Secret Admirer

Ronon managed to avoid the occupied corridors of the city as he gently carried Elizabeth through Atlantis. He did not want anyone to see her in this condition. He glanced down at her shaking form that was bundled up in his coat. ‘She looks so small.’ His anger spiked when he thought of how this horrid little man brought this strong woman to this state.

He had noticed how increasingly haggard she had been looking over the past couple of weeks. She was distracted. She had grown quiet and more reserved. She developed dark circles under her eyes that she tried to hide under makeup.

Ronon noticed it all. The people she called friends did not.

She tried to stay amongst her inner circle of friends but not too close that they would ask questions. She felt uncomfortable being alone.

Ronon noticed it all. The people she called friends did not.

The lift arrived on the residential level and Ronon knew he wouldn’t be able to avoid Atlantis personnel any longer. The door opened and he peered out keeping Elizabeth hidden within. There were several people between him and his quarters. “Clear the deck!” His loud voice reverberated down the hall and instantly grabbed everyone’s attention. “Now!”

He watched as the military and civilian residents of Atlantis took heed of his command and quickly left the immediate vicinity. He stepped out of the lift and held Elizabeth close as he swiftly made his way to his door. Sheppard and Beckett were waiting for them when he arrived.

“Oh, thank God.” Carson said in relief as he saw him approach. “How is she, Lad?”

“I don’t know. Override the access on my door.” Ronon held Elizabeth close to his chest as Carson used his medical emergency access to open the door. John put his hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder in concern and felt her flinch from his touch. “Now is not a good time for that Sheppard.”

“Get her inside, Son.” Beckett picked up his medical bag and followed Ronon and John into his quarters.

He left them behind in his haste to get her into a warm bed. She was shaking so badly against his chest that he felt the tremors pass through him. “Sheppard.” John ran up beside him and his sad eyes focused on the bundled up form in his arms. “Pull the blankets back.”

“Right.” John tore his gaze from Elizabeth, moved to the bed, and pulled the covers back. He turned around to see Ronon sit her on the edge and kneel before her.

“Elizabeth.” He tried to remove his coat from around her body but she had a steel-like grip on the edges. “Elizabeth!” Her eyes snapped open and focused on his face. His heart clenched in his chest when he saw the sheer terror reflecting in her eyes. “I’m going to take off the coat and you can get under the covers.” His tone lightened when he saw the unshed tears. “Okay?”

She stared into his hazel eyes for a few minutes before she shakily nodded her head. She let him pull the edges of his coat from her fingers and push it off her shoulders to pool behind her. She watched him gently lift each of her feet, remove her shoes, and set them under the bed.

When he looked back up at her, she was staring right into his eyes. Her arms hung at her sides, her top was still unzipped, and her bra was still quite visible. He slowly reached up and pulled the edges of her top closed. “I’m going to pick you up again so that I can put you in bed. Is that okay?” She nodded her head and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her up.

He carefully placed her in the center and found her reluctant to release her hold on his neck. Ronon gave her a small smile as he reached beneath his hair, took her hands in his, and lowered them to the bed. He grabbed the blankets and pulled them up to cover her before he took a step back.

“Go ahead, Doc.” He waved Carson forward as he maintained her constant eye contact.

“Thank you, Ronon.” Carson moved to sit on the edge of the bed and began to pull his instruments from his bag. “Would the two of you wait in the other room while I perform my examination?”

“Sure, Doc.” John clapped Ronon’s shoulder and they both turned to leave when a near frantic voice halted them dead in their tracks.

“No!” Startled by her outburst, they all glanced at her with raised eyebrows. Her eyes remained fixed on Ronon. “I don’t want you to go.”

Ronon walked back to the edge of the bed and gently took her hand in his. “I’ll be standing in the doorway right over there.” He turned his head towards the entrance to his sitting area and glanced back at her. “Do you see it?” She nodded her head as she met his gaze. “I’m not going anywhere but Dr. Beckett needs to take care of you.” He gave her hand a slight squeeze before he released it. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

She watched him walk to the doorway with John in tow and relaxed a bit when she saw him stand there with his back towards her.

~*~

“This has turned into a surrealistic nightmare.” John rubbed his tired eyes and glanced at Ronon. His head was cocked to the side as if he was monitoring Elizabeth’s condition. He was standing at the ready to go to her aid if she needed him. “Ronon, what happened?”

“Apparently whoever is doing this to her did not appreciate you taking the items he gave to her.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out the letter, and handed it to John. “His intentions have changed from courting her to possessing her. He followed her to the pier to warn her.”

“Warn her about what?” John looked up from the letter with a furrowed brow.

“He told her that he could get to her no matter where she is.” Ronon turned his head and met Sheppard’s angered expression. “He told her that she would belong to him. He had access to Medical to get that syringe he injected her with. He invaded her quarters and he…”

“What?” John asked him when he trailed off into silence. “What did he do?”

“Her clothing was open when I found her.” Ronon watched John’s jaw clench and a fury burned in his eyes that he had never seen before. “I asked her if he hurt her. She said he touched her…chest.”

“That son of a bitch!”

