I've been dealing with a lot of crap recently. I'm a single mom and about to go back to school but even still my psoriasis will not give me a break. I wish! I'm in a rut where writing is difficult but emotionally necessary and very relevant. So I apologize if the flow of the writing is off and monotonous or if it just plain sucks. I'm feeling blocked in narration at the moment so please excuse the enormous amounts of talking. I'm still pushing, though, despite it all. I'd love some reviews, please! Constructive criticism is very welcome, I could really use it.

Nearly two weeks later and the new Athosian settlement was looking wonderful. The huts had been built and were being treated to some homey touches now that the families had officially moved in. The land was cleared and seeds were sown. Everyone had more or less explored the lay of the land and everything was nearly complete. Which meant Kylie wouldn't have nearly as many opportunities to avoid Ronon.

Since they had left Atlantis they've all been tending to their duties, readying the village well before they had to fortify it for their winter season. The length and severity of which they weren't quite sure on this new planet, therefore time would be paramount to readying themselves for the worst possible weather. Kylie cleared land, built stocks, tended to the animals, mended materials. Ronon had aided in the building as well but for the most part had been out with hunting parties scouring and plotting the land. Exhaustion kept them from having seldom more than moments of idle conversation and as that present reality slowly melted into the past so Kylie's anxiety came full force.

Kylie was tending to the animals, distracted by her own worries, when a cheer burst out all around her causing her to shriek and drop her pail (and the witnessing Athosians to laugh). She wandered out of the stables towards the commotion. The sun hit her, warm and inviting, and she closed her eyes and sighed. There was enough time in the season to gain a new harvest from some of the plants they'd transfered from Atlantis and for a few new take root. But still a chill began to cling to the wind despite the warmth of the sun.

The air held the smell of pine and freshly turned soil, the wind cooled her skin as it grew hot from the sun in it's mantle of a cloudless sky. The chatter in the distance fell to the background and Kylie listened to the sound of the trees blowing in the wind surrounding the settlement and the birds chirping merrily. She couldn't help but smile as she noted the distinct lack of that technological hum or the constant windrush noise of cars driving in the distance. In the quiet, she felt herself drift into a lull of contentment.

"You seem to be adjusting nicely to the Athosian way of life." Teyla broke Kylie out of her reverie but Kylie couldn't find it in her to be bothered by the interruption.

"Your people are so welcoming it'd be difficult not to."

"You have been accepting of our ways and eager to help us when we were cast from our home. We are happy to count you as a friend." Teyla clasped Kylie's shoulder with a heartfelt smile.

"So, uh-" Kylie coughed through the emotion she felt tightening her throat. "What's all the commotion about?"

"The last family has their dwelling and the last of the crops is in the ground. We have finished, at last." A sad smile fell on Teyla's face.

"Seems bittersweet." Kylie said, putting words to Teyla's expression. "You miss Atlantis."

"Yes. Yes, I miss Atlantis."

"And it's people? Am I wrong in thinking, maybe, one in particular?" She asked softly. Teyla didn't answer. "If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

"Thank you, my friend. But tonight we will celebrate the completion of our new home, and-" She shot Kylie a teasing glance. "I've known Ronon to get quite mischeivious at gatherings."

At the mention of Ronon, Kylie froze, her chest constricting with anxiety once more.

"Kylie? What's wrong?" She saw a flush envelope Kylie's skin. "Talk to me."

"I - I... I don't know what to do, Teyla." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I've had plenty of one night stands, I've been with men I couldn't even carry on a conversation with, but I'm terrified of being with Ronon. Because... 'cause..."

"Because your affection for him is genuine." Teyla finished for her. Kylie nodded fervently, panic evident on her features.

"Oh damn, it is! It really is. But I've tried to be with men I like before and they all left once they saw... me. The real me. And Ronon put himself out there getting me here from Atlantis, what will he think of me once he knows? That I played him? I don't... What I feel with Ronon is more intense than anything I've ever felt, I don't think I can handle him leaving with much dignity."

"Ronon is different, Kylie. Surely you know this, otherwise you would not feel so strongly. You need to trust him."

"I do!" She hesitated. "When I'm with him, I trust him. When I'm not with him, the anxiety takes over and I get so nervous I want to bury my head in the sand. I'm caught between never wanting to leave his side and never wanting to go near him again."

