Sheppard decided as it was to be the last day the women would remain as fifteen year olds he'd forgo their lessons. The girls had gathered about their accommodation and the corridor flowing down the quarters. Some of the girls couldn't help but giggle, hormonally flushed over the odd Marine that walked past and some just from the mention of it.
Laura, Teyla, Orla and Jennifer had showered, changed and ate whilst Orla had drunk about three mugs of tea and watched the others eating, still full from her breakfast in the infirmary.
"So what we gonna do today, now that we have the gang back?" Laura asked excitedly.
"Nothing. I dunno about anyone else but I'm shattered. I don't think I could cope with anymore games," Orla wearily spoke to the girls at the table about her.
"No games, just some fun," Laura snorted at the group looking at the woman as though she'd gone mad.
"Laura, I think maybe we should allow the day to unfold gently," Teyla suggested hopefully.
"I'd love a good book to read," Jennifer added sighing.
"Me too. If I couldn't have that, a really good movie followed by a nice dinner, a warm bath and early night," Orla stated with a longing look in her face. Truth be known, Orla wanted to see her mum and dad, have dinner and go to bed safe in the knowledge that she was home.
"I would really like to see my people once more, share a meal and sleep under the stars as our people always have," Teyla sighed wanting right now to taste Charin's tuttle root soup.
"I'd really like to see my dad, have a barbeque, eat some burgers and sleep in my own bed again. I miss my dad," Jennifer said the emotion rising in her throat.
"I miss my dad too," Laura said quietly. "But a Big Mac meal and soda… that's what I want more right now," Laura cried out making the girls all giggle at the thought that Laura had chosen food over family.
Teyla look bemused but smiled, at the girls that had become her friends, their personalities were infectious. She'd never know anyone to be so relaxed and enjoy life. They did not know Wraith she thought and quickly dismissed the thought. She wasn't about to judge her friends because they'd not known pain and suffering, just the opposite she'd revel in their innocence and warmth. There'd always be more Wraith later.
"Why don't we ask if we can watch a movie, just us. Maybe if Orla asked Ronon he'd help?" Jennifer offered watching her friends as they all nodded.
Ronon was in the gym, he'd spent the best part of the morning sparring with Sheppard and some Marines. He desperately needed the release he usually got from exercising. He'd taken down Marine after Marine but felt no release from the worry lingering about his shoulders. Worry about Orla.
He shook his head; he'd done nothing but think and wait for so long he needed to burst into action and fight. When the gym doors slid open he smiled someone else to beat out his frustration on. The big man turned stopping upon seeing Orla, he froze. She'd come to him, why? Was she in danger, hurt? He was frozen for a second before storming toward the woman concern written over his face. "Orla? What's wrong, you okay?" Ronon knew he was prattling on but unable to stop his mind from screaming out what the possible problems could be and he needed the answers, quickly.
"I'm fine, really, I'm okay. I… we… just need your help. If that's…. okay?" Orla blushed as she looked into Ronon's face his worry evident which made her feel terrible for worrying the man.
"Course I'll help you, what's wrong. You're not hearing voices or…," Ronon wasn't sure how to find out the woman's problem as his mind kept panicking from one scenario to another.
"It's nothing really, I'm okay," Orla was starting to regret asking Ronon for help; the man was convinced she was in danger. "We just need you're help, please?" Orla tried to smile at the behemoth in front of her.
"We?" Ronon repeated suddenly aware that it wasn't just Orla that had come for his help.
"Yeah, can you help us?" Jennifer suddenly piped up.
Ronon stood back raising himself back into his full height, something he did when he felt uncomfortable or the need to intimidate. "What's up?" Ronon brusquely asked, despite feeling a mixture of relief that nothing had hurt Orla or was trying to, he was a little disappointed that she didn't need him to hit something or someone.
"Can we borrow a movie?" Laura asked getting fed up of waiting for Orla to get to the point.
"That's it? You wanna borrow a movie?" Ronon snorted at the girls.
