Summary: Anna doesn't know why Lorne isn't speaking to her. He has orders he doesn't understand and someone from his past is out to cause him serious trouble.

Spoilers: Set towards the end of Season four but before episode 18 The Kindred.

Warnings: None.

A/N: Although this is a sequel to The Life and Times Of Dr Anna... it is pretty much a stand alone story with romance between my OC Anna and Major Lorne.

Dancing in the Moonlight

You took with me a glance

Chapter 1

"Wait!" Lara called out to Anna as she pounded the city walkways. She looked up and stopped; bending over with her hands on her thighs as she began to catch her breath.

"I thought you'd disappeared off the face of the Ea…..the Pegasus galaxy. I haven't seen you for ages. What's going on with you?"

She gave a breathless excuse. "Sorry Lara, I've been busy."

"Well I'd like a chat. What do you say?"

"I…….," she hesitated and thought for a moment. "OK, yes that sounds good."

The walk back to her quarters only took a few minutes and when Anna went to shower, Lara tried to find somewhere to sit. It wasn't easy as the place was, surprisingly, a bit of a shambles. She tidied a few things and came across a photograph of Anna and Lorne which had been torn in two and discarded on the floor. Lara picked up the pieces and slipped them in the drawer of the bedside cabinet. When Anna eventually emerged she was carrying two cups of tea and placed them on the table.

"Sorry the place is such a mess."

"It doesn't matter; just talk to me."

"I'm fine." She said unconvincingly as she flopped back onto the bed.

Lara viewed her with concern. "OK, this isn't like you. Last time I spoke to you, you were really happy."

"That's was over a month a go. A lot has happen since then."

"Such as?"

Anna shrugged. "I'm sure it's nothing you want to hear."

"Let me be the judge of that. So, you and the Major?"

Anna shook her head and sighed.

"I don't believe it. Everything was go, go, go the last time we spoke."

Anna sighed again as she could hardly believe how things had turned out either.

"Don't tell me he had his wicked way with you and now doesn't call."

Anna forced a laugh. "Well, not quite like that."

"Go on tell me then."

"OK, you're not going to let up until I do are you?"

"No, not a chance."

Anna sat up, took a sip of tea and cast her mind back to the previous month. "As soon as he had recovered from his injuries Evan organised a lovely night out. Our first date in fact. He must have bribed the cook because he had a meal specially made, not the standard stuff you usually get in the canteen, proper food which we ate on a little candlelit table set out on the balcony over looking the ocean. We watched the sun go down and the two moons rise. It was perfect. He even persuaded one of the technicians to organise a speaker on the balcony so that we had music. When we had finished eating we danced ……." Anna closed her eyes to recall it in all its detail; his arms around her waist; his breath on her neck; and as she carried on with her silent musings Lara had to snap her fingers to break the trance.

"Er..sorry, where was I?"

"Dancing…………..."

"Oh yes, dancing. I think we smooched to every romantic song that Lorne could find in Atlantis. This turned out to be about three," she smiled, "but that really didn't matter. I said that I didn't want the evening to end. He muttered in my ear something along the lines of 'I could do this all night' and before I knew it I was asking him to stay the night."

"Oh really, and?"

"The smile and kiss he gave in answer to that saw us almost sprinting to my room. As soon as the door was closed there was clothing being discarded, buttons flying; naked skin being kissed…" Anna paused and blushed. "So much hidden passion that man has."

"Mmmm. Lucky you." Lara said with a grin.

"Things were getting really hot and steamy when his radio earpiece crackled into life."

Lara's eyes widened. "You mean he still had it on…..his head?"

"Yes. I think it's welded to his ear."

Lara laughed. "Glad to see you still have your sense of humour."

"But not at that point in the evening I didn't. Apparently Col. Carter wanted to see him immediately. We both cursed and I protested as Evan dressed. I couldn't persuade him to stay and believe me I tried everything. He talked of how disobeying a direct order is a court martial offence and I said how I hated the stupid rules. He opened the door, tapped me on the nose and said with a grin 'I'll be back' and with that he left."

Anna paused and took another sip of tea as she composed herself. "He never returned. I went to see him the following day but he was out on a mission with Col. Sheppard."

"He didn't leave you a message?" Lara was getting more intrigued.

"No and I didn't think too much of it at the time as the Colonel was using Evan more because of Teyla's pregnancy. I caught up with him a couple of days later in his quarters and he spoke to me through a crack in the door saying he was sorry but he had his orders and couldn't talk to me."

"That's strange. Orders! What kind of orders could they be? I don't understand."

"No neither do I. It doesn't make sense. Non fraternisation rules maybe?" Anna asked as it was one of the many reasons she had considered over the last few weeks.

"Military with civilian? Not likely. Not out here anyway."

"Anyhow none of it matters now."

"Why?"

