Disclaimer: Not mine

Two months later

Elizabeth knew, after she started thinking clearly again, that she would, sooner or later, let John Sheppard back in her life, and as it turned out, her bed.

At first, it was comfort for both of them. It was something they both needed and wanted. It was the only time when they didn't think of what they had lost, which seemed silly really, but it was true. But now, now it was something that Elizabeth couldn't decide upon. Maybe it was still comfort, in some form but it felt so different from anything she'd ever experienced.

John didn't know that when she let him enter her room, a month ago, that he wouldn't be leaving. It had happened suddenly. She'd kissed him, he kissed her back and before he knew what was happening, they were in her bed and he was slipping inside of her.

They hadn't discussed it. They didn't want to know what they other had to say, in fear mostly. So this was what they did. They'd just lay wrapped up in each other, not talking, not really. Sometimes the odd comment about the city but nothing else.

Teyla was curled up on top of Ronon, she was so light she could do that and he wouldn't even realise. She was kissing his chest, making her way up to his neck. She bit at him in places leaving marks, which she knew everyone would see but she didn't care, she wanted to make it perfectly clear to every woman on Atlantis that Ronon was spoken for and she would kick their asses if they tried anything. She hadn't felt a feeling like this since Aiden. Aiden. There was someone she'd tried to forget but failed. She had loved Aiden; he had been so sweet to her. Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if he'd never run. Part of her felt guilty about that. She knew Aiden had been insecure; he'd been the only one on SGA-1 which didn't have a specific skill or trait. John had the gene, Rodney had science as well as the gene and she had the ability to kick some serious ass. He'd felt left out. It was no wonder he had decided to keep his new abilities. But he'd lost her in the process and she knew he'd figured that out the last time they saw him.

Quickly Teyla kissed Ronon on the lips passionately.

"I love you"

Ronon had been enjoying the feeling of Teyla's lips over skin, exciting every nerve. He was lost in his own thoughts and his thoughts weren't of her, they were of someone else. Elizabeth.

She'd been stuck in his head for weeks, months. As Teyla was kissing his chest, part of him thought it was Elizabeth, part of him wanted it to be her. He moaned into the kiss as she attacked his lips. When he heard the words 'I love you', he jerked back from her slightly. She didn't seem to notice but when he pulled back from her, slid her off him and got out of the bed, she certainly noticed.

"Ronon?"

Ronon started to pace around the room, muttering to himself. Trying to work through, in his head, what he was feeling.

"Ronon look at me?"

Ronon looked round at Teyla who was now stood up facing him. She looked...upset...annoyed, but not pissed.

Ronon took a deep breath

"I care for you Teyla and I do love you but..."

Teyla held up her hand to stop him, she didn't want to hear it, but he needed her to hear what he had to say.

"I need you to hear this. Teyla, there's someone else that I..."

Ronon rubbed his forehead; he knew he had to tell her, he knew he couldn't keep it from her any longer.
Teyla sunk onto the bed as she heard him say 'there's someone else'. She couldn't believe he'd do that to her, not after all the trouble he gave John when he got with Mokian. Then it hit her.

"Please not Elizabeth"

She watched as he looked down, not answering but that gave her the answer she wanted. In one swift movement, Teyla stood up and smack him in the face, hard, leaving a big red handprint on his face.

Ronon snapped his head back, he was pissed and ready to smack her back but he didn't. He curled his hands into fists and dropped them to his side, while Teyla continued to rant.

"How could you do that to me? How could she do that to me, she's supposed to be my friend"

Ronon grabbed her arms

"She's done nothing wrong. She would never hurt you; she loves you too much. It's just me."

Teyla turned her face away from him; she could still see him out of the corner of her eye. His eyes were begging her to understand.

"I'm sorry, but I...It's just something I feel and I can't hide from it. I wanted you to know. I wanted to be honest with you"

Teyla pulled back from him. She looked at him, her eyes were wet as she picked up her jacket and left the room.

Teyla sat in the mess hall drinking something Rodney had introduced her to when there had been no coffee, hot chocolate. Chocolate in general was great for curing the blues but drinking it while eating a solid chocolate bar was something needed when every girl had her heart broke. She'd been in the mess hall for a few hours, since Ronon's revelation. She hadn't wanted to go back to her own room, it was too cold and dark without Ronon. Teyla placed her feet on the chair opposite as she sipped her drink. She knew that the mess hall would be relativity quiet for another few hours. She was glad about that. She just wanted some alone time.

