fic: Back Home [Pt.5]
TITLE: Back Home - Pt. 5
AUTHOR: renisanz
SUMMARY: Settling down won't be easy for either of them. A sequel to “Making Up the Past.” Ronon/Keller
RATING: PG-13
WORDS: 2,200
DISCLAIMER: I don't own 'em, but they're fun to play.
NOTES: Spoilers for “Midway.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Back Home - Pt. 4
Ronon had just come to get Jennifer for lunch. He really needed to talk to her.
Sheppard had informed him about a mandatory interview he was expected to attend with the IOA. He had tried to relay the information in a casual way, but that alone alerted Ronon to how serious the matter was. Maybe then would have been a good time to tell his friend and team leader about his situation with Jennifer, but the moment quickly passed as a few Marines arrived a bit early for the morning training session.
When the door to her quarters finally opened, he barely had a chance to take in Jennifer's reddened face and puffy eyes before she'd practically thrown herself into him after he'd stepped into the room. Her arms laced tightly around his waist and his natural response was to bring his arms around her even as she buried her face in his chest. Ronon's mind traveled back to what had occurred that morning, with Jennifer visibly upset for no particular reason. What had she called it?
“Uh . . . hormones?” he guessed, hoping to alleviate the feeling of dread that was snaking around his heart, slowly tightening as Jennifer's arms did around him now.
Jennifer sniffled and her voice finally broke in a choked, wet laughter, and Ronon felt relief for a brief moment before she shook her head.
In response, Ronon brought one hand up from its place on her back, up to her chin, and he tilted her head up to meet his worried eyes.
“What's wrong, Jen?”
He watched as a fresh tear spilled onto her cheek. He wiped it away with the pad of his thumb and she leaned into his gentle touch.
“It's my dad,” she said as she met his eyes. “He's. . . .he's. . . not well.” She looked as if she was fighting the urge to explain more, maybe use more medical terms, but she settled on a simple, if, completely unsatisfying explanation.
“It's serious,” Ronon stated. He knew Jennifer would not be this upset if it wasn't.
She nodded,at last stepping away from him, taking his hand. He followed the gentle tug of her hand as she led him over to sit down beside her on the bed.
“I hadn't heard from my dad in a few days. He usually emails me on Tuesdays, and I didn't think much of it when he didn't contact me this week. But then I got a message from my aunt Joanna, my dad's sister. She's never emailed me here before, so I knew right then that something was wrong.”
She paused, closing her eyes against a new stream of tears. Ronon wrapped his arm across her shoulders and then pulled her to him. He placed a soft kiss to her forehead, and he felt the tension in her body relax a little.
“Aunt Joanna was rather vague on the explanation. Relaying medical terminology isn't her thing,” Jennifer said. She had regained some of her composure as she continued explaining the situation. “But, uhm . . . Dad basically had a heart attack.”
Ronon was familiar with that term. Rodney often used it when he complained about overexerting himself when they were out in the field. A few days ago, he had heard Jennifer use the phrase as well.
It was morning, but the sun had yet to rise. He was pretty sure Jen thought he had been sleeping, so he didn't open his eyes as she carefully shifted away from him to lay on her back. Curious, he peeked over at her through the slit of one eye. He watched as her hand traced the growing curve of her abdomen. He watched as a fond smile bowed her lips for a fleeting moment only to be replaced by an expression of uncertainty as her brow creased in what looked to be concern. “My dad is so going to have a heart attack,” Ronon heard her whisper after he had closed his eyes.
“My aunt tried to assure me that he was fine. He's resting comfortably in the hospital.” Jennifer paused to brush an errant tendril of hair behind her ear.
“So, he's gonna be ok?” Ronon asked. When Jennifer first revealed her distressed state had something to do with her father, he had immediately assumed the worst-that her father had died. Ronon knew that Jennifer had lost her mother a few years earlier, and she seemed to have a very close relationship with her father that had only strengthened after her mother's death. Even now, Ronon carried with him the loss of his entire world at the hands of the Wraith. Everyone and everything he had loved had perished, still he didn't imagine Jennifer's pain for her mother was any less than that he felt over Sateda.
“I'd like to say 'yes,' but I really can't say,” Jennifer admitted. “Aunt Joanna said that the doctors treating my father indicated to her that the myocardial infarction was merely a symptom of. . . I mean, that his heart attack was caused by a more serious problem-not just the usual clogged artery-a problem that may require major surgery. That's why she contacted me.”
