Thanks to Hifield for the review !


D-day -3: Training room :

John Sheppard was staring at the ceiling. The string of small flashing lights that flickered in his field of vision did not seem to go out.

"Come on, stand up, Sheppard! I've barely touched you!"

Ronon's voice seemed miles away.

"Get up and this time I'll do it like the other day ... only with my left arm!"

The soldier turned from his side to his belly. He got up painfully, throwing a black glance towards the grinning Satedan.

"Let's see if you'll be so arrogant with Teyla later" John replied, rubbing his shoulder.

Ronon twirled his stick with one hand while Sheppard was moving laboriously to his bottle of water placed on the ground.

"Did you read the memo?" he asked, swallowing a sip.

"Mmmm ... I didn't understand the last sentence… Pink and crystal?"

"Me neither ... But I would hate this to be the highest point at this kind of social event."

"Will there be something to eat?"

"Uh ... yes."

"So it's good for me." the Satedan replied with a smile.

Sheppard checked again that his arm was still attached to the rest of his body.

"Do you plan to go to the party with someone?" the soldier asked.

Ronon stared at him in amazement. "Well, with you.."

Sheppard winced.

"We are a very cute couple, you're right ... and in other circumstances, I would have liked you to be my escort boy but ..."

Ronon looked at him angrily.

"Ok, I forgot my devastating humor has no effect on you, sorry. Anyway, I fear that this time, we will not be able to go as "friends."

Sheppard noted that Ronon had not yet understood what he was saying.

"I was invited to go with someone for the evening." He said.

"Oh ... a woman. " the Satedan finally realized. "Who? "

"Well ... to be honest, I have not decided as yet. I had several invitations in fact ... "

Sheppard proudly ran his hand through his hair, which was a little more like a disheveled mop, and displayed an air of false modesty.

The ex-runner picked up the banto stick that Sheppard had left on the ground and put it away with his on the wall in front of him.

"And you? Invitations?" the soldier asked.

"No." Ronon replied.

The two men left the gym.

"I guess McKay will go with Keller and Teyla with Kanaan. They will see us there anyway. I think we will have to stick together if the IOA sharks decide to attack. This evening is just a good excuse for them to come and look through our business. "

Ronon walked with his eyes fixed straight ahead. Sheppard noticed his upset look.

"And you know, for the fact to go with someone… it's not an obligation ... maybe you could ask to Banks." Sheppard threw as detached as possible.

Ronon did not reply and they both entered in the transport chamber.

OoooooooooooooO

D day -2 :

The mess was in turmoil. A flood of technicians just left the room. The excitement in the hallways and the cafeteria was palpable. All conversations revolved around the event of the week: Thursday's reception. Everyone laughed and made plans for the evening.

Suddenly, Radek Zelenka, with a happy face and his clenched fist in victory, approached John and Ronon who had just entered the room.

"Hi, Radek" Sheppard exclaimed. "You seem in a good mood today!"

"Colonel, Ronon," the Czech greeted, a smile from ear to ear. "She said yes!"

"Who? " the soldier asked, amused to see the scientist so perky.

"Svetlana Kurkov, Department of Archaeology ... She comes to the reception with me!"

Ronon, without a word, walked to the counter. Sheppard patted the shoulder of the scientist who went away almost hopping.

Teyla was in discussion with Kanaan, Rodney and Jennifer when Ronon and John came to join them at their table.

"It's a great idea!" the doctor rejoiced. "It will be good for morale. After all this stress, nothing beats having a good time to relax with people you love." The young woman had deviated slightly towards Rodney to touch his arm.

The physicist had a look a bit more mitigated.

"I was never really comfortable with this kind of reception. I much prefer a good symposium on quantum physics. There, at least it was fun. Also, I am convinced that these dear members of the IOA will be happy to introduce a bunch of their pseudo-scientists who will take the opportunity to harass us with a thousand questions about Ancient technology. Not really ideal for relaxation. I'll have to shut them up in turn all night ..."

"Rodney ..." Jennifer scolded gently.

"We had a great night on Atlantis when you have saved my people for the first time when you just arrived in Pegasus." Teyla said looking at John.

"You know, Teyla, I doubt that members of the IOA are as good company as the Athosians. I'm afraid it will be a very uptight party. Fortunately, the pro-Atlantis will be outnumbered!"

"Uptight? " Kanaan asked.

"Where many people will smile in front of you and then make a lot of unpleasant remarks about us once we turned back." Rodney grumbled.

"Then we have to ignore all these people and have fun!" Jennifer said.

"Maybe we could dance a Karden" Kanaan added, looking at Teyla with a grin.

"A Karden?" Rodney repeated, biting in his strawberry pie.

"It's an Athosian dance very... emphatic." Teyla specified.

As Kanaan tried to explain the basic moves of this "boosted" dance, Sheppard cast a sidelong glance at Ronon who had kept his eyes fixed on his plate. The Satedan had not spoken and only opened his mouth since their arrival to swallow his food.

"And you, Ronon? Tempted by the Karden?" John teased not admitting defeat yet.

At the mention of his name, the ex-runner finally deigned to look up and replied "I do not dance."

All shared a knowing glance.

"Maybe with a good partner…" Jennifer added.

"No one has asked him until now." John oozed out.

"It's weird. " Rodney commented. "This is surprising because half the female staff of the base, maybe more, would be almost ready to jump on him at every opportunity, so ..."

"What are you talking about, McKay!" the Satedan gasped.

"You forget that during my misadventure with this Ancient artifact, I was able to read minds a whole day. I walked around with you a long time and we met a lot of people ... many women… I heard their thoughts ..."

Ronon looked up to heaven. Teyla came to his rescue.

"You do not have to dance."

Suddenly, loud voices reached to them. The botanist Sharon Douglas and the nurse Sarah Michaels were being yelled at the back of the room.

"I saw it first! I told Springfield to keep this one for me!"

"Oh really! I went there as soon as I read the memo! It was 10 am and 2 minutes! "

"It's mine,! That's that! You must wear a size 12 or even a 14! You will never get it on!"

"Bitch! My size is 8!"

The dispute became serious and Evan Lorne, helped by one of his men, had to finally stand up to separate the two women. The two soldiers had to have two attempts before reaching an end to the hostilities.

John called out the Major Lorne who then passed near them.

"Major? Need Help? ".

"Oh nothing serious Colonel! They were fighting just because they have chosen the same dress for Thursday night!"

"All that fuss for what?" the soldier exclaimed.

Evan, shrugged his shoulders as a sign of misunderstanding before leaving for the exit.

" At least we men, we do not have to compete for a color or a pattern of a suit!" Rodney joked.

"I already have my dress." Jennifer said.

"Me too. " Teyla added. " Fayin drew it up for me when I was on the New Athos. I hope it will be appropriate for the occasion."

"It will." the doctor reassured her.

"I really do not have appropriate clothing" Kanaan admitted.

"I'm sure the suit will be fine on you!" Sheppard decreed.

A cheerful hubbub arose again in the mess. Ronon scanned the room and found on a table to the left the person he was searching for. Chuck Campbell was sitting near his colleague, Amelia Banks.

The ex-runner's eyes lingered on the young woman. The two technicians were deep in conversation. Sheppard turned his head and saw the Satedan's main interest. In fact, everyone at the table had understood. They threw themselves a new look of complicity.

TBC…