Chapter 7 - Gratitude

Jennifer hopped around the infirmary on crutches and winced. As she moved, she planted the metal poles on the ground and swung her body across to land on her good leg. All her work was in the infirmary or the adjacent lab and she never had too far to go when she needed something to occupy her mind.

The pain in her leg had built up when she tried to work and made it impossible to concentrate after a while. She had eventually decided to take her own advice and get some rest.

She kept the crutches hooked onto her elbows and placed her hands down on the bed as she watched Rodney sleep.

She had been disappointed when she had not been allowed into surgery; even to offer advice after they got back from P7H-306. She trusted her colleagues though and left him in their care while the arrow in her leg was carefully removed and the wound stitched and bandaged.

She sighed quietly as she peered into Rodney's pale face. She shifted all her weight onto her good leg and took his hand gently, careful not to disturb the IV line.

Colonel Carter had been down as soon as Rodney was released from surgery to check up on both of them. Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon were still off-world so Jennifer took the opportunity to keep Rodney company. She knew that as soon as they got back, the rest of Rodney's team would descend on the infirmary and probably not leave until he was ready to leave himself.

She smiled down at him sadly, checked his monitors and all the lines, even though she was not the one responsible for his care. She needed to reassure herself that he was going to be alright and was glad that Rodney had been strong enough not to need the ventilator. He had a cannula giving him oxygen looped under his nose and behind his ears.

Jennifer laid Rodney's hand on his chest as her supporting leg began to shake while the damaged limb throbbed. She quickly reached across, ruffled his hair and whispered, "Thank you, but now it's my turn to repay the favour."

Jennifer knew if it were not for him, she would have been killed on the planet. Her heart swelled in pride at him over how brave he had been as he prepared to make a run for the Gate, even if it killed him, just to get them back to Atlantis.

Jennifer also noticed Rodney's vulnerability and felt a twinge of sadness and pity along with pride. He had saved her life more than once on the mission, despite being so badly injured, and now she would have to do her utmost to keep him alive and safe until he was well again.

She unnecessarily adjusted the blanket pulled up to cover the bandages around his abdomen and furrowed her brow in sorrow that he did not so much as twitch or react in any way to her presence or touch.

Jennifer grabbed the handles on her crutches and hopped over to the bed she had vacated earlier. She drew in a sharp breath as she lifted herself up onto it and leant the crutches on the wall behind within grabbing distance. She lay back and closed her eyes. The quiet and steady beep of Rodney's heart monitor a short distance away soon lulled her to sleep.

A day later, Jennifer sat next to Rodney and held one of his hands in both of hers. He was still trapped in a haze of tiredness, but had woken up earlier at the sound of Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon swarming around and pawing at him as soon as they got back.

Jennifer had told them some of what had happened but then asked them to read the rest in her report. She assured them she would find the time to type it up when she was better, but did not say that she was secretly dreading having to relive the trauma of what she had been through with Rodney.

As predicted, Sheppard had pulled up a chair and sat himself between Jennifer and Rodney's beds to keep a vigil on his friends.

It was now night time and Sheppard had long since been shooed out of the infirmary by one of the Doctor's on duty. Jennifer was very grateful for the chance to be alone with Rodney and not needing to worry about anyone else disturbing him as he tried to rest. As much as she tried to tell herself that he was not under her care, she just could not help wanting to constantly monitor him, make sure the lines were attached correctly and that he was in no pain.

When the coast was clear, she had slid out of the bed and sat down in the chair next to the sleeping scientist.

She squeezed his hand gently and he groaned and rolled slightly. Jennifer frowned and gazed into the blue eyes which regarded her sleepily.

"Hey," she said, "How're you doing?"

Rodney licked his lips and said, "Well aside from the feeling that someone just tried to pin me to a board like a butterfly, you know, great."

Jennifer smiled at the sarcasm and held his hand more tightly, this time the gesture was returned and Rodney squeezed her hand gently.

He raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a lopsided grin, "You know it'll fall off if you keep doing that."

Jennifer felt her face getting hotter as it glowed with embarrassment. She lifted Rodney's hand up and put it down gently on the bed next to him as she let go.

He looked disappointed and sighed. Jennifer suddenly realised that he had probably not meant for her to release her grasp completely but for her to not hold his hand so tightly.

Rodney looked away and closed his eyes sadly. Jennifer noticed he was flagging and forced herself to stand. She used her hands on his bed for leverage as she hopped along so that she could stand next to his head.

She leant in close to his face and spoke quietly. "Thank you," she said, "You got me back to Atlantis and without you I would've given up hope long before we got back."

Rodney frowned in confusion as he said, "I was under the impression that it was you who kept me going. I also half remember passing out as we were about to be attacked by a whole load of people and leaving you to fend for yourself."

Jennifer straightened up and shook her head. "It was fine, they were from the village. Without them, neither of us would have made it."

Rodney shifted his hands up and laid them over the bandage around his belly. He did not appear to be in pain, or at least if he was, he was not showing it. He closed his eyes again and Jennifer leant over and kissed his cheek gently in gratitude.

Rodney's eyes snapped open as Jennifer drew herself up to her full height. He looked up at her and Jennifer smiled down at him. His expression was a mixture of hopefulness, shock and confusion which made Jennifer blush and laugh softly.

His face quickly switched to a broad grin at her reaction and he closed his eyes in contentment.

Jennifer sat down in the chair and continued to watch him long after he had fallen asleep again. She got up to return to her own bed for the night, but before she moved, she leant down and kissed him again on the forehead this time.

She smiled and let the weariness take over as she moved back across the short distance to her bed next to his.

As Jennifer lay there and gazed up at the ceiling she felt a warm sensation of serenity in her heart that Rodney was going to be alright. She also knew that she would soon be well enough to keep an eye on him properly as he got better.

The End

A/N – Thanks for reading my first attempt at shippy whump fic!