Author's Note: I'm back! I just spent four days at church camp with around 400 kids-teens and younger. I was head dorm mom, so you know where my mind is at. Or rather, isn't. I wondered if I'd gone crazy by the end of the four days. After that, we had three days as a family to kick back and just hang out. So, I'm pretty rested.

As for Chapter Five of Atlantis Prelude, here it is. I hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think. ~lg

SGA SGA SGA SGA

They put her in a coffin. That's not what they called it, but she knew better. At first, she fought with all her might to get out. She hated closed spaces. Then, the more they put her in there, the more she realized that she was free. In spite of the fact that she couldn't really move, she found a way. Her mind roamed, and she visited family. It was torture, but she refused to stop. If she maintained her freedom this way, then perhaps she'd find the strength to break free.

Anna woke and stared at the clock. Barely three hours since she went to sleep. She sighed, threw back the covers, and sat up. Three hours wasn't enough time to truly rest. Tonight, she'd stopped the nightmare before it began, but she knew she couldn't do that every time. When exhaustion finally took over, she would endure the pain again.

She rose, nervous energy driving her to the window. The old adage said that there was no rest for the wicked. What about the tortured? Didn't the tortured deserve rest and recovery? Her body had recovered nicely, but her mind still wandered the paths of captivity.

"You're becoming maudlin," Anna muttered as she turned from the window. The clock said it was still too early to go to work, and she would have to do without a run this morning. Major Lorne had a mission, and he was scheduled to leave any time. She eyed her running shoes. In spite of running with a partner, she'd always found peace and some sort of way to get through the day. Maybe it would work even if Lorne wasn't there.

Decision made, Anna dressed and strapped on her running shoes. She stretched in her quarters and headed out to the track they used daily. As she began at a slow jog, she reflected on how she'd met Lorne and how well she knew him. She didn't know him, she realized. He was as much a mystery to her as he was the day he sat beside her in the cave. He was just a little less intimidating. Men like Ronon were easy to understand. Men like Lorne usually had depths that very few people saw.

Anna stopped running and stared out over Atlantis. The city was truly beautiful. She had come here to work and to forget her past. Yet, she wasn't able to forget it. Somehow, she was still stuck in the terror of the memories. Lorne always made them go away with his quiet greeting and silent ways. He didn't fill the time with unnecessary chatter. Anna liked that. She liked the way he understood when she didn't want to talk.

She stayed at her position, watching the sun come up. When her clock said it was time, she returned to her quarters and prepared for the day. Perhaps she'd be able to get something accomplished. If not, McKay and others would wonder why she'd even come to Atlantis.

SGA SGA SGA SGA

Lorne stood in the control room, staring at the puddle in the middle of the Stargate. A MALP had just ceased broadcasting. That meant only one thing. Somehow, the people on the other side of the gate had found a way to destroy it without revealing their identity. They had most likely buried the Stargate. Lorne frowned. That wasn't a Wraith tactic.

Weir gave the order to shut down the Stargate and looked at him. "Major?"

"Dial the gate for Teyla's contact." He glared at nothing in particular. "I want to know what's going on."

Chuck began dialing, and Lorne assembled his team. Several moments later, they emerged on a planet with tall trees, blue skies, and several peasants staring at them. One man stepped forward. "People from Atlantis!" He dropped the crude weapon he held and bowed suddenly. "Welcome."

"Ah, thank you." Lorne noticed that his team also had an uncomfortable look on their faces. "We're here about Jeneb."

The man straightened. "I am the one you want to speak to. I am Amaan."

"Lorne."

"I apologize for the greeting, but we are still unsure what to do about Jeneb. Every man we send through the ring of the Ancestors does not return." He shrugged helplessly. "I do not know how many more men I can spare."

"I wouldn't send any more." Lorne glanced around, deliberately meeting the eyes of the men with Amaan. "The Jeneb gate is most likely buried. I'm sorry, but your men never even made it to the other side."

The group of peasants fell silent briefly. Then, Amaan straightened. "But you can help?"

"We can try," Lorne replied. "Why don't you tell us what happened?"

"Some months ago, Jeneb began sending emissaries through the gate. They were demanding and rude, talking to our leader as if he were nothing but a servant to them. Then, when they committed an offence, our leader went through the ring to negotiate for peaceful trade rather than angry words. He has not returned." Amaan glanced at the gate. "If what you say is true, he may not return."

"We don't know that yet." Lorne tried to appear sympathetic. "Right now, we're gathering intel-information-so that we can hopefully help you a little better."

"One other thing." Amaan followed Lorne as he headed for the village. "The people of Jeneb once revered the Ancestors. Now, they scorn them and refuse to acknowledge their power. Please. Help us find our leader and learn the nature of this change."

Lorne nodded without committing. He spent several hours in the village, talking to the villagers before returning to the gate. They all said the same thing. Jeneb's once peaceful relations had ceased. As he returned to the gate, he sighed. After returning to Atlantis, he briefed Weir on the information he'd received. Hours passed in that meeting as Weir, Sheppard, and Lorne hashed out the possibilities and the exact actions the Atlantis expedition could take.

