A/N: So, I had a little free time to be able to get this up for all of my devoted readers! As I mentioned previously, I'm in the process of moving, and will try to update the story as frequently as possible, but just bear with me, if I don't manage it! I have plenty of chapters ready to go, it's just trying to find the time. Moving still sucks... Anywho...enjoy!

The next three days were miserable...pure misery. I felt like I was being punished since the day I walked through the Gate to this place in the middle of nowhere. I was trying to figure out what McKay's problem with me was, but I remembered that it wasn't just me that his wrath was targeting.

I was so happy that we were heading back to Atlantis on day three. I felt like dancing my happy dance, but I knew that I was already going to get into some trouble when I got back as it was, so I opted not to.

Once we stepped through the Gate and stepped onto Atlantis turf, I looked up and sighed. It felt good to be home...well, my current home, as it were.

McKay and the others started to walk towards Weir. She said loudly enough for all to hear," I want a debriefing in fifteen minutes!"

I turned to head to my quarters to clean up from my camping trip from hell. As I walked down the familiar corridors, Ronon had suddenly appeared beside me.

"Geez!" I shouted as I stopped completely. I clutched my beating heart, in an attempt to slow it down.

He smiled," Sorry. How was your trip?"

I sighed and glared at him for a brief second for the near death experience, but replied," Oh...it was great. I never want to do that again."

I rounded the corner and bumped right into something hard. I lost balance and stepped back. I looked up to see that my something, was really someone. I felt like a moron. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see where I was walking! Are you all right?"

I heard Ronon growl softly behind me. The new face replied," I am. Are you?"

I nodded," I'm fine, thanks. I don't think I've seen you around here before. I'm Ricky." I extended my hand out to him, and again, I heard Ronon growl.

The blonde haired man shook my extended hand and stated," Michael Kenmore. Nice to meet you."

"When did you get here? I don't remember seeing you...unless I'm completely oblivious," I was trying to lighten the atmosphere in the room, that Ronon was ruining with his stupid growling like a mad dog.

Michael replied," I don't remember. I've been having memory problems, and I've been seeing Dr. Beckett for it...so, you must forgive me for not knowing the answers to your questions."

I swatted the air," Don't worry about it. Look, I've got a meeting with Weir in ten minutes, so I've got to go get ready for that...but I'll see you around, right?"

He smiled awkwardly," Yeah. I'll be around."

"Okay. I'll see you later!" I sounded cheery...too cheery. Why was I so cheery talking to Michael? I couldn't think about it, because Ronon immediately growled as we walked past Michael.

I looked up at him with a confused look," That was rude."

"What are you talking about?" he asked. Really? You're going to stand there and pretend you weren't acting like a rabid dog this whole time? Really?

"You were growling!" I stated matter of factly.

"I was not," he replied as he folded his arms across his chest when we reached my door.

I rolled my eyes," Whatever. I'll see you later." I walked into my quarters and closed the door on Dog Boy.

I managed to arrive to the debriefing in plenty of time. In fact, we were waiting on Wonder Boy McKay. He finally showed up when I was thinking about asking to leave.

Weir asked to no one in particular," How did it go?"

McKay stated," We found several samples of Naquadah. I think I have enough to start my project."

They talked about rocks, rocks and more rocks. For two hours, I sat there not saying a word...but something finally snapped inside.

"So you found your samples in-" I didn't let Weir finish.

"They're rocks! Everything is in the rocks! Not that I could have helped any because McKay wouldn't tell me jack shit! We found rocks. There isn't anything else left to say. There were rocks, end of story. Can we go now?" I realized afterwards how I sounded. But seriously, how much longer did we need to sit there talking about stupid rocks?

Weir nodded and let us go. I was the first one out the door, like I was in school all over again. I knew they'd be talking about me and what I said after I walked out, but I didn't care. The mess hall was calling out to me...and I was more than eager to answer the call!

