Chapter 2

"Wow, Cadman, what happened to you?" Colonel Sheppard asked when he met the young soldier on his way to the gym.

The girly giggling became a broad grin when Laura answered, "You will soon see for yourself if you are going to the gym. However, I would advise you not to spar with Ronon today. I believe he is even more aggressive than usual. Dr. Keller already has a lot of work to do."

"Did you annoy Ronon?"

"Me? Oh, I certainly wouldn't make that mistake. But Rodney really seems to have succeeded at inviting Dr. Keller to the New Year's Eve party. Somehow that seems to be the cause of Ronon's anger. That or ... well, you'll see for yourself." And with those words Lieutenant Cadman simply left Sheppard standing in the hall.

"Women," he murmured. "No man can understand them."

"What woman don't you understand? Would you like an interpreter?" Teyla asked who had heard nothing of the conversation, but only John's murmured words when she stepped out of a doorway.

"Thanks for the offer, Teyla, but I don't think there is an interpreter for this. Men are simply not created to understand women - no matter what language they speak." But Teyla's gentle smile quickly led him to other thoughts. She still owed him an answer.

"Where's Torren?" Sheppard asked as he followed Teyla down the corridor.

"At the moment he is in the infirmary with Dr. Keller. She and the nurses are looking after him," the Athosian added when she saw John's worried look.

"And do you have a babysitter for tomorrow? Or is Ronon still available?"

"Ronon? Rodney was just joking. Although, Torren probably would be safer with Ronon than with Dr. McKay."

"Should I look for someone to watch over Torren?" John didn't want to change the subject.

"I should care for Torren for myself. I have to leave him alone very often because of other commitments. I feel that I should at least be there for him in my free time."

"But that's the problem Teyla," John said. "You don't have much free time. I remember very well the woman who always liked to participate in every party. Where has she gone? "

"I am a mother now John. I have to take care of my son."

"But not exclusively! And I am your team leader and responsible for ensuring that you sometimes take time for yourself and do something for yourself. You can't spend your life always fulfilling obligations. Believe me Teyla, I've tried and I've failed."

With big eyes John looked at Teyla. "So, will you accompany me tomorrow evening? You can't make into a liar in front of Ronon and Rodney."

Teyla finally gave in, "But only for an hour. Then I really have to stay with Torren."

John grinned happily. If Teyla was forced to find a babysitter for one hour, he might just be able to persuade the babysitter to take to take care of the little rascal all night.

"I think I'm happy, for now," he said. Yet, Teyla already knew that he still wouldn't give up on the issue.

"Will you come train with me? Something must have happened in the gym that made Ronon quite angry."

"Do you need my help?"

"I don't know. But at least you always have a calming effect, even for Ronon."

Teyla nodded. She could still spare two minutes before she went to see Woolsey to talk with him about the three new soldiers that she was going to be teaching self defense to.

The door to the training room opened and at the same moment John saw a training stick flying his and Teyla's way. Quickly he pushed Teyla out of the danger zone, but he himself couldn't take cover in time and got hit hard at the shoulder.

"Ouch, damn it all! What was that? We aren't at the shooting lane. Nothing's supposed to be flying around here!" John said indignantly.

"My mistake," came a snarl from the opposite side of the room. "Sorry Teyla."

"And me? You actually hit me!"

Ronon only gave a jerk of the shoulders. "So sensitive?"

"I heard that you were in a bad mood and ... yes, it looks like a pretty bad mood from here."

Only now John took the opportunity to look around the area. In one corner there were about five training sticks. The exact number couldn't be determined because they were broken into dozens of splintered pieces. There were a few dumbbells scattered around and one or two dents in the ground testified that Ronon probably had been flinging them around the room. And finally, the punching bag had lost its contents.

"You're going to be cleaning this up," John warned when he had discovered all of the damage.

"Ronon, what's going on?" Teyla asked the Satedan whom she was monitoring closely.

"Nothing," Ronon told her, even more monosyllabic than usual.

"That is not true. We are your friends. You can always..."

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know that so many people were here," a young woman, who obviously had come for training, burst in.

"Miss ... uh ..." John started.

"Peck, Nadja Peck," the young scientist introduced herself.

"Okay, Miss Peck. We are in the middle of a meeting, so would you please come back later?"

"Yes, of course." The young woman turned around half way, but then stopped and turned back around. Teyla, who was still watching Ronon closely, registered immediately that his eyes narrowed and he looked suspiciously at the woman.

"Because I'm already here, I just want to ask one question. Mr. Dex, I've heard that you are still looking for a date for the party tomorrow evening. Maybe you would like to accompany me?"

"Leave! Get out of here!" Ronon bellowed suddenly, getting louder and louder. "Get out of here now! And tell all of the other women that I don't want to see any of them around me!"

The young woman anxiously stared at Ronon as he headed for her with angry steps. Seconds later she was running out of the room.

Colonel Sheppard looked at Ronon incredulously. "What is going on here? What did this woman do to you? Why did you have to yell at her?"

"Can't you just leave me alone?" Ronon now went for John.

But Teyla stepped near him and laid a calming hand on his arm. "Ronon, we don't want to make you mad. We only want to understand what's going on."

"No, you can not help." Ronon balled his hands into fists. "I'm going to kill McKay."

Ronon turned away from Teyla and ran with big strides towards the door. But John stepped promptly in his way. "No one is getting killed. Now tell us what's going on. Maybe we can help."

"Will you kill Rodney then?"

John just shook his head. Teyla grabbed Ronon's hand, drew him to a training mat and settled there with him. "John, could you please lock the door? We don't want to be disturbed again."

A brief thought was enough for John to ensure that they would have the gym to themselves. Then Sheppard sat next to the other two while waiting for Ronon to report what had made him so angry.

"Since this morning at every corner there are women lurking who want to accompany me to this stupid New Year's Eve party," Ronon growled because he realized that he had no chance to avoid the conversation. "Not even during training will they leave me in peace."

Now Sheppard suddenly understood Cadman's amusement. She must have witnessed what Ronon just reported.

"Well, I would feel flattered if that happened to me. How is it that the ladies are suddenly so brave? Previously they would have just stared at you from a distance, but otherwise not bothered you."

"I'll kill McKay!"

"Ronon, what has Dr. McKay have to do with this?" Teyla asked gently.

"He has a date with Dr. Keller."

John didn't understand. What did Rodney's date have to do with Ronon's dilemma?

Teyla then summed up the issue in the words, "What does this date have to do with your suddenly increased attraction to all of these women?"

"At first I didn't know, at least not until Cadman enlightened me. McKay has told all female residents of the city that I am desperately looking for a date but that I would not dare ask."

It took a few seconds before John understood what he had heard, but then he broke out into loud laughter. Ronon threw dark looks at him.