A/N: Thanks to all the of loyal McKeller fans. There are fewer and fewer McKeller stories so I hope some you check them all out. Thanks to Destiny Brighthope and Betherdy Babe for the brief betas. All mistakes are mine.

"Doctor Jennifer Keller?" a female voice asked on the other end of the line.

"Speaking."

"I'm sorry to disturb you this early, but I'm calling from Dean Joseph Martin's office to invite you to a dinner this evening at his residence. I realize this is short notice and apologize profusely because your invitation was returned. I just located your number in your email." The woman sounded like she'd called to tell Jennifer something terrible had happened.

"No need to apologize. I just got in last night. How formal is this dinner?" Jennifer's father drilled the importance of appearance into her at an early age. You must always look your best and be professional. He told her to cut her hair all the time but that was something she refused to do.

"It's at his house so no evening gowns or anything like that. So you will attend?" a relieved voice on the other end asked.

"Sure. I'd love to go." Dad will be excited to hear about this.

"Would you like to bring a guest?" the woman asked.

"No. Just me," she replied losing her excitement. Her eyes drifted to her email, which just flashed up with directions from the dean's secretary.

"Well if you want to bring a guest, it is acceptable. Have a wonderful day, Doctor Keller."

"Thank you. You too." The young woman sighed. Never in her life did she have a date for an event that wasn't her father. Not that I went to many events that required dates in the first place.

Jennifer exited the shower and raced across the room to grab her cell phone. Her workout lasted longer that she'd planned on it, but her concern about the evening made her lose track of time. Stressing out over her appearance and the small talk she'd be forced to make, pushed her to run longer on the treadmill than she wanted. Now I missed my check-in with Dad.

Her father called daily and kept track of her as if she were still at teen, but Jennifer could never begrudge her father his concern. Losing Mom changed him so much. The young woman's respect for all he provided for her growing up made her feel that talking to him daily was the least she could do.

"Hey, I just got out of the shower. Give me a few minutes and call back," she said and clicked the phone off before her father could respond.

Jennifer quickly towel dried her hair, pulled it into a ponytail and yanked on a sweatshirt and jeans. She knew her father would have plenty of advice to give about the evening.

Her phone rang again and she noticed that the number was blocked, which she thought was odd because it usually said Dr Brian Keller when he called. Answering the call she said, "Hi, sorry about that. I've got some exciting news to tell you."

"Knowing you just got out of the shower was pretty exciting," a male voice that was NOT her father's answered.

She felt her face heat up and then the color drain. "Wh-who is this?"

"It's Rodney."

"How did you get my number?" She was stunned as a wave of anxiety went through her. Did he use his government connections to find my number? Comments from her father about men and sex went through her head.

"It was in your email," he replied, his voice not as confident or playful as before.

"In my email?" she questioned. I didn't… Jennifer slapped her forehead. My signature. Her father told her to have a professional signature on her personal email.

Jennifer Keller, MD

Cell: 555-555-1234

"Yes," Rodney drew out the word as an awkward silence settled over them. "I take it you didn't want me to call?"

"No. That's not it at all," she tried to explain. "I'm glad to hear from you. How is Russia?"

"Russia wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be," he said. "Being back here is better."

"Here? You're back in the States?" Jennifer couldn't help feel more anxiety as she realized she not only accidentally put her phone number in the email, she basically begged him to get in touch with her. Talk about leading someone on!

"Got transferred back to Vegas just this week. Looks like we both got home at the same time," he added.

Jennifer smiled at the coincidence. "Looks like this won't be such a long distance call for you. I was going to say the phone bill is going to be really high."

"Well we don't have to talk by phone," he said with a chuckle.

"What do you mean?"

"Come down to the lobby."

Jennifer dropped the cell phone in shock. He's here? Oh, Jennifer, what did you do? Every bad movie involving stalkers her father made her watch came to mind. That's what you get being nice to someone.

Rodney heard a thud and silence. He wasn't sure what to make of it but for a moment he thought grabbing the first flight from Vegas to Boston might not have been the way to go. The excitement when he got off the plane and saw an email from Jennifer with an invitation to continue where they left off was more than he could resist. After taking part in saving the world I should be able to be spontaneous.

"S-sorry. I-I ah, um, stumbled," Jennifer replied. "You're here?"

