A/N: Laughter, brain-storming, assistance, and beta skills courtesy of theicemenace. Any flubs left are entirely mine.
Unexpected
Chapter 4
Teyla and Ford had been given the whole story about Kavanagh, Noble, and the lab explosion during their team breakfast the day after the incident. John had delighted in tweaking Rodney every time Kavanagh's name came up, much to the amusement of everyone else. Teyla didn't know Kavanagh at all, but she had spent several hours discussing Athosian history and traditions with the linguist.
After a Bantos session the next day, she decided to visit with Beth. Teyla swung by her quarters to change clothes and grab a blanket from a small chest where she kept special items, mementos that reminded her of life before the Wraith were awakened.
When she arrived at Beth's quarters she waved a hand over the sensor. A moment later the door opened to reveal Beth standing there balanced on crutches.
"May I come in?" Teyla asked, smiling at the linguist.
Beth maneuvered to one side as she responded, "Please." She carefully walked back to the couch, sitting down with a sigh and lifting her leg up onto a small stool.
"Should you be up?" Teyla inquired, looking around to see if anyone else was in the room before sitting in the desk chair. "I thought someone was staying with you during the day."
"Dr. Beckett gave the okay for crutches as long as I don't overdo it. My team was here, but they were called to help out with something. No one gave me any details, but I'm guessing they'll be gone for some time. Meanwhile, here I sit!" she grimaced in annoyance.
Teyla chuckled. "I too would be frustrated by an injury that left me unable to assist when needed." She handed Beth the blanket she was holding. "It is a custom among my people to bring a gift to comfort those who are injured. Charon and I made this last winter, and I would like you to have it. May it bring you rest and peace while you heal."
Beth unfolded the blanket, eyes widening as she looked at the craftsmanship. "It's beautiful, Teyla! Thank you so much." She stroked the soft material reverently, tracing a finger along some of the detailed needlework.
"You are most welcome," Teyla responded, a smile lighting her face over Beth's obvious enjoyment of the gift. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I could use an ice pack, if you don't mind." Beth pointed to a small red and white cooler sitting on the desk.
Teyla brought her one of the blue packs and placed it to her satisfaction before resuming her seat. "Have you found any further information on the Athosian people in the Ancient database?"
"I'm sorry, Teyla. I haven't had the chance to look since we last talked. I have time now but I'm not allowed to do anything that would be considered work," Beth said apologetically.
Teyla laid a hand on her arm reassuringly. "It is not a priority. When you have time to do so will be soon enough. Would you like to hear more of our history? I talked with Charon when I went to the mainland recently, and she had answers for some of your questions."
Beth nodded, her eager expression reminding Teyla of some of the younger children when waiting for a new story. The two talked for the next hour or so about Athosian history and traditions, comparing them with various Earth cultures. Teyla promised to ask Charon for more details the next time she visited the mainland.
"Would you like to join me for lunch?"
Beth smiled and nodded. "I can't walk that far on the crutches, but if you don't mind pushing the wheelchair I'd enjoy the change in scenery."
A few minutes later the pair exited the transporter next to the mess hall and walked inside. Beth balanced their trays on her lap as Teyla wheeled her through the line. They selected their choices, then turned towards the seating area. "I forgot about that," Beth said, looking at the stairs.
"Not to worry. We'll just go out onto the balcony and enjoy some fresh air while we eat." Beth held their trays as Teyla maneuvered them out to a small table on the balcony.
A few minutes later, Peter Grodin asked if he could join them. The trio chatted while they ate, interrupted several times as various people stopped by to say hello and wish Beth well. Peter excused himself twenty minutes later, promising to stop by the next afternoon for a proper visit.
~~~~~~0~~~~~~
Beth felt her energy waning. She closed her eyes as Teyla gathered their trays and took them to the tray station, opening them again at a touch to her hand.
"Are you feeling alright?" Teyla asked, looking at her in concern.
Beth looked up at the Athosian woman. "I'm just tired. I think it's nap time."
Teyla's earpiece chirped. "This is Teyla." She listened carefully for a moment, then responded, "I will be there shortly." She looked at Beth apologetically. "I need to go. But I look forward to continuing our conversation at a later time." Teyla touched foreheads with her in the traditional Athosian manner before leaving quickly.
Beth sighed as she realized she'd have to maneuver herself back to her quarters. As she turned to go through the doorway, a pair of hands lifted hers from the wheels to the armrests and steered her towards the transporter. Beth glanced up to see Sergeant Bates pushing the chair.
