"Jennifer? You're back." Rodney said. "But I thought you weren't due in for another day."

"Kavanagh was on board and everyone was keen to shorten the journey." Jennifer said.

"Yeah you should try being trapped in a Puddle Jumper with him for weeks." McKay responded before asking rather awkwardly. "How's your father?"

"Better thanks. Still not fully mobile, but hopefully it will be plain sailing from now." Jennifer replied.

"Look, about what happened." McKay said, playing with the cuff of his jacket, avoiding eye contact. "Before, well thank you and I'm sorry I delayed you getting back to your dad." He bumbled.

"It's ok Rodney." Jennifer assured him.

"Really?" He asked looking up.

"Really." She smiled.

"Oh, well good. Could you possibly get your army of witch doctors to start witch doctoring again then?" He suggested.

"Don't push it Rodney." She said walking off down the corridor towards Ronon's quarters.

When she finally arrived Jennifer stood outside the door biting on her lip nervously. Taking a deep breath she reached up to the buzzer and pressed it. As the seconds ticked by she lost more and more courage. She was just turning to leave when the door opened to reveal a very wet Ronon wearing, what on him appeared to be, a very small towel round his waist.

"Jennifer?" He greeted in surprised, not expecting the young doctor to be back on base yet.

Trying very hard to keep her eyes from wondering anywhere beneath his neck line Jennifer said flustered. "Hi. I'm sorry I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll catch up with you later." She willed her feet to start moving just as Ronon's hand took hold of her arm.

"Don't go. I'm not doing anything." Ronon said. "Do you want to come in?"

"Um ok." Jennifer answered, growing more and more convinced that her visit was a bad idea.

"Great." Ronon replied, his tone lacking its normal assertion, moving away from the door so that Jennifer could enter his quarters. As he did so he realised what a mess his quarters were in, with his clothes lying around from where he had discarded them before he shower. Hurrying over to the pile he rapidly picked them up and threw them into the bathroom, before spinning round to look at Jennifer.

"I should probably get some clothes on." He said before disappearing after his clothes. Jennifer stood in Ronon's room and berated herself for the thoughts she was having.

When Ronon finally emerged from the bathroom he saw that Jennifer was still awkwardly standing in the room.

"How is your father?" He asked, concerned that she was so nervous.

"Better thanks, still a bit to go, but making good progress."

"Good." Ronon replied before waiting silently for Jennifer to speak, unaware that he was making her nervous with his penetrating stare.

"Um...so...I just wanted to thank you for coming back to Earth and being with me. It meant a lot to me." Jennifer finally managed to say.

"I didn't want you to go through that alone. I know how close you are to your father." Ronon said closing the distance between them, causing Jennifer's heart to beat faster.

"Well you didn't have to and I wasn't expecting you to and it was good...thank you." She spluttered out.

"You're welcome." Ronon replied.

"I wanted to thank you." Jennifer started again only for Ronon to cut her off.

"You just did, twice."

"I didn't mean just with words." She said causing him to raise an eyebrow, wondering what she was suggesting. Now looking everywhere except his eyes, feeling very grateful he was wearing clothes Jennifer continued. "So I got this for you. It is stupid because you have like a million already, and it probably is too blunt for you, but it was all I could think of." Jennifer said reaching into her rucksack and pulling a long, thin box.

"You didn't have to." Ronon said surprised, taking the box from Jennifer.

"I wanted to." Jennifer said as she reverted to chewing her lip as she watched Ronon open the box. As he pulled off the lid she said.

"It is probably completely useless, but it reminded me of you. But if you don't want it that's fine too."

Picking up the knife from the box he unsheathed it and examined it. "It's good." Ronon replied smiling at the knife, then at Jennifer.

"I mean I don't expect you to use it, yours are far better, but I don't know, you could keep it around maybe." Jennifer said nervously.

"It's perfect." Ronon said. "Thank you."

"Ok, well good and your welcome." Jennifer said. "Well I just came by to thank you so I'll leave you to-"

"Don't go." Ronon cut her off. "I mean you can stay...no I mean will you stay? I'd like you to stay." He finally explained.

"You would?" Jennifer asked, unable to conceal her surprise.

"Yeah." Ronon replied, disappointed by her surprise. "Unless you want to go."

"No. I just thought you'd have stuff to do."

