Author Notes: I make apologises for the lack of updates on all my stories as of late. I am currently in my first year of University. (Studying Forensic Psychology), combine that with the fact that I also work and you can see I have very little time to spend of fanfiction. I have not completely abandoned them, I do hope to finish all my current WIP's but I can't tell you when that will be.

3 Days later

When Lorne had been told that he was to return to Earth so that his injuries could be checked over by a proper team of doctors which specialised in head injuries, he had protested and lost. Bates, Cadman, Elizabeth and John had all ganged up on him saying it was all for his own good and he was going whether he liked it or not. He argued again but Elizabeth and John were not taking any of it, after all they were being forced to go back for a meet and greet with the governments who knew about the Stargate. They didn't want to go back to Earth since what happened last time but they didn't really have a choice, the military leader and expedition leader had been more or less ordered to go back. Jack had sent Elizabeth a note apologising but adding that it was probably best that she was there because in his words 'Elizabeth you scare the living hell out of a lot of these guys. Really I don't understand it'

After a lot of persuasive work he had agreed to go. Carson had given Elizabeth orders to relay to the team which would be looking after Lorne both on the Daedalus and on Earth. Carson had been a little reluctant to let his patient go so quickly after waking up from a coma but he also knew that it was very important that his head wounds got checked out by specialists with the right equipment.

Lorne was escorted by Cadman to his quarters. She had been ordered by Carson to walk him straight into his quarters but Lorne stopped her from going any further then the door of his quarters.

She waited around outside the door as he was about to punch in his security code. He turned to her and glared; Laura shook her head and walked off down the corridor, turning round at intervals to make sure he was going into his quarters.

Lorne chuckled at this and entered the code to his quarters and the door opened to reveal Bates packing things into a duffel bag. Bates turned round to see Lorne standing there. He smiled slightly

"I thought I'd save you having to do the packing. You need to rest"

Lorne walked further into the room and smiled.

"You must be getting sentimental in your old age Marcus"

Bates smiled slightly and moved the duffel bag to the bottom of the bed so Lorne could sit down.

"I must be. I blame you for that"

Lorne chuckled and slid onto the bed, resting his head on the wall behind him. Bates slipped onto the bed next to him, placing his hand onto his knee.

"You're going to be okay. You know that right?"

Lorne nodded slowly, he wasn't about to admit that he was scared about any complications which could have happened. He had to admit he'd been feeling a little sludgy since he'd woken up and was worried that it could be something to do with his head injury.

"I know I'll be okay. It's only a check-up"

Bates knew that Lorne wasn't as comfortable as he was making himself out to be. Slowly Bates raised his hand and grasped Lornes hand in a comforting way.

"Weir will be there with you when they do the tests. She's already said that right?"

Lorne nodded slowly

"She said that she doesn't want me to have to go through it alone, you know with you being here on Atlantis"

"At least you won't be alone"

Lorne sighed and slid down onto the pillows and looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. Bates slid down next to him and propped himself up on one arm.

"I want you to promise me something"

Lorne nodded and turned his head to face him

"What?"

Bates became very serious. Lorne sat up slightly

"What?"

Bates sighed

"If there's something wrong I want you to promise me that you will stay on Earth to get treatment. I don't want you risking your life by coming back to Atlantis."

Lorne shook his head slightly but Bates stopped him

"I would come to Earth on the Daedalus' next return trip. I wouldn't make you be on your own for long"

Lorne closed his eyes

"Okay, if something is wrong I will stay on Earth, if it can be treated, if it can't be treated I'll be coming back to Atlantis and if I do have to stay on Earth you can't come Marcus. We have to be more discrete, people must be starting to suspect, especially after you spent six days at my bedside."

Bates rubbed his eyes, he knew that his behaviour over the past few weeks could have been seen as very unusual for a man who spent most of his time acting like he didn't have any kind of human emotion, well except anger and jealousy, to spend six days at the bedside of a superior office while he was in a coma.

"Okay, I know that was a bit risky but nobody questioned it, they just assumed I was worried and I was"

Lorne nodded slowly but couldn't help wondering whether this trip back to Earth could result in him being court marshalled, although when he thought about it more he figured it probably wouldn't happen but there was still a small chance.

