Author's Note:

Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter - much appreciated! I haven't totally finished writing this but most of it is now done - just have the last couple of chapters left to write. I'll start posting chapters quicker once I've got those two chapters done. Thanks for reading!

December 17th

The following morning Jennifer rose with renewed optimism. The talks with Privic the previous evening seemed to go well – the leader of Olesia hadn't thrown them in jail and John hadn't done something stupid like let Ronon make use of his blaster. That might change if Privic didn't let Evan and Eldon go free today but Jenn really didn't think it would come to that. Why else would Privic be so willing to talk at all? No, Jennifer was sure that Privic would do the right thing – he was just understandably reluctant to give up a strong bargaining point before he'd won the agreement he needed from the Atlantians.

"Doc."

Jennifer turned to see John approaching. Privic had assigned them a hut to sleep in once the dinner and talks had concluded. She'd been restless - her mind too full of all the things that could go wrong. It had been a relief to wake to the early morning light after a few hours of sleep - she'd settled on the bench that ran around the outside of the hut.

"Colonel," Jennifer returned, turning her attention back to watching the village stirring with the new day.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, stopping beside her.

"Not really," Jennifer shrugged. "Do you think Evan knows we're here?"

"If he didn't before last night he will now," John replied. "Coughlin seemed confident he could get a message to Lorne."

"That's good," Jennifer began and then stopped. "Or maybe it isn't – is it harder to wait for freedom when you know it's so close?"

"I don't know," John admitted.

"Are we going to help them - the Olesians I mean?"

"Do you think we should?" John asked curiously.

"Yes," Jennifer said with hesitation. "Even without the background Atlantis shares with these people it isn't right for a small group to terrorise so many. Their lives will be hard enough trying to establish a new home without someone coming and taking parts of it away."

"I agree and luckily so does Colonel Carter," John revealed. "Privic will get his agreement."

"You knew you were going to say yes before we even set foot down here, didn't you?" Jennifer's eyes narrowed.

"Ah," John hesitated.

"You let Evan stay in jail overnight when he didn't need to!" Jennifer smacked John's shoulder in frustration.

"Privic's the kind of guy you need to set boundaries with," John shot back defensively, shifting out of her range. "If I'd given in too easily he'd have added more conditions. This way we get Lorne back and Privic thinks he's won a major concession from us." Eying Jennifer he softened his tone. "It was the only way Jenn … and Lorne would expect no less."

"I know," Jennifer sighed, resigned. They were military and the kind of guys who sacrificed their own comforts too easily.

"I'll talk to Privic first thing," John promised.

Nodding, Jennifer turned back to watch the Olessians. It was going to be a lovely day.

"Major Lorne."

Evan moved to the cell door and looked through the opening to see the village elder. "Privic," he returned. "What can I do for you?" Even though he was the one behind bars somehow he still retained an element of commanding the situation.

"I have discussed our situation with your commanding officer as you suggested," Privic began. "He was initially very reluctant but this morning has agreed to help us resolve our issues with Torrell."

Evan held in a grin. Sheppard was an excellent judge of character – no way would he have made it too easy for Privic otherwise there'd be no end to the requests for further help. Take his own situation as a case in point. Eldon had only wanted Lorne to help them come up with a way to fix things – Privic was the one to be lured at the thought of a permanent armed presence by keeping Lorne's team.

"So Eldon and I are free to go?" Lorne asked. No way was he going to leave the jail unless Eldon was also released.

"Colonel Sheppard will live up to the agreement?" Privic asked.

"Once he gives his word he won't break it," Lorne said with quiet confidence.

Privic met Evan's eyes, reading the certainty there, before he gave a sharp nod. "Very well," he motioned for someone out of sight. The guard stepped forward and unlocked the door, swinging it wide open.

Even though he and Eldon had been allowed out of the cell every day it felt much different this time, knowing he wouldn't have to return back there.

As soon as he walked through the door out into the street he was greeted by the running form of Jennifer Keller. She literally threw herself into his arms, so sure that he'd catch her that she didn't hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face against her neck and just breathed her in.

"Evan," she murmured and he could feel the smile on her lips.

"Jenn," he reared back to get a look at her, smiling at the sight of her familiar features. There she was, his beautiful angel … his motivation for pretty much everything these days. "Hi," he said simply.

"Hi yourself," Jennifer replied; and then she pulled him down to her, planting a heated kiss on his lips he had no choice but to return.

