The long road to recovery.

An: The very long road for Carson.

Day 1

Sara awoke to a bright light in her eyes. She blinked, her eyes stinging from the intensity of the light.

"I asked you before, and I'll ask you again. What is in my eye that will tell you how I'm recovering?" She closed her eyes shut in protest.

"Open your eyes lass, or you'll be in here for 2 weeks." Carson threat worked, as Sara reluctantly opened her eyes. Carson ignored the glares, almost becoming immune to them after the last 24 hours.

He shone the pen light in her eyes again. Checking for the common signs of any illness.

"Can't I at least go for a walk around Atlantis, an hour, come on Carson. Please. I'm sooo bored." She fluttered her big brown eyes.

"No, your to stay in bed until I say." She groaned, the infirmary was the most boring place for a 12 year old.

"Half an hour, tops."

"No."

"Ok, twenty minutes,"

"No,"

"Ten?"

"No,"

"Ok, ok five minutes."

"I said no and I mean no." He pulled the cover of the blanket up over her arms. Sara quickly moved them back, they mad they too hot.

"Come on, at least think about it, instead of just saying no." Carson looked at her and sighed.

"Carson?"

"I'm thinking."

"And…"She looked up at him with her big brown eyes. Almost making him crack. But he stopped shook his head and announced, " NO!"

Sara bashed her hands against the bed softly. She began to whine. "Pleaseeeeee. Pretty please with ice cream on top, with cream, and a cherry, and sprinkles and, and chocolate sauce… "

He moved the cover back up over her arms again.

"No, No, No, No, No The answer … is….no!" He leant forward, so he was inches from Sara's face. Making himself clear that he was not going to let her go. "N - O spells NO!"

"Grrrr," she leant her head back, and gritted her teeth in frustration. She then looked him in the eye.

"Your so mean." As she spoke, she poked him on the nose.

"It's for your own good. If you walk around, you could tear your stitches, nor do I want you getting to excited. Your very weak at the moment. And the last thing I want is to have you moaning in here for longer than I have to." She grinned at her. Sara wasn't up for jokes. She was in a rather bad mood now.

She folded her arms sulking. Her lower lip drooping, as the scowl crossed her face.

"That face will not get you out of bed. It will just get stuck."

"Will not."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Carson grabbed the tray and walked off. Sara slammed her back into the pillow, with her arms crossed. Then regretted doing this, as a throb of pain made it feel like her side was splitting.

She gritted her teeth and spoke "I am sooooooo bored!" 24 hours, 24 stupid hours she had been stuck in the infirmary. How was she going to handle a week?

"Whining is not going to make the time go any quicker," Carson said from across the room. He was putting some stores away in the correct place.

"No, but it gives you a headache." She gave an evil grin, coming out of her sulk. The grin was accompanied by an evil laugh. Carson rolled his eyes. 24 hours! 24 hours, how was he going to survive a week with her stuck in the infirmary. He loved the kid, but when she was bored, she sure knew how to whine.

"If you don't be quite for ten minutes, you'll be having a nice meeting with a hypodermic needle."
Sara went dead quiet. She pulled the cover over her head.

"I'll tell Elizabeth if you do that."

"And she'll thank me." He crossed the room again and pulled the blanket off her head, to reveal the grumpy face. Her arms folded across the chest again. She was sat upright, with her legs crossed underneath her. Carson came to sit on the edge of the bed, hands in his lap. Sighing, he saw the brown eyes full of sadness, skilfully trained to make people break. One flutter of them, and most people where wrapped round her little finger. Carson, however, seemed to have built up a defence to them. But today he decided to be a bit more lenient, and bargain with her.

"Maybe tomorrow you can go out for half an hour…"

"Yes!" Sara's eyes became more hopeful

"…Only if, you stay in a wheel chair and it's only half an hour. And you let me get on with my work for an hour. Promise?"

"I'll promise if I can have my game boy back. Deal?"

Carson had confiscated it, after Sara refused to turn the noise off. And then she almost tore her stitches from jumping about, when she had defeated a particularly hard trainer.

"Deal!" Carson stuck out his hand, Sara shook it and the deal was sealed. Carson went to his office and fetched the Game boy. He handed it to Sara.

