Chapter 6

McKay was uncomfortable at first, cautiously revealing more painful moments of his past to the physician and Sheppard. But, with the major's subtle encouragement and Carson's inbred understanding of someone in need of assistance, he found himself slowly divulging additional pieces of his childhood. He discovered the soul cleansing to be cathartic, his inner burden somehow lighter. Unfortunately, it had also stirred up many long dormant memories and the thought of going back to sleep frightened him. Turning down Carson's offer of a sleep aid, he had a different request of his friends. Hopefully they would agree.

SG: A

"A walk?" Sheppard asked in brief surprise, glancing down at his watch. "McKay it's 3:00 in the morning."

"Actually, Major, I wouldn't mind getting out and stretching my legs for a moment. That bloody banquet was hell, sitting there cooped up for hours. I could use a light stroll."

Taking his cue from Beckett, Sheppard agreed, hopping off his bed and handing Rodney his shoes before he retrieved his own. Within minutes, the trio emerged from the medical facility, bottles of water in hand, and made their way down the deserted corridor.

They walked in silence for close to twenty minutes, Sheppard and Beckett having taken up positions on either side of McKay, before Rodney finally spoke. "What if I'm wrong?"

"About what, lad?"

The scientist appeared to struggle with what he wanted to say. "What if I didn't see what I thought I saw?"

Sheppard stopped, waiting for the others to halt also. "McKay, don't go second guessing yourself. I watched the ambassador tonight and I have to agree with you, something's just not right about that guy. Doc, how was he during the rest of the dinner? Did he interact with the boy much?"

"I was on the other side of Dr. Weir, so I really didn't have much of a conversation with the man. And his son never said a word. Quietest lad I think I've ever seen."

Rodney shifted on his feet, his left hand coming up to scratch the scars on his right arm when the two others began to discuss the boy. Not missing the movement, the major stretched, 'accidentally' bumping into the scientist. "Watch where you're going, McKay."

Carson grinned at Sheppard's tactics, catching Rodney when he stepped back, before taking him by the arm and steering him around the major. "We need to go before you two wake up the whole bloody neighborhood."

"I didn't do anything," McKay whined before he could stop himself. Turning around to complain, his words stopped short when he noticed movement from a small figure at the opposite end of the hallway. "Major," he said, tilting his head in that direction.

All humor vanished from the officer's face as he looked to see what had caught the scientist's eye. There was nothing there. "What'd you see?"

McKay shrugged his arm free from Beckett's grip and walked slowly towards where he thought he'd seen someone. The other two were instantly at his side, keeping pace, watchful for any trouble. Coming to a 'T' at the end of the corridor, they looked to Rodney and waited.

"Left," he said, heading to the nearest stairwell, peaking cautiously around the corner. He had a hunch, and if he was right, he needed to proceed slowly. When the area proved to be empty, he turned to scowl at the others. "I guess it's just my eyes playing tricks on me."

Ready to walk away, he froze, as did the others, at the sound of muffled sob.

Instantly he spun back around and listened. When they heard the sound again, he looked to Sheppard for direction. The major pointed 'up'.

Quietly, so as not to spook whoever might be hiding on the upper landing, they made their way to the next level. They weren't surprised at who they found.

There, hiding in a curled up ball, behind the door, was the ambassador's son, Bengi.

SG: A

Carson made the first move towards the boy. Dropping to his knees, he rested his hands on his thighs, and tried to look as unimposing as possible. "Hello, I'm Dr. Beckett. I met you at dinner this evening. Do you remember me?"

The frightened child tightened further, his tear stained eyes warily watching the doctor.

"I won't hurt you lad," the Scot said gently, his accent warming to the comforting tone Sheppard and McKay were used to hearing while guests/prisoners of Beckett's. "It's a wee bit late for you to be out, would you like me to help you find your way back to your father's room?"

Bengi's expression froze in a look of fear; his small body began to shake.

"Shhhh, lad, it's okay." Inching closer, Carson held out his hand, eventually touching the boy on the knee with his fingertips. The child's green eyes never left his face until Rodney shifted, and then his eyes grew fearful once more, pulling away from the physician. "You don't need to worry about them, they are friends of mine. The tall one with the silly hair is Major Sheppard, and the other one who can't stand, still is Dr. McKay. I bet if you wanted, they'd let you call them by their first names, John and Rodney."

