Sarah managed to change out of her base uniform before Carson appeared that evening. She let him into her quarters and was thrilled when he immediately gathered her into his arms for another kiss. This time, it wasn't passionate or frantic, but it held plenty of heat. Carson allowed it to slowly build and linger, and she realized that kisses like this would lead to much more than the passion of that afternoon. Kisses like this led to a lifetime.

When Carson pulled back, he settled his arms around Sarah and simply held her close. She moved her arms from around his neck to around his waist. Listening to his heartbeat, she idly ghosted her fingers along his scars as she thought about the first time he'd held her like this. It had been right after her mother's death, and she'd realized that night that Carson wouldn't take advantage of her. In those moments, she'd started truly falling for him.

Now, however, he shifted suddenly, and a giggle rumbled under her ear. Sarah lifted her head to frown at him. He reached around and stilled her hands as they moved along his lower back. "Sorry, love. But that tickles."

She grinned wickedly. "You didn't seem to mind it earlier this afternoon."

"I didn't mind anything this afternoon," he said dryly.

"So I noticed." She grinned as she stared into his eyes. "You were right to put a stop to that, Carson. Once my head cleared, I realized that. But I'm not sorry it happened."

He returned the grin, his dimple making an appearance and charming her completely. "Neither am I, love."

Sarah pulled away from him reluctantly, leaving him to study her quarters as she retrieved a pair of shoes. Though staying barefoot in her quarters with Carson was her prime choice of activities for the evening, there were others who would love to be reunited with him as well. And he likely wanted to see the city he'd nearly died to protect. Though, right now, she surveyed her living space, trying to see it with new eyes.

What did it reveal about her, other than that she was a bit rushed when she came home this evening? Her uniform jacket was tossed on the foot of the bed, the yellow stripes contrasting with the plum-colored comforter. Cream sateen sheets peeked from below the comforter, and she'd stacked plum and cream pillows on the bed for a look that was luxurious but infinitely inviting. And she'd made sure to add touches of the colors throughout the remainder of the room. Her desk was neat, but it was her bedside table that held his attention. Sarah flushed when she realized he'd seen the picture of the two of them that she kept there, but she couldn't be too embarrassed. She knew he kept one of her on his desk in his quarters.

They headed for the mess hall a few moments later. Carson laced their fingers together as they walked, wordlessly staking his claim without making it obvious. Sarah realized that this—quiet actions that spoke loudly, the rock-solid confidence in who he was, the lack of a need to bring glory to himself—would be the norm for life with Carson Beckett.

Their progress was stalled when Amanda Cole came around the corner. Sarah released Carson's hand at the other doctor's surprised gasp, allowing him to gather Amanda into a warm hug. She smiled sadly at the soft tears shed, the apology accepted, and Carson's quiet assurance that none of this was anyone's fault. It would take time for those emotional wounds to heal, but these few moments would go a long way.

Sarah also realized something else as she watched him console a friend. Though she and Carson hadn't really explored more than a few kisses and the obvious desire to continue their relationship, Sarah knew she should have felt a bit more jealous at that moment than she did. She supposed that it was because Amanda so obviously needed Carson to reassure her, that she knew that Amanda wasn't out to claim Carson for herself, and that the situation warranted the hug. But it also told her she trusted Carson, no matter how she might second-guess herself. Having him in Atlantis, kissing her like she'd dreamed about for the last month, cemented what he'd said in her mind. He did want a relationship with her, and he wanted something pretty special.

After the brief pause, Carson gave Sarah a smile as Amanda headed for her quarters. He didn't take Sarah's hand again but rested a possessive hand on the small of her back as they entered the mess hall. Heads turned, someone started clapping, and soon the entire place was on their feet. In their eyes, Carson was a hero for risking his life to save Watson. And he'd earned their undying loyalty. Sarah watched him limp through the crowd, shaking hands and hugging friends. She'd seen women with disabled vets before and had always looked at them with a mixture of admiration and pity. Admiration because they stuck by their men, and pity that they had to put up with the disadvantages and the scars. Now, she was with one such man, and she was incredibly proud of who he was, what he'd survived, and how bright his future looked.

