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Dr. Beckett amazing accent was just the icing on an already sweet cake.
On the off chance his rotation landed him on night shift the same time as me, or came in early to get a jump start on a case, I tried to get him to talk as much as I could. Scottish accents are by far the sexiest accents there are.
Besides Australian.
And New Zealand.
Well, it is in the top four since it is an even tie with Irish. But it is still amazing to listen to even if there is nothing but platonic attraction.
Dr. Beckett is that good professional friend you hang out with every now and than at work who always makes you feel good about yourself and the work enjoyable.
Even on stressful nights like this one.
"Still no luck?" Dr. Beckett leaned away from the microscope, rubbing his eyes and paying no mind to my tapping away. The last two offworld missions brought back quite a few injured and, even though the last one was released hours ago, the paperwork was still ongoing.
"Aye." He grumbled. My latest smoothie concoction he requested untouched at his wrist.
When it is slow in the infirmary he works on his pet project, turning Wrath into humans. I knew he felt guilty about what happen to Michael, thank heavens I was not here for that, and was working for a permanent cure.
"Sorry Tiffany could not be here tonight. I know how you like to bounce ideas off of her." I added the last part at his confused glance, motioning to his midnight snack.
I went back to the data pad, struggling to read the nurses scribbled notes on a scrap of paper to add them to the patient's chart. Some nurses took to the new technology with enthusiasm, others, not so much.
"Chavez." My head whipped up, just in time to see Beckett make a sour face at his smoothie, catching the eyes of my instructor.
"Few more minutes." I called out as Taila gracefully stepped close to Beckett to give a much needed hard pat to his back.
"Wwhat-" Taila increased the pressure as the poor doctors coughing continued, his eyes convey the question he wanted to ask.
"Got some bite to it, doesn't it?" I smiled, saving and placing the dataPad at his elbow. "Good, huh?"
He smiled, taking another sip despite his watering eyes. He told me he had a thing for sour stuff, so I made this one especial for him. And, despite his forced 'good' between coughs, he took another greedy gulp.
"Thank you for meeting me, ma'am. I'll grab my things." Giving him a quick once over, to make sure he was alright, I headed for the breakroom. Taila talked quietly with Beckett, asking him about the flavor it sounded like, while I grabbed my things from the little room the nurses kept their personal belongings. They called it the breakroom but really it was a glorified closet with lockers shoved to the side.
Changing out of my scrubs, settling for jeans and a nondescript blue cotton V-neck. I did the mistake once of wearing my favorite animated tv show logo to one of Taila training and it started a whole misunderstanding related to people in her culture wearing marks of their gods on their clothing. Not another conversation I want to have anytime soon, but it was interesting. Plus going offworld it was best to keep a low profile. Not to wear anything too eye catching or descriptive. And it was a nice change from the military fatigues.
My hands shook stuffing my scrubs in my locker.
"Lets do this." I mumbled, grabbing my pack and heading for the door. Taila gave one last reassuring smile to the doctor then lead the way out.
"Grab me some Kinken Tea while you are there, would you, Lass?" I gave him a thumbs up. His voice still little scratchy.
"Dr. Beckette very much enjoys our Teas." Taila smiled. "Especially the Kinken. I will speak with Qasira of this."
I eyed the little pack resting on Tailas shoulders.
"We are staying the night, aren't we?" Taila smiled at my question. Her own eyes going from my larger pack, to my face, then to the hallway before us.
"I keep belongings with my people. This is only for the children." She raised a should for emphasis and a distinct crackling sound came out. I might sneak some myself later. Especially if there were any green ones.
Taila did not mind me asking questions the entire walk. Mostly about her people in general, but also about this medicine person we were going to meet.
Qasira.
To say I was excited was an understatement. I am all for modern medicine, but I also think everything, mammal, animal, or plant, does not have a single purpose. To me that would be a waste.
No, I believe every living thing has multiple purposes and uses.
But I could still feel my hands shaking.
"Do you require rest." Taila giving my tired face a once over then taking the last turn into the gate room. She was probably worried about me pulling an all nighter but I took a nap earlier.
"I am f-" My eyes settling on someone slouched by the gate with a large duffle bag at his feet.
Why was he here? Was he going with us?
Maybe he was waiting for a mission. But then Taila would be going too since they are on the same team.
