For two days, Shani watched as Carson coped with the pressures of life on Sateda. After goading McKay into a rage and then sharing tea with her, the doctor withdrew for a few hours. He reappeared just prior to the evening meal, freshly shaved and bathed. But it was more than just that. Shani saw the exhaustion in his features, the way he tried to hide how badly he slept, and his occasional slip into his native dialect.

Then, more chaos broke loose. A Marine accustomed to patrolling the gate had asked Teyla to spar. She refused, resulting in the Marine telling her and everyone else around that she just needed to "get laid." Teyla had taken exception to that comment and had managed to dislocate the Marine's elbow, bloody his nose, land multiple bruising blows all over his torso, and sprain his knee. All in the space of a few seconds. Shani and Carson had rushed to the Marine's side while Sheppard pulled Teyla aside to have an angry conference. It ended when Teyla stormed off and Carson and Shani took the Marine to the clinic.

After treating the Marine's injuries and sending him on his way with a caution against speaking his mind, Shani met Carson's eyes. "Get. . .laid?"

Surprisingly, Carson flushed. "Aye," he said ruefully. The redness on his neck deepened as he busied himself with clearing his already-empty desk. "It's a phrase we use on Earth. It. . .uh. . .means that. . .um. . .a person has certain needs. . .and should. . . ." He cleared his throat.

Shani raised her eyebrow. "I believe I understand the reference now, Carson. Thank you." Only years of training kept her from flushing with embarrassment.

He rolled his eyes at her dry tone. "Well, now that all o' that mess is straightened out," he said in a more normal tone, "I'll let you get home for the day."

She smiled and headed for the door. "What about you, Carson?"

"Me?" He sounded surprised.

Shani turned back into the room and moved to his side. "Carson, I can tell you are not sleeping, and I know how difficult these last weeks have been on you. Take some time for yourself."

"I can't," he said immediately.

"Yes, you can." She gave him a pointed look. "As the primary healer for this group of people, you must take care of yourself. Working until you collapse out of exhaustion will not help us when you are so tired that you cannot see. Take a day or two to yourself, rest, and be stronger for it."

He looked like he wanted to argue for a moment but finally nodded. "Aye, you're right." He rubbed his eyes and dropped into his chair. "There's just been so much happenin' lately, what with the refugee Satedans comin' through the gate every day, the fights breakin' out between them an' our people, an' me worryin' about Sheppard and Teyla. I just. . . ." He stopped speaking suddenly and blinked, a clear indication of the tears he held at bay.

Shani moved to his side and touched his shoulder. "Go. I am perfectly capable of minding the clinic for a day or two while you rest a bit. In fact, if you want, I can ask Major Lorne for the coordinates to a lake where he thought there would be good fishing."

Carson's eyes lit up at the mention of that. "Have ya ever had a good bowl o' my mum's cullen skink?" Then, he blinked. "I'm sorry. I forget you're not from Scotland. If I catch the right fish, I should be able to make a fairly passable imitation."

She smiled at his enthusiasm. "I look forward to it, Carson."

"Good!" He stood and rubbed his eyes again. "Thank you, love. I really do appreciate it."

"You are welcome." Shani left the clinic then, knowing that Carson would likely head out early the following morning. She spent the evening alone, eating a light dinner and resting well in spite of the chilliness of the night. The next day, she rose with the sun and found the clinic dark. Carson's door had been left open, a clear signal to her that he was already gone for the day. She closed the door and lit a fire in the main room of the clinic. Her spinning wheel sat in a corner, complete with wool still needing to be spun into yarn. These fibers had been given to her by Javan to ensure that the Kian and Athosian peoples had what they needed.

By noon, Shani had completed the rich purple fibers she had begun two days before. Colonel Sheppard had stopped by to tell her that he was taking Teyla and the rest of his team on a trading mission, nodding in surprise when Shani informed him that Carson had left the city for a time. Later, Lindsey Marks stopped in for a check-up. Carson had been teaching Shani everything about helping expectant mothers, and Shani felt very confident that she would be able to help her friend through the labor to come. Sending Lindsey on her way with a smile, she returned to her corner and let out a deep breath.

Evan appeared around lunchtime. Shani glanced up from where she'd begun a new skein of yarn, this one a rich gold color. "Evan!"

He grinned at her. "Hey. I wanted to stop by and let you know I'll have to cancel our flying lesson."

Shani nodded. "I understand. Dr. Beckett is also out of the city today, and I would not feel right leaving the clinic unattended."

His eyes narrowed. "Ah. . .where'd the doc go?"

"Fishing."

Evan blinked. "He went to that lake we found?"

"Yes." She stood and stretched her back muscles. "Yesterday's events wore him down. So, I am here until he returns."

Evan smiled at her. "I'll bring dinner by, if you'd like."

