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

Part 11/22

-Chapter 10-

Departure

Ronon stood before the door to Tayara's apartment. His heart thudded in uneven beats in his chest in rhythm with his ragged breaths. It seemed he was alone in his belief that she wasn't involved in whatever evil things the Quitari might (or might not) be planning.

The door swung open, and Tayara smiled when she saw it was him. "Ronon! Come in!" She took him by the arm and pulled him into the room. She then closed the door, stood on her tiptoes. and kissed the corner of his mouth. "It is so good that you have returned! I have missed you."

Ronon very carefully pushed her away. "Tayara, I need to talk to you."

Her happy expression melted into a look of distress. "What's wrong? What's happened? Are you okay?"

He took her by the hand and led her across the room to sit on her sofa. "I need you to be completely honest with me, Tayara. If you really do love me, and if you do want our relationship to work, I need your complete honesty. Can you do that?"

Her lovely dark eyes widened in confusion and concern, but she nodded wordlessly.

"While Dr. McKay was in your labs the other day, he discovered Wraith technology in one of the power generators. Ordinarily that wouldn't concern us – but you said you hated the Wraith."

Tayara stared at him, wide-eyed, for a long breathless moment. Then she sighed, and her entire body seemed to sag with the motion. She carefully withdrew her hand from Ronon's and went to stand at the huge floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the city below. "I was only partly telling the truth," she whispered. Her voice was so soft Ronon almost didn't hear it. "I hate the Wraith. But not all of my – people – feel the same."

"What?" So it was true then?

Tayara turned from the window and paced back to him. She stood and stared at him for a long moment before she sank tiredly down on the couch again – though she made sure to keep a careful distance between them. "There is more than one reason why we haven't been culled in so many generations. Our people have an – agreement with the Wraith. They have shared their technology with us, and different ways to try to make it compatible with ours. We have tried for many, many years to make it work – but we can't. We were at a loss as to what to do next – until your people came, from the legendary Ancestral city. We knew that was where our technology had originated, and we were desperate to have help to make it work. So – the Council lied to you."

She stood again and paced around the room. She rubbed her arms as if cold. "While I have not made my views on our alliance public, the Council is aware of my – animosity toward our ally. It is why I have not spoken before. If they ever find out it was I who told you, they will not hesitate to execute me for treason."

Relief and despair flooded Ronon in equal amounts. It was wonderful indeed to know that Tayara wasn't involved in this twisted plot. But he also didn't like to hear she'd just put her life on the line to be honest. He shouldn't have made her tell him.

He stood and moved across the room to take her by the shoulders and look down into her pained dark eyes. "Tayara – I haven't been entirely truthful with you, either."

Tayara bowed her head against his chest. "I had a feeling Atlantis still existed. I knew such a great and powerful city could not fall so easily against the Wraith, who are much less advanced and not nearly as skilled at warrior tactics."

"How did you—" Ronon stopped. By now, he wasn't sure why they tried to keep the city's secret – it seemed everyone already knew of the city's survival. He sighed. "I want you to come back with me. Escape Quitari. You put your life on the line to tell me the truth – and it's only fair I return the favor by giving you sanctuary." Sheppard would probably bust him for this later, but as long as Tayara was safe he would take whatever punishment the Earth colonel wanted to dish out.

"That is all: sanctuary? A protected place from my enemies?" Tayara lifted her eyes and stared hypnotically at him from beneath long dark lashes.

Ronon lifted his hand to touch her face. "And because you'd be closer to me," he finished. It was a half-truth – but still a truth.

Tayara smiled. "That sounds wonderful." She sighed and returned her head to his chest as her arms clung to his waist in a death grip. "Living in the Ancestral city with my love. I could not ask for more."

Ronon hugged her quickly. "How long will it take you to pack what you need? We need to leave soon, if we're going to get you away. We need to – know what else the Council has planned, but I believe it would be best if we discuss it on Atlantis. There's no chance the Council will be able to get to you there."

Tayara nodded and smiled weakly. "It will not take long. I will pack a small bag and meet you by the Ring. Go." She pushed him. "It is best we not be seen heading to the Ring together – just in case."

Ronon didn't want to leave her, but he knew she was right. Besides, Tayara was more than capable of taking care of herself. She'd proved that over and over again in their sparring sessions the other day. "I will see you there. Be careful, Tayara." He leaned down to kiss her. He held on to the moment for a breath of time he wanted to remember forever. Just in case. . . Just in case this did end badly.

-Quitari-

"Ronon, what are you thinking? Were you thinking? We can't bring her along!"

Ronon clenched his teeth and straightened his shoulders. He deliberately loomed over Sheppard though he knew the colonel would not be intimidated. "Look, Sheppard, she risked everything, including her life, to tell me the truth. If the Council finds out, they'll kill her for treason. Is that a just reward for what she's already told me? And she knows more! I very seriously doubt the Council would be that forthcoming with you. Without persuasion of a certain kind, that is. She was already sure that Atlantis was still intact – I didn't tell her. C'mon, Sheppard, she can tell us what we need to know, and she's willing."

Sheppard shook his head. "Offering sanctuary to our enemy. I don't believe I'm actually considering this."

"She's not our enemy. Tayara hates the Wraith. It's her people we have to worry about. She wants to help us."

