Sheppard was bored out of his mind. It was day three in the infirmary. The highlight of his day was when he was allowed to shower and get out of the bed he had been confined to since the surgery. He was driving the nurses mad. He overheard someone say that two nurses went to beg Keller to release him early. No word yet on if they were successful, so he figured he would up the whining today and see where it got him.
Seeing Woolsey walking towards him, Sheppard perked up. Even a visit from the serious man was something John looked forward to these past few days.
"Sheppard," Woolsey said, standing next to the younger man. "How are you feeling today?"
He shrugged. "Bored." Looking up hopefully, the commander didn't look sympathetic.
"Well, Dr. Keller says you've been driving her staff crazy," Woolsey said, disapprovingly. "So I'm hear to offer you a deal. I gave your suggestion some thinking and I have concluded it's a good idea. We're going to patch a new temporary team together and take advantage of the SGC personal visiting the base. Colonel Mitchell's record proves that he can handle the missions we have scheduled. Ronon will be there to help him. Daniel can work on the items we planned on having him look at on days he's on the base, but will otherwise be assigned on Mitchell's team. And Dr. Keller will join them as well."
Sheppard nodded, agreeing it was a good match. "So what's the deal?"
Woolsey perched on the bed next to his. "You have three days to assign them team building tasks to prepare them for missions together. In return," Woolsey said. "I'll see about getting you an early release to your room with visits from the medical team periodically to check and make sure you're behaving yourself. And a wheel chair for mealtimes, crutches once you graduate from that."
Sitting up, John smiled. "Now that's what I'm talking about. When do we start?"
Jennifer left Woolsey's office with a sense of dread. Off world missions and herself just didn't get along lately. Captured once, kidnapped another time... she guessed it wasn't as bad as SGA-1's incidents, but when you figured she had only gone off world a hand full of times. She pointed that out to Woolsey, but he assured her between Mitchell and Ronon, she would be fine. However, she noticed that even the commander looked pessimistic despite his words.
He instructed her to meet Mitchell and the rest of their impromptu temporary team in the infirmary before Sheppard was released. She had given her reluctant approval for his release. Rounding the corner, she entered the infirmary and made her way over to Sheppard's bed. Mitchell and Ronon were already there.
"Hey, doc," Daniel said coming from behind her, gently guiding her around the machines in front of her. "I heard we're going to be teammates for awhile. It will be nice to work with you."
"Hmmm..." she began, warily. "Guess you haven't heard the gossip on Atlantis yet, huh?" He looked puzzled, so she took that as a negative. "Let's just say I'm fully aware of the money exchanging hands when I go off world. Especially from the uniforms. They like to guess what will come up during the mission."
"I still don't understand..." Daniel said.
Sheppard, overhearing their conversation, chuckled. "Don't worry, Jackson. You'll find out soon enough." He earned a glare from Keller. "So... you've all been briefed on Woolsey's decision to slap this team together rather than getting behind while I'm recovering."
Mitchell began to grin. Sheppard noticed and looked at him. "Something you want to share with the class, Cameron?"
He tried to put on a straight face. "Sorry, sir. It's just hard to take you seriously when you're in your pajamas in a hospital bed."
Looking down at Sheppard's white t-shirt and Packer's flannel pants, Jennifer smiled. "You should have seen him in his gown."
"Hey now," Sheppard said. "Show some respect for a man down. Anyways, Woolsey has put me in charge of some team building he figures you all need, especially since you all don't know each other very well."
"Well, we know one thing for sure. Cam knows who the CMO is now. That's a plus," Daniel quipped, ducking when Cameron came out him with a jab. "And knowing him, he'll probably be needing her assistance. I'm sure there's some people in this galaxy who want to kick his butt as well."
Sheppard grinned and felt a twinge of jealousy that he would be missing out. The band of misfits before him looked like they would be an entertaining group. "So each of you will be in charge of a two hour team building activity. It needs to both be educational but also be a time to get to know everyone." Already, he saw Mitchell's eyes light up. "Colonel, I see you're excited. How about you take the first up? Tonight."
"Already got mine covered," Cameron said. "Daniel, don't give it away. And Sheppard, you're going to want to be there for this."
Intrigued, Sheppard was about to accept the invitation but heard a throat clearing. Looking over at Jen, her eyes narrowed. "Will this activity be something the colonel can do while laying down in a bed?" Hearing Sheppard snicker, she blushed. "OK, that didn't come out just right..." Seeing Cameron nod, she questioned him. "OK, now I'm scared. Can't Woolsey get another doctor on this team? I'm feeling a little outnumbered here."
Sheppard shook his head. "Other teams are running pretty thin and so is your staff. Sorry, doc. Teyla's not due back for another few weeks with her people." Turning to Cameron, he grinned. "So where do we meet you tonight?"
"My room, right after supper," he answered. "Dress casual. I'll take care of the rest."
Sheppard approved. "OK, then we still have the rest of you three." He turned to Jennifer, who held up her hand. "Yes? Are we in high school?"
Ignoring his remark, she primly said "I'll take last."
