Look at this, the chapter up and it's only 30min into Tuesday (NZ Time). I'm doing better this week!

The idea for this chapter is actually what started the whole sequel to Brute's Bosses and Crazy Girls this scene is really how I envisioned Ronon and Keller bonding originally.

Enjoy

Jennifer dragged her shirt wearily over her head and rolled into bed.

'Sleep. Good.' She thought.

'So tired' her body agreed.

Jennifer Ran

Terror and adrenaline surged through her exhaustion, forcing her forward past the point that any sane person would have dropped at and then beyond

The woods were dark and silent, her gasping, sobbing breath the only thing to break it in that moment.

But he was coming

With a certainty that only comes in dreams Jennifer knew that they were close on her heels. Great big men with tempers to match and dogs with teeth that longed to tear flesh

Lilly's screams tore through the air and she surged on faster than before but with no destination in mind and her mind scrambled with fear it was inevitable that she would get caught

The hot breath of the dog at her heels

Hands snatching at her hair

She stumbled and glanced down at her bare feet on the uneven ground. Realising that her feet should be hurting a sharp pain flared from her heel

The ground started to incline and turned from soft leafy mulch to sharp rocks and twigs, all bent on making her stumble

A sob tore from her throat as she felt teeth on her ankle and her feet were pulled from under her

Hands on her, rolling her over

A heavy body pinning her to the ground

Jennifer fought like a wild cat but the figure just gave a masculine chuckle. Terrified and frantic Jennifer forced her knee up so she could get her foot under her and with a twist of her hips shoved him off with her

And wound up on the floor of her room

Instinct still drove her as she scuttled back into a corner of her room, knees tight to her chest and her shoulders hunched, ready for a blow from the dark

Slowly reality reasserted itself and her muscles started to relax. A dream, it was just a dream. Just a dream but the fear she had felt was real enough to have her hyperaware of her surroundings, the adrenaline was still thundering through her system and the urge to run was so strong she couldn't keep still and eventually she just tugged on some sweats, a tee and trainers and stepped out into the hall.

The lights were dimed as the city went through its night cycle and a glance through the windows showed a steel grey pre-dawn sky. Fantastic.

As she started to jog Jen let her thoughts wander, the path she took through the city was aimless but no one was up at this hour so she had free reign of the corridors

The reason for her run soon became the subject of her thoughts and even with the proof of her rescue surrounding her she could almost hear the panting of dogs and the light footfalls of her captors. Jen unconsciously picked up her pace

The run through the forest that she had attempted when she had escaped on the far away planet swam through her mind.

Faster.

Remembering that feral dog only inches from her with nothing stopping its handler from setting it on her except a quick instruction to not break the 'toy', an instruction that, for all she knew had been reneged, pushed the fear level from extreme to mind-scrambling.

Faster

Through Jennifer's laboured breath a whimper escaped and she glanced behind her, half expecting to see the animals on her heels. Sweat poured off her as her strained body was pushed further than is had been in weeks, the sweat finding her almost healed back and setting it aflame.

Ghostly trees shimmered against the walls of Atlantis and Jennifer could feel her feet sink into the leafy mulch

They were so close to catching her, she had sprint if she was going to have any chance of escape. She didn't remember when it started raining but she could feel it running in rivulets down her neck but instead of wet earth she smelt the sharp tang of metal and the ocean.

No distractions.

She sped ahead, not caring that her hip was aching now, joining her back and head in a rhythmic pulse of pain.

She was so close to safety. She didn't know where it was but she could feel it. If she just pressed on a little longer she could rest but no sooner had she thought it but her ankle rolled under her, the invisible tree root being what brought her to a gasping, whimpering, drenched halt as her killers footsteps neared.

Ronon heard footfalls and changed direction to see who was doing their morning run at this early hour, usually he did it solo, even Sheppard wasn't willing to join him. A flash of familiar blonde hair around the corner ahead of him told him it was Jennifer and the ragged gasps for breath and flat out speed meant it probably wasn't a pleasure run. "Shit" Ronon mumbled under his breath as he picked up the pace and followed at a distance

Jennifer turned at the sound of footsteps behind her louder and more real than before, echoing oddly through the trees. "oh God, oh God, oh God" she sobbed between gasps. Trying to lose them she darted between trees, taking random lefts and rights when the trees opened up like corridors. Soon Jennifer noticed an odd smell; wet mental tainted the damp moss that had been there previously and it had grown colder and darker as she continued her escape.