Carson turned, waving her over to his side as he chatted with Major Lorne. Sarah had treated the major a few times in the infirmary, but she'd never really spent a lot of time with the man. While Carson had been moving, she'd stood back and watched, smile in place and tears in her eyes. Seeing Atlantis welcome him home meant more to her than she'd realized it would. Now, however, she joined him and was effortlessly included in the conversation. Major Lorne glanced between the two, clearly seeing how Carson instinctively wrapped his arm around Sarah's waist. And, with that one action, the secret was out. While Sarah knew that it would have escaped sooner or later, Carson had just announced to everyone that they were in some sort of relationship.

The conversation with Major Lorne ended, and Carson turned her toward a table in the back. Colonel Sheppard, Teyla, Ronon, Dr. Zelenka, Jennifer, and Carter all sat around it, watching them with welcoming smiles of their own. Sarah suspected that their relationship wouldn't have drawn as much attention as it had if Carson had been in Atlantis for a while. To have him return—and to return to her—made the already-active grapevine go into warp speed trying to keep up. Happy to give them something to discuss for once, Sarah looped her arm through Carson's and led him toward the friends he'd been waiting months to see.

oOo

As soon as the applause started, Carson wanted to turn around and leave the mess hall. He'd only done what any other doctor worth his salt would do. But he remained rooted in place as every person rose to their feet, giving him a standing ovation and welcoming him home. He saw so many familiar faces in the crowd: Marie, Chuck, Zelenka, Lorne, Sheppard, Ronon, Teyla—who hadn't risen to her feet—Jennifer, and many others. A man moved, and Carson recognized Dr. James Watson, the man he'd nearly died to save. The scientist walked up to Carson and pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you, Doc." There were tears in Watson's voice.

Carson returned the hug. "You're welcome, my friend."

After that, he moved through the crowd. Marie got a long hug, Chuck a handshake and slap on the back. Zelenka, Jennifer, Teyla, Sheppard, Carter, and Ronon would wait a few moments as he moved through the faces. The only glaring absences were Elizabeth's and Rodney's. He refused to think too hard about Elizabeth. If he did, he'd wind up crying, and he didn't want everyone here to see that.

Finally, he reached Lorne's side. The major shook his hand, a rare smile lighting his features. "Welcome back to Atlantis, Doc."

"Thank ye, Major." Carson felt the grin he gave the major all the way to his toes, the celebratory atmosphere helping to soothe the lingering grief. "It's good ta be back."

Lorne sobered almost immediately. "Have you seen Dr. Cole?"

"Aye, on the way over here." Carson's grin dropped from his face. "Why?"

Lorne glanced around before lowering his voice. "I'm concerned for her. She's been distant since. . . ." The major motioned to Carson's leg, and the doctor understood. He also read a lot more than Major Lorne wanted him to see. Months of studying Sarah and learning to get below her mask had given him an edge with the reserved military 2IC of Atlantis. Lorne cared about Cole—deeply—and he was concerned for the depression she'd experienced. It reminded him of how concerned he'd been for Sarah when she appeared at the SGC following her mother's death.

Thinking of Sarah made him realize she wasn't at his side any longer. Glancing around, he spotted her standing next to Marie and watching him with a smile. He motioned for her to join him and turned back to Lorne. "I'll speak with her a few more times, Major. It'll take some time for it ta sink in that she's not responsible."

Lorne nodded as Sarah joined the two men. "Thanks, Doc."

"Och, think nothin' of it, Major." Carson clapped the man on the shoulder and headed for the table he'd waited to greet until last.

Ronon stood and pulled him into a Satedan bear hug. Most men would have scoffed at the idea that Ronon felt more than ambivalence, but Carson knew different. He accepted the bone-crushing welcome and turned to hug Jennifer like he had that afternoon in the infirmary. Sheppard was next, with a handshake and a hand on his shoulder like normal. Carson turned to Teyla. . .and froze.

The Athosian pushed awkwardly out of her chair, her extended belly making it difficult for his eyes to go anywhere else. He'd noticed that she'd filled out in his absence, that she had a glow about her. But he'd not realized she was pregnant. Tearing his eyes from her unborn child, he smiled. "Teyla, love, wha' is all this?" He made sure to put just enough surprise and joy in his voice so that she didn't take offense.

"Carson." She hugged him, her child squirming between them. "It is good to see you again."

"Aye, an' ye, as well." He held her shoulders long enough to stare at her. "How are ye doing?"

She got the message and glanced away. "Well enough. Dr. Keller assures me that my son is healthy."

"A son?" Carson's smiled widened. "Congratulations, love!"

"Thank you, Carson." She carefully settled back into her chair, the conversation closed for the moment. Carson greeted Zelenka and pulled a chair over for Sarah when he realized there was only one empty place. "Where's Rodney?"

