Rodney panted, heaved, and gasped for air as he joined Ella at the edge of the pier. She smirked as he doubled over with his hands on his knees. This man was out of shape. She was certain things were going to be a little better around here now that she knew how to get to him. Breathing in deep to absorb the cool ocean air, Ella sighed contentedly and sat on the edge of the pier like she had before. Rodney flopped down beside her with a thud.
"Did we have to take the stairs?" Rodney wasn't looking directly at Ella, but at the horizon instead.
Ella laughed and nodded, but she realized he wouldn't see her nod so she said, "Yes."
They sat in silence for awhile, but Rodney was starting to feel uncomfortably tense in the seemingly stuffy silence so he tried to make conversation. "So, I hear you and Ronon are pretty evenly matched when it comes to hand to hand." His tone was nonchalant, but he was worried about upsetting the small Satedan, especially if she would react anything like her brother. He had read the report that Sheppard had filed on her and he had to admit, the side of Ronon that was soft enough to beg to keep a small child was a side he would like to see.
Ella shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose so. He started teaching me at a young age."
There was another long silence, and Ella continued to gaze at the sea. She had rarely been on a planet long enough to enjoy the scenery, and she thought now was a great opportunity. She could feel Rodney fidgeting next to her, hoping to fill the silence, but to her the silence was beautiful.
Rodney started again, not as subtly this time. "So, how-"
Ella abruptly cut him off. "Rodney, be quiet."
Rodney stopped, but he started again hesitantly. Ella scanned the area for an emergency ladder, then shoved him off the edge. As he splashed she realized she wasn't sure if he could swim. She hoped he could, because she did not feel like saving a drowning man at the moment.
He bobbed to the surface and sprayed water out of his mouth. Ella smiled at him when he tossed a glare her way as he climbed up the ladder. Ella stood before he reached the top and flashed another innocent smile. "So, I suppose it's time to go inside?" She didn't wait for an answer, but turned and led the way inside. Rodney clenched his jaw as his nose wrinkled and he began grumbling under his trembling breath.
John was really starting to get tired. He had been following Ronon all over the city for the last half hour. He was practcally overjoyed when he heard Keller's voice crackle in his ear.
"John, are you and Ronon still looking for Ella?"
John touched his earpiece and replied hurriedly. "Yes. Do you have her?" Ronon stopped and looked at John, partially aware thanks to only hearing one side of the conversation. "On our way." John motioned towards the infirmary with one hand and Ronon headed out at a quick jog that John reluctantly matched.
"Don't be a baby. It's just a little water, nothing major." Ella was trying to hide her amusement, but her eyes smiled. Jennifer was helping a Marine with a stab wound from an angry villager, so a nurse was taking care of Rodney. Not that there was much to take care of. The sea water he had swallowed had made him feel a little sick and he was cold, but he was fine other than that.
"I can't believe you pushed me in. No, wait, I can. It's something Ronon would do." Rodney's voice trembled as he shivered from the slight chill his wet clothes were causing.
"Rodney, you don't need to be in the infirmary, you just need to go change. Honestly you are the dumbest 'genius' I've ever met."
Rodney's eyes widened and his mouth drooped open, making him look like a dead fish. "I, I." He stopped trying and simply moaned pathetically. Ella waved the nurse away and lugged Rodney into a standing position. "C'mon, let's go." As she was pushing Rodney through the doorway, Ronon was entering it. Rodney stopped, making Ella bump into him. She looked over his shoulder and smiled at Ronon. Behind Ronon, one of John's eyebrows raised with curiosity.
"Ella, why is McKay wet?"
Ella smiled and nonchalantly replied as she shoved Rodney past the door block Ronon had created, "I pushed him into the water."
John looked up at Ronon, who was smiling broadly.
Lunchtime rolled around and Ella followed a dry-but still slightly grumpy-Rodney to the mess hall. After they had gotten their food Ella let Rodney lead her to the table where John, Ronon, and a woman she recognized but did not know sat. As she sat down in the empty seat between Ronon and Rodney, the woman smiled kindly at her.