A moment of distraction; that is all it took. Jennifer was never sure what she had tripped over, a root, a rock, her own feet, it didn't matter, the only thing that mattered was that they were here, oh God they were here and she would be punished for trying to escape

He knew that staying close was fuelling Jennifer's flashback but she kept taking random turns and ducking out of sight, barely stopping for doors to open for her. He could hear her terrified gasps, knew that whatever happened next would have to be handled delicately. Where was Teyla when you needed her? Ronon swore and sped up when Jennifer took another turn and darted trough doors that lead to an outdoor platform.

He made it through just in time to see Jennifer trip and fall, her hands out to catch herself on the cold metal. In an attempt to not scare her any further Ronon stopped and raised his hands to his sides trying to look less threatening. It didn't seem to work because Jennifer scrambled backwards on her feet and damaged hands sobbing and pleading until her back hit a support pillar. Ronan locked eyes with her and slowly lowered himself to the ground "Jennifer you're safe, I promise" there was no response, her eyes still wide with unseen horror "Jennifer look at me" he commanded. Jennifer flinched but her eyes snapped to his "What is my name?"

It too her a few seconds but she stuttered it out

"keep your eyes on me" she nodded mutely "you are on Atlantis. You are safe" she frowned but Ronon watched as her eyes darted about and she started to relax. Once she was sitting huddled against the pillar Ronon tried to shuffle to sit against it with her but when he moved she flinched and started to hyperventilate so he settled back down and stared out across the sea. They sat in tense silence for a few moments before Ronon started to talk again "you remind me of a friend of mine sometimes" he started quietly "she was our village healer too. Her name was Traya. When we were growing up we use to play together because our mothers were friends. There was this one time she found a puddle, we must have been about 7 summers old, and decided to make mud balls to throw at me" Ronon chuckled at the memory and tried not to pay Jennifer too much attention as her focus turned to him "I wasn't to be outdone and so made my own from the pond behind the house. Our mothers should have been furious with us when we came home covered in mud but they just howled with laughter and tossed us off the wharf into the deep end of the pond to clean up"

Jennifer watched Ronon as he spoke of his life before the wrath, a wistful expression flitting across it, smiling. She realised she didn't know any details about Ronon's past and was touched that he would share such cherished memories.

The forest slowly receded from her mind.

Ronon watched Jennifer's shoulders relax as he spoke on "When we were 15 a boy started courting her, I was so sure she would get distracted and stop hanging out with me but she never did" a soft smile lit Ronon's face "two years later I gave her away at their wedding. Tray's Father had died when she was a baby and she had no siblings" Ronon shot Jennifer a rueful smile "I was sure my heart would break when the wedding was announced, I thought I was in love with her. Wasn't until years later that I learnt what love was" Ronon took a moment to savour the happy memories before brushing them aside "Now, Grafe you don't remind me of at all, we were neighbours growing up and I remember him being the biggest…" and the story telling went on. Ronon shared more in that time than he had since becoming a runner and slowly shifted himself until he leant against the pillar beside her. When the sun had risen over the horizon and it was light enough to see Jennifer shivering Ronon stood and offered his hand which Jennifer stared at with residual wariness before accepting.

Her legs were stiff and she now realised how cold she was in contrast to the warm hand holding hers. How he managed that while out here as long as her she didn't know, maybe shock had something to do with it, either way she decided, she was in no state to analyse.

Although she told him she didn't need it Ronon insisted on escorting her to her door. The walk itself was done in silence but once they neared her door Ronon turned to her "the offer to spar still stands" Jennifer sighed and nodded "you can't be forced to do it but many of us would rest better knowing you're able to defend yourself especially with your luck"

Jennifer winced but didn't dispute it "I understand that but I'm a doctor, I shouldn't need to-"

"At least try" Ronon cut in

Jennifer frowned at him but he looked so determined and after a staring contest that she eventually groaned in defeat "fine. I'll do it, Just… don't expect much"

Ronon grinned "we will start slow but I will train you until you can drop Sheppard" Ronon walked off leaving Jennifer staring at his back, mouth agape.

"Shit" she muttered and swallowed against a suddenly dry mouth before entering her suite to get ready for her shift

Like?

There are still parts of this chapter that feel... stiff but I still like it

More troubles are on the way for Keller - it can never be simple for her can it?

4 chapters and an epilogue to go!