Physician and Physicist by AndromedaMarine

0900 ZULU

Rodney tried to, but couldn't exactly believe how incredibly lucky he was. Unless some sort of disaster befell the great city (which with their track record, might happen), he had 72 hours to spend entirely with Jennifer. As physician and physicist made their way to the Jumper Bay, Rodney radioed Zelenka to let him know he would be in charge for the next three days, and to make sure Dr. Fox wasn't allowed near any Ancient Tech.

Jennifer's fingers were laced through Rodney's. It felt so natural to be this close after knowing and working with each other for almost five years. It didn't even cross Jennifer's mind that they were hardly taking it "slowly." Physician gave physicist's hand a slight squeeze, elated when she felt him return the pressure. Oh, the wonders of silent conversation.

Rodney started up Jumper Three, and tapped his earwig. "Mr. Woolsey, I'll be taking Jumper Three into orbit."

"Doctor McKay, I'm afraid to ask, but why?"

Rodney cleared his throat and, looking serious, began to speak. "Long-distance calibrations of the deep space satellite sensors in case there are any bursts of low level radiation that would alert us to a potential threat and..." he continued blithering on until Woolsey interrupted.

"I knew I'd be sorry for asking." Rodney could almost see their expedition leader rubbing his temples and shaking his head. "Fine, Doctor McKay. Just make sure you're back before the night shift. Oh, and tell Doctor Keller that I hope your 'mission' goes all according to plan. But then again, when people make plans around here they generally don't work out...as planned." Before Rodney could cough out a reply Woolsey had already disconnected.

His face flushed, the physicist pressed the button commanding the Bay ceiling to open. Jennifer noticed his pink cheeks and laid a hand on his arm.

"You all right? You seem a bit flushed."

"Woolsey...uh...he knows you're with me. In here."

To Rodney's surprise, Jennifer began to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Everyone's going to find out eventually, Rodney. You know, Carson is probably the one who told Mr. Woolsey. And when Carson starts a rumor, it's bound to travel faster than someone going through a wormhole."

Rodney looked at her – stared, really – sort of in shock by what she had said. Eventually. As in she wants to be with me in the future. Wait – who hijacked her body this time??

"Rodney?" The Jumper was still resting comfortably in the Bay. "Atlantica. From space. You kind of have to fly the Jumper off the planet."

He forced his attention to the controls and the HUD appeared. "Right. Space."

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1040 ZULU

They had made one full orbit around Atlantica, but Rodney being Rodney, he had no idea what to do now that he and the physician were alone several miles above the atmosphere.

Jennifer sighed happily and rose from the copilot's seat to stretch, inadvertently causing Rodney to lose focus of reality. Even with the extra boost from his now-natural ATA gene, the Jumper tilted. "Rodney, we're not going back yet, are we?"

Physicist looked out the window and quickly corrected the flight path, then hit the Ancient version of autopilot so it wouldn't happen again. "Sorry. I got… I got distracted." He met her eyes and smiled sheepishly. "I guess it's been happening a lot, lately. Around you."

Jennifer's cheeks turned pink. "I know the feeling."

His throat tightened significantly. Stammering, he said, "I always seem to get nervous and ramble when I'm nervous because – because – "

"Rodney?" Jennifer stood partially in front of him and leaned carefully back against the console.

"Because I like you and I'm wondering why on Earth – why in Pegasus – you wanted to go on a date with me." He expelled a big breath.

Jennifer smiled. "Haven't we already covered this? I prefer gentlemen, and as far as men go on Earth or any other planet, you're the only one I've met who didn't try to get in my pants seconds after we met. While it took you about five years to make a move, I'm confident it will be well worth the wait."

Rodney swallowed. "Certainly there have been other guys who didn't come onto you as soon as you met."

Jennifer shrugged. "Maybe, but you're the first one I've liked in return."

Rodney felt a surge of confidence. He stood (which put his body within inches of Jennifer's) and gently rested his hands on her waist, waiting for her to signal discomfort. She didn't. He cocked his head slightly to the right. "What would you do if I kissed you right now?"

Excitement building, Jennifer said softly, "I'd kiss you back."

Their eyes locked, Rodney began to lean in. He could taste her breath, smell the honeysuckle shampoo she'd used, and just as he felt their lips brush, the loud, obnoxious and tinny voice of Colonel John Sheppard blasted through the Jumper radios.

"Yo, Rodney! What're you doin' up there with Jumper Three?"

Jennifer gave an exasperated groan and let her forehead drop firmly onto Rodney's shoulder. He smells good, she thought. He smells like home. "His meds seriously still haven't worn off? How many CCs were in that syringe?"

"Doc? Jen, what're you doin' up there with ol' Rodney?"

Without answering, but irked that John had called the good doctor by an abbreviation of her first name, Rodney angrily hit the disconnect key and cut John off. "I think now he's faking it just to get in the way. He doesn't have a life."

"He enjoys being an asshole," Jennifer said, smiling when his chest vibrated with laughter. "It's the only thing he's any good at."

Rodney put his hands back on her waist and pulled back so he could see her face. "Where were we before Captain Kirk butted in?"

This time Jennifer leaned towards him. "Right about here." She wrapped her arms around his neck and tentatively pressed her lips against his. The excitement in her belly shot out in all directions and Jennifer pulled Rodney closer to her, kissing him hungrily.

Rodney ran his hands up and down Jennifer's spine, letting himself get lost in the sensations. He couldn't believe he was kissing Jennifer Keller.

Needless to say, Jumper Three didn't return to Atlantis until well after 1230 hours.

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1308 ZULU

Grinning widely, Jennifer pulled Rodney down the deserted corridor. Suddenly she swung around and, breathing heavily, managed to say, "I can't seem to get enough of you."

Rodney McKay still didn't know exactly how to handle the fact that he and Jennifer had been kissing on and off for about two and a half hours. He stopped walking and gripped the physician by the waist. "Jen...god, Jen. I just want to make sure you know who you're talking to. I'm not the kind of guy women like you are usually attracted to." He looked into her eyes. "Jen?"

Jennifer reached up with both hands and pulled his head down. She kissed him hard and didn't release him for about fifteen seconds. When she pulled back she dragged her teeth over his bottom lip. "You don't make me feel like an object, Rodney. You make me feel things I've never felt before."

Rodney fought to regain control of his body. "Wait – what?"

She clarified, though her first admission had been clear to begin with. "I've never felt this way before."

"What do you mean?"

Jennifer kissed him again, then wrapped her arms around his stomach and let her cheek rest against his chest. "Complete."

Poor Rodney stood still, for he had never, ever, had this effect on a beautiful woman before. "Wow," he said finally, smiling.

"Generally 'wow' is a good reaction to get. You know, over the next couple days I hope you can make yourself believe this is real."

Rodney tightened his embrace and kissed the top of her head. "I hope so too."

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A/N: Sorry! I'm sorry this didn't get up last week. You can blame my sis for lending me season 1 of Alias and totally distracting me with Michael Vaughn. :D