"Ronon is a strong man, if only because of how much he cares. And it is quite obvious he cares for you. No matter how things go, I have no doubt that that will stay true. He would not leave you in shame." Teyla put her arm around Kylie's shoulders and lead her towards the center of the village. "Now, lets go celebrate." Around them people prepped the food and the fires. Torches were lit as the sun began it's quick descent behind the tree line.

It didn't take long for Kylie to catch the Athosians good spirits and her conversation with Teyla to be pushed from her mind. Dark fell quickly as everyone pitched in to prepare their communal feast. Their steady pace and enthusiastic chatter cut short as everyone found themselves seated together; full place in one hand, ale in the other. There was silence as Teyla stood to say a few words in toast to their new home and to the strength of the Athosian people. An elder then stood and lead a moment of meditation in a blessing of their land and bidding love to their Earth friends, who had shared in their sorrow of losing Atlantis.

The moment, though bittersweet, was quickly followed by good food, entertaining conversation, and merriment. The older Athosians took care to teach her their respectful greetings and toasts; their support in her numerous attempts to memorize it all warmed Kylie deeply. The younger Athosians taught her traditional songs of celebration though it was through the elders, eyes full of mirth, that she learned the young ones had not been entirely honest about the words meanings. She flushed and laughed in spite of herself. A deep laugh came from behind her sending shivers throughout her body and immediately drawing her full attention. Kylie turned to find that Teyla had been absolutely right about Ronon and gatherings. He stood there, ale in hand, looking downright Puck-ish as the firelight danced across his features. It was a vision that struck her still until a realization struck her harder.

"It was you!" The accusation only served to make Ronon's smirk grow.

"Hmm?" He feigned, "I thought that was a brave confession. I never thought you'd be the type to plow a field drunk and naked. Don't take it back now." She got up and marched the few feet towards him, prodding him none too gently in the chest.

"You put them up to that, didn't you!" Many things had rushed to her head in that moment. The ale she had drunk since she first sat. The boundless energy of the festivities surrounding them. The teasing eyes of Ronon's as he glanced at her over the edge of his cup. The heat radiating off him and his intoxicating smell that drew her in closer. Teyla's words from their earlier conversation hit the hardest. And like that, her mind had made itself up long before she knew what was happening. "Such lyrics... Disappointing, really."

Ronon's eyebrow quirked, whether to the drop in her voice or the statement, or both, it was anyones guess. Did it really matter at this point? Her seat at the table had long since been filled and the party swelled around them without taking notice of the two, they were now in a world all their own. "Of all the things I could be doing naked, that's the best you could come up with?"

Here we go. She held her breath, carefully watching him as his hand tensed around his ale.

"I might have a few other ideas." Came Ronon's reply, his voice coarse.

Don't look back. She pushed herself forward.

"Feel like sharing?" His body tensed as she took a step forward, taunting him into action. "I mean, unless you're not up to the task." She shot him an innocent smirk as his nostrils flared and he dropped his cup carelessly on a nearby table, grabbing her hand and leading her away towards the darkened wood.

As she let herself be lead to that spot, close enough to see the dimmed firelight yet far enough away to not be seen, a heated debate ran through her mind. Do I tell him before and let him decide? Or just wait til he sees it and potentially have him reject me while stark ass naked? Her heart thudded heavy in her chest as the time of truth drew near. At least with the latter he might get me off before he realizes. She thought, before quickly chastising herself for thinking that way. But at least I'd have a moment with him before -

She felt her back hit a tree and a hand on her face. Kylie had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she hadn't noticed Ronon stop nor seen the hungry look on his face. But as now she was face to face with him it was very hard to miss. His thumb tugged on her lower lip as he pressed his body into hers, sending electric shocks through every nerve of every part of her, the sensation of which had her reeling. He pulled her lip down with his thumb before crashing down with nothing less than a full on attack, the kiss immediately at full blaze the moment tongue met tongue. Both of them quickly panting, made breathless simply by the culmination of so many times it had been put off. Ronon gripped her hips and rolled against her, the pure ecstacy of feeling herself trapped between the tree and the rock hard Ronon more than she could handle at the moment. She broke the kiss to let a moan escape into the wood around them. Ronon took advantage of the position to lay seige to her neck, sucking and nipping his way down to her shoulder, Kylie wrapping herself around him in response, her hand plunging into his locks and holding tight, her body acting of it's own volition and curving into him.

She was feeling lightheaded, her body floating right along with it. And it was then she felt the inevitable tug of the hem of her shirt and fought against that chill that threatened to freeze her stiff.