“Colonel Sheppard.” Carson hurried up to them and gave him a stern look. “Please keep your voice down. I do not want to disturb her anymore than she already is.” He cast a quick glance over his shoulder before he turned to regard the two men before him. “She is in a wee bit of shock.”

“How is she?” John asked as he gazed into the bedroom to look at Elizabeth. He was somewhat confused to find her eyes stuck on Ronon’s back. “What did he inject her with Carson?”

“Just a basic sedative but in a heavier dose to reduce her to unconsciousness. I’m surprised she woke up as soon as she did after it entered her system.” Carson scratched the back of his head and lowered his voice. “Despite the effects of the drug, she is still fighting to stay awake. I believe she is terrified and her elevated endorphins are helping her.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.” John whispered loudly in frustration and began to pace the room. “How the hell did this lunatic get assigned to this base? We’ve had over 150 new arrivals of both military and civilian personnel posted here in the past 3 months. Do you have any idea how hard it will be to find this guy?”

“I know it isn’t going to be easy, Colonel, but for Dr. Weir’s sake you better hurry.” Carson looked at her once again for a brief second before he continued. “I can only see this situation getting worse and she already doesn’t want to return to her quarters.”

“We can put a security detail on her.”

“I already told her that, Colonel, but she says that her quarters are not safe. He has been in there and she feels like it belongs to him now.” He walked up to John and shook his head in sorrow. “She won’t come to Medical either because he took the syringe from there. She needs protection.”

“Yeah about that.” John glanced at Ronon, who was still cocking his head towards the bedroom, and cleared his throat to get his attention. “Hey buddy, would you mind watching over her tonight until we can arrange temporary quarters for her?”

“I don’t mind.” Ronon turned to John and Carson and glanced between them. “She seems more comfortable here. She is welcome to stay if she wishes to. I will be here to protect her.”

“I don’t know about that Ronon.” John said as he ran his hand over his unruly hair.

“Actually Colonel, she is already asking for Ronon.” Carson spoke up and turned towards John. “I think she feels safe around him and I recommend this. If we try to take her away from the only place she feels comfortable, we might be doing her more harm than good.”

“Alright. Ronon, you are exclusively assigned to Elizabeth’s safety. No off-world missions, training, or exercising unless she is right by your side. Are we clear?” Ronon nodded his head and John did the same, as the understanding was clear. “I will get as many people on this investigation as possible and hope we track this bastard down fast.”

“Okay.”

“Good.” Carson nodded as well as he glanced between the two men. “Now that we’ve settled all of this mess, I think it would be best if we leave.”

“I want to see her, Carson.”

“Colonel, I think you should wait until tomorrow. She has been through a harrowing experience and is fighting her exhaustion out of sheer will power alone.” He placed his hand on John’s arm and smiled sympathetically. “I know you’re worried, Lad, but we’ve done all we can do here tonight.” He glanced at Ronon and guided John’s attention to him as well. “The rest is in his hands.”

“Alright but I will be back in the morning.” John pointed his finger at the ground as he stated a fact. He took a deep breath, glanced into the bedroom, and clapped Ronon’s bicep. “Take care of her, buddy.”

~*~

Ronon saw Sheppard and Beckett to the door, took a deep breath when they left, and turned towards the bedroom. He stopped at the mini refrigerator that Sheppard had given him as a ‘house-warming’ gift, pulled out a bottle of water, and entered his room.

“Thank you.” A once commanding voice whispered to him.

“For what?” He asked as he sat beside her on the bed and helped her sit up. “Here. Drink some of this.” He held the bottle to her lips and let her drink her fill. “Sorry.” He put the water aside when a few drops dribbled from the side of her mouth and wiped them away with the back of his fingers.

“Thank you again.” She blushed from the tender contact before she composed herself and pulled the covers up to her chin. “Thank you for coming for me. If you hadn’t shown up, there is no telling what he would’ve done to me.” Her eyes welled with tears as she hung her head and tried desperately to rein in her emotions. “I also want to thank you for letting me stay here.”

“You don’t need to thank me for any of those things. I am committed to your safety. As long as I draw breath, no one will harm you.” He saw a look of uncertainty in her eyes and knew she didn’t understand his reasoning. “I owe you and Sheppard a lot.” He started off slowly. “You both took a chance on me when you brought me here and allowed me on Sheppard’s team.”

“You do not owe John nor I anything for that, Ronon.” She narrowed her eyes as he lowered his gaze to focus on the blanket he was fidgeting with. “You have proved yourself many times over. A lot of people owe their lives to you including John and I.”

“You went beyond that. You risked a lot to save me.” His eyes rose up to meet hers and she could see the raw emotion there that he hid so very well. “I know you didn’t have to allow Sheppard to come to Sateda but you did. I wouldn’t have made it off my home world alive if they didn’t risk their lives for me. I know you backed Sheppard against Colonel Caldwell and I am thankful.”

“You are one of my people now, Ronon.” She smiled softly as his eyes widened slightly in surprise. “I do whatever it takes to protect one of my own.”

