Disclaimer: Poor Carson. Oh well, I have a feeling he'll get over it.

Work in Progress

Ch. 4 (February 7)

Stepping back through the gate, Carson had to stop himself from going to see how Keda was doing. It was almost automatic. He helped a wounded soldier to the medical bay and treated his wounds before making his way subconsciously the small lab.

Rodney was still working on her, and had been since they had returned from their off world mission. Carson watched him for a few moments and then left to go to what had been cautiously labeled the Cafeteria. Several children ran around tables and he walked towards one in the corner. He was soon joined by Sheppard and Teyla. Ford was still looking at the menu.

"You know, if she were awake, I bet Keda wouldn't have a problem baking us a cake." Sheppard said. "Mmm. Chocolate."

Carson made a face. This was a game they played. Remember the good times, in case there aren't any more. It wasn't one he was particularly fond of, but it was better than not talking about it.

"Ich." he said, and they smiled. Ford came back with his lunch, a very unappetizing looking tin of macaroni and cheese, and sat down next to Carson, nudging him. Looking at him, The doctor saw that Ford was carrying a second tin.

"Your meatballs and potato flakes." he said grandly. Carson made another face.

"Possibly the wors' combination ever." he muttered, accepting it and poking at it with his fork. Teyla finished her lasagna before any of them had eaten their food and looked at Carson.

"You must eat, Carson." she said, and he looked up. "It is better warm than cold."

"Ah, you have learned well, young padawan." Sheppard said, as he finished the last of his turkey sandwich. She smirked, and then looked at her welsh friend.

"I'm really no'—"

"Hey guys," McKay said, sliding into the end seat next to Carson. He eyed the potato flakes and looked at Beckett. "Are you gonna eat that?"

"N—"

"Yes." said Sheppard, firmly. "He is." And he looked pointedly at Carson, who sighed, but picked up his fork and poked half-heartedly at the already separating flakes of potato imitation.

"Fine," conceded Rodney peacefully, glancing over at the very short line at the counter, almost wholly consisting of Athosian children, who seemed to share his love of MRE's. "I'll be back in a minute then."

He got up and went to go stand in line, behind Jinto, who turned to talk to him. The two of them were like brothers, always talking about what Rodney did and what certain things were. Carson sighed, munching thoughtfully on the really nasty tasting fake 'taters.

"By the way, Carson, you'll be accompanying us through the gate again tomorrow, we're going to P4X-639. SG- 4 met some natives there, and while they don't have a ZPM, they might be worth checking out."

"Wha' fer?"

"Their camps are bigger than any of the others that have been attacked by the Wraith." Aidan said. Carson looked semi interested and looked down to see that he'd eaten most of his food with out realizing it.

Of course, as soon as he did realize it, his mouth was filled with the taste of artificial foodstuffs and he fought back a gag or two.

"The thought is," commented Rodney, as he returned with his meal, which looked twice as disgusting as Carson's own meal. "that maybe they have some sort of biological way of fighting them off, like the Hoffans, only not so extreme."

Carson remembered the Hoffans, and the disaster that had come of their obsession and shivered. He hoped there wouldn't be another version like that anytime soon.

"I'll go ge' ready," he said, getting up from his seat and heading off to his quarters. The others watched him go and shook their heads.

"He's got it bad for her, huh?" Aidan said, munching on his turkey gravy dish. Teyla's brow furrowed.

"I do not understand."

"It means he really likes her, but he doesn't quite realize just how much yet." Sheppard explained. She nodded and then looked after Carson, who had just run into someone without apologizing, a first for the Scottish doctor.

"I believe that Kedawen has...'got it badly' for Carson as well. I have seen the way that they interact. It is much different than the way she treats anyone else." said the Athosian leader. Sheppard smirked a little at her misuse of the slang, but nodded, regardless of Rodney's indignant manner.

He was all too aware of Carson's and Rodney's competition for his little 'sister', and in spite of the fact that he should really be discouraging them, he was kind of rooting for the doc.

A/N: Okay, I know it was short, and I'm sorry, but that's the way it goes.