Disclaimer: I'm only going to say this once: I don't own any of the characters and I'm not making money off of doing this. This is simply for fun.
Note: Sorry I haven't updated. I was having too much fun. Went to the Coachella Fest. I go every year. It's in my backyard (figuratively speaking of course). But okay I'll try to wrap this up. So here goes…
Present Day (April 25, 2009):
Jennifer is sitting on her deck staring out onto the water in front of her. An older couple walks by, holding each others' hands as they stroll along the shore.
"Dr. Keller, welcome back."
"Thanks Claire." Jennifer replies. "Any messages?"
"Another one from your dad."
"I called him today."
"And then a few from some friends. Marie and Teyla." Claire says, handing her notes. "Dr. Beckett called, too. They're a bit worried. I told them you were fine. Marie specifically said that you have to call her as soon as you get back."
Jennifer just nods her head as she flips through the messages. She stops when she sees his name on the slip. And as if on cue, Claire casually says "Ronon Dex also called. Actually, he called everyday."
There are few slips that Claire had accumulated, but after the ninth she had started to just list it down on a piece of notepad paper, with dates on them. And Claire was right, he did call everyday – up until a month ago. Jennifer lifts the paper up, looking at Claire questioningly.
"Yeah, um, he stopped about a month ago."
"Oh." Jennifer says, trying hard not say it with too much disappointment.
"But –" Claire begins, but is cut off by Jennifer's new phone ringing.
"Well I just stopped by to see how things were doing." She says, rummaging for her phone inside her purse. "I see you have everything under control. Good job, and thanks. I will see you –" Jennifer looks at her phone, it's Marie calling, she had called Marie earlier, so she must have gotten her new number then. "Monday." And she turns around and leaves, waving goodbye to Claire.
That was news to her. Claire hadn't said anything to her when she called twice from her unexpected sabbatical. Probably because she always meant to keep the conversation short. She figured that accidentally leaving her phone actually helped in clearing her mind. Only checking in on her dad maybe once or twice a week just to let him know how she's doing and where she's at for the moment.
Phoenix and then Florida. And then New York and then onwards to Paris. And the last was Venice. But seeing couples on those Gondolas, while she was alone in one herself was just really lonely. So she finally came home.
The fact that he called has given her hope.
But he stopped a month ago. Did he get tired? Has he given up? Is he okay? What if something happened to him?
She tried to search for his number. Of course he's unlisted. She should just go straight to the source.
Teyla.
Now that would be an awkward conversation.
It's now or never.
Jennifer picks up her cellphone and dials Teyla's number.
"Hello?"
"Hi Teyla."
"Jennifer?" Teyla says in surprise.
"Yeah." Jennifer says sheepishly.
"Where have you been?" She asks. "We have been calling you. We were so worried. We didn't know what to think!"
"I'm fine really." Jennifer says reassuringly. "I just got back yesterday. I went to work and my assistant, Claire, told me you called a few times."
"We were so worried."
"I know. And I'm sorry."
"Oh, Jennifer…" Teyla sighs. "How do you feel?"
"Stupid."
"We all make mistakes." Teyla tells her comfortingly. "I know I have." In the background, Torren is giggling as a man's voice pretends to scare him.
Jennifer smiles sadly. "But you learned from them." She shakes her head and wipes away stray tears. "I ran away."
"Then go to him." Teyla advises her. "He's been worried sick."
"He stopped calling a month ago. Maybe he's given up." Jennifer says.
"Oh, it's not that. He –" Teya starts to say but is cut off and another voice breaks through.
"Jen! Hey, yeah, he's been really busy. But you know what, he's actually in town." John says over the phone. "He helped me move my stuff back here."
"Hello John." Jennifer says with a smile. Her heart is pounding really hard, though. He's in town.
"Yeah, big move." She can hear him smile over the phone.
"So do I hear wedding bells already?"
"Soon." John answers. In the background she can hear Teyla arguing with John."So yeah, you should go to him, like Teyla says."
They chit chat for a bit and John tells her what hotel he's staying in.
When they hang up the phone Jennifer bends down to put her head between her knees, taking deep breaths. He's in town. He's here! In San Diego.
X
Three hours later, Jennifer is sitting on the floor amidst piles and piles of clothes in her normally neat and tidy bedroom.
"Ugh!" She screams out loud and to herself. "What the hell do I wear?!"
She gets up from the floor and grabs a pair of jeans from a hanger and a plain white t-shirt, pulls it on and grabs her purse.
She slowly walks to her car, taking deep breaths. She chants to herself "I can do this!" over and over again.
Twenty minutes later she finds herself standing in front of the hotel. She taps her feet in apprehension. She throws her hands up and walks away. And then thirty seconds later she quickly walks back and goes through the double doors. Holding her breath.