"Remember, don't get over excited. And no noises. That thing has the most annoying tunes I have ever heard."

Carson headed off as Sara turned her Game boy on and began to play Poke'mon.

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Carson placed a note in the last file he had to do. He stored it away and then began to wonder why it had been so quiet. He hadn't truly thought she'd stay quiet for a whole hour. He glanced at his watch, amazed to see it had been 2 hours since he had last heard from her. Heading out of his office, his expression quickly turned to one of concern. Her motionless body lead on the bed. Then he saw her chest rise and fall, she was fast asleep. Her Game boy still in her hand. Carson walked over and picked the game boy up. He made sure he'd saved the level before switching it off. He placed it on the table beside her bed and moved the covers up over her arms and tucked her in. He smiled at one of the nurses, she had just come in with a air force officer who had a nasty burn his hand. Carson quickly grabbed a tray and began to assist.

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Hours later John entered the infirmary. He'd had so much to do, he been rather annoyed he hadn't had time to see Sara all day. His eyes sought out the place where he had last seen her. And sure enough there she was. She was fast asleep. John thought she was probably tired from causing Carson so much hassle. He wondered over, looking around to see if Carson was about. He was no where to be seen, so John took a seat next to Sara's bed. He found it rather frustrating that when he had finally got a chance to come see her, she was fast asleep.

Rodney came in just at that moment. His head was deep into his tablet or computer thingy as John liked to call it.

"Hi Rodney," John said. Giving a little wave. Rodney looked up.

"Hello, Sara's meant to have a chemistry lesson. Carson said it was better to keep up with her work, but if you want to spend time with her, I can come back." Then he looked at the little girl.

"I'm a genius you know, but I don't think I can teach people while there sleeping."

"You never know." Rodney took a seat on the opposite side of the bed.

"I'm glad she's ok. She can be a pain sometimes, especially when she makes me look like an idiot."

"You deserved that Rodney."

"Yes, but why did she have to use pink paint."
John shrugged with a smile curving his lips.

Sara's lips also curled.

"Did you see that? She smiled. Look!" Rodney pointed to her lips.

"See what." John looked at Sara's face. It just looked like she was asleep, no smile. But John had his suspicions.
"Carson's thinking about keeping her in here 2 weeks you know." John gave a wink to Carson. Sara sprang up.

"What?"
"Got ya!" John said., tickling her slightly.

"D'oh!" Sara smiled, admitting her guilt.

"I can't believe you where pretending to sleep," John said acting hurt.
"I only woke up when Rodney came in. I wasn't to keen on doing work. Before that I was asleep."

"Nice try young lady," John ruffled her blonde hair, "I think I'll leave you to your chemistry lesson."

"Drat" Sara clicked her fingers together.

Day2

"You promised I could go for a walk today."

"I said you could go out in a wheel chair for half an hour with someone who could keep an eye on you."

"Arhh," she sighed and leant back.

"Your not going to make this week easy for me, are you?" Sara raised an eyebrow at Carson question.

"I would, if you would make it easy for me. It's so…"

"Boring? Yes I know, you've mentioned about 100 times."

"We'll it is. I can't believe anyone would work here."

"Well someone has to make sure your alright."

Sara stopped for a moment. Her eyes darting at the space in front of her. Almost searching for something that was impossible to find. It was a sign she was thinking hard.

"Carson?"

"Yes."

"Well, I was kinda reading." Sara stopped and looked down at the covers on her bed. "It doesn't matter."

Carson saw the expression on Sara's face. Something was upsetting her.

"Go on lass." He came to sit on the edge of her bed.

"I, I was reading some of the notes on file, I know I'm not suppose to but Rodney left his laptop open and it was just staring at me, and so I walked over…"

"Sara, Princess, just say what you where thinking. I don't need to know the details."

Sara gave a weak smile.

"…well, you know the Ancients."

"Yes…"

"Well it said on the file that they could ascend to a higher plane of existence. Some of them ascended when they died and all, and I was thinking…"

Sara stopped again, not sure how to say her next sentence, but Carson knew what she was getting at.

"You where wondering if you think, I think that your mum might have ascended." Sara bit her lip and nodded at him.