"Please, we do not wish to make any trouble. We thought if we could use one of those machines that play those films we could watch that and stay out of trouble," Teyla explained to Ronon feeling just a little slighted.
"Let me talk to Sheppard, movies I've got are not right for your age," Ronon said scooping up his towel; he'd given up the idea of feeling good this week. He couldn't spar with the girls so he'd have a shower and speak to Sheppard. "Get back to you in a bit, need a shower then I'll see what Sheppard can do. Might wanna go back to your quarters till you hear something," Ronon quietly ordered as he walked out of the gym.
Sheppard had escaped to his office, not to start on the mountain of paperwork waiting for his attention but to escape and have some "Sheppard time." He was enjoying the peace and quiet as he played space invaders on his DS, the irony hadn't been lost on him. The back of his chair was facing the door so he remained hidden from view despite his booted feet currently using a filing cabinet as a resting place. Absorbed as he was in his game he never heard Ronon enter the office, not that Ronon tended to be heard moving about normally. Nor did Sheppard see the man skirt about the side of the desk before the man barked at him.
"Sheppard," Ronon called out louder than needed. Ronon watched with amusement as the DS went skyward as Sheppard jumped in his seat, feet leaving the cabinet, just as he was about to fall out of his chair he was saved by a pair of giants paws grabbing his TAC vest hauling him to his feet.
"God Ronon, are you trying to kill me?" Sheppard snapped breathing and heart rate returning to normal. "How'd you know I was here anyway? Turned the chair around so nobody could see me," Sheppard inquired puzzled.
"The smell of that hair stuff you use and the soap you wash in gave you away," Ronon stoically revealed to the Colonel.
"Really? Tracker skills - should have known," Sheppard answered slightly awed at the man's abilities.
"Not really… the annoying bleeping that machine makes gave you away," Ronon grinned at Sheppard who in turn rolled his eyes at the Satedan.
"So, what's up? Oh god… if they've done something else, I don't wanna know," Sheppard shuddered at the idea of yet another disaster.
"Nah, the four amigos wanna borrow a movie and laptop, said they'd be quiet in their quarters if they could. Told 'em I'd talk to you. The few DVD's I've got all say eighteen on them. Got any they can use? They can use my laptop, not much on there they can find and nothing vital they can lose. Orla saves everything in case it breaks so?" Ronon explained as he fiddled with the DS Sheppard had found and placed on the desk.
"Must have something, Rodney's probably got a copy of "The Princess Bride" or something," Sheppard smirked smacking Ronon's arm with the back of his hand indicating to the ex-Runner to follow.
Sheppard and Ronon entered the laboratory McKay was working in with the ever present Kirin and ever hard working Zelenka.
"Hey," Sheppard announced his and Ronon's arrival to the lab with the small greeting. "McKay, we need your copy of "The Princess Bride." Sheppard said trying hard to keep his face serious.
"What? I don't own that movie," McKay protested glaring at Zelenka as he heard the Czech scientist snicker quietly.
"The four amigos want to watch a movie and Ronon's offered his laptop so, what movie's you got that aren't rated R?" Sheppard demanded.
"I don't know, go away Sheppard. Some of us actually have work to do," McKay hissed shooing the men away with a sweep of his arm.
"Okay, you leave me no choice McKay, Dr. Zelenka would you bring your data pad and accompany Ronon and I please?" Sheppard politely asked.
"Of course, Colonel," Zelenka quickly complied with the Colonel.
"Whoa whoa whoa, hang on a minute Sheppard. You seem to forget, this is my lab and we're not military! I tell Zelenka where to go not you… what do you want him for anyway?" McKay's outburst of bravery suddenly surprising himself.
"Need Zelenka to open your quarters, asked you but your busy saving Atlantis or something," Sheppard smugly looked at the scientist whose face went from slightly panicked to appalled.
"You can't just walk into my quarters, there's such a thing as privacy," McKay babbled with outrage.
"Then just come with us and open the door yourself," Ronon stated simply.