But her silence was cut short when she heard someone walk into the mess hall. The person seemed to be walking in her direction and Teyla sighed inwardly. As the person walked round and stood opposite Teyla saw red.

"Morning Teyla. You're up early"

Elizabeth stood there smiling unaware of the trouble she had caused and it pissed Teyla off.

Teyla stood up quickly and sharply before leaving the mess hall. Elizabeth, worried, followed her quickly into the quiet corridors.

"Teyla. Teyla, what's wrong? Talk to me."

Teyla stopped and turned to her, her voice was low and dangerous as she spoke.

"You ruined everything. You're supposed to be my friend."

Elizabeth stood confused. She didn't have a clue what she'd done.

"Teyla, wait a minute. What's happened?"

Teyla rubbed her forehead and sighed

"Ronon"

Elizabeth shook her head

"What's Ronon done?"

Teyla near screamed the next part.

"He's in love with you"

Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief

"No he isn't."

Teyla leant against the wall and sighed.

"He told me. He wants to be you."

Elizabeth shook her head

"I haven't encouraged it. I couldn't do that to you"

Teyla looked up at her; her eyes were full of tears

"I could never hurt you. You are my friend, I love you"

Teyla stood up properly again.

"Do you promise me that? You love me and would never hurt me"

Elizabeth nodded and Teyla walked towards her. She grabbed Elizabeth and kissed her. It was deep. Teyla grabbed Elizabeth's head and pushed her hard against her own lips.

After a moment, Elizabeth pulled herself back from Teyla and stood well away from her. She tried to speak but found herself lost for words. Teyla, also, was lost for words but she did understand why she had done it.

"I am sorry. I don't know what came over me. I..."

Elizabeth nodded

"It's okay."

Teyla sighed deeply

"I just wanted to know...what he...I know what he sees in you. I just...I wanted to understand."

Elizabeth sighed and walked forward towards her. She wrapped Teyla in her arms and held her.

They held each other for several minutes before Teyla stepped away from her.

Neither knew what to say. Teyla sighed.

"I should go get dressed. I have a training session with Colonel Sheppard soon"

Elizabeth nodded and placed her hand on Teyla's shoulder

"I'll talk to you later"

Teyla nodded and walked in the direction of her quarters.

Elizabeth waited for her to disappear before going off in the other direction towards Ronon's quarters.

She didn't know what she was going to do or say but she knew she had to do something for Teyla.

She knocked on the door when she reached his quarters then punched in her security code. She walked into her room to find him sitting on the bed. He looked like he had been sat there for a long time.

Elizabeth cleared her throat.

"You are going to talk to Teyla. You are going to explain to her that you made a mistake and that what you told her is not true"

Ronon shook his head and stood up

"I can't tell her that. It's not true"

Elizabeth looked sternly at him.

"Make it true."

Ronon walked towards her and stood close enough to feel each other breathing.

"I can't. You're just like her, not many can see that, but you are. You're both strong, you're both smart, powerful, graceful. But there's one difference, you drive me crazy"

Elizabeth looked up at him and he continued

"Everything about you just drives me crazy. As much as I love Teyla, I can't get you out of my head."

Elizabeth shook her head

"Try"

Ronon stepped forward and kissed her. It wasn't as rough has Elizabeth would have expected it to be. It was gentle, as if he didn't want to push her but it was still full of passion. Elizabeth's brain was screaming at her to stop this but she didn't. She kissed him back. Hard. With as much passion as he was kissing her with. Ronon placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer to him.

Elizabeth's wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down.

She didn't know what she was doing, she wanted to stop but she couldn't. Ronon pushed her down onto the bed behind her. He continued to kiss her while his hands explore every dip and curve of her body, and she certainly wasn't resisting.

Ronon unzip Elizabeth's jacket and slipped it down her arms. He'd been waiting for her for too long. Elizabeth sat up and let the jacket fall off her arms. She dropped back down to the bed and let him hover over her as he kissed her deeply. Eventually he laid half on top of her and slid her top up. He began to trace her body. Her skin felt warm under his touch. He moved one of his hands up to her breasts and cupped them. Elizabeth moaned into his mouth as he undid her trousers. Elizabeth's hands were drawn to the zipper on his trousers and she started to undo them. Elizabeth stopped for a minute as Ronon tried pushed down her trousers. She pushed him away from her.

"I can't. I can't do this to Teyla"

Ronon moved next to her, his breathing was deep and heavy.

"I know you're loyal to her but..."

Elizabeth shook her head and sat up. She touched his cheek with her hand and leant in to kiss him again. She nipped his lip as she pulled away.

