THE NEXT EVENT - by Kolyaaa!

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE DILEMMA

A/N: Your feedback amuses me and has bought Peggy the chicken another day. I am running out of corn bits for the chicken so her time may be running out in any case. Plus Julie is getting a bit miffed at me for spending so much time with the chicken. And then she's upset about the 'waste' of corn.

A/N: The infestation problem persists. The mongeese have dispatched some of the king cobras, but the remaining snakes have beat a retreat further into the ventilation system. The mongeese are getting cocky and are lording about the place. Julie stepped on one. She seemed happy with herself about that. Meanwhile, a new sound can be heard - it's a strange scrabbling sound in the vents. I fear it may be lobsters.

[{O}]

Ronon glanced about the gateroom for any sign of Nonor. He wasn't sure where she had wandered off to, but he was fairly certain that his sister, roaming the halls of the ancient city un-chaperoned, was a bad idea.

Still, a mix of overwhelming emotion filled him. His sister was here, on Atlantis - alive! Never, since the moment he had discovered that some of his people had actually survived the Wraith attack on his world, had he dared to dream that any of his family might still live. Seeing Nonor at the Yedeenorog was a shock, a thrill and…a burden. His sister lived. Strong and independent, a mighty warrior and now...his responsibility.

Above him, in the glass-enclosed room that served as Doctor Weir's office, he could see Colonel Sheppard and Weir conferring. He wondered if they were discussing Teyla's condition, Nonor's arrival, McKay's accusations or maybe even a certain male Satedan. What was to become of his place here now that they had found Nonor? For seven years he'd been on his own, careful to connect to no one. He'd survived and now, when he finally had found a place, a place where he almost felt like he belonged...he might be forced to leave.

Slowly, these people had begun to feel almost like 'family'. He had found a real connection with Teyla and Sheppard, and was growing oddly fond of McKay as well, who was always showing himself to be far more than he appeared. Sheppard had once flippantly described McKay as being like his "annoying little brother," and Ronon realized that he'd begun to think of the two of them that way as well - like two older brothers whom he both looked up to and enjoyed making fun of at the same time. A smile creased his features as he thought of the way those two sniped at each other, and how he was slowly beginning to join in, enjoying every second of
it.

And then there was Teyla...

Damn it! All of this had just started to feel comfortable, to feel like a home. He had started to feel happy, something he had not know for so long, maybe not even since his parents had died. But now that he had part of his real family back, did that change everything?

His eyes narrowed as he watched Sheppard and Weir talk. There was too much noise in the room for even his sensitive ears to hear what they were saying,but he could read their faces. He could see the worry etched across Weir's brow and the way the skin wrinkled just above her nose. He took in the hard set of Sheppard's jaw and the tightnessacross the man's shoulders - stiff, tense, angry.

Ronon turned away, hating the visible tension. The team had gone to Yedeenorog with him to help him reconnect with his people, to relax and unwind. Instead, they had returned through the gate with nothing but…

"Brother!" Nonor's melodic voice bellowed through the gateroom as she entered,surrounded by admirers. Somewhere amongst her explorations,the Satedan woman had attracted Major Lorne for an escort. There were others, too. Two marines Ronon didn't recognize, a scientist from McKay's lab and—was that Dr. Kavanagh? Ronon shook his head, amazed yet unsurprised by his sister's ability to draw people to her. She towered above the group of men, but leaned attentively to hear whatever it was Lorne was pointing out to her. Ronon didn't miss the fact that Nonor's hand clasped Lorne's arm possessively even as she managed to press herself against him.

She seemed more interested in the marines, Ronon noticed. Kavanagh and the other scientist looked a little lost in the group, trying to get closer to the majesty that was Nonor Dex. The golden haired warrior ignored their attempts as she slipped one arm around Lorne's waist and drew him closer.

"Sister." Ronon failed to keep his displeasure from his tone but Nonor was oblivious.

Lorne, however, was not. The major met Ronon's gaze somewhat sheepishly as he tried to pull away from the gorgeous woman, but she wasn't having any of it. Nonor tightened her grip on Lorne's waist. The others, seeing Ronon's expression, scattered quickly – none quicker than Kavanagh, who at least had the courage to pause once he'd put a control panel between himself and the siblings.

Once safely fortified, the scientist put on a haughty look, pressing his weight against the panel. His mouth might have sneered, but his eyes still betrayed a longing for the beauty. He tottered from one foot to another, as if in some sort of discomfort beyond just his generally toady fear.

Ronon ignored them. "Where have you been, sister?"

"Exploring." Nonor excitedly pulled Lorne closer, eliciting a soft grunt from the uncomfortable looking major. "It is invigorating to find myself walking the very hallways that the ancestors themselves once…"

"You should not go off alone," Ronon interrupted, chiding gruffly.

"I was not alone for long," she replied quickly. "I went seeking this great city's protectors - and I found them." She rubbed a hand across Lorne's chest, causing the major to blush furiously. "They were practicing their skills in the gym, and agreed to allow me to participate." Her smile grew, as she added, "We had a marvelous match in hand-to-hand combat."

Ronon regarded Lorne, noting that he seemed to be moving without difficulty – there was no sign that Nonor had caused unnecessary injuries to him in the sparring. He felt a degree of relief a realization.

