Finally, the last chapter of the Rodney dying arc, as I've come to call it. Thanks Ice. ;)

Jennifer and Rodney languorously ended their kiss, hesitant as they were to separate after having come so close to never being able to do that again. Jennifer in particular was reluctant to break apart from Rodney, especially after she opened her eyes and gazed into his. She hadn't seen that intense spark of desire in his eyes for far too long.

In the end, however, she knew they had to deal with Delilah and she, along with Rodney and everyone else in the room, turned her attention to the Wraith that had saved the love of her life's life.

Delilah stood just inside the door, Todd stationed dutifully behind her, with all the regality one would expect from a Queen. Her eyes were almost aglow as she looked at Rodney, and her satisfaction radiated off her in waves.

"I am pleased to see you awake and well, Rodney," the Wraith Queen said after her visual inspection had been completed.

Jennifer's eyes flitted to Rodney's face and she was surprised to see his cheeks tinged with redness. When he spoke a moment later, she was just as surprised to hear an angry edge to his voice.

"How many did it cost?"

Delilah's eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared for an instant, but she said nothing.

Rodney's hand, which had slipped into hers when she'd turned, tightened its grip around her fingers. "How many lives did it cost to restore mine?"

Jennifer's stomach dropped into her shoes. She'd been so delighted, so thrilled, to have her Rodney back that that thought hadn't even occurred to her. What was worse, she realized as she swallowed the lump that had instantly materialized in her throat, was that she couldn't bring herself to care. Rodney was back with her for a while and that was all she could bring herself to care about.

Rodney however, was a different matter. He edged towards Delilah but stopped when Jennifer didn't move and he wouldn't release her hand.

"How many did you feed on before coming down here, hmn?"

Delilah stepped towards Rodney and for a moment Jennifer felt her heart spasm. What if Delilah snapped at Rodney's tone? What if…

"Three," answered Delilah, and Jennifer could feel Rodney's flare of anger in the tremor that moved through his body, including the hand that was holding hers. Before Rodney could say anything Delilah continued. "I thought you would be happy, Rodney. I have given you back your life. I have given you more time to spend with your family." Her voice lowered and came across as threatening and disappointed at the same time. "I thought that would demand some gratitude."

"Gratitude?" Rodney sputtered. "You killed three people to…"

Jennifer jumped as Delilah hissed and took another step towards Rodney. "I am Wraith, Rodney!" No one gathered in the room could miss the way she deliberately flexed her feeding hand. "I am a Queen! Make no mistake, I will feed when I want and no one or nothing will stop me. I fed before coming here because I wanted to and for no other reason."

Jennifer looked from Delilah to Rodney. She could see his jaw working hard as he tried to sort through what had to be intense and conflicting emotions. When he sighed and his jaw relaxed, Jennifer hoped it meant what she thought it meant.

"I know," he said finally. "I know what you are and you can't help that." He nodded and gave the Wraith a small smile. "Thank you."

Delilah nodded, though her anger was still plainly evident.

"Really," said Rodney. He sighed and shrugged. "Thank you. I never expected to get another chance." He glanced to Jennifer long enough to give her a warm smile and turned back to Delilah. "Thank you, and I'm sorry."

Delilah inclined her head and said, "Apology accepted, and you are welcome."

Rodney nodded and his voice was strained as he said, "But you can't do that again."

For a moment fear enveloped Jennifer, but only for a moment. She knew he would never allow it to happen again, and now that the euphoria of having Rodney back with her was easing, she could understand why and agree with him.

"I have no intention of keeping you forever young, Rodney." Delilah took another step towards him so that they were only a foot apart. "You are my friend," she said softly. "I did not want to see your life end and I had the means to prevent it. But I will not do it again."

Rodney nodded. "Okay."

Delilah nodded and stepped back. "I will expect you to keep your next appointment to update my media files," she announced grandly. Without waiting she turned and walked out of the room, pausing at the threshold long enough to say over her shoulder, "Until then."

Todd followed her out, leaving the five humans staring disbelievingly at the door.

It was Amanda who broke the silence by saying, "Why don't we leave the McKay's alone for a little while."

Before Jennifer knew it, they were alone and she was being kissed by the young (relatively speaking) and firm lips of her rejuvenated husband. She had to force herself to remember that he was no longer the frail man she'd kissed so often over the last few weeks and returned his zealous kiss with equal passion.

Rodney ended the kiss a few moments later and rested his forehead against hers.

"Let's go home," Rodney said.

Jennifer leaned back enough to look into his eyes and heat flooded her entire body. The intense spark of desire she'd seen earlier had grown into a full blown inferno.

"Oh yes," she said, and she squealed in delight as Rodney started dragging her towards the door and what promised to be a very long and very wonderful night.

A/N: "Forever Young" was written by Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart. The version I have in my playlist is performed by Rod Stewart, who rewrote Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" and was released by Stewart on his 1988 album Out of Order.