Hey guys, thanks so much to all of you for reading and reviewing. I don't mind telling you that I was very concerned about the last chapter, I don't usually write the action/mission thing and it was a scary thing for me to do!

Steel Cheetah: Wow, what a great pen name! I swear mine is so unoriginal it's painful! Thanks for stopping in, I hope you continue to read and to enjoy it. There are some great stories about Lorne on ff, some really great ones! This is just for my own fun and because I love Kavan!

Bailey1ak: Thanks for the compliments, I feel better now! Lorne has a thing alright, but that whole no frat thing (which totally sucks btw, even as it makes sense!) is going to be problematic. Still, I am the writer, so I can do what I like with my own characters!

John's Puddle Jumper: As soon as I write em, you'll have em! I promise!

Trecebo: Texas, huh? I have this image of Texas as being full of cowboys and people with strong accents (which I'm sure it isn't!). I'm Irish to the core, I love the Emerald Isle and I love the culture and everything that goes with it. I'm very proud of my Celtic heritage and it's always nice to meet people who are pleased to be Irish! AS to slow and steady, I think that if she were really grieving for her fiancé, she'd take her time and be terribly wary. I know I would. Thanks for the review!

Chapter 6. This time it's different.

It was all over very quickly. When Laura fell to the ground, Ronon lunged towards her, pulling out his gun and taking three men down with him. He wrapped her in his arms, rolling over with her until she was out of the line of fire before pulling his gun out and taking out another armed guard.

John and Rodney opened fire on the remaining hostiles, aided by Lorne, who was still in position behind the trees. Moments later, the bodies of Laura's captors lay scattered around.

"Clear!" John called, slowly advancing out of his position and scanning the area with sharp green eyes. "Ronon, is she ok?"

"She's breathing," Ronon reported after looking closely at her. "She's covered in blood and dirt. I can't make out if it's hers or not."

Lorne fell to his knees beside her. "Laura? It's Major Lorne. Can you hear me? Lieutenant?" He cast worried eyes to John's. "Sir, I can't wake her." He gently brushed a strand of hair back from her face, a motion not unnoticed by his CO, who sighed before signalling to Rodney.

"Move back," Rodney ordered, coming to crouch down beside Laura. He quickly ran his hands over her arms and legs, sighing in relief. "She's ok. Nothing broken. I don't think that blood on her clothes is hers either."

Lorne was standing, looking down at her in shock. Something akin to rage darkened his eyes to almost navy. "She's covered in bruises," he spat out. "She's not ok."

"Dr Keller, come in." John tapped his earpiece.

"Go ahead John."

"We've got Cadman. She's unconscious, but she's breathing and she doesn't appear to have any broken bones or other serious injuries."

"Get her back here," Jennifer requested. "We'll stabilise her here and prep her for transport through the gate."

"Ronon, can you take her?" John shouldered his P-90, looking around him. "I don't want to delay out here any longer than we have to. "

"Well thank God for that," Rodney muttered. "I feel like I've run a marathon."

Lorne looked at him, his lips twitching despite his worry. "McKay, I'd pay to see you run a marathon."

"I happen to be extremely athletic," Rodney shot back. "We can't be all hotshot flyboys like you, can we?"

They were walking slowly, eyes peeled for further visitors, as John put it. Ronon carried Laura in his arms. She still hadn't stirred and Lorne had to look at her now and again to reassure himself she was breathing. Rodney and John brought up the rear, weapons at the ready.

As they neared the village, Laura stirred with a small moan. Ronon stopped, calling John in a low voice. "She's awake."

"Lieutenant?" John put himself directly into her line of vision. "It's ok. We've got you. We're on our way back to Atlantis now."

Laura turned her gaze on him, relief flooding through her eyes before they rolled back in her head and she blacked out again.

"I need to get her to the infirmary, now," Jennifer told Sam as they walked through the Gate. "She's not waking up. I want to get her under a scanner immediately."

"Go," Sam said quickly, concerned at the look in her CMO's blue eyes. "Ronon, Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne, care to fill me in?"

John opened his mouth to speak, but Rodney beat him to it. "We were going to take samples of the explosive soil and when Cadman and Teva went to clean up, they were taken by a group of hostiles called the Funli."

Lorne scrubbed a hand through his hair. "They took her and Teva, did God only knows what to them." His eyes strayed to the corridor to the infirmary where they'd taken Laura. "Colonel Carter, where's Cara?"

"She's in the nursery, Major," Sam said gently. "Sarah and Teyla are taking care of her."

"I'd like to see Teyla myself," John admitted. "Just want to check in."

