I own none of SGA or any of the characters and make no money from any of this, just enjoy! Thanks to my beta Misi!
Chapter Four:
Gossip
spoilers for Trio
Ronon headed for the mess hall for his late afternoon snack. He had spent the day working out with a new batch of marines, teaching them a few moves that he always favored when fighting hand to hand. He noticed a few people eyeing him speculatively as he walked through the corridors of Atlantis. He had learned to ignore the many looks he got from the Earth people, they were weird. After filling his tray, Ronon looked for a place to sit. He spotted McKay and Jennifer laughing together at a table and strode towards them. Pulling up the chair next to Jennifer, Ronon nods at Rodney "McKay" and begins to apply himself to his food. He listens as Jennifer teases McKay about being an "action hero" and starts laughing. Jen's hand slides to his thigh and rests there affectionately while she laughs at McKay.
"Ronon you would have been so proud of McKay today" Jennifer smiles as she addresses him, "he climbed down a rope, caught me, and saved Col. Carter!"
"Different from the usual, huh McKay?" Ronon grinned. He took Jen's hand and felt the bandages. "What happened?" He looks at her closely and sees the signs of recent bruising. "You aren't kidding are you?" He sees McKay's bandages, "what did you blow up McKay?"
"Oh no, Ronon, Rodney was quite brilliant!" Jennifer smiles at Rodney again "he really did a great job!" Ronon gaped at Jennifer and then caught a very uncomfortable look on McKay's face. Rodney turned beet red and then said quickly "I, um, I got, well bye all!" and practically ran out of the mess hall.
"What got into him?" Ronon began looking Jennifer carefully over for more bruising. "No clue, so want to hear about my adventure?" Jennifer smiled at Ronon and sipped her beer. Ronon listened in disbelief at Jennifer's tale of mineshafts, broken legs, and Rodney's heroics. He was amazed that Rodney had really come through for Jennifer and Carter. "Wow McKay did all that! I would have liked to see you swinging on the rope though" Ronon smiled at Jennifer. "I always knew you could do anything." Jennifer blushed at the warmth in Ronon's eyes. "You off the rest of today?" "
Uh sure , what do you have in mind?" Jennifer smiled.
"How about a movie?" Ronon said with a predatory grin "my quarters, I'll put in one you like ok? How about Tarzan?"
Jennifer choked on her beer and sat the bottle on the table. "Will you be my Jane?" came her flirtatious reply. Laughing, Ronon got up still carefully holding Jen's hand as they left the mess hall, not noticing the people whispering as they left.
"I don't know what to do! She really likes me and I don't want to upset Ronon." McKay confided in Zelenka in the lab. "Luckily he isn't too bright and didn't realize what was going on when he saw us". "What was going on Rodney?" Zelenka was puzzled. He had seen Ronon and Dr. Keller kissing in the medical bay several times and didn't think Ronon had anything to worry about. While recovering from his rash, he had noticed how Ronon hung around waiting for Dr. Keller, and how she had seemed to light up whenever she saw him. Zelenka had liked the doctor, but when he saw her with Ronon, he knew he was out-classed. "Are you sure you didn't get something stronger than beer to drink? I don't really think Dr. Keller is going to stop seeing Ronon over you."
"You are just blind Zelenka! She has the hots for me, big hots!" Rodney explained. "When Ronon came in she didn't even notice him!" Rodney powered up his computer still muttering about how Keller wanted him. Zelenka shook his head; his friend had a lot to learn about women.
Two hours later, Ronon flicked the remote and shut off the DVD. Jennifer was sleeping quietly in his lap and he didn't want to move her. He was really unnerved by how close he came to losing her today, if McKay hadn't held onto that rope she would be gone. Ronon shifted slowly and began to stand up. Once upright with Jennifer in his arms, he was undecided, her bed or his? He knew he should take her to her room, but he wanted her nearby. He walked over to the bed and placed her carefully in the middle. Another night in his "sleep pants" as Jennifer called them, at least they weren't uncomfortable. He quickly changed and slid into the bed beside her. He pulled her to him and sighed, happy she was here and still alive.
The sun was in Jennifer's eyes again. She stretched, not totally surprised to find Ronon next to her. She rested her head against his bare shoulder, caressing his chest, and wishing she could stay there all day. "Morning" rumbled from deep in Ronon's chest. Jennifer looked up into his dreamy eyes. "How are you feeling today?" Jennifer stretched again and felt some muscles twinge. "Oh, a bit sore." She smiled into his green eyes, enjoying the sensation of getting lost. She felt no hurry to leave Ronon's bed this morning. Last time she had been nervous and flustered, but this morning she was more willing to stay and enjoy being next to him. "This is getting to be a habit Ronon." Jennifer teased him "I have slept here twice now and redecorated a bit, soon people will be talking!" Ronon's laugh rumbled in his chest "Jen, they are already talking! Haven't you noticed yet? I kind of like the way men look at you, like you are off limits!" Ronon rolled on his side facing her, pulling her tightly against his very warm, very aroused body! "I find I like them knowing you are mine!"
