Physician and Physicist by AndromedaMarine
17 April 2010 0412 ZULU
Rodney slowly returned to conscious thought two days after Team Sheppard pulled him through the 'Gate from M2T-097. He had no headache, no pains, but he began to think that was just the morphine. Blinking, the dull night-shift lights of the infirmary swam into view, as did the distinctive figure of Jennifer, fast asleep on the adjacent bed. A pang shot through him. Finding his voice, he called out in a low whisper, "Jen! Hey, Jennifer!"
She rose onto her elbows, realized Rodney had awoken, and sprung to the ground and his bedside. "Oh, Rodney, finally!"
"Finally what?"
She shook her head at him. "You've been unconscious for two days. I ought to forbid you from getting injured off world. But a lot of good it would do, considering Team Sheppard's track record."
Rodney frowned. "Injured? I don't feel injured. In fact I feel better than I did before the mission."
She drew in a breath. "And you're not on any strong painkillers..."
"No morphine?"
Jennifer sat on the edge of his bed. "Just a mild dose of Advil for the thorn that I pulled from your heel."
The physicist muttered. "Arrows in asses, thorns in heels... What is it with sharp, pointy objects sticking themselves in my skin?"
"Rodney...do you remember anything about what happened on M2T-097?"
He made a sour expression. "Just that we accidentally went in opposite directions of each other, and that when we met up again at the 'Gate it started hailing soccer balls. I remember running for the tree line and then mist... Then nothing, at least until now." He shifted on the bed. "The only person who should go back to that planet is Kavanaugh."
Smiling, Jennifer commented, "John expressed the same sentiment last night before turning in."
"Sheppard was here?"
She sighed. "Rodney, when are you going to accept the fact that your team loves you and that you've known John long enough to call him by his first name?"
"Habit," he muttered. Hastily changing the subject, he asked, "So, when can I get out of here?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Trying to escape from me, Rodney?"
"Oh, no, no, of course not! I just – you know how much I hate the infirmary –"
She interrupted him. "Let me check your heel and I'll walk you back to your quarters."
Instead of answer her, he watched as she pulled the blanket up over his feet and took the injured limb into her hands. She peeled back the gauze pad and inspected the wound. "All better?" he asked lightly.
"Actually...yes. New skin has already formed over where I pulled out the thorn. And it was a monstrous thorn, too. I kept it, in case you wanted to see it."
Rodney made a face. "So I can add it to my collection? No thanks." He flung the covers back and swung his legs over the side. When he stood up his knees felt weak, and then he felt the sharp stab of pain in his heel. He wobbled.
Jennifer instantly seized his hand and threw an arm around him so he wouldn't fall over. "Now does it hurt?"
"Yes, now it feels like I was injured."
She helped him sit back down, and sat next to him so their sides touched. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"I remember the last thing that went through my mind before passing out was how worried you'd be," he said quietly. "I'm sorry that Team Sheppard has been...you know, injured and half-killed too many times to count."
"It's a hazard of being on the front line," she replied. "It can't be helped. You're on the SG-1 of the Pegasus galaxy. You, John, Ronon, and Teyla have the same reputation here that SG-1 has in the Milky Way." Jennifer met his eyes. "Do you want to go back to your quarters or spend the rest of the night here?"
Rodney yawned. "My quarters...if you'll stay with me."
0748 ZULU
Jennifer woke up warm, comfortable, and happy. She lay spooned in front of Rodney, listening to his even breaths and thinking about how much she wanted it to last forever. Sure, she had only been in a romantic relationship with him for less than twelve days, but that didn't matter since they'd known each other for more than four years. She turned to face Rodney, tucked her head under his chin, and smiled as she felt his arms tighten around her.
This is how it was always supposed to be, Jennifer thought sleepily, as the drug of Rodney's scent invaded her brain. This is what Mom meant when she talked about her love for Dad.
Hours later, Carson and Radek respectively covered for the heads of their departments.
A/N: Never mind he was unconscious for two days; this story was unconscious for over a month... I suppose here would be a good place to say that after this chapter, there are only four more left. I'm stopping at 20, dear readers. To borrow a phrase from sienna27, real life got in the way of fake life. R&R!