She stands in front of the elevator with three more people, also waiting. It seems like the time is torturing her and slowly ticking by just to make her more anxious. She thinks to herself If in a minute, these elevator doors don't open then it's a sign that it's not meant to be. She glances down at her watch and again taps her feet. Counting the seconds. In fifty nine seconds, Jennifer is about to turn away, but the doors miraculously open. She sighs and steps in. She presses the button and clenches her fists.
X
It's been ten minutes since she got off the elevator. She's pressed up against the wall, her eyes closed. About four people had gone past her, giving her strange looks. She takes a deep breath and then slowly walks to his room.
Jennifer rings the doorbell.
"Coming!" Ronon's voice. Jennifer's heart starts beating rapidly.
The door is yanked open, and Ronon is standing there in his jeans with no shirt. If she weren't so embarrassed and nervous, she would be drooling by now. Ronon looks surprised.
Then his surprise turns to something close to relief.
"Jennifer." He says with love in his voice. Or was she just imagining it? "You're okay."
She nods.
"I was worried. I didn't know where you were."
"I'm sorry."
"You should be."
Jennifer shifts uncomfortably, looking down at the floor.
"Let me go grab a shirt." He says to her, disappearing from the doorway. The door swings on its hinges as if it was going to close, but it's cracked open enough for Jennifer to see inside.
She rocks on the balls of her feet. It's a good thing she wore sneakers today. Her feet would've gotten cold today, she had forgotten to bring a jacket though. Oh well. Jennifer looks up in time to see someone peek through the bedroom door inside.
Amelia.
In a towel.
Jennifer gasps.
"Babe, could you hand me my lotion?" Amelia calls out.
Jennifer quickly backs out. The pounding of her heart is almost deafening. She walks back to the elevators. Too slow. She walks around the corner and sees the door to the stairwell. She yanks it open and flies down the stairs.
Fifteen minutes earlier:
"Ronon, man, thanks for letting us crash here tonight." Patrick Cole says to him.
"No problem. Glad to help."
"I can't believe my agent forgot to book us a room."
"It's a good thing I ran into you both." Ronon tells him.
"Yeah, tell me about it." Patrick replies. "Too bad I didn't get to go to Lorne's wedding. It's hard to get days off." Ronon just nods, his thoughts far away. "You sure it's okay that we're taking your room?"
"Absolutely." Ronon tells him. "I can always stay with Teyla and John for the meantime." Or maybe if Jennifer and I get to talk… nah! I'm getting ahead of myself here.
"So are you heading out tonight."
"Yup." Ronon answers. Just then, there's a knock on the door.
Ronon gets up and yells "Coming." and walks over to the door and opens it to reveal Jennifer. He's stunned for a few seconds but recovers quickly.
"Jennifer." He says, unable to mask the raw emotion in his voice. "You're okay."
Jennifer nods her head yes.
"I was worried. I didn't know where you were." He tells her, trying to restrain himself from grabbing her to him and not ever letting go.
"I'm sorry."
"You should be."
Jennifer shifts uncomfortably, looking down at the floor.
"Let me go grab a shirt." Ronon says, unwillingly tearing his eyes away from her. Patrick looks at him questioningly but he ignores the man as he unzips his suitcase, tossing a few clothes out to find a shirt and a jacket. And maybe another one, since it seems like she doesn't have one.
"Babe, could you hand me my lotion?" He barely hears Amelia call out, not paying attention as he busily rummages through his suitcase. He finally pulls out another one and quickly walks back to the door to find Jennifer gone.
He looks frantically to the left and to the right. Nothing. He hurries down the corridor to the elevator and sees the light going descending from the eighth floor. The other elevator door opens and he walks through, glad that she's only two floors ahead of him.
It seems like he had been waiting forever for the doors to open. But it finally reaches the ground floor and he quickly gets off, still holding both jackets in his hand. He runs straight to the doorman and asks "Excuse me, did you happen to see a woman, about this high –" Holding up his hand to show him how tall. "Light reddish blond hair, wavy in a ponytail, wearing a white shirt and jeans?"
The doorman thinks for a moment and then says "Yes, I think I did. She actually came in about twenty or thirty minutes ago, maybe."
"Did you see her leave?"
"No I did not." He tells Ronon.
"Then she must still be in the building." Ronon says more to himself.
"Or maybe she took the other door." The doorman suggests.
"Where is that?"
"Yes, to the west side of the building." The doorman answers.
"Thanks!" Ronon says, rushing off to leave.
X
Five minutes later, Jennifer is finally on the ground floor. She's exhausted. Stairs. She hates stairs.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, I think there was someone who was inquiring about you. Ah, uh Mr. Dex. Mr. Ronon Dex." The doorman says to her. Jennifer looks around her tentatively. "He went to look for you at the west side entrance.
"I don't know a Ronon Dex." Jennifer says with pain in her voice. And with that, she walks out into the night.
TBC.
Note: Hope you like this one. I'm doing this on an empty stomach, so I've got food in my brain.:)