"Major Lorne!" Teyla exclaimed running towards the fallen solider, who was sprawled on the floor.

"I'm ok." He mumbled holding his jaw. "Looks like I screwed something else up though." He said trying to get up and move towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Teyla asked.

"To speak to her. At least get her to check her emails."

"No you're not. I know this is hard, but if you run after her it could make her a target as well."

"Seeing how she just decked me she could already be a target." Lorne argued, clearly worried.

"I will talk to her." Teyla assured him, "but you must remain here."

"Fine, but keep her safe." He pleaded. Teyla nodded and hurried out the room, calling on her radio for guards to be stationed outside Lorne's quarters.

A few minutes later Teyla caught up with the fiery redhead who was standing on a deserted balcony.

"Lieutenant Cadman?" Teyla called, causing Laura to quickly bring a sleeve up to her face.

"Teyla. Didn't hear you there." Cadman said, without turning around. Her voice phonily happy.

"Laura, a lot has happened since you left last time." Teyla said, resulting in Cadman snorting. "But not in the way you think. Have you checked your emails recently?"

"No, Caldwell had a bug up his butt about something and we have been on full alert status since we left. No time for email."

"Things are not what they seem. Major Lorne sent you an email trying to explain things."

"Typical guy. I guess it's one up on breaking up with a text message." Laura said bitterly.

"Text message?" Teyla asked.

"It's a, never mind. It's not important. I should go." Laura started as she began to walk away from Teyla.

"Laura wait. Please let me speak first." Teyla requested, causing Laura to stop. "No matter what you have heard Major Lorne and Jennifer are not, I believe you put it, an item."

"They went on a date."

"A pretend date." Teyla clarified.

"A pretend date?" Laura questioned, clearly not believing a word of it.

"Dr Price has been actively pursuing a relationship with Major Lorne. I believe it got to the stage where Jennifer began referring to Dr Price as a stalker. To try and dissuade Price, Jennifer and Lorne pretended to go on a date. They put on quite a performance and many of the city are convinced they are actually an item. It was, however, all for show. They are only friends."

"And being a good friend caused one friend to get the crap beaten out of her by a crazy stalker and the other friend to get beaten up by his crazy gir... friend."

"It is ok, I know about you two."

"You do?"

"Yes. Do not worry I will not say anything to Colonel Sheppard."

"Thanks." Cadman said. "God I've been an idiot. Listening to Rodney, why'd I do it? I need to go."

"If you are planning on seeing Major Lorne you may wish to rethink."

"Why?"

"Dr Price is still missing, she could be watching Lorne. If she views you as competition she may come after you."

"I hope she tries." Cadman said menacingly.

"Your attitude is admirable, but do not underestimate Price and her team." Teyla said.

"Why? What else has happened?" Laura asked, feeling the loneliness and distance that came from being based on the Daedalus rather than on Atlantis.

When Teyla had finished recounting recent events Cadman asked. "Why aren't there more guards in the infirmary? And why isn't Evan being guarded?"

"Major Lorne is using himself as bait." Teyla said.

"He's what? Is he nuts?"

"We believed it was the only way to lure out Price. But Lorne is being guarded by a team of marines."

"Will that be enough?"

"We believe so." Teyla replied, although she had her doubts.

"Ok. That's good. How's Jennifer holding up?"

"She says that she is ok."

"But she is lying through her teeth?" Cadman asked.

"That is the consensus." Teyla confirmed.

"And Evan is safe and guarded right now?"

"Would you like me to check?"

"Yes, but not with Evan. With the guards." Laura said as she began pacing.

Teyla smiled and reached for her radio. A few moments later she confirmed that Lorne was safe. Sighing in relief Laura thanked Teyla and began walking off.

"Laura if your actions were seen by Price you could be in danger too. I promised Major Lorne I would accompany you until the situation was resolved."

"I don't need guarding." Laura said, but recognised Teyla's determination and knew she would not be winning this battle. Holding her hands up in defeat she continued. "Fine, but I am not keeping my distance from Evan, besides I need to apologise." She said leaving the balcony. However, once in the main corridor she stopped. "But first I need to check on Jennifer."

"Hey there." Laura said pulling up a seat by Jennifer's side.

"Hi, when'd you get in?" Jennifer responded, turning her head slightly towards her friend.

"A short while ago."

"Have you talked to Evan?" Jennifer asked, "anything you hear may not..."

"It's ok I know." Laura smiled. "Seriously how're you doing?"

"Better than I was."

"Yeah? Cos you look way worse than you did the morning after I introduced you to Polish Apple Pie."

"Funny that." Jennifer grimaced. "Next time remind me to take the insane alcohol option rather than the being pulped option."

"So when you breaking out?"

"Soon."

"Yeah? And if the situation were reversed when would you let me out?"

"Situation wouldn't be reversed. You would a, be able to defend yourself and b, wouldn't have got into the situation in the first place."

"Sounds like you need to spend more time having personal lessons from Ronon." Laura said, emphasising the word, personal.

"Doesn't do any good." Jennifer said.

"Enough self pity from you. Save it for talking to Rodney." Laura said sternly before her features softened. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Jennifer asked confused.

"That you got into this mess."

"I chose to do it. But next time there is a crazed stalker after Evan, he's on his own." Jennifer said, smiling weakly. "Laura, why is Teyla lingering in the shadows?"

"Evan's worried I might become a target so Teyla is keeping an eye on me."

"Who's watching Evan?"

"He's got his own guards posted outside his door."

"Go be with him." Jennifer said.

"I'm not abandoning you." Laura said.

"I'll be fine. I'll just sleep anyway. Evan needs you. Tell him from me to stop feeling guilty."

"Good to see being holed up in the infirmary isn't damaging your bossy streak." Laura commented.

"Please go. Don't waste your time here, here. Seriously I'll be fine, I have a whole army at my disposal." Jennifer added motioning towards the guards spread round the infirmary. Noticing Laura's continual hesitation the doctor added. "I could get you thrown out if you prefer. Seriously, please go."

"Fine, but I'll be back later, with real food." Laura said reluctantly before leaving.

With her room quiet and empty Jennifer reached for the book that Rodney had left her with earlier. Although the idea of reading six hundred pages on optimising computational speeds on Fourier transforms was not her idea of fun and part of her would rather watch paint dry, she flicked open the book knowing that boredom was better than nightmares.