Nayleia's Heritage

***SECOND ENCOUNTERS***

After three days in bed recovering from the drugs the Lahalans had given him, Ronon had been keen to resume his training. He felt stiff and sore, yet, as he and Teyla sparred, he exhilarated in the feel of his muscles responding to his desires. The most disturbing part of his ordeal had been the lack of control that he had over his body. He’d hated being forced to act like an animal. He hated what he had done to that young girl. He had spent the past three days being counseled by Dr Heightmeyer, and she along with the others were helping him get over a lot of the guilt he felt about the events that occurred on Lahal. Not all though. He knew that only time would help him forget. Only time would help him stop hating himself.

Ronon spun out of the way of Teyla’s staff and delivered a counter strike. In the past Teyla would have been hard pressed to get her guard back up to fend off his strike, today she was able to fend him off comfortably. Ronon knew it would be some days still before he got back his speed and stamina, yet it annoyed him to realize how much he had slowed and how tired he already was. Stubbornly, he struck out again just as the door to the gym opened and Colonel Sheppard and a tall young woman entered.

Ronon allowed his eyes what was supposed to have been a momentary glance at the stranger, instead his eyes met hers full on and he found himself staring, drowning in their caramel depths. The hard whack of Teyla’s staff caught him on the back of his legs and sent him sprawling untidily to the ground. He had let his guard down as he stared at Sheppard’s companion.

“Whoa! I didn’t mean to interrupt what is surely a most memorable occasion. The Great Ronon Dex, getting laid flat on his butt no less!” Sheppard teased as he took in Ronon’s abashed expression.

“I’m sorry my friend,” Teyla said, as she reached out her arm to help him up, “but I remember well how you put me on my back after I allowed myself to be distracted during our very first sparring session!”

“Let’s call it even then,” Ronon replied, grabbing Teyla’s arm as he rose and turned to Sheppard and his companion.

Nayleia was surprised to see Ronon up an about, and of all things, fighting. She was impressed. Any other man would still be bedridden from the after effects of the drugs.

~He truly is ‘The Stubborn One’ ~ she thought, remembering the secret name she had for him.

As Ronon rose and turned towards Nayleia, she couldn’t stop the thought that came to mind as she took in his flushed face, muscular body, and cat-like grace.

~This is what a man is supposed to look like, not broken down and tired like most of the Lahalan men. ~

It was the first time she had been so close to him when he had all his faculties, and she was stunned. His proud stance was awe inspiring and his height impressive. She was amongst the tallest of the Lahalans, and yet he towered over her, forcing her to tilt her head to meet his eyes.

~Oh…my…~

Nayleia felt herself drowning in the hazel-green depths of Ronon’s eyes. She couldn’t look away and she didn’t want to.

Ronon could not believe his eyes…the woman with Sheppard was magnificent. He had always thought that Teyla was the standard by which all women should be judged. She was not only beautiful, but also had a beautiful spirit. This woman though…she touched him in a way that neither Teyla nor any woman ever had. She was tall like Satedan women, and had long dark brown hair with reddish gold highlights flowing down her back. He longed to bury his face in her hair and smell her special scent. Her full sensuous lips urged him to crush her to his chest and suck on them until they throbbed in ruby red perfection. Her caramel colored eyes widened as she stared into his and saw the challenge he had issued. He wanted her…and he let her know it!

Nayleia could not breathe. She felt Ronon’s eyes caress every inch of her body and she could not breathe. He wanted her. Pure animal desire radiated from him and reached out to her making her feel hot all over. Incredulously, she felt her nipples grow taut under her clothes and her breath caught in her throat…she simply could not breathe.

~How can I feel this way, especially after what happened between us? ~ Nayleia thought, finally managing to break the eye contact and look away.

“Ronon,” Sheppard’s voice was a bucket of cold water, intruding on Ronon’s lustful thoughts.

“I don’t think you’ve had an opportunity to be properly introduced to Nayleia, she helped us escape the Lahalans. Nayleia this is Ronon Dex.” Sheppard finished his introduction in a rush.

Ronon felt himself grow alternately cold then hot again as shock then shame washed over him. He couldn’t believe that she was the woman from that terrible night in the hut. Once again he had mistreated her. He was ashamed of the way he had been staring at her, like an animal in rutting season. Without a word he turned and stalked out of the gym, barely hearing Sheppard and Teyla calling out to him.

Ronon headed for the nearest Turbo Lift. He was vaguely aware of Sheppard struggling to keep pace with him as he strode through Atlantis’ corridors. He finally reached the Lift and upon entering he punched in the floor where his room was located. He said nothing to Sheppard who just barely dodged the closing doors as he rushed to enter the Lift behind Ronon.

“I thought you were my friend, why would you bring her to the gym?” Ronon turned and shouted, angrier with himself than with Sheppard.

“Listen, you had to meet her sooner or later. I thought it would be best you met her before the debriefing session Dr Weir scheduled for today.” Sheppard tried to explain to Ronon’s unyielding back.

“I’m not going to that session if she’s going to be there,” Ronon said stubbornly.

