Marginal value bet river situation 3/6 high

[bholdr]

Sometimes on the river one is in one of those situations where there is really no point in value betting, even though you have a relitivly strong hand... this is one of the ones that confuse me:

I was third to act on third st, and was dealt [JJ]7, there was one dead 7, Js are live, and there was a Q behind me, who called. four saw fourth.

I caught a suited ace and bet out, the player with the Q showing got an offsuit 8 and raised (!!). another player on some kind of draw called, so did i.

On fifth i got my third jack, and check raised the bettor who called- the draw stayed around, too.

i bet sixth and got calls

seventh:
there were three players in the pot...

The Q, showing Q8K2
me, showing 7AJ4
and the 'draw' with 45TK on board
flushes are highly unlikely


now, i'm first to act, do i bet out and plan to call a raise, check-raise, or check-call?

my thought: if i bet there i might well get a call,, but if i check, i've represented a strong enough hand that maybe nobody will bet unless i'm beat.

i'm basicly trying to find that all-important extra bet here. thoughts?