Lennah laid on her bed in a mild doze. Her hair was taking forever to dry. A weight shifted the mattress and she opened one eye. Ro stood over her with one knee on the bed and that look in his eye.
She put a foot on his wet chest. "No." He leaned into it and she pressed harder, what little strength her legs still had.
"Why?"
"Cuz."
He flung her foot aside and crouched over her. "Why?" He was trying really hard to seduce her.
He was really good at it. "We need to go out."
He laughed. "You can't."
She opened her eyes. "Why did Sheppard have you stay with me instead of Teyla?" He backed away. "And so conveniently prepared, too. Not that I'm ungrateful. I sure as hell wasn't expecting THAT kind of company."
He retreated. "Sheppard figured this guy would think—"
"Exactly." She stood and adjusted her towel. "We need to give him something to think about."
Laundry. Dex would deny its necessity, considering his limited interest in her clothes, but things still had to be done. And each moment out there you're vulnerable to attack. She shook her head and wiggled into some underwear. Think positive. Don't play the mind games on yourself.
She jumped into her favorite jeans and focused on what she could do. Laugh, smile. Not hard. She grinned. Be sexy. Have fun. Talk like Price or Maria. Be loose.
Lennah turned to Ronon in baggy, ripped jeans and a lacy bra. He sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the mattress. She raised an eyebrow at his pained expression. "What shirt should I wear?"
He groaned and flopped back on the bed with his hands over his face.
Apparently she was really good at it, already.
A part of her wanted to see if John would actually allow her to leave her room. It was bad enough being stuck on one planet. Not that I've noticed the last three months… or the last three days…
Colare and Dex took up seats as they waited for Sheppard and Emmaggan. Something told her that their public appearance was big news.
Dex leaned into her ear as he tucked her hair back. "Does it seem to you like everyone has a camera?" He touched his head to hers as he spoke.
Lennah looked around and saw that it was true for the most part. Great… I'm single-handedly responsible for creating the Atlantis Paparazzi.
"I think they're waiting for us to loose control." She faced him and smiled. "This is a valuable photo-opportunity." Lennah reached up and tugged on one of his dreads.
He jumped out of his seat with a snarl. She kicked back but he prevented her escape. Dex crouched over her as she leaned back. Neither moved. Then Lennah eased forward and gently kissed him. He growled low and pulled her to the edge of her seat. Her smile broadened and she bit her lip. Ro smiled and pecked her cheek before walking over to grab a tray.
There was that flop in her chest again. She beamed at his back and knew she was blushing horribly. Lennah shook her head and covered her mouth with her fist.
"Having fun?" Sheppard and Teyla walked up and plopped down, both wearing huge smiles.
Lennah inclined her head with a smile. "A little." She shared a look with Teyla. "Are you going to send me to my room?"
Sheppard chuckled and leaned back on two legs. "Maybe next time. You two could use the fresh air."
Lennah retaliated. "How about you two? Getting enough… fresh air?" Not even Dex knew if those two were anything more than friends.
Teyla nodded happily but Sheppard gave Colare a dark look.
"You know, Shep." Colare leaned forward and he did the same. "It would be interesting to know if the fan club was jealous of my attention or out to get all ET-kind. You two go public and we can see if it's genuine prejudice or an excuse to get at me, specifically."
Teyla nodded. "Some of my people have expressed distress that I should choose a mate outside of the tribe. But I have found that their gainsaying is of a more selfish nature." Teyla clasped her offered hand and showed her thankfulness that someone understood. Regardless of what was actually going on between herself and Sheppard, it was difficult to put up with people's prejudices.
"I'm sure there are some that would love to see an alliance between Atlantis and Athos." Lennah grinned cheekily at Sheppard.
"I agree." Ronon said as he came up behind Lennah. He set the tray down and tilted her chair back to kiss her.
"Okay, enough, Spiderman." Sheppard waved his hand at the starry eyed pair. "You're making me look bad."
The group chuckled. "Well, you'd better keep up then." Ronon wrapped an arm around the back of Lennah's chair. She looked up at him and they locked eyes. Like every time, it was turbo-charged.
"May we join you?" McKay asked as he and Keller took up two chairs. Both were smiling.
"Oh, God. Another one." Sheppard leaned on the table.
McKay turned to Teyla. "What's he talking about?"
"John suffers from the competition evoked by Ronon and Lennah as well as yourself and Jennifer."
McKay smiled. "I like it!" He turned to Lennah. "What's it mean?"
Colare chuckled. "He's having trouble keeping up in the PDA department."
McKay turned to Sheppard. "Really?" He was confused on many points. "PDA with who?"
Lennah jumped in before Teyla spoke. "PDA in general."
"Ah! Mr. Lonely Heart, then, is it?" McKay pulled Jennifer closer. "How's that going for you?"
"Knock it off, McKay." John mocked with a forced smile.
"What about Laryn?" Jennifer asked. "Any word from her?"
