasant small talk and anecdotes around the fire and get comfortable with each other the day before trade negotiations would start, which was one of the reason that this visit is scheduled for more than just a few hours. "So…", Hamrash says to Teyla, "I hear you have become a mother. We are really most excited to learn all about this."

A/N: Whee, finally! Have been waiting to upload this for the last week and of course apologize very much for letting you wait. I'm honestly sorry for delaying this so much, but the laptop continues giving me headaches and I'm afraid I need to have to send it in again after the weekend :( Therefore I thank everyone who still stays with the story and actually reviews. I know how having to wait for updates can grate on your nerves :S