A/N: For those who may not remember all of the details of the episodes First Strike and Adrift I should remind ya'll of Evan Lorne's roll. Major Lorne led a group of F-302's that pulled an asteroid into the path of the Replicator beam buying Atlantis time to fly the City away – well almost that smooth anyway. The F-302s then returned to the Apollo and were to meet up with Atlantis on the new home planet. In case you haven't guessed there will be a little Evan/Marie in this chapter. Reviewing is always awesome…

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

Spoilers: Through Reunion in Season 4

On the timeline: Adrift – Season 4

11 – Floating

Jennifer wandered through the dimly lit infirmary. She hoped all the patients could get some much needed sleep during this brief moment of quite. The city had been in chaos following the strike of the Replicator beam while the city shield had been down. The dire condition of their leader, Dr. Weir, had only made matters worse.

The young CMO walked by occupied bed after occupied bed in her infirmary, but her mind was else where. She'd come so close to losing Elizabeth over and over again today. Just thinking of how close they'd actually come caused emotions to well in her chest nearly overwhelming her.

Jennifer stopped at one of the beds and pulled the chart. She wasn't really looking at it, but rather trying to gain some perspective… a moment to stamp down the emotions. She reminded herself that they'd done it. She'd had an idea and Rodney had put it into motion and saved Elizabeth. He'd reprogrammed the nanites in Dr. Weir's body to not be harmful to her or the expedition. He'd then reactivated them and Elizabeth's healing had begun immediately and swiftly.

Colonel Sheppard had been pissed at them all. Jennifer had known he would be, but that was part of the job. Her course of treatment for a patient always had the potential to upset someone. She couldn't stand by knowing there was something they could do. For Jennifer the motto had never really been 'do no harm' but rather 'do everything in your power to heal'.

Jennifer placed the chart back and continued to roam her infirmary while her thoughts were on Dr. Weir. What Jennifer hadn't anticipated was how upset Dr. Weir would be. Elizabeth was worried about the danger she could put the expedition and the city in having these active nanites in her body. Since the deed had been done, Jennifer tried to focus on the miracle of Dr. Weir fully healed and resting in her infirmary. Having her up and looking healthy infused the city with a sense of hope, despite the situation.

Jennifer saw Marie sitting on the floor in a secluded spot in the infirmary. She made her way over to her friend and slowly lowered herself to the floor.

"How are you holding up, girlie?"

"A little tired, and… I hate to admit," Marie let out her breath, "a little scared."

"Yeah, me too." Jennifer knew the city was running out of power and would be exposed to space soon if McKay and Sheppard didn't come up with a solution.

Like anything in the Pegasus Galaxy, their luck had held long enough to save them from immanent death due to a Replicator beam destroying the city, but not long enough to ensure their safety. The city had fallen out of hyper-space too early and their rendezvous with the Apollo hadn't happened.

"Sheppard must be up to something," Jennifer broke the silence. "He and Rodney came and got Ronon not long ago. I have even seen them in with Dr. Weir for a bit."

"That is why I'm only a little scared and not in an outright panic," Marie jested.

Jennifer looked down at her fingers as she rubbed them together. "I hope to never see needle and thread again," she laughed.

"Same here. I haven't stitched that much since practitioner school." Marie grinned, "Of course you'll need to keep honing that skill with Ronon around."

Jennifer could hear the mirth in Marie's voice.

When Jennifer didn't say anything Marie tried again, "So where did you lead Ronon off to earlier in the day, before we launched this floating city."

"Nowhere, we just went and got a snack," Jennifer shrugged hoping Marie believed the nonchalance she was striving for.

Before Marie could ask any more questions Jennifer tried to change the subject. "I bet Lorne is freaking out."

"You know it," Marie agreed. "He thought it'd be just a few hours 'til we all met at the new planet."

"He is over the moon for you though," Jennifer said with a grin on her face.

Marie had to grin back at Jenn, "Yes he is… but a little too protective."

"No such thing. Especially in the Pegasus," Jenn assured her.

"Did you hear about our fight after Dr. Beckett died?"

Jenn stared at her in confusion, "No, I remember walking in on the two of you making out. I had trouble looking Major Lorne in the eye for weeks."

Marie grinned at her friend before she began to recount the fight leading up to that kiss.

She stood next to Dr. Watson's' bed writing in his charts. She didn't blame him for what happened to Dr. Beckett. There was nothing Dr. Watson could have done at the time, he'd been unconscious. If they had just gotten to him a few minutes earlier they may have been able to save both him and Dr. Beckett.

Marie put down his chart and turned to leave, but was brought up short with a start. Evan was standing there and if Marie wasn't mistaken he looked…well… pissed.

"What's wrong, Evan," she asked concerned. "What happened? Is everything alright?"

