Lorne was sat at the table in the Mess Hall sipping coffee when he noticed the room go very quiet. Guessing the reason he looked up and saw Jennifer had entered. Seeing she too was acutely aware of the lack of noise and was looking uncomfortable he put his cup down and went over to greet her.
"Hey." He grinned.
"Hey." Jennifer replied, not looking round the mess hall.
"You want to grab something to go or are you happy here?"
"Here's fine. I might as well ride it out."
"That's my girl." Lorne grinned as he guided Jennifer towards the food. "Come on let's get you a tray." As he noticed her hesitation he asked. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Sorry, I just forgot how much food was served round here."
"Well Ronon and McKay do have big appetites." Lorne commented as Jennifer grabbed some toast and coffee causing him to add. "Apparently yours hasn't grown."
Lorne helped Jennifer back to his table and let her settle before asking. "So where's Kiryk?"
"In the room. He thought I needed some time alone with you."
"So how'd you two end up together?" Lorne probed.
"It just kind of happened. He rescued me from the Wraith and then looked after me. At some stage things turned serious between us." Jennifer replied, giving a very edited version of events.
"Did he take advantage of you?"
"Evan!"
"You know I have to ask. He did kidnap you."
"He rescued me and if that counts as kidnapping you have some serious jail time waiting for you back on Earth." Jennifer shot back.
"I meant before, your first encounter with him." Lorne clarified.
"That was to help Celise." Jennifer countered before adding. "And no he didn't take advantage of me. If anything it was the other way round."
"Things are serious between you?"
"Yes. So I'd appreciate it if no harm came to him."
"I make no promises."
"Evan."
"Look we all thought we lost you. Now we've got you back we're all going to be more protective of you. If it looks like Kiryk is causing you problems there is nothing I could do to save him. Not that I'd want to anyway."
"He's not going to cause me problems." Jennifer argued. "Can you just accept the fact he makes me happy and try to get on with him?"
"I'll try." Lorne promised.
"Good. So how's your sister? Sheppard only gave me rough details."
"Better than she was. But she's confined to bed until the baby comes, which is driving her crazy."
"She's a bad a patient as her brother?" Jennifer guessed.
"She's way worse than me." Lorne grinned. "But at least it should only be another three weeks." He then sobered and added. "I just wish there was more I could do."
"I'm sure going back and seeing her helped." Jennifer assured him.
"Yeah, but I felt so helpless. We all did." Knowing she couldn't add any more words of comfort she reached across and squeezed Lorne's hand.
"So you want to tell me what happened?" Lorne asked, bringing the conversation back to Jennifer.
"I kinda assumed you would have read the report by now." Jennifer said.
"I have. But we both know there's stuff missing."
"The missing parts are mainly missing because I can't remember them." Jennifer explained.
"I'd be happy with that answer if you hadn't have said mainly."
"It's all in the past now." Jennifer shrugged. "I'm more interested in what happened round here."
"The truth?"
"Yeah."
"Things were bad for awhile. After the bodies were found things changed. Morale dropped, Sheppard got edgier. Less trade deals happened. The whole city got insular. Civilians stopped going on as many missions and the military, well we took less time to pull the trigger. We all wanted to get revenge, but we had no idea who was responsible so we stopped trusting everyone. Eventually things calmed down, there was a large turnover of personnel, and we all fell back into the same routine. Except the infirmary. Your team just couldn't settle. After Carson, to lose you it was too much for some of the team. The highest staff turnover was in the infirmary, not helped by the fact they can't recruit a CMO with sticking power. Carson has been spending more and more time back here, which has helped a bit, but the team need you."
"And you? How are you doing?"
"You know me, I'm always fine. Besides Sheppard has kept me busy with his paperwork." Lorne smiled as his radio bleeped. Waving an apologetic hand at Jennifer he started to speak as Jennifer listened to Lorne's side of the conversation.
"Yes Sir, she's here with me in the Mess Hall…..Yes, just her. ..When d-….understood she'll be there." Having ended the transmission Lorne looked at Jennifer and explained.
"That was Woolsey, he wants to meet with you in ten minutes."
-00-
"Dr Keller, please come in and take a seat." Woolsey instructed. Noticing how nervous Jennifer seemed he tried to give her an encouraging smile. Unfortunately that only convinced Jennifer he was the bearer of bad news.
Once Jennifer had sat down Woolsey asked.
"How are you settling in again?"
"Good."
"And Kiryk?"
"Good."
"Well that's …. good." Woolsey said before moving onto the reason he asked her to his office.
"I have just received orders from the IOA regarding you."
"I'm being sent back?" Jennifer asked dejectedly.
"The IOA are, to put it bluntly, concerned with your state of mind. They have requested that you go back to the SGC for further tests." Woolsey explained. "However, based on the evidence provided by the team here, the IOA have agreed that once the tests have been run and the results are being discussed you'll be permitted to leave the SGC and see your father."
For a moment Jennifer sat in stunned silence, trying to get to grips with the fact she was being sent back so soon. Processing the entire statement she took a deep breath and said.
"I appreciate how much work must have been put into to letting me off the base, so thank you."
"After how we let you down it was the least we could do." Woolsey said. "We will do everything we can to get you back, if that's what you want."
"Thank you." Jennifer said standing before asking. "My father, does he know I'm alive?"
"Not currently." Woolsey confessed. "Colonel Carter has volunteered to tell him the news. He'll know before you arrive."
-00-
"What's wrong?" Kiryk asked as Jennifer entered their new quarters.
"I have to return to Earth. They might not let me come back." Jennifer said, rushing her words. Not knowing what to say Kiryk wrapped his arms round Jennifer. Eventually the doctor pulled away and said. "I'm sorry. You're here because of me and now I'm not even going to be here."
"You'll come back." Kiryk said without a trace of doubt in his voice.
"They might not let me."
"You'll make them. You've survived the Wraith you can deal with your people." Kiryk said drawing a limp smile from Jennifer who eventually asked.
"What will you do?"
"Wait for you to return?"
"It could be a long time."
"You are worth the wait." The former runner said taking Jennifer in his arms once more before finally asking. "When do you have to go?"
"This afternoon." Jennifer confessed miserably, causing Kiryk to hold her tighter.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up on Thursday.