A/N: You all have been great with the reviews. 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.

9 – Movie Night

Laura walked into Jennifer's room after her shift and shower. She had movies in hand as well as popcorn. "Hey girlie, are you ready for a fun filled evening of movies and popcorn?"

"Hell, yes," Jennifer said smiling back at the redhead. She'd been looking forward to this all through her mission with Lorne's team, being joined by Sheppard's team later in the day and then the briefing with Woolsey. She was beginning to think the movie part of her night would never get here.

They settled in for the movie. "So," Jennifer asked, "what are we watching first?"

"Speed."

"Good job, happily-ever-after for me and explosives for you," Jennifer teased.

As the opening credits started Laura decided to find out how her friend was actually doing. "So, how goes it with the mad scientist and the fierce warrior?"

Jennifer smirked at her wording, "Fine."

Laura raised her eyebrows but remained silent.

"Ok," Jenn relented, "Fine with the scientist and weird with the warrior. Great, now I'm sounding like you." Jenn took a breath, "Rodney and I have cleared the air and everything will be fine. Ronon is…" Jenn searched for the right words, "I don't know how to describe it. One moment we weren't even speaking, and now… well now he is confusing."

Laura tried not to laugh, "How is he confusing?"

"He has always been this formidable, silent and inhospitable guy. After what I told him about being interested in someone else he wouldn't even look my way." She looked back at Cadman, "Now he talks, and I mean more then ever, and I find him touching me."

Laura did laugh at that, "Touching you?" she asked while smirking at her friend.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Cadman, I mean like touching my hand or holding it, that kind of thing."

"Sounds a lot like what you thought he wouldn't be able to do, take it slow, not skip any of the steps while courting you," Laura pointed out.

Jennifer growled at Laura, "Just watch the movie."

"Ok, girlfriend," Jennifer started cleaning up the empty popcorn bags, "if you expect me to make it through another movie I'm going to need more popcorn."

Cadman hopped up off the bed and headed towards the door, "I'll go pop more popcorn, while you change out the movies."

Jennifer picked the next movie off the table and headed towards her television. "Die Hard, you have got to be kidding me," she yelled at a quickly departing Cadman.

Jennifer ran to the door of her room and yelled down the hall after Laura, "What part of chick-flick do you not understand, you…" When Jennifer realized that Laura was out of earshot she lowered her voice, "explosive loving freak."

Jennifer walked back to the TV to switch out the DVD's while grumbling, "The Marines have sucked out every feminine fiber of your being haven't they," she shook her head, "stupid Die Hard."

Sheppard could smell popcorn and he picked up his pace. He was near one of the kitchen areas of the crew quarters and realized someone was probably using the microwave. As he rounded the corner he found Cadman leaning on the counter, a bag of popped popcorn next to her and one in the microwave popping. She looked to be deep in thought and whatever it was she was thinking about had her smirking.

"Whatcha up to, Cadman?"

"Just popping some popcorn, sir, you?" She took the second bag of popcorn out and set another in the microwave.

"Just on my way to my quarters when I smelled the popcorn, thought I'd see who the lucky person was."

Laura grinned at the Colonel about to say something when Teyla walked through the doorway. "I smell popcorn." Teyla stated to the room at large.

"Teyla can sniff out popcorn in any sector of the City," laughed Sheppard.

Teyla punched Sheppard in the arm, "That is rude, Colonel." She turned toward Laura, "What he means is that I am fond of popcorn." She rolled her eyes in exasperation back at Sheppard.

"Hey," said a deep voice from the doorway. They all looked over to find Ronon lounging in the doorway. "Movie night?"

"Haven't found that out yet," Sheppard informed him while turning to look at Laura.

"She is going to kill me," Laura said while looking at the "A Team" of Atlantis. She pulled out the popped popcorn and stuck another bag in before setting the timer.

"I'd take that to mean you're watching movies with Dr. Keller," Sheppard guessed. He looked at Ronon and Teyla, "which means chick-flicks."

Teyla's eyes lit up, but Ronon rolled his eyes, pushed off the door jam and dumped himself into a chair.

"Actually, I think she is back there plotting my demise right now. Die Hard is up next," Laura confessed.