Tell him. It screamed in her head. Before it's too late and you have to apologize WHILE you dress yourself. Again. The warmth of his hand touched her bare skin and the urgency rose. DO IT.

"Ronon..." she moaned. She couldn't help it. How do you speak seriously when you're so turned out you're about to combust? "There's something..." Then it happened. Instead of his hand raising to lift her shirt, it dropped passed the waist of her pants and kept going. "Oh shit..." Were the only words she could manage as the warmth of his hand found the deeper warmth of herself. Kylie fought to keep herself breathing as Ronon let out a growl, fingers working hard on the muscles that clenched around them. She bucked against his hand as he worked fast and furious, panting and groaning as she lost herself against him. Writhing, all else forgotten, she moved to ride his fingers, rubbing and rolling her hands over the breasts as she did so.

"Ronon.." she was breathless as he picked up the pace.

"Fuck, Kylie..." She heard, barely above a whisper. She cracked her eyes open and saw the intensity with which he watched her. She bit her lip hard in effort to keep her eyes open and locked onto his and she felt herself drop closer to the edge, his hand now slamming into her as she touched herself. "That's it, cum for me Kylie." She felt it coming, felt the sweet release about to hit, and so grabbed Ronon and pulled him forward, letting the waves take her over as their lips crashed together.

Kylie's world was shaking. She felt thoroughly rattled, through and through, til she practically felt the tree vibrate as well. The sensation of which set her off giggling. She stared at Ronon, having thought she heard a whisper through the sound of her own laughter but found he was watching her. Then again came a soft voice yet Ronon's lips didn't move.

"Ronon?" He simply stared at her with the same heat as before, running his fingers through her hair and over her body. But again she swore she heard his voice, louder still.

"...beautiful." She barely heard it and worry began to surface as he made no move to react to the voice, simply moved his hands almost in an effort to memorize her in her afterglow. When Ronon's voice came again she watched his lips careful and was this time positive he wasn't speaking.

"You were so beautiful." A ringing hit her ears, beeping and static along with it, overwhelming her senses. As she fell and clutched her hands over her ears she only just registered Ronon's physical absence and the way the wood around her began to glow.

"You are beautiful, Kylie. I'm so sorry. Please." Ronon's voice echoed all around the forest.

"Ronon?" Kylie spoke and yet her throat felt dried out and hoarse, she coughed and grimaced at the attempt to use her own voice. "Ronon?" She tried again, louder, through the discomfort of a voice that hadn't been used in eons.

"Kylie?! That's it Kylie, open your eyes!"

"Wha-?" She realized her eyes were clenched shut. When had she closed her eyes? She moved to open them but they felt like they weighed two tons. Why is this so difficult?

"Come on, Kylie, come on."

She finally managed to crack them open only to be blinded by a white light. Pulling her arms up to shield her eyes came with it's own set of problems as she found wires and a tube attached to them.

"WHAT-" Kylie felt her throat tear from the effort of a yell. The panic rising as hands came down to hold her in place, the beeping around them growing louder as wires disconnected in the struggle, blood ran down her arm as the needle ripped from her vein. "LET GO OF ME!" She screamed through her raw, torn throat.

"Kylie! It's me! Calm down, Kylie. It's Ronon, you're safe." The arms once pinning her now embraced her tightly, a hand cradling her head. "It's Ronon, Kylie. Calm down." The warmth of his body soothed her panic as she recognized the feel of his arms. I should, wasn't I just in them? As she calmed in his arms she looked around over her shoulder and saw a hoard of people in white coats being told to stand down, immediately recognizable as the medical staff of Atlantis. We're home?!

"Ronon?" She pushed back lightly from his arms to look at his face, which she now saw was exhausted and overwrought with worry. "We're in Atlantis?" All he could do was nod before Jennifer, one of the doctors on staff, came up to check on her and tend to her torn IV.

"Good, you know where you are." She commented with a soft smile.

"Of course I do. But..." She grimaced throught the exertion of her throat.

"Lets get you some water. You should take it easy on the conversation for now." Both Kylie and Ronon gave her an as if look as she turned to get a cup of water.

"How did we get back to Atlantis?" She whispered to Ronon.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Ronon asked, concern evident in his features.

"You and I in the woods..." She couldn't help but flush at the thought. "How are we in Atlantis? Why did the Ancients let us back? Oh shit, was it the Wraith? Are the Athosians okay?"