Maybe it was Taila he was waiting for. I mean, they did spend a lot of time together. Maybe they were an item and no one knew about it. Or at least I did not know about it. That was not saying much since the only gossip I got was my shifts in medical or my movie nights with the girls.
I mean, what man would not be attracted to her. She was a born leader warrior in a cute little package.
Where as I was a tall, thick, inspirational introvert who gets flustered every time I am near him.
Taila followed my gaze.
"Colonel Shepard stipulated we take two additional personnel." At seeing us, Ronan pushes away from the wall, hands tucked firmly under his arms.
"With the resent attacks," she continued, not at all aware of my increased breathing, "and the village a few miles from the gate, he wanted to take extra precautions. But I convinced him only Ronan was needed."
Or that.
Makes better sense.
She was proud of herself, convincing Colonel Shepard of only needed one armed guard. Which was what this felt like and I was not sure if my increase sweating was due to the one man on this base I did not want to be around or concern for my safety if even Shepard suggested Taila take more people with her.
"Do you have everything you require?" Taila still not noticing my reaction to the large man we stopped not three feet away from.
I could feel his eyes on me.
He had to of recognize me from the other night. That was embarrassing enough. But did he remember me from before?
I looked everywhere but at him. Settling on eyeing the gate we would soon be going through.
"This your first time offworld?" Taila asked softly, her hand resting on my elbow. My attention jerking to her, confused, then realization as she was trying to figure out my nervous behavior.
"Yep." Popping the P louder than embarrassingly possible.
"I assure you, Ronan's presence is only a precaution. If I felt this would be a dangerous excursion I would not have suggested it." I gave her what I hoped was an assured smile. Not too assured because I did not want her to think her words completely took away my nerves, because that was only half of what I was nervous about.
I am a freaking adult! Why am I as nervous as a freshman girl eyeing all the cute senior boys in the hallway on the first day of school!
Taila gave me another smile then tapped her ear.
"Taila to gate." Ronan bent down and did a one hand swing of his bag over his shoulder. His biceps flexing beautifully under his loosely fitted moss green shirt. His eyes catching mine then sliding to the men sitting above us in the observation deck.
"Ready when you are." Taila said, waving to the man who waved back.
I felt a twinge of embarrassment I did not know the mans name, but this was a huge base and I hardly ever came in here. The last time being my arrival, which was months ago.
I shook off the after shocks of making eye contact with the man and walked to the gate. Taila and Ronon gaining and passing me quickly as the gate whirled to life.
The Planet was beautiful.
It was a waste to name these planets by number. I understood why they did it, easier on paperwork, but it was still a wasted opportunity. I mean, how many countries and cultures were represented on the base? Hundreds?
I am sure if we put our heads together we could come up with some kick ass names. For example, if I was going to name this one, it would be something like Cosmos, from the character from Fairy Tale, or Flora, from the Winx Club, or even Papa, the Hawaiian goddess of the Earth. Or something else equally geeky or mythical.
I was glad Taila took up the lead and Ronan the rear. It allowed me to look my fill without having to watch where we were going or worry about falling behind. I was so wrapped up in getting a picture of one particular plant one the side of the path I did not notice Ronan stopped too. At least until he called out to Taila to wait.
His deep rumbly voice snapping me out of my plant induced daze and painting my cheeks pink. I fumbled with sliding my dataPad back in my pack, mumbling an apology.
"Do not touch the leaves." He rumbled. The humor in his voice startling me enough to look him in the eyes when I jerked my hand away.
"The stalks are edible, the leaves are not. Poisonous." I quickly nodded, making quick notes on my dataPad as my foot stuttered stepping over a fallen branch.
"Well, um, yah. It is good to know what plants are edible." I mumbled, hurrying to catch up to Taila waiting patiently up the path. The dataPad refusing to go back in my pack.
"Do you, um, know the name of the plant?" I heard his pack shifted with his shrug.
"Just know edible parts. Roots too." I took notes, glancing up every now and than to keep my bearings. I put him down as the source of the information and wondered if I should classify as professional or personal experience. I also wondered what happened when the leaves were consumed. Then I wondered about how he gained this knowledge and my heart hurt. I heard the story of him being a Runner. Everyone at the base probably had at one point or another once meeting him.
