Finishing the rest of his juice, Cameron threw the can over the major's shoulder into the bin.
"So, let's summarize my first 20 minutes on Atlantis." Cameron decided to lay down on the bed had moved to when someone had come in for a chair. "I hear that the military leader is critical. I see a young kid stop breathing. I get to assist in a tracheotomy." Evan looked a little ill himself when he heard that. "I insulted the CMO by thinking she was only a nurse and questioned if she knew what she was doing. And then... I almost pass out and throw up on her."
Evan snorted and then caught himself. "Sorry, sir." He wiped the smile on his face. "I'm sure Jen had forgotten about it already."
The use of the CMO's first name had Cameron wondering if he had also just insulted her boyfriend. Wondering if her and Lorne were together, something probably unusual to hear about in the SGC but common in the isolated post of Atlantis, he found himself curious about the young pretty doctor.
"Actually, no, she hasn't." Jen said from the doorway. Ignoring Mitchell, she walked over and placed hand on Evan's arm. Immediately he thought something was wrong, but then she smiled. "John's going to be fine. And I gave Marie the OK for you and SGA-1 to visit." Evan squeezed her hand and made is way out of the room. "One at a time, Ev," she warned, following him.
"Dr. Keller," Cameron called out. She stopped and turned. "I'm sorry about not knowing who you were. I just didn't expect the CMO to be so young. I should be used to it," he went on. "Landry's daughter isn't too much older, but just looks it. It's just you looked like you were in-" he stopped, knowing he was digging a deeper hole.
Amused as his rambling, Jennifer shrugged. "High school? Yeah, I'm used to it." Pausing at the door, she smiled. "You forgot one thing."
Cameron grimaced, thinking he did something else bad. "There's more?"
Leaning on the door, she nodded. "You save that boy's life. One more minute and he would have been gone if you hadn't noticed him."
Turning, went back to the infirmary. Daniel, who had been looking around for Cameron, stepped into the room.
"Oh, there you are." Daniel looked at him. "Why are you laying down? Did Dr. Keller need people to donate blood?"
Rolling his eyes, Cameron decided to just close his eyes for a minute. "Nope. Long story. " Hearing Daniel settle in a chair, he decided to stay where he was for the moment. "So, you know the doctor?"
"What? Oh," Daniel spoke up. "Yeah. She did some training at the SGC and I saw met up with her a few times. She was nice. Smart, shy, from what I remember... kind of jumpy, like she was overwhelmed at the whole situation. Very sweet. Kind. Kept to herself but was friendly. Think her first name is Jennifer. "
Cameron snorted. "Yeah, big no on the shy thing. And not jumpy, at least anymore. I think I may have started off on the wrong foot with her." Thinking back to how she had saved that kids life, minutes after saving Sheppard's from what he could tell, disagreed. "She definitely kept a steady hand since we've been here." He filled Daniel in with what just happened before he arrived. "You should have seen how quick on her feet she was. I mean, I've seen just about everything, but that was incredible."
Daniel, studying the man's face, had a ghost of a smile play over his lips. It was certainly going to be an interesting visit to Atlantis.
The next day, Sheppard's health seemed to be improving. Dr. Keller had kept his visitors to a minimum on the first day, but allowed a few visitors to see for themselves that their leader was OK.
Woolsey requested to speak to Sheppard when he was awake. Not wanting to wear out the man, Jennifer insisted on keeping the visit to ten minutes. Woolsey made his way around the sheet they had pulled to separate Sheppard from a few other patients.
"Sir," John said, sitting up fully in his bed. "Thanks for coming." He looked restless. "I'm bored out of my mind. Any chance you can spring me soon?"
Giving the colonel a smile, Woolsey shook his head. "I don't think that would be wise, John. And I think Dr. Keller outranks my decision in those matters."
Disappointed, but still happy he had a visitor, John looked at him. "So," he said. "What are we going to do? Keller said I'm out for at least a month with my injuries. I'm hoping to shave off a few days or at least a week on her estimates. But in the mean time... what happens to my team? We had several missions planned in the next few weeks."
Sighing, Woolsey shook his head. "We'll deal with it, colonel. You just focus on getting better."
Frustrated, John said "But what is going to happen? Should we combine a few teams up? Lorne's team is split up right now between vacation time and an injury."
Woolsey sat back, about to give his opinion, when another visitor came around the sheet. "Ah, Colonel Mitchell."
Mitchell walked over to Sheppard, reaching for his hand. "Sir, I don't think we've met before. But I've read an awful lot about you in the reports sent to the SGC."
Assessing the man, Sheppard read his uniform. "Mitchell. Lieutenant Colonel. SGA-1. Yeah, we've heard about you out here too. Sounds like you and your team are kicking some major Ori-"
Hearing a throat clear, Woolsey looked at Sheppard with a warning. Over his shoulder stood Dr. Keller, who did not seem pleased about two visitors keeping Sheppard from resting.
"Gentlemen," she began. "While I'm happy that Sheppard is at least not whining about being bored with you here, he's lost a lot of blood. He needs his rest," her eyes moved over to Mitchell. "You, again. Who are you? And who let you in knowing that Sheppard already had a visitor?"
Mitchell, groaning at again getting in the doctor's bad graces, said "Sorry, I'll go."
