Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Stargate Atlantis or it's wonderful characters.
Spoilers: Through Season 5 up to Brainstorm.
10 – Could It Be That Simple
Ronon was fairly pleased with the way things had been progressing since the movie night with his team, Cadman and Jennifer almost two weeks ago. Although Doc would still distance herself from him at times, she did seem to be more comfortable with him.
He worked really hard finding ways to show her how he felt and what she meant to him. He was hoping it would be subtle enough that by the time she realized the turn things had taken, her doubts about a relationship with him would've changed.
He'd begun by first trying to find reasons to be in her presence and therefore on her mind. Sparring helped this, but also movie nights, meals in the mess hall and a couple late night trips to the infirmary for stitches and talks or walks after had also been helpful.
He made it a point to touch her whenever he found an excuse. Sometimes it was just offering her assistance standing, which she insisted she didn't need. Other times is was guiding her into a room, or touching her shoulder as he said goodnight or goodbye. Anytime that he thought he could get away with touching her, he took advantage of it, hoping her comfort level with such things would grow.
Today he was finally able to think…hope… it was working. Her comfort level made a huge leap a few moments ago. The team was gathered around a table in the mess hall visiting, none of them quite ready to get up. Ronon's back was to the door and the line for food so he didn't see Doc come in. She grabbed a bottle of water and came over to their table for a brief moment.
She stood behind Ronon and John addressing Teyla across the table sitting next to Rodney. "Hey, Teyla, Marie said you stopped by the infirmary this morning while I was with another patient."
"Yes, but you did not have to worry yourself, Jennifer. Torren has been a bit fussy the last two days and I was hoping that you would check his ears for infection." Teyla smiled at Jennifer. "Dr. Cole came in as we were leaving and checked his ears for me and found that there was no infection, however, it does look as though he is teething."
Jennifer gave her a sympathetic look before smiling at Teyla, "lucky you."
Teyla gave a smile in acknowledgement.
Jennifer then laid a hand on Ronon's right shoulder while leaning down toward his left ear. Not so much it looked like she was whispering in his ear, but enough he couldn't keep his heart from jumping into his throat.
"Meet you in the gym for sparring in an hour?" She asked before leaning further over his shoulder so she could see and hear his answer. Her hand remained on his shoulder through the exchange. All he was able to muster was a nod of yes. Her hand lingered as she said goodbye to the rest of the team and he relished every moment of the time it remained on his shoulder.
Sparring had gone well, Jennifer was improving everyday. Although she needed to spar often and keep honing that skill, Ronon convinced her it was time to start mastering all of the different weapons in the armory. The hand to hand combat was useful and life saving, but there were times when weapons fire was the preferred form of defense and offense.
Ronon and Jennifer were visiting while heading towards their quarters after the sparring session. Before they reached the tower that housed the crew quarters there was a call over the com link for them to report to the briefing room in 10 minutes.
"Sounds like its show time." Jennifer said nervously while sneaking her hand into Ronon's. They continued toward their quarters at a quickened pace knowing they needed to change quickly.
Ronon gave her hand a small squeeze of reassurance as they reached her quarters first. "I'll be by your side the entire time." He leaned his forehead against hers, elated when she didn't backup. "This is a good thing you're doin' for this man." Ronon held her eye contact for a moment to make sure the words registered before he straightened and started to back down the hall. "I'll pick you up in five."
McKay dialed in the coordinates to the second location. "I'm just saying that using a Jumper for this would be safer for everyone involved. The environment would be more practical for Dr. Keller and all her equipment," Rodney complained while hoisting a bag higher on his shoulder. "We'd have better weapons and the ability to cloak, not to mention all of the other technology at our disposal."
"Suck it up McKay," Sheppard ground out.
"Is he always like this?" Kiryk asked as he watched the gate swoosh to life.
"Always," Ronon growled as he started toward the gate with his blaster leveled.
Teyla and Sheppard walked with Ronon toward the gate with their P-90's at the ready. Major Lorne and his team were split with half following behind the Colonel. Major Lorne and Lt. Jacobs were taking up their six behind Keller, McKay and Kiryk.
As the gate closed each of the military men fanned out and checked the surrounding area before making their way back to the gate. They all nodded at Sheppard.
"It looks like we're clear here," Sheppard announced as he turned to look at Kiryk. "You picking anything up on that thing." Sheppard nodded his head toward the Wraith tracking device the ex-runner was studying.
"Yeah, it looks like we need to go that way," he answered indicating a little to the left of the gate.
"Why couldn't he be waiting by the gate," Rodney complained as they all began to head out leaving two of Lorne's team guarding the gate. "He knows we're coming right? I mean, it's not like this is a surprise visit or anything."
