This is the final chapter. I'm putting this up because I got it ready early and a few readers thought the last chapter was the final one. I would never end a story without the big kiss ;)
Thanks to Bailey1ak again for all of her help editing and encouragement!
"Sounds like everything is going to be back to normal again," Jennifer said later that evening. They'd all surrounded Evan's team after Stevens had been carried away, probably mostly out of comfort that everything was over. "Anderson's going to pull through, Adams is almost out of here, and Miller's on his way out today. Ronon's up and cranky."
Evan turned to her, looking serious. "Well, there's one thing I hope will change around here."
"What's that?" Jennifer asked.
He pointedly looked at her lips and then back to her eyes. "I think there's a certain doctor who needs to be officially taken off the single market."
She grinned, teasing him. "Hmmm... and who's that?"
Impatient and unwilling to wait one more minute to finally kiss her, Evan began to pull her in the direction to a balcony just outside the infirmary hallway.
"Storage closet is closer, you know," she laughed, hoping no one was witnessing this.
"I'm not about to have our first kiss in a closet," he growled. "I have a reputation to uphold and that's not romantic. Especially since everyone thinks Sheppard's the better kisser."
"Ev, you know I just made that up," she said, smiling at him. He just looked at her, eyes narrowing. Then he seemed to remember something.
"Wait, you know what would be quicker?" Evan sent her a look, looking like he was up to something. "I think I owe you a payback. I wonder what these fine nurses, doctors, and everyone else would think if I just up and carried you out of here?"
She glared at him. Seeing he was serious, she dropped the charts in her hands and grabbed on to a metal cart... as if it would prevent him from lifting her off the ground. She squealed as he bent, threw her one arm over his back and lifted her effortlessly off the ground over his shoulder.
"Put me down, Ev!" she screeched, slapping his back half-halfheartedly, which drew even more attention towards them.
"Major, what are you doing?" Sheppard called out, standing next to Ronon. Both men looked on, confused, as a few nurses started clapping. Evan ignored his CO and kept walking towards the door.
Sheppard turned to Ronon. "What in the heck just happened?"
Ronon shrugged, still irritated about getting stabbed with a needle earlier, and began to follow them. Sheppard ran to catch up to him.
Lorne opened the doors and pulled her through, closing them behind them.
He steadied her, pulling her close against him. Feeling like he was going to explode if had to keep his hands off her one more minute, Evan cupped her face and then ran his hands through her hair.
"So that stuff about Sheppard and I was just made up, huh?" Evan grinned, looking down at her.
"Yup. It was my feeble attempt at flirting. And for the record, my bet is on you. Hands down," she grinned, licking her lips. Rising on her tiptoes, she went to brush her lips against him. Evan wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. But just as her lips almost touched his, the doors swished open.
Evan swore and out of habit yanked the gun out of its holster. Surprised, he saw Sheppard and Ronon standing there, Ronon with his own gun drawn.
"What?" he demanded, not removing his hands from Jennifer's waist.
Ronon didn't lower his gun. Sheppard just looked at Evan like he wasn't believing what he was seeing.
"Major, what's going on here? Why are you out here with Jennifer? And why are your hands inches from her..." Sheppard looked like he was at war with the words "behind?"
Glaring at both men, Evan just looked at them. "That wouldn't be any of your business, Sheppard."
Ronon growled.
"You mean you..." Sheppard sputtered, "and the Doc? Seriously? When did this happen?"
Jennifer rolled her eyes, still clinging to Evan. "Ronon, put the gun down."
The man didn't budge. And Sheppard was still looking from Evan to Jennifer.
"Alright, look," Jennifer said, fed up with them both. She pushed away from Evan, hands on her hips, glaring at both men in front of her. "You," she pointed at Ronon. "The gun goes down or I tell every single new recruit who comes through here for physicals before beginning their training with you about the time we spent at the clinic back on M7G-677 late that one night."
"What?" Evan barked.
"Relax," she said calmly behind her shoulder. "The big guy over here completely melted over a two-year-old girl. Sang her to sleep several times for the sick mother I was tending to. Think that would go over well if it ever got out? How would your reputation be then, Specialist Dex?"
Grating his teeth, Ronon just starred at her. Not backing down, she didn't blink. Finally, he dropped the weapon and sulked over to the corner.
"There, now that's better. And John," she called over to him. "You seem to be taking this a little less violently, but I'm sure your reputation as being slow to anger will prove to be correct within the next few minutes. So let's diffuse it now. Take yourself, and your big friend over there, and go back inside."
