Title: Brief Encounters

Rating: K

Spoilers: None

Pairings: Peter Grodin and Carson Beckett

Summary: An Englishman and a Scotsman go into a pub

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, blah, blah, blah, so on, etc, ad nausium

Authors Notes: 'Sigh' as football (Soccer to my American readers) is taking over everything I thought I'd add my own little something to the proceedings. So come with me dear reader to Euro 96 to the last time England played Scotland in a major tournament

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Carson Beckett fought his way to the bar, only he could be watching Scotland's biggest football match in recent years in an English pub. He'd taken a lot of ribbing when the groups were drawn and it turned out that England and Scotland would be playing each other in the knockout rounds and he'd endured the inevitable jokes about not getting past the first round. His friends had dragged him out, telling him that no way was he watching the match by himself, he was coming out to the pub with them and he was going to enjoy himself, so here he was dressed in a Scotland shirt in an English pub and he was still in one piece. He was standing at the bar trying to catch the eye of the barman, he looked harassed so Carson decided that maybe getting two of everything maybe a good idea.

"I hope you're not dying of thirst," said the dark skinned man next to him

"I'll live, until kick off anyway" Carson replied grinning

"I haven't seen you in here before" the man.

"This is the first time I've ever been in here" Carson replied, "I'm here with some friends, they invited me out of sympathy I think because I'm the only Scot in the department". The man laughed

"Believe it or not I'm the only Englishman in mine," he said

"Carson Beckett" said Carson

"Peter Grodin" the man replied, "where are you working"

"The local hospital, I'm a doctor" he said

"I'm a doctor too but my field isn't medical, it's astrophysics" Peter replied.

"Ye study stars and the like?" Carson asked, Peter nodded

"And other things besides but most people's eyes tend to glaze over when I start talking" he said with a laugh.

"Aye but when I say I'm a doctor people usually tell me all about their ailments and their operations and so on, it's a nightmare" Carson replied, both men laughed.

"Hey, come on Mick how about a little service down here," yelled Peter, Mick the barman came up

"Don't get your knickers in a twist Pete, you'll get served before kick off" he said. Peter gave him his order,

"What about yours Carson? While Mick's here," Peter asked. Carson gave Mick his order and soon both men had their drinks, a cheer went up as the Scots in the bar started singing Flower of Scotland.

"Nice to meet you Peter" said Carson,

"And you too Carson, may the best team win" replied Peter. Carson laughed as he left the bar

"Meaning don't book a place at the bar for the next round," said Carson. Peter just laughed as he walked away.

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AN: just to explain Carson's last comment, Scotland have never got passed the first round in any football tournament