"Hey buddy, welcome back." Sheppard said after Ronon beamed in. "How's the doc and her dad?"
"Ok." Ronon replied, Sheppard merely rolled his eyes.
"So what are you doing back? I mean why not wait to return with the doc?" Sheppard probed.
"She needs time with her father, I was getting in the way."
"I am sure Jennifer appreciated you being there." Teyla said, Ronon shrugged non-committedly.
"How'd did the talks go?" Ronon asked, wanting to change subjects.
"Boring, dull, tedious." Sheppard listed. "Are the first words that spring to mind."
"They were very successful." Teyla intervened.
"So when's our next mission?" Ronon questioned.
"Don't know yet, things have been pretty quiet recently." Sheppard shrugged. "We were planning a movie night tonight though. You up for it?"
"Maybe. I'm going to go unpack." Ronon grunted distractedly before turning his back on his team mates and heading out of the control room.
Teyla and Sheppard looked at each other before Sheppard said. "Nearly a month without us can do that to a person."
"Maybe I should go talk to him." Teyla said after quirking an eyebrow at Sheppard's comment.
"Ok." Sheppard agreed. "But I advise no sparring."
"Ronon." Teyla called as she entered the gym, where Ronon was busy destroying a punch bag. When the Satedan grunted an acknowledgement Teyla continued. "Did something happen on Earth between you and Jennifer?"
"No." Ronon said as he continued to lay his punches.
"Do you wish to talk about what is bothering you?"
"Nothing is bothering me." He said attacking the bag.
"I can see that." Teyla replied causing Ronon to growl as he lashed out again. "Well I will go. If you change your mind you know where to find me." She said turning back to the door.
"Wait." He called. Teyla stopped, but did not turn round. "I...it....she...I thought...she is not interested." He said.
"In you?" Teyla inquired turning round. Ronon rolled his eyes. "Ronon I do not believe that it was the best time to tell Jennifer how you felt."
"I didn't."
"So how do you know she is not interested?"
"She was awkward round me. It is like I intimidate her."
"Ronon, you intimidate most people here. I was under the impression you enjoy it."
"Not Jennifer."
"I do not believe that Jennifer is intimidated by you Ronon." Teyla said kindly. "Think of the way she orders you around in the infirmary."
"That's her job."
"Mr Woolsey does not order you round."
"That's because he's a-" Ronon started only for Teyla to cut in.
"Jennifer would not order you round if she were frightened of you." Teyla reiterated. "Forming opinions based on her actions whist she is enduring emotional turmoil is not a fair test." She paused and took a breath before saying. "Personal relationships do not come easily to Jennifer. I believe you will need to tell her how you feel when she returns. If you say nothing, nothing will happen."
"She told me to go." Ronon said, throwing another punch.
"Go?"
"I offered to stay longer but she said go."
"Could that not be because she thought your place was here?" Teyla suggested, Ronon just shrugged before moving to the gym exit.
"Where are you going."
"Run." Ronon said as the door shut behind him. Teyla frowned before leaving to search out Sheppard.
"How'd it go?" Sheppard asked when Teyla joined him and Rodney in the mess hall.
"Not very well."
"He'd say what was wrong?"
"I believe he thinks that he has little hope of a relationship."
"Poor guy."
"I would not be so sure. I think he has, as you say, read to much into the situation."
"Well that is good I guess."
"Yes, but it means we have at least four weeks of him..."
"Moping?" Sheppard suggested.
"This is worse than high school. Do you two have nothing better to do than gossip?" McKay snapped as he looked up from his tablet PC.
"We're not gossiping, we are discussing our concerns about a friend." Sheppard replied. "If we are going to help him, we need to understand the problem."
"Well thank you Oprah. Could we leave the touchy feely mumbo jumbo until I am not eating?"
"Rodney being on the team means you have to put yourself out occasionally." Sheppard said wearily.
"What team?" Rodney asked perplexed. "Who exactly are you talking about?"
"Our team and Ronon."
"Ronon is moping? Why? Did he and Jennifer break up?"
"Would he and Jennifer not need to date before they could break up?" Teyla asked.
"Please. He travelled to Earth for her. Either they were going out or he has just done the type of over-blown romantic gesture that chicks digs. So no matter what way you look at it they were together at some stage. But if he is moping now that means either he is love sick or they have broken up. Just when I thought the week could not get worse."
"I thought you liked the doc?" Sheppard asked.
"I do."
"So surely she being a free agent is a good thing?"
"I don't like her like that." McKay said before adding. "Anymore. I used to think I did, but the attraction was due to similar life experiences. But mine were more intense, such as skipping more grades in school, so Jennifer would always feel like a failure round me. It would never work."
Sheppard and Teyla looked at McKay in disbelief. Finally Sheppard said. "Wow McKay. Just when I thought your ego could not grow any larger you say something."
Ignoring him McKay asked. "So what are you going to do? Perhaps you should take him to that planet with all the naked women."
"I do not believe Ronon will want to be set up with anyone." Teyla said patiently.
"Well you have to do something. Can you imagine what hell he will put me, I mean us, through during the next few weeks? Seriously Ronon happy is bad enough, moping and heart broken will be disastrous."