"He is running from the Wraith, Dr. McKay," Kiryk explained with a lack of patience in his voice as they trudged along a path. "He needs to be close enough to the gate to dial and make a run for it., but far enough away in case a Wraith hunting party comes through the gate."
"He probably has a view of the gate," Ronon suggested.
"Kiryk, you should take lead," Sheppard advised. "Might put him at ease to see your face first."
McKay watched Kiryk move to the front with Ronon right on his heels. The two moved off, both with the tracker face, he hated the tracker face, but at least they were on the right world this time. By the concentrated looks of the he-men in front of him he might actually be back in his lab soon.
They crested a hill and found a slight plateau. Sheppard gave the signal to hold position. Kiryk walked ahead a few steps and turned around in a circle before he began to speak.
"Aeden, these are the people I spoke of," Kiryk called out in a voice just slightly louder then conversation. "They have come to help you, we all have."
Jennifer moved up to the front and stood with Sheppard and Ronon. She looked around for a moment and then stepped toward Kiryk with some of her medical bags. Sheppard stretched his arm out to block Ronon in his attempt to follow the Doc.
"I'm Dr. Keller and I'm here to help you. I was able to disable the tracking device in Kiryk. Our other Doctor, Dr. Carson, was able to remove the tracking device in Ronon," she said gesturing behind her at the Satedan. "We just want to be able to do the same for you."
Jennifer knelt down on the ground and began unpacking her equipment from her bags. "If you let me take a look at your back with this scanner," she said holding the wand up with one hand and the tablet in the other, "I'll be able to take a look at the device."
Sheppard watched Keller removing more gear in preparation, as if Aeden had already presented himself. It was a smart move and a way to make the man feel more comfortable.
Following her lead Sheppard spoke up, "Aeden, I'm going to have my men set up a perimeter to stand guard while you and the doctor are busy." Sheppard gave the men directions and they moved out.
Teyla and Ronon took up positions just down the hill they had crested. Rodney continued to punch away on his tablet, he wanted to know the second anything started to go south or the Wraith showed up.
A man slowly made his way toward Kiryk and Keller. He reminded Sheppard of his first glimpse of Ronon. The man embodied the term caveman but with shorter hair. He was very wary and hesitant, but Jennifer kept up a continual, one-sided conversation describing exactly what she was going to do.
Aeden interrupted Dr. Keller. "Do you really think you'll be able to free me?"
"Yes, I do. When you turn around I'll scan your neck and back and see what kind of device we're dealing with. Then I'll be able to tell you what we need to do to free you of your tracking device."
Aeden nodded his head slowly. Jennifer walked around him until she stood directly behind him.
"Now I'm going to slowly run this wand down your body. You will not be able to feel it, but it will show me a picture of what we're dealing with." She took a breath and started the scan. As she did so the image she saw surprised her.
"How long have you been a runner, Aeden?" she asked softly, keeping the surprise out of her voice.
"A long time now… about five years maybe," he said hesitantly.
Jennifer walked around him and stood in front of him. She held his gaze as she spoke to him.
"Your device is similar to the device Ronon carried when he was a runner."
"Is that bad?" Aeden asked, worry evident not only in his voice, but also in his eyes that never left hers.
"No, it is an older style device and is safer to remove, but takes a little longer and will hurt something fierce." She looked at Kiryk and then back to Aeden. "I'll need to cut it out of your back, which is going to hurt. I have some medicine that will allow you to sleep while I remove it, you won't even feel it being removed," she tried to assure him.
Aeden looked at Kiryk, then at his surroundings before looking back at Jennifer. "I know that if you were going to cause me harm you could do so at any time… but I need to be alert, awake and ready."
"My team will keep you safe, Aeden" Sheppard said quietly having heard the man's worries.
"Just do it… take it out," he said while removing his shirt. "I can handle it."
He turned his back to Jennifer before lowering himself to the ground. Upon seeing his back she had to bite down hard to keep from hissing in anger at what she saw. The man's back was riddled with scars. This man had desperately tried to get the device out of himself in the past five years.
Jennifer took a look at Sheppard and confirmed he had seen what she had…a man who was desperate to be free. She wondered how much longer he would've held on to the hope there was a chance he would survive the Wraith.
She took a deep breath to steady herself and hold back the tears threatening. "Ok, Aeden, I am going to start the incision." Kiryk had given him something leather to bite down on. "If you need a break at any point please say so."
She began to cut into his back cringing for him. She could tell it was painful from his quick intake of breath and the tenseness of his body. As she dug she could see the tracking device and knew she had to go just a little bit deeper and slightly wider.
The pain finally got to the man and he cried out in pain fiercely causing Jennifer to halt for a moment to let him catch his breath. Jennifer saw feet standing next to her suddenly and when she looked up she saw Ronon was standing next to her.