"Hey, I don't have silly hair," Sheppard quipped with a grin. Turning to face Rodney, he gave his friend a playful poke, "But he's right, you never stand still."

Rodney was willing to play the game although the majority of his being wanted to do nothing but head back to the infirmary or his quarters and disappear. "Think mirror, Major. Shiny glass thing you stare at yourself in, every morning. Remember what your hair looks like? Does Carson's or my hair look like that?"

The major made a scowl and shrugged, pointing to Beckett, "His sometimes does."

"Oh, lad, please, I don't think so."

Bengi watched the banter, his eyes shifting to each speaker as the friends teased one another. Slowly, he began to uncurl and when Dr. Beckett touched his knee again, he didn't draw away.

"Don't mind them, Bengi; they're still little boys inside, just like you. They might have grown up tall but they still play like children." When the two men made 'who me?' faces and pointed towards each other, the small child actually giggled.

Carson smiled in return, sitting down next to the boy. "It's kind of late for a wee one as yourself to be out of bed. Do you feel okay?"

Bengi sniffled, rubbing the back of his sleeve against his nose, before he nodded.

"Well then, if you aren't sick, can you tell my why you're out here? Did something scare you?"

The little boy remained still.

"Bengi, I'd like to make sure you're okay. Would you mind if I carried you back to where I take care of John and Rodney?"

A shadow of relief passed over Bengi's expression and when Carson rose to his feet and reached down, he held up his arms. The Scot easily lifted the child up and smiled at his cohorts when the lad wrapped his legs around Beckett's middle, his small head dropping to the Scot's shoulder. When Carson gently rubbed the boy's back, he didn't miss feeling the small muscles stiffen.

"Doc?" Sheppard stood waiting for the physician to tell him what to do.

Carson glanced his way, noticing for the first time that the major had a hand resting on Rodney's shoulder. The scientist's face had become a mask of stone. "Maybe once we get back, you might find Elizabeth," he said quietly.

The little boy's arms snaked around the physician's neck, gripping tightly when they started walking.

"Are you tired, son?"

Another nod from the small head.

"Aye, I am too. And you want to know something else? When we get back, I'm gonna make Dr. McKay go to bed also. Now, he'll be all grumpy like an old bear, but once I give him the magic blanket, he'll go right to sleep." Carson shot a glance to his silent friend, "Won't you, lad?"

The Scot earned himself an evil scowl of disapproval from the scientist.

Sheppard coughed, trying to cover up his laugh when Rodney glared at him. But he could see that the doctor was right, McKay looked ready to drop. "You still have my magic blanket, doc?"

"Should be where you left it."

"I think I'm going to need it, too. I feel pretty worn out."

Carson tried to hide his smile by turning his face towards the little boy, who was practically buried in his neck. He was silently thankful for Sheppard's support, knowing that it would help him get Rodney settled back down for the remainder of the night.

The trip back to the infirmary seemed to be much quicker than the men imagined and within no time, Beckett had the small boy sitting on the edge of one of the beds. "See this mess," he said pointing to the three unmade beds, "another person decided to go for a walk tonight."

Bengi glanced to the three men, giggling once more when he spotted Rodney rolling his eyes behind the doctor's back.

Running his hands down the boy's arms and legs, Carson glanced up and smiled. "Dr. McKay made a funny face, didn't he?"

"Yes." It was the first time anyone had heard him speak.

"Can you show me what he did, lad?"

Bengi made a perfect imitation of Rodney.

"Oh, for Pete's sake, I'm finked on by a little kid," McKay huffed, catching an elbow in the ribs from Sheppard.

"Admit it, McKay; the kid's got your number."

Before things got too out of hand, Beckett tapped Bengi on the shoulder then turned around to face his friends. "I think now would be a good time for you to find, Elizabeth, Major."

Sheppard opened his mouth and then closed it. Understanding the signal that it was time for him to leave, he gave the boy a wink before heading out the door. "Back in a minute."

TBC

A/N: Kind comments make a happy writer.