Carson didn't have anything to do. He didn't have anywhere to go or anyone to talk to. He'd cleared his schedule to eat lunch with Melony – and now he didn't even have that to look forward to, because he'd brushed her off in a moment of pique and she probably figured he'd be busy the rest of the day and wouldn't bother to come looking for him before going to eat, now.

Feeling sorry for himself and pouting at the same time, he went to his quarters and flopped down on his bed, well aware that he was acting like a teenaged girl and unable to help himself. He sighed, and stared at the ceiling, his thoughts as dark as his mood.

Some time later – he had no clue how long it was because he wasn't positive when he'd entered his quarters – there was a loud knocking on his door. He dragged himself off the bed, wondering who was pounding like that – certainly not Melony, who never hurried. He crossed the living room to his quarters and palmed the door open. And found one of his medical staff standing there, blood all over her uniform.

"You need to come, Do-"

She didn't even get that far. Beckett didn't need her to tell him that something had happened – her clothing and serious look were plenty of evidence that something was definitely bad. He bolted across the hall and into the infirmary. And found Sheppard, Ford and a naked Kale standing close to a bed that was surrounded with medics. All three of them spattered with blood – and none of it theirs.

"Oh God, what happened?"

"She crashed into a glass wall when she landed…" Sheppard answered as Beckett made his way through the crowd of medical staff, knowing before they said anything that it had to be Melony, since she was the only one he didn't see standing there. And it was.

She was lying on the table, bloody bandages pressed hard against gashes that he knew weredeep just from the amount of blood he was seeing. She was also unconscious.

"Did she get knocked out when she crashed?" He asked. "Has she said anything?"

"No." Ford said.

"She was unconscious when we got to her."

He nodded, pulling one of the bandages away and winced.

"Crap."

"Is she going to be all right?" Kale asked, towering over the others and able to see the deep cut that was revealed when the bandage was moved.

"I'm sure she will," Beckett said. "Let's get some labs done on her, people." Beckett turned to the three who were standing there. "You guys need to go wait somewhere else and clear my infirmary."

Knowing that it wouldn't do them any good to argue, Sheppard pulled Kale away, and Ford followed them.

"I need to go tell Weir what happened."

"It was my fault, Major. I will accompany you." Kale told him. He had let her go, and should have known she was going too fast to be able to land safely.

"We'll need to stop and get your clothes, first," John told him. He turned to Ford. "Stay close and let me know if anything changes."

"Yes, Sir."

OOOOOO

Most of the cuts turned out to be not minor, but not really all that serious. Serious if it had been someone else, but nothing that Carson knew Talon couldn't handle on his own. Blood work brought to him while he examined Mitchell told him that there were no internal injuries that he needed to deal with, either. There was a bit of bruising on her liver and a kidney, but – again – Talon could handle that, as well, and better than he could. He helped where he knew it was needed; stitching up the more serious of gashes – including a vicious one that ran along her ribcage, which she wouldn't have received if she'd been wearing a Kevlar vest, he noted – and then putting icepacks against the more dangerous of the bruises and putting her to bed in a private – and quiet – room off to the side of the infirmary.

Then he went out into the main infirmary where Weir was waiting with a small contingent of others – including Kale, Sheppard, Ford and McKay. They all stood when he approached them, and Beckett's expression was enough to keep them from being too concerned. The doctor was calm, and didn't look worried, which told them that the Colonel's injuries weren't serious.

"How is she, Doctor?" Weir asked.

"She's still unconscious, but I don't see any injury that's too serious. Nothing Talon can't handle. She should be fine in a couple of days."

"This is my fault," Kale said, shaking his head. "I will have to come up with a better way of landing her…"

"It wasn't your fault," Sheppard said. "I bet neither of you thought she was going to go crashing through that window – which makes it an accident."

Weir nodded; she'd heard the story a few times, now, and while she wished they would have thought it through a bit more before actually trying out the harness, she was of the same opinion.

"Accidents happen, Kale. Especially around here," she added with a little ruefulness. "That's why we have Doctor Beckett, after all." She smiled at Carson, who shrugged.

"She'll be out a couple days?" Sheppard asked.

Beckett nodded.

"Maybe more – but I doubt it."

"Then we can help her out by trying to figure out a better way for her to land, while you get her healthy again." He looked at McKay and Kale. "There must be something we can rig up. The harness seems to be working great."

McKay nodded.

"I'm sure we can – as long as someone else tests it."

Weir smiled, and looked at Kale.

"Are you going to stay here, Kale? Or would you like for us to gate you back to your home until Colonel Mitchell heals up?"

"If I'm welcomed, I'll stay."

"You're welcomed to stay, Kale," Weir told him.

"We'll get Melony healed as quickly as we can…" Beckett said, unable to suppress the stab of annoyance that the Light One was going to remain when he wasn't needed. It wasn't that he didn't like Kale… it was just that he… well… he didn't like Kale close to Melony. The quicker she was healed, the sooner she'd be done with Kale, and things could go back to what they were.

"Can I see Colonel Mitchell?" Kale asked, unaware what Beckett was thinking.

"She's unconscious and needs her rest," he said. "It'll probably be a day or so before she's ready for visitors. Maybe more."

"We'll go work on a better landing system, then," Sheppard said, looking at the others.

"I'd better get back to my patient."

Without looking back, Beckett went back towards the private room.

"He doesn't like me," Kale said, watching the doctor leave.

"Sure he does," John said, smiling. "He's just got a lot on his mind." He slapped the Light One on the back, and headed for the door. Kale watched them both, not looking at all reassured, but Weir touched his arm and caught his attention.

"Why don't we go get some lunch? I'd love to hear more about your people."

"It would be my pleasure," Kale said, offering her his arm.