"So when is Dara and John back?" Carson asked Kimberley, who paused in her translation to grab her notebook.

"Middle of next week, if all goes according to plan." Kimberley replied, and then looked at him oddly. "Why?"

Carson blushed. "Well, ah was hoping to ask Mister Woolsey fur permission to take you aff world afore they come back."

"Why?" Kimberley raised her eyebrows.

Carson just smiled. "I just figured you'd like to go for a wee picnic and relax."

"You figured right." Kimberley grinned to him and leaned over the table to peck him on the cheek. "Now bugger aff, if were going any where next week I need to get this translation to mister moany pants."

"Do you want me to have a word with Rodney?" Carson offered.

Kimberley shook her head before she began pouring over her notes once more. "Don't you have a visit to new Athos soon?"

"Aye, but I think they'll understand if I'm a were bit late." Carson grinned.

Kimberley shook her head. "You are not putting aff yer wurk tae hing wae me. Move it mister, children to give cavities, people to save yadda, yadda."

Carson grinned once more and pulled her in for a quick kiss before disappearing.

Kimberley smiled to herself, and then groaned as Rodney spoke to her on her earpiece. "I told you to give me an hour McKay- no that was ten minutes ago!"
o0o
Carson paused as he walked past the kitchens, doubling back as he saw Rotella shouting at Davey and John. "Uh, Chef, can I have a word?"

"You can even have two words." Scott nodded to him, levelling Davey with one more glare before the assistants scurried off to do his work. "What's up?"

Carson smiled innocently at him. "Am going aff world tomorrow with Kimberley and-"

"Say no more Doctor Beckett, nothing she's made this past month has been passed, so she won't have any home made things for you to erm, try." Scott nodded.

"Actually, I was wondering if I could ask you to fill this." Carson held out a picnic basket. "For us for tomorrow?"

Scott tilted his head to the side. "Now if I did this for your Doctor, I'd have to do it for everyone that asks."

"I know." Carson nodded and nodded to the basket. "However, I think if you look inside you will see how little space there is for things we need."

Scott looked at him oddly, and then opened it up, worry filling his eyes at the sight of his medical file sitting at the top.

"I see you are a bit behind in getting your shots." Carson replied simply, glancing around the kitchen before looking at the chef. "But if I'm not going off world because I couldn't get something nice fur my girlfriend and I, then I guess I can see you tomorrow at 0900?"

"Actually, you know what?" Scott smiled and stifled a nervous giggle, taking out the medical file and passing it to the medical doctor. "I think I can fill this out without any problems, I mean, I wouldn't want Kimberley to make anything and get you killed."

Carson nodded once to him and turned on his heel.

Scott let loose a sigh of relief and scurried to his office to hide for the rest of the day.
o0o
Teyla nodded to Amelia as she passed her in the hallway. "Amelia, how are you?"

"I'm good, yourself?" Amelia asked, jogging on the spot as they spoke.

"I am well. However, I was wondering if you have seen Kimberley in your travels?" Teyla enquired, glancing around the hallway in case the topic of their discussion was going to walk past.

Amelia shook her head. "Haven't seen her since she realized something and nearly had a heart attack this morning."

"Something?" Teyla asked.

Holding back a laugh Amelia smiled. "I think it has something to do with Doctor Beckett."

"Thank you Amelia, I think I know where to find her now." Teyla inclined her head in thanks and began walking towards the nearest transporter, pausing only to recall where the girls old quarters were.
o0o
Kimberley looked up from her desk as the doorbell went. Chewing her lip she left the room and out to the living room, pausing for a second before opening the door and grinning at Teyla. "Dude you are psychic!"

Teyla shook her head continued to step inside. "However, I do know you very well."

"Huh?" Kimberley oh-so-eloquently replied.

"What has gotten you so worked up?" Teyla asked, walking towards Kimberley's old bedroom. "You forgot to meet me for our female night."

"Blitsnack!" Kimberley slapped her head with her hand and grimaced to her friend. "I'm sorry Teyla, it's just, Carson and I, we're, I mean uh..."

