John had been right, Ronon had been extremely popular. After the evening meal Ronon had broken open the box and everyone came to hear the tellings that night around the central fire.
The children were enthralled with the Runner bearing chocolate, and Ned had packed some additional chocolate for the adults which caused Dex to be the center of female attention. The committed women just smiled at him and asked for a candy, but the single ladies nearly mobbed him and after the candy was gone, they followed him about driving him to distraction, long after the children had been put to slumber.
They offered to share their chocolate when it was found that he had never tasted it, he swore he had promised Ned not to eat a single piece; they offered him food from their fires, he ate everything they gave; they offered to share their tents, he said he was on watch; two very bold ladies whispered something in his ears, he ran away. Teyla's laughter ringing over the night at his not so discreet withdraw.
Morning found Ronon at the central fire: a basket of fish by his side and the remains of several fish by his feet; three small creatures gutted, cleaned, and roasting while Ronon was deftly stretching the small hides on stick frames to prepare them for tanning. Teyla was pleased that Ronon was pitching in so freely, but saddened by the fact that he apparently hadn't slept much again if at all.
When Teyla asked Ronon if he wanted to distribute the rest of the items Ned had packed in the container he adamantly refused, not even getting the food Ned had packed for him! But when the ladies from the evening before began making their way to the central fire he grabbed the box from her and yelled loudly for the children – sleepy children appeared from everywhere, surrounding him as he set the box down and told them everything was theirs if they would share, the gleeful chaos that followed allowed him to slip away into the forest.
At Teyla's request, Halling called a meeting after evening meal and warned the assembly that once Ronon returned they should act towards him more as if he were a fellow Athosian or an Atlantian; as maybe they had been overly friendly towards Ronon and scared him away not knowing the ways of his people, he looked pointedly towards the non-committed females who only smiled sweetly, while the non-committed males groaned.
The next morning the Atlantian pilot returned to take them back to the city, but Ronon had still not returned. By mid-day all were beginning to worry, when the youngest member of a hunting party ran into the village, declaring the Ancestors had sent them a guide, who in ½ a day and part of the previous evening had tripled their normal kill and help was needed to bring the bounty back to the village.
Teyla knowing they had to get back, asked the pilot to fly her and the boy to the hunting party, arriving in the clearing it appeared that Ronon and the hunting party had not been idle after sending the boy back to the village – the hunt and the hunters where not all going to fit. Leaving the hunters to make their own way back to the village; Teyla, Ronon, and the boy where flown back with the precious cargo.
Upon unloading, Ronon had ignored the grumbling pilot as he complained about the mess and ambled over to Halling; the two conversed briefly and Ronon was directed to the best garment maker. The garment maker had lost her committed years ago; but her daughter who was of age grinned triumphantly at her friends (behind Ronon's back) before turning a small smile upon the Runner and leading him inside her tent.
Later the three reappeared and Ronon pointed out what furs he wanted to retain as coverings and which he wanted tanned and turned into clothes, Teyla noticed that the coverings where going to take up the bulk of the kill and suggested that he only take one covering now and order more clothes; the garment maker agreed; but her daughter blushed profusely and quickly excused herself.
Teyla nudged Ronon and he had replied that when the girl had taken his girth she told him that clothing construction would take away from their regular work and that he'd have to order only one piece of clothing each trip which would require his presence for sizing. Since Ronon didn't want to waste the skins, he figured he'd take coverings. Teyla and the woman laughed at him and Ronon frowned before telling Teyla to order for him and striding back to the jumper.
-OO-
John and Rodney where in the bay geared up when they landed, "Mission?" Ronon asked hopefully.
"Ah, no … you guys are late and no one responded to our radio calls."
"Sorry, John. We left immediately after returning from Belkan so we did not have our radios."
"What's your excuse?" John asked the pilot just noticing the mess left over from the hunt, "You better clean that up."
"Never received a transmission, sir."
"Rodney?"
"I'm on it. We're not working on it though until all that is cleaned up." and then he immediately radioed Zelenka.
"What is that?" John asked moving closer; Ronon just brushed passed him with the now empty container.
Teyla grinned as John realized it was blood and fur, possibly some innards, he quickly backed out of the jumper and trying to maintain his expression as nonchalant asked, "You guys have a good time?"
"Was fine."
Smiling at Ronon's universal answer Teyla turned to John, "You were correct, Ronon was quite popular and is a gifted hunter." then to the pilot, "Let me return these items to my quarters and then we will help clean the jumper."
Ronon thrust the empty box at Sheppard and looked around for something to start cleaning with.
"Actually, I need Ronon." and with that announcement Rodney started snickering, Sheppard glared at him while the two aliens remained clueless, "So, I guess Rodney will have to help you clean the jumper."
"What? Come on! You can't be serious?"
With John giving him a triumphant grin Rodney mumbled a fine, and then engaged his radio, "Maintenance. Jumper 6 needs to be cleaned immediately; as Zelenka and I have some important work to do on it." A slight pause before Rodney continued irritably, "Of course this is Dr. McKay, who else would have important work to do on a jumper? Radio me as soon as it's clean."
The small group stared at him, so Rodney just smiled smugly, "Later Sheppard, things to do." and headed off, presumably to his lab.
John just shook his head, score one for Rodney, now all he had to do was convince a headstrong Satedan that he had to go to the infirmary and have several visits with the base shrink.
"What'd ya need?"
Ah, an opening, "You never went to your post mission physical."
Ronon gave him a weird look, "Just got back and it wasn't a mission."
"No, before."
"Belkan wasn't a mission either."
John shook his head in frustration, "The mission to the Ancient outpost that McKay blew-up … you never went to the infirmary. And actually you're supposed to go to the infirmary anytime you've been off world regardless if it is a mission or not."
Teyla looked a bit guilty after John's last announcement so Ronon ignored that part and addressed the mission itself. "Wasn't hurt, just flew in a ship and walked around the outpost – Dr. Beckett said to see him if I got hurt."
"Well, yes – you definitely see him if you get hurt but it's protocol, after every mission you hit the infirmary for a brief physical."
"Waste of time."
"An order!" John responded stretching the word order out in a sarcastic manner.
"A stupid one." Ronon responded in kind.
Teyla decided to interrupt the boys so she could get by to use the transporter they were currently arguing in front of, "These items are getting heavy, would you excuse me please." The boys left off glaring at each other long enough to step aside and for John to wave her into the transporter.
As the door closed she could hear John stating, "An order's an order." And Ronon grunting, "Ill conceived orders don't have to be followed."
Teyla didn't hit her destination immediately wanting to ease drop a little longer: "Yes, they do! We agreed – you follow my orders."
"Even the stupid ones?"
Teyla heard John's exasperation, "Yes, even the stupid ones!" and then she hit quarters before she embarrassed them by laughing.