"I want you to know that I understand how you feel, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel something in return, but I'm not willing to hurt Teyla...and John"

Ronon sighed

"I can understand you not wanting to hurt Teyla but Sheppard; after all he did to you. Why do you even care about what he thinks anyway?"

Elizabeth grimaced

"The two of us have been...working things out, so to speak."

Ronon nodded slowly understanding what she meant by that.

"You took him back?"

Elizabeth shook her head and sighed

"I didn't take him back. We just...we needed each other...after I lost the baby. I needed him, he needed me"

Ronon looked down and shook his head

"I was here for you. You didn't need to go back to him"

Elizabeth rubbed her hand across her face.

"I need him because...he is all I have left of the baby. You don't understand what the feels like, every time I look at John, I think of our child and what he would have grown up into."

Ronon touched her cheek.

"You think it didn't hurt me. I loved that baby. I'd felt that baby move, I saw it move. He felt special to me. I couldn't wait to see him grow up. Losing that baby hurt me too, not just you and Sheppard."

Elizabeth hadn't know how losing the baby had effected him. She'd known he was protective of her and her child during her pregnancy but she never knew he had grown to love the child.

Elizabeth moved closer to him and cupped his face.

"I never knew. You never told me"

Ronon pushed away from her and stood up.

"I didn't want to burden you; I wanted to be strong for you. I couldn't break down."

Elizabeth stayed slumped down on the bed. She wondered if there was anything she could say to him. Slowly she rose up and walked over to him. They stood looking at each other for a few moments. Saying nothing, doing nothing, until Ronon placed his hands on her hips and pulled her forward to him. He wrapped his arms around her and placed his chin on her head as she buried her head into his chest.

"I'm sorry Ronon."

She raised her arms from her side and wrapped them around him. They stood, just wrapped in each other's arms for a few minutes before Ronon moved his hands from her waist to her face which he cupped and turned upwards so she was looking at him. He lent his face down and kissed her.

Elizabeth stopped it straight away and sighed. She didn't know what to do. On the one hand, Teyla was her friend, while she and John had started what could be called a relationship and it seemed like he had changed, but on the other hand, there was Ronon. He had been there for her during some of the hardest times of her life the last few months. He also didn't seem the type to go off with a random woman on a planet. He was safe and maybe, just maybe, that's what she needed. Someone who would take care of her, who would love her.

Slowly she touched his cheek, she didn't want to hurt anyone but once she was going to think of herself. She met his lips.

Two month later

Bala, Balaringing

They'd kept it quiet, but a part of them was convinced that the others knew. There were things, small things. They would touch each other more than necessary. They'd spent a lot of time with each other, and of course this relationship drew the rumour mills away from Ronon and Elizabeth. What was more interesting, Elizabeth and Ronon or Rodney and Teyla? Rodney and Teyla was the answer that most on Atlantis said, after all, they weren't even sure if anything was going on between Elizabeth and Ronon but the dynamic between Rodney and Teyla was well talked about. Everyone was wondering how in the hell Rodney got a woman like that, what they didn't know is that Rodney had some talents that were not documented.

Teyla had gone to him not long after she'd finished with Ronon. She done it so they could both move on and she, also, was not stupid, Elizabeth had broke up with John not long after that, she knew that he and Elizabeth wanted to be together and she wouldn't stand in the way of that. She wanted them to be happy.

Going to Rodney had been risky; it had been entirely possible that he would knock her back. She'd been expecting it but he didn't and on that night she saw the real Rodney McKay. Still arrogant, still annoying but she saw compassion, love and romance in him that night. She hadn't expected that. No one would have expected that.

So they were sat there, Teyla had her hand slyly on his knee, running her fingers up and down, putting him in an increasingly difficult position. She knew what she was doing and loved it. Rodney shifted in his seat next to Elizabeth. Elizabeth kept turning her head slightly and glaring at him, she didn't know what Teyla was doing, if she had known she would have sent the two of them out of the negations they were currently in with the Balarines. Teyla knew that she shouldn't be doing this here but she was feeling very flirty today and couldn't keep her hands off him.

Teyla slid her fingers further up his thigh, as she slipped her hand to the inside of his thigh Rodney stood up and quickly excused himself from the negations. Teyla watched him leave, a very amused look on her face. Elizabeth saw the look on Teyla's face and sighed

"Teyla go with him please"

Teyla smiled and nodded as she stood up and left the room.

