Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, etc.

Part 11/21

Chapter 10

Atlantis

Ronon awoke to the waves crashing against the city's pier below his quarters. The sound was so soothing he stayed in bed a few extra minutes just to listen. Eventually, however, he forced himself to get up.

He looked at the clock, which read 0900. Looks like I'm not quite over my need to sleep in. I think. He didn't know for sure. He was used to Satedan time, which had 33 hours per day. Maybe it's just the one sun that makes the day shorter. Can humans survive on a planet with only one sun? I guess it doesn't matter. I'll only ever know life on Sateda.

Now then— He looked around the room, trying to decide what to do with his day – no, dream. Sometimes he got so caught up in the fantasy of another life that he forgot it was fake.

Ronon wanted to spend more time with just Teyla. His last dream had been fun, but Shep and McKay were always acting strange around him. Like they were afraid to say the wrong thing. Teyla, however. . . She seemed content with just being his friend. Oh! That meeting! Didn't I overhear Weir say they were meeting again today? When was that? He looked back at his clock. "Now. Hmm. . .I'll just stall until Teyla's done. Wait. Am I talking to myself out loud now? Oh well, my dream." He figured if he was crazy enough to dream so elaborately of another place, he'd might as well talk to himself aloud.

Conference room (briefing room)

"This meeting should be short, but I still wanted you all here so you could hear everything now. Rodney, have you found anything?" Elizabeth asked. She'd waited to start the meeting until everyone arrived, as soon as everyone was seated. With such a delicate matter at hand, they could waste no time.

"Have I found a signal that doesn't exist? Hmm, let me see. . . No, not yet." Rodney snarked.

John leaned forward and gave his teammate a warning look. He could handle Rodney copping an attitude toward him, but Elizabeth was a whole other story.

The look worked. McKay slinked back into his chair, snarky expression exchanged for a humble and apologetic one.

Elizabeth shot a back off glance in John's direction, and readdressed Rodney. "I understand you believe nothing is there, but I would appreciate it if you keep looking."

Oh, you know 'Lizabeth's ticked when she talks so formally, John thought. However, although he knew that she could very easily punch something, he liked her more at this moment then he had ever before. Not that he "like liked" her. Maybe?

Rodney heaved a heavy sigh. "I guess." He slumped in his swivel chair, showing his hatred toward his assignment. "But I won't find anything," he mumbled.

John opened his mouth, but was cut off before anything came out.

"Teyla, how's Ronon?" Elizabeth interrupted. Her expression made it clear she was feeling like a cross between a mother and a referee.

Teyla raised her eyebrows and leaned forward. "He is better. He is still determined that the other life is his, but he is more open to a friendship."

"We had movie night last night," John added.

"That's good news. Keep it up, and pray he isn't giving away vital information," she told them all.

"Why isn't the Doc here?" John asked.

Elizabeth turned her chair to look at him. "I didn't think it necessary since he's already cleared Ronon. Do you have any further questions for him?" she wondered.

He inhaled sharply. "Oh, no. I was just askin.'"

"Does anyone else have any questions?" She looked around the room. "No? Then I'll see you all here tomorrow. Same time, same place."

Ronon's quarters

It's gotta be over by now! Ronon thought to himself, bored. He'd been spinning around and around in a chair so long he'd lost track of time.

"I am finished with the meeting. Are you ready for breakfast?" Teyla's voice in his headset startled him.

He jumped out of the chair and smiled. "How'd you know I was up?"

"Lucky guess," she told him laughingly. "Plus, you always were one to wake early."

Ronon opened his door and started down the hall. "Ahh. I'm starved. Where are you?"

"I am on my way to meet you at your quarters." The tone in her voice told Ronon that she was smiling.

"No time. Too hungry. I'll meet you in the cafeteria." He began to run.

She paused. "I am close. Would you like me to get you a tray?"

Ronon slowed his run to a jog and turned off his radio. "No, thanks, I'll get it myself," he said from her left.

"How did you—?" She pointed down the hall from which he came, wonder in her eyes.

Ronon shrugged and grinned. "I'm fast."

Halls of Atlantis

Ronon and Teyla finished a delightful breakfast and then wandered aimlessly through the halls of the grand city. They had nothing else important to do.

"Aren't you going to ask me?" Ronon asked finally, breaking the silence.

Teyla stiffened. "Ask you what?" The only thing I have yet to ask about is Sateda.

Ronon held his hands behind his back and looked down at her. "I don't know. About Sateda." He paused awkwardly and looked away. "I mean – I don't get it, but you seem to want to know. But it's like you're afraid to ask."

Teyla looked away and swallowed hard."I will admit I do wonder what it is about the dreams that – attracts you so much." She crossed her arms, just to distract herself, as they continued to walk.

"I like it so much because it's my life," he said unthinkingly.

Teyla lowered her head to hide a wince. Why would I not be afraid to ask when he acts like this? Why did he even bring it up if he was going to get so mad?

Ronon obviously sensed her unease, because he immediately relaxed his body language and stopped in the hallway."I'm sorry." He briefly touched her arm, and his eyes softened. "Please let me start over?"

She nodded for him to continue, but a trace of hurt lingered in her eyes. Patience. I must give him patience. Feeling uncomfortable standing in the hall, she started walking again.

"Sateda. Where do I start?" He sighed heavily and looked up at the ceiling as they continued to meander.

It took much effort for her not to look up as well. In all the time she'd been here, she hadn't once noticed what was above her head. She didn't look now, however, because she was afraid that he may think she was mocking him.