Continuing, Nonor stated, "And now, I am promised to learn how to use their weapons." The hand she had pressed against Lorne's chest drifted down to her own waist, and to the nylon belt that now sat low at her hips...and to the butt of the gun holstered there.

Ronon's eyebrows raised in surprise as his eyes met Nonor's. "Where did you get that?" he asked, recognizing the Atlantis standard issue weapon.

Lorne cleared his throat as he tried to explain, "Well, us...she was interested in how it functioned. We were going to the shooting range so she could try it." When he saw Ronon's disbelieving expression, the major added hastily, "She would be properly supervised and it's not loaded."

Nonor smiled, looking joyful and excited. "But it will be," she exclaimed. "Major Lorne…" she drew out the surname lovingly, as if it was the most precious of pet-names, "…will show me how it is used." She smiled sweetly, affectionately at Lorne, and stated, "Of course it doesn't have the power that I am used to, but Major Lorne assures me that what his weapon lacks in power, it more than makes up for with endurance and accuracy."

Ronon's eyes narrowed, zeroing in dangerously on the major.

Lorne cleared his throat. "She, uh, means the target practice," he muttered, blushing again.

"I'm aware," he replied. "But I still think it's a bad idea." He looked again at his sister, "You are not here to fight, sister. I think we've had enough of that, don't you?"

Nonor frowned. "I did not hurt anyone," she emphasized petulantly, lowering her gaze a moment,but not before Ronon caught the flash of defiance there. 'Anyone.' He heard the insinuation in her tone. She was still angry at him for questioning her about what had happened to Teyla.

"Ronon? Nonor?" Sheppard called from above. "Elizabeth is ready for a briefing."

The brilliant smile flashed at Nonor's face as she glanced up at John and licked her lips. Without pause she pressed Lorne away and hurried up the steps. Lorne looked like he wanted to follow, but managed to control the urge. He paused, watching her easily stride up the stairway, and finally turned and headed toward the doors.

Ronon waited a moment, his thoughts not so easily shifting away from Teyla. Nonor had insisted that what happened back at the Yedeenorog was an accident, but McKay had been equally insistent that it wasn't. The witnesses agreed with his sister's description of what had happened.

His anger still churned toward McKay. How could Rodney have pointed a weapon at his sister? And yet…Ronon's chest tightened. Had he ever known McKay to use a weapon under less-than-dire circumstances? Well, not unless he was panicked, anyway. Had McKay merely panicked when he realized Teyla was injured?

Maybe that explained it all. McKay had misinterpreted what he'd seen and… panicked.

Ronon huffed in frustration. The questions made his head ache. He pushed away the confusion and conflict and ignored the doubt that plagued him. McKay did not understand. The physicist didn't know what it was like to get caught up in the heat of a battle, even a friendly competition. The man was just a scientist who didn't trust what he didn't know.

Nonor had not meant to injure Teyla. They'd been too evenly matched, too good. The battle had just gone too far. They'd been wrapped up in winning and nobody truly intended to hurt anyone.

McKay was not a warrior and he did not know Nonor.

Right?

[{O}]

"How is this possible?" Weir looked from Sheppard to Ronon then to Nonor. "You're telling me that this…" she waved a hand around, "…Alicorn Salve, healed all of Teyla's wounds?"

"All of 'em." John nodded. "I know what you're thinking. I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," he admitted.

"How?" Elizabeth said, looking to Ronon.

The large warrior met her gaze and shrugged. "Don't know - exactly. There are legends, but they are often vague and…."

Beside him, his sister interrupted excitedly, "Alicorn Salve is a rare treasure on our world. What small amounts remain are valued higher than anything else in our society." She straightened proudly, thrusting her ample bosom in John's general direction. "It is only awarded to the mightiest warriors. It is a great honor to be awarded the salve, and an equally great honor for Teyla to have received treatment with it."

Elizabeth nodded patiently. "Where does the salve come from?"

Nonor smiled, flashing brilliant white teeth. "Our lore tell us it comes from the 'Alicorn of Ctesias'."

"The stories are more like legends," Ronon reminded. "They're not supposed to get written down so they've become mixed-up with other stories and don't make much sense. Few can clearly remember the true stories."

Nonor glanced contemptuously at her brother. "I know the true stories. I know them well."

"How?" he challenged.

"I learned them!"

"When?"

Elizabeth shared an amused look with John and softly cleared her throat, bringing the siblings attention back to her. "Please, Nonor. If you know the legend,we would be very interested in hearing it." She raised her hand to forestall any protest from Ronon. "Presuming, of course, that after Doctor McKay and Doctor Beckett join us with the chemical analysis of the salve, we will go over the information again to glean fact from fiction." That seemed to please both of the Satedans.

Nonor adjusted in her seat again, her posture emphasizing her assets. "Generations ago, explorers from Sateda discovered the magnificent 'Alicorn of Ctesias'." Her voice dropped to a loud whisper as she gestured grandly with both hands. "It was a creature of great beauty and purity and every being that came across the wise and gentle creature would become breathless, filled with emotions, trembling just to look upon it."

Ronon closed his eyes, Sheppard raised an eyebrow and Weir carefully controlled her expression as she tried to hold back her laughter and focus on Nonor's dramatic story.

TBC

[{O}]

A/N: I have a craving for butter sauce.

A/N: If you submit a review for this chapter, you will feel like a better person. If you do not submit a review, you will feel dirty because you have stolen from me. For your own peace of mind, submit a review.