Don't know where this came from, or where it's going, if anywhere. This is exactly one page long in Word (minus the introduction), so my plan is to keep any future installments, if any, to one page. We'll see what happens.

MGM owns SGA, not me.

Not run through a beta. Character death is stated.

Any thoughts?

Three years.

It had been three years since Jennifer had passed away from complications due to the Pegasus version of Rheumatic Fever; three years since the woman he loved had left him; three years since he'd been happy; three years since he'd thought of anything except her and work.

For some reason, Sheppard thought it had been time to change that. He'd all but dragged Rodney kicking and screaming from his lab to the Mess where an impromptu party was in full swing. They were all there, his friends and Jennifer's, having a good time. For the next hour they'd done their best to try to get him to have some fun, and there were moments when he actually did laugh and feel something like happiness.

Those moments were fleeting though, and after a while he needed to be alone. Somehow he'd managed to slip out onto the balcony without being noticed. He'd moved to the rail and put his hands on it as he looked out onto the calm ocean surrounding Atlantis.

The peace didn't last long, and when he'd heard the door open he'd assumed it was Sheppard.

"Rodney?"

He was wrong.

Rodney half turned until she came into view, then turned back out to look at the ocean. "Cadman."

She moved to the rail and stood next to him. For reasons that escaped him, he really didn't mind.

"I miss her," he said, unsure of why he was telling this to Cadman of all people.

"I know," Laura replied, her voice full of compassion and understanding.

Rodney sighed and looked up to the bright moon looking down on them. "She was the only woman to really care. She was the only woman that didn't mind my, you know, attitude and whatever." Rodney took a shaky breath and let it out in a rush. "She was the first woman to really love me."

"You're wrong, Rodney," said Cadman softly after a moment of silence. When Rodney turned to her she reached over and covered his hand with hers, her hazel eyes drilling into his. "She was just the first one that you let in."

Before he could respond Laura gave his hand a gentle squeeze, then removed her hand and turned to walk away. He let her get to the door before he called out to her. "Cadman?"

She stopped as the door opened for her, but she didn't turn around.

"Thanks."

She nodded and quickly moved through the door, and as it closed behind her Rodney turned back to the moon once again. For some reason, he didn't feel quite as alone as he had been.