A/N: Chapter 15 Beta'd by Angw and Trickster's Queen of War

As soon as it had begun, it ended. The bright light consumed them and brought them back to the ruins. John didn't exactly feel great. He'd seen it twice now. The wraith had awoken, and they'd laid waste to the Pegasus galaxy. He suppressed the urge to swear.

The device was what stuck in his head. It had activated and woke the wraith. He wondered if it could be used to put them back to sleep. He turned to his team. "You guys saw the device that Lana touched... right?"

"Yes." Teyla said. "Was it possible it kept the wraith sleeping until it was disturbed?"

"I'd like to think so." Rodney said. "After all, before the ancients entered this galaxy it was pretty much devoid of life. My theory is that the wraith couldn't keep even one of them awake and feeding."

"So you're saying that the wraith waited until the system woke them up because they had culled everyone in the galaxy?" Aiden asked.

"Yes. That is the only reasonable explanation."

"We need to find that device. It could be the key to defeating the wraith."
"How so?"

"We get them all sleeping, then do what the Genii wanted to do. We blow them all up at the same instant."

"Indeed." The old man said. "That would be a solution. That device you saw indeed can put the wraith to sleep. However, it must first be found."

"That could be a problem." John said. "The hive ship on their home world isn't there anymore. We did go there." John shuddered as he remembered the wraith bug that had attached itself to his neck. "Don't ask to hear the story."

"Now we come to the trial of the present. You have a conflict with a man named Ronon Dex. You must solve that."

"How, he nearly killed me."

"That is for you to decide, it will affect the future. When you come back, come back alone. I can offer no further guidance." The old man vanished.

John turned back to his team. "Let's go tell Weir everything that's happened."

"And that Ford's no longer crazy." Rodney added.

John laughed and started walking back to the gate. Teyla walked next to him. He noticed that she kept trying to say something. "What's bothering you Teyla?" He asked.

"It bothers me that the ancestors so carelessly released the wraith." Teyla reached for his hand. "It is unnerving."
"I'll give you that." John grinned at her. "You'd think the people who built the stargate would've been a whole lot smarter than that. When you think of it, they were really a lot like us."

"That is a fair assessment." Teyla nodded. "How will you deal with Ronon?"

John shook his head. "Honestly... I don't know. I never thought he'd take it that far. I mean, I knew he had feelings for you..."

"I never spoke to him about us." Teyla dipped her head. "I just couldn't. Part of me wanted to protect Ronon, the other half wanted to tell him everything that he needed to get through his head." She smiled. "Ronon can be very thick headed at times."

John raised an eyebrow and continued to walk down the path. Once they reached the city, he dialed the gate and sent his IDC. He still wasn't sure how to deal with Ronon, but he knew violence wouldn't solve anything.

He emerged on the other side of the gate feeling apprehensive. The normal feeling of calm upon entering the gate room was shattered by the marines pointing weapons at Aiden. "Hold on!" John screamed. "He's not sick anymore!"

Elizabeth bounded down the stairs from the control room. "Aiden? Are you..."

"I'm fine." Aiden said. "Colonel Sheppard can explain it later."

"The marines will escort you to the infirmary. I want Beckett to check you over."

"Yes Ma'am," Aiden surrendered his wraith stunner to the marines and then left the gate room.

Elizabeth turned to John. "Debriefing in thirty minutes?"

John nodded. "Sure."

"You're dismissed."

XXX

John and Teyla stood alone on their balcony. He held in a gentle embrace, rocking slowly back and forth. She was so strong, yet so fragile. He didn't want to ask her what he was going to. He knew it would hurt. That was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

"I need you to come with me." John said after several minutes. "To talk to Ronon."

"I am not sure I can face him." Teyla admitted. "I nearly lost you to him." A tear fell from her eye.

He caught it. "I won't make you, but I think I need you there. I think we both have something we have to talk to him about."

Teyla nodded, admitting that she knew he was right. "I will go." She said at last. "John, do you have a family?"

John was glad for the change of topic. "Not really. No sisters or brothers. No one I really talk to. There's no one I have on Earth. Maybe that's why Atlantis is what I think of when someone says home."

"When your people finally do ask for you to return what will you do?"

"I think I'll stay here with you or... I guess you could come back with me. Either way, I'm not going unless you are."

She kissed him. "Thank you John."

He deepened the kiss before breaking it. "I married you Teyla. That's not something I would go back on." He glanced at his watch. "We'd better go see Elizabeth."

Teyla nodded, slipping out of his arms. "Then we should not keep her waiting."

They walked out of their room and down the hall. They walked hand in hand, enjoying each other's company. They entered the transporter and took it to the control tower. Once there they walked into the briefing room.

Rodney let out an exasperated sigh as they entered. "Get a room Kirk."

John raised an eyebrow then sat down. Teyla sat next to him. Elizabeth cleared her throat. "John, please explain how a visit to those ruins allowed you to find and cure Lieutenant Ford."

John glanced at Teyla and Rodney before launching into a detailed explanation of everything they'd done. He talked about how they had assaulted a hive ship and barely escaped and how they witnessed when the ancients woke up the wraith. He finished by talking all about the device he'd seen.

"Do you think this device could be the key to defeating the wraith?" Elizabeth asked.

