-Three weeks later
Jennifer was sitting in her office finishing paperwork when she was summoned to the gateroom for an emergency.
"What happened?" She asked grabbing a bag and ordering an emergency team to follow with a stretcher.
"SGA6 are coming through with injured." Woolsey explained over the radio.
"How many?" Jennifer asked.
"At least two." Woolsey answered causing Jennifer to look back at Marie and say.
"Get another emergency team to meet us in the gateroom. Get them to bring another stretcher."
As Jennifer continued to run to the gateroom she wondered why they didn't relocate the infirmary to the gateroom, or at least have a permanent medical presence there.
When her team final entered the gateroom she saw two bodies on the ground, surrounded by other personnel administering first aid.
"What do we have?" Jennifer asked.
"Cadman has been shot in the leg." Wilson said. "Perkins was knocked out."
Heading straight to Laura's side she dropped down by her friend and pulled away the makeshift bandage round her leg.
"Should you be working yet? I mean isn't the point to stop blood loss, not cause it?" Laura asked grimacing.
Ignoring her friend Jennifer examined the wound and the leg before applying pressure to the injury and calling to Wilson.
"Help me move her onto a stretcher."
Immediately the healthy members of Wilson's team moved Laura onto the stretcher as Jennifer checked that Cole had arrived and was treating Perkins. With Laura secured Jennifer nodded to her team leaving Wilson to watch as Laura was carried out of the gateroom into surgery.
-00-
"Hey Marie," John said seeing the nurse emerge. "What news?"
"She's stable. Dr Keller is just finishing up now. She asked me to tell you that the bullet she removed was from a standard issue 9 mm."
"I know." John said. "She was shot by Perkins. Accident apparently."
"Okay." Marie said confused. "I'm sure Dr Keller will be out soon to give you more details."
"Thanks. Umm, did the doc seem okay?"
"Should she not have done?" Marie countered.
"No. I just wanted to make sure she was okay. I imagine treating a friend is hard."
"Being on this type of mission every patient is a friend." Marie pointed out before leaving John to wait for Jennifer.
When Jennifer finally emerged John jumped of the bed he was sitting on and asked.
"How is she?"
"Stable. She should make a full recovery. The bullet missed everything important. Do you know why she was shot by a 9mm?"
"Accident, apparently. Perkins thought he saw something and drew his sidearm. He took the safety off then tripped over a branch. As he hit the ground he shot Cadman and knocked himself out." He explained as Jennifer stretched her back.
"Your ribs holding up okay?"
"They're fine. Just getting use to working again."
"Well make sure you get some rest." John said before offering. "Don't suppose you feel like grabbing some food?"
"No." Jennifer said quickly. "I think I am just going to try and sleep."
"Ok. Make sure you eat something later." John ordered, wanting to say more but not knowing what exactly to say. As he watched Jennifer go he promised himself he would try again the next day with a better game plan.
-00-
"Hey doc." John said as he turned up at her office the following evening. "Can I have a word?"
"Sure, come in." Jennifer said.
"Should you be back to working double shifts?" John asked, receiving a glare in response he swiftly moved on. "How's Cadman?"
"As long as she can pace herself she should make a full recovery."
"She's not being a difficult?"
"No more than any other marine." Jennifer said. "Was there something else?"
"Just wondering how you were doing?" John asked shutting the office door.
"I'm fine. The ribs are fine, just a little stiff."
"And you? You've had an eventful few weeks."
"I'm fine." Jennifer said her focus immediately turning back to her computer.
"That's good." John said frustrated he was failing again. "There's something else we need to discuss though."
"What?" Jennifer asked, paling as she wondered if John had found out what had happened.
"Woolsey and I were reviewing the training logs and well you have not done any of the mandatory training for months. I know before you were training with Ronon, which gave a valid excuse, but we both know you aren't training with him at the moment."
"So you want me to restart classes?" Jennifer guessed.
"Assuming you don't want to resume learning with Ronon, yeah."
"Classes sound good." Jennifer said.
"How soon before you are cleared fit for active duty?" John asked.
"Tomorrow."
"Well there is a class on Friday afternoon and I already know you are not working at three."
"Three it is. Anything else?"
"Umm, no."
"Okay." Jennifer said before turning her attention back to her work.
"Well I'll email you details then." John said more to himself that the doctor.
-00-
"How're you feeling Captain?" John asked as he was leaving the infirmary that Friday.
"Better thank you Sir." Laura said before pointing to his recently stitched head and asking. "Sparring accident?"
"Yeah, got distracted at the wrong moment. So when are you getting released?"
"Tomorrow I hope, although Jenn says next week." Laura replied.
"She doing okay?" John asked.
"I guess. It's hard to talk properly in here, but she seems ok." Laura said as an injured Captain entered the infirmary.