“Ronon, you can’t avoid her forever. Anyway, it seemed to me that you liked her well enough before you found out who she was. I could feel the temperature rise in the gym when you saw her.”

Sheppard’s teasing had the desired effect and Ronon allowed a small rueful smile to escape as he recalled his reaction to Nayleia’s appearance. He would have never have guessed that she was so beautiful. His memories of that night with her were vague recollections of painted, ghostly faces and pain. He knew Sheppard was right and based on his earlier reaction, he was actually glad he had met Nayleia in the gym and not in front of McKay and the others. Just thinking about Nayleia made his loins tighten and his heart race…he resolutely dampened down those feelings. His actions had killed any hope of a normal relationship between them.

~She must hate me, ~ he thought.
~I hate me. ~

“Alright Sheppard, I’ll try to be civil to her. I’ll come to the meeting after I’ve showered.”


**********

Nayleia followed the proceedings of the debriefing session Dr Weir had finally called. She heard for the first time the reason why the Atlanteans had gone to Lahal. Dr McKay had mentioned a source of power similar to that which was used to power the great city. Nayleia had told them that she didn’t know of any power source. The only thing that was in the direction the team had been heading was her mother’s tomb and favorite cave where she had done several wall paintings during Nayleia’s childhood. The last time Nayleia had visited the cave was when she was still a child, and her mother had made her promise not to return to it until she was a woman. She was shocked she had actually forgotten its existence.

Nayleia felt, rather than heard Ronon enter the Conference Room. His presence dominated the room and the tension radiating from the others confirmed his presence. He took a seat across from her, yet when she glanced across he was facing away from her. She could see the muscles of his jaw working as if he fought an inner battle.

~He doesn’t want to be in the same room with me. ~
~It’s strange…I should hate him, but I don’t, he was a victim just like me. I can’t help being fascinated by him…by his strength. Why couldn’t we have met under different circumstances? ~ Nayleia thought sadly.

“We have no choice, we have to go back.” Dr McKay’s pronouncement was met with a deafening silence.

“Dr McKay, are you sure you want to go rushing back? It seems to me that the last trip was enough of an indication of the Lahalans’ hostility. I’m sorry, but I can’t sanction another trip without more concrete evidence that an active Z.P.M is located near the settlement.” Dr Weir’s decisive reply allowed no opposition and signaled the end of the debriefing session.

As everyone filed out of the Conference Room, Dr Weir signaled to Nayleia that she wished to speak to her in the adjoining room she used as an office.

“Please have a seat Nayleia.” Dr Weir gestured to one of the chairs arranged across from her desk and took her own seat on the other side.

“Nayleia, I’m pleased to see you have recovered from your ordeal. Dr Heightmeyer has informed me that you don’t have any residual trauma from the…from the experience with Ronon.”

“Dr Weir,” Nayleia began upon seeing the other woman’s difficulty, “Harla and I have been rivals since my birth. That night was not the first such ‘experience’ she had arranged for me. In fact, as I mentioned to Dr Heightmeyer, because of the prior experience I was able to shut out what happened and look at it objectively. I didn’t have to submit to Ronon, I chose to.”

“Well, I just felt I should add my personal thanks to you for the obvious sacrifices you made in assisting my team in escaping Lahal. Colonel Sheppard indicated in his report that you wanted asylum either here or on another planet.”

“Yes, I don’t ever want to return to Lahal,” Nayleia replied vehemently.

“I have decided to grant your request, we would be happy to have you stay in Atlantis Nayleia…welcome.” Dr Weir took Nayleia’s hands in hers and shook them.

“Thank you. The City is very overwhelming but I have found myself drawn to it,” Nayleia said, returning Dr Weir’s hand shake.


**********

Nayleia spent almost all of the next day studying Atlantis’ database, finding out about the Ancients and their technology. At first the hieroglyphs on the computer screen had seemed strange and other-worldly, until she remembered the long ago teachings her mother had given her before she died. The writing of the Ancients was so similar to her mother’s language that Nayleia wondered at first if the two were not the same. She soon discarded this thought when she realized there were subtle differences between the two. Nevertheless, the similarities allowed her to understand most of the Ancient writings and learn a lot during the course of that day.

The sound of a disembodied coming through the speaker by the door of her room, roused Nayleia from the nap she had fallen into.

“Nayleia?” Teyla’s voice sounded again.

“I am here,” Nayleia replied, having gotten up and activated the two-way speaker as she had been shown.

“It’s time for the evening meal. Would you like to join a group of us at the dining hall?” Teyla’s sincerely delivered invitation touched Nayleia. She had never felt wanted when she lived in Lahal.

“Thank you for the invitation Teyla, I’ll join you in about ten minutes,” Nayleia said, deactivating the speaker.

Nayleia washed her face and dressed quickly before heading out of her room to the Turbo Lift. She had only a short wait before it arrived from another floor and its doors opened to reveal that it was already occupied. Ronon Dex was lounging indolently against the wall when the doors to the lift opened. He straightened up immediately upon seeing her and made as if to step past her, out of the lift. Nayleia surprised herself by moving faster to plant herself firmly in front of him and blocking the doorway until the lift doors slid shut.

