"So," John said to Ronon, rising from his seat and picking up his tray, "see you for that training session later?"

Ronon hesitated, casting a quick glance at Jennifer.

"Sorry, Sheppard," he said finally, "I guess I have to pass today."

Seeing that Sheppard had stopped dead in his tracks, Ronon went on hastily, "You know, the fresh stitches in my arm and so on?"

John was about to open his mouth and point out that something like this had never stopped his Satedan friend before, when he saw the… almost pleading expression in his eyes? What the heck... Looking from Ronon to Jennifer and back, John had a hard time to keep the grin in check that wanted to spread all over his face. Aaaw, this was too cute.

"That okay?" Ronon prompted.

"What? Oh sure, you better take the day off and… and give that arm plenty of rest."

Patting Ronon's shoulder in passing, John headed off.

There was a moment of awkward silence at the table, now deserted except for Ronon and Jennifer. Finally, Ronon cleared his throat.

"So," he said, "looks like I have no plans for today. What about you?"

"Well, seeing that the infirmary is full of workmen repairing the damage that flying oxygen tank caused, I'm not on duty until further notice either," Jennifer replied, smiling at him in what she hoped was an encouraging way.

"Alright. Maybe we could… you know, go somewhere and… and talk?" Ronon suggested.

To his relief, she nodded. "Sure, I'd like that."

"Oh, this is so beautiful!" Jennifer exclaimed. The waves of the limitless expanse of water around Atlantis broke against the foundations of the floating city. A fresh breeze carried some of the spray up to the balcony where they stood.

Ronon was leaning against the railing next to her, watching her profile.

"Sure is," he agreed, "very pretty."

Jennifer's eyes were following a flock of teal green seabirds that rounded the towers, squawking in flight.

"This is so strange," she said. "It's such a mixture of completely alien and so very familiar."

She turned to Ronon and found him staring at her. The words she had meant to say died in her throat. For a moment, they drowned in each other's eyes. Then Jennifer dropped hers, and turned back to the view.

"Okay," she said, "enough of the chitchat. We really need to talk talk."

"Talktalk about what?" Ronon asked.

"About yesterday. About what happened. About us."

Ronon shrugged. "Don't see why we should."

Jennifer was stunned. "Why not?"

"Way I see it, we found out that I like you and you like me. What's to talk about?"

Shaking her head, Jennifer sighed, "You make it sound so easy…"

"Because it is. You earth people think too much. And plan too much." Ronon covered her small fingers that gripped the banister with his own big hand. "Takes all the fun away."

Feeling her heartbeat quicken at his touch, Jennifer smiled up at him coyly. "And it was no planning on your part that you brought me to this balcony, which is incidentally in the most tucked away corner of the whole city?"

He grinned. "Figured we enjoyed being alone together yesterday, why not today?"

"True, but the circumstances yesterday were different, the fact that we were alone was only because…"

Gently, Ronon put a finger across her lips to silence her. "You're thinking too much again. It felt good. Yesterday. With you." After a moment, Jennifer nodded.

"So we try it again. Today. Tomorrow. And see what happens. Alright?"

This time, Jennifer's nod came instantly. "Good," Ronon said, dropping his hand from her mouth. His arm went around her and he pulled her to his side. Together they looked out over the water. Contentedly, Jennifer let her head rest against his chest. He was right. This was easy. And it felt good. And they would just see what happened.