She turned to face Ronon. “I have to go be with him.” She sighed, looking away. “I have to see him, despite the fact that. . . that the shock of seeing me like this . . .” she rubbed her hand across her stomach absently, “in this condition, is exactly what he doesn't need right now.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jennifer had informed Col. Carter of her father's condition and her request to return to earth was granted. Sam told Jennifer that Teyla would be leaving in two days to attend her interview with the IOA, and then she and Jennifer could go through the Intergalactic Gate Bridge at the same time in order to conserve energy.
She told all this to Ronon that evening over dinner. Ronon had actually made them a little picnic out on the balcony, in an effort to cheer her up, and Jennifer was glad her hormones decided to cooperate and not overwhelm her with a crying at his consideration. She could simply enjoy the moment with this wonderful, searingly handsome person who didn't mind being her leg rest as they both reclined against the pillows he had arranged about.
“So there's no way you can leave sooner,” Ronon asked her now.
Jennifer had wondered that herself at first, but then reason took over. “No. I mean, I'd like to, but my father is stable for now. Also, his heart needs time to heal a bit before any more stress on his system with the proposed surgery.” Ronon was distracting her train of thought with the way his fingers grazed the bare skin of her legs, but she wasn't about to tell him to stop. “Besides,” she went on, “If things took a turn for the worse it could very well be while I'm in the twenty-four hour quarantine on Midway. Either way, I wouldn't be able to do anything for him, so I just have to be patient.”
Jennifer sighed and leaned against the pillows as popped a cube of cheese in her mouth.
“So. . . ,” she began, wanting to think of other things. “You told Col. Sheppard yet?”
“Told him what?” Ronon responded nonchalantly as he reached over to get a cracker and then scoop some dip with it.
“You know,” she gestured. “About us. . . the little ones on the way?”
He put the chip in his mouth and gave Jennifer a unreadable look as he chewed.
Jennifer just waited for him to answer, with what she hoped was an expectant, though not challenging expression.
He swallowed, then looked away from her and back to the food in front of him. “Not really.”
Jennifer wasn't really surprised and was about to ask him 'why' when Ronon said, “You haven't told your father.” Jennifer felt her gut tighten under Ronon's measuring gaze now. She fought to maintain eye contact with him as her cheeks flushed in the indignity of the situation.
“It's. . . that's not the same thing,” she stammered.
“I'm not trying to fight with you, Jen,” Ronon said calmly.
You're not? Jennifer almost said, though she was pretty sure the sentiment was written on her face. In her mind she knew that Ronon would never purposely initiate an argument with her, and especially during a stressful time as this. Still she felt unjustifiably angry at him for his words about not telling her father about their relationship . . . even though they were true-especially because they were true.
“I was going to tell him. It's just not that easy. I. . . ,” tears stung her eyes as she tried to figure out a way to explain her hesitance to Ronon. “I really don't need to fall to pieces right now,” she turned away from him and wiped at her eyes.
She turned back to him in surprise when she felt him pulling on her legs, sliding her body practically into his lap. She met his hazel eyes as he continued. “I understand. You and your father are very close. You don't want to tell him because you think he'll be disappointed that you're pregnant and not bonded to anyone. Right?”
For a moment Jen just blinked up at him, speechless. Ever since she had first revealed her pregnancy to Ronon, Jennifer made a point not to mention the prospect of marriage. Ronon had never said anything to indicate he was against it, yet Jennifer didn't want to rush into such a serious. commitment with someone she was just beginning to get to know. Or maybe she had tried to convince herself that having children with this man was a commitment enough, and Ronon had promised to be there for her. Still, Jennifer couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing from all this.
Ronon was sat quietly regarding her, waiting for a response. “Well. . . yeah. I mean, I guess. You make it sound a lot less complicated.”
“Do I?” Ronon countered, raising an eyebrow incredulously.
“No, not really. I mean, you're right. I do need to tell him. I was meaning to write to him today, but then I got the note from Aunt Jo, and well . . . you know the rest. I feel so horrible that I didn't have the courage to tell Dad, before now. God, It's just . . . I mean, everything happened so fast. At some point I imagined you may come home with me to meet him, or what it would be like, if things progressed that far between us. . .”
“Really?” Ronon seemed genuinely surprised at her confession.
“Yeah,” Jennifer nodded as she smiled. “I think every girl does secretly. If she doesn't think about it then that's another kind of relationship entirely,” she smirked, glad to have some levity in their conversation.
