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Title:Ghosts come back

Author:Keenir

Summary:Sora returns to Atlantis, and Carson talks with her.

Coda to Runner

Pairing:very mild Sora/Carson (pre-relationship)

Author's Note:The McWeir forum has a very nice Sora/Carson picture in the archives, along with a challenge regarding that pair…so I accepted the challenge. (sorry it took so long)

Author's Note:Remember that a society is built upon the environment it exists in.

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"Who's here?" John Sheppard asked, not believing what he'd just been told by Dr. Weir.

"Sora," she said again.

"As in Kolya's lap dog?" Rodney asked.

"She asked me for asylum, and I gave it to her." Seeing the faces that were arrayed against her, Elizabeth added, "If it makes any of you feel any better, she asked for her old room back."

"The cage?" Carson asked. He'd made visits to check on Sora's health when she was a prisoner here, chatting to pass the time.

"That's right."

"Looks like Kolya's not the only one who's nuts."

"That's hardly a fair assessment, Rodney," Carson said.

"Oh no? What sort of person asks if they can live in a cage?"

"Someone," Ronon said, speaking for the first time in this meeting, "who feels safe there."

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That evening:

"Hullo there, Sora," Carson said as he stepped into the room. The first thing he noticed was that there were no guards.

"Good day, Doctor Beckett," Sora said, sitting on a chair that'd been brought from…he wasn't sure where it'd come from, but he noticed that it was the only new thing in the cage.

Carson stopped halfway between the doorway and the cage, noticing that the cage wasn't locked –Why would it be? He asked himself. She's not a prisoner now – and that Sora wasn't wearing a Genii military uniform, nor the sundress that Sheppard had said she'd worn when Teyla'd done the initial introductions. "That's a fetching outfit you have on."

Deep umber breeches and overalls, with a copper blouse tucked in. With a small smile, "I had not thought you had the eyes of a Genii, doctor," Sora said.

Carson got her meaning…hard not to, when he'd been the one to tell her about it – and find that she'd already known. Ninety percent of all Genii were colour-blind. "Not really, no. But my mam always told me to look at how clothes fit a lady, and yours suit you just fine," and quickly added, "if ye don't mind my saying so."

"I have no objection. Your mam sounds most Genii."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is," Sora said, stating the obvious as mildly as she could.

"In any case," Carson said, "do you mind my asking…what're you doing here?"

"Doctor Weir believed my people wanted me back." Sighing, "Do you have," Sora inquired, "among your people, a word for that which cannot be?"

"Aye, we do."

"What do you call the spirit of people who are dead?"

"Ghosts."

Sora nodded. Very well then. "Then I am a ghost."

"Lass, you're alive and well from what I can see."

"I was captured by the enemies of the Genii. Thereafter, I am dead to the Genii. I chose not to stay on a Genii world…sa gnous fei beh – they would see what I do, but not see me."

"So ye came back to Atlantis?" Carson asked. When Sora nodded, "If you don't mind me asking, why?"

Sora stood up and strode easily to the bars, looking him in the eyes. "This ghost misses your conversation most of all."

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The end?