DaeDream - melts They have such good chemistry already! We need more R/T fics

jayma - So happy you like it! I was waiting for ages for more Ronon/Teyla fic, so I decided to try my hand at writing my own fic. Check out the Ronon/Teyla C2 archive if you haven't already. Wonderful!

ryn - Thanks for the opinions. You are completely correct I think. However, I decided to make Weir and Shep a bit OOC to make the story lighter.

Nerwen - Woo:D Hehe, now you know how it feels! You need to update/write your stories too:D :D

Jaenelle Angelline - Lady, thank you so much. I love "The New Wielder" (thank god you updated!) so your opinions are really appreciated. And yes, we do love the accent dont we girls:P Also, so happy to oblige in opening your eyes! I was never good at writing prose, but I am from the "other side of the pond" in good ole Oz :)

Dr Dredd - I've read your fics and they are brilliant. Thanks for reviewing! I had to have Carson play Cupid in this one. ;)

Maori - I'll join you in that squeee:D Cupid!Carson...who would have thought...

AN: Okay, this chapter is longer, however it is not as well written as the other ones. In saying that tho, I still like the general idea. I might re-write it a bit later, but for now i am just going to post it and see what happens... Thanks for all the reviews!

Chapter 6

Ronon watched Teyla rest, mesmerised by the candlelight playing across her golden skin. 'She's beautiful', Ronon thought, surprising himself. 'Beautiful' was not a word he was accustomed to using, but it fit Teyla. Oh, he had definitely noticed that she was pretty, not too mention fierce and loyal, but he had never had the chance to see her up close for so long. And not get caught staring.

Growling, his stomach pulled him from his thoughts, protesting at the lack of food. Remembering Carson's promise, Ronon hunted down the food and took a seat at the small desk. He ate with the focused determination of a man on a mission. Soon enough, everything was gone: the soup, chicken, salad, fruit, and the stack of his favourite jelly. Sighing with contentment, Ronon leaned back in the chair and glanced across at Teyla.

Her shoulders were quivering.

'Damn,' he thought as he noticed. Ronon, thinking she was upset, became worried. He wasn't too good with comforting woman after such a long time on his own, running from the Wraith and hiding in solitude. He hadn't exactly had to deal with emotionally distraught woman since arriving on Atlantis either. He thought about what Sheppard and Beckett would do.

Swiftly Ronon moved across the room to take a seat on the bed behind her. She was lying on her side facing away from him, so he bent over to try and look into her face. He was surprised again. Ronon had expected tears to be sliding down her face, but her cheeks were dry.

'In fact,' he thought as he leaned in for a closer look, 'she looks really pale.' Ronon's relief was short-lived, as it quickly became concern.

"Teyla? What's wrong?" Ronon asked, resting a hand on her shoulder. Rolling her onto her back, Ronon noticed her teeth chattering slightly, and her lips pressed in a tight line.

"C-c-cold," Teyla stammered, shivering despite the multiple blankets piled on top of her.

Swearing under his breath, Ronon searched through all of Teyla's cupboards ad drawers in search of more blankets. He had recognised the shivering from Carson's explanation. The doctor had said it was likely that with this type if illness Teyla's body would try to sweat it out. In doing so, he had explained, she would be both hot and sweaty (at which Ronon had tried unsuccessfully to try and keep the smile from blooming on his face), while also feeling cold and shivering despite the heat. Ronon didn't understand how a person could be both hot and cold at the same time, but he did remember that if this happened, Teyla would get better faster. Ronon trusted Dr. Beckett to be right about such things.

"N-n-n-no m-mo-r-r-e," Teyla chattered.

"No more what?" Ronon asked sitting beside her again. He tucked the blankets firmly around her shoulders and rubbed her arm, trying to get some feeling of heat through.

"B-b-blank-kets," Teyla muttered trying to wriggle deeper in to the covers.

Ronon thought for a moment. He studied her shaking form and decided on a plan of action. 'She is going to kill me for this when she's better,' Ronon thought. Then he smirked to himself. 'And I'll be happy to let her try.' Striping off his shirt and boots, he slid under the covers and reached out to pull Teyla close so that her body lay flush with his, back pressed to front.

"What-t-t-t are you d-d-doing?" Teyla asked, somehow managing to sound slightly outraged even through her stammered, exhausted speech. Despite her indignation, she snuggled even closer to his warmth.

'Sharing my body heat' was the reply that he had prepared, but Ronon's mischievous male ego came to the fore when he felt her move closer.