"Go," Sam told them. "Major, go and get that cut checked out, too."

Lorne looked down to where she was pointing and noticed his arm was bleeding. "It's just a scratch," he said with a shrug. "I have some medical supplies in my quarters. I'll bandage it up."

"I can make it an order," Sam offered with a smile. "I'd like you to check in on Lt Cadman and then report back to me at 1800."

"Yes Ma'am."

"John?" Teyla hurried towards them as fast as her swollen stomach would allow. She reached her husband's side and allowed herself to be pulled into a tight hug. "What happened? Evan, you're bleeding." She reached out to touch Lorne's arm. "Are you alright?"

Lorne offered her a small smile. "It's just a scratch."

"I have heard that before, many times." Teyla looked at her husband, her amber eyes full of something only he could understand. "And I believe that one of those times you almost turned into a bug."

John shuddered. "We promised that we weren't going to mention that. Ever." He sighed dramatically. "I knew I should have had it written into our vows."

Teyla smiled and kissed his cheek. "I will accompany Evan to the infirmary," she told him. "I need to see Doctor Keller myself when she is finished with Laura."

"Why?" John was instantly concerned. "Are you ok? Is the baby ok?" His hands went to her stomach, patting anxiously.

Lorne smiled at the sight of his CO's panicked face. "Sir, I think it's normal to have weekly check ups while you're pregnant." He held out a hand to Teyla. "I'll be your escort, Mrs Sheppard. Let's move out."

"Lorne?"

"Sir?" He turned back to John and waited for his orders.

"See me before debrief." He left it at that, walking towards the armory so he could dispose of his tac vest and remaining weapons.

Lorne exhaled. Crap. "Yes sir."

Teyla smiled sympathetically at him he slowed his strides to match hers. "You are troubled."

Lorne looked at her with a rueful grimace. "I'm in a galaxy millions of light years from home. I've been here almost six years and funnily enough I don't see myself leaving it for another six. I have my own team and I love my life here."

"But you are troubled," Teyla repeated, stopping and placing a hand on her stomach. "I can tell."

Lorne rolled his eyes at her. "Is this one a telepath too?"

She laughed. "I do not know. This one has yet to be tested the way that Torrin was!"

"Thank God for that," Lorne said fervently, remembering Teyla's battle with the Wraith Queen aboard the hive ship when she'd been pregnant with Torrin. "I don't want to be around for another bout of that!"

"Evan." Teyla turned serious. "You have been part of my life for a long time. I consider you a friend."

"Thanks, "Lorne said cautiously, wondering where she was going with this. "Back at you."

"And as your friend," Teyla continued serenely, "I am telling you that it is alright to allow yourself to feel."

"Feel what?"

"Whatever you want to," Teyla replied simply. "You are a good man. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their lives."

"Teyla, I'm not sure where you're going with this," Lorne began, "But if you're trying to set me up with one of the Athosian women again…"

"I am not attempting any such thing," Teyla defended herself. "I think you know what I am talking about." Her amber gaze settled on Lorne's eyes. "Evan, may I speak freely?"

"Go ahead," Lorne said, resigned to the fact that she'd tell him what he was afraid her husband already knew.

"I believe you have feelings for Laura," Teyla said evenly. When he started to interrupt, she held up a hand. "I believe you know this already, and if I know you, you are attempting to keep it hidden."

"It's against military regulations to – "

"I believe military regulations went out of the window, as you say, when Corporal Pierce married Sergeant Evans," Teyla interrupted him, giving him a steely glare that her husband jokingly referred to as her 'don't mess with me' look.

Lorne had no comeback for that, so he crossed his arms and waited for her to finish. Teyla always got her point across. It was usually in your best interests to wait and see what she had to say.

"You need to tread carefully," Teyla warned. "She is wary."

"She's hurting," Lorne corrected her. He slumped against the wall with a sigh. "Teyla, I don't know how I feel about her. I don't know because I haven't thought it through yet." Pressing a hand to his face, he sighed. "I don't want to upset her. She's still torn up over Carson, and there's Cara to think of…"

"Carson is not coming back," Teyla's voice was soft. "He is gone. She cannot bury herself in a memory."

"I know that," Lorne snapped. "Sorry, Teyla. I didn't mean to bark at you."

She grinned. "I am John Sheppard's wife. I am used to his…barking. Think nothing of it."

"I should get to the infirmary," Lorne said, glancing at his watch. "Come on. I'll walk you there."

"I have no need to be there," Teyla informed his glibly. "I just wanted to talk to you where John couldn't hear me." She threw him a grin. "I can be just as sneaky as you men, when I want to be."