Sensing his offer had more than concern behind it, Shani returned the smile. "I would enjoy that."

"Good." He nodded. "See you then."

Shani watched him leave, shaking her head. She loved talking with Evan. He always had such a calming attitude about him, and the light bit of a beard she saw growing actually intrigued her. She knew it would be prickly, but she had no reason to complain about it. Now, she glanced around and began to straighten the area even though it needed no straightening. The evening meal could not come fast enough.

oOo

The negotiations could move a bit faster, Sheppard mused as he sipped the watered down brew that passed for ale in this tavern. He and McKay had been sitting at the same table for the past four hours, watching men wander in and out. Most came and left alone after some quality time at the bar, but a few were escorted upstairs. Sheppard didn't need to be told what went on behind closed doors, but he did somewhat envy those men.

Thinking like that made him remember what had happened with Mara. He'd left that world after a short conversation in which he explained that he had never intended to stay. Mara understood and was surprisingly willing to let him go. He had thought about her over the last few days since then, especially when tensions on Sateda became too much. But he had not truly considered repeating those actions until now. The thought of finding a girl, taking her upstairs, and letting go of a bit of stress really appealed, though he tried not to let McKay see that.

McKay rolled his eyes when Sheppard smiled at the pretty waitress for the fifth time in the last hour. "Oh, please, Sheppard! You know that Kirk routine doesn't work, don't you?"

"Kirk routine?" Sheppard frowned. He knew exactly what McKay meant, but he wanted to see how far his friend would take it.

"Yeah, being all charming hoping to get lucky for the night." McKay pointed a spoon at him. "Doesn't work."

"Who says it doesn't?" Sheppard winked at the waitress just to get a rise out of McKay. She was a pretty girl, though her life showed a bit too much in her eyes. Still, the blue eyes she turned toward him had been darkened with makeup. Bedroom eyes, his mind supplied. Of course, that spurred his imagination toward everything that could happen and distracted him from McKay's irritated snort.

He was pulled from his nonverbal flirting when Teyla and Ronon appeared. Trying to look nonchalant, he stood and frowned. "Well?"

Teyla smiled triumphantly. "We were able to get the seed we needed. But we will have to wait until tomorrow."

McKay choked on the last swig of his drink. "Tomorrow?" he croaked. "But I wanted to get back today. I've got loads of stuff to do in the lab, not to mention getting some of Kolya's database translated and. . . ."

Sheppard frowned. "McKay!"

"But, well, I suppose a day won't hurt," McKay went on as if he hadn't been interrupted. "After all, we do need the seed and extra food with the Satedans starting to arrive."

Teyla nodded. "Yes. We do." She glanced around. "Our host has offered to let us stay in his home for the evening."

Sheppard lifted his chin. "Right." He looked around, seeing the late hour and relative emptiness of the place. "Well, I'll settle up with the barkeep and meet you there later."

Ronon frowned at him. "Where are you gonna go?"

Sheppard shrugged. "Thought I might take a run. Burn off some energy."

McKay snorted again, but Teyla and Ronon started herding him toward the door after giving Sheppard directions to the place where they would stay. He listened carefully, fully intending to follow them after a quick run. He wasn't expecting the pretty waitress to come back around and loop her arm through his elbow. He glanced at her, surprised, and grinned when she stared up at him from those incredibly seductive eyes. "Uh. . . ."

"I'm finished with work for the day," she offered.

Sheppard blinked, clearly understanding the unspoken invitation. "I need to, uh, pay for our meal."

She pouted, her pretty mouth turning into a rosebud as she did so. Then, she pointed. "I'll be right outside." She flounced away as Sheppard used the precious few coins he had on him to cover his and McKay's afternoon snacks. Then, he headed for the door, trying not to appear too eager. In those last few moments, his mind had turned from running to something a lot better. He remembered how relaxed he'd felt after being with Mara and allowed a grin to escape as soon as he saw the girl next to the door.

Within seconds of his reappearance, she pressed herself to him. "I am Calixte," she whispered into his ear.

"Beautiful name." John took the lead this time, kissing her with all the hunger that had built over the last few moments. When he pulled away, he smiled. "I'm John."

She gave him a seductive smile and pulled his head back down, proceeding to promise him more with her kiss. A few moments later, she led him into a small house and closed the door behind him. Sheppard moved from kissing her mouth to her neck as she began to systematically strip him of every item he wore. He returned the favor and, for the evening, stopped thinking long enough to enjoy every gasp and sound she made.

oOo

Right on time that evening, Evan Lorne carried a pot of stew and a loaf of bread to the clinic. The sun had already begun to set, leaving the streets shrouded in twilight. More and more lights punctuated the darkness, though only one made him smile. The clinic glowed brightly, and he glanced through a window to see Shani in the kitchen. For just a moment, he stopped and stared.

