A/N: I meant to get this on this morning, sorry for the delay, my little guy had the flu, so the universe came to a screeching halt. My reinforcement is off work now, so here we go. I think I will put up chapter 9 as long as I'm here, just in case. Please review and let me know how the story is doing. Any type of criticism is helpful. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Stargate Atlantis or it's wonderful characters.

Spoilers: Through Season 5 up to Brainstorm.

8 – A Curious Thing

Jennifer walked into the briefing room, she was a little bit early, but had no where to be and not enough time to go anywhere. The teams had gotten back from M33-985 and were scheduled to debrief Woolsey on Kiryk's plan. Jennifer had talked with Laura and their popcorn and movie night was set to begin after Laura got off duty at seven.

It had already been such a long day. The morning mission to see Celise turned into so much more. Kiryk had a plan to find and free other runners. Major Lorne sent for Sheppard's team so they could hear the plan and now they were going to have a meeting so Woolsey could approve the plan. The movies and popcorn with Laura tonight was going to be such a welcome relief.

Jennifer took a seat to wait and her mind wandered to Ronon. Which in itself wasn't odd, the man was constantly invading her thoughts. But since the night Michael took over the city there had been a subtle change in their relationship…err, friendship.

The tension that sprung up when she claimed interest in someone else had eased. She was thankful for the change, but found herself pondering it and the reason why.

Jennifer heard a noise at the door and looked up to find Ronon entering the briefing room. "You're a little early," she voiced while watching him walk around and sit down next to her.

He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"OK," she half laughed self-consciously, "so am I. Laura isn't off 'til after dinner so I had nothing to do." She fidgeted, then changed the subject, "I haven't forgotten you and the Colonel are trying to leave me behind for this mission. I'm coming too," she insisted before looking away.

"I know," was his quiet reply.

Jennifer glared at him.

"We just want you safe," he said simply, looking directly in her eyes.

A muffled noise near the door alerted them someone was coming. When Jennifer looked toward the door she watched John begin to enter the room, only to do an about face and begin walking in the other direction.

"I saw you," Jennifer called to him, "and I haven't forgiven you yet."

She leaned toward Ronon, "I have…" she began to whisper but as she turned her head she realized her face was much closer to his then she realized. She pulled back quickly, embarrassed, "Um, forgiven you," she stumbled through the rest of the sentence.

Ronon smirked at her discomfort.

"Well, maybe I don't," she mockingly growled back at his smirk.

She heard more people shuffling in, one of them being Woolsey. "Who are we missing, people?"

"Just Rodney," Sheppard said with sarcasm.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm right here," Rodney said walking in the room. "It's not like I'm late or anything." Rodney threw himself in the nearest chair. "I thought we were going to have a meeting. I have things to do people, chop, chop."

Woolsey just stared at him for a full minute before taking his seat and starting the meeting.

"You ok?" was the question that startled Jennifer out of her trance.

"What? Oh, Ronon, sorry. I got a little caught up there in my thoughts." She looked around the briefing room and realized everyone else had left.

Ronon caught the bewildered look on her face and reached out his hand to cover hers. "Are you sure you're ok?"

Jennifer looked back up into Ronon's eyes. "I'm fine, really, I just… I have a little bit of trouble knowing I'm going to kill someone. I know I'll resuscitate him, but it is still hard to wrap my mind around the killing part." She smiled up at him with a look she hoped conveyed she knew she was being silly. "I know in the moment, I'll do it without hesitation, knowing it is the only answer. I just wish there was a different way… a safer way."

"What you're going to do for any runner Kiryk finds is a wonderful gift," Ronon quietly spoke. He wasn't looking in her eyes, but rather looking at her hand that his hand was still covering.

She watched his hand as his fingers began to trace her fingers unconsciously. She found it tickled lightly, while feeling like a caress and she couldn't bring herself to make him stop. She heard him begin to speak again in a quiet voice.

"As a runner, it was not a matter of if I was going to die; I knew I would die, that I was as good as dead." He watched his fingers tracing her delicate hand, glad she'd not stopped him. It was a distraction that would allow him to explain how important this was.

"At first I felt kind of optimistic about it, if I could just get the tracking device out of my back. Then I thought if I can just get far enough away, maybe they won't be able to pick up the signal from my tracking device." He grew quiet for a moment just outlining each of her delicate fingers.

"After a while I even contemplated killing myself. At least they wouldn't get the pleasure of catching and killing me." Ronon looked away for a moment and Jennifer found that during his words she'd become the one lightly tracing his hand, offering comfort.

"No matter the outcome, this is something we have to do. The chance to be free outweighs the risk, I promise. He looked back at their hands as if it were mesmerizing.

She slipped her hand palm up under his, "I wish you hadn't gone through that, but I'm glad you're here… in Atlantis." She ducked her head and looked down at their hands. "I'm honored to be included in this mission." She looked up at Ronon, "I just hope each runner gets the same outcome as you and Kiryk."

She began to pull her hand away, but found herself being pulled up to her feet. "What…" she began to stutter.

"Come on, Doc, lets go eat," he said grinning.

"OK," she relented pulling her had from his to push her chair in.

Ronon noticed she kept some space between them on the walk to the mess hall and she led them to the table the team sat at once they filled their trays. She seemed to be softening and even receptive, but he could see she still felt the need to protect herself. She was making sure he didn't get the wrong idea. He needed to make her see it as the right idea.