Disclaimer: I own Sage and her friend Dinnay.
Ronon opened his eyes as the sun filtered through the window of his cell. He made a move to sit up from the ground, but was immediately floored as pain shot through his back. He groaned as he lay on the ground for a few seconds. He wanted to curl up into a ball, but any and every movement to his body brought him pain.
He must have groaned quite loudly because the cells quieted when he did. After a few minutes of awkward silence, whispers of the cellmates made their way to Ronon.
"He's awake."
"Is he all right?"
"I thought that he would have been out longer."
"Amazing."
"He is quite strong."
"Who was she?" That statement tore through all others and caught Ronon's attention.
He made his way up to a sitting position and leaned against the wall as much as he could without aggravating the wounds on his back. The movement caused him much agony, and a sheet of sweat coated his face. "Who?" he finally asked after catching his breath.
The entire cell block silenced again. They weren't really sure that he had said something, but someone must have heard him. "The person who was in your cell," someone replied.
"There wasn't anyone in my cell," Ronon said.
"Yes, there was. We all saw… heard her. Well, at least we thought it was a female. We heard her whispering to you," added another voice.
"When was this?"
"Two mornings before."
Ronon frowned. "Two mornings? I've been asleep for that long?" He couldn't believe that he had lost two days of consciousness over a stupid move.
"Aye. Your beating must have taken a lot out of you."
"You didn't hear her?" asked another cellmate.
Ronon groaned. "No. I didn't."
"Well, we wouldn't have been able to hear her except for the fact that most of us were awake. She must have thought that we were all asleep. She was crying."
"She?" Who could it have been? he thought. "What did she say?" His eyes widened with realization. And with that realization he sighed. "Wait. Did you say two days ago?"
Everyone in the cells held their breath. "What is wrong, Satedan?" someone whispered, breaking the silence.
"I have to fight again today," he said matching the other person's volume.
"Are you able to?"
"It doesn't matter if I'm able to. I have to. Do you know who I'm fighting?"
"No one in the cells."
Ronon made a move to sit toward the gate of his cell. "Why not?"
"They're trying to kill you, Satedan."
"They've been trying to kill me since I got here," he said with a smile. Or as much of a smile that anyone could put on in this place. "So, who am I fighting?"
"Jethran."
Sheer confusion fell over Ronon. He had known everyone's name, but he had never heard of this Jethran character. He thought through all of the cellmates. "Who is Jethran?" he finally asked, thinking that someone else was brought in. But why would everyone except me know his name.
"The person who was whipping you."
"I'm fighting a guard."
"Yeah."
Ronon could have sworn that he heard everyone's heart drop to their stomachs. The sadness in the reply and the silence that followed broke his spirit. He rested his head against the corner where the gate and the wall met. "They really are trying to kill me," he whispered, not caring if anyone heard.
Ronon heard the footsteps down the hall and dropped his head. He moved his head so that the guards could open the cell without smashing it before his fight. The two guards lifted him up and shook their heads. They, like almost everyone else in the cell block, respected him. The two large men helped Ronon walk to the entrance.
A sad chorus of 'Goodbye, Satedan' was heard as he passed each cell. They all knew he was going to die. What they didn't see was the life in his eyes was fading. They didn't realize that he was already dying.
LRLRLRLRLRLRLRLR
Sage woke up as the rays of the sun filtered through the trees and settled on her face. She moved out of the way and was shocked awake as the cold floor of the cave met her. She rubbed her face and reached for some of her equipment that she brought with her. She brought a communicator and dialed her home. A handsome boy's face appeared on the screen. "Hello?" he answered.
"Hey, Dinnay." Sage replied.
"You're late, Sage," he said looking at his watch.
She stood up from the ground and walked outside of the cave. "What do you mean, I'm late?"
"You were supposed to check in an hour ago," Dinnay said. He held up his watch to the screen and showed it to her.
Sage squinted her eyes to look at the numbers. It didn't help because it was a blurry mess no matter how much she adjusted her angle. "What do you mean an hour ago?"
"Obviously you slept in. What happened two nights ago? Because you can only avoid my questions for so long."
Sage ignored her friend's question again. "Dinnay, I'm going to stay on this planet for a few more days."
The statement startled Dinnay. Sage wanted to change subjects, and Dinnay went for it, without realizing it. "Why?"
Sage looked down. Her eyes couldn't meet the eyes on the screen. "I found him," she whispered, not sure if he could hear her.
"Are you sure it's him?" he replied just as soft.
"I'm sure," she said. "I saw him."
"You saw him?"
"I saw him," she repeated.
"Are you—"
"I'm fine," she interrupted, her voice softer than before.
Dinnay shook his head. It was a common Sage defense mechanism and he knew it. "No, you're not."
"Dinnay, don't tell me whether I am or am not fine!" she yelled. She shrank back when she realized what she had done. "I'm sorry." She let her temper get the best of her, and she was disappointed that she did. Especially since her anger was directed toward Dinnay.
"I'm a doctor."
"But you can't heal what is going on inside my head."
"Sage, don't let the fact that he is your—"
"It won't," she interrupted.
He had known Sage for years. She had a hard head, but when it came to finding Ronon, she had almost broken down many times. "It could," he replied.
"It won't. I won't let it get in the way."
Sage stood up and walked around the cave looking for something, thus halting the conversation. She found her vest and loaded them with grenades and anything else she thought she would need. She walked back in front of the screen and sat down. "Okay. Every hour. You better check in or I'm coming down myself," Dinnay replied continuing the conversation.
"I know," she replied. A smile crept onto her face.
"Take care of yourself," he said sincerely. He looked at his watch again. "You better get a move on. I think that you might be behind schedule."
She picked up her sword from the side of her pillow and strapped it to her back. "I know."
"You've got your work cut out for you this time."
She picked up her two guns and put them in the holsters at her hip. The last thing she did was put on her coat. "I know," she repeated nonchalantly.
"Yeah."
"Has that ever stopped me?" she said, sending a challenging look to Dinnay.
"I'm just stating facts."
"Are you saying I'm in over my head?"
"Will it get me punched in the face?" he asked innocently.
Sage laughed. "No."
"Then maybe."
"I have to go, Dinnay. I think you were right. I am late. And I have to see him. I think he is fighting again today. At least, that's what I've heard."
"Every hour."
"I know."
"Go."
"Bye, Dinnay."
"Sage," he said before she turned off the screen. He didn't wait for her to say anything. "He'll be back with us soon."
"I know."
She turned the screen off, walked out of the cave, and started her long walk back toward the city.
I know that it took forever for me to update, and I'm sorry. I seriously ran into a wall with this story. I lost my inspiration for awhile because the show hadn't been on for a long time. But I saw the commercials for a new season and I felt inspired. Haven't watched the first episode of the new season yet, have it on tape, so I can't wait. Also I heard that Ronon has an episode all about him. Wooohooo! All right, hope you all enjoyed. Please review. Lil-Rock