"We'd have to get a better look at it to be sure." Rodney replied. "Which, may I remind you, is not likely to happen seeing as the device is on a hive ship that we have no clue about it's whereabouts."

"It's something." John said, casting a dangerous look at Rodney. "Certainly better than we are now."

"Rodney, I'd like you to see if the ancient database has anything about that in it."

"Right, nothing like sifting through endless amounts of data." Rodney replied sarcastically.

"Just do it Rodney." Elizabeth's voice was piercing.

John laughed as Rodney scuttled off from the briefing room. "You sure know how to make him do something."

She shook her head. "What else do you have to do for this old man?"

"Teyla and I are going to settle this problem with Ronon."

"What are you going to do?"

"That depends on his reaction." John shrugged his shoulders. "At the very least, I'll offer to send him back to his people that he found."

"Good. Dismissed." Elizabeth made a shooing motion.

XXX

John entered the cell room. Its single occupant paced back and forth. Teyla stood to his side, her hand entwined in his. As much as he hated Ronon for what he'd done, John couldn't blame him. For all he knew, that was acceptable Satedan.

In that cage Ronon looked like an animal. He said nothing, but paced back and forth, starring at John. John stepped right up to the cell. He glanced over at Teyla, her expression was composed, but he could see the turmoil. He released her hand.

"Ronon." He said after several minutes of silence. "We need to talk."

"About what?" Ronon replied, finally sitting on the far side of the cell.

"You know what I'm talking about." John struggled to keep his tone even.

"I followed the Athosian customs. I wanted Teyla as my own. You can't deny that."

"No, I guess I can't, but did you even think of Teyla during this?"

"Ronon." Teyla spoke at last. "I am sorry I never told you otherwise. That is my mistake."

"I claimed you." Ronon said grimly. "You knew that, or at least I thought you did. Apparently I was wrong."

"Tell me Ronon." John said, the venom evident in his voice. "Why did you think that simply claiming her would make the difference."

"Custom, tradition. It's how it is among Satedans. We claim our women. When we claim them, we vow to be true to them for the rest of our lives. Their return is to raise many children. Often a woman is chosen for her strength. Teyla is the strongest I've ever seen."

"On Earth we have a slightly different custom. On Earth, marriage is consensual. The guy has as much say as the girl. I thought I was losing Teyla to you."

Ronon laughed.

"So I told her how I felt. It wasn't easy. Last time I did it, I got a door slammed in my face. I found out that she felt the same way."

"Should've guessed. All the protectiveness Sheppard. You've wanted her for a long time."

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't true."

"Ronon. I still wish to be your friend." Teyla's voice was very quiet.

"I'm not sure if that's possible." Ronon replied.

"And why is it not? Is that all you think of me?" Teyla's voice instantly became harsh.

"I have nothing but respect for you Teyla."

"Then why?"

"Because he's with you. I defeated him in single combat. By my right as victor, I should..."

"Ronon, this is why I love John. The first thing he said to me when he regained consciousness was that he was sorry he failed me. All he cared about was me. All I cared about was him. I gave up my Athosian heritage for him, because you defeated him, because you beat him into the ground."

"Look Ronon," John began, "I'll have Elizabeth send you to the remnants of your people. I'd ask you to stay, but I don't think you can."

"You're right about that Sheppard." Ronon replied, standing. "I'm sorry I can't be a better person Teyla. It's not in my nature."

Teyla turned away, John could see the pain mixed with anger on her face. He grabbed his radio. "Elizabeth, come in."
"What is it John?" Elizabeth replied through the radio.

"I'm bringing Ronon to the gate room, have the gate dialed to the planet he and Teyla went to."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." John opened the cell. "Time to go home Ronon."

XXX

Ronon stepped up to the gate. A marine gave Ronon back all his weapons. John stood at the top of the steps with Teyla at his side. Ronon looked back once, straight at Teyla. He waved and then stepped through the gate.

John took a deep breath as the gate shut down. He placed an arm around Teyla's shoulder. He led her out onto the balcony, where they had been married. The memory made him smile. Even Colonel Caldwell had approved. It hadn't been something John was expecting.

It was getting late by Atlantis time. He knew it was dinner time, but it was also Teyla time. It was Teyla time all the time. He simply watched the water, letting her think to herself. If she had anything to say, she'd say it in time.

The water was calm. The wind was little more than a gentle breeze, making Teyla's long hair move slightly in the wind. The lighting accented her already beautiful features. He felt himself fall in fantasy and stopped himself. He needed to be here for her, not daydreaming about her.

"Do you think he hates me?" Teyla asked.

"I don't think so." John replied honestly. "He may hate me, but not you."

Teyla allowed herself to smile. "I do not think he hates you. He still owes you for trusting him enough to help him."

"I hope he remembers that. He can be thickheaded sometimes, for his own advantage in combat." He smiled at the joke.

Teyla put her arms around his torso, pulling herself into his chest. "True. That is another thing I love about you."
"What, my ability to joke or that it hurts when you hit me in the head?"

"Both."

John laughed and returned the embrace. He was happy, though he was still worried about his next trial, it would be soon.

A/N: Satedan is what Gateworld calls Ronon's homeworld. Leave me some encouragement and I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can.