"We need to talk," he said in a very low voice, but not so low Marie didn't catch the anger. He clasped her arm loosely, she was sure with every ounce of control he had. He maneuvered them to a nearby empty room and shut the door.

Once he'd secured their privacy he began pacing. "What in the hell were you thinking, woman? Why would you…how could you…" he shook his head, obviously having trouble finding the words. "That had to be the stupidest thing you've ever done," he declared, finally coming to a stop and facing her.

"What…" Marie started, but apparently Evan wasn't finished.

"I can't believe Beckett allowed you to do that," he roared, while he threw his arm out indicating the infirmary and beyond.

By this time Marie had figured exactly what Evan was upset about and her anger was quietly gathering.

"Allowed?" she asked quietly, "He didn't allow, I volunteered." Her voice was rising as what he was upset about sank in. "I'd do it again in a heart beat," she declared as she moved closer to him.

"You could have been killed," he said in disbelief.

"Dr. Beckett was killed," she felt the need to remind him, "but Dr. Watson will live, because of what Carson did."

Marie stepped closer to Evan, trying to keep her anger under control. "Don't tell me you haven't done the same many times for Sheppard's team and the others… even your own team. You put your life at risk every time you walk through that gate. Many of those times you know it before you walk through that puddle," she ground out pointing in the general direction of the gateroom.

"That is my job, Marie," he said in exasperation.

"And this is mine," she reminded him.

"Beckett ordered everyone out," Evan reminded her.

"Yes he did'" she acknowledged, "but he couldn't have done it alone. I stayed because I knew he needed me."

Evan looked up at the ceiling, she watched him take a deep breath and very slowly let it out. He looked back at her, "What about me…I need you, Marie… I need you."

He looked so miserable. Marie took the few steps to him and slipped her arms around him. He remained rigid and resistant. She whispered in his ear, "I'm right here, Evan. I am right here."

She felt him release another breath, just before his arms came around her waist in a powerful hug. He held on like it was all that was keeping him afloat. "You almost scared the life out of me, Marie," she heard him saying. "Carson enacted that lockdown, then we heard you were up here with him. I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe…" he trailed off as he turned his head into her hair holding her even closer.

She tightened her hold in reassurance, "I'm sorry I scared you, Evan…I never meant to scare you. I only meant to help Carson operate on Dr. Watson. That's why I'm here."

Marie pulled back so she could see Evan. "All I can tell you for certain is that I'll always try to be here for you at the end of the day. Where we are…what we do…that is all either of us can promise."

Evan nodded his head before slowly lowering his head towards hers. She was caught in his gaze as he inched closer and closer. She could see all of the emotions warring in his eyes as he searched hers. "You are going to kill me, woman," he lightly accused. His voice softened, "You know that though, don't you?"

She grinned at him before she pulled him in and their lips met. She poured every ounce of emotion and love she felt for this man into the kiss. She felt nothing but the same coming from him. Her hands slid into his hair as the kiss grew in intensity, her last coherent thought being that she wished she wasn't still needed here at work.

"Then," Marie said dramatically, "You rudely walked in and interrupted us."

"Yeah, well, you two obviously needed to get a room," Jenn teased.

"We were already in a room," Marie defended herself, before quickly sobering, "He is definitely going crazy right now."

Jenn reached over and patted her knee, "We'll get there and he'll find you. It's just going to take a little longer than expected."

Both girls were interrupted when a shadow fell across their faces. They looked up to find Ronon standing over them.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked.

Both girls knew who he was talking to and Jennifer stood up, "Sure."

Ronon reached for her hand and lead her out of the infirmary. They only walked a short distance to a more secluded area of the corridor. He never released her hand and she never tried to reclaim hers, in the darkened, quietness of the city, it felt right.

"We are going to leave soon," Ronon said.

Jennifer looked at him slightly confused.

"Sheppard has a plan. We're heading out on a mission," he clarified.

"Can I ask where you're going?"

He looked away and then down at their clasped hands. He knew that she'd find out soon, especially once she heard that Dr. Weir was going with.

"Ok, I take it its dangerous then?" she asked.

He looked back up at her and she understood just how dangerous it must be if he'd come to tell her he was leaving.

"Can I ask you to be careful at least?" she asked.

"I'm always careful," he assured her.

"Your carefulness gets you injured a lot," she said while reaching out with her free hand. She placed it carefully on his chest over the bandaged injury she knew lay beneath.

He moved his free hand to cover hers upon his chest and she felt tears threaten. She knew that exhaustion was playing a factor here, but she was also becoming way too attached to this man.

Ronon released her hands and pulled her in against his chest and held her there. She allowed a few tears to escape before pulling herself together.

"Please be careful," she stated. "Maybe you should shoot for the non-injured kind of careful." She felt the chuckle through his chest.

"For me?" she asked.

"For you," he agreed before releasing her.