The following three days passed uneventfully as Adric slowly recovered from his wound. During that time Jennifer and Ronon fell into routines where Ronon would help the crew and Jennifer would look after Adric who, much to Ronon's disgust seemed to be developing stronger feelings for Jennifer. A feeling he felt was confirmed when it became obvious Adric was recovering much faster than he was letting on.
Telling himself that his displeasure was solely caused by concern for Jennifer rather than anything else Ronon made every effort to make everyone aboard the ship believe that he and Jennifer really were a couple. To his surprise Jennifer seemed happy to accept the hand holding and having his arm round her shoulders. However, the former runner decided this was down to her missing Atlantis rather than anything else, so he tried to suppress any thoughts he had at night, when he shared a bunk with her, that implied they could ever be anything more than friends.
With each extra hour they spent together and with each further act of physical contact those thoughts became harder to ignore. So when they finally approached the port, despite knowing they were still far from home, Ronon couldn't help feel relieved. He knew that at the port he and Jennifer would have too much to worry about for him to think about any feelings he might have developed.
"Not long until you're back on dry land." Aben commented as he walked towards where Ronon was standing on deck. "Once we're docked there are some procedures we must do, but you should be free to disembark by mid afternoon."
"Thanks."
"Do you have any idea what you'll do?"
"Find a place to stay and then find a ride home."
"That easy?" Aben asked.
"Best not to get drowned by detail." Ronon grinned.
"A man after my own heart." Aben grinned back. "Perhaps I can be of assistance? As a thank you to the hard work you've put in."
"There's no need."
"I think there is. You have never been here before and don't know where to look. I could at least be your guide." Aben offered.
"Thanks." Ronon replied, seeing the sense of Aben's plan.
"Excellent. I'll pick you up after I have finished my business in port." Aben said turning, before coming to a stop and adding. "By the way, when we dock it is probably best you stay in your quarters."
"Why?" Ronon asked suspiciously.
"If you don't see what we're doing you have plausible deniability." Aben said confusing the pair from Atlantis.
"What are you doing?" Jennifer asked.
"See if I told you, you'd be culpable." Aben replied.
"With Adric playing injured you'll need some help getting it off the hull." Ronon pointed out.
"Adric is not playing injured, he is injured. Don't criticise him just because he actually follows medical advice." Jennifer chastised before her mind caught on to what Ronon said. "Wait, you know what he's talking about?"
"Yeah." Ronon shrugged.
"How?" Aben asked, just as surprised as Jennifer.
"Kept noticing a kind of light coming off the ship. It was stronger the more beneath deck you went. Didn't take long to work out you'd strapped something to the hull that reflected light when it got exposed due to the waves."
"Were you going to tell me any of this?" Jennifer asked.
"Didn't seem important." Ronon said. "From what I could tell it wasn't dangerous."
"It's not." Aben said. "Technically it is not even illegal."
"What exactly is it?" Jennifer asked. "And if it's not illegal why hide it?"
"If the port inspectors find it we pay tax, so much tax it is barely worth our while bringing it back. By hiding it we can get it off the hull while the inspectors are busy and sell it for a decent profit."
"You haven't said what it is." Jennifer pointed out.
"True." Aben smiled. "Come with me and I'll show you." Sharing a quick glance Jennifer and Ronon followed the skipper below decks. As they reached the cargo area Aben explained. "We have to bring some through legal channels or they get suspicious. But we have a lot more on the hull than we do in here." He then reached into a crate and pulled out a shoebox size parcel that was wrapped in a silvery material. "What you saw," he said to Ronon, "was the light hitting the wrappings. It only happens when the sea is rough, so we have to be careful when we come into dock." He paused as he unwrapped the package revealing a red dusty substance, whose aroma filled the room. "It is spice for cooking, but we can not grow it here."
"All this effort for spice?" Jennifer asked in disbelief.
"Not just any spice. People will pay an incredible amount of money for it." Aben confirmed as Turlow enter the hold and called him to the deck. Once Jennifer and Ronon were alone Jennifer commented.
"I can't believe they're smuggling spice."
"You sound disappointed." Ronon pointed out.
"If I'm going to break the law doing it for spice seems a waste."
