It was well past ten o'clock by the time Mitchell saw Logan to her quarters after their "date". She had to admit that she had enjoyed herself. Cameron Mitchell was charming, clever, witty, and very intelligent. They'd found a nice, secluded beach, different than the one where she and Sheppard always went to surf. It was nice hearing about Earth and the people back home. There were some things she missed, but on the whole, she admitted to him that she could happily spend the next twenty years or so here on Lantea, without a second thought.

She told him all about the worlds they'd visited and the people they'd encountered. She described, in haunting detail what it was like to be face-to-face with a Wraith. Words were not enough, she warned, to accurately describe the feeling of utter helplessness when you were hit with a wraith stunner. Or the terror they all shared at the notion of the Wraith gaining access to Earth one day.

She readily agreed to allow him to accompany her team on their mission the following morning, provided Colonel Caldwell agreed. He was so eager to see something, anything of what she'd described.

Logan yawned wearily as he walked her to her quarters. She was surprisingly relaxed in his presence, given that she hadn't known him very long. Perhaps it was the same thing that had been been creeping, unbidden, several times during the evening. The strong physical resemblance he bore to Daniel Jackson. He was a distinctly different man, though they did share some of the same ideals. He seemed familiar to her because of those similarities, and maybe that was why she felt so at ease around him.

"Thank you, for letting me take you out."

"Thank you for asking, and for showing me a good time." she smiled around another yawn.

"I guess I shouldn't have kept you out so late."

"Sorry. It's not the company though. And I really did have a good time."

He smiled happily. "Good. Maybe you won't make me work so hard next time?" he teased.

"Maybe," she smiled.

"I'll say goodnight then," he seemed reluctant to leave her though.

"Goodnight, Cameron."

"Goodnight Logan," he whispered.

She opened the door and he turned to leave, then thought better of it.

"Logan?"

"Mmmmm?"

He reached out and took her face in his hands and kissed her softly on the lips. He wanted to linger there, to hold the kiss as long as possible, but he knew it was too early for that. He forced himself to break the kiss and pulled back to smile down at her.

"I'll see you in the morning,"

"N'Kay," she murmured.

She stepped inside and let the door slide shut.

"You have GOT to be kidding me!"

Logan jumped about a foot in the air.

"Dammit John! Don't DO that!" she yelped.

"Sparky, what the hell are you doing?"

"I was gonna get ready for bed, I'm tired."

He gave her one of *those* looks and she knew she wouldn't be able to dodge the issue tonight.

"Come on John, it was just dinner and conversation."

He snorted derisively. "Yeah, sure... You think I haven't seen the way he looks at you?"

"I know you have. He told me that you already warned him off, not that he NEEDED to tell me."

"Apparently he didn't HEAR me," he growled.

"John please... I had fun...You remember fun? He gave me a chance to just be a girl. Not a soldier, not a medic, just a girl. It was...nice."

"What is it you see in him, Sparks? Daniel?" he asked.

"No! I mean, sure...he looks a lot like Daniel, they even have some traits and ideals in common, but he's very much an individual."

"I know he is, I wasn't so sure YOU did."

"I'm not still hung up on Daniel."

"Are you getting hung up on Mitchell?"

"No."

He eyed her skeptically. "You let him kiss you."

"It was just a little peck. I promise you, John, I'm not about to fall for anyone right now. Not Daniel, not Cameron, not Steven Caldwell. Now will you let me go to sleep?" she pleaded with him.

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I don't want to get hurt either. Now kiss me goodnight and lemme get some sleep!"

He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "Sweet dreams, Sparky."

"Sweet dreams, flyboy. I'll see you in the morning."

"Atlantis, this is Bates. We're coming in hot!"

Weir wasted no time waiting for Caldwell to arrive. "Lower the shield,"

The long familiar stunner blasts peppered the gateroom as Logan's team trickled through the stargate one by one. Caldwell arrived and began barking orders to secure the room.

"Where are Colonel's Devane and Mitchell?" he hollered at Bates.

"Right behind us, sir."

