A/N: Please review and let me know how the story is doing. Any type of criticism is helpful. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Stargate Atlantis or it's wonderful characters.

Spoilers: Through Season 5 up to Brainstorm.

3 – Now Lie in It

"Let me get this straight, you just told big and burly that you were interested in someone else?" Laura was pacing Jennifer's quarters.

It didn't go unnoticed by Jennifer that this time she was curled up on the bed and Cadman was pacing. It had only been about eight hours since they had done this very thing in Laura's quarters aboard the Deadalus before Todd had taken command of the ship and all hell had broke loose. It has been such an awful, awful, crappy day!

"Will you stop calling him that," Jennifer asked exasperated.

Laura ignored her, "I want to know the real reason you are running away from this, and don't tell me it is for the good of the team…best friend here, remember!" she said jabbing herself in the chest for emphasis.

"Ugh, why couldn't I have picked a different best friend. Maybe one that fed me ice cream and patted my back while giving me Kleenex for my tears. You know… more fish in the sea and all that." Jennifer whined while she grabbed a pillow and threw it at Cadman.

Laura caught it and walked over to the bed. "I guess your taste in friends, and men I might add, is as brilliant as that mind of yours."

Jennifer looked down at the comforter on the bed and then back up at her friend. "That mind is why I am in this mess right now."

"I would say it's that mouth of yours actually," Laura retorted while settling on the bed.

Jennifer growled while pulling her legs up and tucking them under her chin. "In high school, did you go to your proms?"

Laura silently nodded.

"Homecoming?"

She nodded again.

"Date a lot in college?"

"Is there a point coming," the red head asked before raising her eyebrows.

"I didn't. I was about three years younger then the other students, both high school and college, not to mention med school." Jennifer looked away for a moment as if to gather her thoughts.

"Which means, I didn't really actually date much… or at all."

"But now you're a grown up and the playing field has leveled up, Ronon doesn't seem intimidated by your mind and I think he is actually close in age." Laura tried to reason, still unsure where this conversation was headed.

"That's not really it, I don't know what I am doing! I haven't had a lot of practice turning guys down. I'm not sure how to do that for Rodney without hurting his pride and possibly our friendship. And in case you haven't noticed, McKay is very competitive; it will probably strain his and Ronon's relationship if he perceived that Ronon 'won'."

"They're grown ups and it's their job to work out their own relationship, not yours, next obstacle."

"You mean besides the fact that Ronon thinks I'm interested in someone else?" Jennifer tried to chuckle, but it came out flat. Laura stayed silent and watched her.

"Have you noticed Ronon is a man of… well… action? He jumps in with both feet and his gun is powered up before his feet hit the ground. He is very passionate about things that are important to him and unrelenting in his pursuit to kill every last Wraith." Jennifer paused biting her lip and waiting for this to sink in with her friend.

"He would make a great icon for Nike," Jennifer continued. "Just do it. When he is injured, just stitch him up, no pain killers needed. Need to board a hive ship? He'll lead the way. Once he has his mission, its full steam ahead. The only thing that really keeps the man in check is Sheppard and his "we need a plan" slogan."

Laura looked as if it was starting to dawn on her, but Jennifer decided to finish it.

"I'm afraid of that passion, intensity and relentlessness being aimed at me. I'm going to disappoint him. I may not have any experience, and I think that is the point, but I do know that I want it all. I'm going to want the butterflies in the stomach when I catch him looking at me."

Laura started to open her mouth when Jennifer paused for a second, but Jenn held up her finger to stave her off. "I want the thrill of wondering if he is going to hold my hand, as well as the thrill of him finally holding my hand or finally kissing me." Jenn closed her eyes for a moment, and then looked back at Laura, "He should be with someone who can hit the ground running with him, after what he has been through, and because of who he is, I don't think I'm that person. Like I said, I would disappoint him."

"You know, for a genius, I think you've underestimated yourself. And as far as Ronon is concerned, I think he probably likes who you are, not what you're not. I won't lecture you any more tonight, you've already been through hell in the last 24 hours, so have I." Laura grinned at her, "I think it is time to drown our crappy day in lots and lots of ice cream."

