Semper Fi

By Ann3

Writer's Note: Awww, thanks so much for the reviews ! I've come down from bed this morning still all achy and icky, and found all these review alerts - now I feel much better :o)

Okay, we're into the home stretch now, with just three more chapters to go. Our two favourite lovebirds get back to Atlantis in the next one, but before they get there - well, what happens when you cross a famous Scottish tradition, an even older Scottish joke, a Marine lieutenant with a really sadistic streak, a doctor who's trying to sleep, and a truly priceless scene from Irresistible...?

Um... this chapter, perhaps...?? ;o)

Enjoy !

Chapter Thirteen

Let Sleeping Docs Lie

"Carson...? Are you awake...?"

He wasn't, of course. After such a wonderful night of celebrations, he was blissfully lost to the world.

But Laura had a question. A crucial question. A matter of grave importance, that had to be addressed. And if she enjoyed anything more than making love to him, it was 'persuading' him to wake up.

"Carson...?" she purred, dropping her voice to an irresistible lilt while gently kissing the tip of his ear. "Carrrrrr-son..."

"Mmmmf... wha's'a'm'tter... wh – wha'...? Aye, um... mmmm... mmmmmf..."

Okay, so hardly the most coherent of responses, but... well, to be fair to him, he was still sound asleep.

However impossibly adorable he looked, though, all snugly curled up in her arms, Laura Cadman was not one to be deterred so easily. She was a Marine lieutenant, after all – trained and expected to see every mission through to its end. And right now, her mission, however difficult, was to 'persuade' her brand new fiancé to wake up.

Time to up the ante, she decided, biting down a wicked giggle. Time to bring out the heavy artillery.

As always, she'd spooned herself snugly against his back, her arms wrapped tightly around him as he slept. For Carson, it meant security, the subconscious comfort of being held, gently cherished. Protected.

And yes, Laura had always loved to hold him like this, keeping him safe from danger and threat.

On the less serious side, though, it also granted her easy access to the most ticklish body in the galaxy. His ribs, especially, and the backs of his legs. Not to mention his stomach, just below the irresistible dip of his navel.

To Laura's gleeful satisfaction, it was already working. He was already starting to wriggle.

"Carson...? Baby, are you awake...?" she cooed, softly teasing fingers and feet giving him very little choice in the matter. "Carson...? Come on, baby, wake up... I need to ask you something... something real important..."

That won her an adorable frown, a vital advantage, as Carson eased himself gingerly onto his back. Now she had a whole expanse of reachable, impressively toned, supremely ticklish body to play with – softly teasing fingers, the startled yelp which followed, reducing Laura to helpless fits of laughter.

"Aaaieee...! Sweet God, lass, you're – you're blo'dy insatiable...!"

Still giggling at this adorable resistance, Laura eased herself gently on top of him, patiently waiting – softly kissing the base of his throat, along his collarbone, the side of his neck until, at last, with a helplessly resigned, giggling groan, two blue eyes cranked sleepily open.

"Oh good, you are awake..." she grinned, rewarding him with a playful nuzzle at the end of his nose.

Revelling in the baleful face he pulled at her in response, she then raised herself up on one elbow – happily admiring one newly ringed hand, tracing it across his chest, while the other teased through his fringe

"Sorry, baby... just one, tiny little thing, then I promise I'll leave you alone..."

Laughing out loud at the deeply sceptical lift of his eyebrows, the re-appearance of helpless dimples, she then snuggled happily closer – choosing her moment, before venturing the question which had been privately entertaining her all day.

"Alex and Rab have told me so much about... well, you know, kilts and all its traditions, and... well, I just gotta know, baby... is it true...? I – I mean, is there anything worn beneath it...?"

His eyes saucered at that, the brows above them arching, in polite disbelief, at what she'd just asked. Then, to Laura's puzzled surprise, Carson merely smiled a slow, gently sly smile and shook his head.

"Nae, lass..." he yawned, enjoying a long, wonderfully kink-easing stretch, before closing his eyes again, wrapping her snugly against him. "I can proudly an' patriotically promise ye, love... everythin's in perfect workin' order..."

He'd spoken so completely seriously that, for several moments, Laura genuinely took him at his word. But then the self restraint broke, the warm body beneath hers shaking with barely suppressed laughter – its escape finally coming in a helpless yelp of protest, a startled shriek, as Laura took her exquisite revenge.

She may have been slyly 'glad to hear it...' but... by God, the aim of those hands was bloody lethal...!

Being tickled until he lay panting for mercy should have been punishment enough, of course, but – well, Carson mused through continuing shrieks of laughter, trust his feisty wee lass to have other ideas. His soon-to-be bride had clearly decided to make an early start in the fine art of having the last word

"Well, in that case, baby, you've got to promise me one thing for the wedding..." Laura said at last – her tone serious, the gleam in her eye anything but, as she left her future husband utterly speechless.

"When you do finally walk me down the aisle, you walk down it on your feet... not on your hands..."