Jennifer stared at this amazing man who wanted HER, not some beauty queen, just little old her! She cuddled even closer to his body and began to stroke his chest, not quite meeting his eyes. "But, why me? I'm nothing special; I'm not brilliant like Col. Carter, not strong and beautiful like Teyla, I can't sing, barely can walk without getting hurt. Why me?" Jennifer's puzzled eyes met Ronon's.
He couldn't believe she didn't realize just how amazing she was. "Jen" Ronon's voice was soft and husky, "you are a truly amazing woman, you heal people, you care about people, and you risk your life for others even when you are scared inside. YOU are strong, you just don't see it, YOU are beautiful from your heart to your face, and you are the only woman I want!" Ronon pulled Jennifer closer and began to kiss her slowly. His lips brushed hers urging them to open for him, when they did, he took full advantage, showing her how he felt. His hands caressed her back and hips, pulling her still closer to him. Jennifer slid her hand over his torso again and again. She had been treating him for months and had fought the urge to caress him, now she wanted nothing more than to feel his heart beat beneath her fingers, to know his arousal was for her alone. Throwing herself into the kiss, Jennifer finally wrapped her arms around Ronon and tangled her legs with his, trying to get as close as possible to him. Chuckling deep in his throat, Ronon pulled her even closer and began to caress under her shirt, loving the feeling of her soft sweet skin. Slowly they drew apart, each feeling the need for oxygen.
"Wow" Jennifer smiled into Ronon's face. "What a way to wake up. I could take a bit more of this in my life." Ronon laughed at Jen's delighted expression "I can arrange that for you" Ronon bent to nuzzle her neck, nipping playfully. "You make a delicious morning snack." Jennifer threw back her head and laughed with delight. "Oh that would be a great excuse to be late to work, sorry I was late, Colonel Carter, Ronon was nibbling on me!" Jennifer's eyes were glowing with mirth as she slowly pulled away. "Really Ronon, I need to go shower and get to the medical bay." Ronon let go slowly and watched her scramble from the bed and look for her shoes again. She had gotten into the habit of walking around his room barefoot and kept forgetting where she put her shoes. Lying on his back, Ronon enjoyed the sight of Jennifer scrambling around his room in the mornings. He was going to have to find a way to make it happen more often.
"Okay, I have got to run" Jennifer stood next to the bed and gave him a quick kiss, evading his attempt to pull her back into the bed. Ronon leapt after her and pulled her to him. "That was not a worthy good-bye kiss" Jennifer smiled into his eyes as he held her tightly. Ronon's lips descended and Jennifer wrapped herself around him, enjoying the passion of his kiss. She parted her lips for him and began her own exploration of his mouth. She felt her back hit a wall and raised her legs around his waist. She had never felt like this before, NEVER. Her entire being was focused on his lips, his body, his hands, OMG his hands were everywhere. One hand was holding her intimately to him, pressing her against him from thigh to chest, the other hand was burrowed in her hair one moment, caressing her neck next, fondling her breast, before finding her thigh. Slowly
Ronon pulled back from Jen "okay, I gotta let you go now, just wanted to remind you what a real goodbye kiss is like." Backing away, breathing heavily, Ronon slowly lets Jennifer slide to the floor along his front. She feels his heart pounding and knows hers is beating as fast. She leans her forehead against his chest "Is leaving you always going to be this hard? Will I see you later?"
"Don't know, Sheppard has a mission lined up" Ronon smiled into
her eyes "miss me! " Ronon demanded with a grin.
Jennifer
smiled "always" and quickly walked to the door.
Teyla stood on the balcony overlooking the gate room, watching the jumper piloted by John Sheppard slowly approach the gate. Sheppard turns the jumper so she can see her team. Jennifer walks over to her side. "Are you ok?"
"Yes I am, Jennifer, it is just hard to watch my team leave without me" Teyla stands up straight and gives her team a wave and a smile. Jennifer sees Ronon behind Rodney and John and gives him a flirty little wave. Rodney nearly falls out of his seat. Smiling at Jennifer, Ronon hauls Rodney off the floor "got a problem, McKay?"
"Me? No, no problem, just, um" and Rodney sinks into silence. Ronon and John share a smirk. Rodney gets busy, jumping every time he glances at Ronon. The Satedan sits calmly, relieving his last sight of Jennifer. He loved having her in his bed last night, but, he squirmed uncomfortably, those nights were getting too intimate. As a Satedan, he didn't believe in intimacy without vows and pledges. He was going to have to have a serious talk with Jennifer.
Meanwhile back at the gate room, "Jennifer may I talk to you? Teyla followed Dr. Keller into the hallway. Jennifer slowed down so the heavily pregnant woman could catch up.
"Can I help you with something Teyla? " Jennifer smiled at her friend.
"I have heard something that concerns me, I do not like to interfere but Ronon is a very good man and I am worried"
"What is the problem?"
"I have heard that you went on a date with Doctor McKay. Are you serious about him" Teyla turned to face the doctor.