Carson sighed not sure what to say.

"We'll, it's totally possible I guess, probably a good chance it did happen." Sara's face slipped deeper into unhappiness. Carson thought that the thought of her mum still being there in a sense might have cheered her up.

"What's the matter love?"

Sara shrugged slightly, staring at her hands.

"I guess, I just thought, maybe, if she had ascended, she might have come and seen me. Let me know she was still about, that she still loved me, and, and…" A tear fell down her face.

"Oh love, you know what? I'm sure wherever she is, ascended or not, that she's watching over you. She loves you, and she always did, always will. If there's a possibility she ascended, they have many rules, did you know that?"

Sara shook her head.

"We'll, there have been a few ascended Ancients that humans have known. One, well I shouldn't tell you."

Sara eyes brightened up slightly.

"Go on tell me, I promise I won't say anything."

Carson sighed, he gave in to the brown eyes.

"Ok, but you must promise to say nothing. Doctor Daniel Jackson, for a while was ascended," Sara's eyes went wide in awe, " he returned to physical form, but he spoke of the many rules they had. Not to interfere. He broke the rules and came back to physical form."

"Do ya think my mum could do that?"

Carson looked at the hopeful little girl.

"I don't know lass. But not to dwindle on a thought like that. Hopes good but, you could spend your whole life holding onto that hope. Just spend all your time looking for here. Daniel Jackson was a very rare case. We don't know much about the Ancients."

Sara's eyes slipped into the gloom again.

"But I know she still loves you." The smile grew back on Sara's face, and Carson pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks Carson, for listening and all."

"No problem lass."

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After lunch Carson had given Sara permission to spend some time outside the infirmary. John was going to wheel her round Atlantis for half and hour. He was just lifting her into the wheel chair, as Carson repeated the rules for like the hundredth time. Or at least in Sara's mind it was.

"half an hour exactly. Do not get out of that chair. Try to relax, don't get her to excited Colonel." Sara rolled her eyes as she sat in the wheel chair, airing to go.

"Can we go now?" she begged.

"Ok." Carson gave a nod to John, who spun the wheel chair 180 degrees and headed out the door. Sara cheered as they headed down the corridor. Once out a few corridors away from the Doctor, John began to run down the corridor making Sara giggle. He made a pretend screeching sound as they rounded the corner and came to a halt at Elizabeth's feet.

"Sorry," John said to Elizabeth, putting on his best, don't punish me smile.

"Not sure Carson would agree with the wheel chair racing." She grinned at the pair.

"I won't tell if you don't," John said, making his grin even wider.

"Only if you slow down." John sighed and Sara put on her annoyed face, but decided maybe it was best. Carson wouldn't let her out of the infirmary again if he found out.

Elizabeth carried on, and John and Sara got back to their 'stroll.' They ended up on the balcony looking out over the sea. Sara felt relaxed, closing her eyes as the breeze swept her face. She felt a hand run through her hair. She looked up at her father, who's eyes where resting on here. His eyes looked sad, lonely even.

"What's the matter?" Sara was rather concerned.

"Nothing, I, I just thought I was going to loose you the other day."

His hand ran through her hair again.
"I love you dad."

"Love you too."

He smiled and knelt down to be at eye level with her.

"I will always love you, know matter what."

He gently his arms around her, embracing her in a hug. Sara rested her head on his shoulder, as they hugged. His dark hair brushing against her cheek, making her giggle.

"Hey, why you giggle?"

"Your hair tickles."

John brushed Sara's hair away from her face.

"Your so beautiful."

Sara scrunched up her nose, smiling slightly. She hated it when he went too soppy.

"Can we get some ice cream?"

"Sounds like a plan, just…"

"Don't tell Carson, I know, I know."

Day 3

Sara yawned as she woke up the next day. Light was shining into the infirmary, and it seemed like a nice day. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up cautiously, waiting for the sharp pain. Ah there it was. She breathed in sharply as the stitches felt they where tearing. Although she had gotten use to it by now. They weren't tearing it was just a weird sensation.

Carson was already in the infirmary working on another patient. The Sergeant had been in the infirmary for the last 24. He had broken his ankle while on a mission, and was being kept in for observations. unlike Sara he'd be out in the next 24 hours.