"At the risk of her entire race?" Sheppard sounded skeptical.

"It's not the first time we've offered sanctuary to our enemy," Ronon said simply.

"I know I'm gonna regret this. And not just because Carter and the IOA are going to bust me for allowing her to come." He turned and motioned to Rodney. "Dial!"

Ronon moved to stand next to Tayara, who had watched the exchange between him and Sheppard with wary eyes. "It's okay. You're coming."

She bit her lip as her gaze darted between him and the Stargate. "I don't want to cause animosity between you and your people. . ." Her voice trailed off.

"It's okay. They just don't know you like I do." He quickly squeezed her hand and smiled reassuringly. "Once they have a chance to get to know you – they'll see what I do."

Tayara smiled. "Thank you for having confidence in me, Ronon."

"Thank you for being truthful with me. Come on: it's time for me to show you my world."

Tayara gripped his hand tightly as they came out of the Stargate Atlantis-side. She gazed around the opulent Gateroom with wide eyes. She took in the swirling colors, the vast space, and the beautiful stained-glass windows with disbelief and awe.

Ronon tensed as he watched Carter come down the steps, then pause when she spotted Tayara. "Tayara," she said. "Welcome to Atlantis."

Ronon didn't miss the look the blonde shot to Sheppard. Dex spoke before his team leader could. "Tayara told me a lot about the Quitari and the Wraith. And she'll tell us more now that she's here – and safe."

Carter's eyebrows shot toward her hairline.

"Since I am being so – cooperative, if the Quitari Council was ever to find out what I've done, they'd have me executed for treason." Tayara spoke softly but with underlying determination. "They are too cowardly to admit that their alliance with the Wraith is an error – which is why I chose to tell you about it. They are not strong enough to tell the Wraith that this has to stop. That we do not have to live under their control. I believe the Wraith must be exterminated – and that you are the only people in this galaxy capable of doing so."

Ronon was immensely proud of her. Tayara was strong, smart, brave – if anyone deserved a place in Atlantis, it was she.

Carter seemed to consider Tayara's words before she nodded slowly. "Very well. Come with me – we'll talk in the briefing room."

Ronon squeezed Tayara's hand and started toward the steps with her. Movement in the shadows caught his attention, and he saw Teyla looking from him to Tayara, then at their joined hands. Something flickered in her eyes, and she turned and disappeared through the doors that led from the Gateroom to the corridor outside.

Uneasiness formed a knot in Ronon's gut. He loved Tayara, but he didn't want to lose his friendship with Teyla. Wasn't there some way he could have both: Tayara as his love, but Teyla as his best friend?

-To Be Continued-

TeylaFan: Thank you! I very much enjoyed writing Ronon and Rodney's argument, though I suppose that is bad of me. LOL They are supposed to be teammates and friends. And all I'm going to say about Tayara for now is that she kind of rewrote my original plan for her character, but that could mean she's bad or good, so I'd better shut up now. LOL And me too! And would you hurt me if it's not. . .? Teyla is really mad, I promise! But she's always so calm, she wanted to get out of the briefing room before she said something she'd very much regret later. That was a very hard scene for me to write, it made me sad. Thank you! And me, too – I would have been very bored if it had! Thank you so much for your compliment, I'm really glad you're enjoying this fic! I hope you like this chapter, and thanks for the review! -hugs-

Bellkie: Me too! To be truthful, I did originally write the end of the chapter with her blowing up at everyone and stalking off, but it just didn't feel like Teyla. So I wound up re-writing it with her walking out to keep from saying all the things she wanted to. I'm glad it turned out okay this way. I hope I can keep it up! Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

TubaPrincess: I agree – sometimes life is just way too complicated, especially when it comes to love! And if Teyla had just voiced her suspicions in the beginning, perhaps this never would have developed. . . LOL But then I wouldn't have a story. And love is blind to all, unfortunately. . . Though Tayara did write herself differently from how I first imagined her when I got the concept for the story, so that could mean she's good or bad. . . But I won't say which. ;) I'll leave the decision up to you, after this chapter. (I hope that wasn't mean of me.) I like that: Warm from the sun, not blankets. I totally agree with you. I'm tired of snow and cold! I hope warmer weather comes to us both very soon. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Bunnylass: Wow! Thank you so much for all the new reviews! You made me a very happy person yesterday when I checked my e-mail and saw all the review alerts. I'm so sorry I've made you sad with my story! In truth, Ronon really does love her too, but now he thinks he has no chance with her. So he's going out and doing something really stupid, instead of just sitting down and talking things out with Teyla. . . -sigh- I really hated writing that part. I agree, all through writing the scenes with Tayara and Ronon, I just wanted to take it all back and yell at Ronon that he's doing it all wrong. But. . .I didn't. Honestly, I love writing Sheppard, his character is soo much fun to play with. And I've found a fellow MacGyver fan! I honestly can't resist slipping in a reference or two every now and then, that show was just so cool. It was very hard for me to write the scene were Teyla walks out of the briefing room, especially now that she's seen how the whole Ronon/Tayara thing is progressing. . . That kiss scene was hard to write too, it made me sad. Here's the next part now, next update in two days. . . I hope you enjoy, and thank you so very much for all your reviews, I loved reading them all!