Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis or any of its characters. I apologize for any grammar mistakes I'll try to keep them to a minimum; I edited this myself since I've lost contact with my previous beta.
Spoilers: This takes place sometime in season one after 38 Minutes and before Suspicion, in other words in-between episode 4 and 5.
CHAPTER 1: THE START OF A LONG DAY
Deep in the comforts of his bed, he was in the confines of his dream. He sighed in content lying on the grass, just watching the clouds go by. The sun was high overhead and unhidden by the numerous feathery clouds. The grass prickled his bare arms and a light breeze went by ruffling his hair a bit. Taking in a deep breath, he smiled. It was so calm and peaceful. Sighing in satisfied, he knew he could stay here forever. Looking around and seeing the familiar hills of his home, he knew it was all a dream since he was far from home on a distant galaxy but he couldn't bring himself to wake up. He only wished it was that peaceful where he really was. Glancing to his right he could see a few highland sheep grazing on the grass. One paused in its grazing and looked up, meeting his eyes. Staring intently at him it opened its mouth. Knock…Knock… He frowned and rose up, resting on his elbows. That didn't sound right. Sheep weren't suppose to make some knocking sound. He must have miss heard it or his mind was playing tricks on him. Knock…Knock… There it was again, maybe he wasn't going crazy. Why wasn't the animal speaking correctly? He had never met a sheep that could do that before. Standing up he approaching the odd sounding sheep and peered at the odd sheep while going through a list possibilities of why it was making that kind of noise. Right as he stood before the peculiar creature it made the noise again. Knock…Knock…
"Carson."
That was odd, for a second he thought he heard it calling his name. No that couldn't be right, sheep don't talk. KNOCK…KNOCK… Why was it making uncharacteristic sounds? He kneeled so he was eye leveled with the sheep. As soon as he peered into its dark brown eyes, the creature opened its mouth again.
"Carson! Wake up!"
Jerking awake, he struggled with the tangled mass of sheets surrounding him. They were like rope tied around his limbs. Finally freeing himself, he sighed in relief for a split second before noticing the lack of bed beneath him. Falling to the ground, he let out a startled yelp. Cursing his bad luck he looked blurredly towards the noise that had awaken him. Squinting, the outline of the door was barely visible in the dark. Still half asleep he staggered towards the general location of the door, tripping over the numerous unseen objects in his path deeply wishing the prescient knocking would stop. Close to his destination he sudden found himself sprawled out on the floor, for a second time, after tripping over a pair of shoes. Cursing the idiot who left them there he got up wearily. Only then did he realize those were his shoes and he had left them there. Shaking his head at his unintelligent decision to leave his shoes laying around so he could trip over them, he moved towards the door hoping to avoid falling again. Why wasn't the person leaving him alone? Limping over to the door, he managed to trip over his own feet causing him to fall towards the wall. He threw his hands out to avoid falling face first into it and by sheer luck activated the door to open at the same time. To his immense annoyance, he found himself face to face with a very awake Rodney.
"What took you so long? I've been knocking forever."
"Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Ah…" Rodney looked down at his watch and quickly added, "3 am."
"Are you hurt, dying, or in need of any medical assistance?"
"No."
"Then excuse me while I go back to sleep."
"No wait. Here touch this."
Carson jumped back from the object suddenly shoved at him.
"No."
"Come on. This is really important."
"Then why are you coming to me with it? I break things like this." He gestured to the device in Rodney's hand.
"I already told you. I need you to activate it."
"Why can't you? You have the gene now. That's one of the reasons why I invented gene therapy, so you wouldn't ask me to activate anything any more!"
"Of course I can turn it on myself but I can't make accurate observations if I do. Now will you just turn it on?"
"Can't this wait until later?"
"Come just turn it on."
"I rather not."
The object was moved closer. Backing away again he didn't notice them entering his room.
"Why don't you go find someone else to test it on? I'm sure someone with your intelligence can manage that."
"I'm already here. Come on Carson."
"No. I'm not touching it. I don't even know what it does."
"That's what I'm trying to find out and I won't know till you touch it."
"No."
"Carson…"
"No! Look I'm tired and it's really early in the morning. I'm not going to touch whatever that thing is. Now would you please leave me alone and find someone else to bother?"
"Come on, just a quick touch."
"NO! Please go before I decide to move your physical to later today."
"I don't have one until next week."
"You won't unless you leave now."
"Fine."
He watched Rodney storm out and let out an uneasy breath. That was a close one. Shutting his door, he made his way safely back to his nice bed without any more mishaps. Emerging himself in the covers he closed his eyes. A few seconds passed and he still lay awake. Sighing to himself he only wished he could only fall asleep again.