"If you like when we get back I'll help you steal something worthwhile, like McKay's computer or cake." Ronon offered. His confidence that they were going to get back brought a smile to Jennifer's face.
-00-
"Here we are." Aben announced that evening as they approached a big house, which did not look like a tavern. "Welcome to my humble abode." He added as he opened the door before calling to someone inside the house. "Lesha, we're back."
Confused Ronon and Jennifer stood outside the door until a small woman emerged and said.
"Please come in, make yourself at home. You look confused. Aben, why do they look confused?"
"I might have not got round to mentioning that they would be staying with us." Aben replied sheepishly as he stood behind the woman he called Lesha. Looking at the pair from Atlantis he said.
"Ronon, Jennifer, I'd like you to meet my…what did you call it?...wife?" When Ronon and Jennifer nodded he went on. "Lesha. And Lesha this is Ronon and Jennifer who I told you about earlier."
"Please come in before you catch your death of cold out there." Lesha offered backing away from the door. "When Aben told me of your story and all you had done to help him return safely I insisted that you stayed here with us."
"But it is us who owe Aben gratitude, not the other way round." Jennifer argued, not wanting to be a further burden to the Captain. "He saved us."
"And you returned the favour." Lesha replied before a grinning Aben cut her off.
"I have learnt that arguing with Lesha gets you no where. Consider this a lost battle."
"Thanks." Jennifer said.
"Now that is agreed, let me show you to your room."
-00-
As Lesha shut the door behind her Ronon and Jennifer took in their new surroundings. They were in a reasonable size room, heated by a log fire in the corner. On one side of the room was another door, which led to a much smaller room that housed a bath, a sight that brought a smile to Jennifer's face. Knowing there were more important things to discuss Jennifer turned her back on the bath and sat on the bed before asking.
"So now what?"
"It's too late to do anything now. Tomorrow we'll go out and look for someone willing to take us back to the mainland." Ronon replied as he looked out of the window.
"Do you think they've given up?" Jennifer asked after a few moments silence.
Ronon took a moment to work out what Jennifer was asking before walking towards Jennifer and kneeling before her. Placing his hands on her shoulders he said, without any doubt.
"Sheppard won't give up."
Jennifer desperately wanted to believe Ronon, but could not shake the doubt that remained. Squeezing her shoulder Ronon said.
"He'll find us. For now why don't you go and have a bath."
-00-
Thirty minutes later the bathroom door creaked open, revealing Jennifer standing in the doorway, wearing only a towel. Seeing Jennifer stand there Ronon started to find it hard to focus on anything that wasn't the underdressed woman before him. As he sat transfixed on her, Ronon suddenly became that Jennifer was talking to him. Forcing himself to look at Jennifer's eyes he saw that Jennifer looked concerned as she asked.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, sorry. Just tired. Umm Lesha dropped these off for you." He answered pointing to a pile of clean clothes. Feeling his focus drift back down Jennifer's body he stood and asked.
"You done in there?"
"Yeah it's all yours." Jennifer replied, moving away from the door. As she did so she gave Ronon a long hard look, concerned by his lack of focus. In response Ronon brushed past her and shut the door, leaving Jennifer feeling confused. Putting it down to Ronon being tired she dressed and crawled into bed, intending to talk with Ronon when he finally emerged.
-00-
Ronon took his time washing and dressing, hoping that by the time he left the bathroom Jennifer would be sound asleep and would offer less of a distraction that she had earlier in the evening. Deciding enough time had passed he carefully opened the door and peered out into the main room, where he saw Jennifer curled up on the bed. Relieved his plan had worked Ronon walked across the room to an armchair, which he sat down in. Unfortunately for Ronon the chair faced the bed and he once again found himself transfixed on Jennifer. As he started to question when he had let his guard down enough to start to develop feelings for the doctor he heard Jennifer ask.
"Why are you in the chair?"
"Didn't want to disturb you."
"You won't. Get over here." Jennifer instructed as she pulled the covers up and tapped the bed. The action not helping Ronon to keep his thoughts pure and innocent. "I don't bite." Jennifer added. "Besides this bed is far bigger than the one we've been sharing."
Taking a deep breath Ronon reluctantly moved to the bed and lay down as far from Jennifer as possible. Content Ronon was comfortable Jennifer drifted back to sleep once more.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up tomorrow.