A/N - This is my first attempt with this pairing, but I've been in the mood to write again and this is the plot bunny that beat the others to the page. Appreciate feedback, comments, or just knowing you are reading. Hope you enjoy.

Ronon walked the halls with Sheppard. A quiet week off world. A quiet week on Atlantis. Seemed like an odd thing to complain about, though – a week of missions with no injuries and no Wraith, so he kept it to himself. He was glad to have a training session on the schedule that afternoon to distract him. And he and Teyla were going to match bantos rods that night, so he would get some work in.

Sheppard had nothing but paperwork waiting for him back in his office. IOA paperwork: his least favorite kind, as he had repeated six times in the last hour. When Ronon mentioned that he had a session with Dr. Keller, John decided to swing by and say hello.

"How is she doing with the training?" John asked.

Ronon shrugged his shoulders.

"She's not very strong, but good balance. Smart. Works hard. Takes a while to get a move, but once she picks it up it stays with her. She's never gonna beat me, but she'll surprise someone. Don't bet against her."

Ronon threw the door to the gym open to find Jennifer already stretching out. Looked like she might have recently finished a run, too. He could tell her endurance was steadily increasing. He took that as a sign she was taking the training seriously. He wasn't sure when she fit it into her schedule – she was in the infirmary constantly.

She stood up from the mat where she had been stretching and turned to face the wall. She was listening to music; earbuds in her ear and the faint tin of music bleeding over into the room. Still a little oblivious to her surroundings. She put her foot on the wall and leaned with her forearms flush to the cool surface to stretch her calf muscles.

Ronon kept his distance. When he got there too early she tried to make him stretch, too. Always a doctor.

Hanging on the other side of the room near the door he looked over to ask John a question. Sheppard was deep in thought about something, and watching Jennifer as her head occasionally bobbed side to side in time to the music. Ronon smiled, looking from the Doctor to his friend and back.

"You're staring at her."

"What?" Sheppard answered incredulously. "No way."

Ronon's eyebrows went high in an obvious expression of doubt. He didn't need to say anything else, though. Sheppard was already on the defensive.

"I'm absolutely not staring at her," he protested in a yell-whisper. "Don't' say that – it sounds creepy. She's senior staff. A high ranking member of this expedition. Her protection is one of my responsibilities."

"Yeah," Ronon answered. "I'm sure that's it. That's exactly how you look at Woolsey."

Sheppard glared at him for effect.

"Ask her out," Ronon prodded, undeterred.

Sheppard looked as though he had something to say, but nothing came out.

Jennifer switched legs and continued her routine, unaware of the conversation across the gym or the approach of a new lieutenant who decided to come calling. He stood behind Jen for a second and looked her up and down. Nodding his head yes and giving a thumbs up to a friend by the lockers, he made his way next to Jennifer. As she continued stretching, he leaned against the wall near her, crossed his arms, and said hello.

Jen pulled the earbud closest to the new arrival out.

"Sorry, did you say something?"

"I said we should go get some dinner some time."

It was her turn to look him up and down.

"No thank you, lieutenant."

He put his hand on his heart suddenly, pretending that she broke it with her rebuff.

"You wound me. You have to at least give me a chance."

"Sorry, lieutenant," she said with a smile and a head shake. "Have a good afternoon."

She turned to relocate, but not being done with his advance and not taking no for an answer, the young lieutenant grabbed Jennifer's wrist to impede her progress. Jennifer looked down at her wrist and looked back up into the young man's eyes with a glare.

Sheppard tensed when the marine approached her, and now as he shifted his weight to cross the room, Ronan put an arm out across his chest.

"Wait."

"For what?"

"You'll see," Ronon said.

"If you would remove that hand, lieutenant," Jennifer said conversationally.

"But we aren't done talking."

"Yes we are. Take your hand off me," she instructed, her tone leaving no room for misinterpretation.

But Ronon knew some guys never learn.

