Jennifer and Rodney's wedding went off with only minor problems. The maid-of-honor and best man arrived in style—a police car—just as the opening strains of the processional began. SaraLeigh captured the moment of the two of them climbed out of the car on film for all posterity, knowing that Jennifer would appreciate it in the days ahead. She turned around and caught Evan's eye, and she realized she'd made a huge impression by photographing the moment. She just hoped she got to hear the entire story after the wedding.

As the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle, Sara snapped pictures and pushed away the image of her last photo shoot. This was not the place to be thinking about a murder scene. This was her friend's wedding, and she needed to get her head in the game. Blinking a few times, she lifted her camera and caught the moment that Rodney saw his bride for the first time. The awe that came over his face transformed him from a panicky, worried man into someone who actually tugged a little at Sara's heart strings.

As the photographer, she managed to move around quite a lot during the wedding. She slipped off her heels, however, to keep from tripping. But, otherwise, she managed to get all the shots she wanted. . .and then some.

The big groomsman, Ronon, turned out to be very photogenic. In spite of his declaration that he looked "dumb," he stood next to Rodney with the same pride that a brother might have. Just what had these guys been doing that created such bonds?

Once the officiant announced that Jennifer and Rodney were married and the guests had filed out, it became SaraLeigh's show. She gathered the wedding party to the front of the church and started snapping pictures. As she worked, however, the memory of her last job intruded, and she let out a deep breath. She didn't need to have a breakdown right here. Not in front of all these strangers. She'd wait until she was alone, at home, to react to the horror of seeing a woman's head splattered across the floor.

oOo

Major Evan Lorne stood behind the wedding party in his favorite spot. He'd already scoped out the area and decided that the best place for him was out of the limelight. That spot belonged to Rodney and Jennifer. Watching the newlyweds, Evan shook his head. While he hadn't liked McKay when they first met, the physicist had earned his respect by saving Atlantis and everyone there time and time again.

Now, however, Evan watched the photographer. SaraLeigh Johnson snapped pictures of the wedding party quickly and with the practiced eye of a professional. She gave them clear instructions, making sure each member of the party, including ushers, got a fair amount of images for the wedding album. The woman honestly surprised him. When Jennifer told them that a friend from high school would be doing the photography, he'd expected another woman Jennifer's age. While Jennifer was the most brilliant doctor Evan had ever known, she was also innocent. At least, she was before Pegasus.

SaraLeigh, however, had experienced eyes. Those eyes that changed color depending on his location showed more than she realized. She wore her hair slicked back into a long ponytail, the simplicity of the style looking elegant on her. Her navy dress complimented Jennifer's wedding colors, but it didn't draw any attention to her. Rather matronly, if anyone cared to ask. All by design, he suspected. Sara had done everything in her power to ensure that Jennifer and Rodney took the spotlight. With dark auburn hair like that, however, she'd managed to snag the attention of every unattached male in the room, Evan included.

And she'd been distracted. Several times during the ceremony, SaraLeigh seemed to lose focus. She caught herself, shaking her head and blinking as she got back into the game. That worried Evan on several levels. What had happened to distract a woman from a wedding? He wasn't an expert, but he knew enough to recognize that it wasn't a good thing. Perhaps she'd had an argument with someone on her way over here. That would explain the tired eyes. If that were true, then why was he noticing her? Jennifer had said nothing about her beyond that she was a photographer. Was she in some sort of abusive situation?

"Major Lorne." SaraLeigh's firm voice broke into his thoughts, and he blinked as he got his head back into the game. "Would you stand with Drs. Beckett and Zelenka, Colonel Sheppard, and Mr. Dex, please. I'd like a shot of all the ushers and groomsmen."

"Ah. . .yeah." Evan ignored Sheppard's questioning look and stepped up next to Radek. He drew himself up to his full height and matched Sheppard's reserved smile. They were soldiers, and they'd behave like soldiers. The odd protectiveness that welled in him was likely due to his recent adventures in Pegasus. Atlantis might be back on Earth, but he still couldn't relax after coming home. He'd left a job undone, and it bugged him.

As SaraLeigh snapped the shot, he narrowed his eyes. He'd just recognized the haunted, glazed look on her face. He wore the same one after a mission gone wrong. Just who was this woman?

oOo

Jennifer's wedding was a massive success. SaraLeigh stood in front of the now-cut wedding cake, her camera no longer lifted to snap pictures. She'd lost focus a few times, but that was to be expected after the night she'd had. Still, being here brought out the injustices in life.

One woman's life with her husband began on the same day that another's ended. Sara wished she could change that, but she knew life wasn't fair. Still. . .had that woman's husband loved her as much as Rodney loved Jennifer? Had she been the light of his life? What had caused someone to put a bullet through her skull? The red roses on the cake blended into the bloody images in Sara's mind, and she swallowed a sudden wave a nausea. She wouldn't lose it here.

"Hey." Major Lorne's voice broke through her thoughts, and the roses became roses again.

SaraLeigh turned. "Major."

He frowned at her. "I thought we agreed to be informal for the day."

"I apologize, Evan." She smiled at him, liking the way his eyes sparkled in the dim candlelight of the reception hall.

"Are you done for the evening?" he asked with a motion toward her camera.