"Price what the hell happened to you? I thought you were training civilians?" John asked as he saw the Captain enter the infirmary holding a bloodied towel over his nose.
"I was."
"One of the civilians landed a punch?" John questioned.
"Yes sir. I was taken off guard." He said causing Laura to laugh.
"What exactly happened?" John asked.
"Well sir, I was demonstrating a throw and a hold. The one where the partner doesn't fight back. Throw went fine, but during the hold Keller decided to fight back. I wasn't expecting it and she landed a punch."
"Where is she now?" Laura asked from her bed.
"Don't know. She ran off."
"Without treating you?" John asked, concerned there was more to the story.
"Yes Sir." He replied as he was ushered onto a spare gurney.
"Where are you going Captain?" John asked, noticing Cadman was making an escape.
"To find Jennifer."
"You can barely walk." John pointed out.
"I can still hop." Cadman said defiantly.
"Chair and that's an order." John said pointing to a wheelchair. "If you want to leave get in."
Mumbling Laura sat in the chair before John asked.
"Where to?"
"Tower five, floor fourteen."
"That's in an unused part of the city." John commented as he started wheeling the Laura out of the infirmary.
"I know."
"And the place where Ronon used to train the doc."
"I know."
"You sure about this?" John pressed.
"Pretty sure."
"Okay then." He said pushing her into a transporter. "You know Captain this is bordering on the I need to know."
"I know Sir, but Jennifer needs to decide that herself. If we push her she is going to retreat." Laura said as John stopped by the door. Seeing John hover she added. "Um Sir, this is something I need to do alone."
"Fine, but I'll be outside."
"Yes Sir." Laura said as she carefully stood and entered the private gym that Ronon had set up for Jennifer months before. As the doors shut behind her she limped over to her friend who sat in the corner.
"Jen?" Laura said softly.
"Laura?" Jennifer asked looking up surprised. "You should be in the infirmary."
"Well I would be, but apparently some doctor decided to put a marine in his place and I'm here to restore pride in the corps." Laura said as she carefully slid down the wall and sat next to the doctor.
"Is he okay?" Jennifer asked.
"His pride is more broken than his nose, but he'll live."
"I didn't mean to." Jennifer said, wiping the tears from her face.
"I know."
"I thought I was over it, but when he was pinning me down I kept seeing Andersen, I thought I was back on the balcony. What's wrong with me?"
"You are suffering from post traumatic stress." Laura said.
"I'm so pathetic." Jennifer said as she pulled her knees to her chest.
"None of that. You are not pathetic. You fought Andersen off. Pathetic couldn't do that. The only thing you did wrong was try to deal with it by yourself. But you're not doing this alone anymore. You've got me and if you get bored with me there are plenty of others ready to take my place."
"You think I should tell the others, Colonel Sheppard and Mr Woolsey?"
"It doesn't matter what I think, what matters is what you want."
"What if they send me back to Earth?"
"Why would they do that?"
"Because I lied to them. Because it was my fault and because they'll realise how weak I am."
"Firstly, it was not your fault. Secondly, you are not weak, nor pathetic. Lots stubborn, but definitely not weak. The only person in this city who views you as weak is you."
For a moment Jennifer didn't respond, but then she rested her head on Laura's shoulder and said.
"Thank you for being a friend."
"Any time."
"But, you shouldn't have come here. You should be in bed in the infirmary and you definitely shouldn't be walking."
"If it makes you feel better I took a wheelchair down here, complete with chauffeur."
"Does that mean there is someone standing on the other side of the door?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Colonel Sheppard." Laura said causing Jennifer to groan.
"Is he mad at me?"
"Why'd he be mad?" Laura asked. "He's worried."
Jennifer sat silently for a moment then drew a deep breath and said. "Let's go. I need to get you back to the infirmary." With that she then stood and offered her hand to Cadman, but as the marine took it she gasped in pain.
"What's wrong?" Laura asked concerned.
"Nothing, just bruised my hand." Jennifer said offering her left hand instead.
"That's why you should never hit a marine." Laura replied as she got up onto her feet and hooked an arm over Jennifer's shoulder, letting her friend take her weight.
When the reached the door Jennifer paused once more causing Laura to say.
"You are going to get past this. I'm here for you."
Weakly smiling her thanks Jennifer swiped her hand and the door opened revealing Colonel Sheppard pacing the corridor.
"Everything okay?" He asked carefully.
"We need to get Laura back to the infirmary. She shouldn't have left." Jennifer said as she helped her friend sit in the wheelchair.
"Jennifer needs to go as well." Laura pointed out as John started to push the chair. On hearing Laura's comment though he stopped and turned to Jennifer asking.
"Did Price hurt you?"
"No, he did nothing wrong." Jennifer said. "I just bruised my hand."
"That's why you don't punch thick skulled marines." John said.