Ronon agreed to do tomorrow morning, and Daniel agreed to do an evening activity later that day.
Cameron rubbed his hands together. "Sheppard, you're not going to want to get rid of me after what you see what I have planned. I'll even grab a wheelchair and bring you over early so you can get a preview."
Sheppard's jaw dropped when he entered Cameron's room. "Holy. Crap."
"Sheppard, it gets even sweeter," Cameron wheeled John fully into the room. Standing before them was a big screen plasma TV. He opened a cabinet that he had just put together from Earth, revealing what was inside. "It stays when I go. SG-1's gift to your team with a little left over funds we had laying around. You have a Wii, X-Box 360, and of course, a PlayStation 3. This duffel bag is full of the latest games. It plays DVD's too and I brought a ton of new releases from Earth. And some classics I thought your people may like."
John still couldn't speak in coherent sentences. "How?" He looked at Cameron.
"Well, I figured you guys didn't have many perks. We had some money left over at the end of the year for training purposes, but we were struggling to agree on how to spend it. I knew I would be coming here in a few weeks and started thinking about what you guys may want. The official paperwork says it's for training purposes and aerobic activity," Cameron laughed. "Sir, are you drooling?"
Finally shutting his mouth, John looked at Cameron. "I think you're going to be named a hero around here. We may have to name a section of Atlantis after you when everyone finds out."
Since he had already set up the gaming consoles, he showed John how they can be connected to Atlantian technology. In the middle of their explanation, Daniel and Jennifer walked in, followed by Ronon.
"So how did he react?" Daniel said, grinning at Sheppard.
"About how we thought he would," Cameron laughed. "He's just now speaking in full complete sentences."
Jennifer walked over to see what the fuss was about. "Oh my gosh, it's a Wii!" She looked at Daniel and Cameron. "We had just started hearing about them when I left Earth. Medical facilities with physical therapy patients were already testing them. How does it work?"
Daniel walked over and started the Wii Fit CD in the console. He showed her how to play and soon had her playing Ronon in a boxing match.
"This is about as close as I'm getting to sparring with you, Ronon," she grinned. Letting the other guys get a chance, she sat down on the floor next to Daniel. Feeling the day catch up with her, she signed and stretched her legs in front of her. They laughed over Ronon and Mitchell's match with each other. Ronon, not used to playing something like this, lost miserably to Cameron.
Laughing, Cameron pounded Ronon on his back. "No worries, my friend. I'm sure you'll make up for that loss in the real thing if we get around to it."
Ronon grumbled. "Count on it."
Jennifer sat back and watched as Cameron put on a war game on the PlayStation 3. He pretended to be serious as he told the rest of them this was important strategy training.
Joining in the laughter, Jennifer felt incredibly relaxed. It was hard for her to completely let her guard down, especially with men. With Laura Cadman, it was easy when it was just them. But for some reason, she found herself incredibly at ease with the group in the room. Looking at Cameron, he heart stumbled just a bit. Well, comfortable with most of them at least. Glancing over at Sheppard, she saw he was getting tired but not wanting to leave. Sending Ronon a silent message, Jennifer motioned over towards Sheppard.
"We better get to bed," Ronon said. "My turn for team building in the morning. 8:00, sharp. Training room."
Everyone groaned. Daniel stood up and turned to help Jennifer up. She found herself at ease and liking the scientist. Smart, like Rodney, but not as boisterous. And he never seemed to complain.
"Colonel," she said. "I heard you've been visiting the young boy that Sheppard brought back."
He shrugged. "It seems like everyone here is pulling extra duties except me. Figured I could spend my free time with him." Cameron grinned. "I've been teaching him Go Fish. Even though he can't talk, we made up signs for anything he needs to say."
She was impressed. And incredibly moved that this man would think about how scared and probably bored that little boy that had to live for months in a strange place. Not to mention with a trach still in place from the extensive neck wound.
She made her way to her room, only to be almost assaulted by Laura as she opened the door. "Where have you been?" she demanded.
Jennifer, entering her room and motioning for Laura to follow, shut the door and went to sit on the bed. "Team building stuff... Woolsey and Sheppard thought we needed it before heading out on our first mission."
Laughing, Laura sprawled on the floor, propping her head up on a duffel bag Jennifer had on the floor. "You have all the luck, girlfriend," she said. "First, you're stuck with the hottest man from the expedition in a room during the fake quarantine. You get to do medical exams on half naked men after every post-mission. And now... Woolsey puts you on a team with Ronon, a hot scientist, and the SGC's most eligible and handsome fly boy."
The young doctor rolled her eyes, bringing her legs to her chest. "I'll have you know, as a doctor, I don't notice stuff like that in the infirmary. I'm strictly professional."
Snorting, Laura sat up. "Ha! What about outside the infirmary?"
A little smile escaped from Jennifer's lips. "I notice some things. Occasionally." Deciding to tease her friend, she went on. "Like tonight, while I was on Mitchell's bed watching the guys play some game-"
"What!" Laura screeched. "You were on Mitchell's bed? Why? Did he flirt with you?"