"My mother would never forgive me if I didn't take the time to help a lady in need," he said with a smile. "Where are you headed?"
"To my quarters. Thank you," she said quietly, leaning back in the chair.
"All part of the service, ma'am," Bates responded, reaching up to select the right spot on the transport screen.
"Beth."
"I'm sorry?"
"My name is Beth, not ma'am."
"Nicholas, but you can call me Nick." He maneuvered the chair out of the transport, then stopped. "Which way?" She gave him directions and in a short time they were in front of her door. She reached up a hand and waved it at the sensor, triggering the door.
"Anything else I can do for you?" he asked as he pushed the chair inside, stopping it beside the couch.
"I've got it from here. Thank you, Nick."
He nodded and flashed a smile at her as he walked out the door. Within a few minutes Beth was sound asleep, waking only when the door chimed a few hours later.
~~~~~~0~~~~~~
Radek waited patiently in the hallway, an external hard drive tucked under one arm as he balanced a large tray of food on his laptop. A couple minutes passed before the door opened. Beth stood there balanced on the crutches, looking somewhat disheveled as she stifled a yawn. "Sorry. I was asleep," she said in a warm, husky voice.
"I thought you might like some company," he said with a shy smile.
A corner of her mouth turned up as she answered, "I would love some company." She moved to one side and he walked in, taking the tray over to the low table in front of the couch and placing his laptop on her desk.
He held up the external hard drive. "McKay says we should watch something called The Five Doctors. Is Doctor Who, I believe."
"Someone brought Doctor Who?" Beth's face lit up at the mention of one of her favorite shows. "I used to watch that with my dad. Depending on where he was stationed, we'd sometimes wait months to get new episodes, but it was worth it."
Radek turned on the system and swapped external hard drives as Beth disappeared into the bathroom for a few minutes, returning just as he started scrolling through the contents. He selected the file and hit play, then joined her on the couch. He handed her one of the plates and a bottled water from the tray, then picked up the other and started to eat.
Twenty minutes later he was sputtering at the impossibility of the science on the show. "There is no way that would ever work! Traveling in time and space?" He switched to his native language to better articulate his outrage at their so-called science. Beth was laughing so hard she started to slide off the edge of the couch. She grabbed at his arm and he quickly pulled her back up beside him, careful not to jostle her leg.
She finally managed to say, "It's not about the science. It's about the Doctor traveling around with various companions, and about him solving problems with ingenuity and a sonic screwdriver rather than guns and violence," before dissolving into laughter again.
Radek looked offended at that. "How can one solve problems with faulty science? I see why McKay likes it; this Doctor sounds a lot like him at times." He rested an arm along the back of the couch, fingers brushing against her shoulder.
She wiped tears from her eyes, then took a deep breath. "I wouldn't mention that to Rodney if I were you. He's already insufferable." They watched the rest of the movie in relative silence as Radek tried his best to ignore the blatant abuse of his beloved science. Every so often he'd mutter under his breath and Beth would start laughing again.
After the show ended he moved the tray over to her desk and poured her a cup of the Athosian herbal brew Beckett had prescribed. "What would you like to watch next?" he asked as he handed her the cup.
"More Doctor Who?" she said with a grin, sipping the drink. He shook his head in resignation as he queued up the next episode, settling back down on the couch as it started. He stretched his arm along the back of the couch again, and she took that as an invitation to lean against him. It took a couple episodes before the effects of the drink kicked in, causing her eyes to drift shut. She winced as she shifted around a bit in an attempt to get comfortable. A stab of guilt hit him and he said quietly, "I'm sorry, Běta."
She asked sleepily, "Sorry for what?"
"That you were injured," he replied, regret in his tone. "If I had only…" She looked up at him and put two fingers across his lips to silence him.
"It's not your fault. If you or someone else had been there you would have been a lot closer than I was when it exploded. I'll be fine in a few weeks, but you might have been seriously hurt or even killed." She shuddered at the thought, leaning back against him as he curled his arm around her.
He felt something ease inside him at her words. "Thank you."
"We're friends. `S my job to point out these things." She relaxed into him as he tightened his arm slightly, resting her head on his chest as her eyes closed again. Radek looked back at the screen and frowned.
"Běta?"
"Hmmm?"
"There is no way that box could be bigger on the inside. Makes no sense."
"It's a TV show, Radek. It's not required to follow the laws of physics."
"But…" he started to protest.
Her hand came up to cover his mouth. "Quiet, Radek. I'm trying to sleep."