She was a beautiful woman. Not like Gisli had been, who had looked young and innocent. Shani had seen some harshness in life, though she'd been fairly protected by her family's wealth. Still, she had not allowed herself to become arrogant or condescending, choosing instead to travel to Sateda and give up her life of ease. If for no other reason, that drew him. But her thick dark hair, which she typically twisted into a bun at the back of her head, now fell around her shoulders. It caught the light of numerous lamps she'd lit and made him shake his head. He could handle being next to her in a Jumper, always having the flying lesson to fall back on. Could he handle dinner with her and avoid making any stupid moves?

Choosing to find out, he knocked lightly with his boot before entering the clinic. Shani turned and smiled, her brown eyes sparkling as she rushed forward to catch the bread before it fell. The slight birthmark between her eyebrows gave her face an exotic look, and Lorne ironically mused that he could stare at her forever. Instead, he grinned. "Olina taught some of the women to make bread today. She brought a loaf by."

Shani's smile widened. "Then I know this will be a wonderful meal. Even I do not make bread like Olina's."

Evan gave her a self-deprecating glance. "Just wait until you taste the stew. I made it, and you might prefer the bread."

"I am certain it will be wonderful." She pulled bowls from the cabinets and met his eyes. "Perhaps we should agree to forgo flying lessons when Colonel Sheppard is away."

"I think that's best." He rubbed the back of his neck as she served their meal. The stew was still hot thanks to the thick Athosian pot, and she placed generous servings of bread on small plates. He waited while she chose to sit on the low sofa Carson had added to one corner of the clinic. "I hate being this suspicious, but. . . ."

"You are unwilling to trust your people to men you do not know?"

"Yeah." He sighed. "I hate feeling this way."

"It is understandable." Shani ate a bite of stew and glanced at him. "And you do not give yourself enough credit. This is wonderful."

"Good." Evan dropped the subject of Sheppard and his concerns. "So, what about you? How are you settling in?"

She took a moment to consider the question, giving him more time to study her. Tonight, she wore a sturdy dress that fit her curves and ended at her ankles. The beige coloring only highlighted her natural beauty, and she wore thick boots, more like moccasins than anything, beneath it. The dress had ties at the sides that followed her figure up to beneath her arm and left two perfect bows resting distractingly on her hips. Shani never did anything to draw attention to herself, and she now met his eyes. "I am well. It is different here. Colder and more difficult than I imagined. But I am happy to be here. Carson needs the help, and your people are wonderful."

He smiled at that. "Yeah, the doc is always taking on too much work."

"He offered to make something called cullen skink." She frowned at her bowl, though Lorne could tell it wasn't because of the food she now had. "What is that?"

"I have no idea!" He laughed with her. "The doc comes from a country that makes some interesting foods. From what I've heard, most of it is quite good, but some things. . . ." He shuddered just for her benefit.

It must have worked, because she laughed. "Such as?"

"Haggis."

"Haggis?"

"Yeah. It's a dish made from various parts of a sheep, cooked in sheep's stomach." Then, he stopped, realizing that Shani came from a long line of shepherds. "Come to think of it, you might like it. I'm sure the doc would make it if you asked him."

"I might." She raised an eyebrow at him. "What of you? What is a traditional dish where you are from?"

"San Francisco?" He blinked. "There's not one dish, unless you count sourdough bread. And I have no idea how to make that!"

Shani laughed again, the sound of it making his night. She looked more relaxed than she had in a long time, and he was grateful to help her feel a bit more at home. Now, her eyes sparkled as she cocked her head to one side. "There must be something you like to eat more than others. We all have our favorites."

"A good burger and fries!" His immediate answer drew another laugh. Lorne shook his head. "Sorry. We've been too busy trying to rebuild, and varying our diet hasn't been high on the priority list."

The conversation shifted then as Shani allowed him to talk about the struggles he faced. Much like she had the day they discovered the lake, she merely listened and didn't try to fix the problems. Evan appreciated that. Just having a safe place to vent his frustrations meant more than anything she could offer. He decided to share a bit of the inner workings to test the waters and see if she could be trusted. He didn't doubt that Javan trusted her, but Shani was not a member of the Atlantis survivors. Even some of them weren't trusted though they'd come through everything together.

Finally, however, Evan shook his head. "And, then, we have Teyla."

Shani smiled, but it was a tense smile. "Yes. I know that Carson is worried about her, and I must admit that I am as well. We have not spent much time together, but even I can see that she is struggling with events."

"Yeah." Evan ran a hand over his eyes as he thought about the entire situation. "Sheppard took her off world as a way to calm her. Seems that she's a whiz at negotiations even when she's angry."

Shani began to speak, but the door of the clinic opened just then. Both she and Evan turned to stare in surprise at Carson as he trudged through the door. The doc looked beat, but there was a calm to his face that vanished when he saw the two. "Major."

