As Vala entered the room she offered a nod to the young woman in red scrubs sat at a desk in the corner who looked up briefly from her work. Crossing the room she threw herself into the uncomfortable chair at Daniels side and gently slid her hand into his.
She barely had time to register the sound of an office chair being pushed back before the Doctor was at the end of the bed picking up Daniels chart.
Vala watched intently as she completed her checks making a note of his vital signs and the equipment read outs.
Something about the 5ft8 athletic built grey eyed brown haired Doctor seemed familiar.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER...
Jack (the ranking officer tonight) stumbled bleary eyed into the gate room trying to think of a logical reason why the gate would be activating this late.
"Sergeant" he asked trying to suppress a yawn as a contingent of armed Marines flooded the room below.
"Receiving IDC…its Atlantis sir".
"Open the iris and give them the green light" the tired general replied as he headed for the stairs.
Jack came to a stop in the middle of the Marines as John, Evan and Rodney stepped through the event horizon. The 2 pilots were carrying a large wooden crate.
"What do you want" the short tempered General barked.
"We've found an interesting device but we need Doctor Jackson to translate the manual" Rodney babbled.
John and Evan both noticed the change in their senior's posture and naturally grew concerned.
"Sir is something wrong" John asked.
"Go see for yourself he's in ICU 1, now if that's all I'm going back to bed" he said turning and leaving.
John and Evan gently placed the crate on the ramp relieved to finally put the heavy thing down.
"This needs to go to Jackson' officer" John told the marines "and we need to go see what's in ICU 1".
The group headed towards the infirmary at a brisk walk through corridors they hadn't entered in years.
Several minutes later the trio entered the observation room above ICU 1. They found themselves unable to look away from the deathly pale Archaeologist who looked so weak amongst the white sheets.
Suddenly the door through which they'd just entered opened emitting the Doctor they'd just seen below.
"A Major you've done well for yourself Evan" she said grinning at him before pulling him into a rib cracking hug.
"I could say the same about you Charlie, trauma consultant" he said pulling back and holding her at arm's length.
Her laughter came to an abrupt halt as her eyes landed on John who was trying desperately to avoid her gaze.
"John" she said her voice harsher as she addressed the man she'd loved and who'd just disappeared.
"Charlie, I'm sorry I left you like that but General O'Neill hardly gave me any time" he said.
Her laugh was bitter "a note John a bloody note delivered by General O'Neill" she exploded before storming out.
"We need to have a serious talk but right now I better go check she's ok" Evan said following her.
He found her outside in the corridor with her forehead resting against the wall breathing heavily trying to pull her emotions into check.
"What's wrong" he asked coming to lean against the wall next to her "and don't say nothing".
"I think you can hazard a guess".
Closing his eyes Evan sighed "he's the man that stole your heart".
"Bingo, I've been rushed off my feet all afternoon how about I go bleep the on call reg and we have a civilised conversation over some food" she said pushing off the wall.
"Sounds great...hang on is that civilian or military civilised" he called after her retreating figure.
"We're military on a military base what do you think" she called back in a playful tone.
"Why'd I even bother asking" he muttered to himself before heading back inside. "Sir, Charlie requests that you meet her in the mess for a civilised conversation".
John raised an eyebrow "I relaying on you to have my back in there Major".
Evan chuckled "I always do Sir, we better go least she thinks you've stood her up".
John nodded following his 2IC to the door "Rodney you coming".
"Huh pardon" he asked glancing over at the 2 officers.
"We're going to the mess to get something to eat coming" John repeated a little exasperated.
"Sure".
After bleeping the on call registrar Charlie had headed up to the officer's mess where she loaded her plate high with chicken salad before grabbing a cup of fresh apple juice and a fruit salad.
She carried the tray to a quiet table and sat down to wait and it wasn't long before the Atlantis trio sat down around her.
"So Charlie what's so important your willing to attempt a civilised conversation with me" John asked.
"I'm Atlantis' new trauma lead and field medic. Seeing as your part of said expedition I figured it'd be best to patch things up" a smile played across her smile.
About an hour of light conversation later Charlie rose from her seat "If you don't mind I'm going to get some sleep".
A WEEK LATER...
"Doctor Jackson your meant to be resting" Charlie scolded walking into the side room to find him surrounded by scrolls and notebooks.
"Doc this is resting for Daniel" Jack commented from where he sat cradling Martin.
"You know what for once I'm not going to bother arguing just don't let Caroline catch you, as she's taking over your care".
"Are you going somewhere Doctor Larne" Vala asked from the chair she'd hardly left in a week.
"Yes Atlantis".
"What but we need you" Cam whined from where he sat eating Daniel's jell-o.
"No Atlantis needs me".
"BUT".
"What am I chopped liver" Caroline asked from where she stood in the door way.
"Off course not sweetie".
"Ok now all that's cleared up I need to leave, the last thing I need is to miss the Daedalus".