~Now what? ~ She thought, as he finally allowed his eyes to capture hers and convey the obvious question.

“I wish…I wish you would stop trying to avoid me.”

Nayleia finished in a rush before her nerve left her. She couldn’t believe she had blocked him and was now held captive to his intense gaze.

~This must be how he defeats most of his enemies, by paralyzing them with a soul-searing look. ~

“Listen we were both victims and if we keep avoiding each other, then Harla would have won. Please understand, I don’t blame you, I want us to be friends.”

Nayleia was not sure she had gotten through to Ronon since he said nothing. Sighing in frustration she finally reached behind her to finally punch in the number of the eating hall. The lift lurched to life and started its rapid descent to the cafeteria.

“I’ve never treated a woman that way before.”

Nayleia spun around at the sound of his voice and the softly spoken words. She couldn’t believe he had finally decided to speak to her.

“I guessed as much, and honestly, you still haven’t treated a woman that way. That was not you in the hut…that my friend was Janta’s drugs and Harla’s wickedness.”

Ronon listened to Nayleia’s words and felt a lessening of the tension around his shoulders. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to hear her forgiving words until she had said them. Not even Dr Heightmeyer had been able to reach him. He had been trying to think of a way to tell Sheppard and the others that he planned to leave Atlantis. Now…now as he looked at Nayleia’s profile with the slight smile she wore, he couldn’t quite remember why he’d wanted to leave. He felt the start of a grin which blossomed into a brilliant smile as she started to hum a happy tune as the lift came to a halt outside the dining hall.

Ronon and Nayleia exited together and headed towards the table that the rest of Ronon’s team was seated at. Teyla saw them first and her shocked expression caused the others to look towards the doorway. All conversation around the table died as when each member in turn realized that Ronon and Nayleia had entered the Cafeteria together.

“Well isn’t this just peachy, you two seem to have come to a compromise. Could it be Mr Running Man that you simply ran out of places to ‘run’ to?”

“Rodney!” Sheppard grated out his name in admonishment.

“What? I’m only saying what the rest of you are thinking. Can I help it if I’m honest?” Rodney’s reply conveyed absolutely no contrition.

“It’s alright Colonel Sheppard,” Nayleia said, “Dr McKay is correct. Ronon and I have resolved the issue that stood between us.” Nayleia then turned to Teyla. “Could you help me select an appropriate meal, I’m finding that the choices available are different from what I’m accustomed to?”

“Of course Nayleia, I will be happy to assist you,” Teyla replied, she then stood and led Nayleia away from the table and the questions that burned everyone’s tongue.


**********

The meal was progressing without any more surprises and even some friendly ribaldry was soon evident by the replies the team members exchanged. Nayleia had said very little after her initial reply to Dr McKay’s insensitive comments, however she avidly followed all that was said. She noticed that Ronon said very little, seeming to prefer to choose his words and conversation. From time to time she felt his eyes on her, yet she did not trust herself to return his glances without conveying the attraction that she now admitted she felt for him. As Nayleia finished her meal, the conversation turned to Lahal causing her to sit up and listen more intently.

“I can’t understand it,” Dr McKay was saying, “All my sensor readings indicate that there is some sort of power source on that planet in the vicinity of Lahal. Dr Weir is wrong, we have to go back!”

“Rodney, there is no way any of us are going back to Lahal. In case you hadn’t realized it, we just barely escaped that mad woman’s grasp the last visit we made. Somehow I don’t think there are anymore Nayleias waiting to help us escape if we get caught again.” Colonel Sheppard’s frank assessment had everyone nodding in agreement.

“Listen I agree we had a lucky break the last time, but don’t you see, we know about the threat, so we can take measures to avoid Lahal itself. We can go in at night and skirt the village. I’m almost certain the energy signature was coming from the far side of the village.” McKay finished rattling off his plan, and turned to Nayleia. “Didn’t you say there was some sort of cave on that side of Lahal?”

“Yes, there is a cave where my mother used to go to paint and do drawings on the walls. What is this power source you keep talking about? Is it a Z.P.M?” Nayleia asked innocently.

The entire table became eerily quiet.

“Who told you about Z.P.Ms?” McKay asked rather too loudly.

“I saw it listed on the computer in my room. Dr Heightmeyer explained during one of our sessions that I could find out more about the Ancients on the computer database. Did I do something wrong?”

“No Nayleia you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just a surprise to find out that you can read the Ancient language.” Teyla’s calmly delivered answer helped Nayleia relax a little despite the tension that still radiated from the other members of the team.

“How can you read Ancient? I saw no evidence of writing in Lahal, and definitely no evidence of the Ancients,” McKay asked suspiciously. “Could it be that you simply heard someone mention the term Z.P.M?”

Nayleia looked at the four faces turned her way and finally understood.

~They think I’m too stupid to know how to read! ~ she thought angrily.

“My mother taught me how to read as a child. I haven’t practiced in the years since she died, but I was able to remember enough to understand the writing on your computers. You are correct that Lahalans don’t have much written language. My mother was not Lahalan, she came to Lahal through the Ring of the Ancestors.”

TBC