7

Ronon follows Sheppard through the gate and as always, the Colonel's gaze darts upward toward the balcony where Dr. Weir usually waits for them to return. The balcony is empty today and Ronon sees a flicker of disappointment cross Sheppard's face.

He clicks his radio. "Dr. Weir, this is Sheppard." After a second without an answer he tries again. "Elizabeth?" She answers, though Ronon does not hear it, he sees that secret smile Sheppard has only for Dr. Weir. "Why are you whispering?" His eyes narrow. "What are you doing in the Westside gym?" After a moment, Sheppard's look changes to one of mild shock. He looks at Ronon. "She shut off her radio."

"Why would she do that?"

Sheppard shakes his head then suddenly stops, his eyes narrowing again. "I heard music in the background." Something flashes in his eyes and he smirks. "I wonder…?" He taps Ronon's shoulder. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"We need to give Dr. Weir our report." He glances back. "Teyla, McKay, take the samples to Beckett, tell him we'll be by soon for our check up." McKay waves his hand in acknowledgement. Sheppard leads the way to the nearest transporter.

They're heading to a different gym than the one they previously used. According to Sheppard, this particular one has highly polished hardwood floors and is wider rather than longer. On the way, Sheppard seemed particularly excited to see what was happening inside.

Ronon can hear music as they enter the corridor. It's different from the last time, slower, though there is a beat, but no voices. "I know this song," Sheppard says thoughtfully. They see Dr. Weir standing in the corridor, leaning against the door frame to the room. She's wearing her work suit, not exercise clothing. Sheppard's face falls, obviously disappointed she's not actually in the class. "Elizabeth?"

Dr. Weir turns abruptly, catching sight of them and quickly brings her finger to her lips to quiet them. When they reach the door, they look inside, seeing what has her so enthralled.

The room is dark save for the shimmering lights of dusk coming through the colored windows. The music rises and just as abruptly changes pace and melody. Ronon remembers hearing such instruments before, but there is also the familiar beat of the earlier Earth music. It is an odd combination, but enjoyable.

"Where do I know this song from?" Sheppard whispers to Dr. Weir.

She turns to whisper back to him. "I believe it's from a movie soundtrack…long time ago."

Ronon's heartbeat quickens as Jax glides over the floor…alone. No jerking moves or shakes as previously, nor does she does call out. She simply floats: a bird in the air. In effortless leaps, she appears to hang in mid-flight for a moment, then lands with the lightness of a summer rain drop.

In sharp contrast to the black material clinging to every curve of her form as a second skin there is a see-through fabric, the color of the sky at dusk, tied about her tiny waist. It floats on the air as she does, as light as feathers. He's never seen clothing of this kind. The second skin covers her entire form including arms and legs, but he can see the sculpted muscles writhing beneath the surface and he suddenly wants to hide her from Sheppard's sight.

Ronon shakes off that last thought. He has no reason to feel such a way. Jax does not belong to him. He has no claim. Besides, Sheppard's eyes are clearly for someone else.

Jax spins and faces them, but doesn't see them for one simple reason. She's blindfolded! He glances at Dr. Weir and points. "Why is she…?"

Dr. Weir shrugs and whispers. "No distractions maybe."

When Jax slides to the music, turns and spins, arms over head, one toe to the opposite knee, then kicks the leg out to the beat of the music and spins around again, Dr. Weir gasps softly before quickly covering her mouth. After a few more spins, Jax flattens one foot on the floor, leans forward and straightens her other leg out behind her, gently waving her arms as if she's gliding on an ocean breeze. "Ohmygod," Dr. Weir says to herself. "It can't be…"

"What's she doing?" Sheppard asks.

With a sparkle in her eyes, Dr. Weir taps Sheppard on the arm and leads away from the door. Sheppard gives Jax one last glance before following Dr. Weir. But Ronon finds it difficult to go. The word 'dancer' is a new Earth term for him, but he understands it completely when he watches Jax move. He finds it relaxing and yet thrilling to see her—

Sheppard's pulling him away from the door by the upper arm. Next thing he knows, they're all heading for the transporter.

"Colonel," Dr. Weir starts. "I have a mission for you."

"Mission…we just got back. And let me tell you, those Bo…uh…Ba…"

"Bowtiss," Ronon supplies.