“I do too.” He returned her smile for what seemed like an eternity before he cleared his throat and straightened up. “Can I get you anything?”

“I would love a shower and a change of clothes.” She rubbed her arms under the blanket and visibly shivered. “His hands were on me. I need to get him off of me.”

“The shower I can provide but I will not leave you alone to go to your quarters.” He stood up, opened his closet, and withdrew one of his shirts. “This will have to do until I can get someone to get some of your things tomorrow. It should be long enough to cover…everything up.”

“Thank you.” She took the shirt from his hands and pushed the covers back. The effects of the sedative had her a little shaky on her feet and Ronon had to keep her steady as they walked into the bathroom.

He set her on the toilet and turned to run the water in the shower stall. “I hope warm is okay with you.” He felt the temperature with his hand before he went to her side and glanced down into her eyes. “Will you be alright to get in there by yourself?”

“I hope so.” She took his outstretched hand and rose to her feet. “If I have a problem, you’ll be the first to know.”

“I will give you some privacy then.” He backed out the door, grabbing the handle as he went, and stopped just before it was closed. “Call me if you need anything.” She nodded her head as she slipped off her top and he pulled the door completely shut.

~*~

Ronon sat heavily on his bed and picked up his pillow. He brought it to his nose and drew her scent in deep. His eyes drifted closed when she flooded his senses. For weeks all Ronon saw when he closed his eyes were the dead on Sateda. All he could remember were the deaths of his love, his family, and his friends.

When he first came across Sheppard and his team, he was running to stay alive. He ended up causing the people in that village their lives because he stopped for one night. He was malnourished, dehydrated, and on the verge of death. They helped him and in return, he brought them death.

When he was recaptured and set on Sateda, he ran again to spare the lives of the rest of the villagers. He killed every wraith that was sent at him until the end. Twenty-five were beamed down. He was injured and the pain in his mind and heart surpassed the pain in his body. He didn’t know if he would survive until Sheppard and the rest of his team came after him.

He was a part of these people now. Sheppard and Teyla were as close to a brother and a sister as he would ever get. ‘Elizabeth.’ What was she to him? He had come to care for her and would die before he ever saw her harmed. His experience on Sateda opened his eyes to future possibilities. Things he thought he would never have again were there if he would just grab them.

*CRASH*

“Elizabeth!” Ronon tossed the pillow aside, ran into the bathroom, and opened the door to the shower stall. He found her sprawled on the floor trying desperately to cover her nudity. “Are you alright?”

“I guess the sedative is catching up to me. I got a little dizzy and fell down.” Her eyes widened when switched off the water and bent down to pick her up. “Ronon!”

“What?” His eyes met hers with complete confusion reflecting in them.

“I’m naked.”

“One usually is when they take a shower but you are also incapable of standing on your own. Would you prefer that I leave you here and you can try to crawl to bed?” He lifted his brow and waited for an answer that never came from her gaping mouth. “That’s what I thought.”

He picked her up in his arms, set her down on the toilet again, and grabbed a towel. He smiled when he turned to find her arms crossed over her breasts and her elbows blocking his view of her smooth pubic area. He knelt before her and slowly ran the thick towel over her hair before he moved down her back.

He dried her shoulders, forearms, knees, and calves before he stopped to look in her eyes. “You are going to have to move your arms so I can dry the rest of you unless you think you can do it yourself?” He waited as she thought it over until she finally lowered her arms to her sides.

She blushed from her chest to her hairline as he gently dabbed the rest of her upper body dry. Her eyes drifted shut when the towel moved briefly between her legs and snapped open when she felt him pick her up. He carried her to the bed, sat her on the edge, and helped her pull on his shirt.

“That works real well on you.” She looked at him sideways and he pointed at the shirt. “I told you it would cover everything up. You ready to get some sleep?” She nodded her head with a slight yawn and wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her up, placed her in the center of the bed, and pulled the blankets up to cover her chest. “I’ll be in the next room if you need anything. Get some rest.”

“Okay.” He smiled at her before he turned to leave the bedroom. “Thank you, Ronon.” The whispered words met his ears as he reached the doorway.

“You’re welcome, Elizabeth.”

~*~

Ronon startled awake from a light sleep by the sounds of whimpering from his bedroom. He jumped up off the sofa and ran to check on Elizabeth. She was still asleep but thrashing about in the throes of a nightmare. He could only guess what it was about.

He could see the sweat glistening on her forehead from the moonlight that streamed in through his window. The covers were twisted around her body from squirming in her sleep. One long bare leg was uncovered and Ronon could help but admire the creamy skin before her moans drew his attention back to her fear-contorted face.

“No.” Her head tossed back and forth on the pillow. “Leave me alone.”

Ronon weighed his options and decided to crawl into bed next to her. He gathered her in his arms and pulled her into the warmth of his bare chest. Her hands slid up his abdomen to his pecs and stayed there as she settled her head over his heart. Moments later, she quieted down and slept peacefully in his embrace.

“I’ve got you now, Elizabeth.” He whispered as he stroked her damp hair and back. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“Ronon…” She breathed out in a sigh of relief as she snuggled closer to his body.

~*~