Title: Adventures in Babysitting
Rating: K+
Pairing: Not too much in this chapter but the story is mainly McKay/Weir with hints of John/Teyla
Spoilers: Um, through Season 2, although it's AU so that doesn't mean much.
A/N: Someone (I don't remember who) reminded me that I mentioned Ford in my previous story, "A New Arrival" and then he sort of disappeared. Well, he's back, on the assumption that he returned to Atlantis after some time away (though not discounting what happened in Season 2 with his character). But this is not his story; it's Ronon's, so on with the show!
Ronon made a face at his small charge. It didn't make him feel any better about the position he found himself in. Especially as the baby found it funny. Everyone seemed to be having a laugh at his expense.
He glared at the baby again. She smiled up at him and grabbed a dreadlock in one tiny fist.
"Don't," he warned, but she didn't release her grip.
Ronon held Josie up over his head until she was forced to let go of his hair. She smiled, showing off new teeth just starting to peek through. She apparently thought this was the funniest thing in the world.
Ronon sighed and brought her down, holding her so she was facing out and couldn't get a fistful of his hair again. He knew that everyone thought him green when it came to caring for children, but it wasn't the first time he had held a baby. He'd bet his whole weapon collection that he had more experience minding children than Dr. McKay.
"Aah," Josie said, seeming to agree with him.
Ronon couldn't resist a smile. She was pretty cute – she had her father's eyes and was showing hints of her mother's smile – but he'd gnaw off a limb before he'd admit that to McKay. He did not mind baby sitting – he had no pressing plans, not like he ever did these days, things being altogether too quiet for his tastes – but he would have liked a little warning. With his free hand he smoothed down Josie's soft dark hair with a paternal sort of air. He was caught in the act by two female scientists, and their giggles turned his smile into a glower. So what if he had a soft side for kids? That didn't mean he wanted to share it with the whole damn city.
He was good with kids, he was. Kids were straight forward - they said what they meant and meant what they said (assuming they could speak, of course). They were easy to talk to, didn't make assumptions, and were easily entertained. He wished this group he'd fallen in with were half as easy to understand.
Ronon had lived with them for years and been to their world, but he often suspected he was no closer to really understanding them then the day he had gotten involved with their lot. He also suspected they might feel the same about him. They understood each other as soldiers but fighting such a long war had given them time for little else.
Before Ronon had much more time to mull this over, his stomach gave an audible rumble. It was well past lunchtime.
"I don't know about you," Ronon said to the baby, "but I need food. Come on."
He hoisted her up against his shoulder once more as they headed toward the commissary. Josie immediately grabbed hold of his hair again.
Ronon glanced askance at her. "You are your father's daughter...pushy little man."
He sauntered through the corridors, ignoring everyone he passed and the curious looks he received. Just as he arrived at the entrance, he was met by Dr. Zelenka and Ford exiting. He nodded to both men and was greeted in return by a smile from Ford and a badly concealed snigger from Zelenka.
Ronon stopped walking and slowly turned to stare impassively at them. "What?"
"It looks like Josephine has found herself a teddy bear," Zelenka choked out.
Ford gave him a slightly alarmed look as Zelenka sniggered wildly. After watching the scientist writhe with badly contained hilarity, he clapped Zelenka on the shoulder with a shake of his head, wished the doctor the best of luck, and wandered away with an apologetic shrug at Ronon.
Ronon mused briefly that the young major really had learned a lot while being on the run from both the Lanteans and the Wraith. He glanced at Josie who still had a firm grip on one dreadlock and was now using it as a teething toy. He raised an eyebrow at her; she giggled but didn't let go of her new toy.
Zelenka erupted in laughter but quickly broke off when Ronon extracted the baby and deposited her in the scientist's arms.
"Good luck," the Satedan rumbled and disappeared into the commissary, leaving a sputtering Czech in his wake.
A/N2: Sorry this was so long in coming...real life - can't live with it...well, you can, unless, you know, you don't, which would be bad...anywho, Zelenka is up next.
