Stargate Atlantis
The Recording
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone
Pairing: Friendship Sheppard, McKay, Ronon, Teyla, Weir, Keller, (Carson)
Spoilers: 'Lifeline'
More accurately this takes place between 'Lifeline' and 'Reunion'
A big thank you goes to my wonderful beta Kodiak's Sweet Breath ; )
And of course to everyone who read and reviewed, you really inspire me
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Curiosity took the better of her. Maybe it was something Carson had meant to post? She inserted the CD in her computer but paused before pushing the play button. As she hit the button she hoped she wouldn't find a private letter to his mom.
Carson appeared on the screen in his white coat with a smile on his face. "I have had the worst day of melife." He said, his smile vanishing. "As much as I love me friends they drive me nuts sometimes." He paused then he gently shrugged his shoulders before continuing. "Which is why I have decided tarecord this."
"Hey Carson, he is coming around!" Someone shouted in the background. Keller thought that voice was suspiciously like Colonel Sheppard's. Carson who was still facing the camera turned around as quickly as he could, glaring at someone Keller couldn't see. "What is this now? I can't bloodywell leave ye lot for ten minutes." He folded his arms. "And by the way when did I say ye could get out o' bed?"
"It's Rodney." Sheppard said. "He is complaining, I can't sleep."
"Hey I can hear you!" Rodney shouted. Carson rolled his eyes before moving out of camera range. Keller could still hear the conversation.
"What tis it Rodney?"
"Are you sure you gave me the right dosage?" "Aye, Rodney, I have given ye all I can for the pain. Does it still hurt?" He tried politely.
"Of course it hurts, I have a broken leg!" Rodney complained.
"Here we go again." Sheppard said.
"You have no idea how it feels." McKay countered, sound like a pouting five-year-old.
Then Keller heard Carson's voice again. "He has four cracked ribs an' a bruised lung." The doctor raised his voice, his accent thickening. "Which is why 'e should be lyin' in bed!"
"Speaking of lying in bed, where is Ronon?" Sheppard said curiously.
"I'll be right back." Carson said before appearing on Keller's screen again. "Sorry duty calls, I will be back later."
The recording paused and Keller glanced at her watch, it was over midnight. Apollo would arrive in the early morning with new recruits who needed a full medical clearance before attending to their duties. She ended the program and went to bed.
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In the morning at 0700 hours she arrived at the landing site. Keller spotted Colonel Sheppard and walked over. She couldn't help but smile, remembering Carson's words on the recording. "Good morning sir."
"Morning doc, rough night?" He asked smiling.
"What, oh no sir I was just...I found something interesting last night." Sheppard frowned.
"Medical wonders in the Pegasus galaxy?" She smiled slightly before answering. "No something far more interesting." She was saved by Major Lorne's arrival.
"Apollo reports that the new personal are standing by, sir." The Colonel nodded.
"We're ready for them major." Lorne turned to leave. "Before you go, when Colonel Carter arrives send her to me." Evan frowned and then gave his superior a nod before moving away.
Could Colonel Carter be the new leader of the expedition? Keller wondered. She was startled by a voice on the radio saying that the first group of recruits where coming her way. She acknowledged and headed in their direction.
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It was 0030 hours, Keller hadn't managed to get away earlier. She quickly changed to her pyjama and picked up the recording.
Carson appeared again, this time sitting in his chair with his jacket on. "It tis much calmer when certain people have left the infirmary, no names mentioned. Anyway, I think they are preoccupied, for now."
Keller couldn't help but smile at the statement. She still didn't know his friends as much as she would like to but, she got the idea of what he meant.
"I feel the need to write, well, record, this ta my successor if something should happen ta me." Jennifer paused the recording and pushed rewind "I feel the need to..." She stared at the screen. "...if something should happen to me." She suddenly felt sick; this was a kind of goodbye. His normally happy voice was detached and cold. He had known that being on Atlantis was dangerous, Elizabeth had known that too. Jennifer then felt pride to have had the privilege to work with these great people, still she hadn't known them as long as Doctor McKay or Colonel Sheppard had and she could only imagine the grief they must carry.
She could never fill Carson's shoes and she never had the ambition. Keller briefly wondered what Colonel Sheppard and Colonel Carter were talking about. There had been a rumour that she was to take command of the expedition, she shrugged and refocused on the recording.
Carson broke into a smile. "It's probably not healthy ta think of myself as dead,and I hope Kate never finds out." He became serious. "I love my friends but they are a stubborn lot and like ta do things their own way. Let's start with Doctor Elizabeth Weir. She is a very persistent and stubborn woman." Carson's expression became one of concern. "She works too much, pushes herself to the limits. Elizabeth is a top diplomat and good at negotiatin' with new races and see to their needs. Unfortunately her own needs are usually neglected. Sometimes she comes down ta me and asks for 'something for the headache', in translation heavy migraine. Of course dealin' with certain personal can do that to you." Carson smiled sheepishly. "No offence Rodney. Anyway, other than that she is usually very healthy. But although she doesn't think anyone notices, she worries a lot especially, when Colonel Sheppard's team is away. I do too, I might need to call in extra personal." Carson said lightly with a twinkle in his eyes before turning serious again.
"I am worried that someday the pressure will break Elizabeth. She needs ta relax and be reminded of that sometimes. Although I believe the nanites helped her realise that there is more in life than to run Atlantis. Colonel Sheppard is more then capable of takin' care o' the city. You should congratulate yerself when ye have managed to take Elizabeth of duty when she is sick because that's not an easy task. You may laugh at this but just remember that I have warned ye, she is stubborn. Also when she is complainin' about somethin' you should take it seriously because she will not come to you for personal reasons if she isn't on the verge of collapsin'." Carson sighed.
"And I am afraid that she isn't the only one who's stubborn around here. The whole military contingent is almost as bad and someone does a good job of setting examples for them. As much as I like John, sometimes I just wish I could talk some sense inta him when it comes ta self sacrificing missions."
Jennifer really wanted to hear more but she was tired, she could barely keep her eyes open. The clock read 0130, she had to go to bed before the new day began. She wondered when she would be able to see more.
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To be continued
I hope you liked it, Sheppard's up next ; )