Lorne shook his head at her back and made his way to the infirmary, wondering what on earth he was going to tell his CO when he had to face that particular music.

"Keep that dry," Jennifer Keller ordered, putting a butterfly bandage on Lorne's arm and smiling at him. The petite doctor had become a good friend to him in the time they'd been stationed in the Pegasus galaxy. It had started with him getting injured in a sparring accident with Ronon and developed from there. Jennifer had become a sympathetic ear, a helping hand and a movie night buddy all rolled into one small blonde package.

"Yes ma'am," Lorne teased with a grin. He got up to go and turned back. "Jen? How's Laura doing?"

If Jennifer was surprised at his use of Laura's first name, she didn't show it. "She's still out, but scans showed that she's going to be ok. No concussion, nothing broken. Her shoulder's pretty banged up; she's going to need a sling for a couple of days."

"But she's ok, right?" Lorne asked again, looking around to the curtained cubicle that covered her from view. "They didn't…"

"No, Ev, they didn't." Jennifer took his hand and dragged him towards the little cubicle. "She's in there. If you want to sit with her awhile, I'll be in my office." Her message was clear.

Lorne's lips quirked. "It's obvious, huh?"

"I know you," Jennifer said simply. "Go on. I'll let you know when it's time to go."

Lorne approached the bed cautiously, pulling back the curtain to reveal a sleeping Laura. He bit back the oath that came to his lips when he saw her bruised face and arms. One eye was swollen, and her lip was puffy from where Bron's hand had connected with her fist. She looked very small and very young. And very frail.

"It's just bruises," Jennifer said from behind him, noticing the way his hands clenched into fists. "Evan, she's fine. She'll wake up when she's ready."

Lorne nodded. "I don't think Cara should see her like this," he stated flatly. "She's only four. It would freak her out."

Jennifer nodded her agreement. "I'll tell Sarah to keep her."

Lorne dropped into the chair beside Laura's bed and waited until Jennifer had pulled the curtain around the bed again.

"Hi," he said softly, giving in to the urge to take her hand and stroke it gently with his thumb. "You were beat up pretty good, but you're ok now. Jen says you're going to wake up when you're ready."

He kept up a steady stream of chatter, telling her about other missions he'd been on with similar results, about Cara and how she was staying with Sarah Larson. He never heard the curtain twitch back or saw John poke his head around it.

"Major?"

He jumped to his feet and blushed scarlet at the knowing look on John's face. "Sir?"

"It's 18.30, Lorne. Colonel Carter sent me to find you."

Lorne cursed aloud. "Sorry, sir. Lost track of time."

"I see that," John returned, looking at Laura. "How's she doing?"

"She still hasn't woken, "Lorne told him, watching the rise and fall of her chest. "Doc says she's going to be ok. Pretty sore and shaken, but ok."

"She's a damn good Marine," John mused. "Or she used to be. Mitchell said she passed all her physicals and every other test they threw at her, but she refused to go off world because of Cara."

Lorne looked at him, waiting patiently for him to get to the point. "Sir?"

"Sit down, Evan," John sighed. He watched as Lorne's eyebrows shot up at the use of his first name. "Lorne, we've been working together for years now. And you're a damn good XO."

"Thank you, sir."

"That said, I've noticed a change in you lately." John settled himself into the other chair and eyeballed him. "Off the record, Major. Talk to me."

Lorne looked at him warily. "Off the record? With all due respect, sir – "

"I'm going to tell you something," John interrupted. "I think that by now, after all this time, we've earned the right to be friends as well as colleagues."

"I'm not sure where you're going with this, sir."

John blew out a frustrated breath. "God. Nobody delivers a straight line with a straight face like you do. You must have been a killer at poker." He eyed his XO again. "Lorne, relax, would you? I don't think I'm that intimidating!"

"Not really, sir." Lorne's lips twitched. "Your wife, on the other hand…"

"She's got a great poker face," John mused, a grin tugging the corners of his mouth upward. "I can never win." He shook himself out of his reverie. "Ok, here it is. I'm your CO. I'm also your friend. And in the great wilderness that is the Pegasus galaxy, I think that we need to look at how we live here."

"Sir, Stargate Command already relaxed regs enough to let families out here," Lorne interrupted.

"Yes they did. And they allowed me to decide what was ok and what wasn't." John crossed his arms. "And as your CO, I'm trying to tell you that if you and Lieutenant Cadman want to…pursue this…thing that seems to be between you, then it's ok with me."