"What? What? WHAT!! Rodney and I had a beer, geeze, where did this get started?" Jennifer looked totally perplexed. "Teyla, I am seeing Ronon not Rodney!"
Teyla observed the other woman's stance and realized that gossip had been wrong. "I am sorry to upset you Jennifer, I admit I listened to gossip and now can see it was wrong. I care deeply for Ronon, his life as a Runner was hard and I had not seen him truly happy until recently…with you." Teyla smiled at Jennifer. "I will make sure others know that story is false"
Jennifer walked back to her lab in a bit of a snit. Why would Rodney ever think she would be interested in him? Is he so immature as to believe that she would dump Ronon for him? Jennifer stomped into her office and started muttering under her breath.
"Doctor? Is something wrong?" One of the nurses poked her head into the office.
"No, I am just so sick of the rumor mill, did you hear that I am supposedly dumping Ronon for McKay?" Jennifer snorted.
"No truth to that one?" the nurse asked archly.
"As if! Sorry but Ronon is still very much taken! Who would think I would prefer Rodney?" Jennifer stomped around her office huffily.
"Well, Dr. McKay said it when he was in earlier. He asked if you were here and when Janet said no, he said good, didn't want to lead you on!" the nurse smiled helpfully.
Later that day:
John gratefully lowered the Jumper into the bay and glanced at McKay. Rodney had been "off" more than usual: extra skittish, unable to concentrate, and unusually clumsy. As the jumper door opened Rodney, practically fell out of the back and scurried off. Ronon looked at John, "What's with McKay?" came from the irritated Satedan.
"I don't know but I will find out!" Sheppard did not hide his disgust, "Because of his problems today we all need to go to the medical bay- probably that is where McKay is running off to." John purposefully stored after the disappearing scientist.
Ronon grunted in pain as he moved his sore shoulder and adjusted the makeshift bandage on his arm. He followed Sheppard out of the Jumper Bay and felt his weariness begin to lift as the idea of seeing Jennifer again. As he approached the medical bay, he could see Jennifer treating McKay. Ronon smiled as he watched Jennifer treat McKay while listening to McKay's babble. Suddenly Ronon realized what the look on McKay's face meant…he began to chuckle. It seemed the scientist had a thing for Ronon's woman! Still chuckling Ronon walked into the medical bay and heard Jennifer scolding Rodney. "…where you got the idea that I preferred you over Ronon, but that is just not true. You are a nice friend, get it friend!?! I have been dealing with gossip and other women wanting to know if Ronon is free!" Jennifer looked up and saw Ronon entering the Medical bay and decided to abandon all pretenses. She walked into Ronon's arms and kissed him passionately.
"I see you missed me." Ronon smiled into her eyes after they finally needed oxygen.
"You might say that." Jennifer found herself getting lost in his twinkling eyes. "you can leave now Rodney" she threw over her shoulder "my favorite patient is here" she smiled back at Ronon.
"McKay, I don't blame you, she is breathtaking isn't she?" Ronon smiled at the smaller man. "I can see why everyone would want MY Jen."
Rodney got up and quickly left the medical bay, hiding his flushed face. He brushed past John, who was grinning from ear to ear.
"So kids, what's going on?" Sheppard strolled over to the examination table. Jennifer slowly pulled away from Ronon and looked at John.
"you boys had a rough day didn't you?" Jennifer looked over both Ronon and John and decided that John looked worse. "Sit here, John" she turned to Ronon, "can you wait?"
"I'm good" Ronon leaned against the door jamb to wait. He enjoyed watching Jennifer work, she was very gentle and yet very confident of her abilities. She cleaned all of John's wounds, laughing at his stories of Rodney's clumsiness causing a village to think they were con artists, gave him an antibiotic shot and teasing John about his dislike of needles.
"Oh he doesn't dislike them; they scare him worse than clowns!" Ronon laughed as he walked over to the exam bed to take his turn with the doctor.
John slugged Ronon's sore shoulder as he left the infirmary, laughing at Ronon's wince.
Muttering under her breath, Jennifer pulled off the makeshift bandage and began to clean the ugly gash. "I don't really want to know how this happened, but I do know why and I am sorry" Her brown eyes filled with tears as she cleansed his wound.
"Rodney misinterpreted our drink and has been convinced you w re going to kill him for stealing me away."
Ronon began to chuckle, "yeah so I gathered. That explains why he was always jumping if I stood near him. He convinced the Eldians that we were up to no good so they decided to imprison us. It took a bit to get back to the jumper and the gate."
I am glad it is all worked out now Ronon. I didn't realize how gossipy this place is. With all of the military and scientists I expected no one to notice what other people do. I guess I was wrong." Jen gave him a rueful grimace.
Ronon began to laugh harder "you are unique Jennifer, everyone else is always paying attention to gossip and you only pay attention to those who need you."
Jennifer blushed a bit, "I have always been told I focus too much on work…"
"Just focus on me" Ronon's voice got even huskier as he pulled her close for a kiss.
AN: Thanks for everyone who reviewed the earlier chapters! This one was harder to write and am not too happy with it….but please read & review!
