Laura woke up and sighed contentedly. An arm had wrapped around her waist while her head was lying on the other using it as a pillow. The lower half of the arm was also holding her. Smiling she turned and looked at the man who was holding her. Her smile widened as she studied Evan Lorne as he slept. His face was relaxed and at ease. It almost took on a child-like innocence when he slept. She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips, which caused him to smile slightly, and she untangled herself from his embrace. Although she didn't want to move, once she was awake she had too. It was a new, annoying habit that she had picked up since moving to Atlantis. Lorne groaned slightly when she got out of bed. As she neared her bathroom door she turned and looked at him one more time before going for a shower. Twenty minutes later she re-emerged expecting to see Lorne awake and expecting to see her. What she saw caused her smile to falter slightly he had disappeared. Walking over to the bed she got back in, wet towels and all, and pulled the pillow that Lorne had been using closer to her. She smiled again and was soon asleep.

Lorne sat up and said groggily, "What's going on? I was having the nicest dream."

"Aye I know." Carson replied smiling. Lorne flushed and didn't say anything. "We're going to wake her up. Her EEG has altered. She's no longer in a coma, she's just sleeping now."

"Are we absolutely sure we want to wake her up? Can't we just wait until she wants to wake up?" asked Rodney worriedly.

"Aye I want to wake her up. She's been asleep for 6 weeks. What could she possibly be annoyed about?" asked Beckett. While they had been talking Lorne had been watching Laura sleep when she had frowned. Beckett went to the side of the bed and said, "Laura? I know you can hear me. I want you to wake up now." Laura didn't move but her frown deepened. Sighing Beckett tried again, "Laura. Wake up!" he said a little louder. Laura moved down the bed slightly and Beckett turned to John, McKay and Lorne, "Do one of you wanna try?"

"Hell no!" said John and Lorne together. They looked at McKay expectantly. Sighing loudly he said, "Fine. But I want hazard pay for this." He walked over to the bed and took a deep breath. "Laura? We really need to talk to you. So come on already and wake up." Laura sighed loudly and muttered, "Go away. I'm sleeping." She rolled over as well as pulling the sheet over her head. In the process of doing this she rived her left knee and right shoulder. As the pain shot through her body, she let out an ear-piercing scream of agony. Now she was definitely awake. She sat up and snapped her eyes open.

"Jesus fucking Christ! Ow!"

"It's alright. Take it easy. I'll give you something for the pain." Beckett said and hurried off for pain reliever. She looked around and fell back onto her pillows.

"What the fuck…? Someone wanna tell me what I've done to deserve all this pain?" she demanded. They were all staring at her in shock. None of them had heard her swear twice in the space of two minutes before. Lorne had only heard her swear once before.

"Maybe we shouldn't have woke you up…" Sheppard stated and trailed off when he saw the look that Laura was sending him.

"Ya think?" she said sarcastically. She let out a groan as Beckett came back and pumped her full of drugs to ease the pain. She closed her eyes and after a couple of minutes she opened them again.

"Well?" she asked. They all looked confused.

"Well what?" asked McKay. Laura scowled and said, "Why they hell did you wake me up for?" They all started shuffling their feet uncomfortably. She rolled her eyes and said, "Never mind. John please tell me you've caught the twat who done this to me." She looked at him. He shook his head.

"Well that's why we've woken you up. We're hoping that whoever did it will try again…when they find out that you're awake." Laura rounded on Lorne and demanded, "Why didn't you say something?"

"Erm…because…because…" he stuttered.

"Because…" she said.

"Because I didn't want you to agree. That's why. I didn't actually think they would wake you up to ask." Laura smiled at him and turned to the others and said, "What do I have to do?"

An elaborate plan had been thought up while she had been sleeping. A member of Sheppard's team was going to end up in the infirmary for as long as it took for the person to try again. This meant that someone was close by in case they were needed. When Lorne had said, "Why can't I stay?" the reply was that he would be too obvious.

"Besides you'll know before we do because of that freaky connection thing you have." Sheppard had said. Also a big vase had been put on the little table so that it could either be used for a weapon or an alarm. Lorne had reluctantly agreed. The following day it was to be enacted.

Laura was completely bored out of her brain when there was a sudden commotion coming into the infirmary. A stretcher was wheeled in and Ronan, Teyla and Sheppard were running behind it. They looked terrible. Laura also noticed that John and Teyla were very uncomfortable and once her post-mission check-up was complete by Dr Biro she practically ran from the infirmary. What the hell was all that about? She wondered. Laura turned her attention back to the commotion. Noticing that John was heading out of the infirmary after his check-up Laura called out, "John!" Hearing his name he turned around and Laura beckoned him over.

"What happened?" she asked worriedly.

"We were ambushed and Rodney was shot." Seeing her look of concern he added, "He's going to be fine. But he's now your bodyguard. Do you feel safer?" he asked chuckling.

"Yes actually. He's saved my life before. It just means I owe him two instead of one." She laughed at his expression. "What can I expect when he wakes up?" John looked thoughtful for a minute before replying, "Imagine you without sleep for a week and times it by 100."

"So he'll be his usual charming self then?" she asked laughing again.

"Rather you having him for a while than me." He said chuckling. "Listen I gotta go brief Weir. See you later." He smiled his lop-sided grin and left. Well that wasn't strange at all. Something is definitely up with him and Teyla. She thought to herself again.

Laura was sleeping when McKay was rolled out of surgery.