Lorne did a double take. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Lorne, we need to adjust to life here," John advised, getting to his feet. "Colonel Carter agrees with me. IN fact, she's quite the closet romantic."

Lorne rose to his feet when John did. "Sir, I don't know what it is. I don't know if she's ready for it."

"It's ok to find out," John repeated. "That's all I'm saying." He rubbed his hands together. "Now, that's done. I'm going to find my son and take him for a walk and explain to him why he shouldn't be playing with McKay's ancient treasure chest."

"Thank you, sir." Lorne held out his hand. "For understanding."

"I fell in love too," John said softly. "Not that I'm saying you're in love, Major. Just that I know what it feels like to be confused." He shook Lorne's hand. "And Lorne?"

"Sir?"

"You've earned the right to some happiness."

"Out, Evan," Jennifer ordered. "I'll call you if she wakes up. Out!" She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "You too," she added turning to Ronon, who was loitering in the corner. "God, you lot are as bad as Rodney. I can't get him to leave either."

"Hey!" Rodney protested, making a face at her. "I'm injured!"

"You have a minor laceration and it didn't require ten stitches," Jennifer reminded him. "Now please, this is my world. I am the Queen of my world, and I want you little people out of here!"

Grumbling, Rodney left, muttering about women getting a power trip. John followed him, escorting Teyla back to their quarters.

"Evan Lorne." Jennifer was tapping one small foot on the ground, arms crossed over her chest. "I told you to leave. Don't make me get Ronon to escort you to your quarters."

"I'm going, I'm going, "Lorne groused, getting to his feet and trudging out of the infirmary. Jennifer was grinning as he left. "You're evil, Doc, you know that!"

"Night!" She called after him, turning to Ronon, who was still standing there. "Ronon, you too. I'll be along in a few hours. Dr Biro will be taking over for me then."

He didn't move, just watched her with those eyes that missed nothing.

"Ronon?"

"I love you." He took her hands. "You know that, don't you?"

She pressed a hand to his forehead with a frown. "Are you feeling ok?"

"Jennifer," Ronon growled, dragging her towards her office. "Listen to me." He shoved her into the chair gently, pacing furiously around the small room. "I want you to marry me."

Her jaw dropped. "Sorry, what?"

"I love you." He repeated the phrase almost angrily. "I don't want to lose you. And I want you to be mine."

She smiled indulgently at him, hiding the little ache his words brought on. "I love you too. And I'm already yours, in every way that counts to you."

"Exactly!" Triumphantly, he stopped pacing. "In every way that matters to me. What about what matters to you?"

"You matter to me."

"Then marry me." He took her hands. "I want you to marry me."

"Where has this come from?" Jennifer asked, her heart pounding. "Why now? Why so suddenly?"

"Because I watched you treat Teva and Lieutenant Cadman," Ronon told her. "And I realised that you're it for me. I don't want anyone else."

"And you did before?" Her eyes flashed at him and she surged to her feet. "Ronon, it's late. It's been a long day and you're tired. I don't think that – "

"Marry me." He caught her hands as she passed him. "Jennifer, please."

IT was the please that did it. Ronon never said please. Not even when Teyla asked him to in front of Torrin. She looked up at him, searching his face for some sign that he meant it.

"I mean it," he told her, knowing what she was thinking. "I've wanted to ask you for some time now."

"Then why didn't you?"

"Because I wanted to ask Sheppard what the procedure was," Ronon explained as if it made all the sense in the world. "HE told me that on Earth you have to give a ring. So I got Teyla in on it and she helped me to pick out this one."

Jennifer watched, stunned as he pulled a little cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to her. She took it in trembling fingers and opened it slowly. "You got this for me?"

"I made it for you," he told her, watching as she looked at the ring. "The metal is our equivalent to what you call white gold. It's called kern. And the stone belonged to my mother. Its the only thing I have left from Sateda. It's blue," he added helpfully as her eyes filled. " Your favourite color. You don't like it?"

"I love it," Jennifer told him softly. "And I'd be proud and honoured to be your wife." She handed him the ring and he looked confused. "It's tradition for you to put it on me when I say yes."

He slid the ring onto her finger and scooped her up in his arms, kissing her soundly.

Lorne neared his quarters and stopped in shock. Something was lying outside his door. He reached for his sidearm and cautiously approached the bundle. He stopped short when it sniffed and launched itself at him.

"Evan?" Cara's face was dirty and tearstained. "Evan, where's Mama? Is she dead?"

He tightened his hold on the child and waved his hands over the door mechanism. Carrying her inside, he set her on the counter and hunkered down so he could look in her eyes. "Honey, what makes you think your Mama is dead?"

