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

Spoilers: Through Season 5 up to Brainstorm.

12 – Discovered

"I wonder why those two never made it," Sheppard speculated as the trio wandered down the hall toward Keller's quarters.

"I am sure they just got sidetracked, John. Maybe we should leave them be," Teyla suggested.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind taking a peek. If Jennifer is alone in there then I can stay and sleep," Laura said.

As they rounded the next corner they bumped into Rodney heading towards his quarters.

"What are you all up to?" he asked as he caught up with them.

"Just escorting the Lieutenant to Dr. Keller's room." Sheppard explained.

"Afraid she'll get lost, or that she'll blow something up?" Rodney needled as he began walking with them.

"Funny, I don't remember seeing a sense of humor when I was in that body," Laura threw back at Rodney.

"You had to go there didn't you, I'm sure if you tried real hard you could come up with a better comeback," Rodney retorted.

"What are you all up to," said a voice behind them all.

They turned as a unit and found Lorne jogging to catch up with them.

"Major," Cadman acknowledged.

"We are either escorting Laura to Keller's room for the night, trying to keep her from blowing something up or possibly spying on the Doctor. You pick," Rodney said, summing up what he knew.

"There is also the option," Sheppard added, "that this is just an elaborate scheme to throw me a surprise birthday party."

"Sir," the Major pointed out, "your birthday isn't for several more months."

"That would make it easier to keep the surprise," Sheppard said with mock patience in his voice.

Laura rolled her eyes and looked at Lorne, "Jennifer and Ronon never made it to movie night," she said arching her brow.

Lorne grinned back at her with a slight nod that he understood.

"Well," Sheppard justified, "it didn't help that we ditched them."

"I think Ronon could have found us, John, if he had been looking," Teyla pointed out.

"You all didn't mention that Ronon was with Keller," Rodney stated, "we should probably leave them alone." Rodney may be getting over Jennifer's gentle let down, but that didn't mean he was looking forward to seeing them together yet.

"You all keep saying things like that," Sheppard complained, "like they're a couple or something."

He looked around at all of the eyes starring back at him. His eyes grew large, "they are a couple or something, that is what ya'll are saying."

"Those would have been the hints, sir." Cadman laughed at him.

"Well, this I have got to see," he said as they came upon the door to Keller's room.

"Maybe Lt. Cadman should peek first and make sure that Jennifer is not… asleep or…something," Teyla suggested.

"I second that idea," Rodney quickly agreed. "It's the… or something I want to avoid."

"Well then," Laura suggested looking at them all, "maybe you all should back the parade up a few feet while I open the door."

Everyone quickly shuffled back a few feet while trying not to end up at the back of the group with Rodney, who was actually hoping to be a the back of the pack.

Laura turned back to the door like she was about to go into battle.

"Lieutenant," Lorne began hoping to reassure her, "The Doc knew you were going to be coming back to sleep here tonight."

She nodded at him, knowing he was right.

"Besides," he chuckled, "it's not like there's sock on the door or anything."

Sheppard began chuckling with the Major, while Cadman tried to glare at them, but the smirk on her face had them both laughing louder.

Rodney cleared his throat, "This is not funny, we're not in college, you jocks… and I mean all three of you."

Laura turned back towards the door and took a deep breath, held one hand over her eyes while the other slid the door back.

The sight that greeted her eyes when she looked through her fingers warmed her heart and she quickly waved the rest of the raiding party over to the door. The couple in question were wrapped in each others arms, fast asleep. It was apparent they had been watching a movie when they succumbed to sleep.

"Well, isn't that sweet," Rodney stated sarcastically, with a little jealousy mixed in, "beauty and the beast are fast asleep."

Sheppard smacked the back of Rodney's head before looking at his 2IC, "Someone needs to take the time to fill me in, because I'm obviously quite dense."

Teyla reached forward and waved the door shut. "Why don't we all go grab a midnight snack? We can fill in Colonel Sheppard while we eat ice cream." Teyla turned toward Laura, "You can bunk with me tonight if you do not wish to disturb them."

"Thank you, Teyla, and ice cream sounds wonderful, doesn't it, Rodney?" she said giving him a knowing look before following the others toward the mess hall.

Rodney's mouth dropped open, but he quickly shut it. He could be heard grumbling as he walked, "girls tell each other everything. How unfair is that? She wasn't supposed to know anymore of my secrets once I got her out of my body, but no… she's best friends with Keller and so of course Jennifer would confide in her and Cadman would rub it in…"

Sheppard came to a halt and held up his arm as if they were on a mission. Like second nature everyone ceased talking and came to a halt with out question. He reached up and tapped his com link, "This is Colonel Sheppard go ahead."

After a short pause they heard him answer back. "Lower the shield and let him through, then call Woolsey and apprise him of the situation, tell him to meet us in the briefing room, Sheppard out."

He turned to find all eyes watching him expectantly. He cleared his throat and grinned, "Kiryk is here and he found another Runner."

"That man is fast," Rodney commented, "I want a working Wraith tracking device and a wrist teleport thingy."

Sheppard had already mentally added the teleport wrist thingy to his own list right behind a stunner like Ronon's. "So," he said to the group smirking, "who gets to go wake up beauty and the beast?"

"Well," Rodney quickly exclaimed, "don't look at me, that man is trigger happy and I'm needed for this mission and can't risk getting stunned." He looked around the group assembled. "Looks like Cadman draws the short stick since she isn't needed for the mission." He looked at Cadman smugly.

Before she could back out Sheppard spoke up, "Ok, we'll meet in the briefing room in five." Then he did an about face and sped off down the hall with all of the other chickens following quickly behind.

Cadman turned and headed toward Jennifer's quarters not really put out at all about having to wake the sleeping couple up. This would be fuel she could tease Jenn about for months to come. She was just happy to see the girl had finally stopped running.

A/N:

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