"Right. Those Bowtiss have some interesting food."

"You didn't eat anything yet?" She asks with concern.

"No, no, Beckett's gonna check it first. But Teyla swears by this one fruit called Tangis."

"Sounds promising. And you didn't make any arrangements for weapons, I take it?"

Sheppard scowls playfully. "Not yet."

Dr. Weir smiles as she presses the button in the transporter. "Good to know."

They step off the transporter and head to the Control Room. Ronon wonders why he needs to be here, he'd much rather be watching Jax work her magic to music. He sighs and crosses his arms. Sheppard merely glances at him. "Give it a rest, Chewy. It's her down time, she obviously didn't want to be seen…otherwise why go so far away." He looks at Dr. Weir. "Why were you there?"

"She cancelled her class, I wondered if anything was wrong. Found her by accident really. She was the only dot outside the main area." Dr. Weir glances at Sheppard. "Did you just call him Chewy?"

Sheppard shrugs. "Yeah, well…you know. Chewbacca."

Dr. Weir tries to hold in a laugh, but it escapes. "And this would make you…Han Solo?"

Sheppard grins ear-to-ear and Ronon wonders why this name he's been given causes such uproar among the Atlanteans. Teyla is not amused by it. She figures it has something to do with how much he eats in one sitting.

Dr. Weir looks at Ronon and clears the laughter from her throat then continues walking. They make it to her office and she sits behind the desk, picking up a pen and twisting it around her fingers. She taps her headset. "Dr. Zelenka, could you come to my office please?" After a moment, she clicks off the headset and looks at Sheppard. "This new mission, Colonel. Given your skills, should not take too much time. However, it must be discrete. Very discrete."

Sheppard's eyes narrow. "What kind of mission?"

"You'll have to do some off-world traveling...but you cannot tell Teyla or McKay what you are looking for or why."

"What are we looking for?"

Dr. Weir smiles slyly. "A world that has a lot of snow and ice. Most importantly, it has to have a frozen lake that is safe to travel over. And no Wraith."

"Okaaay," Sheppard says, his face full of confusion.

"I have been to one," Ronon says. "It was unpopulated. I had to shoot through the ice to catch some food. At least a foot deep. But it has been several seasons."

Her smile's as big as he's ever seen. "Do you remember the address?"

"I will try."

"Elizabeth, what are you up to?"

"Increasing morale." She looks at Sheppard. "Colonel. Your mission, should you choose to accept it and complete it with the due secrecy I require, will net you three days on the mainland…surfing."

Sheppard's brows shoot up. "Really?" He glances at Ronon then back to her. "What's the deal?"

"Scout this planet and if it doesn't meet my requirements, you'll have to find one that does, without anyone finding out."

"That's it? Just scout a winter wonderland?"

"Not exactly." She tilts her head to the side. "How good are you at setting up sound systems?"

"Dr. Weir?" Zelenka asks as he comes into her office.

"Radek. Thank you. Colonel, Ronon, you leave first thing in the morning."

Sheppard nods as does Ronon and they both step out of the office, sharing a confused look. Ronon raises his brows. "What's she up to?"

He shrugs. "Good question. But if I get my three days…I really don't care so much."

"Right."

As they walk away from her office, they hear Dr. Zelenka's excited utterance: "Angela Peterson!" They both turn in time to see Dr. Weir raising her hands and shushing repeatedly to quiet the man now babbling in his own language. "Nesmírný tragédie! The most…graceful-" Dr. Weir closes her door, shutting off Zelenka's words.

Sheppard makes a face. He stops in mid-step and glances back at Dr. Weir's office. The confusion in his face seems to melt a bit. "That's weird."

"Something new?"

"Yeah…" His eyes narrow. "But that's not the weird part."

"What is weird?" Ronon asks, not knowing the word.

Sheppard turns back to him, a new gleam in his eyes. "It's the craziest thing…but, I think I might know what's going on."

"And that's…weird." So weird means knowing what is happening? He may never understand Earth language.

"Oh, yeah."

"You going to tell me?"

Sheppard chews on his bottom lip, his eyes darting back to Dr. Weir's office. "Not just yet. But," he turns to Ronon. "I do have a job for you."

Ronon doesn't like the glint in Sheppard's eyes.