Ronon looked horrified but tried to mask it quickly as he excused himself for a second and got the doctor. When he came back Ronon was hesitant to approach but took her hand in his and let out a breath.

"So that... in the woods... it happened a lot longer ago than you think."

"I'm sorry... what?" He held up a hand to silence her before she went off.

"There was an incident, you were... hurt. Bad. Very bad. And for a long time you wouldn't wake up. The doc said maybe telling you about your life would wake you up. I thought it wouldn't hurt to try something a little more personal..."

"The woods..." Ronon nodded. "I don't remember anything else. Bits and pieces maybe. I don't understand... Why? Oh great, we finally have sex and I can't remember it." She let out a self depricating laugh but halted when she saw the look on Ronon's face.

"We didn't, uh, didn't have sex."

Kylie was crestfallen. She remembered the events leading up to it, the sensations of the memory Ronon had told her still crisp in her mind. They had been alone in the woods already getting hot n heavy, what could have stopped them from having sex? Oh...

She suddenly felt very foolish. She withdrew her hand from his as the realization seeped into her and she fought for dignity and composure. They hadn't had sex because she'd told him. Or he saw. Whichever. And it doesn't matter which at this point. He'd used the memory of it to jolt her awake, and it worked wonderfully, and now she was once again left with the same feeling of rejection that she must have felt that night.

Before either of them could say anything Jennifer had come back with her water. Kylie downed it greedily, wincing at it swept passed the tears in her throat, making them burn. When the cup, still clenched in her fist, was at last empty she sighed and offered Jennifer a small smile of gratitude.

"How are you feeling, Kylie?" Jennifer asked as she began a quick examination; eyes, heart, lungs.

"Besides my throat I feel fine. A little tired, maybe." Kylie answered simply, fighting the urge to glance over at Ronon. Jennifer quickly took that as her cue to check Kylie's throat, tsking as she went.

"Well, that screaming didn't do you any favours. Slight bleeding at the moment. You'll feel a little sore but if you take it easy, go slowly, it'll fix itself quickly." Jennifer then threw a cautious glance at Ronon before taking a seat on the edge of Kylie's bed. "Now... Ronon mentioned you have some memory loss. What's the last thing you remember?"

"The Athosian settlement, after the Ancients took back Atlantis. We had just finished building." Came her steady and detached reply, once again avoiding Ronon's eyes, determined to keep her gaze locked on the doctor before her.

"Ronon, could you go get Elizabeth, please?" Jennifer asked, waiting for the Seitedan's departure before turning back to Kylie. Kylie, still determined not to watch him go, found her eyes wandering around the medical bay. "Kylie, I'm afraid between the medications and the length of your coma you're going to have some memory issues. At the moment it's hard to say if it's temporary or... or permanent. It seems as though you've lost roughly four to five months of memory. About two weeks worth we can help you with but the rest... nobody can."

"What do you mean? What happened in four months that nobody can share with me?" Ice began to run through her veins and a chilled her to the core, her entire body began to tremble out of her control. Jennifer rushed to grab an extra blanket off the empty bed next to them and draped it across her.

"This is going to be difficult to hear, Kylie. But know that you have many people here that have been by your side the whole time and aren't going anywhere, alright?" Kylie nodded through the chills that shook her body doing her best to breathe and brace herself for what was to come. "Now Elizabeth can give you the real mission details but... About two weeks after your memory of the Athosian settlement you were back on Atlantis but there was another incident. You were trapped offworld and nobody knew where you were. Took close to five months to find you. When they did you were, um.. you were under the influence of a mind control substance and when ordered to kill Sheppard and his team, you turned the gun on yourself instead. Now, you did undergo surgery and your body healed very quickly but for some reason you just didn't wake up."

Kylie cleared her throat. It sounded like some crazy science fiction novel, she couldn't believe this had all actually happened to her. "How long-" she tried to ask but Jennifer's voice broke over hers first.

"The psychologist suggested maybe part of you... that part of you didn't want to wake up. She suggested everyone tell personal stories to try and get through to you that you have a life here and people that care about you."

Kylie's eyes misted over, the whole thing became overwhelming. She wanted nothing more than to hide away in her room with a calendar and try to piece shit together in peace and solitude. Silence stretched between them, Jennifer not moving a muscle, keeping her hand tucked over Kylie's in a show of support.

