"You have everything you need?" Cam asked, placing Jennifer's bag on the table in her quarters aboard the Apollo. When Jennifer silently nodded he sat next to her on her bunk and said. "Promise me you'll take care of yourself. Make sure you rest that leg and no touching things off-world."
"As soon as I get back to Atlantis, I'm not planning on going on any off-world adventures for a long time." Jennifer assured him. Seeing the sadness in her eyes Cam cupped her face and said.
"I hate this too. But as soon as I find that next ark, I'll deliver it to Atlantis personally. I promise you I'll be back there in no time." Jennifer did not reply with words, instead she kissed him. An action he happily reciprocated. Finally pulling away Jennifer rested her forehead against Cam's and saying.
"I love you." The three simple words still causing Cam to grin before saying.
"I love you too." With that Cam kissed her once more before standing. "I should go."
"Wait, before you do. We have a rule on Atlantis about knives." Jennifer started, the comment causing Cam to look at her like she lost her mind. "What?" She asked when she saw his expression.
"Just wasn't expecting that comment or you to talk about knives." Cam said.
"Well, it's an important rule. You always need to carry a knife for them to find and a hidden one to use after the search."
"Good rule." Cam commented. "You follow it?"
"I do."
"Really? And where do you hide your spare knife?" Cam asked.
"A girl's got to have some secrets." Jennifer smiled, before trying to get back to what she was trying to say. "Anyway, I know in the Milky Way you don't really do that, but seeing how much trouble you get into you should start. So I got this for you." She said as she limped to her bag and pulled out a small package. "Technically Ronon chose it, so it should be a good one." She added as Cam unveiled the knife.
"Thank you." Cam said sincerely.
"Just promise me you'll look after yourself." Jennifer pleaded.
"You know you are the one who's injured?"
"Well you're about to go out and look for trouble." Jennifer said, the worry evident in her eyes.
"I will be fine. And I promise you I will be in Pegasus soon and in one piece." Cam assured her as he kissed her again. Breaking for air Cam breathlessly repeated. "I love you."
"I love you too." Jennifer said clinging to him.
Finally pulling away Cam kissed her forehead and said. "I have to go."
-00-
"What do you want?" Rodney asked when he realised Cam was in his lab.
"I wanted to chat to you."
"You did? Why?" McKay asked suspiciously. "Wait have you've come to warn me off Jennifer?"
"Why'd I do that?"
"Because you're worried that one day she'll wake up and realise what she missed out on." McKay explained causing Cam to look him up and down, his expression full of doubt. Sensing Rodney was waiting for a reply Cam said.
"No."
"Then why are you here?" McKay asked indignantly.
"Because you have a reputation." Cam started.
"For saving the Galaxy and you want to make sure I will use all my powers to protect Jennifer?" Rodney guessed.
"Man, I'm surprised you and your ego fit in this ship." Cam commented before going on. "I have every faith that you'll look out for Jennifer, I was referring to your other reputation." When Rodney looked confused he went on. "Your reputation for creating trouble." Before Rodney could protest Cam pinned him with a penetrating, serious look. "You see you are going to be trapped on this ship for two weeks with the ark. The ark that contains something and you really want to know what that something is. You are going to be overcome with a desire to look."
"The IOA have decreed that we can't look." Rodney said, clearly annoyed by the IOA decision.
"Like you care what the IOA say." Cam shot back. "Problem is if you open that ark you will not only be breaking the rules, risking getting thrown off the expedition, you'll be risking your life and more importantly Jennifer's life. And I just want you to be clear that if you do anything that places her in danger there will be no safe place to hide. Even if you die I will find a way to come after you and kick your ass in the afterlife. We clear?"
"Yes." McKay replied, looking worried.
Clasping a hand down on Rodney's shoulder Cam smiled and said.
"Good."
With that he turned and started to leave the lab, only to stop when Rodney said.
"Mitchell. Jennifer is still a friend and I'll look out for her."
"I know." Cam said and left the room.
-00-
As the Apollo sped towards the Pegasus Galaxy and what Jennifer had come to consider her home she sat on her bunk thinking of the ever-increasing distance between her and Cam. As she sat she played with the pendant of the necklace he gave her, praying he found the next ark and could return to Pegasus soon. Part of her knew she should get up and do something rather than sit there and wallow in her misery. However, it wasn't until someone arrived at her door that she forced her mind back to her present location.
"It's open." She called as the door slid open.
"Hey, can I come in?" Rodney asked from the doorway.
"Sure." Jennifer replied out of politeness, rather than the desire for company.
"How's the leg?"
"Getting there."
"Good. That's good." Rodney commented before looking awkwardly at the floor. Suddenly remembering the purpose of his visit he held out a fruit cup to Jennifer. "I thought you might like one."
"Thanks Rodney." Jennifer said, taking the cup and placing it on the side table.
"Not hungry?" He guessed.
"Not so much."
"Well you should eat. Sheppard and Ronon are sparring so it is probably only a matter of time before they need your help."
"Technically I'm still on sick leave." Jennifer pointed out.
"You really going to let Ronon terrorise the Apollo Voodoo specialist?" McKay asked.
"No." Jennifer conceded.
"Good." McKay said, his face brightening. "In that case could you look at my arm? It has been getting really bad tremors."
"You don't have to try and take my mind off Cam." Jennifer said.
"That's not what I'm doing." Rodney protested, although Jennifer could see straight through him. "See my arm is shaking, I can barely hold it out straight."
"Come sit down here." Jennifer instructed. "And take off your jacket."
As Rodney obediently did what he was told Jennifer gave a ghost of a smile and said.
"Thank you Rodney."
"If you want to thank me you can find a cure for restless leg syndrome."
-00-
"Everything ok?" Sam asked when Cam entered the operations room on-board the George Hammond.
"Yeah." Cam nodded before asking. "So what's the plan?"
"As soon as we get the go ahead from General Landry, we'll head back to the original sighting of the symbol and see if we can locate the next ark."
"With your scanning device that shouldn't take long." Vala said optimistically.
"It's not quite that simple. The radiation that the ark gives off is because of the type of rock it is made of. If the planet has rock of similar properties it will be impossible to find using this method." Sam explained.
"Well at least we'll have most of the old team back together again." Vala said, trying to keep the optimism alive.
"Actually, that's not an entirely accurate statement." Sam said, causing Cam, Vala and Daniel to all look at each other silently asking who wasn't coming. The answer was revealed seconds later when the door to the room opened once more and a familiar deep voice said.
"Colonel Mitchell, Daniel Jackson, Vala Mal Doran, it is good to see you again."
"Teal'c." Cam grinned. "You're back?"
"I am."
"So the whole team is together again." Vala smiled.
"Indeed."
-The End (for now - I have to disappear for 3-5 weeks, but I'll be back with a sequel after that)-
A/N: A big thank you to Bailey1ak for all the help. Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing.