-A week later

Laura sat in the infirmary watching the new arrivals get processed as she waited for someone to come and look at a gash on her arm. As he waited she listened to all the lame chat up lines being thrown at the female members of staff, rolling her eyes at the worse of them.

"Problem Captain?" Dr Cole asked, seeing Laura roll her eyes.

"Yes, how do you guys put up with this so calmly?"

"This?" Cole asked confused.

"New recruits and lame chat up lines." Laura explained.

"Bingo." Cole said.

"Excuse me?"

"We all have Bingo cards with an assortment of the lines we hear. As the shift goes on we tick them off."

"How long does it take?" Laura asked as Cole removed the gauze to look at the wound.

"Normally one to two hours. The record is twenty minutes." Cole explained as they heard a raised male voice on the other side of the curtain saying.

"Oh come on. Don't be so cold. You know you want me."

"I said no. Now sit down or beam back to the Apollo." Jennifer said through the curtain, her voice on edge.

"Here we go again." Cole said excusing herself from patching up the Captain to make sure everything was okay.

An hour later Laura was still sat on a gurney in a now almost deserted infirmary. Seeing Jennifer and Cole walk past she called.

"Um doc, you think I can get some service?"

"Sorry Captain." Cole apologised. "I completely forgot you were there. I'll be right with you."

"I'll get this." Jennifer said. "Your shift finished a couple of hours ago. Go get some rest."

"You sure?" Cole asked feeling guilty.

"I'm sure. Tomorrow is going to be busy."

"Okay, thanks." Cole answered before leaving just Laura and Jennifer in the infirmary.

"So what happened?" Jennifer asked.

"Sparring accident. It's not that bad." Seeing Jennifer shake her head she added. "Well if it were I would have bled to death hours ago."

"Sorry you were forgotten." Jennifer said as she started to put in the stitches.

"No worries. Sounded like you had your hands full anyway." When Jennifer didn't respond she added. "So any good offers?"

"Excuse me?"

"You seemed to be getting lots of offers, just wondering if any of them were good."

"This is an infirmary not a dating agency." Jennifer said snapping off her gloves. "You're good to go."

"Thanks. Didn't mean to hit a nerve." Laura said hopping of the bed. "You okay?"

Before Jennifer could respond an alarm rang round the infirmary and the doors slid shut Jennifer muttered. "Not again."

"Not again what?" Laura asked.

"We're in lockdown." Jennifer said, quickly reaching for her radio.

-00-

"What's the news?" Laura asked as Jennifer killed her radio connection.

"One of the new recruits decided to show off and rewrite protocols."

"Sounds bad."

"He tripped a failsafe and now we are locked in."

"How long before we get out?"

"Fourteen hours."

"And seriously?"

"Fourteen. That was McKay's lowest estimate after Sheppard threatened him. He started with Thirty-two."

"But we are not actually in danger?" Laura asked.

"No, just trapped."

"On the bright side all the new recruits are on the other side and locked out." Laura smiled. "How often does this happen?" Seeing Jennifer's confusion she added. "You said, 'not again', implying it has happened before. Just wondering if it happens often."

"This is my second."

"What happened the first time?"

"I got locked in here with Ronon."

"I can just hear the endless chat." Laura grinned. "What exactly did you do?"

"Tried and failed to blow the doors with an oxygen tank."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Awesome. Can we try that now?"

"No. And no blowing anything up." Jennifer said.

"Killjoy." Laura muttered. "So what do you plan on doing for fourteen hours?"

"I don't know. I have a mound of paperwork to get through."

"That's your plan, paperwork?" Laura questioned.

"You have a better idea?" Jennifer asked.

"Sure, we could talk."

"Talk?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes, converse, share information." Laura said, beginning to think it would be a long fourteen hours. "I'll start things off with a question. What's bugging you?"

"Bugging me?" Jennifer asked.

"Yeah, bugging. You know, causing the personality change."

"What change?"

