Steph7085 – Thanks for the review, things get a little better for our characters in this chapter, hope you enjoy it.

Srina – Thanks for the review, I'm glad you like the story and I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

GermanGirl678 – Nope that's not it yet, thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Jasminesmommy – Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Fyd818 – Thanks for the review, this fic has a little way to go yet so don't worry too much, good to know you liked Elizabeth's speech and the scene at the end. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Melodie05 – No accomplices I'm afraid, thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Reen212000 – Thanks for the review, I've been trying really hard to keep them all in character so I'm happy to hear that it worked, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Izzles – Glad you liked the scene at the end of the last chapter and I hope you enjoy this one, thanks for the review.

- - -

Chapter 21

The first thing John did when he arrived in his apartment was shower, he revelled in the feeling of the hot water running down his skin. He then dressed in his sweat pants and got into bed, the soft mattress and warm covers were a welcome luxury. He had missed all these basic things over the last week.

He had so many thoughts running around his mind that he could barely put them into order. He had to meet with the lawyer for the prosecution tomorrow and that promised to be a long and boring experience. Teyla's head injury seemed to be relatively minor and apart from giving her a headache it wasn't causing her any problems. She had finally confessed to having feelings for Ronon though she had been rather vague as to what exactly was going on between them, his guess was she didn't know.

At the forefront of his mind though was Elizabeth Weir, he couldn't seem to shake her from his thoughts. He was grateful to her for helping him, for believing him but it was beyond that. He was too exhausted to try and figure it out a the moment, he laid down and within seconds he was asleep.

- - -

Teyla had finally been able to go to her own home, now that Kolya was in locked away there was no threat to her life. Unfortunately that meant no excuse to have Ronon hanging around all the time. Apart from a few words when they had woken up that morning neither of them had spoken about what had happened.

She had no idea what was going on between them, they hadn't had much time to talk that day. After they had returned from the farmhouse they had all been busy giving statements and she had been too caught up in having John back. There had almost been a party at the station, Lorne of course being the instigator.

They'd ordered food and someone had put music on at some point, again that had probably been Lorne. Even the captain had come out of his office for a while and joined in.

A knock at the door drew her out of her thoughts and she walked over to answer it wearing her baby blue pyjama trousers and top. She opened the door and was stunned to find Ronon standing there. She just stared at him for a moment as she pulled her thoughts back together.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"We need to talk," he stated simply and she stepped back to allow him into her apartment. She quickly closed and locked the door gesturing for him to sit down on the couch. He did so and she sat next to him silently waiting for him to say whatever he had come to say.

She was stunned once again when instead of talking he leant forward, placing an hand behind her head drawing her to him. His lips crashed against her own in a passionate kiss.

"I thought you said we needed to talk," she said as they pulled apart and he rested his forehead on hers.

"I never was very good with words," Ronon told her and she smiled before wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him close again.

- - -

Elizabeth was only mildly surprised to see John sitting at his desk when she arrived. He and Teyla had been given the morning off until they had to meet with the prosecutions lawyer that afternoon. She walked over to him and leant on the desk next to him.

"You were given the morning off," she stated humorously as he looked up at her.

"I have some paper work on the kidnapping case to get done. Teyla's done the majority of it but I have my own report to do," he explained.

"It could have waited until later."

"Never could sit still for that long," he told her "And neither can Teyla, I guarantee she'll be here any minute."

As if on cue they heard Teyla's voice behind them and turned around to see her walking into the room with Ronon. John narrowed his eyes suspiciously and Elizabeth had to suppress a smile as the two of them approached.

Teyla took one look at the expression on John's face and mischievous glint in his eyes before she pinned him with a glare. "One word John, one word," she warned him and he smiled.

"One word about what?" he asked.

"Sheppard, Emmagan what the hell are you doing here?!" They heard Sumner shout as he too entered the room.

"Working," they both answered at the same time.

"Do you not understand the meaning of the words 'morning off'?"

"No sir," John answered and Sumner walked into his office.

"How's your head today detective?" Elizabeth asked Teyla.

"Much better thank you," Teyla answered.

- - -

The lawyer for the prosecution was a middle aged woman named Marie Coleman who apparently had yet to lose a case. She was very professional and the meeting was a little too formal for most involved but at least she was getting through everything quickly.

"I'll be putting all of you on the stand, now my guess is the defence are going to try and turn the murders back on Detective Sheppard. We have no definitive proof that Kolya committed any of the crimes. We have to hope that the word of four respected members of law enforcement will be enough to convince the jury. I'll also be putting a few of your colleagues on the stand to testify to Detective Sheppard's character in the event they do try to pin the murders on him again."

"So we're going to win?" John asked.

"I believe so."

"Are we done here for today then?" Ronon questioned.

"We are, the trial begins a few days and I will see you all then," Coleman told them as she put her various papers into her briefcase and walked out of the room.

"That sounds promising," Teyla commented after the door had closed.

"She's one of the best," Elizabeth stated.

"Well I have yet another mountain of paper work developing on my desk from this weeks events so I'm going to go and take care of that before it starts to breed," Teyla informed them as she left the room closely followed by Ronon.

"Behave yourselves," John shouted making Elizabeth smiled.

"Shut up John," Teyla called back "You're the ones being left in a room together."

Elizabeth had to laugh at the look of shock on John's face as he was clearly lost for a reply and she was fairly sure she could here both Ronon and Teyla laughing.

"I can't believe she said that," John stated, "I can't believe she yelled that."

"Oh the rumours will be flying around the building before we even leave the room." Elizabeth told him and John smiled.

"We could distract attention from ourselves with some rumours that are actually true."

"I wouldn't if I were you, Ronon will kill you," she stated but the smile hadn't left John's face.

"It might be worth the risk."

"Come on, the longer we sit around in here the more fuel we give the rumours," she explained as putting a hand on his shoulder as she walked past him toward the door.

TBC