Evan stood. "Doc. I brought some dinner over. We weren't expecting you back."

"Aye," Carson said wryly, "I can see that."

Evan sensed something deeper going on, though he hated to point it out in front of Shani. She clearly picked up on it as well. Gathering her bowl and cup, she walked into the kitchen and quickly cleaned her dishes. Turning, she smiled. "Major, it was a pleasure."

Evan nodded. "Yeah, it was." He went back to staring at Carson as Shani made her goodbyes and left the two men. He hated feeling like an intruder in the clinic, and he refused to back down. Once Shani's footsteps had faded, he frowned. "Doc?"

"Just dinner?"

"Yeah." Out of habit, Evan fell into parade rest. "I figured it couldn't hurt to get to know her a little better since she's the back-up in case something ever happens to you."

"And that includes dinner?" Carson dropped his gear next to the door.

"Yes, that includes dinner." Evan narrowed his eyes. "Listen, Doc, I didn't come here to start an argument or anything. I just feel like we tend to isolate those who aren't from Earth. Here on Sateda, we're all refugees. So what that Shani can go back to Ataliya any time she likes. She needs to be included in more than just spinning and baking lessons. She's Javan's sister and has a lot that she can offer us."

"Us? Or you?" Carson looked surprised as soon as he asked the question, realizing that it was out of character and unexpected. "Never mind, Major. I'm just a wee bit tired."

"I can see that." Evan gathered up the remains of the pleasant meal. He glanced over to the Scot as he headed out the door. "Doc."

"Major." Carson's voice held a hint of irritation, as if a warning against getting too close to Shani. Evan frowned as he left the clinic. Was Carson interested in the pretty Ataliyan as well? Or was there more to it than that? Was Carson trying to take Javan's place in the absence of Shani's brother? No matter what it was, Evan Lorne wasn't easily intimidated. And he refused to be bullied away from a lady he liked more than any other one he'd known in the past. It just wouldn't happen.

oOo

The sunlight was bright as Ronon leaned against the wall. He'd been here since sunrise, waiting and hoping Sheppard appeared soon. He heard muffled feminine laughter inside and cringed when it cut off in an abrupt fashion. A gasp followed, along with a low growl from Sheppard, and Ronon pushed away from the wall. He really did not want to listen to these activities and knew that another half hour wouldn't hurt anything. McKay was still snoring soundly, the delayed effect of the alcohol rendering the physicist almost unconscious. The hangover would probably settle in later that day, and Ronon wondered if Beckett would have any painkillers left when McKay was done with them.

Now, he aimlessly roamed the village while he waited. Yesterday's negotiations had been exhausting, but he had learned his lesson on Belkan. Teyla calmly maneuvered their host into the deal she wanted, showing tremendous restraint in spite of the anger that had sparked out of control when that Marine commented about her physical needs. Then, Sheppard had promised to appear. When he hadn't, Ronon went looking. He found the colonel at the home of a woman named Calixte, and the sounds he heard coming from a window told him it would be a very bad time to interrupt. Ronon didn't think it odd that Sheppard was sleeping with the woman. He himself had been tempted in recent days to consider that sort of relationship. The difference was that Olina, Ronon's interest, was a close friend with the possibility of becoming much more. Calixte was a woman that Sheppard had just met, and that posed a threat to Sateda's safety.

After twenty minutes, Ronon returned to the house and listened carefully. The sounds of lovemaking still echoed, but much more contained than the night before. Taking a few steps away, he waited until they faded completely before resuming his post next to the door. Another twenty minutes passed, and the door opened. Ronon stayed put as Calixte pulled Sheppard into a heated kiss. She murmured something about sending him on his way with a good memory, and then Sheppard closed the door behind him. He smiled at the sunshine as he adjusted his belt.

Ronon barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. "Sheppard."

His team leader turned. "How long have you been waiting?"

"Long enough." Ronon folded his arms as he pushed off of the wall. He stared into Sheppard's face. "You know what you're doin', right?"

"Yeah." Sheppard shrugged. "I'm fine, Ronon. Just. . .working off a little energy."

Ronon snorted. "Be careful, Sheppard. Some of these women will use anything against a man like you." Rather than waiting around to find out how his friend would react to his words, he walked away. Time would tell what Sheppard's reaction would be, but Ronon resolved that he wouldn't let Sheppard put Sateda at risk. Too much damage had been done by a pretty face, and Ronon hated the thought that Sheppard would do that again.

No, he thought. I'll stun the guy and take him back to Sateda before I let that happen. Grinning in anticipation of that, Ronon joined Teyla and collected their seed to carry back to Sateda. He was still grinning when he stepped through the gate and found Solen Sincha and Evan Lorne locked in a battle of wills.

~TBC