After Lorne was filled in on what had been happening on Atlantis during his absence, and after they'd all met with Privic again, this time in a much more amicable atmosphere, Evan gratefully took Jennifer's hand and led her on a walk away from the village. It was dusk and everything had that 'shut down for the day' feeling.

"I'm surprised you're not angry," she commented, the long grass around them rustling as they passed through it.

"Why would I be angry?" he asked, surprised.

"Because I'm here," Jenn said simply.

Evan nodded, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "When Remar mentioned there was a doctor with Colonel Sheppard I knew it was you. You know what my initial reaction was?"

Jennifer shook her head, watching him carefully.

"Relief," Evan admitted. "I was just so damn glad that you were here that it didn't occur to me to worry that you're now a part of this situation too. Sure, I'm concerned about the danger if Torrell and his crew attack before we're ready, but …," he shrugged. "It's already been too long Jenn – I'm glad I don't have to wait those extra days to see you again."

"Me too," Jennifer smiled, wrapping one arm around his waist and holding on tightly. "And I promise I'll stay out of the way and go back to the Daedalus when you need me to if that's what it takes."

"Thank you," Evan smiled. "Good work finding my message," he complimented.

"It took me too long," Jenn shook her head. "I didn't think to ask to see where you went missing at first and when I did it took me hours to go through everything - Rodney took hundreds of photos." She chuckled, seeing the humour now that Evan was no longer missing. "I literally fell asleep at the computer - snapped awake just before my head hit the screen and there it was, your message, right in front of me."

"Well, however you did it, I'm still impressed," Evan insisted, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and squeezing bracingly. "You did great."

They walked in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. "I have been wondering one thing though."

"What's that?"

"When I made you the advent house Jenn it never occurred to me that we'd be separated for so many of those days," he explained. "I admit I've been worried that having that daily message from me wouldn't help you cope."

"Oh, but it did," Jennifer exclaimed. "Your messages had a way of cutting to the heart of every day Evan. Sometimes that made me cry but it also made me laugh too … and appreciate what we have all the more. The only regret I had was that I didn't give you my answer when I had the chance."

"I wanted this to be special Jenn," Evan countered. "I still do. This is the kind of thing that has to go on as normal, despite what we face out here, otherwise the negatives will destroy everything we've worked hard to build."

"But -," Jennifer began.

"Please," Evan spoke quietly. "I don't want to remember our first moments as an engaged couple taking place here … let's wait until we get back to Atlantis, okay?" Maybe it was just a formality now – both of them understood that when Jennifer gave her answer it would be in the affirmative – but Lorne found that it was important to him. He wanted them to start this new phase of their relationship in a strong, positive position.

"Okay," Jennifer said softly. "But if you make me regret that decision there won't be any plane of existence you can hide in where I won't hunt you down and make you pay."

"Duly noted," Evan returned, amused.

"Do you remember what today's message was?" Jennifer asked hopefully. When Evan frowned, she laughed. "I brought some of them with me so I wouldn't get behind but I didn't plan on the Daedalus being delayed an extra day, nor John taking so long to get you released. I ran out yesterday."

"Oh, right, sure," Evan narrowed his eyes, thinking. "Day 17, right?"

Jennifer nodded.

Hesitating Evan admitted, if only to himself, that he felt somewhat awkward. Sharing his thoughts and feelings in written form was a lot easier than speaking them out loud. They sounded fitting on paper … he just wasn't sure they'd have the same impact if he had to tell Jennifer what he'd written. Still, it was her advent house and she'd asked for the day's message – he couldn't refuse.

"You make me want to finish the painting I started the day Carson died," he admitted, shrugging self consciously.

"Oh Evan," Jennifer smiled tearfully, turning to hug him fiercely.

"So, I guess you liked that one?" he commented, running his hands up and down her back in comfort.

"It's beautiful," she returned, still tearful.

"What about day 4 – did you like that one?" he quipped, intent on lightening the mood … or more accurately redirecting it to a different area.

"It had its merits," Jennifer agreed. She gave him a sly and yet also shy smile and his pulse jumped. "Maybe you could demonstrate some of its finer points for me."

"There's no maybe about it," Evan returned, grabbing her hand and swiftly turning towards the fields the Olesian's used for their crops. If he recalled correctly they had a small hut out there that would be unoccupied this time of evening. It was the best he could do for privacy and he knew Jennifer wouldn't mind. They needed the intimacy to put away the emotions of the past couple of weeks … and reclaim the joy any couple in their position would be feeling.

They were almost engaged … and Evan wasn't going to let anything get in the way of enjoying that.