A/N: Copious amounts of thanks go out to ladygris for her Beta services.

Gracias,

Sandy

The Healing Touch

Chapter 2

The Power of Touch

Sitting with her fiancé, Jennifer felt happier than she had in years. Now that they'd made it official, Evan was more demonstrative in public. Not to the point of being disgusting, but now he kissed her with hugs and not just one or the other, and for longer durations. At the moment, he was holding her hand across the table and smiling though he was talking to Reed. First time ever. And it made her a little self-conscious, as if everyone were staring.

Glancing around the room, she realized that their companions in the Mess Hall had other things to do that were apparently more important than watching the 2IC and his girl hold hands. Even Rodney.

She sat up straighter when she saw him talking and laughing with a woman she'd never seen before. Then she remembered the files on the new arrivals. Her name was Dr. Charlotte Atherton, Rodney's newest brainiac. Or so she thought. From the way they were both laughing, they couldn't have been talking about work. Unless he was telling stories about Radek or John.

Jennifer hadn't seen Rodney so filled with merriment since before she'd announced she was in love with Evan. He hadn't even smiled but a few times since then and it made her sad that he'd been hurt. But to continue to see him, to let him think they had a future when she was in love with someone else, well, it wouldn't have been right. In the end he'd have been hurt even more and that she didn't want. She did love him and if Evan hadn't been in the picture, she could've seen herself spending the rest of her life with Rodney, even knowing that she was settling. He loved her and would have done his best to make her happy. He just wasn't Evan.

"What's wrong, Jen?"

Evan's voice broke into her thoughts. "What? Oh, uh…"

"Hey, who's that with McKay? She new?"

"Yeah. Came in today. Dr. Atherton."

Nodding, Evan let go of her hand to pick up his glass of tea. "I remember the name but haven't met her. It was Teldy's turn to do the meet and greet."

Smiling, Jennifer faced him again but her eyes wanted to stray to Rodney and his new best friend. "How is she handling being third in command?"

"About how you'd expect. It was only natural to go with her. She's got a good head on her shoulders, calm in a crisis. Damn good soldier."

"Uh-huh."

"Next week she's taking over the trips to the planet with the giant cats to give Coughlin a break."

"Great."

"And the week after she's leading the charge up San Juan Hill."

"That's nice." Fingers snapped in front of her face. "Huh?"

Evan was smirking, but in his eyes shone a small amount of misgiving. She didn't seem happy that Rodney had finally moved on. "What is so fascinating over there?"

"I don't know. It's just…he needs to be needed and she…well, she looks like she can take care of herself." She sighed and pulled her gaze back to Evan before pushing away from the table. "I gotta get back to work."

Standing too, Evan wrapped his arms around her and brushed a kiss over her mouth. "Then this'll have to hold me until later."

"Mmm. Ditto."

~~O~~

"…and so my Nana says to Uncle Cecil…" Charlie stopped talking though Rodney didn't seem to notice. She turned to find out what he was looking at and saw a man and woman involved in a public display of affection. Rodney's hands were shredding a paper napkin and she dropped her smaller one on top of them to stop it. "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

"What? Oh, uh, she and I…well, we sort of dated for a while."

"And she didn't feel the same."

He shrugged. "She tried though.

"You see, Lorne had gone missing on a mission. We couldn't find him and the natives were no help. After a while he was declared MIA and everyone went on with their lives, even Jennifer. Then a few months later, allies of ours contacted us with information on his whereabouts. The planet he and his team had been on was in the midst of a civil war. He was captured and put in a prison camp. Within a couple of weeks, he'd planned and executed an escape receiving a serious head injury in the process that caused amnesia. We sent a rescue team and brought him back. Eventually all his memories returned, especially how he felt about Jennifer. A few days later, she made her choice and it wasn't me or Ronon."

"Ronon?"

Rodney smiled again. "You'll know him when you see him because…"

"He's right here." Ronon stood at the end of the table, his thumbs tucked into the waistband of his pants.

Charlie turned to the left, her vision obscured by an enormous expanse of rock-hard abs. Tilting her head back, she finally came to his bearded face. "Oh, my. You're bigger'n a Texas oak tree, aren't you? And probably just as strong."

"What?"

Snorting in irritation, Rodney glared at the Satedan. "Do you mind, Conan? We're trying to have a private conversation."

"Oh, pooh, Rodney. Your friend can join us if he wants." Charlie stood and extended her hand. "Charlie Atherton."

"Ronon Dex." He shook Charlie's hand, careful not to grip it too tight. "Seen Sheppard?" This was aimed at Rodney again.