"I've never been able to resist sleeping with a beautiful helpless woman," Ronon teased gently.

"T-t-typical m-male." Teyla replied, revelling in the warmth his body provided. "And I'm n-n-ot helpl-l-less. I can s-still kick your a-s-s-s." Teyla had heard Colonel Sheppard say that to Dr Weir on one occasion and decided that it was a good term. Once the colonel had explained the meaning to her.

"Well, if you're going to take that attitude, I'll just leave and take my warmth with me," Ronon said in jest.

Teyla's hand was surprisingly strong as she gripped the arm around snaked around her waist and pulled it tighter. "If you l-leave, I will p-personally hand you t-to the Wr-Wr-Wraith," she threatened sleepily. Wrapped in the cocoon of Ronon's warmth, Teylas cold body slowly began to thaw. Her stuttering became less pronounced. Teyla sighed, and her shivering was soon reduced to the occasional brief shudder that wracked her body. Ronon held her a little tighter each time, reassuring her silently. He was filled with compassion, warmth and something else for the woman he now held in his arms. It just felt so right. So natural.

Teyla meanwhile, though exhausted and sore from her shivering, relished the feel of Ronon's toned body pressed so intimately tight against her own. Her body, though fighting the virus, was also stating its approval. Teyla quickly tried to quell the flow of feelings that were coursing through her body, replaying the mantra "he only thinks of me as a friend, he only thinks of me as a friend" over and over in her head.

"Are you feeling better now?" came Ronon's soft rumble, breath tickling her ear. Goosebumps ran down her arms, and she tried to convince herself that it was due to the slight cold she still felt. Despite her desire to answer him, Teyla felt the pull of sleep claim a hold on her exhausted body and she relaxed back against Ronon.

Feeling Teyla relax, Ronon carefully and slowly sat up, easing her body down until she was lying on her back. Pulling the blankets up to her chin, he brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen across her eyes. Missing the feel of her in his arms, he gave into the impulse and placed a feather-light kiss on her temple. Standing, and wondering when his feelings of friendship had developed into something definitely more, he felt a gentle tug on the leg on his pants. He turned back around to face a sleepily blinking Teyla.

"You should rest as well Ronon. It has been a long day for the both of us," she said sleepily, eyes sliding closed despite her effort to keep them open. Ronon was amazed at her ability to be concerned about others when she was so ill. He stood there uncertainly, not sure whether to take the single step forward to the bed or to sleep on the floor. He sighed at the thought of sleeping of the hard floor but nevertheless decided that was the safer option in his current state. He had just lain down, hands behind his head, when Teyla's face appeared over the side of the bed.

"What are you doing?" she asked, genuinely confused.

"I think it's obvious," Ronon replied dryly.

Teyla tried to roll her eyes but all she got for her efforts was a pounding head. Holding a hand to her head she spoke to Ronon in a pained voice.

"We can share," she informed him quietly, afraid that loud talking would cause her more pain. "After caring for me today, the least I can do is offer you somewhere comfortable to sleep. Unless you would prefer to sleep on the floor of course."

Ronon was smirking at her choice of words. 'Oh Teyla, if only you knew what sharing a bed meant back on my homeworld,' he thought, as he got up and once again slid beneath the covers. Mimicking his pose from the floor, he stared up at the ceiling. His mind was too active to shut down and rest, and his body much too aware of the woman lying close beside him. Rolling onto his side to face her, he whispered his thanks.

"What are friends for?" came the reply before he heard her breathing even out and sensed her body relax.

'What indeed…' he thought. He turned onto his back and willed himself to sleep. Years of training did their work and he was soon in a deep sleep.

Several hours later…

Ronon woke feeling refreshed and warm. And a good deal heavier than usual. Puzzled, he looked down and got a face full of hair. Brushing it away, he uncovered Teyla's face. Her face had an almost normal colour to it, and she had a peaceful smile on her lips. Ronon grinned as he watched her. 'She is going to be so embarrassed' he thought as he watched her breathe slowly, evenly. A cocky grin bloomed on his face as he absorbed the fact that he had held this woman in his arms and she had slept peacefully. During her sleep, Teyla had rolled over and rested her head on Ronon's shoulder, resting a flat palm on his bare chest and throwing a leg across his.

'I could sleep like this all day,' Ronon thought. His daydream was interrupted as Teyla stirred. Her face turned into his neck and he felt her yawn, her warm breath doing wonderfully bad things to his pulse. Her legs stretched out and tangled with his own, Her hand curled into ball and then relaxed again. Ronon heard her sigh and then felt her snuggle closer. He slipped an arm around her waist to hold her against him, not in the least bit sorry for taking advantage of the situation.