He chuckled as she moved her hand away, shifting a bit to make her more comfortable. He held her in his arms as she slept, thinking about what she had said.
~~~~~~0~~~~~~
Bryan and his teammates walked down the corridor towards the residential area. The damaged section in the lower level of one of the towers was now clear, and the people that had been trapped were now in the infirmary being examined by Beckett and his team. They split up at the intersection of the next corridor, each one headed to shower and get some well-deserved rest before their mission in the morning.
Bryan waved a hand over the sensor and stepped inside when the door opened. He quickly divested himself of his uniform, automatically emptying the pockets of all the things he'd collected during the day. The last item he pulled out was an earpiece. Crap. I forgot I still had Beth's earpiece. If I hadn't taken it, though, she would have spent the day listening in on the comm. He sighed, wanting nothing more than a shower and bed. Shower first, then I'll swing by and drop it off.
Ten minutes later, showered and dressed in casual clothes, he walked down the corridor towards her quarters. He was a bit surprised to see Radek instead of Beth when the door opened. The scientist pointed to the sleeping figure on the couch and he nodded in understanding. He held up the earpiece and the other man moved aside to allow him entry.
Bryan walked over to the desk and set it down, then sat in the desk chair. He watched with interest as Radek carefully sat back down on the couch and put an arm around Beth, who snuggled back against him. When the scientist looked at him inquiringly, Bryan said in a low voice, "She doesn't usually let people get that close, particularly when she's asleep. I've never been able to pinpoint why, but she's typically very reluctant to have anyone touch her or show displays of affection, especially in a public place."
Radek raised an eyebrow at that and he grinned, knowing exactly what was running through the other man's mind. "I've never paid any attention to her efforts to avoid contact, and she's pretty much resigned to me at this point. Watch her with the guys; they know exactly what her limits are and stay within them. Those who didn't, learned the hard way that she's wickedly accurate with those blades," he said with a smirk, remembering again the demonstration in the SGC mess hall. "The best advice I can give you is to simply be yourself. If she's comfortable enough with you to do that," he pointed at the woman sleeping in Radek's arms, "you're already closer to her than anyone aside from me."
"Why are you telling me this?" Radek asked curiously.
"Why? Because she needs someone besides me to remind her that she's not alone, and I may not be here every time. And I have a feeling we'll run into her temper as soon as she's feeling better. Like I told you before, she could write the book on independent and stubborn. Give her space but don't let her push you away."
Bryan looked at the sleeping figure affectionately, then back up at Radek. "One last thing. She's family to me. And no one messes with my family," he said emphatically. "Hurt her, and it will be the last thing you ever do."
Radek opened his mouth to respond then closed it as Beth stirred and opened her eyes. "Are you playing the big brother card again, Bry?" asked Beth in a husky, sleep-warmed voice. "Don't listen to him, Radek. He's all talk. I have to defend him against predatory females."
"Hey, kiddo. 'Bout time you woke up. I was about to start on the embarrassing stories next," Bryan chuckled as she made a face.
"Embarrassing stories? Such as me saving your ass while we were on a mission a few years back?" she asked with a lop-sided grin.
Bryan growled, "It wasn't my fault. The P90 jammed!"
Beth smirked at him. "Whatever you say, Bry. I think your former teammates would disagree, though." The look he shot her promised future retaliation. She stretched as she sat up, almost hitting Radek in the process. "Sorry!" she said, running hand through her hair as she stifled a yawn. "What time is it, anyway?"
"Around 2100 hours or so. Which reminds me, I need to head off to bed. We've got an off world trading mission at 0800 and a briefing at 0700. You need anything from the market?" Bryan asked as he stood up.
"Bring me back some hašlerky. I'm almost out."
He rolled his eyes at that. "I doubt anyone will be selling Czech candy."
"You did ask," she retorted.
"Yeah, I know. And somehow I always end up regretting it." He shook his head as he glanced skyward, stepping sideways to avoid the pillow she chucked at him. "See you tomorrow, kiddo." He leaned down to give her a quick hug, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before ruffling her hair. He winked at Radek as she swatted him.
"Night, Bry. Try to come home in one piece, would you?"
Bryan nodded and headed for the door, waving as he walked out. Within minutes he was sound asleep, his subconscious pondering scenarios for tomorrow's mission.
A/N: Hašlerky: This licorice and herbal hard candy was named after Mr Karel Hasler, a famous songwriter, actor and singer with a hoarse voice, who made a deal with the manufacturer of these supposedly medicinal candies.