"She didn't come home," Cara wailed, beginning to cry piteously. "She always comes home and I heard Lara's mama tell Sarah that it didn't look good for my mama and I wanted to see her and I looked all over and I couldn't find her and I couldn't find you and I don't know how to work the radio ears and I-"

"Cara," Lorne interrupted her rant, wondering how she could say all that and not breathe. "Honey, stop. Your Mom's fine. I just saw her." He watched in dread as her lip trembled and two tears leaked from her blue eyes. "Oh don't baby, don't cry. It's ok."

"I want Mama," Cara sobbed. "Where is she?"

Lorne's heart twisted. Deciding to chastise her for sneaking off on Sarah later, he picked her up and settled into one of the chairs with her on his lap. "Your Mama was hurt when she was offworld. She has a few cuts and some bruises."

"Like when Torrin fell down the stairs and almost went over the railing?" Cara asked curiously.

Lorne smiled. "Like that. She's in the infirmary with Doctor Keller and she's sleeping."

"Can I go and say goodnight?" Cara asked her voice small. "She'll sleep better when I do."

Lorne tapped his earpiece. "Jen, come in."

"Go ahead, Ev. What's up?"

Lorne quickly outlined the situation to her, and asked if he and Cara could drop by for a visit. Cara watched him closely the whole time.

"I don't know, Evan," Jennifer sounded doubtful. "She's awfully young…"

"Jen, she thinks her Mom is dead." Lorne was firm. "I think that she needs to see her."

"Ok," Jennifer said slowly. "Bring her on by. But Ev, if she's traumatised by this, you're telling Laura."

Ten minutes later, Lorne entered the infirmary, carrying Cara in his arms. Jennifer came out of her office. "Hi, Cara." She greeted the child with a bright smile. Cara just looked at her warily. "Honey, your Mom is a little sleepy right now, and she might not know you're here."

Cara wriggled until Lorne set her down. "She'll know," she told Jennifer, turning wise blue eyes to the doctor's. "Is she in there?" She pointed to the cubicle.

Jennifer nodded and watched as Cara approached the curtained cubicle and went through it. "She's old for a four year old," she whispered to Evan. She gestured towards the curtain. "Aren't' you going to go after her?"

Lorne grabbed at her hand. "What's that?"

"That? My engagement ring," Jennifer told him with a grin. She squeaked when he grabbed her in a bear hug. "Put me down!"

He set her on her feet and grinned. "I'm not giving Ronon the big brother talk, " he warned her, setting off towards the cubicle to see what Cara was doing. "He'd break me in half without a thought."

"Mama's asleep?" Cara told him, her voice quivering. "I don't want to wake her."

"Want to sit near her?" Lorne offered, pulling a chair closer to the bed.

Cara considered for a moment before nodding. Lorne was surprised when she climbed into his lap and rested her head on his chest. "Will you stay here too?"

Lorne looked at Jennifer, who nodded. "Sure I will."

Laura chose that exact moment to moan softly and move her hand restlessly on the bed.

"Doc?" Lorne turned to Jennifer, who quickly moved to her patient's side.

"Laura? Can you hear me?"

"Mama?" Cara turned terrified eyes to Lorne. "Is she dying?"

"No, baby," Laura said weakly, struggling to open her eyes. "I'm not dying." Her voice was a croak. She opened her good eye and looked at Lorne. "You're here."

"A good CO stays in the field with his officers," Lorne intoned, grinning like an idiot at her. "And Cara wanted to see you."

Laura looked at her daughter, still held securely in Lorne's arms. "Come here, peanut." She held out her good arm despite the effort it cost her.

Lorne set Cara down on the bed and she immediately snuggled up to her mother, putting her thumb in her mouth and closing her eyes.

"Can she stay a while?" Laura asked, smoothing a hand over her little girl's brown curls. "Please?"

"She can stay until you fall asleep," Jennifer conceded. "At which time I'll be gone to bed. Dr Biro won't look in on you until the morning." Her meaning was clear.

"Thank you," Laura managed to say through the tears spilling out of her eyes. Jennifer smiled and left them alone.

"Hey," Lorne said gently, noticing the tears leaking out of her eye. "It's ok. You're ok now, Laura." He took her hand in his and held it tightly, his mind taking him back to another time when she'd been in an infirmary, sobbing as if her heart would break. All he'd been able to do then was hold her hand.

This time, it would be different.

My work is calling! I hope ye enjoyed it! Keep reviewing; I love to hear from ye all!