Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate or any of its characters, I wish I did. I'm also not making any money on this story (or anywhere else for that matter!). Blah blah blah, you all know the drill.

But I would like to borrow Carson for just a little bit, I promise to return him (mostly) undamaged!

Summary: Dr. Beckett, Major Sheppard and his team must race to solve a mystery on an alien planet before another life is lost.

Warnings: Right now it's G, but I plan to do a little whumping and have some fun with the Atlantis characters, although I do promise to return them all in the condition in which they were found!

Chapter Three

Back on Atlantis, the test results having confirmed that Sofia was suffering from nothing more than malnourishment, Carson was happily reminiscing with her about his second favorite subject: Scotland.

"Ye've been to McCaig's Folly at sunset, then?"

"Several times, but I wouldn't call it anything but McCaig's Tower to a local. The people of Oban take the great good that McCaig did for them in troubled times quite seriously." (1)

"So ye must ha' taken the ferry to Mull if you were in Oban."

"Torosay Castle and Gardens is so incredibly beautiful..."

"And the miniature railway..."

"Just the cutest thing. I took the bus tour across Mull three times and then the ferry to Iona."

"Ah, Iona, is it not the most..."

"Awe-inspiring, incredible little chunk of rock I've ever seen? Oh yes. Actually, I'm not really religious, but when I stepped foot on Iona, it was like the whole island was this mist-enshrouded, mysterious, spiritual..."

"Outdoor church, a testament to not just one religion, but to all and sundry?"

"Exactly! My grandfather had passed away the year I went to Iona and I sat in that church and I lit a candle and I cried, I've never been moved to tears in such a peaceful way, before. The next year I took my gran, it was her first trip back since she emigrated, and it was a really cathartic experience for her."

"Where is your favorite place in Scotland? Would it be Iona, then?"

"Actually, I can't remember the name of the place, it was on a B road, a one lane track between John'O Groats and Brora, and I was driving along with my gran along a river. It was the perfect time just before sunset, when everything is golden and shining..."

"Aye, the gloaming, we call it."

"That's it. As we passed by the river, we saw an enormous red deer step out from the bank on the other side and start to cross. We pulled over and watched as fifteen more of those incredible, majestic creatures slowly came out of the woods, crossed the river and continued on their way. If I close my eyes I can still feel the golden light warming my face and hear the small sounds they made as they swam the river. Between the two of us, we took almost two rolls of film..."

Sofia stopped, caught up in the memory, and Carson smiled fondly, remembering similar moments in his own life. He wouldn't give up the experience of Atlantis for anything, but he did miss home and his mum.

Tears began to trickle silently down Sofia's cheeks and Carson leaned in and took her up in a warm and gentle embrace, "Och, lass..." he said, in a broken voice.

(1) For more information on McCaig's Tower, you can visit