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He must have tossed and turned at least fifty times before staring at the ceiling trying to get back to sleep before his shift started for the past hour and an half. Sighing in defeat, he rose from his bed deciding there was no chance of getting back to sleep anytime soon. Quickly getting ready, he left for the cafeteria. There was plenty of time for some breakfast before his shift started and with any hope Rodney wouldn't be there. He wasn't in the mood to see his friend anytime soon. Reaching his destination he was glad to see barely anyone around. Looking forward to a quiet breakfast, he grabbed a bagel, an apple, and some tea. Digging into his food he barely noticed a certain scientist settled down across from him. Deciding to ignore him, he continued to bite into his apple.
"So Carson, could you turn it on now? Or after you finish eating?"
Looking up from his food he stared at the person sitting across from him. If only looks could kill or perhaps impair.
"No."
"Carson…"
"No, why don't you ask Sheppard? I'm sure he would be willing to do it."
"I can't! He's still in the infirmary."
"Well, I guess you're going to have to wait until he's released later today."
"Or you could activate it."
"No."
"Carson…"
"No."
"Later?"
"I'll think about it."
"Really?"
"No."
"Come on. This could be a life-altering discovery. It could protect us from the wraith."
"Do you have any proof to prove those claims?"
"Ah…"
"I didn't think so. My answer is still no."
"Carson…"
"No. Go find someone else to activate it or wait for Sheppard."
"Fine."
Choosing to ignore the annoyed scientist, Carson bit into his apple once again. Busy eating his apple he almost missed a hand slowly inching its way to his plate. Narrowing his eyes, he glared at the hand's owner.
"Don't even think about it."
"But you weren't going to eat it."
"No Rodney. Leave my bagel alone."
"Come on…"
"Don't even think about it."
"It's not like you were going to eat it."
"Get your own. There are plenty of them left."
"But yours is right here."
"No."
"If I don't take it will you activate the device?"
"NO!"
"Carson…"
"No, no, and no!"
Grabbing his tray, Carson rose from his seat.
"Carson…"
"I have to go. Have a good breakfast."
"Wait! Where are you going?"
He stared incredulously at his friend. Where else would he be going?
"Oh right, the infirmary. Ah… are you sure you're going to eat that?" Rodney pointed to the uneaten bagel.
"Rodney…"
"Fine, I get it. I'll get my own. Have fun practicing your voodoo."
Barely holding back a scream of annoyance, Carson watched Rodney finally leave.
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He walked into the infirmary with the remains of his bagel. Knowing he still had at least an twenty minutes before his shift started he headed towards his office. Maybe he'll be able to finish his breakfast in peace with no pestering scientists. Half way to his office he noticed a familiar form make its way towards the door of the infirmary from the corner of his eye. Stopping he turned towards the person attempting to sneak out.
"Major what are you doing out of bed?"
"Ah…just stretching my legs, Doc."
"By the infirmary doors?"
The patient then looked at the doors with mock shock.
"Well what do you know?"
"Very cute. If I didn't know you better I might have believed you. Now would you please return to your bed?"
"Since I'm already at the door, can't I just go?"
"No."
"But I feel fine."
"No. You're not to be released until this afternoon."
"That's only in a few hours. Can't you just let me go now?"
"No. Now back to your bed."
"But…"
"No."
"But…"
"If I let you go early then I would be obligated to let all my patients leave when they wish."
"That would be fine by me."
"Major!"
"Okay, fine…"
He watch John skulked off towards his bed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he had a sinking suspicion that his day was going to get worse.
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Peering at one of the samples one of the teams retrieved off-world he heard a giggle. Looking up from his sample, he glanced around the lab. Seeing nothing he peered back at the sample. After a few seconds he heard a giggle again. Sighing he rose and walked towards the sound. Frowning slightly when he pinpointed it to a corner. He was bewildered to see Jinto kneeling on the ground.
"What are you doing down here lad?"
"Can you keep a secret?"
"I might." Intrigued he kneeled down so they were eye to eye.
"I'm hiding."
"You're hiding?"
"Yup. From Wex but don't tell him. We're playing hide and go seek."
Carson rubbed his head, feeling the start of a headache.
"Oh that's nice lad but the infirmary isn't the place for games. It could be really dangerous. I'm going to have to ask you and Wex to go play your game some where else."
"But we won't be in the way."
"I'm sorry but no. It's not safe. Can you please go find Wex and tell him you have to play some place else?"
"I guess."
"I appreciate it lad."
He felt a little guilty at forcing the kids to find a place to play else where but he wouldn't be able to bare the guilt on his conscience if one of them got hurt. Sighing he turned his focus back to the sample under the microscope.
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Rubbing his aching head with his fingers, he stared at the surface of his desk silently asking himself what had he done to deserve such a horrible day. Since he had been woken by Rodney at 3 am he had managed to avoid activating some ancient device, eat breakfast, stop the escape attempt of a certain patient, study some samples collected off-world, and relocate two kids to a hopefully safer playing area. From glancing at his watch he could see it was only 7:30 am. He knew he should try and start the stack of paper reports lying out before him but he couldn't focus. Hearing someone clear their throat, he glanced towards the door. Narrowing his eyes at the scientist in his doorway he sighed.
