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Chapter 10
Olivia was warm, comfortable, and surrounded by a spicy sent that made her want to burrow further into her covers and ward off the morning. Her pillow let out a quiet snore and she smiled as the events from the night before slowly came back to her. She had the same contended feeling she had the morning she woke in the ruins and she knew it was all because of the very large man that held her so protectively.
She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at Ronon's sleeping face. Olivia found their whole situation strange, but for the first time in a very long time she was happy; truly happy. Her life had been consumed with work just so she could prove that she was worthy of the position she was given, and that had made her happy. However, not as happy as she felt when Ronon just looked her way or smiled. It was then that she understood what her father said in her dream. Ronon was her chance at happiness, and in her nightmare he had been killed; but he was alive and well and holding her firmly against him.
She raised her hand from his chest and gently ran her fingers over his forehead, down his cheek, and along his jaw line. Ronon was beautiful, and yes beautiful was the right word. She couldn't think of any other word that did him justice. Sure he was hot tempered, easily angered when someone was threatening, and a quick draw with his weapon in certain situations, but when he was with her he was different. She toyed with his beard and smiled when he took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. Olivia pulled her hand away and settled it back in between them while Ronon looked down at her.
"Morning," she whispered and Ronon smiled before he pushed her curls from her face.
"Morning," he said. Ronon leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and she sighed quietly before she tilted her head to capture his lips when a voice sounded on the radio on her nightstand.
"Dr. Gray, please report to the gate room. Dr. Gray, please report to the gate room," Chuck's voice echoed over her radio and she sighed resting her forehead against his chest.
"Duty calls," she said dryly before she lifted her head and looked at him with a sad smile. She turned and grabbed the radio. "This is Dr. Gray, I'll be there in just a moment," she said as she looked at Ronon and lowered the radio. "I need to wash up before I go." Ronon nodded his head and allowed her to climb from the bed. He watched as she did her best to smooth out her wrinkled shirt and the tangles that was her hair. She looked at him and smiled before she quickly moved to her wardrobe and pulled several items out and stepped into the washroom.
Ronon sighed as he ran his hands down his face and smiled. He tucked his hands behind his head. It was the first decent night of sleep he had since they left the ruins, and there was no way he was going to tell anyone that fact; not even Olivia. Like Olivia, he couldn't explain why he felt the way he did; but unlike her, he didn't need an explanation. He heard a door open, and he raised his head only to see Olivia walk out of the washroom, a fresh uniform on and her hair up and away from her face. She grabbed her jacket and smiled at Ronon as she put her jacket on.
"Are you going to lay there all day?" she asked and picked up her reading glasses.
"Planning on it," he said with a grin and she laughed as she walked over to him. She leaned down and placed a chaste kiss upon his lips.
"See you later?" she asked as she pulled back and Ronon nodded, surprised that she had been bold enough to walk over and kiss him as she had. Olivia smiled and returned his nod, before she grabbed her ear piece and put it in her ear. Soon she was gone, and Ronon laughed as he climbed from the bed. He picked up his shirt and slid it on. He put his shoes back on and made his way to his own quarters before he would report for duty. However, his exit from Olivia's room did not go unnoticed.
"Major Lorne and his team are taking some supplies to the Lamora's settlement. I think it's best that you join them to ensure the drop off goes smoothly," Dr. Weir said to Olivia as they stood in Dr. Weir's office.
"Of course," Olivia said with a smile. "I'd be happy to see Delia again." Delia was an old woman, one of the elders, of the Lamoran people; and she had taken to Olivia. "When is the drop off?"
"In an hour," Dr. Weir said and Olivia nodded.
"I'll just go and get ready," Olivia said but Dr. Weir stopped her.
"Olivia," Dr. Weir said and Olivia turned and looked at her. "Be careful," she said and Olivia frowned.
"The Lamorans are good people," Olivia said. "I don't have a reason to worry."
"That's not what I mean," Dr. Weir said slowly and Olivia's frown only deepened. "We still do not know much about Ronon, but we trust him enough for him to remain on Atlantis and as part of our team."
"Dr. Weir, Ronon has been here for nearly a year," Olivia said as she turned to fully face her. "I mean no disrespect when I say this; you don't know what I know about him. I know more about Ronon than you think," Olivia said and she left Dr. Weir's office.
Elizabeth sighed and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched Olivia walk through the gate room and down the stairs before she paused briefly and spoke with Lorne who nodded and walked over to his men. She hoped she had not crossed a line with Olivia, but she wanted to be sure that Olivia knew what she was getting herself into; and it appeared she did.
Olivia fastened her vest and huffed quietly to herself. As much as she admired and respected Dr. Weir, she was angry that she thought she had the right to have a say in Olivia's personal affairs. However, she understood that as leader of the Atlantis mission, Dr. Weir was responsible for many things; but her heart was not one of them.
"Dr. Gray, are you ready?" Major Lorne asked and Olivia looked up at the dark haired man and nodded.
"Yes, I am. Sorry," Olivia said as she stepped out of the equipment locker and walked with Major Lorne to the gate.
"Is everything all right, Dr. Gray?" Lorne asked and Olivia glanced at him as they walked.
"Everything is fine, Major," she said quietly. "It's been a little while since I've been off world." Lorne chuckled quietly.
"We'll stay away from any energy emitting ruins," Lorne said making her laugh. Olivia's bad mood was washed away as they joined the other marines. "Let's move out!" Lorne called. He looked up and nodded at Chuck who dialed the address, opening the wormhole. She and Major Lorne led the others that carried the supplies through the gate.
Olivia took a deep breath of the crisp air of the Lamoran planet and she waited with Lorne for the rest of the marines to come through with the supplies. When everyone was through, they marched up the pathway. Two children rushed up the path and laughed when they saw Olivia.