Teyla had awoken feeling a lot better than she had. Her senses were muddled and her brain was still foggy, but she registered the warmth beneath her face and hand, and stretched lazily before relaxing her body again. She felt an arm snake behind her and across her waist. That lifted some of her fogginess and she realised with a start that she was practically laying on Ronon. Teyla reflexively tried to jerk away, but Ronon had expected this and tightened his arm, keeping her close.

"Hello. Did you sleep well?" Ronon asked, the picture of pure innocence. Except for his grin, which he couldn't seem to get rid of. Teyla turned her face up to his, still resting against his chest since he didn't seem to want to allow her to move. Of which she was happy to oblige.

"I am hungry," she whispered, barely able to speak. Her throat felt raw and swollen. She didn't feel as exhausted as she had, but her body was extremely weak. Tears threatened to spill when she spoke because her throat was so sore. She was very hungry, but she didn't think she would be able to eat anything.

Ronon removed his arm from her waist and shifted away from her. Going to see if Beckett had left more food, he also realised how hungry he was. Finding the tray just outside the door, he brought it to back to the bed and sat down.

"Can you sit up?" Ronon asked.

"Of course I can sit up," Teyla said with a slight frown. Ronon smile slightly at her hostility, knowing it stemmed from having to rely on someone else for support. He watched as she placed her hands behind her and tried to lift herself from the bed. Her arms trembled from the stress and her breathing became laboured as she struggled to sit upright. Ronon watched silently, knowing it was frustrating her to not have complete control of her body. He made no move to help her. She would ask for his help when she felt ready. Finally, after collapsing for the second time, she faced him. Cheeks flaming with humiliation, she asked for his assistance.

Ronon placed the tray of food within easy reach and knelt on the bed. He slipped one hand behind her head to cradle her neck and the other he slid underneath her shoulders. He lifted her up and then settled behind her pressing his back to the headboard. He said to himself that it was so Teyla could rest against him as he pulled her toward him and settled her between his legs. He slipped an arm around her waist and reached with the other for the tray of food.

"Eat," Ronon commanded. He settled the tray on her lap.

Teyla struggled down a few mouthfuls of soup before the tears started to fall. Furiously, she scrubbed them away and stubbornly ate more. When she had finished half, she leant back and braced her hands on Ronon's thighs. Focusing on steadying her breathing and pushing back the soreness of her throat, she didn't stir when Ronon reached around and moved the tray away. Not entirely satisfied with how much Teyla had eaten, Ronon slid out from behind her. He went to get the equipment Dr Beckett left, and returned to take a seat on the bed.

"Teyla, I need to examine you for Dr. Beckett," Ronon said. At her nod, he drew some blood, recorded her pulse and noted how her pupils reacted to light. Entering his results on a data pad, Ronon informed Beckett that Teyla's results were waiting for him.

"Excellent," came the reply through the earpiece. "If she is still awake, I'd like to have a word with her."

Ronon handed the piece to Teyla who closed her eyes in resignation at the interrogation sure to follow. Sure enough, Carson asked her a number of quick clinical questions.

"Are you feeling lethargic?"

"Yes. Sleepy and tired."

"Headaches and dizziness?"

"A bit of dizziness."

"Eyes, ears and throat?"

"Eyes are fine, ears a bit funny and my throat is very sore and feels swollen."

"Have you eaten anything?"

"Yes," Teyla replied softly with a quick glance directed at Ronon. "I had the soup."

Ronon raised an eyebrow at the blatant exaggeration but did not say anything.

"Well," Carson said, sounding pleased. "If only all of my patients were this co-operative… Yes, Colonel, that means you," Carson said off-side. Teyla smiled as she imagined the indignant protest on the Colonel's face.

"Thank you Dr. Beckett," Teyla whispered, her throat raw from speaking.

"Couldn't have done it without Ronon, lass. You should thank him."

"I have, several times, but he wont listen," Teyla replied with a half-hearted glare at her helper. He looked back innocently.

"Maybe that's because he just likes spending time with you," Carson said, the inflection of his voice hinting at nothing untoward. 'Think on the double-meaning of that, lass,' he thought wickedly. Before she could reply, Carson asked "Is Ronon about? I would like to talk to him."

Thinking on what the doctor had said, Teyla handed the piece over to Ronon and pondered what Carson had said. Could Ronon really reciprocate her feelings?