Author's Note: Coming in at 491 words, minus author's note, is the next chapter. Happy New Year a day early for those in the Americas and right on time for everyone else! ~lg
oOo
New Year's Eve turned out much differently than either Evan or Jennifer suspected. Late the night before, Jennifer was called to the infirmary to help with a training accident. Ronon and Sheppard had been training Coughlin and Reed. Somehow, Sheppard wound up with a moderate concussion, Ronon needed an insane amount of stitches, and Coughlin and Reed ended up laughing at the entire ordeal. According to their telling of the story, it would have been a sight to see.
After patching up the two men and grounding Sheppard's team to base for the next three days, Jennifer retired for the remainder of the night. She'd just barely awakened from an odd dream about summer camp when her radio buzzed. This time, Carter told her that she was needed off world. An ally's wife had gone into labor, and the baby refused to be born. Jennifer wearily acknowledged the summons and quickly prepared for her trip.
With Sheppard's team grounded, it fell to Lorne's team to escort her to the planet. Jennifer walked into the gate room, working to not blush as she saw Evan standing to one side, fully kitted out and looking dangerously hot. She shook her head, musing to herself that the man needed warning labels. How did he manage to make a P90 appear so. . . sexy?
On the other planet, Jennifer rushed into the birthing room while Evan set up a perimeter. She ran the Ancient scanner over the woman's pregnant belly, determining that the baby was breech as well as in distress. She called for the midwife, quickly explained the situation, and set about performing a cesarean. With the child delivered, she slipped outside to inform Evan that they would have to remain for a few more hours.
Late that night, as she packed the last of her supplies, she sensed a presence behind her. The young mother had been moved to a new room, and this room now appeared as neat as the rest of the house. Jennifer turned, expecting the midwife, and came face to face with Evan. "Major."
He narrowed his eyes. "Doc."
They stared at each other for a long moment. Then, Jennifer glanced at her watch, her eyes widening when she noticed the time. "It's. . . ."
"Happy New Year, Jenn." He stood in front of her for just a moment, and then, as awkwardly as a little boy, leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Before she could respond, he left her alone.
Jennifer touched the spot on her face as she stared at the door. Evan had just kissed her? Granted, it was a brotherly kiss, but she could handle that for now. The idea that he'd thought about their conversation the night before and had bypassed that situation totally touched her. And he'd used her first name. . . .
She really needed to figure out how to ask him out!
~TBC