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Part 1 is 650 words.

McKeller Flash Fiction:

Better Off

Part 1

"I've always liked blue eyes. She has that going for her." Rodney McKay downed a healthy swig of beer. Too healthy. He drained the bottle. "Not saying yours aren't nice. They're about the nicest shade of brown I've ever seen."

The sudden rosiness in her cheeks had nothing to do with the alcohol Jennifer Keller had imbibed. "Thank you, Rodney."

"I mean it. They're like this perfect chocolatey bourbon." His smile lingered a moment longer than might be proper among friends. "Anyway, they're nice."

"Thank you," she whispered.

A breeze swept through the balcony. Jennifer closed her eyes, allowing the sensation—like fingers running through her hair—to wash over her. When she glanced back, Rodney was staring at her with the most peculiar expression. She beamed.

Quickly looking away, he busied himself tidying up. The empty bottles he stashed in the cardboard sleeve and slipped the bottle caps into his pocket.

One beer remained unopened. By mutual compact these evenings never ended until they finished a six pack. He reached for the beer, but Jennifer beat him to it. Twisting off the cap, she indulged in a slow, lingering sip.

For an instant, she thought he might fight her for the beer. He had once, and before they knew it, they'd been on the balcony floor laughing and playfully wrestling. Both were red-faced when they came to their senses.

Rodney pulled back his sleeve to check the time. In response she stopped drinking.

"Fine," he said, covering his watch. He tried to sound angry but failed to hide his amusement. "What were we talking about?"

"Katie's eyes," Jennifer answered.

His smile faltered. "Katie?"

"Cute redhead. Works in botany. You're engaged to her."

"I know that," Rodney snapped. "I don't want to talk about her. Let's talk about us."

Jennifer's heartbeat quickened. "What about us?"

"We should find a project to work on. Together."

"And let you yell at me all day? No thanks." She nudged his shin with the toe of her sneaker. "I'd rather keep you as my drinking buddy."

"I would never yell at you, Jennifer."

"Rodney, the day you stop yelling is the day you stop caring."

Blushing, he nodded toward the beer. "Are you almost finished?"

Jennifer sighed. "You think Katie is getting worried?"

He shrugged. "I bet Ronon is. If I keep his girlfriend out much longer, he'll be after me with his blaster set on kill."

Both were standing then, gazing out toward the dark horizon. Jennifer turned around and held out the beer. When Rodney reached for it, she caught his hand and spun herself into his arms, pressing her back against his chest, as if they were dancing a tango.

"Je-je-jennifer," he spluttered. "What are you doing?"

Positioning his arm so they could both see his watch, she adopted an innocent tone. "See, it's past Ronon's bedtime. If I go anywhere, it's back to my room. Alone."

She handed over the beer and sauntered to the door. "Hurry. I can't leave until you finish."

Rodney saw Jennifer safely home before heading in the direction of the quarters he shared with his fiancée. Usually Jennifer enjoyed their walks back nearly as much as their time on the balcony. This time she'd been plagued by the gut-churning notion that Rodney might have taken her comment about being alone as an invitation to join her. Equally troubling—the realization that she'd have welcomed his company.

She collapsed, fully-clothed, onto the bed with a groan. You're playing a dangerous game, Keller. You have to stop.

A pair of framed photos decorated her bedside table. One depicted six-year-old Jennifer, missing front teeth and all, on her mother's lap mugging for the camera. The other showed Doctor Keller after her first successful off world mission excitedly hugging Rodney's arm. She was smiling just as broadly in that one.

Stop? She didn't have the remotest idea how.

TBC