“So you do want me to meet your father?” Ronon asked. Ah, she thought. Had he been trying to get around to this all along?
“Well . . .” Jennifer realized this was not the question to sound uncertain with her answer. “Yes. I do,” she resolved.
“Ok, then,” he said, smiling as he leaned over to kiss her.
Jennifer returned his affections for a moment before a thought tickled the back of her mind. She turned her face away from him, and was amused and more than a little excited as Ronon brushed his lips against her jaw before kissing the side of her neck. She had to push him away before she lost her train of thought completely.
“'Ok' what?” she prodded.
Ronon released a heavy sigh as he regarded her. He teased her lips with a kiss once more before replying. “Ok, I'll come meet your father.”
“You mean . . . ?” Jennifer wanted to be sure she understood exactly what he was saying.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Go with you and Teyla to Earth. My interview's after hers anyway.” Ronon shrugged, leaning away from her now, studying her.
He'd presented the situation so casually, almost Sheppard-like. She realized that though he didn't say it, Ronon probably figured it was important to meet her father as soon as possible, considering the older man's current health. She also knew that, sick or not, once her father saw her, he would want to meet the man who had contributed to her condition. That was a given.
Of course, this would all have to be cleared with Col. Carter first, but Jennifer didn't foresee any problems there. Sam was cool.
“Ok,” Jennifer agreed. She didn't miss the shadow of a smile that twitched Ronon's features.
“Ok?” Ronon questioned. This was her last chance to back out. Jennifer knew it.
“Yes, ok,” she nudged her shoulder against his as she laid back onto the pillows. She turned her body toward his and wrapped her arm around his torso as she leaned up to press her lips to delicate skin just below the tattoo on his neck.
She felt him nuzzle the top of her head, and the hairs of his goatee tickled her forehead as his arms circled her body and drew her closer.
“Mmm, love you,” he murmured.
“I love you too,” she sighed. Her head rested comfortably against his broad chest, and she let the sound of his strong, steady heart beat sooth her for the moment.
TBC.
Back Home - Pt. 6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A/N: I was totally stressin' about how to fit this story around the events of “Midway.” Finally, I was struck with the revelation that, duh, this was fiction, so I could change the events of the episode around to fit my story. So, that's what I did.
Thanks to
journeyman07for the beta.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AUTHOR: renisanz
SUMMARY: Settling down won't be easy for either of them. A sequel to “Making Up the Past.” Ronon/Keller
RATING: PG-13
WORDS: 2,200
DISCLAIMER: I don't own 'em, but they're fun to play.
NOTES: Spoilers for “Midway.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Back Home - Pt. 4
Ronon had just come to get Jennifer for lunch. He really needed to talk to her.
Sheppard had informed him about a mandatory interview he was expected to attend with the IOA. He had tried to relay the information in a casual way, but that alone alerted Ronon to how serious the matter was. Maybe then would have been a good time to tell his friend and team leader about his situation with Jennifer, but the moment quickly passed as a few Marines arrived a bit early for the morning training session.
When the door to her quarters finally opened, he barely had a chance to take in Jennifer's reddened face and puffy eyes before she'd practically thrown herself into him after he'd stepped into the room. Her arms laced tightly around his waist and his natural response was to bring his arms around her even as she buried her face in his chest. Ronon's mind traveled back to what had occurred that morning, with Jennifer visibly upset for no particular reason. What had she called it?
“Uh . . . hormones?” he guessed, hoping to alleviate the feeling of dread that was snaking around his heart, slowly tightening as Jennifer's arms did around him now.
Jennifer sniffled and her voice finally broke in a choked, wet laughter, and Ronon felt relief for a brief moment before she shook her head.
In response, Ronon brought one hand up from its place on her back, up to her chin, and he tilted her head up to meet his worried eyes.
“What's wrong, Jen?”
He watched as a fresh tear spilled onto her cheek. He wiped it away with the pad of his thumb and she leaned into his gentle touch.
“It's my dad,” she said as she met his eyes. “He's. . . .he's. . . not well.” She looked as if she was fighting the urge to explain more, maybe use more medical terms, but she settled on a simple, if, completely unsatisfying explanation.
“It's serious,” Ronon stated. He knew Jennifer would not be this upset if it wasn't.
She nodded,at last stepping away from him, taking his hand. He followed the gentle tug of her hand as she led him over to sit down beside her on the bed.