Sara reached for the book on her table and opened it up to where the book mark rested. She began to read from where she left off.

Not much longer after she had woken up Carson wondered over. She had barely noticed him coming over. Until he began rolling up her sleeve. Never a good sign. Then she saw it in the corner of her eye. The needle. She lunged forward and held her mouth. Making it look as if she was going to throw up.

"Easy," Carson said.

He ran off in search for a sick bowl. Sara rolled off her bed and headed for a very small cupboard. She moved some boxes to cover her and shut the door. Carson returned and saw she was gone.

"Not again." Sara was getting pretty good at out witting him. But she knew she couldn't keep it up for long.

She kept as quiet as she could. Even her breathing seemed loud In the small cupboard.

"Sara, sweetheart, where are you?" He looked under her bed, then under another, until he had looked under every single one in the infirmary.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. Don't worry, I won't use the needle. You can take some tablets instead."

'Lie,' Sara thought. He was still looking for her. He opened the cupboard which she was in and Sara held her breath. Carson couldn't see her. The boxes gave ample cover. She let out a sigh as he walked away.

"You can have a big bowl of ice cream for breakfast if you come out now."

He spun around slowly as if waiting for her to come out. After a moment his face hardened.
"Right, if your going to play it that way."

Sara's ears pricked up, wondering what his next move would be. He tapped his ear, and Sara knew he was using his headset.

"Zelenka, scan the infirmary for me. Sara's hiding. Yeah, thanks."

He waited a few moments then headed to one of the screens on the wall of the infirmary. He looked at it. Sara held her breath again, her eyes shut tight.

"Hmm…" Carson was thinking. Then she heard footsteps coming closer. The door opened again. Sara shut her eyes as tight as she could, almost as if she was invisible if her eyes where shut. The boxes moved above her.

'Uh oh, busted!' she thought. She opened her eyes, seeing the not to pleased Carson towering over her. His arms where folded, and he didn't look to happy. She was pretty much stuck.

"Nice try little lass." Sara tried to get loose but there was no chance. Carson was stood right in the doorway of the cupboard. She saw the needle coming closer. She wriggled and curled up into a ball closing her eyes.

Then It went dark.

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She woke up not much later, lying in the covers of her bed. She felt week as she opened her eyes. 'Must have fainted.' She blinked into the bright lights. She lifted herself onto her elbows and looked around. She shuffled her body to rest against the pillows, and rubbed her arm where the needle had been. 3 days down 4 to go.

Day 4

Sara sat upright in her bed. She held a pad of paper and a pen and was scribbling down notes.

Sara's guide to surviving the infirmary

1) Annoying the Doctors isn't a good idea.
2) Annoying the Doctors isn't a good idea, but you can then bargain with them if you whine enough.

3) Pretending your asleep does not get you out of lessons. Nor does it stop Doctors from sticking needles into you. They just think that it will be easier.

4) Be aware of needles at all times. They are usually hidden.

5) If you see a needle. Pretend your going to be sick. They run for a sick bowl every time.

6) once pretending you feel sick, find a descent hiding place.

7) Make sure the hiding place has an escape root,

8) Do NOT come out, even if they say they aren't going to inject you with anything. They lie!

9) Do Not come out for any other reason. Ice cream is not worth it!

10) Hope they don't call for a scientist to locate.

She then drew a little doodle of Carson. It wasn't very arty just a stick man, with a mean looking face and a large needle in his hand. Then she put an arrow to it indicating it was Carson. She grinned at her creation. Unfortunately Carson had just come over at that one moment in time and happened to look at the doodle. Sara tried to conceal it, but it was too late.

Carson sighed.

"Budge over lass." Sara shuffled to one side of the bed and Carson sat next to her. Both had their feet stretched out. Carson hooked an arm around her shoulder.

"It's just a drawing, I didn't mean to offended you, it was only kind of a joke.

Carson gave a chuckle looking at the drawing.

"I think it's a good likeness," he said grinning at it.

Sara just dropped her head. Angry at herself for ever drawing it. Carson loved her and she knew it. He was the one who had helped her speak, helped her through the nights when she had first come to Atlantis. She leant into him, hugging his side. Carson put his right arm round her to hugging her back.