"The happy, friendly approachable person turning into the inapproachable grouch you are currently."

"No offence but you have no idea who I am. You've been here under two weeks."

"Maybe, but Carson did know you and when he talked about you, the words happy and optimistic were used. Not seeing either of those traits now. So what happened?"

"Does it matter?"

"It does to you and seeing we are not going anywhere you might as well spill."

"Let's just say I had a realization and leave it at that." Jennifer said as she started to check supplies.

"A realization? Sounds deep." Laura said walking over to Jennifer's office and pulling a panel off the wall before retrieving a large flask. Having walked back over to Jennifer she poured some of its contents into a cup, which she handed Jennifer adding. "Courtesy of Carson."

"Is this? Are you nuts? We are on duty, kind of. And there is a city wide emergency."

"True, but it is not a real emergency and your shift ended hours ago. Besides we are stuck in here for at least fourteen hours. During which time no one can get in or out and we probably have an armed guard outside. How better to spend our time than get slightly drunk on Carson's favourite drink. Even better we even have toilet facilities here. So…" Cadman said waving the cup at Jennifer who shrugged and downed the contents. Taking the cup back Laura refilled it and drunk the next cup herself.

"So what really happened to you?" Laura asked.

"Why are you asking? To humiliate me further?"

"Humiliate?" Laura asked. "What happened? Has someone hurt you?"

"Like you don't know." Jennifer muttered.

"Okay, I hate to live up to the stereotype of a dumb marine, but I really have no idea what you are talking about."

"Then you are the only one in the city." Jennifer said downing another cup.

"Not the only one. Lorne has no idea, he is really worried."

"He doesn't know?"

"Nope. For the record, neither does Colonel Sheppard or Teyla."

"And you know this how?" Jennifer asked sounding doubtful.

"They're concerned about you. They told me you had changed but no one knew why. And I may have overheard a few conversations I wasn't meant to." Laura said, giving Jennifer another cup of whiskey, which the doctor downed.

After a few minutes silence and another cup of whiskey Jennifer finally said.

"Someone once told me that happy people were either stupid or untrustworthy."

"Sound like a delightful person." Laura commented.

"At the time I ignored him, but he was right."

"You're untrustworthy?"

"No, stupid."

"You remember you are doctor right? That's means not stupid." Laura said.

"Apparently not." Jennifer said sadly. "I was so desperate to fit in I didn't question…"

"Question what?" Laura asked giving Jennifer another drink.

"Why."

"Why?" Laura asked confused.

"Yes, why."

"Why we exist? Why we are here? Why we don't get paid more?" Laura guessed.

"Why they were nice to me. I was stupid enough to think it was because they actually liked me."

Laura sat up straighter and asked. "What exactly happened?"

"After the last mission where I got kidnapped, I went to the gym to talk to Ronon, to thank him really, anyway as I got there I saw Captain Andersen and Lieutenant Shaw by the open door listening in. I walked over and heard the last part of the conversation where Rodney said, 'may the best man win'."

"Win what?" Laura asked.

"Me, apparently." Jennifer said drinking more whiskey.

"How'd you get that from that?" Laura asked.

"I didn't. After that statement Andersen turned and saw me. They, Andersen and Shaw, took me to the bar and filled me in on the rest of it."

"Which was?"

"Short version. Ronon and Rodney were having a bet on who could win me. The whole team was in on it. Ronon had spent weeks training me, pretending to be my friend, in order to win a bet."

"Look, I know I have not been around here for awhile, but for a short time I shared Rodney's head. While he can be egotistical, obnoxious and completely insensitive, none of that is deliberate and he is not malicious. You sure Andersen and Shaw hadn't misheard? Andersen's English was not always great."

"Shaw's was."

"Could have had an ulterior motive, like to annoy you."

"No way to know now." Jennifer shrugged.

"Other than asking Rodney and Ronon." Laura said.

"No point, everything started to make sense."

"What everything?"

