Never let it be said that I am not susceptible to begging.

Back in 2008 when the fifth season of SGA aired, I was so thoroughly disgusted by the McKay/Keller canon pairing that I kinda ended up giving up on the show. I mean, I had been on the edge since season 4 because I felt it was becoming too focused on Sheppard and McKay and losing the ensemble dynamic that had made SG-1 so wonderful. Only the hope of Ronon/Keller kept me interested and when that went away, I dropped the show and dropped this fic. I stopped writing and I stopped posting...except there were three chapters written when I quit SGA that I never posted.

I was content to leave this where it was. Except over on fictionpress I just finished an 8 book series that I started years before this fic. And as reviewer nicolehowe737 just reminded me, if I can finish that monster, surely I can find it in my heart to finish what I started here. As I said. Begging works wonders.

Tag to Kindred (the one where Beckett came back).

Laura's wracking sobs had finally slowed to deep, steady breaths. Jennifer Keller sighed and got to her feet. Laura was asleep now, giving Jen the chance to get some rest herself. She had been with Laura since they had placed Carson in the stasis pod several hours ago. The last two days had not been good ones for Lieutenant Laura Cadman.

Jen stepped out of Laura's room and wasn't at all surprised to see Ronon standing right outside the door, waiting for her. Jen stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. Ronon's own arms wrapped around her shoulders and he held her close.

"How's she doing?" he asked when Jen stepped back.

"Fine, all things considered," Jen said. "You know, this Carson doesn't remember their break up. It never happened to him. They didn't spend much time together, but he told her that she was one of the reasons he was able to hold out against Michael." Jen laughed softly and wiped away the tears. "Isn't that a kicker? While our Carson fell out of love with Laura while he was here with her, this one fell further in love with her despite the distance."

"What's that saying?" Ronon asked. "About distance and love?"

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder?" Jen asked. Ronon nodded. "I guess. So strange, though."

"And you?" Ronon asked. "How're you doing?"

"Ask me again in twenty-four hours," Jen said, running her hands across her face. "What about you?"

Ronon shrugged. "Not sure."

"Well, one way or another, we'll make it through. We always do." Jen said. "You know what I miss most about Carson? The way he looked after everyone. He was kinda like a mother hen, clucking around the infirmary, making sure that we were all alright and that we had gotten enough sleep. I always used to brush him off or tease him about it, but I really miss it. I really miss him."

"He always used to complain before going on a dangerous mission," Ronon said and Jen couldn't help but smile. She knew he was confiding what he missed most about Carson to her. "He'd say he wasn't qualified or couldn't do it or something, but it always seemed that he was the one to pull us through in the end."

Jen smiled. "I remember that. He'd always promise 'never again' when he came back."

"He saved me from the wraith king," Ronon said softly. "He saved me from myself."

"He was good at that," Jen said. She rolled her shoulders and suddenly realized how tired she was. With a sigh, Jen leaned back against the wall and sunk down to the floor.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking a nap," she muttered, closing her eyes.

"You can't sleep here," Ronon said.

"Watch me," Jen muttered. "Besides, I don't want to get to far away from Laura right now."

"Alright," Ronon said. Jen waited, expecting him to settle on the ground next to her. As soon as she felt his arm against her, she planned to curl up against his chest and fall asleep.

When Ronon didn't sit down next to her, Jen opened her eyes and looked around. To her surprise, Ronon was walking down the hallway. Jen frowned. She had expected him to stay with her, although she understood why he felt the need to leave. None of them were taking what had just happened with Carson very well. Sighing, Jen leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes again.

She couldn't have slept very long when she woke to someone resting a hand on the back of her head and leaning her forward. Jen jumped awake, only to see Ronon kneeling in front of her.

"Sorry," he said, resting a pillow behind her head. It was then that Jen realized that a blanket had been draped over her as well. "Figured this would be more comfortable," he explained, sitting down next to her.

Still half asleep, Jen removed the pillow from behind her head and placed it behind Ronon's. Then she rolled over and spread the blanket over the both of them and rested her head on his chest.

"It is," she muttered sleepily. "Thanks."