I don't own anything MGM does.

Spoilers-Sateda & Tracker.

A/N: Thanks to the reviewers. Here is the next installment. Thanks to scr1tno for the idea of a Ronon story.

WARNING: If you hate the concept that Ronon had a crush on Jennifer, you won't like some of this story.

Ronon Dex was just finishing his evening run through the city when he heard sobbing coming from a nearby balcony. When he passed through the door, the sight before him broke his heart. Jennifer Keller was seated on the ground with her knees drawn up, arms wrapped around them and head resting on her arms. The sobs were coming from her. Without a thought, Ronon moved to sit beside her and wrap his arms around woman who had captured his heart for the first time since Melena.

Jennifer Keller jumped as she felt arms wrap around her. For a split second she hoped her dreams had come true, but only saw the big Satedan causing her heart to fall. She pushed herself up quickly.

"Ronon, what are you doing?" Her voice squeaked.

"Why are you crying?" Ronon growled as he was taken aback by her reaction. Then he remembered their last encounter, which ended with Jennifer dismissing his romantic intentions by saying she "was interested in someone else". The pain of that encounter took a couple months to heal and he thought he was over it until she physically pushed him away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think anyone was out here," The medical genius quickly said, wrapping her arms tightly around her body.

"I heard crying," He said as he rose to his full height towering over the doctor.

"I'm fine. Really, its nothing."

Ronon noticed the redness of her face and the wetness on the sleeves of her jacket. He was ready to walk away when he realized he still cared about her and wanted to help. "What's wrong? We're still friends, aren't we?"

Jennifer was stunned. Still friends? "You have a funny way of showing friendship. You avoided me for months."

"I know. Its just… well… women don't usually turn me down." It was now his turn to get flustered. He could not believe he said it out loud. I sound as arrogant as McKay.

At that admission, the young physician started laughing. The concept that a nerdy girl from Wisconsin had the interest of a gorgeous alien warrior was too much for her to take. Ronon joined in after a few seconds. He loved the sound of her laughter even if she was laughing at him.

"Seriously, what's wrong?" He said as he motioned for them to sit on the bench. Jennifer smiled and sat next to him.

"It's my birthday tomorrow and I always cry around my birthday," She said matter-of-factly.

"Why? I thought your people had parties and celebrated?"

"Most people do. It's just… every year, I think this is going to be the year and then it doesn't."

"What doesn't happen?"

"What?" Jennifer was confused. Did I just say that out loud?

"What doesn't happen each year?" Ronon nudged her slightly with his arm. "You better tell me because I'm late for dinner and Rodney is going to eat all the cookies."

At the mention of the physicist's name, Jennifer felt tears well up again. Stop it. Ronon will think you are mental. "I'm going to be twenty-nine this year and I still haven't met the man of my dreams. Well… I've met him but he doesn't even know I exist. I realize this is stupid to you, but I just don't know what's wrong with me. I only seem to pick guys who don't want me. I mean you were interested, but I had to fall for someone..." She sighed and slumped back against the bench looking like a pouting, love-sick teenager.

"Who is he?" Ronon steeled himself to hear the name of his teammate.

"I can't tell you! No one knows," She jumped to her feet and began to pace. "What would you do if I told you anyways; go up to him and say Jennifer is in love with you?"

"No, but I could find out if he's interested in you," Ronon stood up to his full height trying to intimidate the petite doctor. Jennifer did not seem concerned.

"No. I'd rather be his friend than be humiliated by having you run interference like in high school."

"I have an idea. How about you name five guys and make sure the one you like is on the list? I will find out if any of them are interested in you," The big Satedan cocked an eyebrow and stared down into her pretty face. A plan was forming in his mind as he waited for her to speak.

"Okay. I can name five guys, but… how are you going to find out if one of them likes me and what if it's the wrong guy?" What could he possibly do to get Rodney to tell him how he feels about me?

"Just name them," Ronon crossed his arms and leaned against the rail.

Jennifer took a deep breath and began, "Sheppard, Stackhouse, Markham, McKay and Lorne." She tried to keep her voice steady as she named each man; trying to give each the same inflection.

"Okay, I need you to come by my table in the mess hall and ask me what you are supposed to wear for this weekend. That's it. No matter who is at the table, ask me and then go to your quarters and wait."

"Huh? What am I supposed to wear? What are we doing this weekend?" He must have lost his mind.

"You and I are going on a date to a festival on Minos. That's all you need to know." Ronon was trying not to smile. He knew exactly which one of the men she named that was her "someone else". The fourth member of SGA-1 also knew that Rodney was very interested in her. "Trust me. I want to help you to have a nice birthday tomorrow."

The country girl from Wisconsin knew she was crazy to try this, but she did not want to celebrate her thirtieth birthday alone next year. In the worse case, one of the soldiers would be interested in her and she could settle for one of them. All of them are intelligent, handsome, courageous. Those are great qualities in a boyfriend. Yeah, settling for one of them would not be bad.