Snorting, Jennifer layed down on her bed so Cadman didn't see her face. "Absolutely not. We barely talked. I was laying down next to Daniel."
"As in, Dr. Daniel Jackson?" Laura sighed. "Seriously. I'm in the wrong line of work."
Jennifer laughed. "Yeah, it was pretty rough tonight. And weird. I mean, I was the only female in the room. You know, with Ronon and John being there as well."
"And now, you're just bragging," Laura said, throwing a pillow at Jennifer. "So what's on the agenda for tomorrow? Didn't you say you each were assigned something to do?"
Nodding, Jennifer reminded herself to set her alarm and pulled out something to wear. "Ronon has tomorrow. He said we'll be doing some hand to hand training. You should swing by the training room tomorrow." Jennifer stopped and thought to herself. "Oh, no, maybe you shouldn't. I'm never going to hear the end of it if I get my butt whooped."
Laura laughed and left the room. "Count me in."
A few minutes later, just as Jennifer was about to go to bed, she heard the tell tale beep from her ear.
A transmission came through her communicator. "Keller to the infirmary. Stat."
Swearing, she quickly changed into scrubs, assuming it was bad, and jogged to the infirmary. On her way, she ran into the medical team who had an officer on the gurney. From their faces, she could already tell it was bad. About as bad could get. Assessing the man, she moved quickly to inventory his wounds. He had some kind of wound to his abdomen.
"He's not breathing," a nurse shot out.
Jennifer didn't think twice. Shouting for everyone to move aside, she fought her way through the medical team as well as the man's CO. Spying Lorne nearby, she called out to him. "Clear the area. Now."
Mitchell was jogging over, hearing the communication that a man was down. He saw Jennifer hop onto the gurney and began to attempt to bring the man back. She worked furiously at her chest compressions while another nurse worked to get oxygen into his lungs.
"Come on, sergeant. I'm not going to work this hard and not have you come back," Jennifer hissed. She worked for several minutes until finally one of the nurses gently put a hand on her arm.
"Doctor, he's gone." She gently said. They helped her off the gurney. Her hands were covered in blood, as well as her scrubs. Not speaking to anyone, she nodded. With one last look at the man on the gurney, she covered his hand with her own, squeezing it once. When they wheeled him away, she just stood there, starring.
Lorne walked over to her, cuping her face into his hand. He said something to her and then guided her over into the infirmary. He helped her wash her hands. It seemed to jar her out of her daze. Everyone didn't talk, all silently mourning the man they had routinely worked with on Atlantis. Beginning to realize she was covered in blood, she shut the door to her office and quickly changed. Lorne knocked once, asking if she needed anything. She must have said no, and Lorne walked away.
Cameron knew somewhat what she was going through. It was hard being in charge... and hard when someone died under your charge. Waiting for Lorne to pass through, he slowly made his way over to her office. He still didn't know if him and Jennifer were an item, but he decided that this wouldn't be overstepping any grounds even if they were. This was just one team member helping another. Not even knocking, he quietly opened and closed the door.
The confident, competent doctor was no longer there. Instead, he saw Jennifer sitting against the wall, knees to her chest, with tears rolling down her face. She wasn't crying or making a sound. Just staring with those eyes flooded up like a dam slowly overturning.
Not saying anything, he just sat next to her. She didn't move... didn't even acknowledge he was there. He waited for a few minutes until finally speaking.
"I'm not going to say the usual stuff... like you tried your best, it's not your fault... I hate when people give me those lines when someone is killed in action," he said. Jennifer just stared at the opposite wall. After a few minutes, she wiped at her face.
Cameron shifted to grab a tissue for her. Wiping what she missed on her face, he faced her. "How about instead, you tell me about him. What was his name?"
She looked at him, wondering why this man, who was a practical complete stranger, could understand how she felt better than people she had been working with for months. Some even years. Taking the tissue from him, she wiped her nose.
"Henry. Lietenent Henry Fanning," she said in a low voice. "He was one of the newer recruits. Very young. Full of life."
He nodded and moved back to sitting next to her, shoulder to shoulder. "What made him stand out from the others?"
She smiled. "His first personal mission he had when he got here was to try fighting Ronon. Everyone talked about it. Even Ronon heard about him before he even was beamed down from the Daeldlous. He wasn't cocky about it... just wanted to try it. Kinda like people want to try competing at Gladiator TV show. Most don't win, but it's a thrill while you're at it."
He laughed. "Trust me on this, that's not one of my life goals right now. That man is a beast." He was surprised when she laughed back. "So, how did Fanning make out against Ronon?"
"Three stitches to the eye and about five more on the cheek," she laughed. "So pretty well."
Grimacing, Cameron leaned his head back. "Remind me never to make that man mad."
They sat in silence. Finally, she put her head against his shoulder since it was there. "Mind sticking around for a few more minutes? I just don't want my staff to see me like this."
"I have no where else I have to be," he said. They just sat there, silently on the floor in a quiet understanding, until she finally felt ready to move again.