I grabbed my tray of hot food, that looked amazing! Hey, let's face it, when you've been eating astronaut food for three days, anything looks amazing! I looked up to see where I should sit. I saw Sheppard with Ronon, Teyla and McKay, who apparently knows the shortcuts to get to the mess hall, sitting off to the side, where they normally sit, and a bunch of other people that I didn't know, but one lone person caught my eye.

Sitting by himself in the center of the mess hall, was Michael. I felt bad for him. I've been there. I remember being the new kid at Atlantis, and having people always staring and ignoring you at the same time. My heart ached for him. I glanced at my food for a second, and made my choice.

I started to head over to Michael's table when Ronon stepped in my way. I was able to keep my tray of food from spilling all over him or me in time. I looked up into his dark eyes. He motioned his head over to his table," We're over here." There was a seriousness in his eyes.

I looked at him wondering why we were acting like 12 year olds. I nodded," I saw. I'm sitting over here today." I walked around him, listening to his growling and I ignored it the whole time.

I stopped at the table and looked at Michael. His blue eyes met my gaze. I asked politely," Mind if I join you?"

He blinked a few times to make sure that I was really standing there, asking to sit. He nodded and motioned to my chair.

I placed my food down on the table and sat down. I smiled kindly at him. From the corner of my eyes, I could see every pair of eyes on us. That drove me nuts! "So...how's things since I last saw you?" I tried to break the ever growing tension in the mess hall.

He shrugged," They're fine, I guess." Before I could say anything else, he asked," Why are you here?"

"What?" that took me by surprise.

"Why are you sitting here with me? You know that you're friends seem upset," he said that with a hinted glance in Ronon's direction, who was trying to blow Michael's head up by glaring angrily at him, and I'm fairly certain he was growling.

"He'll get over it. I sat here because I've been in your shoes before. I know what it's like to have people staring at you and talking about how much of a freak you are...trust me, I'm the one with the bug eyes, remember?" I tried to make it as light and positive as I could, but realized that it didn't come out quite the way I wanted it to.

However, Michael smiled for the first time," Thanks. You don't have to sit with me though."

I sighed and noticed people were still staring...really, people? I could see that it made him uncomfortable and he wasn't eating. I stood up and grabbed my tray," Come on. Grab your food and follow me." When he looked at me confused, I repeated," Come on. Follow me."

He obeyed my command and we walked out onto the balcony. The doors closed behind us, and the great thing was, you couldn't see anyone from where we sat. I smiled and stated," There...no more peeping Toms, or staring Harrys."

Michael smiled and laughed," Thanks. You're the first person who's treated me as an actual person."

"Like I said, I've been there. I think I still am, but they're obsessed with the new guy in school," I realized that sounded stupid, but he laughed anyways.

We ate without interruptions or staring people. For once, it felt like I had a friend. We talked about many things, but I was realizing that Michael couldn't remember much about anything. He said that Weir and Sheppard had told him that he was captured by the Wraith, and when he was rescued, he suffered some head trauma.

I don't know why, but for some unknown reason, I had the feeling like I've seen this story play out before...it was probably something that I had read somewhere, so I blew off my instincts.

My heart reached out to him. He was nice, good looking, and no one wanted to give him the time of day.

"My guess is that people are not wanting to talk to me because I was captured by the Wraith...maybe they think I've been brainwashed to kill or something..." he bounced ideas off me.

I shook my head," I don't know what their problems are with you, but you should know that I don't have any issues with you. As far as I am concerned, you're a friend."

We had been on that balcony for several hours that we were no longer sitting at the table. Instead, we were laying next to each other, stargazing as we talked.

For the first time in a long time, I felt loved. I'm not sure why I felt this way, but it was so surreal to me, to have someone to talk to as easy as it was with him.

I yawned and stood up. Michael asked," What's wrong?"

I shook my head," Nothing. I'm just tired. I think we should call it a night."

I extended my right hand down to him to help him up. He took it. Once he was on his feet, he didn't let go of my hand. "I had a great night. Thank you for being kind. You're a good friend."

He let go of my hand as I said," Thanks. Well, I'll see you later, Michael. Good night."

I walked away, leaving him there on the balcony.