When the man made no attempt to comply, Ronon watched as Jennifer casually moved her feet into a wider, more stable stance. He curled the corner of his mouth as she turned her shoulders the slightest bit to get a better angle and leverage point. And when she broke his grasp, put his wrist and thumb in an awkwardly pressured position, used it to turn him and put his chest into the wall, Ronon broke out in a full smile.

"We worked on that last week," Ronon said to John.

And as if she finally felt eyes on her, she looked over her shoulder at Ronon and John.

"I'm all about forgive and forget. You had a misunderstanding about whether or not it's ok to put your hands on me. It's not. And Ronon and Colonel Sheppard are here, so when you turn around, I would look contrite and disappear if I were you. Sound good?"

He nodded his head a few times and she let go, stepping backward as he gave a mumbled "excuse me" and made for the door.

Jennifer waved a quick hello at her would-be protectors, and then put the earbud back in and returned to stretching.

Sheppard's brow furrowed as he looked across the room at the good Doctor.

"Told you she would surprise someone," Ronon said with pride in his student.

"Is it wrong that I found that a little hot?"

"Nope. I think watching a woman kick's someone ass is totally hot."

"Then why aren't you and Teyla together yet," Sheppard joke.

"Someone else's ass. When they kick your ass it's a little less hot."

"Let's hope Lieutenant Hicks thinks so. I am going to go underscore her message and remind him of the culture of respect we are building here."

Ronon laughed. "Have fun."

Sheppard put his fist out in front of Ronon.

"Good work training her. I didn't imagine she needed it here on Atlantis."

Ronon reciprocated the fist bump, not being keen on the tradition but appreciating its intent.

"Women need it everywhere. It'll serve her well here, on missions, and I hear it'll come in handy on Earth, too."

John nodded and headed for the door.

Ronon finally made his way over to Jen as she stood up.

"Nice work."

"Wondered at first if you sent him over as a skills test," she said.

"You ok?" he asked looking at her wrist.

She nodded her head. "Yeah," she responded as she rotated her wrist. "Maybe a little embarrassed. Probably didn't need to go so far."

Ronon shook his head and answered more harshly than he meant to.

"No."

Seeing her expression change he softened his tone.

"Don't be sorry. He had no right to put his hand on you. If you hadn't countered him, what would he have felt entitled to next?"

"Yeah, but …."

He shook his head again.

"No second guessing. Read your instincts and go. A bad plan acted out decisively is more likely to succeed than a good plan acted with hesitation."

He wasn't sure she was buying it.

"You do it all the time in the medbay. I've seen you. Split second decisions that save lives. Every day. This is no different. Make a decision and act."

She nodded in acceptance of his instruction, and then wanted to move off the subject.

"So what's the plan for today?"

"Reach up and grab that pull up bar and I'll show you"

John headed towards Lieutenant Hicks' quarters with purpose.

His men. All of the military men assigned to the expedition were his men. The idea that one of them would put their hands on Jennifer was infuriating.

And then his mind wandered to Jennifer. If he was being honest, the idea of anyone putting their hands on her at all made his jaw tighten the slightest bit. What was that all about?

Sheppard had known Jen for more than a year. She hadn't been an obvious fit for the expedition at first. The military crew had a higher than average adrenaline streak running through them, and she most certainly did not. She was a little quiet – sort of kept to herself. But the minute she was needed, the minute someone's life was on the line, she was all confidence and decisiveness and control.

Ask her out.

That was Ronon's suggestion. He should ask her out.

Why would John ask her out?

She was a colleague. A peer. A co-worker. A responsibility.

They had been spending a lot of time together. Meals. Movies. Walking her to her shift. He knew her schedule. He was shifting making mission assignments so that his team was accompanying her off-world more and more. He was saving her a seat at dinner. He was next to her at every one of Woolsey's staff meetings.

Was it just chance?

Was there something else going on inside his head?

Why was he feeling so protective?

And now was a good time to wonder as he rang the chime on Lieutenant Hicks door.