"Yes?" Teyla smiled and hoped it wasn't off putting.

Kimberley took a breath and squealed.

"Excuse me?" Teyla asked. 'Was that in Wraith?'

"Sorry." Kimberley blushed and looked to her toes. "Carson asked me on a date!"

"Oh, oh!" The older one began smiling. "This is wonderful news- is it not?"

"Oh, no, it's awesome!" Kimberley grinned and grabbed Teylas arm before dragging her deeper into her room. "But I have no idea what to wear!"

Teyla glanced around the room, and then paused. Slowly she looked around again and fought to squash the maternal instinct to start cleaning the mess that had accumulated. "Where did all this come from?"

Kimberley blushed again. "I've been looking ever since Carson asked me an hour ago."

She moved over to a large pile of clothes and picked one up from within it. "This is too slutty, and this is too nunny, this is too big, this is too small, this is too green, this is too sparkly."

Teyla nodded as Kimberley dismissed almost every item of clothing that she owned. A strained smile fell upon her face as she looked at her friend. "There must be something that you can wear. Perhaps something at the back of your closet that you have over looked?"

Kimberley raised her eyebrows and swept a foot over the clothes on the floor, clearing a path for Teyla.

Teyla frowned to herself as she walked over to the small closet. She moved some clothes over using the door and put her head in, outwardly frowning at the lack of clothes inside.

She turned to look at her friend and took a step back as most of the clothes were already sorted and in piles in the bed, causing the room to look a lot cleaner.

"Told you I have nothing to wear." Kimberley pouted.

"How did you?" Teyla motioned to the floor, then the bed, and looked at her in shock.

Kimberley just shrugged.

"I am sure Carson would love your outfit, what ever you chose." Teyla encouraged her.

"Did you wear a normal outfit when going out with Kanaan?" Kimberley fell into her defensive stance.

"Of course not I bought a-" Teyla paused, and slowly closed her mouth. "You could visit the mainland, perhaps see if there is anything you could purchase there?"

"I spent all my money last week getting material for Daras Christmas present." Kimberley muttered in embarrassment.

"Is Christmas not celebrated in December?" Teyla asked, glancing at the calendar that said June on it.

"I like to get an early start on Christmas okay!" Kimberley threw her hands up and flopped onto the bed, closing her eyes in frustration.

"Perhaps I could loan you-"

"No." Kimberley bolted up right. "I do not like borrowing."

Teyla nodded. They sat in silence as both females tried to think of something for the younger one to wear.

"Has Carson ever expressed a like for a particular item of clothing?" Teyla enquired.

Kimberley relaxed and tilted her head to the side. A slow smile appeared on her face. "Thank you Teyla."

Teyla tensed and stood straight. "You are welcome?"

"So you still want to have the girly night?" Kimberley grinned.
o0o
Inside the infirmary Carson, Jennifer and Woolsey were deep in discussion.

"Despite what the IOA has advised." Woolsey spoke calmly. "I have seen that in certain situations Doctor Beckett has reacted both more quickly and more calmly then yourself, Doctor Keller. It is with these observations that I am suggesting that Doctor Beckett return to running the Medical Department on Atlantis as the Chief Medical Officer, with certain restrictions in place of course."

"Of course." Carson nodded.

Woolsey waited for a few moments then left.

Carson turned to Jennifer. "Are you alright with this?"

"Yes!" The blonde replied with a sigh of relief. "You have no idea how much I've wanted this!"

"Are you really sure?" Carson wasn't convinced. 'If someone had just told me all the hard I'd been doing for the last few years was for nothing I wouldn't be as happy.'

"I've been trying to get rid of this position since I got it." Jennifer whispered to him. "When I accepted the position after you-after the accident, I thought it was only temporary. I wasn't even thirty and in charge of a complete department, surviving on two hours of sleep a night and it seemed like anyone that could swing a punch was being let through the gate!"

"You didn't like it?" Carson frowned.

