Lorne managed to get himself and Laura back to Atlantis without too much trouble the following morning. On the way back, they had talked like they used too before all of the things that had kept them apart had suddenly come to light. There was, however, some added sexual tension that neither of them had expected. Once they were back on Atlantis Laura walked to her little lab to finish the translations that she had started the night before when her mind started to wonder. Why had he asked me about the reason for my retirement? He couldn't possibly know the real reason. The only people that do know are O'Neill and Cadman, and I highly doubt they would say anything. So how the hell had he found out? This is going to be so difficult just being friends with him. Not to mention seeing him with Heightmeyer. I feel like I'm stuck in some horrible romcom movie or a bad classic novel. Ugh! I hated those things and now my life appears to be one. Great, just great. Now what am I supposed to do? Ignore it and hope that it goes away? That's never worked before though so I doubt it will now. Goddamn it!

Laura had been daydreaming for the past twenty minutes when Cadman had walked in. Noticing that her friend was paying to attention to the other translator in the room Cadman walked up to her and gently grabbed her shoulder and shook her. "Hey Laura! Atlantis calling Laura. You in there?" Cadman turned to the translator and said, "The lights are on but there's no one home. Sorry." Muttering under her breath the woman walked away from Laura and Cadman. Rolling her eyes Cadman, clapped her hands in front of Laura's face. Finally getting through to her friend, Cadman was pleased to see that Laura had jumped a mile, "Ah so you are awake? What were you thinking about?" she enquired. Still a bit dazed and confused Laura replied, "Oh nothing. Just flying lessons." Cadman raised an eyebrow and said sceptically, "Flying lessons?"

"Yeah, flying lessons. You know for the jumpers."

"Well I kinda figured that seeing as you can already fly the F-302's. But why do you suddenly want to fly the jumpers for?" she asked her friend.

"Well I figured, just in case someone needs to go to the mainland for whatever reason and everyone is busy I could play taxi driver. Or you know just in case someone needs rescuing." Laura replied. She still seemed to be in a daze. Worried Cadman asked, "Are you ok? You seem kinda out of it. Not your normal sulking self." Laura rolled her eyes before replying, "Yeah I'm fine. Just you know thinking. It's the strangest thing…" she trailed off. "What's the strangest thing? You know Lorne has the same expression on his face. What happened last night?" Laura turned to Cadman clearly more awake. "What? I'm sorry. I'm kinda out of it. What did you say?" she was clearly confused. Cadman made a noise of exasperation, "Have you been asleep for the last five minutes or something?" she demanded. Suddenly Laura stood up and said, "That's it! Sleep! It's the only way he could have found out! Uh oh." Her expression suddenly went from excitement to dread. She turned to Cadman to explain, "Lorne knows why I retired. The real reason." Cadman smiled at her and said, "Well done! So does that mean you're a couple? Do spill all the details." She said excitedly. Laura shook her head, "No, no you don't understand. I lied about why. I must have been talking in my sleep and he asked me why I retired so I obviously told him the truth. He asked me point blank and I lied when I was awake. This isn't good. Besides he's seeing Heightmeyer." Cadman saw her friends face visibly darken before she said, "What have I done?" she shook her head sadly. Cadman's excitement visibly left her face. Then she had an idea, "You still want those flying lessons?"

"Uh I guess. Why do you ask?"

"Ask Lorne to teach you and sort this whole mess out." Cadman said excitedly. Laura shook her head, "And how would I start that conversation off? 'Oh by the way I lied point blank to your face…again.' Yeah I can really see that working out well!" her shoulders sagged as she said, "I may as well accept the fact that me and Lorne are never gonna get together." She sat down completely dejected. Looking at her friend Cadman thought to herself do I have to do everything myself? She turned to her friend and said, "Listen I gotta go meet Carson for dinner, but I will see you later ok?" Laura just nodded her head in reply.

