A/N: So happy for the reception this story has gotten. Would do somersaults if I was talented, but I think I'd just injure myself and give my husband one more reason to think I'm a geek (other then my obsession with SGA and R/K). Don't forget to review.

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

Spoilers: Through Reunion in Season 4

On the timeline: The Return, Part 1 – Season 3

2 – Executing the Dare

"Knock, knock," Laura said as she entered Jennifer's quarters on Atlantis. She knew Jennifer was scheduled to leave in about an hour and she came by to say her goodbyes. Well, actually… she'd come by to see if Jennifer had fulfilled her dare requirement. Who in the hell was she kidding; she wanted to know if Jennifer had laid one on the scary Satedan.

When she looked around Jennifer's quarters she noticed the only two things in the room were Jennifer herself and a rolling suitcase by the door.

"Where is all your stuff," Laura asked astonished, "I expected to see you rushing around trying to finish packing."

"I already took everything down for transport to the Daedalus," Jennifer said looking slightly exhausted.

"How very organized of you," Laura mocked.

"Oh, shut up," Jennifer bit back. "I couldn't sleep last night just thinking about this stupid dare, so I finally gave up and packed. I was actually done about an hour ago."

"So here you sit?"

"I would stand, but I don't think my legs will support me," she lamented.

"Oh, stop being so melodramatic."

"Don't worry, I'm going to do it," Jennifer assured Laura. "I'm just trying to phsych myself up for this." Jennifer shook her head as the panic came back for a moment. "It's just going to be the most embarrassing moment of my life."

"Maybe, but you have got to admit, once you walk through that gate back to Earth, you'll have a grin on your face," Laura pointed out.

Jennifer looked at Laura and smirked, "Yeah, it'll be a great memory, I'll give you that. I'll also be stepping out of my comfort zone, and I'm sure it's good to do that every once in a while."

"Way out of your comfort zone," Laura laughed.

Jennifer punched her in the arm, "Shut up… don't you have someone you need to kiss?"

"Oh, don't worry; I'm looking forward to it."

"Of course you are, you freak!"

"Ok, well… give me a hug and go kiss the man. You're running out of time."

"Yeah, yeah," Jennifer said standing to give Laura a hug. "See you in a few weeks."

"That you will," Laura said with mischief in her eyes and a smirk on her face, "I can't wait."

Jennifer stood outside Ronon's quarters trying to get up the nerve to knock. She had done all of the procrastinating she could. She'd even walked her bag to the gateroom to buy herself a few more minutes, but now she was down to the wire. She had about 10 minutes to do this and get back to the gate.

Not only was she scared, but she felt a little bad for the way she was going to ambush the man in a few seconds. They weren't even friends, she'd stitched him up a few times in the infirmary when Carson was busy and that was all. She'd probably said maybe a dozen words to him total, ever.

Jennifer had tried to put herself in his shoes. If the situation was reversed how would she respond, what would she think? But in any scenario it seemed like it'd be shocking, but not maddening and Jennifer was going to hold onto that thought.

Jenn lifted her hand and waved the sensors on his door.

Ronon shuffled about his room finishing his packing. He'd put it off until a few minutes ago because he didn't have much to pack. The department heads were leaving in about eight hours and he and Teyla would leave shortly after that.

Teyla had invited him to come and stay with her and her people for the time being. Without anywhere to go, it seemed like as good a solution as any.

He didn't know he'd feel this kind of loss at having to leave the city and say goodbye to the members of the expedition. He'd grown attached to them much more quickly then he wanted to admit.

There was a chime from his door a few moments later. He was surprised to find Dr. Keller standing just outside looking nervous. His thought was maybe she or Dr. Beckett needed help with something, maybe equipment or supplies moved for transport to the Daedalus.

"Ronon," she said before clearing her throat and casting furtive glances both behind him and up and down the hall. "Can I come in for a moment?"

Startled by the request he stepped aside and let her enter. He was curious what she could possibly need of him and why she was so obviously uncomfortable.

As the door slid closed, he moved into the room with ease, while she stayed rooted near the door. When he turned and she hadn't moved, he crossed his arms across his chest and looked her in the eye. "Is there something you need, Dr. Keller?"

She began to pace slightly and she opened her mouth to speak several times before she finally got started. "I'm just on my way… um… to the gate…to leave." She stumbled through.

Ronon hated that his presence made people nervous, and yet part of him was amused by it some of the time. It was fun to make people jump with just a look. He hadn't thought that this doctor was uneasy around him like many of the other members of the medical staff. That was one of the reasons he was ok having her treat him when Carson was busy. But she was clearly uneasy at this moment.

"You're with the next group to leave?" he prompted, hoping her mission would become clear.

"Yes… um, we're scheduled to leave in a few minutes." He noted she didn't make eye contact.

After another moment of silence she spoke up again. "I just came by to… um, say goodbye." She looked up in his eyes for a moment before looking away again. "Please be careful out there. Make sure Teyla is too," her eyes met his for a moment, "I'm going to miss her."

He noticed the layer of sadness that her nervousness hid until this moment. He watched her slowly turn to leave while mumbling something under her breath. When she was almost to the door she suddenly stamped one of her feet and turned around.

He was startled to see a very determined look upon the young woman's face as she walked purposely toward him. Four steps later she was directly in front of him placing her hands upon his crossed arms and raising up on tip toe. Before her intentions could register in his mind her lips were upon his.

For a moment his mind went blank before realizing he was being kissed by the young doctor. Then another moment before he acknowledged he was still being kissed. He slowly moved his arms from between them to around her waist and carefully pulled her in closer, offering his support as he deepened the kiss.

He didn't want to scare her away, she'd clearly been nervous before taking this step, but he also didn't want to let her go yet. He was unsure what had prompted her to kiss him, but it'd been a long time since he'd had this type of contact with anyone, and the pull this kiss seemed to have on him was leaving him with no thoughts other then to not let it end.

He felt her hands clutching his shirt as she slowly pulled away moments later. He looked down at her upturned face and watched as she slowly opened her eyes. He noted the instant she realized what had just occurred before she let out a quiet shriek and quickly stepped back from him.

Her hand came up and touched her lips as her face became red with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, Ronon," she said while backing away from him. She didn't turn her back on him until the door had slid open.

When his mind caught up to the fact she was leaving he hastened to the door only to see her fleeing down the hall. It was several minutes before he turned and walked back into his room completely confused, but a smile was slowly making its way across his features. A moment later he found himself chuckling to himself as he went about finishing his packing. Sometimes these people from Earth could really surprise you.

Jennifer lay back on her bed in the quarters she'd been assigned while she was at the SGC. She wasn't yet sure how long she'd be here, but they had several days of debriefing to attend and had been assured the SGC and IOA would be in contact with them concerning their future employment.

None of that really mattered to Jennifer at the moment. She didn't know exactly how she got herself through the gate and to this room. Her mind had been on autopilot as she tried to keep from thinking. She didn't want to think about 'the kiss' until she was in the privacy of her room.

But now as she lay on her bed it all washed over her again and she found herself reliving the moment.

Jennifer turned to leave; there was no way she was going to be able to go through with this. Damn Cadman and her stupid dare. As she took a step toward the door she reminded herself she'd never see this man again. She would walk away and she'd be the only witness to the event other than Ronon. The only person he could really tell would be Teyla, and she already knew it was Jennifer's dare.

"Quit being a wuss," she mumbled to herself. She was in an entirely different galaxy, one that was life threatening on a daily basis. This dare should be nothing compared to that.

She turned herself around and faced Ronon, in her mind chanting she could do this. After taking a deep breath she walked straight up to him, placed her hands on the arms he still had crossed across his chest to balance herself as she went up on tip toe.

As her lips touched his she tried to ignore his stiff stance and unyielding lips and concentrate on counting out her Mississippi's.

One Mississippi…she was also going to ignore the zing she felt tightening her chest.

Two Mississippi…she was going to ignore all thoughts of how embarrassing this was or what he was thinking.

Three Mississippi… she felt him move his arms that she'd been holding for balance, but she wasn't going to let that stop her, she was over halfway through this. Her hands grasped his shirt to maintain her balance as she felt his arms move around her.

As he pulled her in closer and she felt his lips begin to move under hers, she completely lost count. She was totally lost in this kiss, in his arms and all thoughts as to how she got there or why she was there, vanished.

As the butterflies in her stomach fluttered and her chest tightened at the hitch in her breathing, she began to pull away, needing to take a breath. Caught in the moment of being held close, her eyes slowly began to open. As her upward gaze focused she found herself looking up into a face full of wonder, as well as confusion.

Then reality crashed in on her and she realized she'd just kissed Ronon. She heard herself shriek as she fled the room - what in the hell had she just done?

Jennifer touched her lips at the memory, some of the embarrassment easing. She felt herself start to smile and realized she was actually proud of herself. She'd done it. She couldn't wait to tell Laura that she'd actually done it.

She'd kissed a man on a dare and she wasn't going to let the fact he was in a whole different galaxy diminish what she considered a great feat for herself. She'd never been very brave socially speaking, so this was definitely out of character and something that she'd never forget. Laura was right; they had gone out with a bang.