Title : Love After Love
Author : ElaineDex
Date : 07.05.07
Part 7 of 15
Rating : M
Characters : Ronon, Ellie, People of Atlantis and the SGC
Archiving : None
Spoilers : This storey follows on from Kazavid's Behind The Mask, Reunions and Love Without Warning.
Disclaimers : Only Ellie is mine, Stargate/Atlantis and their characters are not. Lyssa Hunter is Kazavids.
Summery : Will Ellie and Ronon's love stand the test of time and all that fate has to throw at them?
Chapter 7
"Get into position", Michael said removing Ronon's shackles whilst one of his 'creatures' pointed a Wraith stun gun at him to make sure he didn't try anything.
"And remember, if you try to warn them I'll hear everything and I'll kill them all where they stand", Michael added, tapping the small device he'd hidden in Ronon's tunic collar which would enable him to hear anything Ronon would say.
"You are going to regret this", Ronon said through clenched teeth but Michael just laughed and waved him away.
Over on the opposite side of the river Sheppard went off to help out some local men who where building another wooden home and Teyla took Ellie to see a woman whom she knew had not long since given birth to a daughter.
"Maybe she will be willing to trade her pregnancy clothing for the items you have brought with you" Teyla said and Ellie smiled.
"Here's hoping. I don't know how much longer the buttons on this coat are going to hold out for".
A while later Ellie emerged feeling triumphant as she modelled the villager's peasant style dress which was fitted in all the right places but had enough material to let her baby bump breath. In her arms she held two more similar dresses.
"This feels so much better", she said as Teyla appeared in doorway.
"How do I look?", Ellie asked not noticing how Teyla's smile had suddenly frozen upon her face.
Eventually Ellie realised that Teyla had not answered her and she looked up from examining the dress to see Teyla looking at something further back than herself, something in the distance. Apprehension ran up her spine but she turned nonetheless to see what had caught her friend's attention.
"Ronon", she breathed his name and it was no more than a whisper on her lips as she dared to believe he was actually there.
She broke into what was more a waddle than a run, dropping the spare dresses, one hand securing her bump and one hiking up the hem of the dress she wore as she went. She just about registered Teyla's voice as she begged her to slow down and to be careful.
Ronon turned just as Ellie stopped a few feet away from him, trying to catch her breath and he drank in the sight of her.
Her brunette hair had grown and the sunlight glinted off of the unruly curls that cascaded around her shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed from her run and he quickly decided that pregnancy suited her. He had never seen her looking more beautiful.
"You're...you're alive" Ellie said, her eyes telling him she was pleased about the fact but he just shrugged, his indifference to her almost making Ellie gasp out loud and she stepped back slightly from him.
"Emerson's been a busy man" Ronon said looking down at her belly before his eyes travelled back upwards across her breasts and neck and back to her face.
Ellie was speechless. She had not for one moment thought he could imagine the baby was anyone's' but his and his coldness toward her told her he was still angry with her.
She stared at him, hurt clear on her face and Ronon frowned as she opened her mouth as if to retaliate but was cut off as Sheppard bellowed,
"Ronon, buddy, where ya been? Are you alright?" as he and Teyla ran to join them.
Ronon dragged his eyes away from Ellie to look at Sheppard who instantly knew something was wrong just from the look Ronon gave him.
"What is it?" Sheppard mouthed after Ronon had indicated he be quiet.
Ronon turned his back to the area where Michael was hidden and said,
"I'm fine. I just needed a break" as he showed Sheppard the device in his collar.
"Who is it?" Sheppard whispered and when Ronon replied, "Michael" he pulled a face.
Teyla quickly realised what was happening and tried to make conversation with Ellie to make some noise so that Ronon and Sheppard could try to communicate without arousing suspicion but Ellie, having been totally blown away by Ronon's sudden appearance and had missed the importance of the exchange said,
"You needed a break?" her tone incredulous.
Ronon turned back to face her and he didn't need to be a genius to realise she was about to explode.
"Ellie, why don't we go and see about some more clothing for you?" Teyla said trying to distract Ellie but Ellie just continued to glare at Ronon.
