A Woman's Touch

The following day after breakfast, John and Teyla went by the infirmary to check on Ronon's progress. They had to wait a little for Dr. Keller, who was busy with another patient. When she finally arrived, Sheppard noted the concern on her face, and cut straight to the quick, as usual.

"What went wrong, Doc?"

Jennifer sighed. "The sensory tests this morning were negative. Meaning that Ronon did not feel any of the stimulations we applied to his lower limbs, including pin pricks."

"And that's… bad," John surmised.

"It can mean everything or nothing. That's why cases involving spinal trauma are so difficult." Dr. Keller shrugged. "Not to mention the fact that Ronon's physiology is very close, but not identical to that of humans from Earth. I know from earlier testing that his pain threshold is much higher than ours, that could have something to do with the result of this morning's tests. But I cannot say for sure." A slight smile crossed her tired face. "How can you tell what's normal for an alien?"

"But you will still proceed with the treatments you mentioned yesterday?" Teyla enquired.

"Well, I was planning to, but the patient is very… uncooperative again. I think the emotional trauma of seeing his friend die still affects him deeply. I don't know how he managed it, but he succeeded to raise himself far enough during the examination this morning to see me stick a needle in his thigh, and when he didn't feel anything he… I don't want to say 'freaked', it was much more subtle than that. But he has withdrawn into his shell again, and…"

A loud crashing noise interrupted Jennifer. Sharing a worried look, the three of them ran towards Ronon's room, Teyla lagging behind due to her bulk - but not much.

A tall, gangly young man with a mass of curly black hair was slowly backing out of the door, his hands raised in defense. He bumped into Shep, and whirled around with a gasp of alarm. His narrow face was white with shock, and panic flickered in his eyes.

"Attila, what's wrong?" Dr. Keller asked.

John had to suppress a smile. For sure, this frightened chap in front of him did not live up to the terrifying reputation of his Hun namesake.

"He is crazy, that one," Attila stammered. John couldn't place the accent, but it sounded Eastern European. "He will not let me touch him. And when I try, he threw a water bottle at me!"

Teyla and John shared a look. No matter how serious his condition was, Ronon was still Ronon.

Dr. Keller opened her mouth, but Attila interrupted her.

"No, say nothing. I will not go back again. I value my life more highly. My duty here does not include to treat - madmen." And without another word, he turned and stalked away.

"Okay, so much for physiotherapy," Jennifer sighed.

"You must have somebody else who could do it," John suggested. "This guy seemed a bit too… nervous for the job."

"Ronon has never found it easy to have people close to him he did not know," Teyla injected. She turned to Jennifer. "If the exercises do not too require a specific expertise, maybe you could instruct me in how to administer them?" She smiled. "I am certain he would not throw anything at me."

"That could be a solution," Dr. Keller said thoughtfully. "The initial moves are not hard to learn. They serve mainly to keep the muscles from stiffening, and to help them 'remember' what motion is like."

"But look here, Ronon's a big guy, and heavy and Teyla is… I mean in her condition…" John's voice trailed off as he saw the daggers Teyla's eyes were shooting at him.

"I am pregnant, John, not sick," she said very clearly. "And I have been exercising regularly and thoroughly to keep up my strength."

Jennifer chimed in. "I can attest to that. Athosian women are amazing. I doubt many of our female marines could have kept up with the regime she set for herself."

Under this double female onslaught, John could only relent. "Fine. Do it. Heck, anything that helps get him back on his feet again is alright with me."

Dr. Keller nodded. "Good. Come with me, Teyla, I will explain what you need to do."

Teyla had a sense of déja vu when she entered Ronon's sickroom. The same sights, the same sounds, the same stony, remote figure on the bed. Dr. Keller had given her a small, portable electrotherapy device with dials and two cushioned paddles, which Teyla put on the bedside table. Then she turned to address the patient.

"You put quite a fright into that poor man," she said reproachfully. "Was that really necessary?"

Again, as the day before, there was no reply. Undaunted, Teyla continued.

"By the way, his name is Attila. Colonel Sheppard explained to me that he was named after a famous warrior on Earth. He found this coincidence quite humorous."

Ronon snorted. Glad about the reaction, Teyla pushed on.

"This man was only trying to help you."

"He wouldn't leave me alone."

"Of course he would not, and neither will I or Colonel Sheppard or Rodney or Dr. Keller or…"

"Okay, okay, I get it," Ronon interrupted, finally looking at her. "Why did they send you?"

"Nobody sent me," Teyla shot back. "It was my idea to come."

Ronon frowned. "And if I know you, you won't be leaving anytime soon."

"Correct." Teyla smiled her most disarming smile. "I have a series of physical therapy exercises and low voltage stimulation to perform on you. And I intend to see them through. So unless you prefer to throw something at me, I suggest we begin. I need to return to my own exercise regime, and I do not like to delay it too long."

Ronon studied her face as if he saw it for the first time.

"Why are you wasting your time with me?" he asked. "It's hopeless. I can't feel a thing down there."

Teyla met his gaze squarely. "I cannot say what will or will not happen. And I will not make false promises to raise your hopes. But I know one thing. This treatment cannot harm you. But it may prove beneficial. That's all I need to know."

After a moment, Ronon nodded. "Then it's good enough for me, too," he said. And then he added, in what was little more than a whisper, "Thank you, Teyla."