Rodney breathed a sigh of relief as he got out in the fresh air. Teyla was wearing him out. She was so demanding and he was not used to that. He rested against the wall as the door to the meeting area opened and Teyla stepped out smiling. Rodney groaned inward, wondering how Ronon used to deal with this, as she walked towards him.

"Are you okay Dr McKay?"

Rodney decided something right there and then, Teyla Emmagan, despite her many talents, was one evil woman. Teyla smiled sweetly as she took his hands and 'checked his 'pulse'

"Dr McKay your pulse is racing"

Rodney swallowed hard and squeaked out

"Is it?"

Teyla nodded

"It is, we should do something about that"

Teyla drew in close to him and kissed him. Rodney was about to relax into it when he realised where they were and pulled away.

"Not in public"

Teyla stepped away and smiled.

"Honestly Rodney. You have no adventure about you"

"No adventure, I moved to another galaxy. If that's not adventurous…"

Rodney, though, trailed off when he saw a group of armed guards surround them

Ronon watched as Teyla left and then shot an amused look at Elizabeth, which she simply smiled at before turning back to the Balarine representative.

"Sorry about that Governor Rele"

The Governor smiled and nodded

"Quite alright Dr Weir"

The Balarines were only one of three civilisations, which lived on the planet of Balaringing. There was Bala, where they currently were and they were also the more technically advanced of the three. There was a second civilisation called the 'Millians' who were close allies with the Balarines and were also currently negotiating with an Atlantis team, including John, in another part of the planet and finally there was the Molinas who were a civilisation that was ruled under military law.

The Atlantis team had tried to negotiate with them but they were not interested in negotiating with a civilian, and they were even less interested in negotiating with a woman. When their leader had said 'The Weaker sex shouldn't be involved in men's work. They should be simply there to serve us and our needs' Ronon was ready to hit him especially after he saw the look he gave Elizabeth, but Elizabeth stopped him. The last thing they needed was another enemy.

Elizabeth smiled back at Governor Rele before beginning to speak again but she was cut off when the door Rodney and Teyla had just existed out of swung open and a group dressed in the Monlinas Military gear stormed the room dragging Elizabeth and Ronon to their feet. One of the men also drew Governor Rele to his feet and stared him down before spitting at him.

"You and the Millians went against the wishes of Lord Litman. For that you will pay but until then we will just take these people."

Ronon tried to fight against the guards until Elizabeth stopped him with a shake of her head knowing things would be made worse if he tried anything.

Ronon stopped fighting against the guards and let them drag him and Elizabeth out of the room.

The two of them were bundled into truck like vehicles and drove passed the border into Monlinan territory. They were taken to a big stone building just outside the capital city.

The two of them then realised that Rodney and Teyla were in the first truck, which had been ahead of them for the whole journey.

The four of them were dragged inside the stone building and taken down a spiral staircase to the basement of the building. There were met with the sight of metal cage like cells. Elizabeth noticed straight away, who was already sat in the cell. It was John and the team he'd taken to the Millians. Ronon, Elizabeth, Teyla and Rodney were all thrown into separate cells next to each other.

Elizabeth stood up steadily from the position that she had landed. She walked to the back of her cells, which connected with the back of John's. John walked towards her and sighed

"They caught us off guard. Something about the Millians and Balarines disobeying their orders."

Elizabeth closed her eyes and nodded

"Same thing happened with us. Have they told you what they want?"

John shook his head

"No, apparently they want to speak to both of us."

Ronon rolled his eyes, sighed and walked as close to them as he could

"Last time we were here Lord Litman said he wanted nothing to do with us because Weir's in charge. Why would he want to speak with her?"

John could hear a tone in Ronon's voice, a tone he knew well, it was his tone or at least the tone he had when he and Elizabeth were together and something threatened her life. He'd know for a while what was going on, Teyla had told him, quite by accident really. He'd been annoyed, of course, that Elizabeth had broken up with him for Ronon, but then he had to admit she hadn't cheated on him, not like he had on her, on several occasions, she'd at least waited.

John snapped back to what Ronon had said and sighed

"I know and I can't explain it."

Elizabeth turned and rested her head on one of the bars behind her. She'd been in similar positions like this before but she knew that there was always a way out of it, either by negation or by force. John could see she was worried and lent forward to rest on his own bars.

"Don't worry. If the Balarines and Millians don't contact Atlantis to tell them, Lorne will send a rescue team when we're overdue."

Elizabeth nodded slowly, knowing it was true but also still worried about what could happen to them between now and then, after all they weren't due to make contact until tomorrow.

TBC…