The next two missions had little to no problems. Sheppard claimed it was a miracle.

Despite promising never to go off world with Cameron again, Jennifer calmed down after a long, hot shower and venting session with Laura. On their missions or when they were together on Atlantis, the pair avoided each other but were cordial with one another. On missions, they were professional but not overly friendly.

On their fourth mission, Mitchell decided to let go on his vow to not let her out of his sight and paired up with Daniel while Ronon and Jennifer stayed in the village with the healer. The mission on the trip was simple. Learn local healing methods, make friends with the villagers, propose a treaty, and head back to Atlantis. Since the mission was going according to plan, Daniel asked Mitchell if one of the elders could show them some of the historical records they had in an underground room below the chapel. Agreeing, he decided to accompany him.

"Daniel, I just don't get it," he sat, leaning back on a chair while Daniel sorted through some books. "Why doesn't Keller like me? I mean, from the moment I stepped through that gate and walked into the infirmary, it just went downhill. Sure, we had a couple friendly moments. But lately, she's just downright confusing."

Not waiting for an answer, he stood up and began roaming the room. "I mean, I admit. The whole first meeting her did not go very well. But you would think that someone could give you another chance after that?"

Setting a book down, Daniel didn't look up but had an amused expression on his face. "Hmmm.... You know, there's also the embarrassment factor of our mission when we had the gate problem. Then you were going to chop off her hair, which is a big no no to any woman in any galaxy." He went on. "In your defense, Cam, I think you were just plain unlucky to get caught in the cross fires of the whole Sheppard, Ronon, Lorne protective thing."

"See, I know. So what's her problem?"

Trying not to laugh at the obvious, Daniel shrugged. "Maybe you should sit down and talk with her if it's bothering you so much. I mean, we have about three more weeks of missions coming up. And we're scheduled to stay a few more months." Getting an idea in his head, he pretended as if he was half into the conversation, half studying the book in front of him. "Truth is, I feel sorry for the her. She's really sweet once you get to know her, but I don't think many guys go for her since she's so smart."

"What are you talking about? Trying to play matchmaker, Jackson?"

"No, I just know that she doesn't date much, if at all, and it can be lonely. Most guys are probably put off on how smart she is, but that's not the only thing she has going for herself."

Cam stood up and paced. "No, it's not. I mean, she's cute, easy to talk to, compassionate about her work," he remembered comforting her in her office the day the young kid died. "Even when she's mad, it's pretty darn funny to watch. And she's good at what she does. I mean, you should have seen her the day we got to Atlantis and she saved that kid."

"Hmmm" Daniel murmured aloud. "Sounds like you've discovered what's bothering you about her. You're falling for Jennifer."

Cameron paused, stopping in his tracks. "I am not falling for her-"

Mitchell was interrupted with what he was going to say when Ronon came over the radio. "Mitchell. We have a problem."

"On our way," Cameron leaped up and ran out the door. It only took seconds for him to get to the place where he had left Jennifer and Ronon. He heard her yelling through the doorway.

"What kind of idiot doesn't let his wife, whom I may add is dying, take medicine?" Jennifer was seething with rage, nose to nose with a man just slightly larger than herself. A woman, sitting in a chair and looking very ill, nervously wrung her hands in her dress. Ronon began to walk closer, seeing a potential problem. "She needs antibiotics, which I'm giving you. Again, I may add. Last time we were here she had the same illness and obviously never got better."

The man began to advance on Jennifer, startling her. Cameron swore, charged through the people faster than Ronon could, and slammed the man against the wall. "You're going to need to rethink that, buddy. One hand on her and I swear there will be never left for your wife to mourn. If she would even mourn you, I'm guessing."

The man's nostrils flared, enraged he was being embarrassed in front of everyone in the room. When Jennifer agreed to help the most ill in the village while they were there on a routine visit with their allies, many people showed up in the makeshift clinic. "Then maybe you should tell your woman to mind her own business. No woman should be working for anyone except her husband. It's a disgrace to your people," he glanced over to her, spitting in her face.

