“You, John Sheppard are being a complete bone head.” Susan shook her head and stood up. “Why am I even wasting my time? I've tried to explain this to you and you still won't listen.”

John stood up too and glared down at her. “I don't ask you to do much, Suzie Q. So now I'm going to tell you-” He poked her shoulder with his finger. “I don't want you going back to the mainland. At least not until he's gone.”

Angrily, she poked him back. “Don't try to tell me what to do, John. You're not my Master and you're not my husband...yet.”

“Keep it up and I won't even be that.” He regretted the words as soon as he said them but he knew he couldn't take them back.

Her eyes flared and her lips grew thin with anger. Without a word, she turned and stalked away and he let her.

When she was gone, John sat on the steps leading down to the pier and stared out at the ocean. He knew he was being a fool. He needed to go after her. Tell her what he wanted...no...needed to say. He knew that the longer he took, the more she would refuse to listen to him. But what did it matter anymore? He'd seen the look on her face when she walked away from him.

He'd lost her already.

“John?”

He heard the door open behind him but he didn't turn around. A hard hand fell on his shoulder and he heard the rustle of cloth as someone sat down beside him.

They sat in silence for awhile and then he heard a soft grunt. He shifted slightly and looked at the big man sitting beside him.

“What are you doing out here, man?”

“Trying to be alone.” John turned his attention back to the ocean.

“Haven't seen ya much lately.”

“I've been busy.”

Ronan snorted softly and John could tell from the sound that he was laughing. “Yeah, I know.” He leaned back on the step and crossed his long legs. “So...what are you doing sitting out here? Have a fight?”

John shot him an angry look and got to his feet. Ronan grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. “Sorry, Sheppard. Didn't mean to make ya mad.”

“I'm not mad.” John shook off his hand.

“Really?” Ronan snorted. “Coulda fooled me. Is that why she nearly knocked me down when she went tearing off toward her office?”

“Ronan...if you've got something to say, just say it.”

“Okay.” Ronan was quiet for a minute and then he sat up and leaned forward. “Listen...I'm not Teyla so I'm not gonna be all soft about this.” He grabbed John's arm and made him look at him. “Get your ass in there and go after that woman.”

“Thanks, Doctor Phil.” John snarled angrily and jerked away from him. “But I really don't need your help.”

Ronan ignored his barb. “Fine. Because I'm not giving it. I'm just telling you to stop being such an asshole and go after her.”

For not being an Earth native, the Satedan was picking up on the expletives really well.

“Mind your own god damned business.” John started to get up but Ronan got to his feet and stood towering over him. John glared up at him. “Get the hell out of my way.”

“Why?” Ronan asked. “So you can go off and lock yourself up in your little shell again?”

John stiffened. “I'm not gonna tell you again.”

But Ronan wasn't about to let up on him. He poked John in the chest with a hard finger. “I'm just telling ya. If you sit here and let that woman get away then you are a damn fool!”

“Ronan!”

They both looked up. Teyla was standing on the top step, hands on her hips and glaring at him angrily.

He threw up his hands. “You talk to him then. You're better at this then I am. Maybe you can get through that thick head of his.”

Angrily, Ronan turned and walked away. Scowling, John turned and glared at the woman behind him. “Don't you start in on me either.”

“I was not going to.” Teyla sat down on the top step and rested her hands on her knees. “I was hoping that perhaps you might want to talk.”

“What is it with you people? Are you having a hard time understanding what 'alone' means?”

“John...you do not need to shout. I am sitting right here.” Teyla told him calmly. She smiled softly and patted the spot next to her. “Perhaps you would like to sit down.”

“I don't want to sit down. I want to be alone.”

“John.” Teyla's voice was still calm but he could see the rising anger in her eyes. “Please do not speak to me that way. I am not the cause of your anger.”

“And don't talk to me like I'm a child.” His hands curled into fists.

“Then stop acting like one.” Teyla stood up and stepped down toward him. She reached out and started to put her hand on his shoulder and then stopped. “John, we have been friends for quite some time now.”

“What has that got to do with anything?” He backed up and turned around to look at the sea. Ronan had walked far down the end of the pier and from the set of his shoulder's John could tell that he was still angry.

“I would hope that it meant you would trust enough in me to tell me what is going on.” She walked up behind him and this time she did rest her hand on his shoulder.

“What?” His laugh was rough and cold. “You don't know already?”

“From the look on Doctor Walker's face as she passed us and from your current mood, I could guess at what has made her so upset and you so angry.” She smiled slightly. “I would assume that this has something to do with Vaden.”

John just rolled his eyes and Teyla laughed.

“I don't see anything so funny.” He scowled at her.