CHAPTER 18 – REPERCUSSIONS

The storm had abated sometime during the night and John and Ronon stood on the rain washed sand looking out at a now calm sea, watching as yet another sunrise pearled it's fingers over the horizon to start this new day. They had talked through most of the night while Rodney snored on the couch in the lounge and Gina had rubbed his shoulder and smiled – then gone to the bed alone.

Ronon looked at him now. "You sure you know what you're doing John?" John knew what he talked about, and knew who he meant. He had seen the touches they shared and seen the open look in her eyes when she had looked at John. And seen also, how his friend had not even attempted to hide the passion in his own.

"I haven't been really certain of anything since I woke up on this damn beach... too many variables, too many scenarios. The one playing out right now? I have to assume it's the right one. I couldn't say much last night... but Gina's Aunt Jennifer? Not just Sam's grandmother... she's an ancient Ronon – Callandra. She's the damn monkey that's been sitting on my shoulders since I arrived – the one's that led me to the conclusions I have. Face it, I didn't get there myself. Not with complicated scenarios such as the ones at play here. She's been my guide and she's here to make sure I don't make the wrong choices. Because Ronon, I suspect that if I did, she'd come down on me like a ton of bricks so fast, my head would spin. So I gotta figure... whatever this is between me and Gina. That's meant to be – too. She wouldn't let me get involved with her niece if she knew that anyone was gonna get hurt."

Ronon kicked in the sand, then turned his gaze back out to watch the rise rising over the brilliant waters. "I'm trying John, to process all this crap you've told us. You know me. I like it simple. This is ...not."

"No Ronon, it's not. It's probably the most damn complicated play in the history of football. A hail mary, if I can pull it off. The sucker punch is? I must have already pulled it off...or I wouldn't be here. Or Atlantis wouldn't be there... aaah... crap. It makes my head hurt!"

"Hey Sheppard...?"

"Yeah, Ronon?..."

"Remember you told me once you were gonna teach me how to surf?"

John felt the beginnings of a grin as he turned to face his friend. "You thinking that time could be now?"

"Seems like we're here for a reason... that's a reason as far as I can see..."

John was laughing now. "Somehow I don't think the ancients manoevered me the hell back here fifty years to teach you to surf... but hey? I'm game. Let's do it!"

Ten minutes later two laughing friends were out at the breaker line, John painstakingly trying to explain the more obvious points on how to catch a wave. Ronon was not so good at listening. He was a doer. And when the next wave came through, he did just that. Simply paddled along with the swell as it started to build, and with an inner knowledge simply pushed himself to his feet and let out a wild cry of delight. John's own laughter rumbled out. These moments were rare and precious. Friendship, bonding and a sense that everything was right in the universe. Perhaps this was one of the reasons they were here. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. And with that sweet analogy on his lips, he too, rose like a magestic water warrior to ride the next wave into shore, catching a grin from Ronon as he began the paddle back out.

Yeah... repercussions...like waves that break relentlessly onto the shore. Like the love of a woman who stood now, at the window of her cottage and looked out at the sunrise that tipped magestically over the water and thought of the man who now held her heart firmly near his own. Like the ripple in time that shattered slightly when one thing was changed...