Sheppard shrugged. "Who knows? Though I heard he started getting sick today."

"Aye," Carson agreed dryly. "That sounds like him."

The conversation turned to lighter topics, with the team peppering Carson about his time on Earth. Sarah even answered a few questions aimed at her, and Teyla shared a private grin with Carson when she realized that Sarah had gone to Scotland with him. But the elephant in the room—Teyla's pregnancy—was not discussed. Carson knew it would come up later, but he kept a lid on his questions for now. Content with life as it was, he draped his arm around the back of Sarah's chair and ran his fingers through the ends of her hair as the he reconnected with some of the best friends he'd ever had.

It felt good to be home.

oOo

The next morning, Carson slapped the alarm clock next to his bed and remembered why he hated the thing. In Scotland, he'd awakened to the sun streaming through his window, but Atlantis's twenty-seven-hour-long days made his body's rhythms obsolete. He'd need to adjust sooner or later, and sooner seemed to be the right idea.

Pushing out of bed with a groan, he took a few moments to make coffee and clear the sleep from his eyes. When on Earth, he drank tea with his Mum and Sarah, but he often drank coffee here on Atlantis. It just seemed to call for the stronger brew with the stress of having the possibility of a Wraith attack at any moment. While the rich smell of his favorite roast filled his quarters, he did his physical therapy exercises. Finally, covered in a fine sheen of sweat, he climbed into the shower and prepared for the day. He had just enough time to sit and enjoy that first cup before heading to the infirmary.

Last night, Carson and Jennifer had briefly discussed his transition back to Chief of Medicine on Atlantis. He didn't want to just take over from her, having already heard from Sheppard and Carter how great of a job she was doing. In truth, he'd have been happy to take the second-in-command position in the infirmary. But Jennifer would hear nothing of it, saying she'd give him a week or two to settle before handing the reigns back over. He sensed the desire to simply return to being a doctor in her voice and knew he'd have to deal with that, too.

First cup of coffee finished, he poured the rest of the small pot into a travel mug and carried it through the halls. People still unaccustomed to seeing him waved, smiled, shook his hand, and stared. While he and Sarah had become accustomed to the change in his gait, others weren't used to seeing him limp. He got several questions of whether or not he was okay from those who weren't in the mess hall the night before. Carson answered their questions with a smile and was a few minutes late for the day shift due to stopping to chat along the way.

Sarah was already in the infirmary, already working. She glanced up from organizing supplies recently arrived on the Daedalus and gave him that mischievous smile that cut straight through all of his reservations and went directly to the male side of him. She returned to her work after meeting his eyes, but he continued smirking until he turned to greet Jennifer. Then, armed with a laptop and three months' worth of reports, he disappeared into the med lab for the majority of the day.

The door opening some time later pulled him out of detailed lab reports on an energy entity that fed on people's fears and actually killed Dr. Heightmeyer. Carson was saddened by Kate's death, having worked closely with her to ensure the complete health of the expedition. But they weren't close friends. In truth, Kate had always kept herself closed to others, and he wondered if he could have done anything to give her that added strength to survive that nightmare.

"Dr. Beckett?" Teyla's hesitant voice brought his head up.

"Oh, Teyla, come in." He pushed to his feet and wheeled an office chair over to where he was sitting. Minimizing the report, he met her eyes. "What can I do for ye?"

She rested a hand on her unborn child. "I wanted to explain. And to apologize."

He frowned. "Apologize for what?"

"For not informing you of my. . .situation." She smiled, but her eyes showed intense grief. "Many things happened shortly after your return to Earth, and I am still trying to cope with the changes in my life."

"Aye," he agreed. "I understand completely."

"I believe you do." She let her smile widen. "I have seen how you treat Sarah MacKenzie."

Caught! He grinned ruefully. "Aye, some things do change."

"There is no need to feel embarrassed, Carson." Teyla's smile faded. "I am happy that you and she have discovered one another. It is difficult to go through life without the support of your friends and family."

Carson truly looked at her, seeing the strain on her face. "Teyla, love, what is it?"

Her eyes dropped, and she blinked suddenly. "I did not realize this would be so difficult." She fidgeted for a moment and then let out a deep breath. "We lost a lot of good people in recent months. And, while you survived, we lost you for a time. I could not risk your recovery by causing you to worry about me."