After leaving the lab Laura Cadman was practically running down the corridor towards the mess hall. She knew that she had to find Lorne. But where can he be? He's not offworld. He could be in the gym she thought to herself. Changing direction and heading towards the gym she looked in and saw Lorne and Ronan sparring. She watched for a couple of minutes and saw that Lorne was getting his ass kicked left, right and centre. Laughing to herself, she said out loud, "Excuse me Lorne?" Lorne looked up from his place on the floor and said, "Yeah? What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering what you were doing later?"

"Nothing. Why?" he asked suspiciously. Smiling she said, "Would you mind giving a friend of mine a flying lesson in one of the jumpers?"

"I guess. Would this friend happen to have the same first name as you by any chance?"

"Well that's for me to know and you to find out. Isn't it?" she said wickedly. "OK. Tell this 'friend' of yours to meet me in the jumper at the very back on the left hand side. It doesn't have an assigned pilot yet. May as well give it one now." Cadman smiled again and said, "Thanks. What time?"

"Oh how about in an hour?"

"OK. Thanks again." That said and Cadman shot off again towards the labs.

Finding her friend exactly where she had left her Cadman said breathlessly, "You are to meet your flying instructor in an hour. At the back of the jumper bay in the last jumper on the left hand side. Ok?" Laura turned on her suspiciously, "What have you done? Please tell me you ain't trying to match make?" she groaned. Cadman smiled suspiciously, "So what if I am? I only want my friends to be happy? Is that a crime?" Laura rolled her eyes and didn't reply. "Thanks Cadman. I really appreciate what you're trying to do. But I don't honestly think there is ever a chance of Lorne and me getting together. Not now." Smiling wickedly Cadman said, "We'll see." With that she was off again.

Groaning Laura looked at her watch, shit I'm late she thought as she grabbed her jacket and hurried towards the jumper bay. Running to the last one on the left she burst in through the back door and said, "I'm so sorry I'm late." Lorne looked at her and smiled, "Don't worry about it. You don't mind if Kate joins us on this little lesson do you?" Laura shook her head. "No. I don't mind." Walking to the front of the jumper she sat in the pilots seat and thought to herself, Now what?

Take the controls.

Who is that?

I'm your AI for this jumper. My names Daniel. What's your name?

Laura. So you can read my mind right?

Yes.

Out of curiosity where did you get the name Daniel from? Coz I have a friend called Daniel. She laughed out loud slightly. Lorne looked at her funny before she said, "I'm…uh…communicating."

"Ah. So what's it called?"

"Daniel."

"Ah. Well Daniel. You ready to help her out?" Lorne asked the jumper.

"Yes. I'm sure she will be fine." Daniel jumper replied. A noise was made behind her and Laura turned around and just glared at Kate. Goddamn it I hate her. Daniel can we open your hatch and just let her float in space?

No. Unfortunately not. Why would you want to do that? Is she not a nice person?

No. It's not that. You see the man sitting next to me?

Yes.

Well I'm kinda in love with him. Have been for a while. But she appears to be dating him.

Ah. Did you not tell him this?

Yes or at least I think I did once. We both have feelings for each other but won't admit it or something according to my friend.

Will you two please be quiet? Laura you need to concentrate. Shocked Laura looked at Lorne puzzled. Seeing her look he smiled to himself. She opened her mouth to say something. But decided against it and went quiet. The rest of the lesson went by quickly and quietly. When they had landed back in Atlantis Lorne stood up, as did Laura. She looked at him and hugged him while whispering, "Thank you. I would have asked you myself but you know what Cadman's like." She laughed softly. She hadn't even realised that Lorne had his arms around her waist. They both held the hug longer than was necessary. A cough behind her brought Laura back to her senses, pulling away from Lorne she said out loud, "I owe you one."

"I'll hold you to that mind." He said as he walked to the back of the jumper. Realising she wasn't with him he turned and said, "You not coming?"

"No. I'm gonna talk to Daniel for a little while I think. Thanks again." Shrugging his shoulders Lorne and Kate left.