"Rodney declaring his undying love, Ronon acting as my shadow, insisting on training me."

"Whoa, did you say Rodney declaring his love?"

"Kind of, he was under the influence of a parasite."

"Wouldn't that make him more likely to tell the truth or complete gibberish? Rather than a pre-planned lie?" Laura argued feeling her brain fog over from alcohol wondering how Jennifer was even manage to string sentences together as the doctor had another drink.

"Who knows?" Jennifer shrugged. "But as they told me the whole conversation everything fell into place."

"Whole conversation?"

"They had been in competition for weeks. The last few weeks had been a complete lie. Should have known then I couldn't trust anyone. What really hurt was Ronon. He knew I never fitted in anywhere, ever. If he was nice to me from pity, that would have been embarrassing, but I could cope. But to know that they view me some sort of winning, that hurt."

For a moment Laura wasn't sure what to say, but sensing Jennifer hadn't finished she gave the doctor another cup and asked. "There's more to this isn't there?"

For a long time Jennifer didn't answer, instead she kept drinking. But finally she said.

"Shaw left. Andersen kept the drinks flowing. When my sorrows were finally drowned, or bubbling under the surface, I decided to call it night. The chivalrous Andersen insisted on walking me back to my quarters, on account of my lack of straight-line ability. He suggested taking a slightly longer route so I could get some fresh air. By then I didn't really care, just so long as I didn't have to see Ronon or Rodney. We walked for a while then he took me onto a balcony on an unused floor. Told me Ronon and Rodney were jerks then told me I deserved better and kissed me. I pushed him away, which he didn't take too well. Told me I had led him on for weeks. I tried to get away, he grabbed my wrist and asked me why I thought anyone on base spent time with me before kissing me again." Jennifer paused and took a breath before continuing. "Then he pushed me back into the wall and I smashed my head and passed out. When I came to he was on top of me, my shirt ripped open, and he was removing my pants trying to, well you can guess. Then I lashed out with my knee. Apparently even intoxicated my knee is a finely tuned weapon. He dropped down and I ran. I was going to go to my quarters but paranoia took over and I went to, well somewhere else. When I finally got back to my room the next day, Andersen had been there, leaving lots of threats and messages along the lines of he had told everyone his version and no one would believe a -, I guess what they said doesn't matter now."

Sobering Laura took Jennifer's hand and asked. "Have you told anyone?"

"Everyone already thinks I'm weak, didn't want to confirm it. Plus I kept wondering if it was my fault-"

"What happened was not your fault." Laura said forcibly.

"Doesn't really matter, Andersen's team went off world first thing the next morning, around the time I discovered the threats. But I did briefly make the decision to tell Woolsey. I made it to Woolsey's office and opened my mouth to tell him, but then I couldn't find the words. So instead I asked to spend more time off world."

"With your record? He must have thought you'd lost it."

"Probably. But he agreed and I thought it'd give me time to clear my head and build up some courage. But after I got back I was called out on a rescue mission for a downed Jumper. It was Andersen's team. They were all dead. Didn't seem any point bringing it up after that."

"You should have told someone, even unofficially." Laura said.

"Yeah well, there aren't that many contenders to tell. Carson died and the new Carson is always off world. Sam left. After them the two people I spent more time with more than anyone else were Rodney and Ronon, neither of whom I wanted to see."

"You do know you live in a city, full of people?" Laura said.

"People like Andersen? I actually thought we were friends. But if that is what friendship is, what's the point. Besides, don't really do the whole social thing." Jennifer said drinking another cup. "Fitting in has never been me, you wouldn't understand."

"Excuse me. Woman Marine who likes blowing stuff up." Laura said waving her hand. "The male Marines don't trust things with breasts. Most women think I'm nuts for being a Marine. Anyone who doesn't fit into category one or two seems to think I'm going to blow them up."

"At least you can take care of yourself."

"So can you. You fought him off." Laura pointed out.