Later that afternoon Elizabeth sat on the edge of an infirmary bed absently staring out the window as Carson finished reading through her test results. When Carson touched her shoulder, Elizabeth jumped, startled.
Carson drew back slightly at Elizabeth's reaction, "Sorry didn't mean to startle you."
Elizabeth stared at Carson for a second before sighing and shaking her head a bit, "No I'm sorry. Did you say something?"
"I did, but you seemed entranced by the view." Carson glanced out the window.
"So many people take it for granted, I don't know if I'll ever take anything for granted again." Elizabeth stated softly, one hand picking at her sleeve. "What was it you wanted?"
"Well physically you're doing fine, just continue to eat and gain weight..." Carson hesitated, "You know that they did some surgery on you?"
"Yeah I know." Elizabeth nodded slowly. "John doesn't know though, not that it would make much difference at this point." she shrugged her shoulders.
"What happened?" Carson perched on a stool facing Elizabeth.
"A trade negotiation went bad. The Genii had decided to trade with only one side of a planet in the middle of a civil war. Not everyone was happy about the Genii interfering and attacked the negotiations. I was wounded in the attack and of course Koyla wasn't going to let me die after everything he went through to get his hands on me. He ordered his doctors to do only what it took to keep me alive and that's exactly what they did not bothering to take care with what they deemed non-essential organs."
"Have you spoken with Kate about it?" Carson asked gently, already having a pretty good idea about what the answer was.
"No," Elizabeth wrapped her arms around herself. "It's something that can't be changed, can't be fixed, and something I didn't really need at my age any way. One might say I was done with it..." Elizabeth stated in a weak attempt at humor.
"Black humor doesn't suit you Elizabeth." Carson leaned forward, gazing intently at Elizabeth. "You should talk about this with someone, even if it did happen nearly ten years ago."
"Carson, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine, you did the tests yourself."
"Aye, I did and I've also gone over your preliminary psychological evaluations as well." Carson took a deep breath before continuing, "Elizabeth I'm asking this as your physician, have you slept with John since returning?"
Elizabeth blinked in surprise, then narrowed eye eyes, "We've slept together every night. Ask him he's got the bruises to prove it from when I've had a nightmare."
"You know what I mean Elizabeth." Carson maintained his steady gaze on Elizabeth until she sighed, laying back on the bed.
"No," Hearing the almost whispered reply Carson stood up moving closer to the bed, looking down at Elizabeth waiting for her to continue. Closing her eyes Elizabeth went on, "We've come close a few times, but things just seem to keep getting in the way...my nightmares, Lucas' nightmares...and so forth."
"I see, so it's just a matter of timing...not-?"
"No!" Elizabeth's eyes flew open, "No, believe me the desire is there on both sides..." Elizabeth trailed off a moment. "Trust me it's not a conscious or unconscious problem. Up until the last couple of nights or so Lucas has been spending the night in our room and with everything here at the SGC...John was talking about maybe taking a few days just the two of us when everything settles down."
"I know you don't think you need to, but I want you to talk with someone about this." Carson held up a hand to halt Elizabeth's protest. "I mean it and I will talk to Kate if I have to or if you want I can set you up with someone else besides Kate, if you'd feel more comfortable." Carson offered.
"Kate's fine" Elizabeth managed a weak smile in Carson's direction. "Don't worry there's no conflict of interest or anything like that. She's just as tough on me as she would be on anyone else" Sighing Elizabeth sat up again, "Am I free to go now?"
"Aye you can go. But even though I'm giving you a clean bill of health, I'd like to check you over again in about two weeks just to check on you progress."
"That's fine," Elizabeth slid off the bed. "I'll be around."
"Good, now go ahead and get changed, I'll let John know you're done." Carson touched Elizabeth's arm. "It's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back." Elizabeth gave Carson's hand a grateful squeeze before she moved to the small changing cubical. "And Carson thank you." she disappeared into the cubical before Carson could reply.
When Elizabeth emerged from the cubical John was waiting for her, "Hey there." Elizabeth gave John a loving kiss.
"Hello to you too." John kissed Elizabeth back, wrapping his arms around her. "You doing OK?"
"I spent three hours being questioned, dealt with the press and have gone through both psychological and physical testing all afternoon, how do you think I'm doing?" Elizabeth closed her eyes nestling in closer to John, "I just want to go home and be with you and Lucas. No more questions, no more poking and prodding."
