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Chapter 9

When they got to the village and the rear hatch opened, they all headed out.

Jennifer though, paused just before she took the step that would take her off the ramp and onto the grass of the planet. Ronon sensed her reluctance and stopped. He reached his hand back to her when he turned to see her standing there. She took the offered hand and took the step out of the Jumper.

'You can do this' was the thought that she kept telling herself.As terrified as she was to be back on this planet so soon, not to mention this village, after the attack; the sooner she faced the monster behind the attack and the sooner she could put it behind her.

The village leader, an older man named Hiom, was there to greet them, wondering why they had left so suddenly on their last visit. Once he was told a short version of what had happened to the Atlantis Doctor he was surprised. He apologized that someone from his village had done such a thing, and had caused her so much pain.He was confident after hearing a description of the attacker that it was a young farmer named Dylos.

"I will have the man brought to the center of the village to stand and answer for what he has been accused. That is if he was the one that attacked you."

"If I may ask, how does your village go about deciding a person's guilt or innocence?" Col. Carter asked.

"The accused is brought in front of the village. Then Dr. Keller will tell the people what happened, what crime was committed. Then he will have a chance to speak in his defense. Once both sides have finished, the adults of the village will take sides on who they believe to be telling the truth. Who ever has more people that agree with them will be the victor."

"What is the punishment for a person who has done an attack like this?" Rodney asked.

"Well, we haven't had much in the way of attacks like this so I believe that will be up to the good Doctor."

A half hour later the entire village was gathered in the center of the village. Jennifer was, to say the least, terrified. There, standing just a few feet away was the monster that had attacked her. She wanted to run away. Why had she thought that being here would be a good idea? Was it too late to say that there had been a mistake? Maybe she could just pretend that nothing had ever happened to her. She could do that, right? Just go about her days as if nothing had ever happened.

Then Ronon was there standing just to her right and a step behind her. She could feel the heat from his skin and the anger that flowed off him like waves. Did he know what she was thinking? It seemed like maybe he did. He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.

She looked over at him, but his eyes were focused on Dylos, the monster that had attacked her. The look on his face was dark and hard. His face told her that he was fighting the urge to attack, and possibly kill, the monster that had attacked her. She wondered what it would take to send him over the edge and go after Dylos. What would happen to any that got in his way? She felt a tremble of fear. How could she condemn Dylos for rape, knowing that the man next to her, the man that she had taken as her security, had killed? Was the difference between them that Dylos had attacked her and done her grievous harm?

When Ronon looked down at her, she saw the answer so plainly she wondered how she could let herself think that Ronon was anything like Dylos. Ronon's eyes at that moment were not hard and angry. They held nothing but concern. The hard lines had softened. He may have killed but it was only when he felt that the other person had done something bad enough to deserve it. He didn't kill for the pleasure or control.

"You okay with this Doc?" Ronon asked her.

"Fine, I just want this over with so that we can leave." she replied with a nod of her head.

"It will be done soon, and then you won't have to come back."

Jennifer moved to stand in front of everyone and again retold the horrific events that had taken place at the hands of Dylos, who stood to the side waiting his turn to speak. She would turn and look in the eyes of the members of the team from time to time. Using the feelings she felt from them to give her the strength to continue. Ronon gave her the most strength when it came to the worst of the attack.

When she had finished she walked back to the fold of the five people who had accompanied her. They all quietly told her that it was almost over. They told her that they were proud of her. They told her that he would be punished and they would be on their way back to Atlantis.

Now it was Dylos's turn to speak. It didn't take long however, for the group from Atlantis to be shocked and furious at the words he said.

"You all know me here, does that sound like something I would do?" he started. "I have never done any of you wrong. It is true that I took the woman to see about Aldver and his wife Arodi. We got to their home without incident. Unfortunately, they were not there. When we couldn't find them, we looked around briefly but the light was getting bad and we headed back here. She was 'friendly' with me the whole time, but I turned down her affections. When I last saw her she was fine. I think it was one of the men she came with that must have attacked her. I'll even bet it was that one there, the big one. Did you see how she looked towards him? She was probably too scared to tell everyone the truth. He probably threatened her to say those things…"

Faster than anyone knew Ronon had launched himself at Dylos, and started to rapidly and furiously punch the man. He only stopped punching when he wrapped his hands around tightly around the beat mans' throat.

To say Jennifer was shocked would have been an understatement. She felt as if everything was moving in slow motion. She wanted to scream at Ronon, but what did she want to yell? Did she want to encourage him or make him stop?

"Ronon! Stop!" Col Carter yelled at the Satedan.

"You have to let go! He isn't worth it!" John said running up to Ronon and grabbing his arm trying to pull him off the other man, who was trying desperately to pull at the hands around his throat.

"Ronon!" Teyla screamed.

"Ronon, you can't!" Rodney hollered.

Through all of the noise, Ronon heard none of it. He focused only on the man below him. Dylos would soon pass out and die, which was no more than this thing deserved for what he had done and then said. He knew that the others would want him to stop but he would not listen. His only thought was to make this monster pay.

"Ronon, please let him go." That was Jennifer's voice softly pleading to release her attacker, and her soft touch on his arm.

"After what he did to you, this is nothing more than the punishment he should suffer." Ronon said, relaxing his grip slightly but not letting go.

"Yes, he does, but I couldn't bear the thought of him dying at your hands."Ronon shook his head and grabbed the mans shirt and pulled their faces closer.

"You are lucky she is here. She is a much better person than I am." Ronon growled at the barely conscious man before letting the man drop to the ground.Ronon stepped away and turned his back to Jennifer and the gasping man near her feet. Ronon immediately had Col Carter and John on both sides of him, in case he went after Dylos again.

Teyla went to Hiom and apologized for Ronon's actions, and tried to explain why he did what he did.

Rodney went to Jennifer to see if she was okay.

Jennifer looked down at the man who no longer seemed as frightening or as tough as she remembered him. He was broken and bleeding. Not a monster that would be able to get her no matter where she was. He was just a normal man who could suffer injury just like everyone. She was torn now, to help him or let him continue to groan on the ground and let someone else deal with him? She had taken an oath to help, but would anyone blame her? After what he had put her through did she have right to walk away? She decided not to let him cause her any more distress, and walked past him to where Ronon still stood with Col Carter and John.

"John, we need to get Ronon back to the Jumper. When we get there he will stay there while I come back and talk to and smooth things over with Hiom." Col Carter said wanting to get Ronon as far away from Dylos as she could, as fast as she could.

Ronon looked over his shoulder at Dylos, who was being helped by an older woman, and growled. When Jennifer walked in front of him and started heading to the Jumper along with the others, he turned back to the front and followed. Jennifer had been through so much and he didn't need to add to her stress.