Rushing over with the stretcher Beckett and one of his assistants lifted Laura onto the stretcher and rushed her to the infirmary. Once there Beckett checked her over and deciding that she was actually ok just unconscious he moved her to the main part of the infirmary. Tapping his earpiece he said into it, "Elizabeth?"

"Go ahead Carson. How's our patient?"

"Unconscious. I have no idea what psychological damage there is, if any, until she wakes up. I would recommend having Dr Heightmeyer on standby just in case."

"Ok. Is she up for visitors?"

"Well people won't get any conversation out of her. But it couldn't hurt for her to know that there are people here who care about her. You got anyone in mind?" he asked grinning, although he knew Elizabeth couldn't actually see him.

"I was actually thinking of major Lorne. He's been hanging around my office since you took her away. It's starting to annoy me to be honest. So can I send him down to you?" she asked hopefully. Hearing a noise Beckett turned around before replying, "No need. He's already here."

"Alright. Keep me updated with her condition and alert me the second she wakes up please."

"Aye will do." Carson clicked off his radio and walked over to Lorne who was just staring at the bed and not moving towards it. He placed a hand on Lorne's shoulder causing him to jump.

"Sorry major. Didn't mean to startle you. You can go and sit with her you know. I'm sure she wouldn't mind the company."

"Is she going to be ok?"

"Well physically there's nothing wrong. But psychologically…" he trailed off. Lorne looked at him and saw that the physician was worried.

"She might not be the same person." Lorne finished the sentence for him. "What can I do?" he added.

"Not a lot I'm afraid until she wakes up. But when she does she's going to need every friend around her. I hear she has made many friends since coming in on the Daedalus. She appears to have made quite an impression." Lorne didn't answer he just nodded. He just walked over to the bed and sat down. He was going to be there when she woke up no matter how long it took for her to do it. Beckett shuffled into his office and closed the door.

Lorne looked at her. She looked so pale compared to how she usually looked. It frightened him of how weak she looked. He took her hand in his. He remembered the dream he had the night before she came through the gate. It had to have been a dream right? It was just a coincidence that she came through the gate the following day. At least the dream version of her knows how I feel even if this one doesn't. I'm not leaving until she wakes up. Even if Sheppard tries to order me I'll tell to shove it. She needs me more than Atlantis does. He thought to himself as he continued to stare at her weak form. He soon fell asleep and didn't wake until he heard Beckett shuffling in the room and hitting his legs.

Sheppard had decided to check in on Laura and had discovered that Lorne was already there sitting beside her. He smiled to himself he knew how it felt to see someone that you cared about lying in a bed unconscious. He knew how frustrating it was not being able to help them in any way shape or form. He quietly walked past the sleeping Lorne and headed for the doctors office. He tapped on the glass and walked inside.

"So how is she doc?"

"No change I'm afraid. Her heart rate goes up alarmingly every now and then which suggests that she's dreaming. Which I guess is a good thing. It shows that she hasn't been psychologically damaged like I had feared. At least in an unconscious state. Who knows about her conscious state." Sheppard nodded his head in understanding and then looked over his shoulder towards Lorne before asking, "How long has he been here?"

"The last 9 hours. I know he won't leave so I'm not even gonna try and ask him too. He reminds me of a certain someone else we know." Beckett said looking at Sheppard significantly before adding, "You may want to take him out of rotation for a while. This is going to be one long battle for recovery and I get the distinct impression that he won't leave her alone." Sheppard nodded in agreement.

"If you say so doc. Keep me informed. If he gets out of hand either give me a call or if I'm offworld, drug him." Sheppard walked out of the office and walked past the bed. Taking a quick look in to make sure Lorne was actually sleeping he was surprised to see that Laura was awake. He smiled warmly at her and turned back towards the office. Sticking his head in he said, "Er doc? She's awake." Shocked Beckett followed the colonel out to the bed and shuffled past the sleeping Lorne to do some tests.

