Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with nor do I own any part of Stargate, Stargate SG1 or its' movies, Stargate Atlantis, or any of the characters. My stories are for purely entertainment purposes, with no monetary gain. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is based on the episode "Condemned" and continues from my 'Duet Missing Scenes Epilogue'.

-OO-

Prior to Condemned:

John waited for Ronon at the start of the running track – apparently no one had told Ronon that the track cleared for running didn't encompass the whole city. "I don't see him or hear him."

"He's out there. I had to run with him once because Dr. James happened to be using the track at the same time." Sheppard raised his eyebrows at this, "James gave up before the 2nd mile. You have to run full out to keep up with Dex sir, about mile five I radioed Tom to meet us and take over at mile 6, he near killed me trying to keep up." At John's look, Ryan Jones continued, "James hasn't bothered to come out here since; but just in case Bledsoe is stationed at Ronon's halfway mark and we time him – if he wants to go further he tells us and I hit the transporter and add a few miles to Bledsoe's position. We're keeping track of him sir."

"Well Ryan, I'm going to make your job easier Carson's cleared him for sparring and active duty," at that they both grinned, "he won't be so bored and James is leaving in two weeks."

-OO-

"I'm tired of waiting." John announced suddenly and then hit his radio, "Bledsoe. This is Sheppard, when you see Ronon stop him and you both transport back here, then you and Jones are relieved of babysitting duty until tomorrow."

Ryan looked at his commander with shock; once Ronon had left the infirmary John had reinstated the 2 man 24 hour escort. Sheppard gave him a smirk, "Come on, now that he's awake we're really watching Ronon to protect James, besides he'll be with me until Clark's team comes on shift."

Jones grinned back, "Yes sir."

-OO-

Ronon came out of his bathroom to find John still sitting on his bed, the only thing currently in his room, "We've got to get you some more stuff. Do you even fit on this bed?"

Ronon grunted and put on his pants and shirt, he didn't sleep on the bed it was too short. He used it as a cupboard, Teyla had brought one of Halling's coats and it laid on the bed besides Sheppard along with his sword and John didn't know it but he was sitting on some of his knives. For some reason, Ronon wasn't ready to let John in on his knife fetish so he left them and Halling's coat on the bed next to his padding and claws, he wouldn't need them in the city anyway; as he had a few knives already stashed in his pants and shirt plus his gun.

"I'm clean. What did you want to talk about?"

John tried not to look affected but truth in fact, Ronon was only cleaner; as he had put on the same pants and shirt he'd been running in, which was the same shirt and pants he had been wearing since they met him over 4 weeks ago, minus the football leather and apparently underwear!

"Well, now that Beckett's cleared you for active duty we're up for a mission."

"Yeah? What's the mission?"

"Nothing big, just scope out a planet that was in the database."

Ronon was staring down at John in disbelief, "That's your mission?"

"Well it's not as easy as it sounds; we're looking for allies and trading partners but sometimes the natives aren't too friendly. Plus we're always on the lookout for ZPMs and other technology we can use."

Ronon's disbelief had escalated to confounded disgust, "I thought you people fought Wraith!"

John stood up, "We do! We just don't go out looking to pick fights." Ronon didn't look impressed, "Look we're a small base over which half is civilian; but we defend ourselves – last time we blew-up several hive ships and I don't know how many darts, in fact they were in the city, that's how they got to Ford."

Ronon seemed to be calming down so John continued, "I'll make you a deal, you follow orders and you get first dibs on any Wraith that shows up, because inevitably they always show up."

"Your orders?"

"Yes, my orders." and then because John was beginning to read this guy he added, "and Dr. Weir's and Dr. Beckett's."

"That's a lot of orders."

"It's not like we'll be ordering you all the time. I told you before, Dr. Weir and Dr. Beckett are the top level, they can order anyone in the city, even I follow their orders." He didn't add the sometimes. "I give orders to the military and in a battle situation the civilians too; but you'll be on my team and I'm the team leader which means that I'll obviously be giving you the most orders."

"You're the squad commander."

John wasn't sure what constituted a squad but at this point he really didn't care, "Yes."

"Ok."

Ok? after all this Ronon gives him a single ok? John wanted to pull his hair out but knew he had to maintain a calm and in charge attitude. Elizabeth had warned him and was still pushing for Ronon to see Heightmeyer, but after all that had happened since Ronon had arrived John had been holding it off, besides it was obvious even to him that Ronon was trying, but would it be enough?

"Come on, I'll show you a ZPM so you'll recognize it, who knows maybe you even know where we could find one. Then I'll show you were the conference room is – you'll need to report there for pre and post mission briefs."

"Then can we eat?"

John wasn't sure how to answer that, but he figured he'd let Ned handle Ronon if they arrived and it wasn't Ronon's Carson approved eating time. "Sure, why not."

-OO-

Amelia was sitting with Tom Bledsoe and Ryan Jones in the commissary for a very late lunch, Jones was really a romantic yenta in disguise and had decided to take Amelia under his wing – much to Tom's amusement and Amelia's chagrin. Ryan had already forced Tom to relay the events in the infirmary when Ronon woke up, elbowing her in the ribs, "Guess you're lucky the Colonel doesn't know it was your idea to give him back his sword."

"You thought it was a good idea at the time." Amelia protested.

Ryan chuckled, "It worked too, sorry Tom."

The boys were laughing as they told of how Ronon was just cleared for active duty, like the running he'd been doing didn't count as active, when the two characters themselves strolled in, "Oh, this should be good." Ryan said gleefully as he turned back to his own tray.

Amelia looked at him in question, "Dr. Beckett has him on an eating schedule and a special diet because of … well that's not the good part…" Ryan stammered to a stop.

"What Bozo here is trying to say is, this should be interesting. We brought Ronon through for lunch already about 45 minutes before he started his run. The Colonel either isn't aware or figures he'll let Ned handle it, either way possible drama."

Amelia looked straight at Tom, "Ned took his break when I went through."

Both faces looked at her in delirious anticipation.

John didn't say a word as they went through the serving line; no one had said anything to Ronon as he took one of everything and sometimes after a glare a second serving. Having already had lunch and thinking they were getting a snack, John's tray looked sparse with an apple and 3 cookies; comparatively Ronon's tray was so ladened, John thought it might break.

Tom was shaking his head, "Man he's good."

Confused Amelia asked, "Why do you say that?"

Ryan answered her, "He knows Ned's schedule already and somehow he convinced the Colonel to bring him – nobody is going to question Ronon with the Colonel standing there. Dex isn't supposed to eat again till 6 AST."

Tom started to snicker almost uncontrollably, Ryan looked at him like he was nuts, "What?"

Tom couldn't answer he just motioned for Amelia and Ryan to turn around. Ryan nearly choked, there at the end of the serving line stood Dr. Carson Beckett with his hands on his hips. "Sooooo busted." Ryan whispered.