Logan and Mitchell were, at that moment, racing at breakneck speed for the open gate, pausing only momentarily to return fire in order to keep the Wraith from overtaking and passing them into the event horizon. Logan turned in time to see a Wraith point and fire directly at Mitchell's back. She knew she couldn't possibly stop and drag him back through the gate without the Wraith catching up to her, so she did the only thing she could, under the circumstances. She threw her body directly into the path of the stunner beam, and took the full force of the blast.

By this time, Mitchell had turned to look for her and was horrified to see her crumple to the ground. Without missing a beat, he came back, picked her up, threw her over his shoulder and ran for the gate. Two more blasts narrowly missed his head, but he made it through without further incident.

"Raise the shield!" he heard Caldwell shout. He keyed his mic and called out, "Medical team to the gateroom!"

Mitchell gingerly placed Logan on the floor, still cradling her in his arms as Caldwell and the others came rushing forward. "What happened?" an angry Caldwell demanded.

"She took a hit from one of those stunner things," Mitchell replied.

They stood aside to let Beckett and his team take her gingerly from Mitchell's arms and place her on a gurney to be taken to the infirmary. As much as he wanted to go with her, he knew he couldn't.

"Briefing. Conference room. Now!" Caldwell said in a clipped angry tone to the rest of Logan's team. "That includes YOU too, Colonel Mitchell," he said when he saw Mitchell begin to follow Beckett's team.

He hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly followed Caldwell upstairs.

"What about survivors?"

"There weren't any, sir. We checked out all three villages we knew about, while we were playing hide and seek with the Wraith, but there were none left. We were lucky that we managed to get back to the gate, after leading them on a wild goose chase and doubling back. Colonel Devane was hit just steps before the gate. I think she took that blast for me, sir." Mitchell reported.

"That sounds like Devane." Caldwell growled.

"How close were you to the gate as opposed to the Wraith?" asked Daniel.

"They were just steps behind us."

"She had to know that she wouldn't have time to try and drag you through the gate, but figured you'd have no trouble carrying her. She wouldn't have risked you being taken by the Wraith, or them getting through to Atlantis."

"No, she wouldn't," agreed Caldwell. "Okay then, if that's all you have?" he looked around the room, waiting to see if anyone else had anything to add. "We're adjourned." he stood up and headed straight for the door.

Mitchell caught up to him on the way to the infirmary.

"She was right." he mumbled.

"What's that, Colonel?"

"Colonel Devane, she tried to warn me that the Wraith were a lot scarier up close and in person than on a mission report. I thought they sounded pretty damned scary on the reports I read, but..." he trailed off, knowing that Caldwell knew exactly what he meant.

"The written word doesn't really do them justice, I know."

"She's going to be okay, though, right? The effects will wear off soon..."

Caldwell nodded. "Recovery time varies depending on the intensity of the blast, but she's gonna be mad as hell when she wakes up."

"At me?" he asked.

"No...Just in general. I haven't experienced the effect for myself, so far, not that I'd like to, but from everything I've been told, it's not a very pleasant feeling."

They arrived at the infirmary and went inside to find Beckett. He was standing by Logan's bed, checking her vital signs.

"Doctor."

"Colonel Caldwell."

"How's she doing?"

"Looks like she took a full blast. It'll be a while before she wakes up, but she'll be fine."

Everything inside of him was screaming to hold her, but he never let it show. "Just so you know, Sheppard is due back in an hour or so..."

"I've been expecting him since I first heard it was her," Beckett chuckled.

Mitchell watched and listened to their exchange without speaking. Apparently the extent of her friendship with Sheppard was well known to everyone on Atlantis. He wondered how it was that Caldwell had permitted the two to work so closely together in the face of that knowledge. He was glad, for their sake that he DID allow it, but he was still surprised nonetheless.

As predicted, an hour later, Sheppard burst through the door and found Mitchell sitting at her bedside, his head resting on the bed next to her, and her hand held tightly in his own.

"How is she?" he demanded.

"She's okay, but she hasn't woken up yet." Mitchell replied groggily.

"I can take it from here," he said pointedly.

"I was hoping to be here when she woke up, John. She saved my life today," he shook his head to clear away the fog.

"So I heard. But just so you know, she's gonna be REALLY grumpy when she does wake up," he warned.