"Nordin, it is Olivia!" the blonde girl called before she ran forward. Olivia smiled as the two children rushed her and wrapped their arms around her waist. She laughed quietly as she stopped. Lorne stopped as well, but ordered his men on into the settlement. "Nordin said you were not going to come with the soldiers today, but I told him you would; grandmother said you would."
"Of course I would come!" Olivia said as they let her go, but she took the girl, Letria's, hand. "I have hopes on seeing your grandmother, if she will see me."
"She will see you," Nordin said and she looked at him. Nordin smiled at her and she returned his smile before she turned her eyes to Lorne. He gave her a small smile and the four of them made their way into the village, however, little Letria chatted away about the things she had done since she had last seen Olivia; and Olivia enjoyed every second of it.
Ronon had looked everywhere for Olivia since he had returned to Atlantis from a mission with Sheppard, however, he had not found her in any of her usual places. Her lab was empty save for a few scientists Ronon only knew from passing, and she wasn't in the mess or her quarters. So, he thought that maybe she was in the gym with Teyla. He walked through the gym doors and found Teyla readying herself for meditation. She took one look at him and his haggard expression and smiled.
"I have not seen her since we returned to Atlantis," Teyla said before she turned around and Ronon sighed.
"I've looked all over the city for her," Ronon said gruffly. "She just didn't disappear." Teyla pushed away the smile that lit her face and she turned to look at him once again.
"I believe Dr. Weir said something about her traveling off world with Major Lorne's team in bring supplies to the Lamorans. They radioed earlier and are not due back for some time," Teyla said slowly.
"It's getting late. If they were just delivering supplies, wouldn't they have been back by now?" he asked.
"Olivia is friends with one of the elders, perhaps they have remained to take dinner with them." Ronon sighed heavily and ran his hand over the top of his hair. "Is there something you would like to share with me, Ronon?" she asked and Ronon looked at her. "Why the sudden interest in Olivia?"
"Like I told her, you're not stupid so don't act like it," Ronon said with a grin before he turned around and walked from the gym. Teyla laughed quietly and returned to her preparations.
"Child, you seem different since our last meeting," Delia said as their plates and bowls were cleared from the table by Delia's daughter and Olivia smiled at Delia before she glanced at Lorne, who sat across from her, and then back at Delia. The other marines ate with the others outside while Olivia and Lorne had been invited for dinner with Delia and her family. Latria and Nordin were outside playing and Delia's daughter took her exit after clearing the table.
"It's been a few months since I last saw you," Olivia said. "Time changes people."
"True," Delia said slowly before she too looked at Lorne and then looked at Olivia. "However, something is different. Is this man the reason for the light in your eye?" Olivia blushed deeply and shook her head.
"No!" Olivia said quickly and Lorne laughed but quickly covered it with a cough. "I mean, no, Delia; Major Lorne is just a friend."
"There is someone, though," Delia said.
"There is," Olivia admitted, earning a raised eyebrow from Lorne, but she ignored it. "However, it is still new."
"I am happy for your, child, you deserve to be happy," Delia said and Olivia smiled warmly at the old woman.
"Dr. Gray, we should be heading back," Lorne said and Olivia looked at him before she turned her dark eyes to Delia.
"I'll come again as soon as work allows, Delia," Olivia said. Delia nodded but put her hand over Olivia's that rested on the table.
"I would like a word in private, if you do not mind," Delia said. Olivia looked at Lorne who nodded his head.
"I'll get the others ready," he said before he stood and walked out of the hut. Olivia looked at Delia again and Delia patted the back of her hand.
"This man, what is he like?" Delia asked and Olivia felt her blush return.
"You know of him," Olivia said. "He was part of the team your people held when our trade talks began."
"There were three men," Delia said slowly and Olivia bit her lip as she met Delia's questioning gaze. Suddenly, a smile made its way across the old woman's lips and she chuckled. "He is the tall tempered one isn't he? He is the one that took four men to control."
"How . . .?" Olivia trailed off and smiled. "Yes, he is."
"Fine choice," Delia said and Olivia laughed as her blush darkened. "I think you shall be very happy, child. He is a protector, and there is little doubt in my mind that he will ensure you are always taken care of."
"Thank you, Delia; for your kind words and for your hospitality," Olivia said as she stood.
"Come again, soon," Delia said and Olivia nodded. "Good bye."
"Bye," Olivia said and she walked out of the hut. Lorne and the other men were waiting for her and she smiled at them before they said good bye to the villagers and made their way up the path to the gate. Lorne glanced at her and grinned as he turned his attention forward.
"So," he said and Olivia looked at him. "Care to share who this guy is?" he asked and Olivia laughed.
"No," she said as she turned her eyes from him and looked towards the gate. "I'm surprised the rumors haven't started yet."
"I'll let you know when they do," he said and she smiled.
"Thanks." Lorne grinned and nodded his head as a sergeant moved forward to the DHD. However, before the man could dial Atlantis, the gate activated. "I thought the Lamorans only traded with us."
"That's right," Lorne said as he grabbed his handgun from his hip and pulled Olivia back and away from the gate. A dart followed by another one flew through the gate before it closed. Olivia's eyes widened. "Dial Atlantis, we've got to get out of here."
"What about the villagers?" Olivia demanded.
"We don't have the firepower," Lorne said as the sergeant quickly dialed the gate. "We don't even have enough to protect ourselves." Olivia looked up at him pleadingly, but as soon as the wormhole opened he dragged her forward. Olivia looked over her shoulder and she couldn't stop the tears that came to her eyes as she saw the darts attacking the village and the screams of the villagers filled the air. "Move!" Lorne shouted as one of the darts started for them, and he shoved Olivia through the gate and back to Atlantis.