Two weeks later Jennifer was grabbing the last of her supplies to head off to M33-985. She promised Celise that she would check in often to see how she was settling in, but also to give her any word they heard about Kiryk. She would probably also hold a small clinic for those in need.

The young girl had healed quite quickly and been able to return to the planet where Jennifer first treated her the moment Rodney verified M33-985's stargate survived the Atero device's destruction.

She slung the last bag over her shoulder and headed toward the gate. She'd asked Lorne's team to accompany her. It was still uncomfortable to be around Ronon and probably would be for quite a while.

"You want me to get that?"

Jennifer whirled around and found herself facing a grinning Rodney.

He gestured hesitantly for the bag and quickly continued, "If it's alright with you, I was hoping to come with you. I wouldn't mind seeing Celise again." He held up a game cartridge and batteries. "Thought maybe I could show her a different game, no shooting at the wildlife this time."

"Um…sure," Jennifer said. "Actually, there is something I've been meaning to talk with you about."

Rodney nodded his head, "sure thing."

"Just a second." Jennifer pressed her com link, "Major Lorne?"

"Dr. Keller," he responded.

"Can we delay the trip for one hour?"

"Not a problem, see you at the gate in one hour."

"Thank you, Major."

Jennifer turned back to Rodney. "Do you want to go get something to snack on in the mess hall?"

With an uncomfortable look on his face, Rodney nodded.

After ten minutes of awkward conversation and silence, Jennifer decided just to rip the band aid off. She'd been thinking on this a lot and decided she wasn't going to try to spare anyone's feelings any more, including her own.

"So…uh… Rodney, there is something I've been meaning to tell you, but I wasn't sure how to start this conversation. So, I'm probably going to do this all wrong, sorry."

"You have me kind of worried, if it's about the planet, I don't have to come with, I could, you know, just uh… show you how the game works, and then you can show Celise. Not that you couldn't figure out how the game works, it's not like it's a real hard game or anything… I mean I picked it out because I thought it was something that a little girl could play and…"

Jennifer cut off his rambling, "Rodney, I overheard you and Ronon in the gym the night we got back from M33-985."

She could see he was grasping at what she was getting at and then the moment he did realize what she was getting at. His eyes got huge, "Oh, no… that is not good."

She stopped him again. "Listen, I'm not upset, Rodney, I just need to be honest with you right up front so this doesn't come to be awkward down the road."

She took a deep breath, let it out and then looked him in the eye, "Rodney, you and I are friends, really good friends, but I don't feel anything stronger for you then that."

He looked away for a full minute before looking back. "I… um… thank you.. I guess," he said squinting at her. "That couldn't have been easy, I didn't mean to make things awkward for you Jenn." Rodney

"Me neither Rodney."

"I have to admit, with the extra grumpy mood Ronon's been in lately, I thought I might have a chance... I mean I figured maybe you told him you weren't interested in him or something and that was why he was walking around like a lion with a thorn in his paw."

"If you still want to come with me today, I'd love to have you come along. I really don't want this to hurt our friendship."

"I think I might sit this one out." When he saw her face fall he reached out his hand and patted hers. "Oh… hey… not because I'm mad or anything, I just need a little time to…" he shrugged his shoulders, "you know, collect my thoughts…" Rodney looked away toward the windows in the mess hall trying to school his features before Jennifer saw just how hurt he was.

They heard a slight sound at the entrance to the mess hall and looked over to see Ronon walk in, look up, turn and walk out.

Rodney looked back at Jennifer. "And him?"

She shook her head and tried to smirk, "We may be baring our souls here, but I'm not ready for that kind of conversation yet." Jennifer wasn't really ready for that conversation with anyone. "Let's just say, that I'm probably not really his type, him being… well…Ronon, and all."

"I don't think Ronon would agree."

"Actually, he has said as much," she said as she gathered her tray. "Although… I guess I gave him reason," she said quietly as she walked away.

Rodney watched Jennifer go. He had such a jumble of emotions. He found that guiltily he felt some relief Ronon hadn't won, at least not yet. That emotion was quickly batted away as Rodney thought about the fact he had two friends hurting too. He knew with time and space, his hurt would go away, and they'd all be ok.

He got up and gathered his tray deciding for now to go bury himself in his lab with all of the work in need of his attention and genius.