Something snapped in Cameron's brain. Grabbing the man by the front of his shirt, he plowed his fist into his jaw, sending the man slumped into the corner. His wife screamed but didn't make a move to help the man. Mitchell looked disappointed it only took one punch to shut the man up.

"Keller, pack up," he said. "We're leaving."

With a rag someone handed her, she wiped off her face. Disgusted, she rummaged through her bag. "Give me one minute."

Cameron was still enraged. "Doc, if this man wakes up, I can't promise I won't do permanent damage to him. You have 30 seconds."

She rummaged through her bag and handed the woman a bottle of antibiotics. "Look. If you don't finish this bottle, you're going to get worse. Even die. You need to take this. Hide them."

The woman nodded. Walking over to Jennifer, she bent low. "I'm sorry, miss, about my husband. You were only trying to help me."

Jennifer brushed off the apology. "My advice? Don't make his excuses." Turning to Cameron, she nodded. "Done."

Daniel had come in just as Mitchell sent the man flying. Rejoining the three of them, he looked over at them. "And just when I thought our luck was changing."

They walked back to the gate in silence. Both Mitchell and Keller still looked angry, mulling over their thoughts. Finally, Jennifer exhaled loudly and fell back to walk next to Cameron.

"Thanks," she said, looking at him. "For your help. Back there."

Surprised she wasn't angry at him for nailing the guy, he nodded. "Just wish I could have got a few more in."

She grinned. "Don't tell anyone, but me to. I mean, that guy practically fell over with just one itty bitty punch."

"Hey now," he said. "That was no girly girl punch I threw." Seeing she was kidding, he laughed. "My hand is killing me."

Jennifer stopped, reaching for his hand to examine it, forcing Ronon and Daniel to stop walking as well. Bending his fingers, she was satisfied nothing was broken except for the knuckle that split. Rummaging for a bandage, she began to clean the wound.

Ronon laughed. "Never admit when the hand hurts," he called over, sitting down while they finished. "It kills it for the ladies."

"Hey, I'm not trying to impress anyone here," Mitchell shot back.

Ronon and Daniel just looked at each other, rolling their eyes.

"I thought," Jennifer said. "There are ways to avoid getting hurt when you punch someone. Shouldn't you have thought of that?"

Mitchell winced at the alcohol she poured on the wound. "Yeah. Didn't think much. Just reacted." He didn't want to say much more. Remembering the moment when the man's spit flew onto her face, all he thought about was killing the man.

"What are they talking about?" Jennifer demanded, no longer smiling. Ronon and Daniel seemed to be glancing their way and laughing about something. Well, Daniel was, but Ronon seemed a little amused.

Daniel just grinned. "You know, I'm enjoying this. Do you know," he said, "how much Cameron messes with me over Vala? Now I get my chance." He got up as they began walking again. "Keller and Mitchell, sitting in a tree," Daniel hummed the last part.

"Whoa, Jackson, you're totally off on this one," Cameron began to understand where this was going.

Jackson was on a roll. "OK, just don't let us interrupt. Ronon, I don't know what's worse. The avoiding each other, the fighting, which I admit, can be quite entertaining... always using last names and titles, never using their first names. The flirting, the-"

"We are NOT flirting, Daniel," she marched over and slapped him on the head.

"So you say," he sang out. "So you say..."

After the post-mission briefing, the team went back to their rooms and showered. They agreed to meet back for lunch in an hour.

"Hey Ronon," Daniel said into his communicator, opening up a private channel. "How about we grab something from the kitchen and go see what Sheppard's doing."

Ronon's voice came through. "How come?"

Laughing, Daniel turned so that he could get to the mess hall early to avoid Jennifer and Cameron. "It will give the love birds some time to talk."

There was a pause. "OK. Meet you there."

"Where are Daniel and Ronon?" Jennifer questioned as they awkwardly stumbled through conversation.

"I have no idea," Cameron looked around, desperate for his friend to walk through the door. Ok, this is getting out of hand. Talk to her. "Look, doc. I mean," he stopped. "Jennifer," he used her first name for the first time. "I know things that Daniel said probably made things a little weird."

Blushing furiously, she stabbed her lettuce. "Yeah, tell me about it."

"So you know... and I know... there's nothing between us. Right?" He asked, almost half hoping she would correct him.

