Tag to "The Lost Tribe"
The Best Man Wins
Jennifer looked back as Ronon caught up with her. She was fond of him and yes, attracted in the way women are frequently attracted to the strong, silent, dangerous, dead sexy type of man who gives off tons of testosterone, speaks in one word sentences and is capable of carrying his woman over his shoulder with one hand while fighting off hoards of rampaging dinosaurs, or Wraith, with the other. But that was a far as it went. Sure, she'd had a momentary thought of that attraction turning into something much more, especially after they'd been trapped in the infirmary during the citywide lockdown. They'd even nearly kissed. But it was a fleeting thing. She had tried and failed to picture herself bringing Ronon home to Chippewa Falls to meet her dad. Every scenario she envisioned ended in disaster. Mostly with someone maimed or killed.
Then there was Rodney. Arrogant, egotistical, bad with people, loyal, honorable, courageous, loveable Rodney McKay. He would impress and annoy her dad at the same time. But dad enjoyed a good discussion. Like Rodney, he never used a single word when a thousand would do. Dad also didn't suffer fools or stupidity easily.
Rodney's steadfast loyalty to the people he thinks of as a surrogate family was one of his more endearing qualities along with his tendency to stutter when flustered and yes, even his propensity for resorting to sarcasm when upset or frightened.
Ronon wanted her; she could see it in his eyes, the windows to the soul but he didn't need her. Rodney wanted her too but he needed her more. And she needed to be needed. Besides, she loved Rodney.
Jennifer sensed in Rodney a deep reservoir of love and affection hiding in the dark corners of his brilliant mind just waiting to be brought out it into the light of day where it could flourish. Mixed in with it, where he might not even realize it himself, she perceived a great need for someone who genuinely cared for him unconditionally and without reservation. With the right woman to love and nurture him, he could be even more extraordinary than he already was. Sometimes, alone in her room at night when Atlantis was resting from the rigors of the day, she marveled that this remarkable man had given his love freely to her. Her only regret was that it had taken the intervention of a disgusting parasite for him to make his feelings known. And he was taking his sweet time getting around to a first overture. She might have to take the lead if he didn't get to it soon.
When Ronon asked her if she wanted to get something to eat, she decided it was time to cut to the chase, so to speak. "Listen, I'm really glad you came on the mission. I mean, without you we'd probably all be dead. But I-I just want to be clear because, um…" She took a deep breath. "I just want you to know that, uh, I'm kind of…interested in somebody else."
"So?" His face gave no indication that he thought of her as anything other than a friend and that confused her for a moment.
"I just didn't want to you to get the wrong…"
"I just-I just um, wanted to get something to eat."
"Okay because I thought-"
"Well, you're wrong."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Do you still wanna go eat?" She turned in the direction of the dining hall.
"No, I should-should probably …" Inhale, exhale. "I should…" He turned and walked away, his long legs eating up the distance until he rounded a corner and was gone, leaving Jennifer to wonder what just happened.
*****
Daniel Jackson had been badly injured during their incarceration by the renegade Asgard faction living in the Pegasus galaxy and Rodney was making his way toward the infirmary to visit him, maybe mooch a little of his dinner. As he strode causally down the corridor toward the lift that would take him to the infirmary level he saw Ronon coming towards him. He seemed to have a full head of steam, his features in its perpetual scowl only more so. Rodney quickly reviewed his location trying to find somewhere to hide because he was sure that he'd done something that Ronon had taken exception to. He always managed to tick him off without meaning to or realizing that he'd done so. He'd just remembered a storage closet he could hide in when Ronon called out to him.
"McKay! Let's talk." Always short and to the point.
He tried to evade the bigger man but his way was blocked on one side by a bench and a plant, on the other side by a wall and in front by Ronon himself. His only choice was to retreat but it was too late. He tried to calm himself because he was sure that Ronon could smell fear. "Can't talk now. Busy. Gotta go."
"Hold up, McKay. I just want to congratulate you. You win." He stuck his right hand out.
"Um, thank you?" The grip Ronon had on his right hand was just short of crushing.
"She made the right choice. And no hard feelings." He slapped him on the back with a small grin then stepped past the shorter man and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
"What hard feelings? What are you talking about?" That last was shouted at Ronon's retreating back. "She who?" The smartest man in Atlantis took another thirty seconds to get it. A billion kilowatt grin spread over his face. He clapped his hands together. "She picked me!" People walking past ignored him. It was SOP to see Dr. McKay talking to himself. "She picked me!"
Rodney practically danced down the corridor to the lift door. He stood in front of it, hands behind his back, bouncing on his toes. "She picked me!" The door opened and he stepped inside, his eyebrows now coming together in confusion. "She picked me?"
The End
Or The Beginning, depending on your POV.
