Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters etc and make no profit from writing.

Summary: Complex relationships and stalkers cause problems for the inhabitants of Atlantis.



"Well I guess we are both losers." McKay said moodily as he bit into a slice of apple pie.

"Losers?" Teyla questioned feeling like she had missed something.

"Look over there." McKay said nodding towards a table in the corner.

"Leave it McKay." Ronon growled, revealing his bad mood.

"Leave what?" Teyla asked following McKay's gaze to the table where Lorne and Jennifer sat, interested at what was upsetting the two men.

"Blind sided by Lorne. I can't believe it." Rodney complained pulling a face when Jennifer and Lorne simultaneously started laughing.

"What are you talking about McKay?" Sheppard asked, sharing Teyla's confusion.

"Nothing." Ronon said as he stood, roughly pushing his chair back and hurriedly walked out of the mess hall.

"That reaction suggests it is not nothing." The Colonel commented looking at McKay. "And what does this have to do with my second in command?"

"We were both, well chasing after...no pursuing a romantic involvement, with Jennifer and it-" Rodney began to explain only for Sheppard to cut him off.

"Whoa you and Ronon are both chasing the doc?"

"No need to sound so surprised." McKay snapped slightly offended. "But yes we were, that is until Major Loveboat made his move. I can't believe I did not see that coming."

"Had either you or Ronon made a move?" Sheppard asked, still unable to believe two of his team mates were chasing the same woman.

"No, but that is not really the point."

"So you assumed that the doc would sit around waiting for someone she had no idea was interested in her to show interest? And now you are complaining when that is not the case?"

"No. Geez that is nauseating. Some of us are trying to eat." McKay complained, ignoring Sheppard's amused look.

"I don't get why you didn't see it coming. Lorne's a popular guy and spends a lot of time with the doc." Sheppard said.

"But in a brotherly way." McKay complained. "Plus I hoped her tastes would be more brains than brawn."

"On the bright side they are leaving so you won't have to gawk for much longer." The Colonel pointed out.

"How is that good news? Lorne does not strike me as the waiting type." McKay complained.

"McKay!" Sheppard exclaimed. On for the physicist to pull a face.

An hour later the door to Jennifer's quarters opened and Lorne appeared with his shirt untucked and his hair ruffled.

From down the corridor a figure waited in the shadows watching the two laugh before Lorne smiled and left.

The next morning Jennifer woke feeling fresh and vibrant. Deciding to go for the run she had put off the last few days she pulled on her jogging shoes and placed her headphones on. Selecting her playlist she left her room and started down the corridor for her morning run, completely oblivious to the figure lurking in the shadows outside her room. As she continued into the deserted corridors she had a niggling feeling that something wasn't right. Shaking her head she told herself that she was being stupid and kept jogging.

As her feet pounded on the metal floors she tried to run, following the rhythm of the music. As her heart beat hastened and her legs began to feel the first signs of lactic acid building up she ran over events of the previous night. She questioned if it had been a mistake, but then she replayed the evening and recalled the fun they had had. She was smiling at the memories when she was convinced she heard a sound above the din of her heart beat, her music and her feet running on the surface.

Allowing her paranoia to get the better of her she drew to a halt and looked round at the deserted walk way. Ahead of her there was no lighting, the automatic sensors not yet detecting her presence,

behind her the artificial light glowed in the corridor revealing the emptiness. She turned off her music and remained still listening. She shut her eyes and tried to block out the sound of her own body, focusing on anything unusual. She tried to remember what Ronon had taught her in her sparring lessons about being aware of her surroundings and tuning into abnormalities. Unfortunately her skills did not extend as far as Ronon's and she could not distinguish between the normal odd sounds and the abnormal odd sounds.

Opening her eyes she peered down the lit walkway searching for anything out of place. All she saw though was how alone she was, how cut off from the rest of the city. It was then her fear rose up and her heart started thudding faster and faster. Looking round again she tried to pinpoint her position so she could work out the quickest way back to civilisation. She was sure it was forward, into the darkness. Looking round one more time, she sighed at her misplaced fear and restarted her run, this time without her music sounding in her eardrums.

As she ran she was sure she could hear rhythmic footsteps behind her. Once again she stopped, this time abruptly. The other sound also stopped. Looking once more down the corridor with its metal walls and floor she guessed that it was an echo of her own footsteps. She released a nervous chuckle at the fact she was scared by her own footsteps. Shaking her head she debated internally if that was better or worse than being afraid of her own shadow.

Taking a deep breath she started jogging once more, again heading into the darkness. Despite knowing there was nothing to be afraid of she couldn't stop her legs picking up the pace. Unfortunately her legs' version of upping the pace caused her to run at a pace she wasn't comfortable with and it wasn't long before her lungs strained with effort and the burning lactic acid scorched her calf muscles forcing her out of a steady rhythm. It was as her rhythm unpredictably changed that she heard what she had previously thought was an echo no longer mimic her own sounds.

Her head snapped round to look over her shoulder, this time without her legs stopping. That was when she saw a figure down the corridor. Moving her head back round to face her direction of travel she began to sprint along the corridor as her hands reached into her pocket trying to find her radio.

Part of her wanted to ignore the footsteps closing in on her. Part of her, however, stayed focused on the thumping sound of feet on metal that was growing louder and louder. As her fingers located her ear-piece she pulled it out of her pocket. However the physical exertion and rush of adrenaline caused her shaking hands to fumble the small piece of electronics, sending it flying out of her hands. Cursing she was caught in two minds: To stop and retrieve the earpiece or to keep running.

As the battle raged in her mind she slowed her pace. The sudden increase in loudness from her pursuers footsteps caused her to forget the idea of retrieving the ear-piece and she started running once more. However, it was that moment of hesitation that proved her downfall. The slight let up in pace allowed her faster pursuer to make up a significant amount of ground so that even after Jennifer increased her pace the unknown companion was right behind her. As Jennifer began to make out the breathing of the hunter she wondered if she should turn round and face whoever it was. However, her fear kept her moving forward. Even as she felt the disturbance of air caused by the movements from behind her fear kept her concentrating on running away from the danger rather than facing it head on. Her fear forcing her to face forward meant that when the attack came from behind she was completely unprepared and stood no chance.