***

3 Weeks later

Earth

Elizabeth walked into the infirmary of the SGC to see Lorne being checked over by Dr Carolyn Lam. The woman was checking his pupils' response with a mini light when Elizabeth walked over to the bed and sat down on the chair next to it. After a few more checks on Lornes condition he told him he was doing fine that that the specialists would be on hand soon before leaving to attend to other patient.

Lorne sighed and turned to Elizabeth

"This is a waste of time, you know that right"

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head

"You're health and well being is the most important thing to me at the minute. I don't care whether you feel fine or not. Something could be wrong and we need to check it out"

Lorne nodded slowly, he had heard Elizabeth's argument everytime he protested that nothing was wrong and it seemed that everytime he protested Elizabeth grew more and more worried.

"Fine, okay. But when they don't find anything wrong, you owe me dinner"

Elizabeth smiled

"That is a dinner I would gladly pay for if it meant you were okay"

The two continued to talk for a little longer until Jack O'Neill walked into the infirmary and over to the two

"Major, how are you feeling?"

Lorne nodded slightly

"I feel fine. These are just precautions"

Jack talked with him for a little before asking to speak with Elizabeth. Elizabeth gave Lorne a quick smile before following Jack out of the infirmary.

"I appreciate you coming back for this ceremony, they really wanted the two Atlantis commanders here for this, I think they want you to do a speech or something"

Elizabeth nodded slowly

"I'll make it up on the day"

Jack turned to Elizabeth in shock

"Is that how you deal with negotiations? I'll research the details on the day"

Elizabeth half smiled

"No I usually have some of the facts before I go there, I make up what I'll say while they spend their time shouting at each other"

Jack chuckled, he knew it wasn't true but it was good to see Elizabeth still had a good sense of humour. Turning to her he smiled

"How are you? I know your last trip to Earth didn't end the way you would have liked"

Elizabeth smiled a little at Jack

"Yeah I know, but I'm over it now. I'm working through it"

Jack nodded slowly

"I'm glad you're okay. I was worried about you"

Elizabeth was touched by Jack's concern. She knew he was a caring man but she'd didn't think he'd lose sleep caring about people he barely knew, she had obviously been wrong.

****

The next day

Elizabeth sat with Lorne has they waited for the results of the CT scan he'd had. Part of him was worried about what they could have found, they were taking such a long time in getting back to him, but on the other hand if they had found something they would have told him straight away, they wouldn't have wasted time.

When Carolyn Lam walked into the room, a grave look on her face, Lorne took Elizabeth's hands. Signifying to her for the first time that maybe he was a little worried.

Elizabeth squeezed his hand back and waited.

"Major...erm...We have the results back...Would you like to be by yourself when you hear this?"

Lorne shook his head quickly

"No, I want her here"

Lam nodded and opened up the file which sat in her hands before starting to talk.

****

Elizabeth walked into her quarters and shut the door to the outside world. Lorne had asked her if he could have some time alone while he dealt with what he had just heard. Elizabeth had agreed to leave him and visit him in a few hours if he felt up to it.

The doctors had found a shadow on the right side of Lornes' brain. They wasn't sure if it was a brain tumour, bleeding or just something none important.

There was a gentle knock on the door to Elizabeth's temporary quarters. Slowly she walked to the door and opened it to reveal John, who was looking slightly concerned.

"Are you okay? You just flew right past me in the corridor"

Without uttering a single word, Elizabeth took his hand and led him into her quarters and shut the door. John could now see the pain in Elizabeth's eyes and instinctively put his arms around her, pulling her into him, where she placed her head on his shoulder.

John ran his hands, in a comforting manner, through her hair. The two of them stayed like that for a few moments until John pulled away slightly and looked at Elizabeth straight in the eyes.

"Elizabeth, what's wrong?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath and sat on her bed, John sat down next to her and took her hand, holding it lightly.

"They found a shadow on Jamie's' CT scan"

Johns' grip on Elizabeth's' hand tightened somewhat when he heard the words, but he tried to stay calm and rationale

"It could be nothing"

Elizabeth nodded, knowing that John could be right

"I know but...Jamie is worried and that makes me worried"

John hesitated slightly before sliding in closer to Elizabeth and placing his arm lightly around her.

"I sure it's nothing and even if it is...they can operate, remove it. Either way, he will be fine"

Elizabeth turned her head slightly and nodded.