"That first time I saw real death and we got drunk on one of the patios." Jennifer smiled in acknowledgement of the memory. "You were just on staff then and here you are as one of the top guns." The fact that she had been giving the other staff and doctors orders after she first woke had not escaped Kylie.

"Very perceptive, Kylie." A sad smile emerged, one that made Kylie's stomach drop.

"I bet Carson had quite a few stories to tell. For the sake of my pride I hope nobody was around when he told them." She proded.

"Actually..." Jennifer started but halted abruptly.

"Where's Carson, Jenn?" She asked softly, dreading the answer but the lack of an immediate reply or reassurance of his safety brought tears to her eyes. "When?"

"A month or so before they found you. There was an explosion in Atlantis. The med bay... I'm sorry Kylie, this is a lot for you to take in so soon after waking. You should be taking it easy."

"I need to get out of this bed." Kylie threw the blankets aside and swung her legs over the edge, an action that caused several members of staff to whip around on high alert.

"Kylie, you can't do that, you haven't used your legs in quite some time. You need to take it slow."

"How long, exactly?"

"Twenty-eight days."

"I need to get out of this bed, Jenn, don't you dare stop me."

"Twenty-eight days, Kylie! Your mom was a nurse, don't you know what that means?" Jennifer rushed to her side and took an arm in an attempt to calm Kylie down enough to get her back in bed.

"After thirty-one days comatose there's no hope of bringing them back. And if you do, brain function would be critically deminished. I know because it's in my living will to not let me go on like that. Good to know how close I came to being put down. Now doc, you know I like you, but I've been sleeping for twenty-eight days and I'd like to get my lazy ass out of bed so help me stand or get the hell out of my way."

An obviously junior member of staff stepped forward and spoke the Jennifer, not sparing a glance for Kylie. "Should we prepare a sedative?"

"Great idea!" Croaked Kylie through her still torn throat. "Lets put me back to sleep and see how long I take to wake up this time." Kylie used what strength she had to shove herself out of Jennifers hands and used the IV stand for support, her legs wobbling beneath her as she attempted a step. "You're a real champ, kid. Maybe think for a second? Ask the patient what they need instead of what's easier for you to deal with? In the last five minutes I've lost a dear friend and half a year of my life excuse me for wanting a change of fucking scenery." She began panting at the exertion of standing and ranting at the same time. Sweat began to form on her brow and her heart began to pound. "Sorry if I'm causing a scene in your serene little hospital. Did you become a doctor because you're a needle happy sociopath or is that just a perk?"

"Kylie -" Jennifer appeared at her side, helping take some of the weight off her feet.

"NO. What I need is my personell file and a pile of mission reports so I can try to piece my shit back together. Not more sleep. Fucking brilliant." Rushed footsteps could be heard coming into the medical bay. "That better be someone with a fucking wheelchair cause I'd rather not drag myself out of here by my fingernails but I will."

"I believe that one." Sheppards voice broke through the tense atmosphere like a whip. All eyes flew towards Sheppard and he simply shrugged. "What? I knew under the crunchy yoga exterior she was spunky. It's always the quiet ones." He explained further to the confused junior medical staff beside them.

Kylie glanced over Jennifer's shoulder and saw the gang of people walking towards them, immediately flooding with relief at the sight of them. "Shep!"

"Ah, you know I hate it when you call me that. Makes me feel like I should be out herding sheep." Still a wide smile broke over his face as he moved to replace Jennifer in holding her up.

"Well, if it fits it fits. You ol' dog, you." She ruffled his hair and swung around for a hug, instead tripped over her own tired feet and ended up hanging from his shoulders.

"Yeah, how about that wheelchair, doc? Sounds like a good idea to me."

"I'd rather she were in bed." Came Jennifer's voice, only to be cut off by another.

"I think we should listen to her at this point in time. Physically, she's healed, yes? Aside from regaining the muscle strength she lost from her time in the coma, of course. We should start to help her progress mentally. She's stated her desire, we should listen and support it." The voice was new to Kylie but she immediately recognized it as a psychologist. Please don't tell me Heightmeyer died, too.

"I agree. Unless you have any objections doctor." Came Elizabeths voice. A wheelchair had finally been brought and Sheppard gently helped Kylie down into it, Kylie giving him a grateful squeeze as he did so. She watched Jennifer sigh and type something into her medical pad.

