Thanks to Flowerfairy, GLENN (the Giant Lop Ears of North Nagook - otherwise known as the evil plot bunnies) has attacked me with this little tale and I couldn't fight them off any longer. So... while I work on finishing my other story, I've found myself having to let this one loose! So sit up, put your trays in their upright and locked position, and join us for the flight. And yes, in my world, Ronon is only ever going to be with Jennifer. :P Whether he knows it yet or not. :) - Nika

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"No, really… I mean… I don't mean to be rude… but I… I should probably keep… yes, yes… I understand its been in your village for generations… but… I just need to finish… no really, I shouldn't…"

As Ronon listened to Jennifer's rambling attempts at a refusal from somewhere behind him, he turned away from the rear compartment of the jumper, where the last of the supplies were being loaded up.

He'd come with Major Buchannan's team to help ferry a load of supplies between the village and Atlantis.

Or so he kept telling himself.

But, as he moved through the last few crates of foodstuffs towards the bobbing blond ponytail as it snapped back and forth between the smiling Magistrate and his wife, Ronon found fault with his own argument, a little voice niggling inside his head that he'd volunteered because he'd found out she was going, not because he wanted to help lift crates of root vegetables and leafy produce.

And yes, maybe it was in part because he didn't think he deserved the stunned and shocked look she'd given him with when he'd said good morning to her in the jumper bay. So what if it had been a while since he'd spoken to her? Even if it had been... well, okay, weeks - shock wasn't the look he expected in return. A smile maybe. A nodded greeting. Certainly not some dismayed expression as though some part of the bulkhead had suddenly spouted a head and called her name. It wasn't his fault she'd chosen McKay. And it certainly wasn't his fault that she'd eventually broken it off with the scientist.

Ronon did have to admit he was secretly pleased she'd ended things with Rodney. To hear McKay tell it, they just didn't mesh in the end and he'd let her down easy. To hear Cadman's version – since there was no way he'd be getting Jennifer's take directly – Jennifer hadn't been very happy. Which stood closer to the truth in Ronon's mind. She'd certainly been quiet lately. Working longer hours. Taking less time to herself. Slow to smile. She'd buried herself in her lab, so much so that it was a genuine surprise to see her with the Marines as he'd crossed through the jumper bay.

He'd intended on just passing by and ignoring her fleeting glance – but his mouth somehow managed to answer Major Buchannan's question of whether or not he'd come to help out, before the coherent part of his brain had a chance to punch him in the side of the head for his idiocy.

By then it was too late. He'd already said yes.

So, instead of the solitary morning run he'd been planning on taking, he'd found himself on a twenty minute ride in the back of the jumper with a woman who's face rotated through more versions of red than he knew existed.

And after two hours of moving boxes, here he was, traipsing after that same woman, grimacing at her unheeded attempts to untangle herself from the local couple.

"Yes, I understand the sphere's are quite fascinating…" She was saying, glancing from the man to his wife and back again as she attempted to remove her upper arms from their firm grasp. "But really, I should probably stay with the group… We're almost finished…"

Nearing the small, solitary building on the outskirts of the town, which Ronon had heard referred to as the Ari – a local word for church – Jennifer and her companions were quickly joined by two young women, who smiled and urged them forward, rushing ahead to pull wide the double wooden doors. With another round of half-hearted protests, Jennifer disappeared through the entrance, flanked by the Magistrate, his wife, and the two women.

Ronon had already checked the building when they'd arrived, so he knew the inside was only one large room, open and airy, sheltering a trio of tripods, each holding a large silver globe. The inside had been dark and silent when he'd come through the first time, but as he neared the still open doors, her protests continued and he shook his head with part amusement, part resolved dismay. The damn blobs were probably explosive and she'd be the only one to stumble across the trigger and take out half the planet.

He snorted at his own joke when he stepped through the doorway, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting of the inside. With a nod to the two women who were standing just inside, he quickly confirmed no added guests other than who he'd seen enter.

Jennifer was standing next to one of the globes, her back to him, resting her palm across the top of the large, round sphere. She glanced sideways and nodded to the Magistrate's wife. "Yes they are indeed beautiful. And the light is certainly a nice touch."

"Light?" The wife shook her head with confusion and glanced from her husband to Jennifer then around to the three globes, which were indeed now pulsing with a faint silver glow. "My! They've never done that before…"

Oh hell. Ronon's gut kicked in with a wallop. "Jennifer." He called sharply and she let out a squeak and jumped, snapping her hand off the top of the silver ball, which was now pulsing brightly.

She spun towards him, her mouth open to speak, but her words were abruptly cut off with a scream of surprise and pain as a blinding beam of light shot from the closest orb and impacted her spine, sending her staggering to her hands and knees. Almost immediately, a second ball let loose its light, the bolt connecting with her upper torso and she cried out, straightening up, her face contorted in agony. The two beams held her convulsing body upright, pinning her in position as they surged into her body.

The two women by the door shrieked and ran out into the sunshine, while the magistrate dragged his wife into a corner, huddling against the sparking white light that now blinded the room.

With his heart in his throat Ronon dove forward, slamming into Jennifer as the third ball snapped its beam towards them. He'd barely gotten his arms around her before pain stabbed through his back, the final beam catching him between the shoulder-blades. With a guttural shout he fell forward into darkness.