In Atlantis…

Sheppard leaned against the balustrade and waited. Ronon was scheduled to arrive back in a little while and he was just killing time till then, trying to stay out of the way of nearly everyone since the escapade in the cafeteria. He still liked the guy, having given the matter a lot of thought and deciding that forgiving him was not only the thing to do morally but also because it would be beneficial to the team. Groaning he looked back across the water, he sounded too much like a nerd even in his own head.

Rodney stood with his arms folded and his lips pursed in exasperation.

"Incompetent idiot"

He muttered under his breath, waiting for the end of the anxious mutterings of the new and utterly inexperienced "scientist". He was so bored he almost didn't notice when Dernock or Murdock, maybe Dinter, stopped talking.

Teyla sat in the centre of the room, her legs in the lotus position, her mind calm and tranquil for the first time since Moraine had joined the city. She had nothing against him after all Ronon trusted him and any friend of his etc. No, it was just that his presence disturbed her concentration and sleep; she found that her dreams had become darker and she woke often during the night.

Elizabeth Weir sat back in her chair at her desk and sighed, she stared at her out-box pile and realised that no matter how hard she worked it would always be her in-box pile that rose into the infinitive sky. Smiling reflectively, she decided to catch an early lunch.

Devi paced the balcony and wished fervently for something to punch, most righteously. Turi had fallen out with her, in his quietly furious way. The salty cool breeze helped a little but not much. She wanted to be doing something, there was always something to do back at the orphanage, walls to be patched, pests to kill, treasure to defend. She fell even deeper into an already cavernous strop.

Conner wandered the less populated corridors, searching for something to occupy himself until the return of Murry and, to a lesser extent, Ronon. Personally he had nothing against the man, but Ronon reminded him too much of Devi. He stopped at a fork in the route, sat and ate the sandwiches he'd kidnapped from the cafeteria when no one had been watching.

Turi sat with Charley in the cafeteria and watched as Elizabeth wandered in. She nodded to him and he smiled in response. Most of the adults didn't want much to do them, he'd realised this quickly. They all had their own jobs to be getting on with, he supposed, but there was so little that anyone seemed to actually be doing. He sighed; he was just tired and frustrated with his sister. Turi returned his attention to the despondent youngster; she was staring dolefully at the opposite wall and twiddling her thumbs back and forward.

"Murry will be back soon Charley"

She turned her head to look at him, her bottom lip trembling. She beamed and jumped into his arms, yelling joyously.

Meanwhile…

Ronon stared at the still slumbering Murry. He was curled up with his head tucked between his knees and his arms wrapped around his shins, he'd been so since the night before and it was afternoon now. He carefully lifted the sleeping wraith and tipped him into one of chairs at the front, strapping him in. He never even stirred. Ronon sat in the pilot seat and fired up, rising up into the blue sky. As he approached the Gate, he dialled the address, waited for a full three seconds and flew through, back into the Gate room of Atlantis. He returned the Puddlejumper to the hold. Landing was the easy part. Or so Sheppard had once said. He turned and Murry was still coiled on the seat, he looked less peaceful and more like ready to spring. Ronon shook his shoulder and indeed the wraith flew off the seat, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

"We're home"

Laughing Murry clapped Ronon on the shoulder and they left the Jumper. Charley was already running towards him, but he was ready for her. He caught her by the waist and burled her in the air but when he noticed everyone looking, he stopped, rested the child in the crook of his arm and coughed, feeling very self-conscious all of a sudden.

Sheppard nodded and Ronon knew everything was fine, he was happy with that. He nodded back and Teyla was straining with a forced smile.

"Everything okay?"

He asked her, she'd been looking a little tired lately, washed out and had gained some dark circles beneath her eyes. She seemed much better now.

"Yes I'm fine, how was your trip?"

Ronon shrugged dismissively and replied.

"It went okay, lots of sun, blue water, pretty boring really"

He'd created the answer on the way back; it was short enough to remember and casual enough not to encourage questions. Perfect.

Meanwhile, Murry was watching Devi and Turi; their body language was all off. The twins stood well away from each other, resonating resentment so thick he could almost taste it in the air. In fact, everyone seemed a little more down than usual. He shrugged it off and Charlotte began to pull while Jenny nudged him in the direction of the doors.

Following the girls prompt directions he found himself sitting on the floor of a bedroom, surrounded by little bobbles, elastic bands and two enthusiastic hairdressers. He closed his eyes and prayed for them not have found any scissors. Charlotte took one side and Jenny the other and together they began to comb and plait the tangled white hair. When brushed it was soft, like silk, and easy to manipulate. They finished, satisfied with the tight, neat and small plaits, there were dozens of them, all hanging perfectly. Murry opened his eyes timidly and fingered the plaits; he stood and left the two girls who were eagerly awaiting comment, searching for a mirror. He found one in the adjacent bathroom. Unlike most other wraith, he'd never had the time to take pride in his hair, instead leaving the dirt and muck to accumulate into one huge mess. But after the swimming and the brushing, it was wonderfully white and beautiful. He ran out smiling and hugged both Charlotte and Jenny. He promised them each a gift and left to show Ronon and the others.

He encountered much whispering talk as he walked, thoughtfully searching each place. It was as if they thought he couldn't hear them or that they didn't care whether he heard or not. A rush of anger rose in him, most likely as a result of the increased energy levels since the feeding. He quickly quashed it for fear of hurting someone, sometimes he forgot that humans were not like wraith and would not heal like them. Instead, he folded his arms and walked more quickly, his mood a less ecstatic than it was. He fingered one of the plaits, feeling a little humiliated at the cruel laughter and the clear contempt for his feelings. No matter what species, human or wraith, the majority travelled in packs and picked on those alone. Suddenly he realised that he wasn't alone now. With that thought, he smiled, continued with his head held high and whenever he passed a murmuring group, he growled loudly and they jumped out of their skins.