Who are you kidding; Rodney is the only one to ever make your heart flutter and your knees weak. You'd never settle for anyone else. "Okay, deal,"Jennifer stretched out her hand and shook Ronon's.

"See you in half an hour."

In the mess hall, Ronon, Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne and the two Sergeants, Markham and Stackhouse sat near the center of the room. Ronon called out to Rodney when he saw him, "Hey McKay come here."

Rodney McKay was very distracted. He knew tomorrow was Jennifer's birthday but had no clue what to do. Even though she did not love him, he could not imagine his life without her and wanted to do something really special for her. Rodney nodded noticing all the soldiers with Ronon. The cantankerous scientist knew they were all friends of Jennifer's and that they could help.

"I've got a question for you guys," Ronon's deep voice hit Rodney's ears when he sat down. "I have a date this weekend with a woman from Earth and want to make sure I don't do anything that is taboo on your world."

"What did you have in mind for your date?" Sheppard asked as he reclined back on two legs of his chair.

"I was taking her off-world to a festival on Minos. It's a world that celebrates each year they avoid a Wraith culling with a big festival."

"What kind of festival?" Major Lorne asked as he sipped his coffee mug.

The last thing Atlantis's resident super genius wanted was to discuss was Ronon's love life. At least Ronon was pursuing other women and leaving Jennifer alone. It appeared to Rodney that they did not even spar together any longer since the Daedalus incident. Jennifer had confided in him that she was angry with Ronon for destroying the ship's computer instead of disabling it. It was hard for the astrophysicist not to smile.

"There is dancing, drinking and lots of…" Ronon paused for good measure making sure McKay had a mouth full of food, "intimate activities."

The military guys all laughed with knowing grins on their faces. As expected, Rodney began to choke on his food.

"Ronon," Colonel Sheppard began, "Does this woman know about the… intimate activities? Because… sometimes women on Earth don't like to… you know…"

"You know what?" Ronon asked.

"Do it," Stackhouse completed in his Texas drawl. "You know, have sex on the first date. Assuming it is your first date."

"Oh, it's definitely a first date."

Rodney could not believe it. Ronon was going to take a woman to an orgy on their first date. Unbelievable! What a barbarian! The scientist of SGA-1 thought he knew Ronon pretty well, but this shocked him.

"Ronon, could I have a word?" Rodney's head snapped up as soon as he heard the voice of the woman he loved. Jennifer was standing next to Ronon who happened to be sitting across from Rodney. She did not seem to even notice he was there and was staring straight at Ronon. Oh no. A sickening feeling began to creep up from Rodney's stomach.

"Sure, what's up?." Ronon leaned back with a huge grin as he shook his dreads back from his face.

"Oh... I was just wondering what I should wear for the weekend." Jennifer glanced briefly at Sheppard who was seated next to Ronon, but continued to ignore Rodney.

"Nothing fancy. Whatever you normally wear on your day off." A sly smile spread across Ronon's face as he glanced quickly at the guys.

"Okay. I hope you gentleman have a nice evening." Jennifer almost ran out of the mess hall. Her heart was going to explode and she had to pause outside the door to breath. The medical doctor could not look at Rodney. She was too ashamed. Why did I ever agree to do this? Now Rodney thinks I'm dating Ronon. Tears threatened once again, so she ran to her quarters to wait.

Rodney's sickening feeling turned into rage as soon as Ronon slyly looked at the men at the table. How dare he! Jennifer was the sweetest, kindest, gentlest person Rodney ever met. She meant everything to him and he would do anything for her. When no one else at the table said anything to defend her and stop this horrible deed from occurring, Rodney decided to act.

Ronon was expecting a jealous outburst from McKay, but he got Rodney's fist connecting with his nose from across the table. Rodney packed all the anger and love he felt for Jennifer into the punch breaking Ronon's nose instantly and sending him tumbling backwards in the chair. The military men at the table and everyone else in the mess hall stared in shock. McKay had kicked his chair away from him as it hindered him from getting to Ronon.

"How dare you even consider using Jennifer like that? I thought I knew you. I thought you were a… decent man… even a good friend but I can assure you that you are not even going to be on Atlantis when I'm through with you!" Rodney lunged for Ronon who was still on the floor. It took Lorne and Stackhouse to hold Rodney back. Sheppard jumped up to get between them as well while Markham radioed the infirmary.

Jennifer just stepped into her quarters when her earwig went off with a request for her to come to the infirmary immediately. She took off in a run because she had a feeling something just happened in the mess hall.

Her infirmary was in chaos when she entered. Sergeants Stackhouse and Markham, along with Sheppard and Lorne had McKay pinned to a wall while Doctor Cole and Marie worked on Ronon who was on a bed nearby.