True to their word, a highly annoyed Logan woke up as the effects of the stunner blast finally began to abate. Although unable to speak, he could see the fire in her eyes. Her anger hadn't been directed at him, but rightly so at the Wraith. Sheppard had fallen asleep by her side, a by now familiar sight in the infirmary. Mitchell simply happened to be standing near the bed when her eyes popped open.

She looked inquiringly at him, as though asking if everyone were alright. He smiled at her, warm and reassuring, and told her that everyone had made it back safely, thanks to her. He also whispered thanks for her selfless act in saving his life, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Though he spoke in hushed tones, it wasn't enough to keep Sheppard from waking.

His head popped up and his eyes locked on hers. For a brief moment, it was as if they were communicating on some deeper, silent level. A level only the two of them could find. The moment passed when Sheppard broke into a wide grin.

"Welcome back, Sparky," he whispered.

She blinked in response and he reached out to brush the back of his hand down her cheek.

"Everything's fine, I promise."

She blinked again, and Sheppard turned his attention to Mitchell. "Did you tell her what you needed to?" he asked, yawning.

"For now," Mitchell replied.

Sheppard nodded, eyeing him appraisingly. "Maybe you should go grab some rack time then. She won't be able to talk for a while, and it'd be better if she just slept off the rest of the effects."

Mitchell nodded, "Are you coming, too?"

Sheppard shook his head vehemently. "No. And they know better than to try kicking me out."

Mitchell nodded, then shrugged. "Alright then, tell her I'll stop by and see her in the morning?"

"Will do."

He waited for Mitchell to leave before turning back to look down on Logan. "Don't look at me like that, I was nice to the guy!" he chided her.

All she could do was let out a sound that resembled a snort.

"Smartass!" he teased.

He reached out and began stroking her hair. "Go back to sleep, Sparks. You should be over the worst of it by morning." he planted a tender kiss on her brow and kept stroking her hair until her eyelids fluttered closed and her breathing slowed and deepened.

Logan was startled to find Daniel standing there when she answered her door. She thought it would be Sheppard or Mitchell, perhaps even Caldwell.

"Daniel!" she smiled nervously.

"Hi," he grinned. "Mind if I come in for a bit?"

"Uh, no, of course not. Come on in." she gestured to the two chairs nearest the balcony.

"I'm sorry I didn't come by sooner, but there was already quite a crowd waiting to see you in the infirmary."

"Hardly," she chuckled.

"So how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, a little sore, but I'll be back on duty tomorrow..." she paused to look over at him warily. "You're not going to lecture me again, are you?"

He chuckled and shook his head negatively. "No...I've learned my lesson."

"Good," she smiled at sat down opposite him.

"I'm just glad you're okay."

"Thanks, me too!"

"And...you're still happy here...?"

She nodded. "Very."

"It's nice to see you happy."

She smiled warmly. "What about you?"

He looked at her blankly, "Me? what about me?"

"Are you happy, Daniel? I used to be able to tell, but not so much anymore."

"Yeah, I think so, sure." he said a little too blithely.

What was he supposed to say? That he missed her way too much? That he worried about her constantly? That he hated even the idea of Mitchell, or anyone for that matter, so much as flirting with her? He knew it was over. That she'd moved on. The fact that he'd also moved on did little to assuage the proprietary feeling he had when it came to Logan. It had taken all the self control he could muster not to storm into the infirmary and camp, next to Sheppard, by her side through the night. He knew how childish and selfish that was, but he couldn't help himself. Logan would always own a piece of his heart, no matter what, just like Shau're.

"Are you alright, Daniel?"

"I'm fine," he assured her. "I just..."

"I miss you, too, you know? Just being able to talk to you whenever. It's really odd, going out on these missions and finding all sorts of incredible things...knowing how much you would love to see them...in person, not in a video... Rodney comes close, but no one here can match the...passion... you have for discovery."

He smiled and reached out to take her hand. "I keep hoping that someday Jack will let me stay longer. I realize that's not very realistic of me, but hey! Call me crazy."

"You're not crazy, Daniel. That day may yet come."

"And if it does...Would that bother you at all?"

"No, why?"