"No." Jennifer shook her head. "It was too much responsibility. And there was rifts within the department when I took over, I had only been in Atlantis for a short time before I- erm, before I got the position and Doctor Weir thought that another change in leader would be unwise."

Carson still looked unsure.

"I still have a lot to learn." She smiled at him. "Now I have one of the greatest teachers to work under, and a lot less stress."

"Aye, the stress is a killer." Carson nodded. "But if you want to take charge of anything, like an operation, or restocking perhaps, just let me know."

Jennifer beamed at him. "I might take you up on the operation offer."

"What about the restocking?" He tried to keep the desperation from his voice.

"No way, that's what caused most of the stress!" Jennifer laughed as she shook her head.

"What's causing stress?" Rodney asked as he entered the infirmary.

"Restocking." Jennifer replied and watched Rodney as he moved to stand beside Carson, but then made to walk towards her, but ended up doing a side shuffle and stood beside them.

Carson rolled his eyes. "I need to fill out some paper work, why don't you two head to the mess hall?"

"Sounds like a good idea." Jennifer smiled to Rodney. "Would you like to accompany me?"

"If there aren't any better offers." Rodney replied was off handed, and then cursed himself. "I-I mean, if-if you have-haven't received any better offers?"

Carson shook his head at his friend stupidity and waved them off, entering his office and pausing at the sight of his Sedetan friend standing with his back to his desk, watching him enter his office. "Er, hullo Ronon, what can I do for you?"

"Close the door." Ronon ordered.

He closed the door.

"Sit down." Ronon growled, bringing out his gun and began twirling it expertly.

Sitting down gingerly, Carson spoke quietly. "What's with all this?"

Ronon threw the gun high into the air without looking and grabbed it from behind his back, twirled it once more then put it into its holder. He took out a knife and grabbed the spare chair, twirling it around so he could straddle it. He balanced the knife on the head of the chair and crossed his arms.

He glared at Carson.

Carson gulped.

"You going out with Kimberley tomorrow?" Ronon asked.

Carson nodded.

"For a picnic?" Ronon wanted clarification.

"Ye-yes." Carson started high-pitched, coughed, and answered normally.

"Kimberley is like a sister to me. And she is still in an emotional state from her last mission." Ronon picked up the knife, and without looking away began to clean his fingernails. "You try anything off world, you hurt her or make her freak out, and I'll be using this to clean out your entrails."

Carson blinked and fought the urge to wipe his forehead. "I take it you've given John this speech?"

Ronon paused in his nail cleaning to grin.
o0o
John groaned as he wiped his hand over the lock outside his room, getting Teyla back was great and all, but his body had sores on its sores.

Slowly he trudged into the room and activated the light, blinking at the sight of Ronon chilling on his bed.

John watched Ronon cleaning his nails with his huge hunting knife and slowly edged around him. "Hey buddy, what's up?"

Ronon looked up at him like was a Wraith king with a flesh wound. "You see this knife?"

John nodded.

He withdrew a prune core and sliced it down the middle. "It'll be in you, if you hurt Dara, got it?"

"Got it!" John gulped. Then frowned. "How did you find out about the shovel speech?"

Ronon smirked.
o0o
Kimberley handed Ronon the remote and bag of popcorn, twirling around in her chair before resuming her work.

Ronon skipped past the 'Last Time on Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and bobbed his head to the theme tune. "Keep working on that essay."

"Ugh, yes Dara." Kimberley groaned to him.

"Hey, you invited me here to make sure you worked on those essays." Ronon reminded her, throwing some popcorn into the air and caught it in his mouth.

"I know, I know..." Kimberley trailed off as David Boreanez came onto the screen and sighed. "Ohh! Angel is such a hottie!"

"He's dead, reanimated, and uses way too much hair gel." Ronon looked at her like she was nuts.

"Ugh, you're such a guy!" Kimberley returned, forgetting her homework and stared at the TV screen. "That man was the reason the shovel speech was invented!"

Ronon sat up a bit on her bed. "Shovel speech?"

"Uh hu." Kimberley nodded and blinked as David's face paused mid sentence. She turned to glare at Ronon. "Hey!"