He reached out and took her hand, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Teyla, circumstances in my personal life may have changed, but I'm still the same Carson Beckett. Maybe a bit older, a wee bit wiser, but still your friend."

"I know." She shifted in her chair, indicating that her child had kicked suddenly. "I am sure you are wondering about my child and his father."

He nodded. "Aye, the thought crossed my mind."

"The truth, Carson, is that I do not know where my son's father is." She pulled her hand from his to rub at her ribs, and he got the distinct impression she was trying to move a tiny foot from that location. "About a month after you returned to Earth, Dr. Keller and I went to visit my people on New Athos. It was the Tendol Feast, the time of year my people celebrate harvest and the coming of winter. When we arrived, my people were. . . .gone."

Carson blinked. "Gone where?"

"I do not know." She drew in a deep breath and let it out. "We were not expected back here until the next morning, and there was a group of Bola Kai on the planet. They are. . .fiends, but they are not friends with the Wraith. At first, we thought the Bola Kai had captured my people, but we were wrong. Dr. Keller saved my life that day, and she later told me that I was with child. Kanaan—the father of my son—has not been seen since. And I knew that, if I told you, you would want to return quicker than you should have."

Carson listened closely, seeing the turmoil on her face. Had there been progress with the investigation into her people's disappearance, she would have told him. Teyla was not the type to build tension for the sake of it. That was McKay's department. Seeing her struggle to tell him the story explained why she still hesitated to speak of her child's father. And it explained why Jennifer wanted to hand everything over to him. Out of the two women, Jennifer was the one caught off guard by the Pegasus galaxy's drive for survival.

"Teyla, love, I am so very sorry." He reached for her hands again, and she allowed him to hold them. "I wish I could ha'e been here for ye."

She smiled into his eyes. "You were where you needed to be, Carson. And Sarah needed you at that time, as well. I do not know her well, but I have heard of her mother's passing. I had my family on Atlantis to help me through this."

They stared at one another, their friendship not diminished by the length of time they'd spent apart. Carson could see the anger, the hurt, and the confusion in her gaze and searched for a way to console her. "We will find them, love. I know we will."

She smiled. "I know." Her voice lowered. "I must admit to struggling with Colonel Sheppard's decision to remove me from the team's missions, but I also understand. About a week ago—just after the defeat of the Replicators—we found an abandoned Hive. Colonel Sheppard asked me to fly it for them, but Rodney discovered a secret Wraith facility. Instead of bringing the ship here, we flew to the cloning facility. During that mission, I connected with the mind of a Wraith queen." She hesitated for another moment, struggling with her emotions.

Carson dipped his head slightly. "Teyla?"

"She nearly killed my child!" Even a week later, the weight of what had happened settled over her shoulders, and she wrapped her arms around her midsection as she met his eyes. "Just one thought, Carson, and she could have destroyed him."

"But she didn't."

"No." Teyla managed to gain control over her emotions—emotions that he knew were influenced by the hormones in her system due to her pregnancy. "And now I understand why I must stay behind. But I also must find my people. So you see why I cannot just discuss what has happened?"

"Aye, that I do." He waited, knowing she would continue the conversation in her time.

"I am sorry to burden you with this on your first day back."

"Don't be." He smiled. "I'm happy to listen. And to help any way I can."

Teyla gave him a watery smile. "I know that Jennifer has been my doctor, and she knows the details of what has happened thus far. But would you. . . ." She showed a bit of uncharacteristic uncertainty. "I would be honored if you would be there. When he is born."

Carson's smile widened. "I would be thrilled to, love."

She nodded and, having said her piece, rose to leave the room. At the door, she turned back. "Welcome home, Carson."

"Thank ye." He sat still until she left and then returned to reading reports. But his mind was no longer as focused as it should have been. Instead, he kept hearing Teyla's outpouring of emotion and realized that, with Kate gone, she had no one with whom to share her innermost feelings. Sensing that she'd need to talk to him as the time for her delivery got closer, he determined to be there for her when necessary.

That evening, after a long day, he and Sarah met for dinner. They didn't say much, choosing instead to enjoy the salt-scented breeze on the mess hall patio. Colonel Sheppard, Rodney, Ronon, and Teyla eventually joined them, including Sarah into their little family. But, for the first thirty minutes, Carson simply watched Sarah as she absorbed the changes in their relationship and lives, thinking about Teyla's grief over losing Kanaan—even if temporarily—and wondering if he would survive should the unthinkable happen to Sarah.

~TBC