He didn't make a move. Sheppard just looked at Evan, eyes narrowing. "How long has this been going on?"
Evan began to defend himself when Jennifer interrupted.
"Nope, wrong move, John. Now, wouldn't it be just lovely if a doctor... meaning myself... began dropping hints to Nurse Tricia? It seems that she thoroughly loved going on that date with you. And I figure if I start dropping hints that you've been asking about her... which is a lie, of course... she won't leave you alone. And let me tell you. That woman can be persistent."
Sheppard removed his eyes from Evan and back to Jennifer. Steeling a look at her, he saw she was dead serious.
Backing away, he turned once before him and Ronon left. "Lorne, I swear, if you hurt her-"
"Not going to happen, Sheppard," Evan waved him off. He sighed when they left.
"Okay," Jennifer said, turning. "Now where were we?"
"Oh," Evan said, walking towards her purposefully. "Just about right here." Taking her hands, he put them around his neck and guided her body back to his. "You realize this is going to spread like wildfire. Sheppard won't keep his mouth shut."
"Don't care," Jennifer said, enjoying the feeling of her hands in his hair. "Are you going to kiss me or what?"
"Impatient, aren't we?" he chuckled, deciding to slow things down a bit. "First, I want to kiss you here," he moved his lips to her neck, causing her to shiver. "And then I thought I could also kiss you there," Evan spoke as he trailed his lips across her jawline, stopping to kiss the sensitive area just inches from her mouth. "And then, finally..." he slowly moved her lips to hers. Just as they were a fraction of a centimeter from each other, the doors opened for a second time.
Both of them groaned, looking over to see what the interruption was this time.
"Oh, man," Anderson yelled, clapping his hands. "Sorry, we know we're interrupting, but Sheppard just told us."
Miller wheeled in Anderson while Adams trailed behind, limping slightly.
"We knew it wouldn't be long until you both finally came to your senses," Miller laughed.
"Man, no wonder you jumped on my case that first day we met," Adams joked.
Evan just looked up, wondering how much longer his patience was going to hold.
"Alright, alright," Anderson said, signaling Miller to back into the hallway. "We get it. Don't need us around right now, huh?"
"Some privacy would be wonderful," Jennifer stated, dryly. As the doors closed for the third time in minutes, she yanked out her radio. "Keller to McKay. Private channel."
A moment later, Rodney's voice came on. "Jen, glad to hear your voice. Heard there was quite a commotion in your neck of the woods earlier. What's up?"
She sighed. "Can you get a location on myself and Major Lorne right now?"
"Of course," they heard clicking on his lap top. "You're on the southwest balcony, adjacent to the infirmary."
"Seriously, that's just scary. I mean, Will Smith in Enemy of the State scary," Evan muttered.
"McKay, I need you to lock the doors to the balcony. Temporarily. Say, for twenty minutes. Allow access from the balcony but not from the hall."
Evan laughed. "You really are a genius, huh?"
Fingers flew against the keyboard. Ten seconds later, he came back on. "Is there a problem, Jen?"
"No," she hissed. "But there will be if anyone... and I mean anyone, comes through those doors again in the next twenty minutes."
Static came through the radio. "Do it, McKay," Sheppard's voice came on, somewhat amused. "Doc's getting a little cranky over here."
"Sheppard, I asked for a private channel. How'd you get on here?" Jennifer asked, annoyed.
She could tell he was grinning. "All private channels still get routed through my ear piece. The perks and yet also annoyance of being the lead military in the city."
"Alright, Jen, wish granted," Rodney called over the radio. "And Sheppard, I want details. Lots of details. We have some curious people up in the control room wondering what's going on over there."
Muttering about citrus fruit and hypochondriacs, Jennifer switched off her radio and through it onto the ground.
"Maybe this is all a sign," she said, turning to Evan. "I mean, counting the rain incident the other day, that's the third time we've been interrupted."
"Actually," Evan murmured, grabbing hold of her before she could step away from him, "I think you're right. This all could be a sign."
"I think your sign and my sign aren't matching up," she laughed. "And I think I like your sign better. So tell me, major, what does all of this mean?"
Knowing it was finally the right moment, Evan dipped his head close to hers. "It means that good things happen to those who wait." Closing the distance between their lips, he tenderly kissed her. She sighed, meeting his lips, and wrapped her arms tight around his neck.
"Hmmm..." she murmured against his lips. "You're right... definitely worth the wait."