"What's a shovel speech?" Ronon wanted to know.

"I don't know what other people call it, but its like, a guy or girl goes to their sibling or friends prospective partner and says to them, while holding a shovel, something like 'if you hurt them this shovel is going to dig your grave after I kill you with it'." Kimberley replied, and glanced at him. 'I think I might have given him an idea.'
o0o
Carson looked at him expectantly. 'Did I loose him?' "Ronon?"

Ronon snapped out of it by blinking and narrowed his eyes at Carson. "We clear?"

"Crystal!" Carson nodded enthusiastically.

Ronon nodded once and stood up, leaving the room without a backwards glance and the door open.

Slowly Carson let out a breath, wiping his hand across his forehead as he slouched down a bit on the table.

"Carson?" "GYAH!"

Carson jumped on the chair in panic, sliding to the ground.

"Honestly Carson, what are you doing the floor?" Rodney rolled his eyes while holding his hand wrapped heavily in gauge. "I'm bleeding a river of blood here and you're chilling on the floor!"

With concern, Carson pushed himself from the floor and brushed his clothes off as he made his way to his friend. Quickly he snapped on a pair of gloves and took the napkins off, blinking and rolling his eyes at Rodney's real wound.

"Rodney, it's a paper cut." Carson looked at him.

Rodney glared in return. "You can die from a paper cut!"

Carson just shook his head. "After I patch you up, where are you headed? And why are you back here?"

Rodney blushed. "I was in the mess hall with Jennifer when I tried to open her sandwiches and I caught my finger on the film cover."

Biting his lip the medicine man tried to keep the laugh from spilling out. Rodney glared at him anyway.
o0o
Jennifer played with the sandwich box that Rodney had cut his finger on and sighed to herself.

"Hey Jen, what's wrong?" Kimberley asked as she appeared at her table with a small silver box held in her hands.

"Oh, nothing." Jennifer tried to smile at her, but the smile didn't reach all the way.

Kimberley bit her lip before placing the box onto the table and leaned over to her friend. "I was just on my way to Teylas for a girly night in, want to join us?"

Jennifer considered the offer then shook her head negatively. "Thanks Kimberley, but I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow and should get an early night."

"We'll be in Teylas room if you change your mind." Kimberley smiled to her and stood up, waving her fingers before leaving Jennifer waving sadly.
o0o
The next morning Woolsey sipped his second cup of coffee as he exited the transporter nearest the gate room, nodding to Chuck as he passed him on the way to his office, pausing and backtracking as the gate technician motioned for him.

"I just wanted to warn you, sir." Chuck began.

"Of?" Woolsey slowly placed the coffee cup onto the console and looked at him in wonder.

"Doctor Beckett and Kimberley are going off world soon." Chuck whispered.

"Oh dear lord." Woolsey exclaimed, mostly to himself and rushed to lock himself in his office, forgetting all about his coffee in favour of locking all the doors and taking a personal day.
o0o
Kimberley smiled to herself in the mirror as the doorbell of her old room went off.

With a bounce in her step, she left her room and grinned to Carson as he stood in the middle of her and Daras old living room holding a picnic basket, wearing his kilt. "Hiya Carson, zomg, are you a true blue?"

Carson blushed but grinned at her. "You want to find out?"

"Ehhheheh." Kimberley giggled and leaned into him, stealing a kiss before looking at the wooden basket. "What's in the basket Yogi?"

"Well Boo-Boo, you'll find out later." Carson grinned at her. "Just remember to thank Scott when you see him."

"Wait, Rotella made us a basket? As in let us take food outside of the mess hall never mind the city?" Kimberley stepped back from Carson a little. "How the hell did you- did you threaten him?"

"Who me? No!" Carson denied hotly.

Kimberley leaned against a wall and looked at him.

Carson grinned. "Maybe a little."

"That's my man." Kimberley shook her head at him and moved to grab her bag, stepping faster to grab it before Carson could get it.

"Allow me." He offered.

"Touch my bag, and Jen'll have ta put ye together again." Kimberley warned.