“I hadn't heard from my dad in a few days. He usually emails me on Tuesdays, and I didn't think much of it when he didn't contact me this week. But then I got a message from my aunt Joanna, my dad's sister. She's never emailed me here before, so I knew right then that something was wrong.”
She paused, closing her eyes against a new stream of tears. Ronon wrapped his arm across her shoulders and then pulled her to him. He placed a soft kiss to her forehead, and he felt the tension in her body relax a little.
“Aunt Joanna was rather vague on the explanation. Relaying medical terminology isn't her thing,” Jennifer said. She had regained some of her composure as she continued explaining the situation. “But, uhm . . . Dad basically had a heart attack.”
Ronon was familiar with that term. Rodney often used it when he complained about overexerting himself when they were out in the field. A few days ago, he had heard Jennifer use the phrase as well.
It was morning, but the sun had yet to rise. He was pretty sure Jen thought he had been sleeping, so he didn't open his eyes as she carefully shifted away from him to lay on her back. Curious, he peeked over at her through the slit of one eye. He watched as her hand traced the growing curve of her abdomen. He watched as a fond smile bowed her lips for a fleeting moment only to be replaced by an expression of uncertainty as her brow creased in what looked to be concern. “My dad is so going to have a heart attack,” Ronon heard her whisper after he had closed his eyes.
“My aunt tried to assure me that he was fine. He's resting comfortably in the hospital.” Jennifer paused to brush an errant tendril of hair behind her ear.
“So, he's gonna be ok?” Ronon asked. When Jennifer first revealed her distressed state had something to do with her father, he had immediately assumed the worst-that her father had died. Ronon knew that Jennifer had lost her mother a few years earlier, and she seemed to have a very close relationship with her father that had only strengthened after her mother's death. Even now, Ronon carried with him the loss of his entire world at the hands of the Wraith. Everyone and everything he had loved had perished, still he didn't imagine Jennifer's pain for her mother was any less than that he felt over Sateda.
“I'd like to say 'yes,' but I really can't say,” Jennifer admitted. “Aunt Joanna said that the doctors treating my father indicated to her that the myocardial infarction was merely a symptom of. . . I mean, that his heart attack was caused by a more serious problem-not just the usual clogged artery-a problem that may require major surgery. That's why she contacted me.”
She turned to face Ronon. “I have to go be with him.” She sighed, looking away. “I have to see him, despite the fact that. . . that the shock of seeing me like this . . .” she rubbed her hand across her stomach absently, “in this condition, is exactly what he doesn't need right now.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jennifer had informed Col. Carter of her father's condition and her request to return to earth was granted. Sam told Jennifer that Teyla would be leaving in two days to attend her interview with the IOA, and then she and Jennifer could go through the Intergalactic Gate Bridge at the same time in order to conserve energy.
She told all this to Ronon that evening over dinner. Ronon had actually made them a little picnic out on the balcony, in an effort to cheer her up, and Jennifer was glad her hormones decided to cooperate and not overwhelm her with a crying at his consideration. She could simply enjoy the moment with this wonderful, searingly handsome person who didn't mind being her leg rest as they both reclined against the pillows he had arranged about.
“So there's no way you can leave sooner,” Ronon asked her now.
Jennifer had wondered that herself at first, but then reason took over. “No. I mean, I'd like to, but my father is stable for now. Also, his heart needs time to heal a bit before any more stress on his system with the proposed surgery.” Ronon was distracting her train of thought with the way his fingers grazed the bare skin of her legs, but she wasn't about to tell him to stop. “Besides,” she went on, “If things took a turn for the worse it could very well be while I'm in the twenty-four hour quarantine on Midway. Either way, I wouldn't be able to do anything for him, so I just have to be patient.”
Jennifer sighed and leaned against the pillows as popped a cube of cheese in her mouth.
“So. . . ,” she began, wanting to think of other things. “You told Col. Sheppard yet?”
“Told him what?” Ronon responded nonchalantly as he reached over to get a cracker and then scoop some dip with it.
“You know,” she gestured. “About us. . . the little ones on the way?”
He put the chip in his mouth and gave Jennifer a unreadable look as he chewed.
Jennifer just waited for him to answer, with what she hoped was an expectant, though not challenging expression.
He swallowed, then looked away from her and back to the food in front of him. “Not really.”
Jennifer wasn't really surprised and was about to ask him 'why' when Ronon said, “You haven't told your father.” Jennifer felt her gut tighten under Ronon's measuring gaze now. She fought to maintain eye contact with him as her cheeks flushed in the indignity of the situation.
