Not Alone Anymore

After hearing the girl's story, Weir turned to Beckett. "Does this hold with your findings?" she asked.

He thought for a moment. "It could certainly be some sort of sensory evolution." He nodded. "Not that I really understand the how or why of it, but yes, it would explain the extra cortex activity."

"I have already assured Colonel Sheppard and the others that I will use my gift to assist them in searching for more...Z.P.M.'s." Madi still wasn't used to the strange name.

"I don't think that's it though." Everyone turned in surprise as Ronon spoke up. "I mean, I don't think that's all she can do." He leaned forward over the table, meeting everyone's gaze. "It's not just the Z.P.M.'s. It's the energy. She can sense the energy." The others looked around at each other, clearly not catching on. He sighed. "Look." He turned his focus to Madi, seated across from him. "You've had a headache pretty much since you got here, right?" She nodded. "And it got worse when we got closer to the generator." She thought back for a moment, then agreed. "And, you have trouble sleeping. What time were you able to fall asleep the last few nights? Around two or so?" She nodded again. He grinned triumphantly, leaning back in his chair and turning to McKay. "What time does the closest generator station to the living quarters get cycled down?"

McKay thought for a second, then snapped his fingers. "Two a.m.!" He looked at Ronon in astonishment. "How did you figure all that out?" The big man shrugged nonchalantly.

The de-briefing wrapped up, Madi promising to stop by the Infirmary the next morning for Beckett to run some more tests. She followed Colonel Sheppard and his team out of the conference room, where they all slowly dispersed until it was only her and Ronon left. "I suppose we shall be returning to our quarters as well?" she sighed, not feeling quite ready to turn in yet.

He leaned casually against the wall, his thumbs hooked into his belt. "Unless you'd rather do somethin' else," he shrugged, clearly not tired either.

She gave him a grateful smile. "I've just spent the last ten years in solitude. Believe me, I'd rather do anything else."

He chuckled, "Yeah, I know the feeling. Come on," He motioned for her to follow him to the transport chamber.

She stepped into the tiny room, and the door hissed shut behind her. As he reached to punch in their destination, she laid her hand on his arm. "I wanted to thank you for figuring out what was wrong with me," She blushed, pulling her hand quickly away. "My headaches, I mean. I never would have thought to put it all together..."

"Uh, don't mention it," he said, then leaned forward conspiratorily. "Unless McKay's around. Then, feel free,"

She laughed, following him out into the lounge. Surprisingly enough, there was no-one else around. Ronon walked over to a rack on the wall that held several long sticks, taking one down for himself and tossing her another. She raised her eyebrows at him, noting the glint in his eyes.

"I'm teaching you how to play pool." he informed her with a wicked smirk.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sheppard stepped out of the transporter to the sound of roaring laughter. He poked his head into the lounge to see Ronon and Madi by the pool table, with the remains of what looked to have been a six-pack on the card table next to them.

"So the rest of us just left him there!" Ronon exclaimed, apparently the punch line of whatever story he'd been telling. He nearly doubled over with laughter.

"You didn't!" Madi replied, dabbing the tears that were forming at the corner of her eye.

"It took the poor guy three days to get back!"

"What's all this now?" Sheppard asked, strolling over to them. He raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Colonel Sheppard," Madi greeted him, still chuckling. "Ronon was instructing me in the game of pool."

"First the jello, now pool?" he turned to the bigger man with a smirk. "Next I'm sure you'll be teaching her how to shoot."

"Oh, I don't think that will be neccessary," she replied. He glanced quickly at her, not sure what to make of that statement, but she responded only with a mysterious smile.

"You're uh, off the clock, right?" he asked Ronon, glancing at the empty cans.

"You could say that," Ronon shrugged. "And before you ask, yes, these ones were mine."

"Hey, you still owe me for those," Sheppard pointed out. The other man just grinned mischievously. "But is it really a good idea to be getting our new friend drunk so soon?" He gave him a pointed look.

"She only had the one," Ronon rolled his eyes.

Taking a cue off the rack for himself and turning to Madi, Sheppard gestured to the table. "Well, how would you like to play a true master of the game?" He flashed her a charming smile as he racked up the balls.

"Certainly," she nodded, stepping around the table.

"I'm sure Ronon wouldn't mind if I kept you company for a bit. I'm sure he's got lots of other stuff that he needs to get done," Sheppard hinted.

"Like what?" Ronon crossed his arms defiantly. He was well aware of what Sheppard was playing at; it was just fun to make it difficult. Just then, he saw someone walk by out in the corridor. "Hey Teyla!" he called. She stopped and poked her head into the room. He flashed her a smile. "How about you come play a game with us? Two-on-two?" Sheppard shot him a menacing glare.

"I'd love to," she said, walking over to join them.

Sheppard bowed his head in defeat. "Fine. Teyla, you're with me," He smirked at the bigger man, taking comfort in the fact that at least his team would win.

Ronon chalked up a cue and handed it to Madi. "You can go first," he offered, standing back.

She thanked him, leaning down to line up her shot. She struck forcefully, sinking three balls on the break.

"Turns out she's really good," he drawled in Sheppard's direction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Madi watched over Dr. Beckett's shoulder as he made some notes on a chart. He'd just finished taking some more scans with his machines, and had drawn a sample of her blood. He made a few more marks on the paper, and turned to her with a smile. "Well, you're all done for today. You're free to go,"

"Ronon requested that I wait here until he returns," she replied, chewing her bottom lip. "But I was wondering if...that is, I wanted to...um," She glanced away nervously, taking a deep breath. "Dr. Weir has suggested that I take some time to get to know some of the people in this city...and I was hoping that perhaps you would be willing to share a meal with me, some time?"

