Halt

[mayachain]

Title: Halt
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~450
Pairing(s): John, Rodney/Jennifer
Summary: Rodney nearly steps onto a landmine and over John's line in the sand.

The day McKay has an argument with his girlfriend mere minutes before a mission and Rodney, distracted, almost steps on a landmine, John fires Jennifer Keller as Chief Medical Officer for the Atlantis Expedition. He doesn't actually have the authority to fire her, he knows. Nor does her personal life have any kind of bearing on her competence and her hard-earned experience with and for whatever the Pegasus Galaxy throws at them. But the thought of what would have happened if Ronon had been just that second slower spotting that slight indentation... John's mind goes blank, and when they shuffle into the infirmary a few hours later for their post-mission check-ups, something in him just balks. No-one takes note of anything out of the ordinary when he gets Dr Azaneh to clear him while Keller is busy fussing over Ronon's arm, skin scraped raw from flinging himself and Rodney to the ground. If he times tomorrow's check-ups to take place while Keller is still examining Mehra's team, it will look time-saving, efficient. He knows it's only a matter of time before his soldiers catch on, though, before they realize that their CO doesn't trust the CMO anymore, before they stop seeking her out as well. John may not be Woolsey, not Landry, and not whoever is Head of Medicine back at the SGC right now, but that doesn't mean his actions have no pull. It would be sadly easy, marginalizing her. The trouble is, once the away teams start denying themselves Jennifer's expertise, it's also only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt, and worse, doesn't get the right treatment in time while seriously hurt. And then it would not be because Keller or Rodney are letting their personal lives interfere with the mission, but because John couldn't leave well enough alone. He doesn't want Rodney's girlfriend on the expedition anymore. He doesn't want to be the reason any of his men get killed. So when Keller knocks on his door that evening, puts a six-pack on his table and stands in the middle of his room, fidgeting nervously with the sleeves of her uniform, he bites back surprise and venomous words, doesn't say anything. And when she blurts out, “I'm breaking it off. While we all can still act somewhat professionally about it,” kisses his cheek and turns to go, he feels chastised, grateful, and ashamed. “Will you check on my ankle tomorrow?” he asks as she turns to go, and she nods at him tightly. The ghost of a relieved smile on her face, she steps out of John's quarters to go to Rodney's room. *

Comments

[goddess47]

Oh. Nice. John understanding what could happen and realizing that replacing Jennifer is a better option....

I like your Jennifer that's brave enough to both go to John as well as break it off honestly with Rodney.

Ummm... you have a "H knows" where I suspect you need a "He knows" at the beginning of the 4th paragraph....

[sulien.livejournal.com]

As much as I love my McShep and want Jennifer to break things off with Rodney, it's really not her fault Rodney can't pull his head out of his fifth point of contact and put his mind on where he is and what he's doing. I do love the way you have John here though, he's spot on.

[mayachain.livejournal.com]

it's really not her fault Rodney can't pull his head out of his fifth point of contact and put his mind on where he is and what he's doing
You're right, it's not. John isn't in in the headspace to see this, though.

[londonsabre.livejournal.com]

I like that Jennifer is more grown up than both John and Rodney.

[outsideth3box.livejournal.com]

We get a lot of clueless John, so I really anjoyed this, with John being able to look at the effects his actions would ultimately have if he followed his anger.

And I think Jennifer saw the same things, which shows that she *does* belong in her position, which I'm not always convinced of.

Very nicely done.

[korilian.livejournal.com]

I'm extremely skeptical about Rodney's ability to spot a land mine under any circumstances. If he hadn't been thinking about the argument, it would have been one of the million and one other things that keep his brain occupied.

The fact that I don't buy John's excuses, doesn't mean I don't buy that this is the excuse John would pick however. Deciding their relationship is bad for the mission, means he doesn't have to examine other reasons why he might be unhappy with it (whether it's a big secret gay crush, or just that he doesn't like to see his best friend unhappy). It's an easy way out.

It also seems very fitting that John would consider underhanded methods, rather then just talking about his concerns with either party (which might mean that he knows it's bull on top of his inability to talk about his feelings).

Halt

[velocitygrass.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like this! I can really see John feeling this way and I think it's understandable if not entirely rational. but I'm glad that he can see beyond his resentment and consider the consequences.

I'm even more glad that Jennifer can see the situation so clearly and does what she does to resolve. I find myself curious about what she'll tell Rodney. If she'll only go from their fight or if she'll mention how they have to be able to work together and if she'll mention John in that at all. Because I'm almost certain Rodney didn't notice John's feelings.