****

2 Days later

The moment Lorne had heard the word 'inoperable', he had seen his whole life disappear. He'd known that news for nearly a day but it didn't seem any easier.

He wasn't quite sure what he had heard by the doctors but he knew it ran along the lines of 'there is a blood clot which is pressing on the right side of the brain, because of the way it is positioned it is not possible to operate on it although it is almost certain that the clot will...will continue to press on your brain with could result in...' he didn't need to know the last word of that sentence.

Now he was left with the option of what to do. They couldn't operate on the blood clot, at least not on Earth. He knew that on Atlantis Carson could have a shot at operating on it but Lorne had a feeling the cautious doctor wouldn't. Carson had tried things before, things he normally wouldn't of been able to do on Earth, but as of yet, he hadn't gambled with the life of someone he knew.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to remain on Earth, Atlantis was his home now, it meant everything to him and he knew he would rather spend what could be his final months there, helping the people he could and spending his remaining time with people he cared about.

He had over an hour ago if someone could find Elizabeth so he could speak to her. She had not yet come to see him. He knew...he knew it was different for her but he didn't quite think she would react the way she had. She'd become slightly withdrawn from him, as if being around him was causing her pain.

When he was thinking about asking someone else to go get her, the pretty brunette walked through the door of the infirmary.

She walked over to his bed and sat down. She smiled weakly at him and grabbed his hand.

"How are you feeling?"

Lorne nodded slightly. He was feeling sluggish, had been for a while, but he didn't want to add to her worry

"I'm okay"

Elizabeth nodded slightly and closed her eyes for a second before looking back at him. Lorne could tell what she was about to say and so he cut her off almost straight away.

"I'm going back to Atlantis Elizabeth. If there was something they could do for me I might have considered staying, but there isn't so I'm not going to stay somewhere where I have nothing or nobody. I want to come back to Atlantis. If you want me there"

Elizabeth smiled slightly

"Of course I do, but I also want you safe Jamie."

Lorne nodded and squeezed her hand.

"I know that, but my home, my family...is there on Atlantis and if..." Lorne swallowed and bit his lip before continuing. "...I'd like to be home.

Elizabeth smiled weakly and shook her head. Lorne stared at her, slightly confused.

"What?"

Elizabeth turned back to him.

"Do you think you're well enough to see Colonel Sheppard and General O'Neill?"

Lorne nodded slightly and Elizabeth turned round and gestured with her hand for the two men, who had been hanging around outside waiting for her word, to come in. The two men walked into the room and stood around the bed.

"How are you feeling Major?"

Lorne nodded at the two men with a smile

"I'm feeling okay Sirs"

John nodded, smiling slightly, but Lorne could tell that John knew what had been found. Lorne could see the sadness in his commanding officers eyes.

General O'Neill stepped forward slightly and stood next to Elizabeth.

"There was another reason we wanted you to come to Earth. I know both Elizabeth and Colonel Sheppard agree with me when I say that you have done one hell of a job on Atlantis. So that's why I couldn't be any prouder then to tell you that you are being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel."

Lorne sat there for a moment, thinking he had misheard the General.

"What?"

"You're being promoted"

Elizabeth's soft voice came from his side and that was the only way he knew that what he'd just heard wasn't a dream.

"Promoted? Why?"

John shook his head and stepped closer to him.

"You've been promoted because you are one hell of a soldier. You've faced unbelievable odds and you're still here. You've done a better job than anyone could have asked for. You deserve this...As long as you realise I'm still in charge"

Lorne knew that last bit was said in a joke way and chuckled at it.

"Yes Sir"

Elizabeth smiled slightly and squeezed Lorne's hand.

"Congratulations Lieutenant Colonel Lorne"

****

3 weeks later

Atlantis

Bates tapped his foot on the floor as he waited for the Daedalus to dock. He hadn't heard from Lorne in six weeks and it had been six weeks of hell. He didn't know what had happened in that time. He didn't know if Lorne would even be coming back.

Taking a deep breath he leant against the wall just as Cadman came and stood next to him. The two had talked over the last six weeks and it had come out that she knew the truth. After Bates' initial reaction of freaking out he had calmed down a little, especially when she told him that his relationship with Lorne was obvious to anyone who knew them well enough.

"He's going to be okay"

Bates' turned his head and nodded slightly at Cadman.

"I know...I know that. It's just the waiting."

