The first time that she meets him there, she isn't surprised. Any man who had been on his own for seven years would find it overwhelming to suddenly be surrounded by a city full of people. And this was Ronon; not exactly the textbook definition of extrovert. If she were him, she would try and and find the most secluded area of Atlantis too. The city was loud to the point of deafening by day even for someone who had lived there for a year, and Kate welcomed the silence of the night.
She smiles her welcome, and he nods in return before taking position at the far end of the balcony. She had introduced herself during his first few days, but as expected he has never been to see her. She had found the balcony after the Wraith had laid siege to the city, following the arrival of the Daedalus and the plethora of new additions to the expedition aboard it. The city had suddenly felt full to the brim, despite being quite the opposite and she sought a less populated area to spend a few minutes in during the day. Though she knew that reinforcements had been necessary, Kate had felt an irrational amount of guilt over the rapid replacement of those they had lost in their first year. She still found it odd to walk through the gate room and not see Peter Grodin, or to run into Major Lorne on patrol in the gate room at night instead of Sergeant Bates. The balcony has become her refuge during the night too, keen to avoid the patrols and questioning over her lack of sleep.
But somehow the arrival of the man sharing the balcony wasn't quite the upheaval that she had expected. He seemed to be exactly what they needed at that time; an indication that the Wraith weren't invincible. Ronon had eluded them for seven years, one man against an entire race. And in a bizarre way considering his physique, he just seemed to blend in.
Kate wasn't sure how long they stood together in silence. Neither could see far in the moonlight, but both were engrossed by the view across the ocean. Finally, she moved to leave. No words exchanged, just a simple smile in acknowledgement.
The next time that they meet is after the debacle with Michael. As she moves to leave so does he. He doesn't need to tell her why he feels the need to walk her to her door. She knows that he somehow feels that the city has been violated by the presence of a Wraith. That if there was one, albeit willingly brought into their home by themselves, then there may be more. Again there are no words of goodbye, he simply turns to leave when they reach her door.
And then he disappears. Last known location: aboard a Wraith ship. She spends every night on the balcony, her face half turned towards the entrance in anticipation. Eventually word arrives of their rescue, and she wonders whether the experience has changes him, whether his restlessness has been tamed. Perhaps he will have no further need for the balcony. Or for her.
She has no reason to worry. He arrives on his first night back in the city, wide awake and with a broad smile on his face. She smiles back and they stand closer than before, so close that she can see the continuous twitching of the hand that grips the railing. It is the same hand that she takes hold of when they arrive at her door, leading him wordlessly into her room and her arms.