I don't know what had caused me to wake up but I was awake and vaguely alert when I had seen a tall man, with messy hair, had snuck his head round the curtain that was around my bed. He had looked at me and then disappeared. A few minutes later a different man, this one in a white coat, had come round the curtain. He walked towards me and I followed his every movement with my eyes. As he had placed a piece of fabric over my arm and pressed a button, the fabric began to inflate and my hand gone tingly. Looking at my arm I was worried. My fingers shouldn't have pins and needles. The white-coated man had accidentally knocked a pair of legs in his bustlings around me. A groan escaped from behind the man, I eyes widened in fright. There was someone else in the room that hadn't yet identified. The white-coated man moved so that I could see who it was. It was a tallish man, but not as tall as the other one, with dark hair. He had been sleeping in the chair next to the bed. The sleeping man looked at me and smiled. I didn't smile back. Who were these people? Where was I? The white-coated man stuck a needle in my arm and I didn't even flinch. A worried expression came over his face and left the area saying, "Could you both follow me?" I hadn't even noticed that the tall messy haired man was also in the room. The other men followed the man.

Seeing the worried look on Beckett's face Lorne asked, "What's wrong doc?" The doctor was visibly shaken. Taking a steadying breath before replying, "Didn't you two see that?"

"See what?" asked Sheppard. He hadn't noticed anything. Beckett turned to Lorne, "Did you see that?" Lorne shook his head no.

"What? Should we have noticed something doc?" asked Sheppard. Beckett nodded his head, "Yes. She didn't flinch when I stuck the needle in her arm." Sheppard looked confused and was about to ask a question when Lorne said, "She should have flinched. Last time she wouldn't let you anywhere near her. In fact I had to give her the sedative. This isn't normal is it doc?" Beckett shook his head.

"No. Its not normal. Especially not for her." Still seeing the confused look on Sheppard's face he added, "She doesn't like needles colonel. A bit like you actually. After the experience she's been through she shouldn't have let me anywhere near her in general, let alone with a needle." Sheppard poked his head round the curtain again and stood there looking at her for a couple of minutes before asking, "Why does she look so dazed? I mean she looks really confused. I smiled at her and she looked at me as though she had never seen me before." He looked at Beckett hoping for an explanation. Upon hearing what Sheppard had said Lorne had gone behind the curtain and he could hear him talking to her softly. But there was no response to his questions. Lorne came back out looking thoroughly dejected.

"Lorne? What's wrong?" asked Beckett worriedly.

"She's not speaking. At all. She positively flinched when I went to hold her hand. Its strange. Its like the lights are on but there's no-one home." All three men now had the same mask of worry on their faces looking at the curtain round the bed.

It had been three months since Laura had come through the gate and collapsed. There had been significant improvements in her recovery. Heightmeyer had worked closely with her. Laura now recognised everyone on the expedition but she still wasn't speaking. Dr Beckett had released her from the infirmary after a week. She could often be seen listening to her ipod wondering around Atlantis. Usually followed by Lorne. Heightmeyer had said that she was suffering from what she supposed was post-traumatic stress disorder. But she couldn't be sure. She wasn't sure because she had never seen a case this severe before. Heightmeyer also suspected that all of Laura's mental capacities were fine and that Laura knew who she was and also all the personnel on Atlantis. Heightmeyer couldn't explain why she wouldn't speak. There was nothing wrong with her vocal chords, she suspected that she would speak when she was ready and that there was nothing that anyone could do until then. Laura went about her daily business, she would spar with Teyla and Ronan until they were both tired but she wasn't exhausted at all, she would have lunch with Lorne, who had been taken out of the offworld rotation, she would also listen to Dr McKay and roll her eyes every now and then. She would also listen to Sheppard going on about what was going on offworld when he was talking to Lorne about this. This went on for another three months. People on Atlantis understood what was going on and was very patient with her. But they couldn't understand why Lorne was putting up with it. She had over the last couple of months, become more like herself and Lorne was a lot happier at this development, except she still wasn't talking. Little did they realise that when she would speak again that it would be explosive and that the fallout would be felt throughout Atlantis.