"The IOA are due anytime soon on the Daedalus; to speak to me and Col. Carter apparently. It wouldn't surprise me to find myself going back to Earth." Anna said sadly.

"What makes you say that?"

"I've been expecting it since I got back from Draya. They've just been biding their time."

"Well I hope you're wrong. I'll see if I can find out something."

"Don't do anything to get yourself into trouble."

"Who me?" Lara laughed.

"Yes you. You've only just finished those extra duties that Sheppard gave you for your previous misdeeds."

"Well I can handle them and him!"

ooOoo

Anna was glad she had talked to Lara as it forced her to make a decision. She wanted answers and went looking for Lorne to find some. Rumour had it that he was spending all his free time in the gym and, as she entered, she heard a groan and a body slamming down on the mat. She noticed that hardly anyone watched the two sparring men because they could tell Lorne was already looking for another victim.

"OK then whose next? Come on, volunteer or I'll volunteer someone myself." He said as he looked around trying to catch someone's eye.

Anna saw the lack of enthusiasm in the room and stepped forward. Maybe he couldn't talk to her but he didn't say anything about sparring.

Lorne looked at her stony faced. "I don't think so, Doc."

"Why not Major?"

"Because...just because…."

Anna unzipped her sweat top, threw it down and stepped on the mat; all the while holding his gaze in a silent challenge.

"OK then if that's what you really want." He said with a look of resignation and disappointment.

She took a deep breath and focussed her eyes on his. Never taking them off for a moment; she circled him. With total awareness of his body she waited for his first move but was surprised when he didn't make one. He was leaving it to her. Right if that's how he's playing it she thought. It made her even more determined. She stepped forward, lightly jabbing with her right fist to his chest and followed through with her left to his face but he blocked her immediately. She right kicked to his chest which forced him back a few steps but as soon as he found his balance he deftly hooked his left leg across the back of her knees and she toppled backwards with a heavy smack to the mat.

"You don't have to do this Doc." He put out his hand to help her up but she ignored it and quickly jumped to her feet.

"You know me Major I never give up." She replied breathlessly and rubbed her lower back and stretched her legs.

Moving around to keep herself loose she twice had to remind herself to concentrate and not let her mind drift as her eyes kept being drawn to the sweat glistening on his arms and neck. Blocking all unhelpful thoughts she fixed her gaze on his and tried a hooking move to his leg while thrusting her palm to his chest. Once again he countered with a sweeping leg across hers and toppled her to the mat.

This time Anna stayed on her knees for a minute to catch her breath and think of a different strategy. Lorne had been training for hours and was tired. She knew that she still had no chance against him and decided that being devious was her only option. Again with eyes focussed on his, moving nimbly around him and with a determination not to signal any moves, she ran her tongue around her lips. The momentary flicker in his eyes indicated the lapse in concentration she was hoping for. With lightning speed her right leg snapped out with a circular move and the ball of her foot made contact with the side of his head. As he staggered back she pressed forward with a punch to his chest which slammed him down on to the mat. In a flash Anna was on top of him and sitting on his thighs; she grabbed both his arms and held them over his head.

The silent crowd which had been gathering erupted into whistles, cheers and clapping. Lorne allowed a hint of a grin to cross his face, which much to Anna's delight dimpled his cheeks a little, as he relaxed and continued to allow her to pin him to the floor.

"Do you yield Major?" She said triumphantly with a bead of sweat running down her face.

"It looks as if I have no choice Doc so yes, I yield."

"Good." She replied as she pressed down on his up stretched arms and seeing the desire in his eyes teased him with the lightest brush of her lips against his.

The cheering increased but then suddenly stopped which caused them to look up and see that the crowd had parted to reveal Col. Carter, Mr Woolsey and two unknown guests standing there watching them.

Anna and Lorne quickly jumped up and straightened their clothes and smoothed their ruffled hair as they eyed the unwelcome visitors.

Col. Carter looked a bit uneasy. "Major."

"Ma'am." Lorne replied feeling a bit awkward as his gaze turned to the others.

"Interesting training." Mr Woolsey said as he eyed them suspiciously.

"I'm just showing Mr Woolsey and the other IOA members around the main parts of the city Major," Carter explained and then turned her attention to Anna "and as they would like to see you Doctor, perhaps you will come to the conference room in one hour please."

"Yes Colonel." She answered with a feeling of impending doom.

One of the visitors, who had been exchanging looks with Lorne, smiled as she walked up to him. "Evan. It's good to see you after all this time."

"Hello Frankie. Yes it's been a while."

Mr Woolsey raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You two know each other?"

"Yes you could say that Mr. Woolsey. Major Lorne is my husband."

Anna shot Lorne a black look as he gave her an uneasy glance. She had now been given an answer but it definitely wasn't the one she was looking for.

ooOoo