Eventually, he looked straight ahead of him and smiled slightly. "Sateda isn't like here." His words started slow, but sped up as he continued. "There're two suns, and they shine brighter. But here, it's warmer. There, I live in the capital, so it's always crowded, but the villages outside are rather small."

It sounds very similar to what Sateda – the real one – used to be. "And your family? Have you always lived in the city?"

"Yeah. My father was the leader of his infantry squadron; and my mother – she died when I was very young. I can't really remember her very well." Sadness entered his warm green eyes, and Teyla felt a pang of anguish stab her heart as well.

He's never told me that. He was always so closed before this. Maybe this is why. So much pain in his youth. . . "I am sorry. Did your father raise you on his own?" she asked in a warm voice. She hoped to ease the sadness and pain in his eyes with her tone.

He nodded. "Uh-huh. The only thing my dad knew was fighting, so that's what he taught me. He was the one that taught me to fight like I do. Although he didn't have many friends, he still knew what was right and wrong. So did I. My first fight was my first battle. As soon as I was old enough to talk, I decided to become as great a warrior as my father." The love that filled his eyes told her how much appreciation he had for his father. It warmed her soul to know he cared so much for a parent.

Teyla smiled. Though some would think his story was a sad one, she saw it as one of achievement and pride. "And did you achieve this goal?" she asked him.

"I don't know, really. People say I'm better than he ever was, but they didn't know him like I did. They didn't know how strong he really was." He talked as if he was in his own world.

She swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. "Was?"

Ronon took a few steps before answering. "Yeah. He died when I was twenty: the day after I was appointed leader of my squadron. I guess. . . I guess that's the only reason he held on for as long as he did. He really wasn't the same after my mother died. They were – really in love." He darted a quick glance in her direction, but slid his eyes away just as quickly. A flash of something indefinable in them made her swallow hard.

Wow. This conversation became so serious in such a short amount of time! She hesitated and rubbed her bare arms, suddenly a little cold. I wonder if he is like his father. When he speaks of Melena, I hear so much love in his tone. Did he learn to love his wife from his father's love for his mother? It was a question she would probably never ask him. Instead, she touched his arm lightly and said softly: "I am sure he would be very proud of you."

Ronon looked down at her hand on his arm and smiled brightly. It warmed her heart and soul to see that smile again. She'd begun to wonder if she ever would.

"He sure was happy when I found you." The second the words left his mouth, Teyla saw caution fill his eyes. She knew he wished he could take them back.

Ronon silently stepped away from her gentle touch and continued down the hall.

Silence filled the next minute as they walked in peace, side-by-side. Then, Teyla felt a breeze across her face. She looked to her right and saw a balcony. She glanced at Ronon, looking for approval.

He wordlessly turned and walked outside.

Teyla followed just as silently and leaned on the railing next to him, close but not touching. They stood there for a long time, watching the restless ocean far below. The salty breeze blew mist up from the water, moistening their faces. Teyla turned into the wind, allowing her hair freedom to blow back away from her eyes. When she turned back to Ronon, he was staring at her in a strange way: a way he'd never looked at her before, but she knew that look. It was warm admiration.

Teyla looked away, immediately erasing it from her memory. He is just confused. He sees me as his wife. He is merely having difficulty separating me from her. She looked back at him and the look disappeared. I must say something. "So. . .we are married? In Sateda?" she asked slowly.

"Yes. Four years now." He nodded and that almost overwhelming love reentered those captivating green eyes.

Teyla stiffened, forcing herself to look away from those hypnotic eyes, back to the ocean. If she looked at him, she might forget how to speak. "Four years?" Her voice shook, and she cursed herself silently. She peeked to see if he'd noticed.

A question entered his eyes, showing that he wondered why the fact bothered her. "Yes."

Panic welled into her throat. This was too personal: for her, or him, she didn't know. But she knew she was treading on dangerous ground and needed to change the subject, quickly. I cannot talk about this now, but what else is there to be said? The shock lifted, and a thousand questions rushed at her all at once. "I know Elizabeth and John are also there. Is there anyone else?"

Ronon gazed out into the ocean, deep in thought. Teyla assumed he could read the emotions on her face. He always had been good at that. "Well, doc's the same, but he isn't so—" He drew the last word out, thinking of what should follow.

She remembered her first thoughts when she met Carson. "Scottish?" she offered.

"No, caring. Beckett here is so much – nicer." He turned to lean sideways against the railing, full attention on Teyla now. "McKay's there, but I've haven't met him. He looks too pompous in the news."

Rodney is in the news? Why would Ronon not socialize with him, at least a little? She remembered their relationship in real life. Rodney is in the news?

"He's a scientific hero." Ronon rolled his eyes in response to her questioning glance.

Who else from Atlantis could be on Sateda? "What about Major Lorne?"

"Lorne's here? Hmm." He thought to himself silently for a moment. Then,"Yeah, he's the leader of another squadron on Sateda. I don't get to talk to him much, but we sure have killed a lot of Wraith together." She could see the emotions his memories brought to him through his expressions: a smile, a frown, a half-laugh. She wondered what dream he was reliving with each.

The salty breeze stirred again, but not in the same way it usually did. Since it was the middle of the stormy season, the wind came in sudden gusts. Teyla had been turned to put her back against the rail, but the gust knocked her off balance. She stumbled forward and started to catch herself. However, she didn't react soon enough. Before she had regained her balance on her own, she was in Ronon's arms.

"Thank you," she told him. She awkwardly reached up to push her loose hair off her face.

Ronon smiled and quickly put her back on her feet. "No problem," he said smugly.

Their eyes locked.

"Teyla, I need to talk to you," Elizabeth said over the radio.

Crap, they both thought simultaneously.

To Be Continued