Looking up, her eyes seemed a little bright. Was she hoping that I would say something else?

"Right," she said, breaking eye contact with him. "Nothing. Everything is fine."

Cameron's breath hitched. "Because if there was something... that you maybe would want to tell me. You could. You know." Nice, Cam. Nice way to sound like a loser.

"Nothing," she said a little too quickly. Absolutely nothing. Yeah, like there would be any chance he feels the same way about you. You've been nothing but an emotional basket case since meeting him. Feeling hurt and wanting to prove that she wasn't going to mope, she stood up. "Actually, yes. There's something I need to tell you."

"Really?" Cam asked, hopeful.

She brushed her hair out of her face. "It's about tonight. I won't be able to make movie night. I have a date."

He stood quickly, watching as she went to empty her tray. Grabbing his and running after her, he called out. "A date. Really?"

She stopped. "Yes, really. A date. With a man." Getting angry, she walked towards him, lowering her voice. "Men do actually ask me out on occasion. Is that OK with you, Colonel?"

Getting angry himself, he followed her in the hallway. "Yes. No. I mean... who is he? Anyone I know?"

"No," she shot back. "As if it's any of your business."

"Well, what about Ronon? Does he know about this date? And Sheppard," earning a death look, he continued. "Lorne? Who knows this guy?"

"I don't have to clear my dates with anyone, especially you," she practically was half stomping, half charging through the corridors. Her voice was getting louder and a few personnel stopped to stare at the CMO.

Mitchell grabbed her, forcing her to stop. "Yes, you do. I'm your commanding officer."

She snorted out laughter. "Please. I'm not military, remember? Therefore, I don't fall under your chain of command. Colonel."

Reaching her room, she opened the, spinning around before closing it. "Excuse me. I need to get ready." With that, the door shut in his face.

Angry, he spun around and hunted down Sheppard. Finding him with Ronon and Daniel, he glared at the men.

"Lunch? Remember?" Cameron spit out, slamming down in a chair.

"Ah, sorry, Cam. Forgot," Daniel lied. "Something wrong?"

If steam could pour out of Mitchell's ears, it would fill the room. "She has a date." He pinned down Sheppard with a look. "Who is it?"

"Hey," John held up his hands knowing full well who Mitchell was talking about, looking at Ronon. "We stay out of her business now. It's part of self-preservation. Do you know how rough she gets in the infirmary if she hears anything about us know? And how big some of those needles can get? Not to mention when she forces you to walk around in those gowns with the butt flap wide open for all to see. No thanks. Staying out of her business."

"Are we talking about Jennifer?" Daniel asked, amused.

Mitchell's silence confirmed it. Lorne, walking in, saw Mitchell's red face and raised his eyebrows. "What happened?"

Sheppard grinned. "Seems Mitchell is unhappy about one of his crew members going on a date tonight."

Ignoring Sheppard, Cameron looked at Lorne. "Know who it is?"

The major shook his head, who also immediately knew who he was talking about. "But I can find out." Turning on his communicator, he opened a channel. "Lt. Cadman, come in."

There was a moment of silence. "Yes, sir. Cadman here."

"Please report to the secondary meeting commonplace, immediately."

There was another moments pause. "Sir? Anything wrong?"

"Just report, Lt. Over." Lorne sat down. "She'll tell us."

They waited for Cadman to arrive. In a few minutes, she entered the room. Glancing around, feeling a little disappointed Lorne wasn't by himself, she looked at her CO. "Sir?"

"Mitchell wants to know who Jen is seeing tonight. She said she has a date but won't tell him who it is."

Cadman looked confused. Looking at Mitchell's angry face, she slowly began to smile. "Ah. Yes. Date. Umm... Jen and I haven't seen each other in a few days." That part was true. She was trying to quickly pick up what was happening. Getting an idea of what her friend has done, she laughed. "How about I go talk to her and see if she'll swing by with him to movie night?"

Lorne spoke up. "Good idea. Right, Cameron?"

The idea of seeing her with someone made his fist clench. "Sure. Just dandy." He stood up and marched out of the room, still radiating anger off his body.