Disclaimer: I do not own SGA or any of the characters.
A/N: This is a very short story based sometime after Quarantine in S4. Mainly a friendship piece, but some hints of a Ronon/Jennifer ship
Sam looked up from her desk on hearing a timid knock on the door. Smiling the Colonel said. "Come in, take a seat."
"Thanks." Jennifer said as she nervously made her way to the chair in front of Sam's desk.
"You want a coffee?" Sam offered.
"No, I'm okay. Thanks though." Jennifer said, knowing she was nervous enough about why she had been summoned without adding caffeine to her system.
"So, how are things going?" Sam asked.
"Pretty much the same as I reported yesterday." Jennifer answered.
"I meant more generally. How are you doing?"
"Me? Fine. Why? Is something wrong? Has something happened to my dad?"
"Jennifer, as far as I know your father is fine. I was just asking how you were."
"I'm fine." Jennifer repeated.
"You sure?" Sam probed. "If there is a problem you can tell me, off the record."
"Have you heard something I should be aware of?" Jennifer asked.
"No, I'm just concerned."
"You are? Why? Are you not happy with the way I'm running the department? Or -"
"Jennifer." Sam cut in again. "I think you're doing an excellent job and I have no problems with Jennifer Keller the CMO. I'm concerned about Jennifer Keller the person."
"You are? Why?"
"It's not been an easy few months for you and after the Bola Kai incident you seemed to shut yourself off, spend more time in the infirmary and that seems to have got worse since the lock down. I'm concerned that you are overworking and you may be trying to avoid unresolved issues."
"Unresolved issues?" Jennifer asked reddening, wondering how Sam knew about the almost kiss with Ronon.
"Yes with the Bola Kai."
"Bola Kai?" Jennifer asked, glad her secret was safe. "No, I've laid those demons to rest."
"Then why are you hiding in the infirmary?"
"I'm not." Jennifer lied.
"Then you won't mind taking part in a new project."
"New project?" Jennifer asked, feeling like Sam was carefully setting Jennifer up to do something she wouldn't want to do.
"Yes. Major Lorne feels that the civilian and military staff are becoming disconnected so wants to arrange a basketball tournament."
"Basketball?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes it's a game." Sam deadpanned.
"I know what it is. But how is making people who have actively avoided playing it all their lives play it going to help?"
"Not all the civilian staff are anti-sports." Sam smiled. "But you are right. To counter that the teams will be made up of both military and civilian, with at least one civilian per team. Following the basketball tournament the same teams will take part in a challenge put forward by the civilians."
"Sounds reasonable." Jennifer said.
"Good, so you'll take part?"
"What? Me? No, no no no. That's a bad idea. I wouldn't know one end of a basketball from another."
"They're spherical." Sam pointed out.
"Not the point. I'm really not good at the whole hand eye coordination thing."
"You're a surgeon." Sam said.
"Internal organs tend not to fly at me."
"Jennifer, I would like all the heads of departments to take part. Especially you."
"Why especially me? Have I done something to upset you?"
"I think it would do you good. It will get you out of the infirmary and interact with the rest of the expedition. You may actually end up enjoying it."
"I'd take avoiding humiliation."
"Whatever goal works for you." Sam said. "So you'll do it?"
"I got the impression I didn't have a choice." Jennifer half muttered.
"The decision is entirely yours, but it would mean a lot to me if you played."
"Fine. What team am I on?"
"You have first choice. You can go with Colonel Sheppard if you'd like or Major Lorne?"
"I'll take Lorne." Jennifer said suspiciously quickly. Not wanting to explain she was avoiding Ronon she explained. "It's his fault I'm doing this, he may as well suffer my bad skills."
"Very well. I believe his team are practising in an hour. I'll let him know you're joining them."
"Great." Jennifer muttered, wishing she would be called to the infirmary. "I better go get ready then."
-00-
"Hey doc!" Lorne greeted as Jennifer entered the gym.
"For the record I hate you right now."
"This plan is really helping the harmony." Sanchez said.
"Come on doc. It'll be fun. Not even you can get into trouble. It's a relatively low contact sport."
"I thought it was no contact."
"No, it's non collision." Lorne corrected. "There will be some contact."
Looking round the gym at Lorne's well built team Jennifer started to fell very small. "Perhaps I could have a position on the bench or cheer on from the side lines….or how about team medic?"
"I tell you what, in addition to your playing duties you can also be team medic." Lorne said.
"Gee, thanks. But don't blame we when your team loses."
"Our team doc. You are part of the team." Lorne smiled. "You ready to go through the rules?"
"No need. Read them before I came."
"You did?"
"Yes."
"Good for you doc." Kemp said. "Does that mean we can play?"
"We can." Lorne agreed. "Two on three. Doc you're with me. We need to get the ball into the hoop. They will try to take the ball off us. Ready?"
"No. Shouldn't we talk tactics?"
"We just did." Lorne grinned as he tossed her the ball.
A/N: Next chapter up tomorrow