"I don't know... I still have this... sense of entitlement...I guess, where you're concerned. Don't get me wrong, I'm not harboring any illusions about the two of us getting back together or anything, but...You know what I mean?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I think so. I feel the same way. As much as you and I can't be together, it still makes me...cringe... at the thought of you being with another woman. I WANT you to be, I want you to be happy, I want you to have a great relationship with SOMEONE who can understand you and be there for you, the way I never could."

"Logan, you understood me perfectly."

"Yes, but I couldn't be there for you all the time, not the way you needed, or deserved."

"Or vice-versa," he reminded her.

"But we're two of the lucky ones, wouldn't you say?"

"How's that?"

"We're still standing. We're still friends. We still care about each other, and would do anything for the other. How many ex-lovers can say that?"

"I guess, if you put it that way, you're right."

Daniel stayed and talked with her for over an hour. For the first time in a long time, neither of them felt stressed or strained the way they had the last few times they met. At least until her next visitor showed up as Daniel was walking out the door.

"Daniel."

"Cameron..." he looked back at Logan, who shrugged.

"I just stopped by to see how Colonel Devane was feeling today."

"Colonel Devane is feeling better, thank you for asking, Colonel Mitchell," she snarked.

"Good...Uh...very good." He clearly did not want to be standing there, between Logan and Daniel.

"Logan," he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "This was fun, thank you. And I'm glad you're okay."

"You, too, Daniel. I'll see you later."

"Cameron," said Daniel, trying not to glare.

"Daniel," Mitchell favored him with a casual smile.

Logan watched Mitchell for a moment, slightly amused at his obvious discomfort. Clearly Sheppard had mentioned her former relationship with Daniel.

"So then, you've come, you've seen, what are you going to do now?" she asked.

Mitchell looked blankly at her. "Beg pardon?"

"Cameron, you don't need anyone's permission to come and visit me. Well, except for MINE, that is."

"That obvious?"

"Even to the blind." she chuckled.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "So...are you up to taking a walk?"

She smiled and nodded. "Sure."

Caldwell watched them go until the rounded a bend in the corridor. He'd promised himself that he wouldn't go anywhere near her, but then here he was. He'd seen the exchange between Logan, Jackson and Mitchell, and felt a stab of pain and jealousy when it became obvious that she and Mitchell were definitely getting "close." He had no right to be jealous. He had no right to keep holding on to feelings he shouldn't even have in the first place. He turned and walked back in the direction he'd come from, promising himself, again, that he'd keep his distance and bury those feelings.

TWO O'CLOCK A.M.

Logan screamed and bolted upright in her bed. Her breathing was labored and her body was perspiring. She looked around the room in a blind panic, then leaped out of bed, grabbed her sidearm and raced down the hall. She opened the door and stepped inside, cautiously looking around for any sign of an intruder. Sheppard instinctively awoke, sensing something amiss and yelped when he saw Logan standing about a foot away from his bed with her zat at the ready.

"Sparky, what the hell?"

"John," she breathed. "Are you okay?"

"Well, except for the near heart attack you just gave me, yeah!"

"Are you sure?"

He didn't like the way she looked. She was...scared. He reached up and pulled her down on the bed beside him. She was trembling and sweating.

"Hey...What's wrong?" he pulled her against his chest and held her there.

"I don't know...I just...I thought you were..." she began to shiver and tears started rolling down her cheeks.

He held her and rocked her for the better part of an hour before she finally began to calm down. "When did you start having nightmares again?" he asked.

She shook her head, "I haven't been...and this was more...It felt like more than...I was so sure that something happened to you, that you were in danger..."

"I'm fine, sweetie, we both are. We're safe and we're together and nothing is ever gonna tear us apart again."

"I'm sorry I scared you," she sniffed as he laid back, tucking her snugly into his arms and covering them both with the blanket.

"I'm sorry you were scared." he murmured.

"I'm okay now," she yawned, closed her eyes and burrowed more closely into Sheppard's arms.

He gently stroked her hair until she fell asleep, concern etched on his face. The fear he'd sensed in her was deep. Primal. It didn't smack of past events, rearing an ugly head in her dreams. It smacked of foreboding. Something to come. He wasn't worried for himself - he was worried for her.