"You didn't even say goodbye. We didn't know what had happened to you or whether you were alright" she accused.
Momentarily forgetting their predicament Ronon rounded on her.
"Don't make out you 'care' about me Ellie because you obviously didn't waste any time after I left before you moved on" and he indicated to her belly.
Ellie's face flushed with anger as she began, "This baby is..." but was cut off as a line of blaster fire shot straight through the middle of them, effectively separating Ellie from Ronon, Teyla and Sheppard.
As the smoke cleared, Ellie stumbled backwards and felt an arm go around her throat, pulling her backwards against a hard chest.
"Hello Dr Harrison", a familiar voice said in her ear.
"This really isn't a good time for me Michael, could we possibly re-schedule?" Ellie replied, her sarcasm making him smile.
"Damn it!" Ronon cursed as he saw Michael had Ellie and his creatures had them all surrounded.
"Jeez he moves fast", Sheppard muttered and Ronon had to agree.
Chaos began to erupt in the village as the Athosians spotted the creatures.
Michael inclined his head in the direction of the screaming Athosians and the creatures began to move toward the villagers.
"Michael, no!" Teyla said, her voice pleading but Michael just smiled at her cruelly.
Suddenly Teyla took off, firing shots at the creatures in an effort to stop them before they could kill any of the innocent people.
Sheppard followed her leaving Ronon with Michael and Ellie.
"Now what will you do?" Michael asked, taunting Ronon by tightening his hold on Ellie.
Ronon shrugged and casually removed the device from his collar and threw it at Michael's feet.
"You can do what the hell you like with her...she means nothing to me" and with that he strode away, leaving Ellie to fend for herself.
Michael heard Ellie's audible gasp of shock and he had to admit that even he had not expected that response from Ronon.
Turning away from the village, still holding Ellie, Michael laughed in her ear.
"It would seem I will not face any difficulties in taking you with me to...ugh".
Ellie struggled to keep upright as she felt Michael suddenly sag against her and she dropped to her knees as his weight pushed her over and he fell to the floor by her side.
Ellie turned to see Ronon stood behind them, a rock covered in Michael's blood still in his hand.
"Are you ok?" he asked as he squatted by her and retrieved his blaster from Michael's belt.
Ellie nodded, too confused to speak.
Ronon forced his blaster into her hands as he stood and scooped up another weapon that Michael had dropped.
"If he moves, shoot him, I'm gonna help Sheppard and Teyla", he said avoiding her gaze as he turned away.
Ellie watched as he ran toward the village and she sighed raggedly. She moved away from Michael, not wanting to be within touching distance of the Wraith.
After a short while the screams and noise from the villagers began to die down and it wasn't long before Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon began to head back toward her.
She stood shakily, still keeping Ronon's blaster trained on Michael.
"Is everyone ok?" she asked and Teyla nodded,
"No casualties thankfully" she said.
"That's good" Ellie replied, her heartbeat quickening as Ronon stepped closer and took his gun from her.
"What're you gonna do with him?" he asked about Michael who was still out cold.
"We'll take him back to Atlantis, see what Elizabeth wants to do. We can't leave him here that's for sure" Sheppard replied.
Ronon nodded and an ominous silence descended upon them. Ellie desperately wanted to ask what Ronon's plans where and she sent Sheppard a look of gratitude when he said,
"I could do with your help to get him back to the city".
Ronon looked at Sheppard, deliberately avoiding Ellie's stare as he thought on the matter for a moment.
"I guess I can manage that" he said eventually and Ellie almost collapsed with relief.
As Ronon and Sheppard loaded Michael into the puddle jumper with Teyla keeping a gun trained on him, Ellie quickly retrieved the dresses she had dropped and then joined them, gingerly sitting in the seat beside Ronon who continued to ignore her.
They flew back to Atlantis and as Sheppard prepared to land, Ellie turned to Ronon and said in a low voice,
"The baby isn't Emerson's. Ronon, it's yours".
Ronon turned and finally looked at her, his face betraying no emotion as he replied,
"And what if I don't trust you enough to believe you?".
End of Part 7