I could not imagine what he went through. What he had to do to survive.
Professional Experience.
Taila stopped at the edge of the trees. Looking back and up she shared a dazzling smile with the both of us, the silent man breathing softy over my shoulder, taking in her village with a sweep of her hands.
"Welcome." She beamed, taking the last few steps into the a field of sunlight.
It was a cheesy Hallmark movie. Really, it was.
The person, gone for long periods of time due to work, walking across a sun lit field of waving hip high grass until someone from their home spots them and starts running towards them.
The first person spotting her was a child. Working in the field closest to the village, the little boy yells to the rest of them then took off. The other children around him taking up the cry and following suit. Adult heads started popping up from all over the village. Some in the field, some in sheds, others in their small wood and mud hut windows. Everyone seemed to drop what they were doing to run out and greet her.
My heart warmed at the site of it.
Ronan, with out a word, stepped around me. A flick of his fingers the only indication I should follow. I stayed close to him until we weeded our way into the throng of people to Taila. Everyone was talking at once. Welcoming her back, asking about her travels, and what was in her pack.
I noticed no one mentioning the name of the place.
Probably a good thing to follow.
Taila, a child wrapped around each leg, teetered back and forth to face us.
"My friend, Ronan, you know. But I bring a new friend. This is Private Chavez. She has come to learn of our knowledge of plants, herbs, and medicinal remedies."
A woman stepped forward.
"I am Jaan. Welcome." I was a little more prepared for her to grasp my shoulders, me following suit, and press our foreheads together. I had to bend my knees a bit to accommodate the height difference but it worked.
"Thank you." I mumbled, stepping away when she released me.
"Jaan has been acting leader while I am away." Taila informed us. Shooing the children back to their chores with a promise of surprise later.
"This is her husband, Tabrez." A man about the same height and build as the leader stepped forward. Taking his turn to greet me as his wife did. "He is quite skilled at farming. Keeps our people fed every year."
A slight blush colored the quiet mans cheeks. Mumbling a humble response then taking his wifes side.
The woman, Jaan, waved for everyone back to their obligations with a promise of a feast that night to commemorate their leaders visit.
Taila talked business while Ronan and I followed behind the three of them. Tabrez mostly keeping silent, hands clasped behind his back, unless asked a direct question.
A child popped their head around a corner ahead of us. Eyeing our little group until her eyes fell on Ronan. She looked anxious, like she was not sure what to make of the big warrior. Then her face broke out in a wide smile and dashed around the corner.
For all it appeared to be, it looked like a drug deal just went down.
She ran past Ronan, dropping a nonconspicuous item into her cupped fingers he continued on like nothing happened. While she dashed between houses, out of site.
"What was that?" I blurted, despite myself. His hazel eyes locked with mine, then his hands went to his pocket. Producing a lollipop.
"Want one?" He smirked, despite Taila grumbling about him spoiling the kids.
"Got any green ones?" He pulled out a few to pick through but eventually produced one.
I took the offering. Focusing on eating the surgery goodness instead of what his broad smile was doing to my stomach.
An additional drug deal went down, this time with an older boy, before we reached a little hut with a makeshift fence made of intertwined branches keeping in an overabundant garden.
A couple of plants I recognized as cooking herbs but most were new.
"This is Private Chavez." My head jerked up from snapping a picture of a spikey plant, that looked to be a cross between an orange cactus brush, to meet grey eyes.
I expected to find an old woman bending over a boiling pot, but this woman was a little younger then Tayla. Her hair piled up into a twisted bun secured with a strip of bright colored cloth that complimented her thin wrap dress held together with a leather belt.
I was in her arms and touching foreheads before I knew it.
"Pleased to finally meet you, Private Chavez. I am Qasira." Her smile split her face until she caught site of my dataPad and her brows drew together.
"Handy technology from the ancestors." She said thoughtfully. Tracing a finger over the picture and notes I started in the margined. "A library full of knowledge in one book. Fascinating."
"It is called a picture." I blurted out, swiping back to the one I took on our walk. "Do you know the name of this one?"
"I do. It is called 'Mud Grass'. The stalk and roots are edible. The leaves too once they have been seeped and strained with water and Clawed Tears. Good for ailments of the skin caused by the sun."