"I am Teyla Emagen. You are Ella Dex, correct?"
Ella smiled and nodded, unsure how this woman knew who she was. Teyla noted the confusion hidden in her expression and continued gently.
"I came to see you in the infirmary, but you were sleeping. I also read your file. I consider your brother a close friend, and I am positive we shall be good friends also."
Ella smiled again and began to eat. She had been intrigued by the Tau'ri's food since her arrival. It was complex and tasty, and it made her want to smile. She didn't pay much attention to the current conversation, which was about the new update Rodney was trying to get working for the chair. Instead she allowed herself to properly and thoroughly enjoy the food.
John had begged Doctor Keller to let him finish Ella's tour, and she had agreed. But she had made him take Rodney. He groaned under his breath at the thought of having his arrogant friend on the tour, but he wanted to finish. He smiled as he led Ella into the shooting range.
Ella entered cautiously, smoothing the military green pants she had been given. She wore a black t-shirt, her black leather knee-high boots, and her black, leather, fingerless gloves. Her long hair was once again braided down her back. Peering around the room with uncertainty at first, she relaxed when she saw what the room was.
"This is a wonderful room, although I'm sure you need about as much practice as your brother. This is our shooting range."
Ella gently stroked the various guns John had laid out as she examined them closely. She picked one up and discharged it's ammo into the middle of the paper silhouette, then did the same with the rest scattered across the table.
Sheppard smirked and said, "So, I suppose you have your own gun too?"
Ella reflected his confident smirk and pulled out a sleek, dainty blaster. It was silver, and if the slim, streamlined barrel was removed the rest would easily fit in her tiny hand. She aimed it at the the hole filled silhouette and fired a single shot, blowing away the majority of the wounded paper. Visions of an early Ronon flashed into John's mind, and Rodney's jaw simply hung limp.
With a satisfied smile, John gestured towards the door. "If you'll come this way I can show you your quarters."
Doctor Keller had agreed to let her hang out alone in her room for awhile. Ronon was asleep and John had other matters to attend to. She didn't know Teyla well enough to want to hang out with her if she had another choice, and she definitely didn't want to have Rodney watching her right now. That left her the option of promising to stay in her room. But the room soon bored her. She didn't like just sitting around, and in the sparsely decorated room she didn't have much to entertain herself with. She had contented herself with throwing her smaller knives at her old shirt. It was a tan leather that had been worn smooth by her years as a runner. She stuck it to the wall with a few knives, then practiced her aim. It was awhile before a knock at the door interrupted her monotonous routine.
She opened the door and saw John dismissing a Marine. Smiling slightly, she moved back to the end of her bed, leaving the door open for John to follow her in. He sat down on a metal frame chair and watched as she pulled another knife and sunk it into the wall.
"Well, you agreed to stay here, so I have another question for you." Ella listened quietly, so he continued. "We are divided into offworld teams. I would like you to be on mine."
Ella seemed curious, which John assumed to be a good thing. "Who else is on your team?"
John's mouth slipped into a half grin. "Ronon, Teyla, Myself, and...Rodney."
Ella winced slightly. "Well Teyla seems nice, but Rodney and I don't get along so well."
With a wave of his hand John dismissed the fact. "Most people don't get along with Rodney. You had a gun in his face and didn't kill him, you'll do fine."
Ella let out a giggle, followed by a sigh. When she didn't reply, though, John decided she needed a little push.
"So, what do you say?"
Ella nodded and John smiled, patting her gently on the shoulder before he stood up. "You'll do great."
He closed the door behind him as he left, leaving Ella to flop onto her back and contemplate the sudden turn her life had taken as she stared at the ceiling.
A/N: Well, the thing is, I wanted Ella to be kind of a mini-Ro. They have their differences, but Ronon took it upon himsef to teach her, so she is kinda like him. I hope you all are enjoying!