"No. Nothing." Ronon said very quickly.

"Ok." Jennifer said as the pair fell into an awkward silence. Eventually Ronon placed the knife down and said.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want me on Earth. I mean if you would be comfortable with me there."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I came as your friend but I wanted more, but didn't want you to feel pressured with everything else that was happening." Ronon explained. Jennifer took a few, for Ronon heart stopping, moments before asking.

"More?"

"More than friends." Ronon said in a manner that for him at least displayed shyness.

"More than friends?" Jennifer echoed as Ronon came closer so their bodies were almost touching. Feeling the heat of Jennifer's body bounce off his chest Ronon cupped her cheek in one hand and said.

"I like you."

"Like me?" Jennifer repeated, cursing herself for sounding like a parrot. Deciding he had nothing to loose Ronon began to lean in to Jennifer. Sensing his movement and desiring what he was offering Jennifer tilted her head up and parted her lips ready to receive his mouth. Their lips were millimetres away when the door chimed causing Jennifer to pull back and Ronon to growl in frustration.

Knowing that the moment was gone Ronon approached the door ready to tear apart whoever was on the other side.

"Hey buddy?" Sheppard said as the door opened. On seeing Ronon's expression the colonel instinctively took a step back. "The film's about to start." He added weakly as Ronon continued to silently stare. As the Colonel racked his brains trying to work out what he had done wrong a small movement behind Ronon caught his eye. After doing a double take he said.

"Hi doc."

"Colonel."

"Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt." Sheppard apologised guessing, from Jennifer's flushed face, he had not come at a good moment.

"I was just going anyway." Jennifer said as she scurried to the door. Looking at Ronon, without making eye contact she said. "Thanks again," before hurrying out of the room.

"I'm sorry buddy. If I'd known I wouldn't have come." Sheppard said guiltily. "Why don't you invite her to film night?"

"She never comes." Ronon said.

"But you have never asked." Sheppard said. "We'll wait."

"No." Ronon said. "Start without me." With that Ronon removed his radio and jogged down the corridor towards Jennifer's quarters, Sheppard calling.

"Good luck."

When Ronon reached Jennifer's quarters he quickly turned and walked away, suddenly having doubts as to whether this was the correct action. He was half way down the corridor when he growled, scaring a nearby technician, and turned back to Jennifer's quarters. This time he stopped at the door, but needed several attempts to persuade his arm to move all the way to the door chime. When he finally rang it he stood and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally giving up he scoured the city in search of Jennifer.

An hour later he was beginning to think about asking McKay for help, for as poor as Jennifer's survival skills were, when she wanted to loose herself in the city she could. Picturing McKay's smug look was, however, enough motivation for Ronon to continue his search without help.

Finally as he walked down a deserted corridor he caught a whiff of Jennifer's shampoo. Following it out onto a balcony he saw Jennifer stare out over the ocean, oblivious to his presence. Not wanting to scare her he called gently.

"Jennifer." Causing the young doctor to spin around.

"Ronon. What are you doing out here?" She asked.

"I wanted to see you, to apologise." He said.

"Apologise? For what?"

"I shouldn't have told you, not with your father. I didn't want to pressure you or scare you." He said.

"You didn't." Jennifer said leaning with her back against the balcony.

"You ran out of my quarters."

"I didn't run." Jennifer argued. "I, it just hap...I wasn't expecting it. You surprised me." Jennifer added.

"That's a bad thing." Ronon said.

"No. I just...I mean it's you and it's me and I'm no Teyla so why would you...I... you are the one everyone lusts after, you could have anyone. Why me?" She blurted out so fast Ronon had trouble keeping up.

"Because you're not anyone. You're you." Ronon said walking up to Jennifer and stroking a stray hair of her face. Jennifer smiled at Ronon as her head moved towards him. Ronon, however, pulled back slightly and detached Jennifer's ear wig, throwing it off the balcony. Seeing her as astonished look he said.

"No more interruptions." Seconds before putting a hand on either side of Jennifer's head and pulling her towards him. This time there was no stopping their lips making contact. After a few moments of initial hesitation both of them deepened the kiss. Ronon lowered his hands from Jennifer's face to her shoulders, before wrapping his arms round her body and lowering his hands down her back, pulling her tighter into him.

--The End

A/N: Thanks to every one who read and reviewed.