One Sick Lassie by Baal's Girl
Season: In the middle of 2
Pairings: Carson/Dana; Carson/Rodney/John
Rating: PG/K
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis. The only things that belong to me are Dana and the story itself. Oh, and this is for fun, not money.
A/N: Finally wee Dana is back for y'all to enjoy. Honestly can't remember how many years it has been since part one…
A lot has happened here since then; only Gaelic-wise I'm still sort of treading on the spot. My pronunciation got better but vocab and grammar are still a tad weak. So if you find any mistakes, don't hesitate to point me at them.
Aside from that I hope you'll like this story as much as the first one. =)
xx
"Doc, I've got something for you", Colonel John Sheppard talked into his earpiece as he walked through the corridors of the city. He rocked the sleeping bundle in his arms. The little girl in it was feverish. She stirred in her tight sleep, sucking at her thumb. John pulled the blanket that was around her body a bit tighter, caressing the little one's blond curls. "Almost there, sweetie", the colonel murmured before he finally entered the infirmary with her.
"Here we are", he waved over Carson Beckett who had just come dashing from his office on seeing him arrive.
"What is it, Colonel?" the Scotsman took the bundle from John's arms and laid it down on a nearby bed. Carefully he unwrapped the blanket only to pause in a bewildered stare a second later.
"A Dhana … is thusa." He rested a gentle hand on the sleeping girl's reddened cheek, slowly shaking his head in disbelief. It took the doctor a few seconds to gather his reeling thoughts and to snap back to business mode. "Any idea what happened to her?"
"Well", John let out a breath, "She wasn't so well when we went to see her family this morning. They were all a bit worried and said they wanted you to look after her", he paused, "Actually she said it, that is…"
Carson frowned, "And her parents?"
"They said it was okay if we took her with us but weren't so eager to join us, either", he shrugged, "it sounded a bit like they'd be feeling in our way or something…"
The physician couldn't help but smile to himself, "Maybe they needed a wee break from her." Gently he inserted a syringe into Dana's vein and took a little blood. He put a gauze patch over the prick, pressing John's fingers against it before handing the vial to a nurse. The colonel frowned at him, "You think it's something serious?"
Carson shook his head, "Not really. Only the fever is a tad worrying. It always is with such wee bairn." He caressed the little girl's hot forehead, "But it should be fine now that she's here."
"Good", John lifted his fingers and waited for the doctor to fasten a band-aid. "Much as I'd love to stay with you two, I've still got this report to type up…"
The Scot clapped a grateful hand on the colonel's back. "That's alright, we'll be fine here. Thanks for bringing her back with you, lad."
"No problem", John let a hand brush along Dana's side, then started walking away, "just tell me when you know what's wrong with her."
"Aye, will do", with a sigh Carson smoothed down the little one's sheets. His hand came to a rest on her small, heaving chest, "Poor wee lassie. Let's see what we can do for you." He turned round and left her to get the lab work done.
xx
Rodney McKay entered the infirmary a short while later, in eager search of the physician. "Carson?" he called through the large room. No response. Slowly the Canadian ambled on, annoyance quickly getting the better of him: "Damned haggis-hurler, always something better to do than looking after his best friend", he muttered before trying again, "Carson??" Still nothing. Rodney walked around a little more as suddenly his eyes fell on the sleeping Dana.
"Now if that isn't my favourite little madcap", the physicist retorted. "Not even caring for you, is he?" He popped down on her bed and started rifling through the Gaelic dictionary that was lying on the bedside table.
Suddenly the girl stirred beside him, opening her bright blue eyes. They stared at each other for a long moment until the little one sat up, seemingly overjoyed to see him. "Rod- Rodney!" she grinned at him and sat up with a jump.
"Yes, that's right", McKay smiled back at her thinly, not really sure if he was that happy to have her around again.
Dana eyed Rodney quietly for another moment before she suddenly drew in a quick breath and sneezed at the Canadian. The brunt of a few million tiny droplets spattered all over him.
With a girlish shriek Rodney backed off and started wiping frantically at his face with both hands. "Hell if you've got any gems, you little brat…" he whined.
That instant Carson entered the scene. He was just talking to Sheppard on the radio. "…She's got nothing too bad, don't worry. It's only the chickenpox."
That made Rodney jump even more. He ran to his Scottish mate, being close to tears. The physician ignored him for a moment, calmly finishing the call. At last he looked at his shivering friend who was about to drop to his knees in front of him.
"And what can I do for you, Rodney?" he raised a bemused eyebrow.
McKay sucked in a breath, stammering, "I… I don't have a shot…"
"Huh?" the Scot eyed him confusedly.
Rodney slapped his palm against his forehead, "She just sneezed at me, you genius!!!"
Carson shrugged, "And? It's not that bad, really."
"That's what you say", the physicist's face turned crimson. "I'll get bloody chickenpox." Angrily he spun back around at Dana who watched the conversation, giggling quietly to herself.
"What??" Rodney snapped at the girl, "First you sneeze at me then you laugh at me. Just why did you do it, why?"
She frowned at him. Annoyed he ran over and snatched up the dictionary again, clumsily reading out the entry for 'why', "Carson a?!?"
Dana just shrugged, stating, "Bu toil leam pàirtich."
The reply made Carson snort.
"What did she say?" Rodney huffed at him.
"She said", the Scotsman cleared his throat meaningfully, "that she wants to share it."
"Oh how very kind of her", the Canadian pulled a disgruntled face. "So she sneezed at me only to share her scary little illness with me, hence keeping me off my highly important, ingenious work and slowing down my progress in saving this universe for yet another time??"
"That's a bit over the top, don't you think?" Carson frowned at him.
"It's not", Rodney sulked.
Dana shook her curly head at the physicist, "S' e."
"Huh?" he spun around at her.
"She agrees with me", his colleague informed him.
"Fine", McKay pouted at them both, "you go on conspiring against me until I die much too young, all scarred and made ugly by the chickenpox."
The physician shook his head at him, "It's chickenpox, not smallpox, lad."
"I don't care", the Canadian barked irritably, sinking down onto a nearby bed.
Crestfallen, Carson did the same, burying his suddenly throbbing head in his hands. This was going to be a long day…
xx
To be continued…