Carson looked at her oddly before nodding slowly, making a mental note to get her checked out after they came back that afternoon. "Shall we?"
o0o
Ronon and Amelia walked together as they headed to the sparring rooms, pausing in the command centre so Amelia could drop off some paper work.

As Amelia placed the paper work outside Woolsey's door, beside the 'DO NOT ENTER' sign, Ronon glanced around the room and grinned at the chalk board set up next to the dialling station. "Who's off world?"

"Kimberley and Doc Beckett." Baxter answered as he swivelled in the chair.

"Who else?" Ronon wanted to know.

"Just those two." Baxter smiled. "Off to a nice, deserted planet, with no indigenous people, lovely weather and no Wraith culling in goodness knows how long."

"Maybe they need protection?" Ronon spoke before he could stop himself.

"I think they have all the protection they'll ever need with them." Mack grinned in response, and then paled at the sight of who he was talking to, quickly running in the opposite direction.

Amelia shook her head as Ronon began to get angry and was beginning to worry about her safety when the transporter doors opened and Carson stepped out, holding onto Kimberleys hands as she walked with her eyes closed.

"How are ye feeling hen?" Carson asked.

Kimberley shook her head. Slowly she opened her eyes. "I still don't like it. And it still doesn't agree with me."

A few in the gate room chuckled at her response. Baxter waved them over.

"Nice skirt Doc." Mack quipped to Carson from behind a pillar.

"It's a kilt!" Carson yelled at him.

"Yeah well, well saying he knows about the food of his grandmother's culture but nothing about the dress." Kimberley rolled her eyes. Then smiled at him. "And I think you look dashing."

"Thank you." He smiled back at her.

"Ugh can you two please go before I loose my breakfast?" Brent pleaded.

Kimberley rolled her eyes and grabbed Carson's hand, mindful not to hit him with her bag. They made their way down the stairs as Chuck entered the gate address that had been preapproved for their trip.

Cason stared at the wormhole as the energy whooshed out and established, eyes transfixed at the complexity of the ancient technology that was about to send him light-years in space.

He glanced at the corner of his eye as Kimberley stepped up to the established wormhole and gently placed her left palm just above the event horizon. He knew with experience she was saying her little prayer for good luck and chuckled to himself. 'Ah hope she never changes.'

Kimberley glanced back at Carson and smiled softly to him. "We ready?"

"Aye." He nodded to her and turned slightly to wave good-bye to everyone before grasping Kimberley hand and together they walked through the stargate.
o0o
Rodney woke up from his nap and stretched like a cat. His finger pulsed in pain but he ignored it as he grabbed a fresh pair of clothes.

After a quick shower and shave he sat down on his couch and scanned through his to do list from the night before and glanced at the emails that had came in, deleting the ones from Carson, Kavanaugh and several of the department heads.

An email from Sam Carter caught his attention and he grinned. 'So she needs my help with a translation eh?'

Rodney smirked to himself then finished getting ready, heading to his office, glancing at his watch. 'Boyce should be there by now with some breakfast for me.'

Entering the room, he frowned at the eerie silence that filled it. Turning on the lights, he looked around for Kimberley and frowned when he couldn't see her.

With a huff, he made his way to a transporter and stomped to the girls old living areas.

Rodney paused outside Kimberley and Daras old rooms and thought for a second before ringing the bell. After a few seconds of no answer, he pressed the ball again.

Grumbling under his breath Rodney pulled out a doohickey and attached it to the door, over riding the palm reader and motion sensor to allow himself in.

'Where the hell is she?' Rodney demanded as the silence continued to roll over him. 'Carsons off world so I know she won't be with him - you have got to be kidding me! She goes off world when I need something translated!'
o0o
Jennifer smiled to herself as another hour ticked by and there was no one except the observations in the infirmary, and Rodney stomping towards her. 'Huh?'

"Where is he?" Rodney demanded once he reached her.

"He who?" Jennifer asked.

"Carson! That's who he!" He seethed. "He takes the only person that can rapidly translate Ancient off world for a picnic without even consulting me!"