"How can she possibly be tired?" asked an astounded McKay groggily.

"Well there's not much else she can do. Now are you in any real pain?" replied Beckett.

"Nothing a shot of morphine won't cure." McKay said. As he was pushed past Laura's bed he grabbed her right foot and pulled. Laura sat up in shock.

"What the hell?" she asked thickly. She turned to find McKay smiling at her from the bed next to hers.

"If I have to be awake then so do you." He said. Beckett shook his head and left them to it.

"Why do I have to be awake for? You do realise you can talk to me when…" she trailed off realising what she was saying.

"When what?"

"When I wake up of my own accord. Why did you wake me up anyway?"

"I don't wanna be lonely. What do you wanna talk about?" he asked her. Seeing her opportunity she said, "How about you and Elizabeth? Have you told her how you feel? What did she say? Come on! I want details, and he didn't lie or I will keep you awake!" McKay took a deep breath before replying, "You know I would have thought that you would want to know about John and Teyla first. But to answer your questions. Yes I told her, not long after I found you actually. I could only imagine what Lorne's been going through so I decided to tell her because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to and you made me realise that. In answer to your second question she said she felt the same way but didn't want to because she's leader of the expedition and all that crap. That was around 7 weeks ago. I honestly don't know what to do. I mean should I move on or what?" he asked sadly. Laura just looked at him. She didn't know what to say. This was another thing that McKay wasn't know for: spilling his heart out.

"I really don't know Rodney. I wish I knew what to say to make it easier but I just don't have them. I'm sorry. The only thing I would suggest is give her time to realise what she's missing. Before we go any further I haven't thanked you for saving my life. So thank you and if there's anything I can do for you, all you have to do is ask. Ok?" she smiled at him warmly. He flushed slightly before replying, "Ok. Have you noticed the tension between John and Teyla?" he asked changing the subject.

"Yeah I have. He gave me his Teyla smile before. Kinda freaked me out. What's happened?"

"Erm Teyla smile?" he asked confused.

"Yeah that lop-sided grin he only gives Teyla."

"Oh yes…yes. I know which one you mean. Huh. Now that you've said that I'm gonna really notice it. However all they've done recently is scowl at each other and then Teyla practically runs away. It's very strange. And it's affecting the team. I'm surprised Elizabeth hasn't said anything to us about it yet. Hm."

"I noticed. She practically ran out of here before. Do you know what's happened? What do you think has happened?" she quizzed him.

"I have no idea but we have to find out and try and fix it." Laura looked at him in surprise. Seeing the look he said, "What? I do care you know. He…he's one of my closest friends and so is she. They're only happy when they're together. It's really quite sickening when you think about it. Anyways I'm tired now. Good night." He rolled over and went to sleep. Laura chuckled slightly and said, "Good night Rodney."

A week later Laura was lying on Lorne's chest when she said, "How would you feel if I wanted to go offworld every now and then when I'm all fixed and what not?" she asked. He looked at her and said, "Well I wouldn't be too thrilled about it but I wouldn't stop you. Why?" he asked suspiciously.

"Oh you know. Just curious." She shrugged her shoulders. Suddenly her features contorted in horror. She started to hold her throat while gasping, "Evan. I…can't…breath…help…me." Then she disappeared. Lorne sat up in bed and reached for his radio as Dr Beckett's voice said, "Lorne to the infirmary."

A lone figure was standing over Laura's bed with an evil smile across its face. It quietly walked over to the unoccupied bed and lifted up a pillow. Silently walking back to Laura's bed the figure placed the pillow over her face. Almost instantly Laura started to struggle, she frantically tossed her head to the side and clawing at the hands that were holding the pillow. The hands remained firm. Suddenly Laura knocked over a big, glass vase that shattered on the ground waking up McKay and Dr Beckett who was in his office. Instantly Beckett radioed for Lorne while McKay radioed for Sheppard, Ronan and Teyla. He sat up n his bed pulled out his 9 mil from his bedside cabinet and yelled, "FREEZE!" This had no affect on Laura's attacker. Suddenly four people came running into the infirmary and within seconds Ronan had Laura's attacker up against the wall. Beckett came hurrying in with an oxygen mask while Lorne held her hand. Laura hadn't been rendered unconscious but she was close by the time everyone had come to her rescue.

Laura looked at her attacker and said, "I should have known. Only you're stupid enough to try and kill me twice." She said disgusted.

"I want my revenge! You stole him away from me!" screamed Heightmeyer.

"Well I think you need a room with padded wallpaper! Luckily for me, my wish will soon come true." Seeing that she as ok. Sheppard turned to Ronan and said, "Take her to the brig. She'll be going to Earth on the next Daedalus trip." He looked at the group and smiled. he followed Ronan and the screaming Heightmeyer out of the infirmary. Beckett turned to Laura and said, "How are you feeling love?"

"Ready to get out of here. When can I leave?" she asked.

"Tomorrow if you're up to it. But I want to keep you here tonight just to make sure everything is ok. You realise you're going to be on crutches and in physio for a little while right?"

"Yeah doc. I figured as much. Well good night everyone. The sooner I get back to sleep the sooner I can get out of here." They all smiled at her as she got comfy and went back to sleep. Lorne settled into the chair and also went to sleep. Teyla bowed her head to Beckett and Rodney and left the infirmary. McKay turned over and also went back to sleep. Beckett checked her vitals one more time and then went back to his office. Things could now get back to normal.