“It's. . . that's not the same thing,” she stammered.
“I'm not trying to fight with you, Jen,” Ronon said calmly.
You're not? Jennifer almost said, though she was pretty sure the sentiment was written on her face. In her mind she knew that Ronon would never purposely initiate an argument with her, and especially during a stressful time as this. Still she felt unjustifiably angry at him for his words about not telling her father about their relationship . . . even though they were true-especially because they were true.
“I was going to tell him. It's just not that easy. I. . . ,” tears stung her eyes as she tried to figure out a way to explain her hesitance to Ronon. “I really don't need to fall to pieces right now,” she turned away from him and wiped at her eyes.
She turned back to him in surprise when she felt him pulling on her legs, sliding her body practically into his lap. She met his hazel eyes as he continued. “I understand. You and your father are very close. You don't want to tell him because you think he'll be disappointed that you're pregnant and not bonded to anyone. Right?”
For a moment Jen just blinked up at him, speechless. Ever since she had first revealed her pregnancy to Ronon, Jennifer made a point not to mention the prospect of marriage. Ronon had never said anything to indicate he was against it, yet Jennifer didn't want to rush into such a serious. commitment with someone she was just beginning to get to know. Or maybe she had tried to convince herself that having children with this man was a commitment enough, and Ronon had promised to be there for her. Still, Jennifer couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing from all this.
Ronon was sat quietly regarding her, waiting for a response. “Well. . . yeah. I mean, I guess. You make it sound a lot less complicated.”
“Do I?” Ronon countered, raising an eyebrow incredulously.
“No, not really. I mean, you're right. I do need to tell him. I was meaning to write to him today, but then I got the note from Aunt Jo, and well . . . you know the rest. I feel so horrible that I didn't have the courage to tell Dad, before now. God, It's just . . . I mean, everything happened so fast. At some point I imagined you may come home with me to meet him, or what it would be like, if things progressed that far between us. . .”
“Really?” Ronon seemed genuinely surprised at her confession.
“Yeah,” Jennifer nodded as she smiled. “I think every girl does secretly. If she doesn't think about it then that's another kind of relationship entirely,” she smirked, glad to have some levity in their conversation.
“So you do want me to meet your father?” Ronon asked. Ah, she thought. Had he been trying to get around to this all along?
“Well . . .” Jennifer realized this was not the question to sound uncertain with her answer. “Yes. I do,” she resolved.
“Ok, then,” he said, smiling as he leaned over to kiss her.
Jennifer returned his affections for a moment before a thought tickled the back of her mind. She turned her face away from him, and was amused and more than a little excited as Ronon brushed his lips against her jaw before kissing the side of her neck. She had to push him away before she lost her train of thought completely.
“'Ok' what?” she prodded.
Ronon released a heavy sigh as he regarded her. He teased her lips with a kiss once more before replying. “Ok, I'll come meet your father.”
“You mean . . . ?” Jennifer wanted to be sure she understood exactly what he was saying.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Go with you and Teyla to Earth. My interview's after hers anyway.” Ronon shrugged, leaning away from her now, studying her.
He'd presented the situation so casually, almost Sheppard-like. She realized that though he didn't say it, Ronon probably figured it was important to meet her father as soon as possible, considering the older man's current health. She also knew that, sick or not, once her father saw her, he would want to meet the man who had contributed to her condition. That was a given.
Of course, this would all have to be cleared with Col. Carter first, but Jennifer didn't foresee any problems there. Sam was cool.
“Ok,” Jennifer agreed. She didn't miss the shadow of a smile that twitched Ronon's features.
“Ok?” Ronon questioned. This was her last chance to back out. Jennifer knew it.
“Yes, ok,” she nudged her shoulder against his as she laid back onto the pillows. She turned her body toward his and wrapped her arm around his torso as she leaned up to press her lips to delicate skin just below the tattoo on his neck.
She felt him nuzzle the top of her head, and the hairs of his goatee tickled her forehead as his arms circled her body and drew her closer.
“Mmm, love you,” he murmured.
“I love you too,” she sighed. Her head rested comfortably against his broad chest, and she let the sound of his strong, steady heart beat sooth her for the moment.
TBC.
Back Home - Pt. 6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A/N: I was totally stressin' about how to fit this story around the events of “Midway.” Finally, I was struck with the revelation that, duh, this was fiction, so I could change the events of the episode around to fit my story. So, that's what I did.
Thanks to
journeyman07for the beta.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .