As John's team stepped through the gate they were struck with how quiet the control room was, with just a skeleton staff visible.
"Anyone else finding this eerie?" McKay asked.
"Definitely disconcerting." John agreed scanning for Sam and being semi relieved when he saw her jog down the steps.
"How'd it go?" She asked.
"Didn't start any wars or find Wraith so pretty good. Where is everyone?"
"In the gym. It is the first basketball match." Sam explained. "It's got more interest than we were expecting."
"That's good. No injuries so far?" John asked.
"Not that I'm aware of. Teyla is keeping an eye on things and hasn't reported anything, but Dr Keller is playing so I'm sure she could treat anything that did happen."
"The doc's playing?" Ronon asked surprised.
"Yes. I don't think she was looking forward to it, but said she'd do it." Sam explained.
"I hope you feel small." John said looking at Rodney, who had refused to take part.
"No, I feel clever." The physicist said as Sam's radio demanded her attention. John's team watched as her face went from one of calm to worry then irritation and listened to her side of the radio conversation.
"How many are hurt?...How?...I'll be right down."
"Problem?" John asked.
"Spoke too soon about the basketball. I need to get to the infirmary. Jennifer's hurt." She said before running out of the control room, quickly followed by John and Ronon, and more reluctantly by Rodney.
They reached the infirmary just before a very soggy Lorne who was carrying the, also wet, unconscious doctor.
"Need some help here." The Major called as he placed Jennifer on a gurney.
"What happened?" Marie asked rushing over.
"She was punched and she may have been trodden on." Lorne said, suddenly very aware of the glare Ronon was giving him. Before John could ask for more information the infirmary suddenly became overcrowded and several more, soggy, players from the game entered.
"Major. Answers now." John ordered, directing Lorne to Jennifer's office.
As John, Lorne and Sam moved to the office Ronon looked at Jennifer and then to the office.
"Keep an eye on her." He growled at Rodney before following the others.
"What the hell happened?" Sam asked as the door shut.
"Well ma'am there was a fight."
"A fight? You're saying Dr Keller got involved in a fight?" John asked.
"Yes, but not on purpose." Lorne said.
"Explain." Sam ordered succinctly.
"Well, the doc was being marked by Captain Smith and he started to invade her personal space. I gave him a warning, but apparently it went unheeded. A few minutes ago he took it to the next level and groped her."
"He did what?" Ronon growled, surprising the other occupants of the room with the ferocity of his tone.
"Deliberately?" John asked in disbelief.
"Deliberate and pre-meditated." Lorne confirmed. "Kemp got there first and knocked him to the ground. Then the doc found herself in the middle as the two teams and some of the crowd locked horns. She tried to reason with them, I think that's what she was trying anyway, only she got in the way of a wayward punch and got knocked out. I managed to dive in and get her, not sure if she took any kicks when she was down though."
"Why are you wet?" Sam asked.
"Um, well, I guessed that everyone was beyond reason so I set the sprinklers off in the hope it would calm everyone down. Then I brought the doc down here."
"Where's Smith?" Ronon growled.
"In the brig. I thought it would be safer."
"For the doc?" John asked, concerned there was more to the story.
"No. For Smith. There were plenty who wouldn't mind taking a swing at him. I've got three marines guarding him." Lorne clarified.
"I'll deal with him personally." John said, still angry.
"John," Sam started to warn.
"It'll all be above board." John assured her. "But I foresee lots of extra training for him. Personal lessons with Ronon. I think the rest of his team also need some lessons in manners."
"Keep it on the level. And remember Jennifer is overworked as it is." Sam said, semi consenting to the plan. "We'll talk more about this later." She was going to say something else when the noise level outside increased.
Emerging from the office they saw a wall of men surround the gurney that Jennifer had been put on and heard lots of chatter. Raising an eyebrow the group moved towards the gurney, Ronon using his size and some well time growls to clear a path to Jennifer who was sitting on the gurney, holding an ice pack to her face, looking confused.
"What's going on?" John demanded, killing the chatter.
"Just come to check up on the doc." Kemp said.
"She's fine. Now out, with all of you."
"Now." Ronon growled causing the group to disband. As they left John turned to Jennifer and said.
"Looks like you've got a fan club."
"Great." Jennifer mumbled into the ice pack she had on her jaw.
"How are you feeling?" Sam questioned.
"Like I should never go near a basketball again."
"Don't say that. You were great out there." Lorne assured her.
"A fight started because of me."
"No it started because of Smith being an idiot." Lorne said. "But because of you the whole city has united in wanting to punch him, so you actively helped give the city its team spirit back."
"Whole city?" Jennifer asked, wanting to disappear into a hole.
"Pretty much, if your fan club is anything to go by." John said trying and failing to cheer Jennifer up.
Looking back to Sam she said miserably. "Last time I take part in any group sport, especially if it is his idea," pausing she nodded at Lorne before adding. "I failed in my goal."
"What goal?" Lorne asked.
"To avoid humiliation."
Before anyone could respond Marie walked over and looked at Jennifer silently asking if she wanted the area cleared.
"Go ahead." Jennifer said, knowing Sam and John would find out any way.
"Good news is there's nothing broken. But expect the jaw and ribs to feel sore for the next few days. I've got some pain killers for you to help."
"Great so I can go?" Jennifer said accepting the bottle.
"You should really stay in overnight, but seeing how you'll argue, if someone is willing to sit with you and wake you every hour, checking for complications, you can go." Marie said.
"I'll take her." Ronon said immediately, surprising the group. As he bent down to pick her up she protested.
"I can walk."
"I can carry." Ronon countered as they left the infirmary.
"Something going on there?" John asked confused.
"Not that I know of." Lorne said, also surprised by Ronon's behaviour.
-00-
"I feel like an idiot." Jennifer said as she sat wrapped up in her bed fresh from her shower.
"Don't. Not your fault."
"Yes it is. If I had dealt with him earlier the whole place wouldn't have broken down into a mass brawl."
"Earlier when?" Ronon asked, wondering if Smith had been harassing her for some time.
"In the game. After his hands started to linger for too long on me."
"Why didn't you?" Ronon asked, tensing at the image of someone else touching Jennifer.
"I thought I was imagining it to start with. Some contact is normal. Then when I knew I wasn't imagining it I had no idea how to handle it."
"Break his nose?" Ronon suggested.
"I have no idea how to do that, without breaking my hand in the process anyway. I thought if I ignored him he'd stop. But he seemed to get off on my discomfort and riling the rest of the team. But you're right I should have punched him. Next time I'll just swing."
"Next time?" Ronon asked, not liking the sound of that.
"With my luck something's bound to happen at some point."
"Then I'll teach you."
"Teach me? What?"
"How to fight." The Satedan clarified.
"I don't want to waste your time. I'm a lost cause."
"No you're not." Ronon said, before taking a chance and adding. "Besides that way I'd get to see you."
"See me?" Jennifer asked, kicking herself for sounding so stupid.
"Yeah. Feels like you've been avoiding me. Didn't mean to scare you in the infirmary during the lockdown. This way I can start to put it right."
"Scare me? Why'd you think that?"
"You've avoided me since the lockdown."
"No I haven't. Well okay I have, but only because I thought you wanted to forget it ever happened."
"Why would you think that?" Ronon asked sitting down next to her.
"You think I'm weak. Let's face it I'm not your type."
"You're not weak." Ronon said.
"I was just knocked out playing basketball." Jennifer pointed out.
"You were knocked out during a fight." Ronon clarified. Instead of answering immediately Jennifer yawned and then winced at the pain from moving her jaw so far.
"Get some sleep." Ronon instructed we can talk more in the morning.
-00-
When Jennifer naturally woke the following morning she found herself sprawled across Ronon. Jolting up she immediately started to apologise before asking how she ended up where she had.
"You kept saying you were cold when I woke you." Ronon started to explain.
"You woke me?"
"Every hour like Marie said."
"I don't remember." Jennifer said, but as she spoke she started to recall the hourly wake ups including her insisting Ronon slept in her bed rather than the chair. Then her using him as a giant hot water bottle.
"You were kind of out of it." Ronon confirmed.
"Sorry for using you as a pillow." Jennifer said sheepishly.
"Anytime doc. How are you feeling?"
"Sore, embarrassed and like wallowing in self-pity."
"Doc, what happened wasn't your fault." He said pulling her back down into his chest, momentarily surprising them both.
"Doesn't mean I don't feel embarrassed." Jennifer finally said as she relaxed into the embrace.
"Don't beat yourself up over this" Ronon said before adding. "Beat Smith up instead."
"I swore an oath to do no harm."
"I didn't." Ronon pointed out.
"Thank you." Jennifer said after a moment.
"For what?"
"Looking after me. Being nice to me. Trying to see something different in me."
"All I see is you." Ronon assured her as he bowed his head and was about to kiss her when her door chimed. He pulled away slightly only for Jennifer to whisper.
"Ignore it."
Following her command he leaned down again only for the chime to sound once more. Growling he got off the bed and opened the door half tempted to kill whoever was on the other side.
"Hey, Ronon." Lorne greeted from Jennifer's doorway, where he stood with the rest of his team. When Ronon did not respond the Major asked. "The doc in?"
"Yes."
"Can we see her?"
"Why?"
"To talk."
"About?"
"Team stuff." Lorne said, wondering why Ronon was more hostile than normal. Before he had time to ponder further Jennifer appeared in the door next to Ronon.
"Hey doc, how you doing?" Kemp asked.
"Fine, thanks."
"So already for our next match?" The Lieutenant asked.
"What next match?"
"It's a league doc, there are another six matches before the play off." Lorne said.
"No no no. No more basketball for me." She said, wincing slightly as she overworked her jaw.
"But doc you're our weapon."
"Weapon?" She asked as Ronon tensed.
"Sure, after what happened no one is going to risk marking you too close, which means you're going to be free to run riot on the court." Seeing the glare Ronon was giving him the Major changed tact. "Okay, you need time to think about it. We don't play for another three days, so plenty of time to mull it over. In the mean time, how about you come with us to watch the next game? It involves Zelenka and Harrison. It starts in an hour so we could get some food first."
"She's busy." Ronon said shutting the door, leaving Lorne's team standing confused on the other side.
"They an item?" Kemp asked.
"No idea." Lorne said.
"It'd be great if they were." Sanchez commented.
"Didn't take you for a romantic." Lorne said.
"I'm not Sir. It'd be great as no one would dare going near the doc on the court. We'd win for sure."
Back in the room Ronon turned to Jennifer who asked.
"Busy?"
Choosing not to answer with words Ronon leaned down and finally kissed her.