"What the hell is going on here!" She screamed over the swearing and yelling that was coming from the soldiers and McKay. "What are you doing to Rodney?" Jennifer approached the struggling men and flinched as she heard Rodney scream at Ronon how he was going to prevent the Satedan from ever procreating.

"Rodney, calm down! You're going to have a seizure," The doctor was scared because his face was bright red and he was struggling with four highly skilled soldiers who did not want to use the force they were capable of on him. "Please!"

Jennifer's voice finally permeated Rodney's consciousness as the outrage for his teammate's earlier words began to subside. His eyes left the bed holding his bleeding victim and found hers, he visibly sagged against the arms and hands of those holding him.

"Rodney, what happened?" Jennifer was captured by the intense blue of his eyes. He has the most beautiful eyes.

"Jennifer… I… you can't…" Rodney was captured by her tawny eyes as well. He had to get her away from Ronon. Not for himself, but to protect her from heart ache. He steeled himself internally for the conversation they were going to have to have.

"I'm fine guys. I got it together." He tried to shake off their hands and arms. With a nod from Colonel Sheppard, the men all backed off slowly keeping themselves as a shield between Ronon and Rodney. Rodney still did not tear his eyes off of the face of the woman he loved.

Jennifer saw a flash of pain cross Rodney's face and suddenly pulled her eyes away to make sure he was not injured. The CMO noticed blood on Ronon's face when she glanced at him upon entering the infirmary, but was so intent on ensuring Rodney had not been harmed that she had not glanced at Ronon again. There must have been some type of fight. Her physician's eye took in the way Rodney was holding his right hand cradled in his left. Without thinking that Rodney had been a raving lunatic a moment ago, she pushed between Lorne and Stackhouse to stand in front of Rodney. He would never hurt me, she was certain.

"Let me see that," She requested in her gentle, doctor voice.

Rodney was entranced and raised his aching hand for her to see. There was blood on it and it was starting to swell.

"Rodney! What did you do?" Jennifer pulled him toward a sink at the back of the lab. He followed obediently.

She ran water and gently began to wipe the blood from Rodney's hand.

"Jennifer," Rodney began in a soft voice that caused Jennifer's blood pressure to shoot up. "You can't go with Ronon this weekend."

"What?" Jennifer was getting more affected that she should be by Rodney's closeness. Since she was holding his hand in the sink, he was very close to her side. His left hand came up to rest on her upper right arm.

"You can't go with Ronon. He only wants…" The super genius was not sure how to say this without blurting out a topic he never wanted to discuss with Jennifer. That's not entirely true. I just want to do more than discuss it. "He only wants to have sex with you. This festival is a big… orgy." He rushed out the words and felt his face turn as hot as a furnace.

"What!" Jennifer looked up at Rodney then glanced at Ronon lying on the bed at the other end of the infirmary. Sheppard and the soldiers looking at him and not them. Ronon told him he was taking me to an orgy? What the hell was he thinking and why didn't Lorne beat the crap out of him?

"Jennifer, I was as shocked as you, but he said it." Rodney had no idea what Jennifer was going to do.

"And then you punched him," Jennifer looked back up at the man she loved. Why did he punch Ronon? Her own genius mind taking her in a direction she had only dreamed about. Her brown eyes bore into his blue ones hoping to gain some insight into what was going on in Rodney's mind. Was he… jealous?

Doctor McKay was at a loss as to the next step. Jennifer was so close that he was finding it extremely difficult to think. He pulled his right hand out of the cold water Jennifer was holding it under making sure to capture her smaller hand in his. After this move, Jennifer moved her right arm up to rest on his chest over his heart.

"Rodney," Her voice was a whisper that could barely be heard. Rodney leaned his head a little lower to hear. "Why did you hit Ronon?"

As if Jennifer were the center of a black hole drawing in all that surrounded her, Rodney did not stop his decent until his mouth was pressed against hers. Jennifer gasped at the feel of his lips on hers allowing Rodney to press his advantage and slip his tongue into her mouth. It was as if that was the key to unlocking their desire for each other. Arms moved to surround each other and hands began stroking backs, burrowing into hair, and whimpers and moans escaped their throats.

Sheppard glanced at Rodney and Jennifer to see them in a passionate embrace after he heard a new sound coming from the back of the room. His eyebrows shot up his forehead and he said to Sergeant Stackhouse, "Close that screen back there. I think they need some time alone."

"I towd you it would work," Ronon mumbled under the ice pack he was holding on his nose.

"Are you going to kill McKay?" Sheppard asked warily.

"Neber been prowder of Wodney," Ronon managed. They all laughed heartily.

A/N Ronon's last line is "Never been prouder of Rodney" if you can't figure it out.

I appreciate the feedback from my loyal fans. Ronon is hard to write, so I hope I captured him. If you remember he had been really gentle with Teyla in several episodes. Very much like a brother. I tried to capture some of that. Thanks!