"I know your bored, but I promise you, everything I do is for your own good. We almost lost you a few days ago. Imagine if anything happened to you. I don't know what I'd do. A lot of people care about you, and I'm just doing my job." He peered into the brown eyes.

"I know your scared of needles, so I try and hide them. It's the sensation your scared of. I can tell you, I can be very gentle. You'd barely feel a prick. It's just the fear that's in you. Your memories, that's why your scared of them. I promise you it'll get easier. The fear will go slowly, but hiding won't help. I won't help at all, will it." He gave her a little friendly shake. She smiled up at him.

"No I guess not. But it's hard."

"I know it is. But in time, in time."

"Love you Carson."

"I love you too sweetheart."

Day 5

Sara stared at the ceiling watching a small bug crawl across it. Frowning, she wondered where the creature had come from. She found it amazing, that they where in the middle of an ocean, miles away from the mainland. And yet the small creature had managed onto the ceiling of the infirmary.

She rolled onto her side. It was so going to be another boring day!

Day 6

It was late afternoon as John sat next to Sara's bed. They where casually chatting, but Sara's mind was elsewhere. The impending removal of the stitches. She was so nervous it was going to hurt. Carson approached with a try of weird implements. Sara glanced at them and bit her lip.

"Don't worry lass, it won't hurt a bit."

Yeah like that was going to make her feel better.

John moved closer and held her hand in support. Carson lifted the egde of the white t-shirt and removed the gauze that covered her wound. It looked better now. It had been swollen for the last few days but it was really beginning to heal.

"When you get out of here, we'll go on a trip to the mainland, would you like that?"

Sara raised an eyebrow as John spoke. She wondered why he was still talking.
"Yeah, I guess."
"Jinto said he'd like to see you again. Oh and how about we have a movie night. We can watch as many DVDs as you like."

Carson glanced at John, he smiled, thankful for the distraction. He began to remove the stitches. Sara barely noticing.

"Cool," Sara's eyes lit up. "With ice cream and popcorn?"

"Ice cream , popcorn, soda, the works. Whatever you want. What films should we watch?"

"James Bond!"

John laughed.

"There's a good movie about cats and dogs."

"What's it called?"

"uh, Cats and Dogs!"

They both laughed at this.

"Only one more day, her Sara." John rubbed her hand, taking a quick glance at what Carson was doing, then carried on with his questioning.

"Bet you miss, Zelenka… the mouse."

Sara nodded.

"I've been feeding him, but I think he misses you. He's been moping around a lot. When I tried to pick him up he just sat in my hand, as if he was fed up."

Sara giggled. She then turned to Carson.

"So when you taking the stitches out?"

"I'm done," Carson said wiping the area clean before applying a fresh bandage.

"What! When did you do that?"

"While you where talking to John."

Day 7

Sara grinned as she woke up this morning. Her bedroom beckoned, freedom beckoned. She was finally getting out of the infirmary. She rolled onto her side, glancing round the room. Where was everyone? She wanted to get out of her already. It had been 7 days. 7 days in here, how did she survive, which was exactly what Carson was thinking as he came out of his office.

Sara sat up greeting him with a smile.

"Good morning, someone looks very happen."
"You bet ya! I can't wait to see Zelenka and jump on my bed and play loud music."

Carson laughed and glanced at the floor.

"Good to see you back to yourself."

"It has been good though Carson, I know I've been annoying and all but you know your still my favourite doc', well you're even more than that to me, more like an…uh….."

"Uncle?"

"yeah, uncle. The best uncle in the world." She knelt up to give him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

"It's a pleasure to be your uncle, now careful with those stitches."

"Doctors," Sara said rolling her eyes.

"So when am I getting out."

"Just about…" Carson looked at his watch "…Now." He looked to the door, but nothing happened. He waited and 30 seconds later John came in.

"Your late!" Carson folded his arms waiting for an excuse.

"Only like by a minute."

"yes, but it doesn't look as good if I'm waiting 30 seconds, when I wanted to be exactly write." John looked at Carson confused.

"Forget it, Sara is official discharged." Carson waved an arm and headed for his office. He could hear Sara cheer behind him.