Cadman touched his arm slightly and sighed

"Jamie is strong, even if there is a problem, God forbid, he'll get through it"

Bates nodded again but he wasn't really listening. All he wanted now was Lorne back with him.

A few minutes' later people started to disembark and Bates began to scan his eyes over the crowed that were walking from the Daedalus. When he spotted Elizabeth he walked quickly over to her.

"Doctor Weir?"

Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled weakly

"Marcus. How have things been?"

Bates nodded slightly

"Yeah, things have been fine. Teyla, McKay and I have handled things"

Elizabeth nodded slightly and looked back before turning back to him.

"Jamie will be along in a little bit"

Bates smiled slightly and closed his eyes

"He's okay. Thank God"

Elizabeth cringed slightly and took Bates' arm.

"Why don't you come with me? I have something to tell you"

Bates smile fell as he heard the serious tone of Elizabeth's voice.

"What?"

Elizabeth inhaled deeply

"Just...come with me"

Elizabeth dragged Bates along to a empty room. She half hated Lorne for making her do this. For asking her to be the one to break the news to Bates. He'd practically begged her; he'd had tears in his eyes and everything. It had broken her down until she had eventually agreed.

When they entered the room Bates turned to her, his face serious.

"What's wrong Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes and sighed

"Jamie had the CT scan. They found a shadow...it's...it's a blood clot and it's inoperable."

Bates wasn't sure he heard Elizabeth right

"I'm sorry I thought you said he was back on Atlantis?"

Elizabeth nodded slightly

"That's right"

Bates shook his head

"But he promised me...he said if there was a problem he was staying on Earth to get it sorted"

"There was no reason for him to stay on Earth. There's no treatment available. There's medication he can have but it will only slow down the...it will only slow down what will happen. He wanted to come back to Atlantis. We may be able to use Ancient technology but the chances are slim Marcus. I am so sorry"

Bates didn't say anything. He just pushed passed her and left the room.

***

About an hour after their arrival back on Atlantis Lorne returned to his room, with a promise to go see Carson the next morning for a check-up. He knew how much more overprotective the doctor would be now but he didn't want any fuss. He just wanted to carry on as normal as he could.

Lorne opened his room and switched on the light to reveal Bates. He was laying on the bed drinking from, what looked like, a bottle of Scotch.

"Congratulations Lieutenant Colonel. That's a promotion you deserved"

Lorne smiled and walked further into the room.

"Thanks. I was going to come and tell you. I just wanted to change first"

Bates nodded slightly

"I'm surprised you didn't get Weir to tell me, after all you got her to tell me about the blood clot. Which is more than likely going to kill you."

Even from across the room, Lorne could see the tears which had formed in the other man's eyes.

"I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't...I couldn't bare to tell you"

Bates nodded and took another long sip of his drink.

"Why did you come back? We had a deal. If you were ill you were staying on Earth for treatment. You promised me"

Lorne shook his head slightly. He wanted to go over to him but knew that when Marcus was drunk he could also be quite mean. Not abusive, just mean.

"There's nothing they could do. There's no treatment, the...clot is too dangerous to operate on. I...I decided if I was going to die, I wanted to die here. I want to live the rest of my life here, and you never know, we could find something that could cure it"

Bates shook his head slightly

"What about Goa'uld technology? They have healing devices"

When Elizabeth had asked Jack for the Goa'uld healing device he had been reluctant, but he knew Elizabeth would feel terrible if she didn't explore all the options open to Lorne and he would feel terrible for not letting her, so he agreed. It had then taken some work to try and convince Lorne. He'd heard that using the device could be damaging to the person using it and he didn't want to hurt Elizabeth for his own health. In the end Elizabeth convinced him; after all she was a Diplomat.

Sam had talked her through how to use the device and Elizabeth was sure she knew how to do it, so a few days before they left on the Daedalus, she, John, Lorne, Jack and Sam had gone into the infirmary.

Elizabeth stood behind Lorne who was sat down. She placed the device in her arms and held it over his head. She tried several times but it didn't even glow. In the end Sam took the device from her and tried, it glowed but it didn't work.

"They tried, it didn't work. It doesn't always work. Most of the time, but not always"

Bates placed the bottle on the table next to the bed and slid up off the bed and turned to Lorne.

"So what, are you just going to die and that's it?"

Lorne walked forward to him and cupped his face

"I don't know"

****