"Alright. I'll release her to bed rest and have her vitals monitored from here. But Kylie-" She turned to the now sore and exhausted woman sinking into the surprisingly comfortable wheelchair. "The second you try to overexert yourself you're coming right back here. Take it easy, ask for help if you need it, and I'll be in to check on you and give you your physio schedule. We good?"

"Got it." Kylie threw her a thumbs up and a tired smile before signaling to Sheppard. "Jeeves, take me home, please." But before Sheppard had moved an inch the wheelchair started rolling. Looking back she saw Ronon pushing, eyes locked dead ahead. Before she could think to ease her own tension with a joke she found herself being pushed passed the group of people, each with their own brief comment. It seemed everyone was taking it lightly so as not to overwhelm her. Too late for that. she thought.

"I'm glad you're alright," said Elizabeth. "I'll stop by to debrief you later, alright?"

"I knew you'd come back to us, my friend." Said Teyla, with her hand clasping her shoulder briefly in greeting.

"I, uh - Well, I wanted to talk about your experience on the planet, the technology was fascinating, but they said you have no memory so I guess you're pretty useless to me right now." Came Rodney's comment, only to be slapped upside the head by Sheppard. "What I mean to say is, um, welcome back. Of course. Well, wasn't that implied?"

"I'm Dr. Williams," came the voice of reason from earlier. Kylie felt herself surprised at it's owner. For a voice so strong and commanding, one so confident, it came from one that looked so frail. Small in stature, the years evident in the silver flecking her hair and the lines drawn across her bronze skin. She looked like a small wind would knock her over and yet as she shook Kylie's hand in greeting it was obvious she was stronger than she seemed. "I'm the psychologist here. I'll be checking in on you as well, alright?" Kylie felt comfortable in this womans presence the instant she'd spoken and could only nod and give her a soft smile in return.

"I'll bring you those files, you just rest up first." Sheppard called out as they left the med bay. Kylie couldn't bring herself to speak and so simply waved behind her in acknowledgement.

The pace to her quarters was quick and deliberate. Ronon, evidently, was on a mission. Kylie barely had a moment to take in the hustle of Atlantis crew or to return the greetings and well wishes offered by a few familiar faces. Despite her exhaustion at what just took place in the med bay she felt alert with that familiar flight response being triggered by the brick wall that was silently pushing her wheelchair. That brick walls silence crumbled the instant Kylie's door shut behind them.

"What were you thinking doing all that? How could you be so stupid?" Shock overtook Kylie. "You just woke up and you're trying to run off? You could have hurt yourself! What if you popped something or fell and hit your head? Who knows if you'd have woken up again. Do you have any idea-"

"I'm sorry." Came the soft reply, shock still adorning her features. The look on her face was enough to make Ronon stop himself from any further lecture. Instead he sighed, picked her up, and moved to lay her gently on the bed. As he fixed the covers around her she found the nerve to speak again. "Thank you, Ronon. Thanks for waking me up."

"The doctors started saying that there was nothing wrong with you. You just didn't want to wake up." Ronons words were heavy and his eyes hooded as he spoke, and yet the hurt behind them was obvious. "Did he mean that much to you?"

"Who?" The confusion was genuine. "Look, I - I may not remember anything at the moment but... whoever it is you're talking about... You're the one that got me here, Ronon. If someone else were more important that very likely would not have happened." Silence held around them as Kylie tried to think of what else to say but without her memories from the last few months she had nothing to go on. How could she steer a conversation about a relationship she never experienced with a person she didn't remember?

"You know, telling you that story was my last hope. I figured if that didn't work then that was it." He sat down on the bed next to Kylie and ran a hand down his face. "You have no idea what it did to me, telling you all those details, reliving the whole thing while you were practically dead in that hospital bed. And having no idea if it would - if I'd be enough to get you to come back." For the second time that day Kylie realized, looking at Ronon, how foolish she'd been. She'd began to shut out a man that obviously cared, no matter the intention, and cared deeply. The dark bags under his eyes revealed the hours spent sitting beside her bed, the deeper than usual grain to his voice told just how much he'd been there for her. She felt selfish and vain, confusion and skin be damned. What did it matter if he'd rejected her body? This was a man to have in you life always, no matter how. So long as it's not enemy. She thought. Yeah, fuck that. I'd never make it.

"Ronon, I-" but Kylie was cut off by Sheppard letting himself in holding a couple reports. Ronon took the distraction as an opportunity to leave with no more than a squeeze of the hand for Kylie and a nod to Sheppard on his way out the door.

"Was it something I said?"