SGA SGA SGA SGA

Anna sat back from the computer and frowned. Genetics was not an easy science to learn, and it required a lot of patience. Right now, she didn't have that sort of patience. The DNA on the screen mystified her. She'd taken samples from Colonel Sheppard, Dr. McKay, and Ronon. Sheppard had the ATA gene naturally, and McKay had received the gene therapy. Ronon was out of luck. The three men had endured many of the same things, however, and their DNA was about as similar as they were. Which is to say, not at all. Still, they were all human, and their DNA reflected that. But she still wasn't able to unlock the secrets of the ATA gene and its interactions with the human genome.

The door to the lab swished open, and Anna glanced up as Ronon walked in. She blinked at him and then buried a grin at one of the other women in the room. This woman clearly had a thing for Ronon, and she had instinctively straightened her hair before pulling the zipper on her jacket down to revealing levels. For his part, Ronon never noticed her and headed straight for Anna. "Hey."

"Hi." Anna stared at the computer screen, wondering how she'd ever concentrate with all the ears in the room.

"Got a minute?"

"Sure." She knew rumors would be flying by the end of the day, but she didn't care as she followed him from the lab. They walked a few steps from the door before she faced him. "What's going on?"

Ronon shifted on his feet and cleared his throat. "I just wanted to see how you're doing." He motioned toward her. "With the nightmares and all."

Anna nodded. "Okay." She met his eyes and decided to be honest. "Some days are better than others. How do you deal with them?"

"I fight." He shrugged. "If it distracts me, I put it from my mind. If it feeds my anger, I let it."

"I'm not that way." She shook her head. "I can't let it feed my anger. I did that once, and it nearly destroyed me. I just want to forget."

"How do you deal with them?"

"Music, mostly." It was her turn to shrug. "I just play until I'm so tired I can't see straight. But that only works about half the time. I also run in the mornings. It helps some."

Ronon got a slightly embarrassed look on his face. "When are you going to play again?"

Anna didn't try to stop the grin. This big barbarian had just revealed the reason for his visit to her lab. The concern for the nightmares was touching, but the music was the reason. "I'll be in the meditation room Teyla uses this evening before dinner."

Ronon went his way a few minutes later, and Anna returned to her work. She felt the eyes of the other women on her, but she didn't comment. They had never been interested in her life before this moment, and she refused to acknowledge their interest now that they knew Ronon was a friend.

As she stared at the DNA profiles on the screen, she considered her actions. Music had always been an escape for her. Was she right in performing for others? Should she encourage Ronon? These questions made it difficult for her to focus through the rest of the day.

SGA SGA SGA SGA

That evening, Lorne left his office and turned toward his quarters. He was hungry, tired, and fighting a developing headache. After-mission reports were as exciting as a visit to the dentist, but he'd decided to get this one done right away. Sheppard and Weir agreed that more investigation was needed, and various teams had been coordinated. Now, Lorne just wanted to forget all the paperwork.

Anna was playing guitar again. Lorne stopped when he heard the strains of a ballad coming down the corridor. Did he go take a shower or go listen to her music? His feet turned toward the music, and he figured he'd slip inside the room as she played. She was as riveting tonight as she'd been last night. This time, she wore a dark red halter-top dress. It gathered on the floor at her feet in folds, and Lorne reflected that no other woman on Atlantis wore this style of clothing. It was refreshing. Just as he would have slipped into the room, he caught sight of Ronon leaning against the wall, listening intently. The big Satedan's eyes never left Anna's face, and he smiled slightly.

Lorne blinked. So he wasn't the only one intrigued by this musical side that Anna so willingly revealed. It shouldn't have surprised him, but it did. He stood at the door, hoping Ronon had not seen him, and watched Anna while trying to keep his thoughts from his face. What was Anna's opinion of Ronon? Was she even aware? How could she not be aware? Most women on Atlantis paid close attention to the men around them. Lorne wasn't given to gossip, but he knew the civilian women often distracted themselves from work by spreading the word of who spent time with whom. He'd heard enough rumors about Sheppard to know the grapevine remained extremely active.

Anna finished the song and began a new one, this time with a slow, haunted melody. Lorne backed out of the doorway and headed toward his quarters. Ronon was clearly smitten. Since the Satedan had joined Atlantis, he had not shown interest in any of the women. Lorne wondered if he should step back where Anna was concerned. Step back from what? he wondered. He and Anna had no relationship beyond the time they spent running in the mornings. While he wondered why she didn't sleep, he never asked. Their distant friendship didn't depend on it.

Later that evening, he went to the mess hall and saw Anna sitting with Sheppard's team. McKay even looked comfortable with her. The table burst into laughter, and Lorne stared at Anna. She seemed happy. Why didn't that make him feel better?

~TBC~