At that, Jennifer raised both eyebrows. "I take it you are talking about Kimberley?"

"Yes!" He snapped, then paused and took a deep breath. "I-I'm sorry Jen, I-, sorry."

"It's alright Rodney." Jennifer smiled at him. "I'm sure what ever work you have can wait till this afternoon."

Rodney mumbled to himself, and then looked at her as though seeing her for the first time. "Oh, er, congratulations on our demotion Jennifer, it's been a long time coming."

Jennifer smiled brightly at him. "From anyone else that would be an insult Rodney, but thank you."

He nodded in return and there was a lull in the conversion. Rodney glanced around the room and spotted two of the guys that usually hung around with Dara and Kimberley sleeping in separate beds, then frowned as he heard silence. "Haven't heard that in a long time."

"What's that?" Jennifer asked, following his line of sight then turned to look at him.

"Silence." Rodney closed his eyes and welcomed the change in noise.

"This place was too quiet before." Jennifer shrugged. "I know there was the normal hustle and bustle of running for our lives every other day, but the girls brought more of a family kind of panic."

"Yes, panic is right." Rodney mumbled to himself, and then realized he had been talking with Jennifer for a few minutes without Atlantis blowing up. 'There must be a correlation between the two events!'

"So...how's Katie?" Jennifer hedged, trying to look nonchalant about it.

"Um, she should be back on Earth about now." Rodney shrugged.

"Wow, that'll be one long distance relationship." She tried to joke.

"Relationship? OH no! We broke up." Rodney was quick to clarify.

"Really?" Jennifer smiled, and then corrected her self. "I mean, oh, really?"

"Yeah." Rodney kept his mouth closed as to the reasons why they broke up, remembering some of the information Jeanie had been spouting off since he told her he had broken up with the red head.

Jennifer glanced at the clock and realized that her shift was almost over. "You know, isn't it funny that John and Dara are on Earth having a date, and Carson and Kimberley are off world having a date. At the same time."

Rodney nodded and made a non-committable noise.

"I'd like to do that, maybe, one day." Jennifer stared dreamily ahead of herself, thinking of the almost romantic scene she could have with mister allergic-to-everything-and-then-some.

"With me?" Rodney almost squeaked.

"Oh, erm, we-well with anyone really." Jennifer replied quickly, thinking that she had upset him. "But we erm, we could, as friends?"

'Friends.' Rodney thought dejectedly, but nodded. "You free this week?"

"Barring any apocalypses." She grinned, and then they looked at each other in horror.

As nothing blew up or no one came running in to the room in horror, they shared a small smile with each other.
o0o
Chuck walked up to the door of the office of the leader of the expedition and knocked. He glanced around and by the time he looked back, the door had been opened a tiny crack.

Chuck allowed himself in and nodded to Mister Woolsey. "I have the days report sir."

"Leave it on the table." A voice from underneath the desk called out to him.

Tilting his head slightly Chuck bent down a bit and raised an eyebrow at the sight of Mister Woolsey hiding under the desk.

"They'll be back soon, sir." Chuck found himself saying, before he left with a frown.

Woolsey waited until he heard the door click closed and scrunched his eyes tight, rocking backwards and forwards. 'The voices are too loud, the voices are too loud!'
o0o
The gate spun to life and everyone in the gate room turned to look at the event horizon as it stabilized, each hoping that their bet had won.

A slightly brown Carson stepped through the gate, holding Kimberleys bag and the picnic basket, waiting for his companion to exit the gate before be would move.

A slightly red Kimberley came through the gate and grinned at Carson, moving to kiss him on the cheek. "Thanks fur a lovely time Carson. And tell Scott his picnic was worth being nabbed by Yogi."

"Will do, once you go see Jen about that sunburn." Carson agreed.

"Sunburn?" Kimberleys brows furrowed. "Where am I sunburnt?"

"Right, there." Carson replied as he kissed her nose and smiled to her.

"WHO HAD A LOBSTER WITH A BEAR ATTACK?"