"What can I do for you Rodney? You haven't hurt yourself again have you?"
"What makes you think I hurt myself again? Maybe I just wanted to see you."
Carson barely restrained a snort as he gave his friend an incredulous stare.
"I'm truly hurt you think that."
"I'm sure you are. When was the last time you came for a friendly visit?"
"Ah…fine I cut my hand."
He gestured with his hand for the scientist to show him as he made his way around his deck.
"May I ask what did you do this time?"
"I cut my hand on some lab report I was reading."
"Wait, you have a paper cut?" He paused.
"Yes."
"Rodney, I'm not treating you for a paper cut."
"But look at it! It's bleeding, I'm bleeding out here!"
"It's hardly bleeding at all."
"You call this a little. I might have lost half my blood supply by now. Come to think of I'm starting to feel faint."
"You haven't. All you need is a band-aid. I've seen worst paper cuts."
"What if it gets infected, then you have to cut it off and…"
"Rodney you're fine. It's a wee paper cut, barely anything at all. Just wash it and put a band-aid on it. You should be fine."
"What do you mean that I should be? Are you not telling me something? Oh God I'm going to lose my finger aren't I? I'm dying aren't I?"
"No Rodney! Stop it. You're fine. Just wash off your finger and put a band-aid on it."
"I'm not dying?"
"No. You can hardly die from a simple paper cut."
"What if it was deep, cut through one of my veins, and the paper was infected with some deadly disease? Then what if…"
Carson sighed and rubbed his head where headache he was feeling a few minutes ago was back. Rodney was overreacting again. It was a really small paper cut. Couldn't Rodney treat himself? He continued to rub his aching head. Though the day was still young he had hoped it would have gotten better by now but it seemed to be getting worst. Well there was still a good deal of the day left maybe he would get lucky.
"Are you even listening to me at all?"
He looked up, realizing he had tuned out Rodney's latest rant.
"Fine if you're going to ignore me I'll go. If I don't show up for lunch, then I probably bleed to death because you wouldn't treat me."
Barely having the time to blink over that statement the scientist was stalking out of the infirmary. He let out another sigh. Great, Rodney was pissed at him now. Going back to his chair he started to stare at the pile of paper before him once again. Rubbing a weary eye with his hand he sighed and reached out for the first report. Maybe he could most of it done without being interrupted. Probably not but he could always hope, right?
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After finishing at least half of the stack on his desk, he stretched his arms. Wincing at hearing them crack in stiffness. Wanting to take a break he grabbed his empty teacup and went to refill it. Half way to his destination he saw something moving towards the infirmary door from the corner of his eye. Turning around he felt his eyes narrow at his patient's retreat towards the door. Waiting till the patient was at the door, he cleared his throat.
"Where do you think you're going Major?"
John stopped his progress and turned around sheepishly.
"Well, um… I was just going to my room. You know you're a good friend Carson but I think I need some alone time now and a change of scenery."
Carson simply crossed his arms, barely balancing his empty cup, and gave him a disapproving glare.
"You think so, now do you?"
"I… It's not you it's me. Not that I don't like seeing you, it's more like I'm tired of being a patient in the your infirmary."
"What part of me saying you weren't allowed to leave till I said you could, did you not understand?"
"Ah… doc I'm ready to leave."
"Your heart stopped a few days ago and you're still recovering from your incident with the bug."
"Can't I recover in my room? I've been here for two days."
"You're to be released later today."
"In four hours. I'm ready to leave now."
"No. You can leave in four hours and not a moment sooner."
"Couldn't you just over look that for once? I won't tell anyone you let me go early."
"No."
"But…"
"What if you developed complications within those four hours and you were not in the infirmary?"
"What are the chances of that happening?"
Glaring at his patient, Carson crossed his arms.
"Don't even go there."
"But what is the likelihood of that happening? It's only four hours!"
"With your luck, it would be best if you waited."
"I'm willing to take a chance."
"No, John."
"Doc…"
"No. Now would you please get back to your bed before I decide to restrain you to it."
"But…"
"I'm serious."
"Fine…"
He watched John walk back to his bed again, for what must have been the second time that day. Looking at his watch he moaned, it had only been six hours since Rodney rudely awakened him. Why wouldn't the day go by any faster? Could his day get any worst? For some reason he had a sinking feeling that it would.
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A.N. Well I hope this was up to everyone's standards. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Please let me know what you think of this… This was originally planned to be a one-shot but it got too long, so I broke it up. The next chapter is almost done and it shouldn't take too long to finish, I think… but you never know…