"Doctor Keller," Sheppard said smoothly. "Have you two met? This is Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell. According to SGC mission reports, he gets banged up more than us." Sheppard looked back at him. John knew if she kicked him out, Woolsey would be next. And then he would be staring at the sheets again. "Seriously, you really get the snot kicked out of you. First you were shot down by Anubis. You landed a pretty long hospital stay there. Then the Sodan warrior dude. Where do you get that kind of bad luck?"
"I'm just blessed with it." Looking at the doctor, he grinned. "And hopefully it won't continue in this galaxy. I have a feeling you guys keep the doctor pretty busy here."
"Colonel," Jennifer warned Sheppard. 'You're not sidetracking me as well as you think you are. Five more minutes. All of you." Walking to her office, she sat down and send a warning look to Sheppard to communicate she was watching him.
Sheppard immediately picked up on the vibes between the young doctor and Mitchell. Watching him closely, Cameron was careful not to look at her too long, as if he was trying to not tempt himself.
Turning to Woolsey, he grinned. "Dang it, I almost got away with it. She's good." He sighed. "Anyways, what plans do you have with Mitchell here? Maybe he can take my spot."
"Colonel, do you not read any of my memo's?" Woolsey said exasperated. "Of course you don't. Colonel Mitchell is here because his own team is in a current hiatus."
"Yeah, hiatus," Mitchell snorted. "Vala is visiting some girlfriends off world. Sam's away doing research. Teal'C is doing Teal'C things with his people. And since Daniel is the resident Ancient expert, the IOA sent him here to help with some research. So I put in a request to join him rather than sit around at the SGC for the next few months."
Woolsey picked up for him. "We thought the colonel could be of assistance to us in different areas on Atlantis. Training, weapons. Plus, the IOA and SGC owed him a favor."
"Yeah, I heard you are into following orders. I never did quite get the hang of that," John grinned.
Mitchell laughed. "I couldn't tell from the mission reports, Sheppard." Glancing back at Dr. Keller, who was looking over at them impatiently, he made it way to leave. "Speaking of following orders, I'm in enough trouble with your CMO to add to it. See you around, Sheppard. Mr. Woolsey." Giving a quick salute to the men and quick look to Jennifer, he made his way to the doors.
Sheppard watched Jennifer's eyes follow him as he left. When she discovered Sheppard was watching her, she blushed and returned to his paperwork.
"I think I just earned you another few minutes," Sheppard said in a low voice to Woolsey. "But seriously, what about putting Mitchell in for me for awhile. Not that I enjoy having a replacement, but it would give Mitchell some off world experience in another galaxy and not put us behind. Ronon is cleared for missions already."
Woolsey cut him off. "But what about Rodney? We're going to have to pull a scientist on and someone military as well to round it out."
Thinking, Sheppard quickly turned back. "What about Daniel? I'm sure he reads all of Rodney's notes sent back to the SGC. And he has the training and experience in combat missions."
The commander moved to stand up, probably taking a cue from Jennifer who was making her way over to them. "Not a bad idea, Sheppard. I'll think about it."
"There's only one problem, sir," Sheppard, giving an evil grin, nodded at Jennifer. "Don't forget who was also assigned to go on those missions."
Woolsey stopped and his shoulders dragged a bit. "Ah. Well, we'll have the usual two teams standing by as usual for... ahem... that situation."
Sheppard laughed, earning Woolsey getting kicked out of the infirmary and a lecture from Jennifer.
Motioning for Lorne to sit next to him later that day, Sheppard lowered his voice. "I think our visiting colonel Mitchell may eventually work his way over and start sniffing around our doctor."
"Sniffing, sir?" Lorne asked.
"Come on, Lorne." John said. "Cut the 'sir' crap. No one can hear us."
Evan nodded. "As in, he's interested in her? Already?"
Both John and Evan did not look happy about that prospect. Wondering, Sheppard figured he better ask.
"So, you don't have feelings towards her in that way... right?" John asked.
"God, no," Evan said quickly. "Brotherly." Turning to Sheppard, he asked, "you?"
"Same," Sheppard said. "Very brotherly. Ronon is, too. He knocked out a marine for asking if she was available after a training session one day."
"So that's what happened. I was wondering about that."
John smiled. "She's just one of those girls you feel you need to protect from the big bad wolf. Innocent. Especially since she's the one who you constantly owe for keeping your ticker going or bleeding to death." He adjusted himself higher in the bed. "You guys have gotten pretty friendly. So that's why I was thinking-"
"No. She's actually just been one of the people here who have been easy to talk with. Wouldn't want to ruin that with complicated it any with a relationship, especially since you're pretty limited to people here," Evan grinned. "Well, I'll say this. If he does work his way to do that... he's going to have a lot to deal with."
"Keep an eye on him," John said. "And if he tries anything you don't like..."
Evan smiled. "I'll give him to Ronon to play with. Or push him over the south pier. Whichever will be more painful."
Suddenly, the screen was yanked open and Lieutenant Cadman walked in, shutting the screen behind her. "You both," she muttered, "are going to get your butts kicked." Remembering herself, she muttered. "Sirs." Not at all taking a respectful tone, she snarled at them. "All this time, I've been trying to set her up only to have the guys wig out and not ask her out. And to find out you've been scaring them away?"
Lorne, looking uncomfortable, backed away and she jabbed her finger into his uniform.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves," she hissed.
Sheppard, wincing at her anger, looked up innocently. "What happens if he hurts her?"
Laura waved her hand. "OK, well then you can do whatever you want to him. After me. If there's anything left." She grinned. "Sirs."