Disclaimer : I do not own Stargate Atlantis nor am I making a profit from this story, I do own Dr. Orla Grant though.
Rating : M for sexual content
Plot : Off World, Mud, mild whumpage and hopefully a pairing you will all love.
Pairings : Ronon Dex/Orla Grant more later
Spoilers : Set in Season 5 but I had changed a few things, Ronon has Season 4 hair NOT that wig, Teyla has not had her baby (hurry up John), Laura Cadman is now stationed on Atlantis and Carson Beckett is the CMO, I love him sorry.
A Massive thank you to bailey1ak for you patience and guidance your a star *hugs*.
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Ronon edged himself as close to the right side of Orla as he could and prayed she would do as she was told. He braced himself to try and leap as far as he could. He threw himself forward hoping his own momentum would help but with the mud it wasn't exactly easy.
Ronon landed just short of the tree into the mud and tried to propel himself again. He grabbed at the tree branches trying to get a grip; the mud was no longer just deep, it was much softer and slipperier.
He grabbed at the thick branch but his feet couldn't find any foothold. He used his weight to dig in as he'd seen Sheppard do when he'd tried to pull him upright earlier. Eventually, he steadied himself but was breathless, sore and weary.
He slowly turned around to face Orla. It wasn't easy, the mud was dangerous and he was covered in it. The stuff was making his clothing hard and uncomfortable, but he ignored his discomfort, he had more important things to worry about.
Ronon was worried; Orla was much smaller than him, her legs shorter making the jump harder.
He laughed at all the times he's teased her about being short. Remembering how he'd offered to lift her up once so she could see what was on offer in the mess hall. She'd tried to kick him, albeit a mock kick, he'd promptly told her he was surprised she could even stand on feet so little never mind actually hurt anyone with them. He knew that she understood his teasing was with affection and not in spite. Until right now he'd never wished Orla was leggier.
"Orla," Ronon shouted.
Her head lifted up to look at him, he saw she was scared, but he knew she would try.
Orla looked at Ronon her heart bursting with love, this man had thrown himself into that landslide to save her, she was damn well going to get to him. She was scared. That leap was okay for him his legs were long.
She laughed at the memory of Ronon telling her about the extra long bed Atlantis had to order. Until it arrived he said his feet had always hung off the bed.
"Orla, look at me," Ronon cried.
"I want you to edge slowly and carefully around the tree till you face me. Watch the ground it's slippery, hold the branch above you to steady yourself," he continued.
Orla moved slowly trying hard not to panic or think What if I fall. Her right hand clamped on the branch above her head, shoulders and muscles objecting to being used. Eventually, inch by inch she was where she'd felt Ronon stop before jumping.
"Look at me, little one," Ronon demanded. "I want you to try and brace yourself before you jump, keep looking at me not the ground. When you jump push forward as far as you can and keep your arms out for me to catch you, the ground is slippery you will fall but I will catch you, little one. I promise," Ronon's eyes never left her face.
Orla braced herself, she knew she'd wouldn't make it far but trusted Ronon to catch her somehow. As she slowly rocked herself back and forth reading herself, she looked across at her lover's mud streaked face and thought he was never more handsome than he was now, standing there asking her to trust him.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Yeah," Orla nodded.
Orla launched herself as far as she could, which was much shorter than Ronon had managed. She landed with a thud arms stretched out to Ronon, she started to slide down back to the deluge still passing by.
Ronon knelt down into the mud, reaching for her would be easier lower to the ground, it would give him less chance to slip. He hoped. His arms flew out to her grabbing at anything they could. He caught her wrist and tried to pull her towards him, the mud wanting to keep her prisoner.
Ronon pulled with all he could only just managing to get her a bit nearer so he could try to grasp her other wrist.
He was slipping forward.
Keeping a tight hold onto Orla he had to manoeuvre his body so he was sitting in the mud again. He needed to grab the tree again to stop them from slipping, he had to let go of one of her wrists.
"Orla don't panic, I need to get a hold of the branch again, I need to let go of one of your wrists. I won't let go of both, I won't lose you. Orla." He firmly told her.
He let go of her left wrist and grabbed at the branch.
The mud was too deep for him to pull Orla to safety and hold onto the tree with the landslide behind them. Falling back into that was not an option.
"Orla, grab my leg," he shouted.
Orla sunk her arm into the mud in the hope of being able to push herself towards Ronon. She felt her arm being pulled at by him but they weren't moving far. She rammed her feet into the mud and yelled as she dragged her arm up and caught Ronon's right boot.
"Climb up me, Orla!" Ronon encouraged as he saw Orla grab at him.
Orla couldn't get her hand around Ronon's ankle normally when he wasn't wearing boots so she grabbed at his pant leg and held on. She brought her right leg higher to try and push herself forward. Slowly, exhaustible inch by inch she got to his knee, she was shaking with the effort.
Ronon held onto the tree feeling the branch scrape and cut his hand but he wouldn't let go. Slowly he felt her climb up his leg. He tried to encourage her telling her she was nearly there.
When she got to his knee he let go of the branch and her wrist. He grabbed her TAC vest with both hands and drew her up his body crushing her into his embrace before falling back into the mud both panting heavily.
"We have to move a bit more before we can rest, Orla, it's too dangerous," Ronon breathed heavily.
Orla nodded, too emotional to answer.
Ronon helped Orla to her knees and using the branch of the tree for support again he pulled her to her feet. Carefully, and with Ronon helping to keep her upright they managed to get to the next tree. The ground was firmer but the mud just as deep.
"Can we stop, please," Orla begged, "Just a few minutes, Ronon, please," Orla pleaded.
"Okay," was all Ronon could utter, the events starting to sink in.
Ronon looked at Orla, suddenly he was holding back the tears that were welling in his eyes and threatening to fall. He kissed her, desperate to touch her again. He felt her warm tears fall and the way she trembled. It just made him want to kiss her more.
Orla couldn't hold back the emotion any longer. She'd tried being strong but she really needed a cry. She felt Ronon's lips take hers and she lost the battle to be brave. He kissed her passionately as she cried. She shook from all of day's efforts, she was sure at that point she felt him hold her tighter and deepen their kiss.
TBC... Please review