"Yeah, I didn't have any plans for the weekend other than finding a new cat and I figured we wouldn't have an opportunity like this for a year according to your email." Might as well lay it on the line, McKay. He desperately wanted to see this woman again and she seemed interested so he allowed his insecurity to be pushed aside. She probably hasn't had her morning coffee. "Why don't you come down and I'll get you a coffee? You can show me where since this was your old stomping grounds."

There was silence again and Rodney questioned his decision once me.

"I'll be down in a few," she finally said after a pause that made him check the signal on his phone.

"I'll be here." He hadn't been given a room because it was so early so he was hanging out in the lobby. The desk clerk took his bags to store and they were very excited to find out he didn't mind paying a premium rate since the hotel was nearly fully booked.

A ding from the elevator around the corner lifted Rodney's heartbeat and he found a smile forming that he couldn't wipe off of his face. When Jennifer rounded the corner the smile broke into a full grin as his eyes swept over the petite woman.

Jennifer had obviously lost weight, as her cheeks weren't as full as he remembered them. The bulky Harvard sweatshirt she wore went to the middle of her thigh and her hair was pulled into a ponytail. Her entire appearance spoke of a college student and it increased Rodney's heart rate even more.

"Hello," she said with some hesitation as a slight smile graced her lips. The young woman hadn't put on any make-up except something to add a shine to her lips.

For a second McKay felt as nervous as he did on his first date as a teenager. Her natural appearance only enhanced her beautiful face in his eyes. "Hi. You look great."

"Uh, sure," she said with a knowing smirk.

"Baggy sweatshirts are always in style." Rodney stepped toward her wanting to pull her into his arms for a hug. Probably a bit soon for that.

Jennifer laughed and shook her head. "I see you're still the comedian I remember."

"Russia didn't kick that out of me," he replied as he took in the darting eyes and twisting hands, clutched in front of her. She's as nervous as I am. His natural boldness took over. "Why don't we grab a coffee? I know I could use one."

She hesitated and looked from her sneakers to his face. "Sure. There's a place not far from here, if you don't mind walking?"

"Not at all," Rodney said as he felt her relax when he motioned to the door.

"So how was Russia?" Jennifer asked as they waited to cross the busy JFK Street that ran through Harvard Square.

"Not bad. They discovered my expertise was needed back here pretty fast," he stated, trying not to say too much. Jennifer's easy nature drew more out of the physicist than he'd ever shared with anyone he'd known for years let alone a few hours shared months ago.

"Well I'm glad to see Russian food agreed with you," Jennifer said as her eyes traveled over his frame, enclosed in a tan coat and dark brown pants.

Rodney stopped, put his hands on his hips, tilted his head and in a wounded voice called after her, "Did you just call me fat?"

The physician stopped walking and turned, her face was bright red as she stammered, "What? N-no. Not fat. You were really skinny before and now you look… healthy. Not that you didn't before. I mean…" The desperate woman reached out to grab his upper arm to force him to see her sincerity. "I swear I didn't mean it to sound like something bad."

Rodney wanted to laugh at how upset she looked, her brown eyes wide and her hand, which released his arm, was now wringing the other one again.

"I'm sorry. I'm nervous about tonight and I'm not thinking before I speak," she said.

"What's tonight?" Rodney had a mixture of disbelief-does she mean something's going to happen with us-and concern-does she have a date?

"A dinner with the dean of Harvard Medical School. I just found out about it this morning before you called. I need to make sure I've got suitable clothing, clean shoes and think of tons of small talk topics for the night."

Rodney smiled. "I might be able to help you, if you'd let me. I've been to dozens of these events."

"What makes you think I want you to come with me?" she asked.

"You owe me for the fat comment." He wiggled his eyebrows, gaining a huff from his companion.

"I didn't say you were fat," she said, her agitation obvious in the rapid breathing and flush to her skin.

Those particular physical manifestations were causing Rodney's desire to see her in evening attire or out of it to overwrite his common sense. "You implied it. Besides, being in a room full of voodoo practitioners will be a relaxing change of pace for me."

This time Rodney kept walking and Jennifer stopped with her hands on her hips. "What?"

"Oh come on. Medicine isn't a science." Rodney had this debate all the time with Carson Beckett, the physician assigned to Area 51.

"Excuse me but if you have an allergic reaction to something, I can fix it with medicine developed by chemists and biologists," Jennifer shouted. "If you discover that worm holes exist in outer space, who cares. It's got no practical application, Mister Astrophysicist."

Rodney couldn't help but double over in laughter at her comment. Oh, Jennifer, if you only knew the half of it.

TBC