"Then that's what we'll do." John pressed a kiss to Elizabeth's forehead. "We'll go home, you'll change into something comfortable while Lucas and I prepare dinner, maybe a picnic we can take down to the lake."
"And we can soke in the hot tub after the others go to bed." Elizabeth's voice was slightly muffled against John's neck.
"Whatever you want." John gently stroked Elizabeth's hair. "Sam said she might stop by tomorrow if you're up for a visit."
"That's fine, she can help keep me company. I have two days to worry about Lucas maybe she'll provide me with some distraction." Elizabeth raised a hand to trace John's cheek, "I'm glad they agreed to let you and Kate be there with him."
"We'll be with him the whole time." John turned to kiss Elizabeth's hand, "And Lucas knows you'll be with him there in your heart."
Elizabeth sighed, "I've asked it before and I'll ask it again, what did I do to deserve you?"
Giving it one last kiss John grasped Elizabeth's hand, "Shall we go?"
"With pleasure." Elizabeth idly glanced out the window one last time before following John out of the room.
Back at the house Elizabeth and John were greeted by an enthusiastic Lucas. "Mom, Dad!" Lucas jumped up from where he'd been curled up on the couch with Kate looking intently at a book. Running across the room he threw his arms around Elizabeth's waist. "You're back, finally."
"Indeed we are." Elizabeth knelt down embracing Lucas tightly, then glanced past him at Kate, "Did he behave himself?"
"He was a perfect gentlemen." Kate nodded setting the book aside.
"Good." Elizabeth turned her attention back to Lucas, "Did you have fun today?"
"Yeah, Rodney taught me how to fly a kite...well actually he taught me how to build it first and then fly it." Lucas announced proudly.
"Really, he did?" John questioned raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"Yes he did." Rodney answered entering the room, a half hearted scowl on his face.
"Yeah and then I helped Kate make some chocolate mousse." Lucas continued ignoring John and Rodney. "It was really good, we saved you some. Rodney wanted to finish it, but I made him save some for you."
"Well thank you." Elizabeth hugged Lucas again. "You dad thought we could have a picnic at the lake tonight."
Lucas' eyes widened, "Really? Can Kate and Rodney come too?"
"If they'd like." Elizabeth stood up, playfully ruffling Lucas' hair. She didn't care who else came along as long as she got to spend time with her son and husband.
"We'd love to." Kate accepted as she got up from the couch.
"We'll start getting things organized well you two go get changed." Rodney stated.
John swung Lucas up into his arms, "You'll keep an eye on him?" He tilted his head towards Rodney.
"I've been doing that all day." Lucas smirked, his arms around John's neck. "Do I get to go with you tomorrow?"
"Sure do," John replied, "But we have to get up early tomorrow, so we can't stay up too late tonight."
"Then we should get dinner ready so we can get to bed sooner." Lucas stated logically, squirming slightly until John put him down. "Can I pick what we have?"
"Sure you can." Rodney scooped Lucas up under one arm and headed for the kitchen, Kate following behind them.
"There goes trouble." Elizabeth sighed, "We'll be lucky if we don't end up with an entire meal of chocolate and coffee."
"I'm sure Kate will be able to get a word or two in." John caught Elizabeth around the waist and started for the stairs, "But just to be safe we probably shouldn't dawdle."
"Mmm," Elizabeth sighed resting her head on John's shoulder as they entered their bedroom. "You know an early night sounds good."
"You've had an exhausting day," John stole a kiss. "If you want I'll tuck Lucas in tonight and maybe you can get some extra sleep before either of you possibly has a nightmare."
"You'll come hold me after Lucas goes to sleep?"
"With pleasure," John nodded. "Whatever you want."
"I'll hold you to that." Elizabeth gave John a passionate breath taking kiss.
"I love you," John stated breathlessly. "Let's forget the picnic and stay here I can think of something else I'd rather be doing."
"And risk having Lucas come barging in here while were in the middle of something, demanding to know what's taking so long." Elizabeth grinned at the way John groaned pulling away from her at the mention of Lucas.
"You know I love Lucas to death, I really do, but sometimes it really sucks having kids, you know that." John pouted.
"Don't worry just a few more days and we'll be able to go away just the two of us. And then we can have all the fun together you want." Elizabeth grinned evilly as she started changing.
Groaning at the look on Elizabeth's face John moved farther away from Elizabeth to keep himself from doing something that could end with them in an embarrassing situation.