"Why is he still awake." Ronon asked through gritted teeth.
"That is an odd question coming from you," Jennifer half laughed. "The way Carson told it, you wouldn't take any pain killers either. Then when he was done you passed out."
Ronon saw the tranquilizer on top of one of Doc's cases she was using for a table. He pointed at it while looking her in the eye.
"Yes, I tried but he refused." She said with a small look of defeat in her eyes.
She picked the scalpel back up, "Aeden, I'm going to finish this." He grunted his accent and she watched his body tense in anticipation.
Jennifer saw movement next to her and when she realized what it was it was too late, Ronon placed the tranquilizer next to Aeden's neck and pulled the trigger.
"What did you do that for?" she yelled at the big man.
"There is no reason for him to go through that pain… or for you to either. Just do it and be done with it. I'll deal with him when he wakes up."
"Yeah," Rodney grunted, "well, you get to be the one that carries him through the gate if he doesn't wake right back up. We've already spent far too much time on this planet. The minute Dr. Keller is finished we need to head out of here. The longer we're here the more I get the creeps." He continued to rant while checking the different sensors on his laptop.
"Well," the Doc's voice interrupted his ranting. "It looks like I'm done," she said while holding up the tracking device with a clamp. She looked up at Ronon, once he met her eyes she threw it to the ground a little ways off. Ronon blasted it twice.
"We're getting good at that," she laughed referring to when Ronon blasted the parasite she pulled out of Rodney when they all visited the Shrine several months back.
Rodney cleared his throat, "In case you're wondering, it's dead." Rodney turned and looked at Sheppard. "I think we better have a better plan next time. We may be able to find a way to use one of those devices against the Wraith. Maybe lead them to a trap, once the hive ship shows up, blow it up, you know, some of that military strategy stuff you love so much."
Jennifer finished up the last of the stitches and bandaging. "Let's get him out of here for now. I'm with Rodney, I'd rather not be here if any Wraith are on the way."
"Ok, everyone, you heard the Doc. Pack it up, let's get out of here," Sheppard called out. He turned to Ronon, "You got him," he gestured to the still drugged Aeden.
"Yeah."
Sheppard got on the radio, "Lorne, tell your men at the gate we are on our way and they need to dial up the last planet for this mission."
Everyone watched as Aeden started to come to. They were all standing at the perimeter of a field on the third planet they visited for the day. Kiryk and Ronon were standing half the distance closer to Aeden.
Ronon pulled his blaster as Aeden started to sit up and orient himself. Suddenly he was on his feet and took a step toward the two ex-runners. Ronon raised his blaster to chest height. The two men stared at each other neither giving an inch.
Jennifer started to move forward, but Sheppard and Lorne each grabbed one of her arms and held her back.
After another minute Ronon spoke, "You're free," then he lowered and holstered his gun.
Aeden swung his gaze to Kiryk who nodded his head and began to walk toward Aeden. As he neared him he held out the Wraith tracking device the hunters used to locate runners.
Aeden held out a shaking hand and took the device and stared at it for several long moments. He handed the device back to Kiryk just before his legs gave out and he hit the ground shaking and crying silently.
Some of the team watched, not knowing what to do, while others turned their backs to give the man some privacy.
Jennifer walked forward and knelt next to the man. "You're free, Aeden," she said softly.
He composed himself before looking up to her, not able to contain his smile. "Thank you, Doctor," he looked over at Kiryk, "and thank you for finding me." He looked across the field at the rest of the team, "thank all of you."
Jennifer captured his hand to gain his attention, "you're welcome, but there's no need for thanking us, we're all honored to be the ones able to right this wrong."
Sheppard made his way over while Jennifer and Aeden were standing.
"Thank you," Aeden stated while clasping Sheppard's hand.
Sheppard awkwardly accepted the man's thanks, "Yeah, well, you're welcome. Um… we should be going now. Do you have somewhere to go?" he asked while looking between Kiryk and Aeden.
Aeden spoke up, "I was on a hunting trip with some of my people when I was captured. I hope to return to my home and find them all well." Aeden's eyes began to tear up again, but he held them in check.
"I'll see to it he makes it home," Kiryk gently spoke, "before I return to my home."
Sheppard nodded, "Contact us if there is a problem, we may be able to help with an alternate home if needed."
As everyone was focused on heading out, Ronon stepped up to Aeden. "I did it for the Doc… not to dishonor your wishes."
Aeden looked over at the Doc who was making her way across the field, his gaze swung back to Ronon's before he nodded in understanding, unconsciously touching his neck. Kiryk turned and busied himself with nothing in particular trying to hide his smile. Yes, Doc, he is your runner.