THREE

Jen finally stepped back, her face flushing. Okay so maybe throwing herself at the man wasn't the way she'd actually played out their reunion in her mind. Conversation, sure. Hell even saying hello first would have been a polite addition? But no… she has to launch herself into him. Subtle, Keller. Subtle.

"Sorry." She sighed. "I ah, yeah." She quickly rubbed her eyes and tried to smile.

"Sure you're okay?" He asked softly.

"Yes." She nodded, then shook her head. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"It's the middle of the night?"

Jen shrugged and fiddled nervously with the ties hanging out of the hood of her sweatshirt. "I ah… couldn't sleep?" Jamming her hands back into her pocket she tried to avoid his questioning gaze.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"It's not important." She turned away, her face heating with embarrassment. The man had just survived a Wraith attack on the SGC and the subsequent destruction of the Midway Station. Sleepless in Atlantis was not a topic he'd need to be bombarded with. He'd just gotten home for goodness sake!

Ronon stood in silence, studying her profile while she stood stiffly staring at some spot in the distance.

"I'll leave you to it then." He backed away, turning towards the main building.

Ronon knew she'd started to follow him almost immediately, so he didn't move quickly. He kept his gait slow enough she was able to keep up. She followed silently along behind him, not speaking, but not leaving either. It took a good twenty minutes to reach the base of the tower at her slow pace, but he never looked back, and she didn't call out, so he just continued to walk.

Jen stared at the graceful way he moved… yeah okay so what if she was checking out his butt… but then she'd look away, embarrassed, stumble, have to concentrate on her own feet, and eventually her eyes would drift back up again.

Good lord the man had a seriously sexy backside. Stumble. Concentrate, Keller.

He moved like a jungle cat – sleek, coiled power. Stumble again. More concentration.

How was it he was still uninvolved? He was uninvolved, right? Trip, stumble. Sigh.

After about ten minutes she discovered she still wasn't tired of looking.

But she was tired of walking.

Jen hadn't realized she'd ended up so far away from the building until she – they – began to walk back.

Too soon her legs started their telltale wobble and she had to give up her ogling for the more important task of concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other. She stared down at her feet, willing them to keep moving. Right foot, left foot, right foot.

Maybe now she could finally sleep? She snorted softly and shook her head. Not bloody likely. If she was lucky she'd make it two or three hours before her next hike.

Head down she plodded forward, fighting to keep her eyes open. She'd catch herself with them closed only because her body would weave violently to the side, then her eyes would snap open and she'd correct her course. The momentary surge of adrenaline would last a few more steps before her eyes would start to droop again.

She hadn't noticed when they'd finally reached the building, was barely paying attention to anything other than keeping herself upright. She'd forgotten about being outside, forgotten about why she was walking, forgotten about Ronon. In fact she wasn't even sure she had her eyes open when a hand grabbed her arm and she jumped with shock.

Her legs, protesting the sudden required coordination, gave out and she dropped.

"Doc?" Ronon grabbed for her before she hit the ground, and scooped her up into his arms. "You ill? You need a doctor?" He stepped inside.

Jen blinked up into his concerned face and smiled, her eyes half closed. "No. No doctor. I'm just tired." Her body accepted the sudden lack of necessary movement and drooped. Her head fell against his shoulder. "Oh Ronon," She whispered, her voice slow. "I'm just so tired."

Ronon stood in the entranceway, holding her tightly against him, unsure of what to do. How to make it better. How to make her better. "Why aren't you sleeping?" Was all he could think to ask. "What were you doing out there?"

Jen could barely keep her eyes open. She shook her head against his shoulder. "Nightmares. They won't stop. I can't make them stop."

She sighed softly, the sad sound twisting through his heart.

"I walk until I can't stay awake anymore." She mumbled against his shoulder. "Dream. Wake up. Walk. Rinse and repeat."

Ronon frowned. She was damn near asleep in his arms. He started forward, carrying her towards the nearest lift, waiting for her to protest and demand to be put down. But she didn't. Which worried him even more.

When he reached her quarters he hesitated. She was completely asleep now, and he didn't have access to her room. He could call security and have them open it, but that would raise questions, and he wasn't sure it was worth the upset. Even if he did get her inside, she'd just wake up again.

Ronon understood the deep seeded connection between nightmares and exhaustion. Sure you could tire yourself out in the hopes of getting a few hours sleep before the dreams started again. But the truth was, if you were too tired to fight them, they were worse. The only way to break their hold was to sleep. Truly sleep. Deeply and securely.

The decision made, he carried her down the empty hallway to his room.