CHAPTER 25

"He is not going anywhere." Teyla said, amused at the constant checking on Ronon by Rodney.

"Hmmm? What?" Rodney shot a confused look at her.

"Ronon. You keep checking on him."

Rodney's brow furrowed. "I do not."

Teyla smiled. "I am worried about him, too."

Rodney turned his attention back to the smashed crystals that he was trying to replace. It was late afternoon and progress had been very slow even with Teyla's help. Ronon and John were keeping an eye out for trouble. Not that any was appearing, but as soon as they relaxed their guard…POW. That was how it worked.

"He really likes her."

Teyla sighed. "Yes. I thought she truly liked him as well; now I am not so sure."

"She let us go; gave us our weapons."

"Yes." Teyla took the ruined shards from him and held out the box of good crystals. "She is definitely sending conflicting signals."

They worked silently for awhile. Teyla knew that Rodney was trying to sort it out. Give him an equation or a computer program and his brain flew like lightning grasping concepts that she was not even aware existed. Put him in a complicated social situation and he floundered.

"People do," he finally said. "When they feel what they think they aren't allowed to feel."

Teyla gave him a startled look wondering where that insight came from then she saw him watching John walking toward them. Oh, mixed signals was it?

"How's it going, Rodney?" Sheppard called when he reached them.

"Slow." Rodney huffed. "The damage is extensive. I have to replace nearly every crystal and then repair and reconnect the lines. After that we'll need to fix the hydraulic arm. When I get to that I'll need muscle to hold it in place while I work on it."

"Is that going to be anytime soon?"

Rodney gave a short laugh. "No. If we aren't going back to Calmora then we will get to spend a very cozy night or two in the jumpers."

"Two? Are you serious?" Sheppard asked. "It's going to take three days to fix the drive pod?"

"Yes. And we'll need to get Atlantis to send a solder, some new connecting cables –Radek will know what to send – and quite possibly more crystals."

"Are you sure you don't want him to come?"

Rodney stopped what he was doing and rubbed his hands together, warming them. He was freezing sitting out here on the side of the jumper. In fact, he couldn't even feel his rear end or his toes. He glanced at Teyla and saw she was shivering as well. "I would personally love to have him out here. Misery does love company."

Shepard responded to the quirky grin with one of his own. "We could bring in another jumper with additional backup. I doubt Drea is going to attack after letting us go and with another jumper and four more marines the chances are even slimmer."

Sheppard turned toward Ronon who was skulking among the trees. "Ronon, I'm taking the jumper up and dialing in. I'm having Carter send reinforcements for us and McKay."

Ronon lifted a hand in acknowledgement. He'd keep a close watch out all around until Sheppard was back on the ground although he really didn't believe that Drea would come after them.

SGA

Drea paced in the throne room. Had she gained enough trust back to get them to return? Would McKay be able to resist the knowledge of technology able to hide towns from the Wraith or would Colonel Sheppard be suspicious enough to leave them to the Wraith's not so tender mercy?

She had intended to cajole the scientist into checking out the machine. She had been ready to offer them almost anything they wanted in order to get it up and running again. Instead, they had reacted with that blasted suspicious nature and precipitated an armed confrontation with her edgy guards.

She pressed fingers between her eyes, rubbing to forestall the headache she felt coming on. Should she go beg or would that increase their suspicions? Perhaps she should just wait, but what if they left? How long would it take to repair the jumper? It had looked unfixable to her with a huge tree branch shoved into its innards; yet, Ronon said McKay could fix anything.

Ronon. Her heart thumped hard in her chest and tears welled up, clogging her throat. They should be having a picnic with Brion and Neva at this very moment not be wondering if one would kill the other. She'd known getting involved with him was foolish. She just hadn't known just how much not being with him would hurt and to have him think she'd use force against him and his friends intensified the hurt.

Olin and Hu would have her send out her forces and bring them back. They would have her threaten McKay with Sheppard's well-being in order to get him to fix the machine. Not that they had anything against the men; they didn't. Just the opposite was true. They had great respect for them, but they were practical, military men and the fact was they had to get the machine operational.

Her pacing brought her to the balcony doors and she stepped out into the chilly afternoon. She let her gaze drift over the city that was at peace once again. She heard footsteps and knew Hu had followed her out.

"Mother and father never compelled anyone. They persuaded people to do as they should; to help us when we needed help. If I bring them back at gunpoint, I am no better than Vena."

"You are wrong, Highness. Vena killed and tortured for power. If you do nothing, your people will die at the hands of the Wraith."

Drea shut her eyes briefly. Opening them, she looked at Hu. "I will not give up hope that they will return."

Hu sighed. He understood she was young and still saw people optimistically, believing the good in them would guide them to the right decision. He knew she wanted to believe that man, Ronon, cared enough to get his friends to help. Hu was old enough and experienced enough to know the world didn't always work that way.

"I just hope you aren't condemning us."

"So do I, Hu. So do I."