"Not my turn to watch him." Ronon didn't respond except to turn and walk away. "That, by the way, is a Satedan. Possibly the last of his people left alive."

Though the two men sniped at each other, Charlie could see a bond between them that went beyond simple friendship. Rodney, despite his reputation, was loyal and dedicated to his family, friends and his work in that order. She had a knack for reading people, knowing her assessment was correct no matter that he tried to convince people otherwise. If he was irascible, hot-tempered and ornery, well, he had reason to be. He was the smartest man she'd ever met hands down, even considering the others in his field who'd achieved more recognition, much of it undeserved. At least in her opinion. And the things he'd done were so far above that being done on Earth it would put them to shame if they knew about it.

When she'd received the offer to work for the SCG, she'd been thrilled that the *great* Dr. Rodney McKay had asked for her personally that she'd signed the contract without having her attorney read it first. Imagine her surprise when she found out her posting would be in another galaxy instead of the Earth-based complex.

Taking his hand again, she smiled. "At least he has friends to turn to."

"Yeah, well, sometimes I wonder. Though it was his idea to risk his life and the lives of others to cure me of a disgusting parasite."

"Sounds terrible."

His hand went to the small scar on his forehead. "It was even worse than it sounds."

"I'm sorry." Charlie finished her coffee and stood again. "Maybe you should show me to my room. I'd like to freshen up and get some unpackin' done before bedtime or I won't have anythin' to sleep in."

Though she'd meant it innocently enough, apparently the thought that she might be sleeping in the altogether disturbed his peace of mind. Trying not to grin, she let him lead the way out.

~~O~~

Leaving Charlie at her door, Rodney's mind turned to what he'd seen in the Mess Hall. It had been the first time Jennifer and Lorne had ever kissed like that in public. Both were normally reserved around others, at most, holding hands. He figured they were entitled as they were now engaged though they hadn't set a date yet. The grapevine said the wedding would be in San Francisco, Lorne's home town, but it had been wrong before.

He arrived at his own door, but hesitated to go inside. For some reason his body and mind were not ready for sleep just yet and he didn't know why. Instead, he went to his office to continue the work he'd been doing when Charlie arrived.

Not one to examine his feelings too closely, he decided to make an exception just this once. How did he feel about the woman he loved marrying someone else? While his computer powered up, he tried to remember what it was that he loved about Jennifer and the list popped up in his head. Most of the same qualities were ones he admired in Carson, Sheppard, Ronon and Teyla. Even Lorne. And Charlie.

In the hours he and Charlie had spent just talking-and not about work-he'd gotten to know her fairly well. As well as one could in so short a time. And it was strange but he found himself looking forward to seeing her again. Her smile floated in his mind, the corners of her mouth angled upward causing dimples in her cheeks he found incredibly charming just like her accent. The way she elongated her vowels, dropped her G's…and touched him on the arm or the hand when she wanted to emphasize a point.

He'd never been one to invite casual contact-he wasn't the touchy-feely type though he'd endured it from Jennifer. That in itself was a big clue to why he wasn't as upset about the engagement as he should have been.

Endured.

Yes, he'd put up with having her touch him on the arm for no reason, just in passing or to get his attention. Holding her hand had been pleasant, but not the thrill he'd imagined it would be. And the one and only time they'd made love, well, that had left quite a bit to be desired. Jennifer had brushed off his apology with a smile and a casual "we'll work on it." And in the morning, instead of being cuddled spoon-fashion in the middle of the bed, they'd awakened on opposite sides facing away from each other.

Now that he could see the situation from a perspective that wasn't clouded by emotion, he realized his love for Jennifer was that of a very good friend. Not having been in love before, his almost-engagement to Katie notwithstanding, he'd mistaken a deep and abiding friend love for ever-after love.

The sudden realization, like a loose wire that shocks you when you brush up against it, didn't come out of the blue but had been staring him in the face the entire time. He loved Jennifer, but he wasn't in love with her and that's what he'd meant in the recordings they'd made while he suffered from the Second Childhood.

Deciding to leave work for tomorrow, Rodney headed for the bar, grabbed a beer, and went to sit on the balcony of the highest level of one of the smallest towers in the city. The entrance was hidden, something he'd found by accident while tracking down an errant power surge. Thinking could be done anywhere, but he needed some time to himself to process his insights about Jennifer and this was the perfect place because it had one of the worst views. It faced another tower that blocked most of the sky. Eventually, when they got high enough, he'd be able to see the moons, but now he didn't care. He just wanted to think.

TBC