They walked silently to their quarters. Theirs. He liked the way that felt. For a man who had spent so long, so alone, it was hard to believe how quickly he got to a place where he couldn't imagine his life alone again.
The fatigue grew on her with every step. By the time they reached the door she was leaning on him, letting him guide her. They passed through the living room without stopping, and he directed her weary body to their bed, sitting her on the edge. He got down on the floor and unlaced her boots, removing her socks and rubbing each foot for a few minutes. She stretched out backwards, her arms out to her sides. She was starting to drift to sleep when he gently lifted her legs up onto the bed, moved her head to align with the pillows, and tucked her in - clothes and all.
The last last three nights had reminded him of the days when her was a runner. Never letting down his guard. Never sleeping deeply. Always ready for action. Always ready. To be next to Jennifer's body, relaxed and safe was such a total relief.
Ronan drifted off to sleep, his arm draped gently over Jennifer's side. Neither of them moved for hours. It was just the faintest touch he registered, gently, slowly, as she delicately took hold of his wrist and unwrapped herself from his embrace. He said nothing - it made him smile how hard she was trying not to disturb him. He was grateful for the dark to hide his smirk.
A quick trip to the bathroom, and then with the light on in the bathroom she left the door ajar just a few inches, letting their room be coated in a small amount of light. She must have realized she fell asleep in her clothes, because she came out holding her BDUs and dropped them on the floor.
At different points in Jennifer's disappearance Ronan had returned to his quarters or hers and packed a crate of belongings. Whenever he was starting to lose the battle with his sanity he would bring them to their new quarters, as if the very act of preparing for her return would make it happen. Jennifer found a pile of crates that Ronan had used to move their things, and was looking inside.
He heard rustling and then silence. Then steps, and silence. Then he felt her body come to rest on the bed. She sat down, one knee bent up on the bed and the other leg still on the floor. He could tell she wasn't planning on laying back down.
"What is it, Jennifer?"
"They fired me."
There was an edge to her voice. She was angry.
"They actually fired me."
And maybe a hint of disbelief mixed in while she thought about the events of the evening. "I've never been fired before."
"She fired you, not them. O'Neill has probably fired her by now."
"Maybe," Jennifer said, but in a voice that didn't quite sound convinced.
She collapsed into his arms and he wrapped her up tight, her back to his chest. She pulled his arms even tighter, and he kissed her neck. She sighed, and then slowly, in the silent moments that followed, he felt her anger melt and be replaced with something else.
"What have I done?"
"You stood up for yourself, Jen. You faced down an enemy and held your ground. You were beautiful. And fierce." He came closer to her ear and whispered, " and sexy."
"Yeah," she said with an ironic laugh. "Getting fired is really sexy."
"They won't let it stand. Not O'Neill, not Woolsey, not Sheppard. And the sexy part isn't the struggle. It's the strength you face it with."
"If they try to take me back to Earth I won't go."
"No. You won't."
"But then what?"
"Then we'll disappear."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. He could hear the change in her breathing, the calming of her mind. Then he felt her body push back against him from her feet to her back.
"So sexy, huh?"
His smile was wicked.
"Oh yeah. Way sexy."
She placed her hands over his, kissing them as she freed herself. Then she came from her position beside him and rolled, climbing up to straddle his outstretched legs. She lifted her shirt over her head, throwing the shirt onto the floor and rolling her hips once.
"Show me." She challenged him.
He groaned. So ready for her.
And this was exactly what he wanted, what he needed. She could try sometimes to be brave, or strong, but when their bodies came together she was unguarded. Real. Free. His eyes took in every inch of her body, needing to confirm for himself that she hadn't been harmed while she was gone.
She rode him, their fingers intertwined, until their breath became heavy and their muscles tightened. He was lost in her, and he knew it. And he wasn't a man who got lost easily.
When they came apart Jennifer resumed her position beside him, pulling his arms around her again.
Sleep came effortlessly.