My fingers flew across the glass, taking down as much information as possible.
It occurred to me I would have to come up with some kind of across the board naming system for all the plants I encounter in this galaxy. It would be a large undertaking but my stomach flipped in excitement.
"And this one?" Flipping back to the one we were currently standing next to.
"You are right, dear Taila, she is thirsty for knowledge." Qasira smiled back at Taila and Ronan, the couple left sometime during our conversation, with a knowing look. I felt my ears burn as I made to put the dataPad away.
"I do not mean to offend." The woman quickly assured me with a touch to my elbow. "I am more then happy to answer all your questions, but can we do it in the shade? You see, I cannot stand long and I am sure Taila wishes for some tea." She waved to take in her foot, wrapped in layers of cloth, then to her simple shut nearly taken over by plants.
"I am sorry - I - sure. Would you mind I take - um - pictures of your plants then we can go over them one at a time? In your hut, that is." Her smile deepened.
"Take as long as you like." Taking in all her plants in a wave then hobbling off. Taila sliding her arm around the woman's waist to steady her, talking adamantly about the going ons in the village, while Ronan chewed absently on a stick.
Well, not really chewing per se. He would suck on it, then bring it out to cut little shavings off with his huge knife. He seemed content to sit in his little shady spot under some kind of ivy held up with a lattice of sticks, so I went about my duty like he was not there.
It still took me some time before I completely forgot he was there, my stomach finally stopping its weird fluttering, and focused on the task ahead. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of plants. Herbs, fruits, and vegetation with no rhyme or reason to them yet living in harmony.
The sun was on its decent by the time I had take at least one picture of every plant. Some plants were so large or intricate, multiple pictures were needed.
I finally glanced at Ronan, still lounging in the shadows, making small cuts here and there into another piece of wood. A small pile of them resting on his large thighs. I shook the image from my head they produced and headed to the hut. My stomach making itself known when I stepped over the threshold.
Qasira and Taila bubbled with giggles in answer to the embarrassing sound. Painting my ears and cheeks red.
She is bent over but she is picking through a basket of herbs, dividing the different parts into other baskets sitting around her. Taila assisting her.
"It seems, you have neglected your stomach and it wishes to make its anger known." Qasira motioned to the cushion beside her while removing a lid from a steaming pot. "Come. Sit. Eat. Ronan, you come as well."
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt his large hand gently press into my lower back, guiding me the cushion Qasira indicated. How can a man so large move like a ninja!
I glanced at the others. Unsure if it would be bad manners to do it but with a smile and nod from Qasira, I took some shots of the food before us.
"Taila tells me you feed the members of the base." Scooping up food for herself after Ronan and Taila helped themselves to healthy portions of the small assortment.
"I - well - I decide what they eat. I do not actually, you know, prepare or serve it." I could tell by the look in the woman's eyes where her thoughts were going. "My main job is to help the personnel achive top physical condition through their food. What my people call a nutritionist, a dietitian nutritionist. Some who promotes healthy eating for health and managing diseases."
"So a healer of sorts?" Qasira mumbled around her food.
"I guess you could call it that." Putting my dataPad down to get one of everything for my own plate, which was a flat wooden slab no bigger then both my palms together.
"Where I am from, there are many disease that are preventable if eating the right foods in the correct portions." I took closer pictures of the foods before continuing. "I guess you could say I help people heal themselves before they know they are sick."
"You look to be very passionate about this work." Taila smiled encouragingly at my picture taking. "How did you come about choosing this path?"
My hand stilled halfway to my mouth.
I was grateful for the distraction, slightly, because the green rubbery rolled up thing did not look appetizing, but not sure how much about this to share.
"Um, my father suffered from one of these preventable diseases." I said, a little too calm. "A disease of the heart. I started studying it when I was a child but I did not, you know, get into it until I was older."
"I am sorry to hear of your father," Qasira softly said, "though I may have some idea of how you feel, I too choose this path of healing because of loosing someone dear to me, please accept my condolences none the less."
"Thank you." My throat suddenly tight due to the sheer honesty and remorse in her voice.
"To those we lost. And to those who inspire us to do better." Taila raised her glass in salute. The two others in the room taking a large sip of theirs without a second thought while I sniffed its contents.
Thankfully it was water.
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