"It seems I don't have an option," McKay snapped spinning about to face Zelenka. "Stay here and watch the scan that's running. Kirin there's no need for you to come, Radek will look after you," McKay pouted and stormed out of the lab being followed by two grown men snickering behind him.
"Here, it's rated PG and I seriously doubt it will offend Jennifer, Orla or Laura though I doubt Teyla will understand it," Rodney held the DVD out to Sheppard who broke in a huge grin on seeing the DVD's cover.
"Bruce Almighty, great DVD Rodney, in fact when the girls are through with it I'd like to watch it again myself. I love the bit with the filing cabinet," Sheppard chuckled at the scene he played in his head.
"Fine, just get out of my quarters now," McKay started to try to push the men out of his quarters when Ronon spotted a DVD he wanted to watch.
"McKay, can I borrow this one? Lorne was on about it a while a go, said I'd like it," Ronon looked at the cover nodding in agreement with Lorne's judgement.
"It's Lorne's Ronon, seriously, do you I look like the kind of person that would watch 300? Must have gotten caught up with my DVD's last time it was my choice on movie night. Take it, just give it back to Major Lorne okay? Now scoot both of you." McKay waved the men away from his quarters. Palming the door shut Rodney spent a few moments doing something to the control panel of his door securing it locked in case the two men decided to come back, what did they think he was anywayBlockbusters?
Ronon took the DVD and the laptop to the girl's quarters and handed it over to Orla, he made sure she knew how to use it and left her to find the others. Sheppard removed the picture of them they had as wallpaper, she knew about them but no need to force it on her.
The girls sat on Orla's bed which they'd moved to the wall so they could sit back and watch the movie in comfort.
"What's the movie?" Jennifer asked interestedly.
"Bruce Almighty, no idea what it's about or who the people are in it though," Orla tossed the box over to Laura as she set up the movie the way Ronon had showed her.
"Remember Teyla, if you're not sure about anything then just ask and if we know we'll explain," Orla smiled settling back onto the bed.
"I wish we had popcorn, Teyla sighed as the door chime interrupted their cravings.
Orla rose to her feet and palmed her door open, Colonel Sheppard was standing there rocking back and forth on his toes with a smug grin on his face. "Orla, looking forward to the movie?" Sheppard asked rather sheepishly.
"Yes Colonel, thank you," Orla said not sure if she was supposed to ask what he wanted.
"You're gonna need this then, take it from me it's Teyla's favorite food so if you want any I'd get in now," Sheppard joked looking at the slightly embarrassed Teyla.
"Thank you Colonel, Teyla was just wishing for…," Orla started to reply before Laura's voice interrupted Orla.
"I wish I had Brad Pitt," Laura looked about the room giggling, "It worked when Teyla asked for popcorn… had to try," Laura and Jennifer giggled hysterically while Teyla merely shook her head in confusion.
"Thank you Colonel," Orla finished smiling gratefully at the man.
"Oh, Orla, when you're finished can you let me have the DVD next? Dr. McKay said I could use it next," Sheppard smiled and spun on his heels heading down the corridor away from the girls accommodations.
As the door to Orla's quarters closed they all turned and looked at Teyla, Orla smirked at the girl.
"Now whose got a stalker, at least Ronon was keeping me safe, yours is feeding you," Orla sniggered throwing the girl the popcorn the Colonel had brought.
"Oh… may be," Jennifer's eyes widen in surprise looking between Orla, Laura and Teyla. "Maybe he's your boyfriend, at least the older you. What if… noooo… what if unlike Orla, he's your husband ?" Jennifer was making scenarios in her mind by the second.
"This is all ridiculous, we are watching a movie and when you watch these films here you eat this popcorn. He was merely being polite," Teyla couldn't hide the slight blush at the girls accusation. He was good looking for a man his age.
The girls giggled and continued to tease Teyla until she eventually had Orla in an arm lock threatening to incapacitate her, albeit jokingly.
The four amigos finally settled down to watch the film remembering to steal the popcorn from Teyla before she wolfed the lot.
TBC... Please review