"Yes." She smiled ruefully. "Jennifer and Rodney are off on their honeymoon, and it's up to the guests to decide when it's time to leave. Although," she said as she looked around, "a lot of them are rather sloshed."

"Yeah, you noticed that, too?" He also looked around. "Listen, they're about to shut down the music for the night, but I wondered if you'd join me for a dance before they do that."

SaraLeigh stared. He wanted to dance with her? "Um. . .I'm not. . . ."

"Don't tell me it's because you don't want to take attention away from Jennifer." He pinned her in place with a single look. "She's gone, and they're about to shut things down. Just one dance?" He held out his hand.

She stared at his hand while biting her lip. It was the one bad habit she'd never been able to break, and it cropped up now with a vengeance. Her feet hurt, and she just wanted to go home and go to bed. To forget about anything related to crime scenes and photography for a while. Being here, at Jennifer's wedding, helped, but it wasn't the decompression that she needed. Still. . . . What harm would a single dance do?

Decision made, SaraLeigh took Evan's hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. The DJ played a slow song, and Evan pulled her into his arms. With her two-inch heels, she looked him in the eye. That didn't stop him from flirting without saying a word. His sparkling eyes, combined with his dress blues, made for a very attractive picture. For a moment, she regretted that she'd have to give all her pictures of him to Jennifer when she returned from her honeymoon. SaraLeigh quashed the temptation to hold one picture back for herself. She would just have to do with the memory of his amazing eyes so close to her own.

"You've known Jennifer a long time." Evan's statement gently pried for information.

"Yeah, since high school." Even though it had been a long time since she'd danced, the steps returned as Evan led her around the dance floor. She vaguely realized that others had joined them for what would likely be the final hurrah for the night. "She's a couple years younger than me, though, and we graduated together."

"And you went into photography."

"Yes." The one topic SaraLeigh didn't want to discuss. "What about you? What do you do for the Air Force?"

The sparkle in his eyes died just a touch. "Can't say."

"Classified." She nodded. "Jennifer told me that when she came home two months ago."

"Sorry." He seemed genuine in his apology.

"Don't be." She shrugged. "I'm not really allowed to talk about my work, either. My day job is. . .intense."

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't let her go. Just held her close without being inappropriate. SaraLeigh let out a deep breath and reminded herself to relax. No one here would hurt her. For some reason, she felt safe surrounded by these friends of Jennifer's. She particularly felt safe in the arms of this major who so completely overwhelmed her with just a single smile. "So, where are you from?"

"Believe it or not, here." He chuckled. "I grew up in San Francisco, but I've been out of the country for the last few years. It's nice to be back."

"So, you're on leave?"

"Not exactly. I'm. . .stationed nearby."

"At a place I'm not supposed to know about." She smiled when a guarded look crossed his face. "I'm not going to stalk you or anything. Just trying to get to know one of Jennifer's friends."

The discomfort disappeared as the music ended. For a moment, SaraLeigh regretted the timing. She wanted to get to know this man, more than she'd wanted to in the past. And it seemed her opportunity had slipped right through her fingers. With Jennifer no longer at the wedding, she had no compunctions about not being the center of attention for just one person. She opened her mouth to say something, but the best man rushed over.

"Excuse me. Miss Johnson?" His Scottish accent pulled her attention from Evan's profile.

"Yes?"

"I'm Carson Beckett." He stuck out his hand and waited while SaraLeigh shook it. "Jennifer wanted me to leave this with you."

She stared at the tennis bracelet that she'd loaned her friend. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, lass." Carson eyed Evan for a moment and moved to leave them alone.

Sara had other ideas, however. "Excuse me, Dr. Beckett?"

"Aye?"

"What happened before the wedding? You know, with the police?"

Carson smirked. "Lieutenant Cadman was running late and trying to get here. Someone else didn't see the stop sign and took out her car."

"Ouch."

"Aye." Beckett smiled. "But she'll be fine."

"I'm glad." Sara let him go. She would have simply stuck the bracelet into her pocket, but it was too valuable for that. Besides, she had no pockets. So, she took on the daunting task of trying to fasten the bracelet around her left wrist using her right hand. Not the best proposition in the world as she was left handed.

"Here." Evan took her hand gently in his and quickly had the bracelet fastened. His fingers brushed her wrist ever so softly and made her aware of him in a way she'd never experienced before. What was it about this man that drew her attention? He cleared his throat as he finished. "Ah. . .would it be possible for me to get your number?"

She blinked at him.

He smiled. "I was thinking maybe we could go out sometime. Get something to eat."

As he floundered, she grinned. Maybe she wasn't the only one overwhelmed at this moment. "Are you asking me out?"

"I'm asking if you'd be willing to let me ask you out."

She stared at him for another moment, wondering just what kind of man he really was. "I'll get you my card."

He accepted that with a nod and followed her to where she'd already packed up her camera and equipment. She pulled out a pen and scribbled her personal cell number on the back of her business card.

Evan slipped it into his pocket. "I have to go out of town this week, but maybe over the weekend?"

"Sounds good." SaraLeigh watched him leave then and forced herself to focus on getting home. She'd just watched her high school best friend get married and managed to pick up a date. . .all in the same night!

~TBC