And here is the chapter that was actually intended for this week.

The first thing John heard as he neared was cheering and groans with the steady beat of training weapons in the background, a fresh wave of laughter and groans of disappointment greeted John as he stepped into the training room to find a crowd surrounding the mats, Ronon's dreads could be seen in the centre as the crowd broke to let a young soldier through supported by two friends "Corporal Gorse, what's going on here?"

Gorse winced and glanced back as the tapping started up again "Uhh I was told Ronon stormed in about an hour ago, picked up the training batons and challenged anyone to bring him down and for the person who did he had a bottle of booze" Gorse shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot "After the first three men went down without so much as landing a hit it became more of a competition between all of us."

"And how many went down before you?" Sheppard asked with an arched brow, if his men wanted a beating that was their business so long as they could still work.

"Uhh, I don't rightly know sir, I was at the mess when Rylac radioed me, I think there were 6 before I arrived and another 2 after that." He looked embarrassed "He just moves so fast sir, I don't know how you can train with him, he's inhuman."

John smiled and nodded to the two men supporting Gorse "Off you go... and tell Nurse Nicky that it should stop soon so don't bother sending anyone down."

"Yes sir." they all said in crisp unity before shuffling off.

Pushing his way through the small crowd of bodies he reached the edge of the mat in time to see another of his men fall. The cheering was quieter and his men watched him to see what he was going to do. As the latest victim was assisted off the mats John assessed Ronon.

The man looked possessed, eyes wild and searching, his hair, tied back at the beginning of the evening, was now coming out of the knot and, Sheppard noted, he was starting to tire, sweating and panting.

A new opponent stepped onto the mat and reached for the batons but Sheppard caught his eye and shook his head as he stripped off his jacket and shoes. Not taking his eyes off Ronon as he picked up the batons he addressed the crowd who had stilled at his actions "Clear out." there was no question that that was an order from their commanding officer "Ronon and I need to talk." as the two men started to circle each other the crowd started to disperse, Sheppard didn't expect them all to leave but hopefully they would at least be out of earshot.

"Sheppard" Ronon said clipped and predatory.

Neither of them let their eyes shift.

One foot in front of the other

Batons held against their arms.

"Ronon" Sheppard said in warning, Goosebumps running over him when Ronon's only response was a feral smile. This was not going as he had hoped... Plan B it is. Sheppard went in for the strike, aiming low and keeping light in his feet, baton lightning fast as he lunged and twisted away, months of training showing in his movements.

He didn't stand a chance.

Ronon twisted and swung an arm around, catching Sheppard in the back with his baton shielded arm, hours and hours of training was the only thing that kept Sheppard from dropping his batons then. Refusing to give Ronon time to think Sheppard spun straight into another move, managing to clip Ronon behind the knee before darting away. The effect of this was instantaneous; Ronon gave up all pretence of control and came at John swinging.

The soldiers watching winced at every sharp hit that Ronon landed against Sheppard's shielded arms, they stirred as it went on and they realised that their colonel was holding his own.

Sheppard struggled against the onslaught of an enraged Ronon, watching for the mistake he was bound to make soon... boy did he hope it would be soon "Ronon." block, block, strike "I've talked to Jennifer, she's" dodge, strike "damn it, Ronon, she's OK!" Sheppard's anger slipped out and he forced Ronon back a few steps.

Ronon took a swipe at John's head and he was forced to duck and skip back "No, she's not." Ronon said sounding frustrated

Sheppard stumbled "Fine! You're right." he yelled in frustration as they circled each other again breathing heavily "But she's admitting that now." Ronon grunted but didn't comment on the unlikelihood of it "She would like to see you I think." Sheppard hit a grin as Ronon's face too on blank surprise "And I think another reminder about those lessons you promised her wouldn't go amiss now either." Sheppard relaxed slightly as he saw Ronon's anger drain from him "So what do you say big guy? Do you-" Ronon swept in, knocking John's feet out from under him "Ow." John whispered from his splayed position of the floor.

Sheppard just lay there trying to get his wind back as Ronon towered over him grinning "Don't let your guard down, I thought I had beaten that into you already."

"Yeah." Sheppard groaned and reached up a hand so Ronon could haul him up. Sheppard regained his footing and patted Ronon on the back "Next time." he said "Next time I'll drop you."

Ronon just chuckled as walked away.

"Hey!" Sheppard shouted in indignation.

Jennifer had waited as long as she could before venturing out of her room to snatch some dinner to take back to her rooms and when she did she had her hair out and head down hoping it would hide the new black eye she was sporting.

"Doc."

"Well." she mumbled under her breath "Why would my luck get any better now?" Trying to keep her head lowered without it looking too awkward Jennifer turned to face Ronon and smiled... and then thought twice about that when the smile tugged at her bruise. "Ronon, I hope you've been well?"

Ronon nodded but didn't further the conversation leaving them both standing awkwardly in the middle of the corridor "Umm... Well, good night." Jennifer tried to walk past Ronon without it looking like she was giving him a wide berth. It was at that moment that she became acutely aware there was a small war going on inside of her, half of her brain feared even the thought of somebody comforting her; the thought of a hug sent waves of panic through her with the feeling of being restrained, but the other half of her; the old half, the unbroken half, was desperate for human contact. Another thing to add to the list of crazy.

"Wait, Jennifer." Ronon said softly, a hand settling on her shoulder and turning her to face him again. Her eyes dropped to his feet "I heard about what happened today." a finger slipped under her chin and she thought fleetingly thought about fighting it but instead closed her eyes, unable to look Ronon in the face "Did you know my people wore their marks with pride, there were a sign you had learnt something from a fight."

Jennifer kept her eyes closed as she focused on the heat radiating from their single point of contact "Well, I'll try to remember that next time I do battle with a computer." she quipped. An amused hum from Ronon got her to finally open her eyes and they stood like that for a moment, his hand not moving from her face as they looked at each other. Jennifer broke the gaze withdrawing and wrapping her arms around herself for comfort against the sudden memories "I have been meaning to thank you for weeks now, it seems we never get a chance to talk now that I'm back." a deep breath and another small step back gives her enough courage to look him in the eye again "Thank you for finding me, I remember so little of that day but I do remember you carrying me away from" my grave "that pit and I heard you refused to give up on me... I don't even know how to-"

"Doc really it was nothing, I-"

"But it wasn't, I had given up and-"

"And we nearly arrived too late... we thought we had arrived too late. You were half buried, bloodied and bruised..." he trailed off as the memory swam into view

Jennifer smiled a lay a small hand on his arm "But you didn't. I am alive and ... well." Jennifer tried not to choke on the lie

"At least we got the guy for you, that should give you some peace of mind at least."

Jennifer fought hard to keep her face from betraying her. Why had she lied about the other woman? At the time it had seemed like such a good idea but at every turn she was reminded of the one loose end to the whole incident "Yeah." she stammered and dropped her eyes back to his feet "Well, goodnight." and walked away.

"Sleep well Jennifer."

She swallowed and didn't look back "You too." and if those two words were a little strangled neither of them commented.

Oh Jennifer, what have you dug yourself into now?

I really liked this chapter, it took me ages to get the tension in the fight scene right and then I put off writing the Jen/Ronon scene for weeks because I couldn't feel what either side was feeling (if that makes sense). An all-nighter with my Beta reader is what final got me through it.

Hope you enjoyed this one!