"Jennifer." Carson said sternly as he entered her office.
"Hey Carson." Jennifer smiled.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"Working."
"Yes I can see that. Why are you working?" He asked with an exasperated tone.
"We're short staffed." Jennifer shrugged.
"But we have it covered."
"I know, but it is still my job to make sure it runs smoothly and all I have done over the last few days is watch other people pick up the slack. Besides there is no medical reason for me not to work."
"We're just worried about you." Carson said more gently.
"And I appreciate that, but I need to work."
"And rest and eat." Carson listed.
"Which I'm doing."
"Really?" Carson asked in a mildly chastising tone.
"Really."
"So why didn't you have lunch?"
"I did. Lorne brought me a tray, which I ate."
"Oh, well that's good." Carson said, the wind taken out if his sails.
"A more important question is why didn't you have lunch?" Jennifer countered, causing the Scot to look a little sheepish.
"Umm, well…" Carson started only for Jennifer to walk over to him.
"Carson, you have no idea how happy I am that you are here, but you need take care of yourself. We are actually reasonably staffed at the moment so why don't you take the afternoon off or at the very least get a late lunch."
"Right, okay then." Carson said leaving the office feeling confused.
"Everything okay?" Marie asked, seeing the perplexed look on Carson's face.
"Is she going to get some rest?" Cole questioned, joining the conversation.
"No, I am apparently."
-00-
"Dr Keller." Caldwell said rapping on her office door as dusk started to hit the city.
"Colonel. What brings you down here, is something wrong?"
"Everything's fine. Just came down to drop some things off."
"What kind of things?" Jennifer asked confused.
"Firstly, some staff. I know it is a temporary fix, but we are shutting the infirmary on the Daedalus whilst we're here. All ten of the Daedalus infirmary staff are at you disposal. Should allow everyone here to have some time off."
"Thank you." Jennifer said smiling. "Wait ten? The Daedalus only has a team of five."
"Turns out there was a deliberate accidental screw up with the roster. Dr Lam sends her apologies. As I said, it is only a short term fix, I have to take them all back when I leave, but a few days rest I hoping will be a welcome respite, especially seeing how your luck seems to be playing up again."
"You heard?"
"Not a story that is likely to be kept quiet. So how are you doing?"
"I'm okay, thanks."
"Good to hear. Don't know if anyone has told you but Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne and Dr McKay have been searching the Daedalus for other hidden people of interest. So far the search has turned up empty. So it looks like you are safe, for now anyway."
"And still no closer to who was behind it." Jennifer said sadly.
"We will find them." Caldwell assured her. "Sheppard may have plenty of faults, but he protects his own. He won't let this drop and neither will I."
"Thank you."
"Anyway, I better leave you to break in my staff. I'd appreciate it if they all come back unscathed." He said beginning to turn before suddenly remembering the box in his arms. "Nearly forgot. Sam asked me to give you this." He said putting the box on Jennifer's desk. "She said don't open it until Christmas."
-00-
Later that evening Jennifer sat in her quarters wondering how to spend her unexpectedly free evening. She looked at the box Caldwell had given her earlier and was tempted to open it. She walked towards the box and carefully picked it up fighting the urge to open it. Finally overcoming temptation she carried the box to her wardrobe and hid it.
Celebrating her minor victory of self-control she turned and decided to start on the paperwork she had ignored for weeks. She was just about to turn on her computer when her door chimed.
"Doc." John said when she opened her door.
"Colonel? What's happened?" She asked.
"Why do you always assume I only want to see you when something is wrong?" John asked.
"Well normally the only time you seek me out is when you or others need treatment and because the only times you have ever been to my quarters is when there has been an emergency."
"Fair points." John conceded. "But today there is no emergency and no need for your medical skills."
"That's good. So what can I do for you? Did your search of the Daedalus find something?"
"'Fraid not. Still in the dark on that. Doesn't look like there will be answers anytime soon. But we will find out who is behind this."
"I know." Jennifer said. "So if there is no emergency and no news what brings you here?"
"Well I heard that you have some time off."
"Thanks to Colonel Caldwell and Carolyn." Jennifer said.
"So, seeing you have the next forty hours off I've come to escort you to movie night."
"I thought movie night was Saturday."
"That's the city movie night. I'm talking about team movie night."
"Team movie night? I'm not in your team."
"Sure you are. So you ready?"
"I don't want to intrude."
"You won't be." John said. "Everyone wants you there."
"Have you spoken to Rodney and Ronon about this?" Jennifer asked, assuming they would not appreciate her presence.
"I have. I repeat everyone wants you there and I'm not leaving without you."
"Fine, I'm coming."
"Good." John smiled in victory moving away from the door to let Jennifer out. As they walked he asked.
"So how are you doing?"
"I've avoided being kidnapped for a few days so pretty good."
"And the whole stress of running an understaffed department?"
"It's fine. The respite for the next few days is good."
"Make sure you get some rest." John ordered.
"That's all I have been doing recently."
"See that's not what I heard. Carson said you were in your office working earlier."
"I was." Jennifer agreed. "But it was a single shift. Half of what Carson worked."
"Carson hasn't just been kidnapped." John pointed out. "You can't fault us for being concerned."
"I know. So what's the movie?" Jennifer asked changing subjects.
"No idea. There is a box of new films waiting in Ronon's room."
"Ronon's room?" Jennifer asked.
"Yeah he is the only one with a complete lack of clutter, which means we can all fit in." John explained as they reached the Satedan's room. Swiping his hand over the sensor John waited for the door to open before walking straight in.
"You're early." Ronon said as John walked towards him.
"Well it took less time than I thought to persuade the doc to come." John said.
"Want me to go and come back later?" Jennifer offered causing both men to say.
"No."
"Take a seat doc, I'm going to get some supplies." With that John left the room leaving Ronon and Jennifer alone.
"How you doing?" Ronon asked.
"Fine, thanks. You?"
"Good."
"You sure you're okay with me being here? I can go if you find this…" She paused trying to think of the right word.
"Find it what?" Ronon asked.
"I don't know, weird, awkward."
"You find this awkward?" Ronon asked.
"A little." Jennifer confessed. "You ran pretty fast from my room the other day and I've not seen you since."
"Sorry. It's hard."
"I should go."
"No." Ronon said grabbing hold of her hand. "I want you here. I just don't know what you want from me. I don't know how to be your friend and be there without scaring you."
"Scaring me?" Jennifer asked confused. "You don't scare me."
"You said you were interested in someone else because you were scared."
"I was scared, but not of you." Jennifer said. "I'm not good at relationships, but I do know they take effort and time, time that I didn't have. I didn't want to ruin what we had so I lied and ruined what we had. But I was not scared of you." Jennifer explained, speaking so fast that Ronon had trouble keeping up.
"Relationships shouldn't be hard or take effort." Ronon said.
"Maybe in fairy tales." Jennifer said. "But in my life, every relationship I have had has failed because I didn't put in enough effort or make enough time."
"Maybe you weren't in a relationship with the right person." Ronon said as his door chimed. Releasing her hand he walked away and let Teyla in.
A/N: Thanks for reading. Next chapter up tomorrow.