Caldwell was in a foul mood. Sheppard had not told him the condition of Colonel Laura Turner. All he had said was that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He had neglected to tell him that she hadn't spoke in six months. I'll get him out of the air force because of this and then I can take the job that is rightfully mine he thought gleefully. All he had to do was find him. He walked around Atlantis and finally found him in the mess hall with Lorne, Laura and Cadman. He stalked up to the table and said, "Sheppard! You've gone too far this time."

"Excuse me sir?" he asked innocently "What have I done this time?" he added.

"You know exactly what you've done! Keeping her condition a secret from me and lying to my face about it!" Caldwell said pointing at Laura. "I'm going to have you kicked out of the air force for this. You mark my words!" he growled at Sheppard. Then all of a sudden another voice spoke radiating power "Stand down Colonel. You will do no such thing." The whole table looked at Laura in surprise. Something had snapped in her. Caldwell sneered at her, "So you can speak can you?"

"Apparently." She replied coldly. Caldwell saw the shocked faces and took the opportunity to dig the knife in deeper. "And what exactly are you going to do about it Colonel?" he spat the word at her. Everyone in the room looked up at her in surprise. She looked at him thoughtfully before replying, "Well lets see. Colonel Sheppard won't be getting chucked out of the air force. If anyone is going to be chucked out it will be you. Especially if I have my own way. You won't be sticking your nose in where it isn't wanted anymore." She tapped her earpiece and said, "Hermoid? Could you beam Caldwell out of the mess back to his ship? I believe he has outstayed his welcome." Before Caldwell could say anything a flash of white light engulfed him and he was gone. She looked at the table and saw both shock and amazement in the faces of Cadman and Sheppard. When she turned to Lorne he was looking at her with hurt in his eyes. Without saying another word she left the mess hall and walked straight to Dr Weir's office. She was a woman on a mission.

Well that was different. But I've completely blew it with Lorne now. At least he knows the truth. What a way to suddenly start speaking I thought to myself. As I walked towards Weir's office I knew what I had to do if I was ever going to be happy again. I knocked on the door and walked into her spacious office. "Excuse me ma'am? I was wondering if I could have a quick word?" Elizabeth looked up in surprise.

"Certainly. Wow you're talking again. I must say that it is nice to hear you speak." She smiled warmly at me. I took a deep breath before I spoke again. "I was wondering ma'am, if I was to hypothetically retire from the USAF, would there be a place for me here on Atlantis under your command?" I asked her hopefully. She looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. "I'm sure I could use a woman of your linguistic skills under my command. Out of curiosity why would you be retiring?"

"I've been thinking about it for a while ma'am. But never had a good enough reason and now I do." I didn't answer all that truthfully but I think she knew the real reason. She added, "Well on the plus side if there was ever a problem, I won't have to have an additional civilian trained in hand to hand or weapons training." She smiled at me again, and then said, "When do you want to go back to Earth to sort out your retirement?"

"As soon as possible ma'am. But I have to ask Colonel Sheppard first, if he'll authorise me to go."

"I'm sure he will. Just let me know so that I can inform Landry and O'Neill."

"Thank you. I will." I told her and I left to go and find Sheppard.

Sheppard was proving difficult to find. Everyone had left the mess hall by the time I had left Weir's office. Not finding him in the gym or any of the labs with McKay, I decided to check the last place where he could possibly be. I turned on my heel and headed for his office. When I arrived I noticed that his door was closed strange. It's usually open all the time. I thought to myself. I knocked on the door and waited. He was hurriedly finishing a conversation when he said, "Come in." I opened the door and came face to face with Lorne. I stepped back and allowed to walk past me. I stared at him until he was gone from my line of sight, dipping my head I walked into Sheppard's office. "What can I do for you Laura?" I looked up and took a deep breath. "I would like to talk to you about retirement, sir." He looked at me in puzzlement.

"Retirement?"