He gazed at her fondly for a moment, deeply touched by her sentiment. "I'd be honored," he replied, inclining his head in her direction. "Perhaps supper this evening?"

She smiled in relief. "That would be wonderful,"

"Right, I'll see you then," he excused himself to tend to his many duties.

While she waited for Ronon to come back -- there was no way she could navigate the corridors on her own just yet -- Madi wandered over to where one of the nurses was sorting through some papers at a nearby desk.

The girl looked up from her work, smiling warmly. "You must be Madi, right?" She rose to her feet, extending her hand. Madi glanced down at it, slightly confused. "Oh, it's called a handshake, " the nurse explained, "It's how folks greet each other where I'm from. The name's Josie, by the way. Josie Tanner, pleased to meet ya!"

Madi extended her hand in return, smiling as the girl clasped it and shook it up and down. "My people greet one another with a bow," she said, clasping her hands to her chest and dipping at the waist in demonstration.

"Like this?" Josie replied, mimicking her movements.

"Yes, exactly."

Josie squealed in delight at her praise. "Well, whaddya know! I'm makin' friends with someone from a whole 'nother galaxy!" She raised her hand to her mouth, looking somewhat embarrassed for a moment. "Sorry, I hope that didn't sound wrong...I just, well, I've never gotten a chance to go offworld yet myself, and I --"

Madi waved away her apology. "To be honest, I had never met anyone outside my own people until a few days ago," she admitted, "Imagine my surprise; I had not known other galaxies even existed!" She laughed self-deprecatingly.

The other girl seemed to relax somewhat, joining her laughter. "Well, I gotta say, it's been a real pleasure meeting you," she grimaced, gesturing to the stack of folders and papers on the desktop. "Unfortunately, I got a load of files to sift through, so..." She shrugged helplessly.

"Of course." Madi turned to leave, then had another thought. "Um, may I ask...what is it exactly that you are doing with these...?" She gestured towards the papers.

"Oh, just filing," Josie replied. At the other girl's questioning look, she continued, "See, I have to take these charts," She pointed to the papers. "And I gotta put them in their right files." She pointed to the stack of folders. "Then I gotta put them all into that cabinet over there."

Madi glanced around the room thoughtfully for a moment. "Do you need any assistance?" she offered.

Josie's face lit up. "Really?!" She peered around the infirmary, but Dr. Beckett was nowhere in sight. " Um, sure, I guess. They didn't really cover filing in Nurse school," she said sarcastically, glancing down at the papers in front of her. "Could you find Wilson's file in that stack?"

Madi shuffled through the folders, then sighed in disappointment when she realized that she wouldn't really be of any use. "I'm sorry...I --"

"You can't read any of it, can you?" Josie asked sympathetically, guessing what the problem was.

Madi shook her head sadly. She laid the folder in her hand back on the desk, but then she noticed somthing. "Josie," she questioned, "This symbol here...it is the same as this one?" She pointed to the letters she was referring to.

"Yeah. That's the letter M. Why?" She looked down at the files for a moment, then snapped her fingers, the same idea coming to her. "Maybe you can help after all!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ronon walked into the infirmary, glancing around but not seeing anyone. "Madi?" he called out.

A head snapped up on the other side of the desk he was facing. "Over here!" the nurse called cheerfully.

He rounded the desk to see a bunch of files and papers spread out across the floor. Madi glanced down at the paper she held in her hand, then laid it down on one of the folders in front of her. "Uh, what are you doing?" he asked, leaning onto the desk.

She looked up at him, grinning proudly. "Filing!" She reached over to grab another paper from the stack as the nurse sitting across from her picked up the folder she'd just finished with and tucked it into the cabinet. She glanced up at him again, feeling his eyes on her. "Oh, it's a simple matter," she explained, "I simply match the symbols here," she pointed to the name printed at the top of each chart, "To the symbols on the folders. It's remarkable, isn't it?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess..." He watched as she matched up another file. "But, uh, isn't that her job?" He nodded towards the nurse, who was busy trying to match another file with the correct chart.

"I'm helping!" she replied proudly.

He looked at her for a moment, then plastered on an indulgent smile. "Yeah, uh, helping! That's great..." He wheeled the desk chair over and plopped down, settling in for a good long wait.

Finally, the two girls finished with the filing. "I gotta tell ya," Josie exclaimed, "That went a mite faster with two people than I coulda done on my own," She smiled thankfully.

Madi beamed proudly in return. "I am glad to have been able to assist you," she replied, rising stiffly to her feet.

Ronon rolled his eyes in boredom.

"It was a pleasure to spend time with you," Madi extended her hand in the custom of the Earth people.

Josie smiled in return, taking her hand. "You too! Drop in any time."

Madi walked around the desk, poking Ronon in the shoulder to rouse him.

Josie raised her hand, stalling her. "Um, I dunno if you'd be interested, but..." She took a step closer, wringing her hands self-consciously. "I, uh, I was just thinkin'..." She grimaced uncomfortably. "My sister's a school teacher, and...well, uh, if you were wantin' to learn 'bout reading and such...I'm free in the evenings,"

Madi grinned, bowing her head. "I would be honored if you would teach me the writing of your people," she said. "I am afraid I have another engagement this evening, but perhaps tomorrow?"

Ronon looked at her questioningly.

"Oooh, I'd love it!" Josie exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

As they walked out of the Infirmary, Ronon leaned down to her. "You have plans?"

She cast him a quick glance, leading the way to the transporter. "Yes, I do."