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: PG for a little whumping and angst. I intend to have some fun with the Atlantis characters, although I do promise to return them all in the condition in which they were found!
Chapter Five
Carson moaned and began to struggle towards consciousness. A gentle hand pressed down on his shoulder and the light tenor voice of one of the medics reassured him, "You're in the infirmary, Doctor Beckett. We had to stitch up your hand, but you'll be fine."
"Tell that to ma'... er...bloody hell!" he groaned, attempting to curl into the fetal position. The pain in his bruised testicles was suddenly eclipsed by the agony of his injured hand as he moved it. "Bloo-dy hell!"
He took several deep breaths and asked, "How is Sofia?"
"She's still unconscious."
"And everyone else?"
"Just minor injuries, all taken care of, doc."
"How long ha' I been oot?"
"Ten minutes. Just long enough to stitch you up. Sofia should be out for another hour or two."
Carson closed his eyes, feeling a need for a little unconsciousness himself. He opened his eyes again and said, "Let me know as soon as she wakes. I think I may take a wee nap until then."
What could have been hours, but was more likely minutes, later, Carson awoke to the sound of mournful singing. He turned his head and saw that Sofia had somehow escaped from her restraints and was once again standing on her bed and singing, tears streaming down her face.
"Love's Old Sweet Song
Once in the dear dead days beyond recall .
When on the world the mists began to fall
Out of the dreams that rose in happy throng
Low to our hearts love sung an old sweet song .
And in the dusk where fell the firelight gleam
Softly it wove itself into our dream
Just a song at twilight, when the lights are low
And the flick'ring shadows softly come and go
Though the heart be weary sad the day and long ,
Still to us at twilight comes love's old song
Comes love's own sweet song
Even today we hear love's song of yore .
Deep in our hearts it dwells for evermore
Footsteps may falter, weary grow the way
Still we can hear it at the close of day
So till the end, when life's dim shadows fall
Love will be found the sweetest song of all
Just a song at twilight, when the lights are low
And the flick'ring shadows softly come and go
Though the heart be weary sad the day and long ,
Still to us at twilight comes love's old song
Comes love's own sweet song "(1)
Carson attempted to rise, but between his injured hand and his bruised... pride, he wasn't able to. "Sofia, lass..." he said softly.
She looked at him, but he could tell that she wasn't seeing him. Her eyes were infinitely sad and Carson's gentle heart broke at the sight.
"My friends..."
"Och, lass..."
Before Carson could struggle painfully out of bed, she ran from the infirmary. "Bloody hell! Help! Help!"
Two of the medics ran out of the next room and Carson briefed them tersely. He finished struggling out of bed and limped painfully out of the infirmary after the troubled woman.
In the Gate room, Grodin looked up in surprise as a wild-eyed woman in a hospital gown ran into the room and barreled towards him. He didn't even have time to call for help before she tackled him. He tried to fight back, but the wind had been knocked out of him and he grunted in pain as he landed on his tailbone and then smacked his head against the console. His eyes rolled up in his head and he landed in a limp heap on the floor.
Sofia began looking through the laptop Grodin had been working on, searching wildly for something. She gave a soft sound of glee and began to dial up a Gate address just as Carson, Sheppard and several others streamed into the room. She managed to finish dialing and started making her way towards the Gate as it opened with its familiar Whooosh.
Rodney, observing all this from a safe distance, called, "Zats! We need zats! Why the hell didn't we bring any zats?"
"Since hindsight is 20/20, maybe you could come up with a suggestion that would actually be of some use now?!" Sheppard growled at him.
"Sorry, this doesn't seem to call for my scientific expertise, it's more your area... Major," Rodney called back gleefully, obviously far more amused about the situation than he should have been.
Sofia was trying to get past the group blocking the Gate, her eyes still wild, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. Carson limped forward, "Sofia, lass..."
She looked at him, actually seeing him for the first time since he had been called to the briefing room to speak with
Sheppard's team and Weir about the graves they had found.
"I'm sorry, Carson. Really I am."
"Why don't ye come with me and we can talk about what is troubling you, lass."
"You don't understand, I can't. I have to..."
Her eyes became wild again and Carson knew that he had lost her again. Whatever demons plagued her, they were in control again. She moved forward, feinting one way and another, looking for an opening. Sheppard got her attention while Ford came flying up from behind to tackle her. She turned at the last moment and Ford flew into Sheppard, knocking both of the to the ground. As they attempted to untangle their limbs, she jumped over them and dashed for the Gate. She managed to make it through just before any of them could grab her and the wormhole closed in her wake.
"Dial that address again!" Sheppard called from the floor, where he and Ford had managed to untangle their limbs and were standing up, rubbing various bruised portions of their anatomy. Rodney, who had stayed safely out of the fray, rushed up the steps to the DHD. Carson followed, intent on determining the extent of Grodin's injuries.
(1)