Sam sighed and opened another folder. She was still getting caught up on the latest missions from before she arrived, as well as the ones she had ordered. The stacks of paperwork just kept growing, and she was beginning to think they'd never be gone. She looked up from her paper when she heard a gentle knock at the door. Ella stood in the doorway with a smile on her face. Sam smiled up at the young lady, amazed at how quickly she was beginning to fit in, especially in Sheppard's team. She was wearing the usual army green cargo pants with a black v-neck. The only differences were her gloves and her boots. Sam motioned for her to come in.
Ella stepped into the doorway and stood in front of Carter's desk. The blond woman seemed capable, but Ella wasn't sure if she would be capable enough to command Atlantis.
"So, Colonel Carter, what did you call me in here for?"
Sam smiled and reached behind her desk. Ella's eyes widened when she saw the stack of papers that emerged from behind the desk.
"I was thinking that in your spare time you could read these. These are summaries of what I think to be some of the most important happenings in the last six years. It never hurts to get caught up, in fact that's what I'm doing right now."
Ella tried to smile to hide her grimace, but Samantha saw through it and gave her an encouraging smile. As Ella left with her stack of papers, she shouted a goodbye over shoulder.
Katie scanned the mess hall for a place to sit. She rarely ever ate outside the botany lab, but today she had felt the need to get away. When Rodney had asked for a bouquet she had poured her heart into it. It had been perfect, exactly what she would have wanted. The fact that it had been given to Doctor Keller tore at her like a very stubborn thorn. The last few days, when she hadn't been busy at work, she'd had to get out of the lab. So many things had happened there. Rodney had almost proposed. The key word there was almost. Katie sighed as she sat down at an empty table. Almost blindly she began eating her lunch, far too absorbed in her thoughts to taste anything.
Ella entered the mess hall with her nose in another file. She had been spending all her free time reading them, trying to get them done, then found along the way they were extremely interesting. She grabbed a tray and plopped down at the nearest table, unaware it was occupied. When she finally set down the mission report, she saw a very sad woman eating her food very slowly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know someone was sitting here. Do you want me to go?"
The woman looked at Ella for a moment, and Ella saw the depth of sadness in her eyes. As the woman slowly shook her head, Ella scooted closer and placed a compassionate hand on the woman's forearm.
"I'm Ella Dex. What's your name?"
The woman mumbled a soft, "Katie."
Ella smiled and, stuffing a bite of food in her mouth, waited to see how she could help poor Katie.
Soon Ronon, Sheppard, and Teyla had joined her, and Katie had begun warily opening up. Ella could see her climbing out of the pit of despair in which she'd been. But her grasp visibly wavered as Rodney sat down, and suddenly Ella knew the reason for her sadness. Moments later Katie was dismissing herself, saying she had to get back to work, but Ella saw how Katie's glanced flitted to Rodney. She wondered if Katie had also seen Rodney and Jennifer falling apart. It was then Ella decided she would have to take it upon herself to fix this.
Rodney stepped into the infirmary with a smile. A smile which, when he saw the pained look on Jennifer's face, slid into a fear-tinged frown. She motioned for him to sit next to her on the bed and began slowly, staring at her hands the whole time.
"Rodney, I don't know how to say this. Actually, I don't want to say this. I need to say this, however, so I'll stop babbling. I think we should just be friends."
Jennifer glanced up from her hands to try to gauge how well Rodney was taking it. Her eyes met his and saw nothing but raw Rodney. She saw the man she had fallen in love with and wondered why he had hidden until she had decided to break it off. She placed a hand on his, gently starting again.
"Rodney, I really value your friendship, and I don't want to lose you just because we didn't work out. Rodney, you are a wonderful person, and I'm certain you'll find someone. I'm sorry."
The infirmary was flooded with a silence that threatened to drive Jennifer crazy. She was about to start talking again when Rodney finally spoke.
"I understand. If you aren't happy, I'll let you go. See you later, Doctor Keller."
Jennifer winced as Rodney stood and breezed out of the room. As a single, solitary tear rolled down her cheek she hoped he'd come around.
Rodney stormed down the hall. Everyone could tell he was in a bad mood, and they were splitting like he had the plague, as usual. Rodney's grimace slipped into a scowl and his steps grew even more determined. He wasn't expecting the hand on his forearm that stopped him right as he entered his lab. He whirled around, ready to explode on anyone for anything. He was a genius, after all, surely he could come up with something. He decided against exploding when he saw Ella. He wasn't quite brave enough to blow up on her unprovoked. He went for extreme irritation instead in the hope that she'd leave.
"What?" Generally when he went monosyllabic everyone went scurrying for cover, but Ella simply tilted her head in curiosity.
"What was between you and Katie?"
"I almost asked her to marry me. Why-"
"Does she know you almost asked her to marry you?"
"Yes, but I don't see how this-"
"Did you see how upset she was today?"
"No, but I-"
"How long-"
This time it was Rodney's turn to interrupt, and he did so quite harshly. "Listen, you unbearable pain, I do not feel like playing twenty questions right now. I just lost the best thing that ever happened to me, but you don't really care about that, do you?"
Ella's eyes hardened with resolution as she let his insults roll off her back. "Rodney," she began softly, "I know you're probably hurting right now. I'm also aware that probably seemed like the largest understatement this side of Pegasus. However, there is a very nice lady who is crazy for you."
Rodney's shield of ice melted as stunned curiosity covered his face. "Really, who?"
Ella smiled coyly. "I think I might let you figure that out for yourself." She punctuated the syllables of 'yourself' by poking Rodney twice in the center of his chest. After flashing another perky smile, Ella pranced out of the room. Rodney plopped down on one of his stools and smiled to himself. Maybe his life wasn't over.