"No, no news from the Travelers. If they need us, they'll call."
Rodney waited a beat. "So, no booty calls, then?" The table laughed again. Sheppard shook his head. Teyla elbowed him and gave him a look: 'it was funny.'
"You don't even know what he was talking about." John smiled.
"Yes. I do." Teyla swatted at him. "Lennah, what is a booty call?"
"A casual sexual proposition."
"See? I know what a booty call is."
"Yeah, good save there." John smiled at her. Nothing beyond a deep friendship could be surmised from the moment of eye contact. If they were more, they were masters of deception.
"Nicely put, Colare." Jennifer nodded at her. "In medical school, they called it a Strange-Bang. Because you were banging a stranger."
McKay turned to her. "It's like Poe." She slapped his shoulder.
"Hey." Ronon offered her a spoonful of whipped cream and jello. Then he tipped back her chair and had a taste.
McKay frowned at Jennifer and shook his head, feebly flexing his arm. "Tennis shoulder."
"You don't play tennis, Rodney."
"Oh my, you are absolutely right." He moved in smoothly for a soft peck.
Lennah re-appeared at the table.
"There's that cat that got the cream." Jennifer called out. "You getting enough calcium, Colare?"
"Oh, yes, Dr." Lennah shook her head with amusement.
"There's enough sexual energy at this table to run a generator!"
"What kind of generator? Naquada? Gas? Hand-crank?" Rodney did some calculations.
"A generator." Sheppard repeated testily. "Between the four of you—"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Rodney held up his correcting finger. "All six of us. We each have a measurable amount of sexual energy, it's simply a matter of whether or not each is expending it."
Lennah coughed. "Hand-crank!" Jennifer snorted and covered her mouth. Ronon chuckled.
"Gesundheit." McKay didn't break stride. "As I was saying, potential energy as to kinetic energy."
"McKay." Teyla shook her head with a smile.
"Thank you, Teyla." John nodded at her before sending Colare a black look. Lennah was unapologetic.
"Play nice." Ronon pulled her into range of his teeth and growled.
"Colare, we haven't seen you in a while, what have you been up to?" McKay asked eagerly.
It got pretty quiet suddenly. The mood falling from jovial to tense.
"I've been keeping her busy." Ronon inclined his head.
"Got that right!" John laughed. Teyla sent him a quelling look. She turned to talk with Jennifer about something.
Lennah studied her hands, no longer in such a festive mood. Ro kissed her forehead and that got a smile. She leaned into his shoulder. McKay was staring at her so she whispered in Ronon's ear and went to get a tray.
Jennifer watched Ronon as he watched Lennah leave. Both Teyla and Sheppard were watching her too. It wasn't so much casual observance as concern, as though something might jump out and attack Colare at any time. Keller didn't say anything at the moment, she'd get more information if she asked Sheppard or Teyla alone.
Ronon turned back around and watched Teyla's wary guard. She'd say if there was anything wrong.
Lennah picked at anything green along the way.
"That's an interesting salad."
Colare looked up to see Steve Connor. She smiled and glanced at her tray: lettuce, green pepper, and cucumber. She grabbed a handful of cherry tomatoes.
"Wait until I stir in the jello and whipped cream."
Connor smiled. "It all goes in the blender anyway."
The line progressed a bit further and she looked at Steve's reflection in the glass. Could he be the guy?
"I know you've been busy but I had some ideas about SocNet I'd like to run by you."
Lennah looked up at him and nodded. "I'm grounded but I'll see if I can distract the watchdogs long enough to come by."
"Grounded?" Steve grinned.
Did I say too much? "Figure of speech." Lennah chuckled. "I'm more comfortable with 'grounded' than 'on a short leash'." She tossed her head at the table waiting for her.
Connor nodded. "Better a short leash than no leash at all." He winked.
She inclined her head. "A very nice short leash."
Steve turned to leave. "Then I'll give you some space." He pumped his eyebrows like a Marx brother.
Colare shook her head and headed to her seat. Ronon kicked her seat out for her and looked very relieved to have her back. Lennah sat down and tugged at his necklace. She was inclined to take her time teasing him.
"Every time?" She heard Sheppard. "Seriously?"
The two both turned to glare at John. "Old man." Ronon teased.
"Jealous." Lennah shrugged.
"Not. Neither." He said to each of them in turn. "I just think it's a little excessive."
Lennah shook her head. "Stop giving me ideas. I'm an impressionable youth, sir."
John's eyes narrowed. "Watch it. I can take away your privileges."
Ro and Lennah looked at each other.
"I believe him." Lennah shook her head.
"You would." He scoffed.
"I just think we should be careful."
"What are you thinking?"
She scooped a dab of whipped cream off his jello. He grabbed her hand and stuck her finger in his mouth.
They stood and he took her tray. "See ya." He said to those remaining.
"Bye, Lennah!" Jennifer called. Colare turned to wave and Ronon smacked her butt. She yelped and hurried along leaving the whole table laughing.