"I still can't believe it." Ronon leaned his elbows on the table, hand wrapped loosely around a tin mug of the juice of a native plant that was pleasantly sour on his tounge. His eyes tracked his mother's face as she moved about the space, back and forth to the counter bringing baked goods and refilling cups, Siria's cautious gaze stayed on her the whole time.

His mother turned a warm smile on him.

"There is no better Shuckta to the Wraith than to survive, little one." She teased. Ronon laughed out loud at the curse and Siria hissed her name in reproof.

Sheppard raised an eyebrow at Teyla's colored cheeks and smiled. At least he knew he wasn't the only bad influence Ronon had ever had.

"How did you come to be on this planet?" Teyla spoke up over John's coughed laughter.

"We wandered through the ring for a few years, searching out survivors from Sateda. But most did not settle in the same place, they scattered throughout the galaxy. I was able to get a good price for this lodging and we have been here for 7 seasons now."

Camaiya rose from the table to go to the counter again, followed closely by Siria who whispered something to her, a disapproving look on her face. Camaiya waved her off and allowed the young woman to take the container she'd retrieved from her and returned to the table.

Ronon frowned at the interaction and John and Teyla exchanged a glance.

"Something wrong?"

Camaiya turned a tired smile to him. "Nothing. Siria worries I will tire myself too much."

"You tire easily recently, Cam." The young woman chided, placing the container of spread in the middle of the table.

"Hush Siria." The older woman shushed her. But Ronon didn't miss the way her eyes fell closed briefly in relief when she sat down. Or how her hands trembled slightly when she pushed an errant lock of hair up into her bun.

"What's wrong?" He directed his question to Siria but his mother was the one who answered.

"Nothing," she repeated. "I did not sleep well last night. That is all. Now tell me." She reached over to take Ronon's hand. "How is it you came to escape the Wraith?"

Ronon sighed, glancing at John quickly.

"After my unit was killed I went to the hospital for Melena," He broke off and shook his head and his mother's eyes softened. She squeezed his hand. Aware of his teammate's eyes on him, he continued, turning his hand over to grasp his mother's fingers. "I was culled. But I was able to escape." He explained simply. He heard Teyla and John shifting, but knew neither of them would say anything. It wasn't difficult to understand why he wouldn't want his mother to know he'd been made a Runner.

Camaiya nodded, accepting his answer.

"Whatever roads you have traveled these past nine years, I am glad one of them returned you to me." She smiled.

Siria rejoined them at the table and Ronon glanced at her.

"What about you two? How did you survive?"

Camaiya made a motion for Siria to explain and she wrapped both hands around her cup to sip her tea.

"I was not yet in my tenth year." Siria began. "I had been out playing in the fields when the alarms sounded. My parents had taught me the way to the caverns at the base of the hills at the edge of the village. When I got there I was all alone. After a while a few more people arrived. Camaiya was one of them." She nodded toward the older woman. "My parents didn't survive the attack, Camaiya took me in."

Ronon took a deep breath, preparing to ask the question that had been niggling at the back of his mind since he'd gone inside and realized the two women were the only occupants.

"Neara?" He asked quietly studying the grain of the wood table in front of him. "Fairan?"

Teyla's heart broke at the hopeful, fearful undercurrent of his words. She knew from a single whispered conversation they'd had in the infirmary, half drugged and recovering from injuries, that the names Ronon uttered belonged to his sisters. She watched as the older woman slowly withdrew her hand from her son's and folded them in her lap.

"They were at the university." She admitted. "There were no survivors from that part of the city."

Ronon only nodded. In a strange way, it made him feel a little bit better. Unrequited hope was worse, he'd found, than just knowing the truth.

The silence that descended was heavy and awkward and John shifted uncomfortably. He caught Teyla's gaze and then moved to stand.

"Listen, I'm sure you guys have a lot of catching up to do, maybe we should be going."

"No, no, please stay. Don't let the sadness of an old woman drive you out," Camaiya looked up with another smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "In fact, I'm feeling a bit tired, I think I'll go lie down for a while. Please stay, you are most welcome."

She stood and took a few steps toward one of the heavy wooden doors along the back wall, when her legs suddenly wobbled and began to crumble beneath her.

"Camaiya!" Siria jumped up and Teyla and John both lunged forward but Ronon was faster and closer. He grasped his mother's arm and waist, pulling her against him for support so that she didn't stumble.

"Mai, what's wrong?" He said, the endearment slipping out unnoticed.

In an instant Siria was on her other side, helping to steady her on her feet.

"I'm fine, Ronon. I'm fine." She assured him. But Ronon didn't believe her. She'd gone pale and her muscles were trembling violently under his hands. "Just help me to my room so I can get some rest."

John stared after the trio as they slowly made their way into one of the bedrooms, his lips pressed into a grim line.

"She's not just tired." He said quietly, once they'd closed the door behind them.

"No," Teyla said, glancing at him and then looking back at the door, "I do not believe so either."

A few minutes later Ronon and Siria reemerged from the bedroom.

"What's wrong with her?" Ronon growled as soon as Siria had closed the door to his mother's room.

Siria sighed, shaking her head.

"I am not sure. We have visited all the doctors on this world and none of them can do anything but tell her to rest more. I want to try to find better healers on other worlds but she refuses to go with me." She folded her arms over her bodice, glaring at the door. Her anger clearly born of frustration and worry. She turned to Ronon as if an idea had just occurred to her. "But perhaps you could convince her? She may listen to you."

John stepped forward, chewing his lip. "That may not be necessary." He looked from Ronon to Siria. "We know some of the best doctors around, we could go and ask one of them to come see her."

Siria jumped forward and grabbed John's forearm with a rush of girlish enthusiasm.

"Could you? Please? We would be forever grateful!"

"Thats great." John smiled and pried her fingers off him.

Teyla dipped her chin politely and followed John to the door.

"Sheppard."

John turned around, slipping on his sunglasses. Ronon was looking at the floor thoughtfully, arms crossed over his chest.

"Ask Keller." He looked up when his CO didn't immediately reply and shrugged. "She's the best."

John bit his lip and nodded.

"We'll be back asap."

TBC