Teyla and Ronon looked at Sheppard for translation. They found his eyes lit and a grin forming on his face. "Bombs, Christmas, a really tall building and one man takes them all down, you guys will love it. It's a classic." He whipped back around and looked at Laura expectantly.

"Yeah, yeah, you all can come, but if Jennifer asks me I'm going to tell her it was an order," she laughed. She set a fifth bag into the microwave. The minute she'd seen Sheppard round the corner into the kitchenette, she knew this would be the outcome. Maybe now she'd get to see what Jennifer was talking about concerning Ronon.

She watched as Sheppard explained the movie to them and its many sequels. When the popcorn finished she threw each of them a bag, grabbed hers and Jenn's and led the way back to Jenn's quarters. At least this way Jenn wouldn't be able to kill her for the movie choice right away.

Laura slid a glance over to the Satedan. Maybe if things went really well, Jennifer would forget how upset she was about the movie choice. Kind of a win-win situation.

Laura stretched and looked around the room as the movie neared its end. Jennifer had been right; Ronon was acting a little bit more outgoing concerning the good Doctor then was typical of Mr. big and burly.

When they had arrived at Jennifer's quarters he loitered around near the door until he saw where she was going to sit. She ended up picking the floor in front of the bed so she could use the back of the bed for support. Ronon quickly joined her. Jennifer offered some of her popcorn when his ran out about 2 minutes into the movie. Instead of taking the bag from her, he scooted closer and took handfuls at a time from the bag she was left holding.

When Jenn began drifting off during the movie, Ronon moved even closer and insisted she could lean on him. She hadn't taken him up on it, but Laura did notice when Jenn finally fell asleep it was laying on the floor next to him instead of moving to the bed with Laura.

When the credits began to roll Laura watched Sheppard and Teyla stand from the small couch in Jenn's room and stretch. Sheppard turned toward Ronon who hadn't gotten up, "you coming big guy?"

Ronon looked over at Laura for a moment.

"Actually," she said looking at Sheppard, "I'd like Ronon's help moving Jenn to the bed before he goes." She turned and looked back at Ronon, "if that's ok with you."

"Sure," Ronon replied with a small shrug of his shoulders.

"Tell Jenn thanks for letting us crash her movie night," John offered in farewell.

"Yes," Teyla agreed, "Thank you both for including us in your evening, and for the popcorn."

"You're both welcome, goodnight," Laura replied as she watched them leave the quarters.

She looked over at the couple on the floor to discover Ronon had picked her friend up and was walking toward the bed. Laura scrambled to clear the bed and pull the covers back. She stepped around the bed in case he needed any help and to be out of the way.

As Laura watched Ronon lower Jennifer from the cradle of his arms to the bed she witnessed a look on Ronon's face that made her heart stop. She looked away to not only give him privacy, but to school her thoughts and force air back into her lungs.

When she looked back she watched Ronon straightened up and head for the door. Laura followed him, but stopped him just before he activated the door.

"I think this is the part where I'm supposed to give you the speech."

He raised his eyebrows at her not understanding the inference.

"The one where I tell you that she's my best friend. That even though you're this bad-ass, scary, warrior… if you hurt her I'll hunt you down and make you bleed," she stated a little fiercely.

He gave a slight smirk and she couldn't blame him as she had to crane her neck at a very uncomfortable angle to look him in the eye. "But after that look that I just saw on your face as you laid her on the bed, I know I'll never have to worry about you hurting her."

Ronon looked away from Laura's eyes clearly uncomfortable with the thought she'd been able to see his very soul.

"But Ronon," she said laying a hand on his arm to grab his attention again. "If Jennifer has seen that same look cross your face when you were looking at her… it would explain why she is running scared."

"I'm not a threat to her," he said quietly.

"I'm sure her heart knows that, it's just going to take a little patience to get her head to recognize that."

He turned to leave, but before the door closed behind him he turned back and pinned Laura with a warning look. "I guarantee… I can kick your ass."

Laura laughed out loud, then covered it and peeked over her shoulder to be sure she hadn't disturbed Jenn. "Don't worry big guy, your secret is safe with me."