"Yes sir. I want to go back to Earth and retire from the USAF. Dr Weir said that I could come back, if I was allowed, and be a translator on her civilian team. Sir." He looked at me thoughtfully before asking, "Does this have something to do with what happened in the mess hall? And a certain major we both know?" I looked at my feet embarrassed before I replied, "Yes sir." "Ok. You have permission to go. Just promise me you'll come back. I also want to say thank you. Again. For what you did with Caldwell." My eyes darkened at the name. "Your welcome sir. And thank you. I meant what I said. I will make sure that he doesn't bother anyone here again, much less you. Well sir I had better go and pack." He nodded and I left his office and headed to my quarters. On the way I tapped my earpiece and said, "Dr Weir?"

"Yes?"

"Colonel Sheppard is allowing me to return to sort it out. Could you possibly make the call to Landry and O'Neill for me please?"

"Yes certainly. I will let you know what they say."

"Thank you." I clicked off my radio and walked into my room.

Lorne was in a bad mood. He had been since the incident in the mess hall. He had gone and talked to Sheppard about it and his commander had managed to calm him down, until he had seen her at the door. She had really hurt him, although he would never admit to anyone but himself. He couldn't understand why she had never said anything. Would you have become friends the way you did if she had? He asked himself. He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. Deciding that he had better go and ask her what was going was probably the best idea. Seeing that he was already at her door. He took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in." came the answer from inside. He palmed the door and looked inside the room. Laura was rummaging through all of her drawers and pulling out random articles of clothing out of them. She still hadn't turned around to see who it was. She walked over to her wardrobe and pulled out her dress uniform and hung it on the back of the door and was still pulling clothes out of it and draping them over her arm. She walked over to her bed and looked up as she went to put her clothes on top of a suitcase. Shocked she dropped most of them on the floor.

"Lorne? What can I do for you?" she asked politely. He just looked from her to the suitcase and back at her before he replied. "You going somewhere?" he demanded.

"Yes actually. I'm going to Earth for a little while. I…uh…need to clear my head." She blushed slightly. His anger that had been bubbling under the surface suddenly came out in one explosive outburst. "So your running away? I'm not surprised after that little stunt you pulled in the mess hall. Going to deal with the fallout are you? Or are you running away from me? Too ashamed to face me and tell me why you lied to me?" he screamed at her. Shocked Laura didn't say anything she just let him pace up and down allowing him to calm down before she spoke. When she did she was so quiet Lorne had to strain his ears just to hear her.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone, much less you. And no I'm not running away. I need to take care of a couple of things. But I should be back on the next Daedalus run." He laughed at her scornfully. He turned his back on her and walked out the door before stating, "I wouldn't bother. No-one wants you here anymore." He stormed out into the corridor and went to his quarters to change into his gym clothes. He needed to hit something.

Laura stood in total shock at Lorne's outburst. Dropping her head she knew he was right. She was running away but not for the reasons that he thought. She was going to stop running when she came back she had been running since she had first met him on the Daedalus all those months ago. Now she was going to fix it even it cost her, her career. He was worth it in her mind. Numbly she picked up her clothes off the floor and put them in the suitcase that was on her bed. She had almost finished her packing when a voice came over her earpiece.

"Laura?"

"Yes?"

"It's Weir. You can go through to Earth as soon as your packed. Are you nearly done?"

"Yes. I should be down in 5 minutes."

"Ok. I will let Earth know. See you in a little while." Her earpiece clicked off. Laura walked over to her dress uniform and unhooked it from the back of the wardrobe door. Putting it carefully in her suitcase so that it would crease, she closed the lid and walked out of her door. She walked towards the gateroom and nodded at Dr Weir. She had a brief conversation before turning to Laura and saying, "Your free to go through." She smiled at the younger woman. "Thank you. See you on the other side." Laura laughed. She took a deep breath and walked through the gate.

A/N: Sorry for the patchiness of this chapter. But it had to be done. I needed to get Laura to Earth at some point. Thanks for the reviews! Keep em coming please.