Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
"So?" Elizabeth asked as she stepped into the infirmary.
"Well using the instructions the Ancients left me I managed to remove this Ellis character from Rodney," Carson reported looking tired, "He will more than likely sleep for a while."
"And Lieutenant Cadman?" Elizabeth broached.
Carson sighed, "She's a little shaky but the residual effects of the drug he used on her are wearing off. From what she told me they…em…they…"
"I get the picture," Elizabeth frowned, "Have her talk to Heightmeyer on this."
"I'll try," Carson replied, "But Cadman seems extremely insistent she's fine."
"I'd still prefer if she talked to Kate," Elizabeth said, "Before she leaves. Assuming you're letting me send her home on the Daedalus."
Carson chewed his lip; "Let me get back to you in a few hours about that."
"Thank you Carson," Elizabeth smiled at him before heading over to check on the two patients.
x
John was sitting at his friend's side a copy of Carson's report on the chair beside him.
Rodney was still unconscious and apparently would be for hours.
"And still you're sitting here," Elizabeth noted as she joined him, "I don't think he's going anywhere."
"I just want to make sure it's Rodney who wakes up," John replied shifting in the uncomfortable chair, "Then I'll leave. Any word on Cadman?"
"According to Carson she's fine," Elizabeth replied, "The drugs are leaving her system quite quickly."
"Good," John sighed, "Carson said Radek is going to be fine. So it looks like we got away with only a few injuries this time."
Elizabeth rested her hand on his shoulder looking down at the sleeping man on the bed, "Make sure you get some rest."
x
"Carson, I'm fine," Cadman protested as she sat cross-legged on the bed in the isolation room.
"Cadman, what happened to you was traumatic," Carson sat on the stool next to the bed, "You need to talk to someone about what happened."
She let out a cry of annoyance, "Carson, I know you're concerned but trust me what happened was consensual."
"How can…"
"I know you're worried about me," she continued taking his hand and squeezing it, "But you don't have to be. I thought I was with Rodney. And I wanted to be with him."
A small smile of amusement touched Carson's lips, "You two would make an explosive pair."
"Thanks Carson," Cadman rolled her eyes before sighing, "I want to go home and see my sister get married and spend some time with my family. There is nothing to worry about. I wasn't raped and I'm not pregnant. You're my doctor; you know what kind of protection I take. So can I get out of here?"
Carson sighed and nodded, "Alright, go and finish packing. I'll see you before you leave."
She gave him a quick smile as he left before jumping up and getting dressed.
x
Cadman walked slowly through the corridors of Atlantis after she'd made a quick visit to see how Rodney was. She had crept in, being careful not to wake up Sheppard who was sitting asleep in a chair at the side of the bed.
She leaned over Rodney and pressed a kiss to his forehead, "Who knows what would have happened if I was staying," she sighed, "Goodbye Rodney."
Now back in her rooms Cadman packed away the few remaining things she had lying about. She wasn't sure how she felt about the past few days, it all felt like a hazy dream and all she'd wanted was to be with the man who was at this moment unconscious in the infirmary.
Setting her alarm Cadman lay down to get some rest, she needed it.
Almost five hours later her alarm went off and Cadman groaned, rolling over to hit it off she sighed as she realised that this was it. She was leaving.
x
"It's been a pleasure working with you Lieutenant," Elizabeth said as they walked towards the Daedalus, "You will be missed."
Cadman smiled softly, "Thank you Ma'am, I'm going to miss this place."
"I hope that the last few days haven't ruined your memories of here," Elizabeth said probingly.
"Dr Weir, look I know that what happened was…" Cadman hesitated not sure what to say, "According to Carson he won't remember anything about it. I'd prefer if you didn't tell Rodney what happened between us. He doesn't need to know, it'll only hurt him."
Elizabeth smiled, "You do care about him."
"I never thought I would but…" Cadman hesitated, "Yeah I do. Goodbye Dr Weir."
"Goodbye Lieutenant Cadman," Elizabeth took the other woman's hand and shook it with a smile before standing watching the young woman leave the city.
Rodney groaned as he started to waken, his head was pounding. Forcing his eyes open he winced as Carson decided at that moment to shine a light directly in them.
"Stop that," he tried to push the doctor away.
"Well finally," John said from one side, "How you feeling Rodney?"
"How d'you think I'm feeling," Rodney muttered, "I was just electrocuted and my head slammed against the wall."
"Is that the last thing you remember?" Carson asked intently.
"Actually I remember going to my room," Rodney frowned, "How did I end up back here?"
Carson and John glanced at each other.
"And that's the last thing you remember?" John asked.
"What is this? Twenty stupid questions," Rodney snapped, "Yes."
John glanced at Carson who nodded giving permission to let Rodney know.
"You had a semi ascended bad guy ancient in your head Rodney," John explained, "He took over your body and kidnapped Lieutenant Cadman with the intent of making a new host for himself."
"Making a…" Rodney trailed off as he realised what his friend was telling him, "What about Cadman?"
"She's fine," John told him, "We got there before he could do anything to her and she's away home."
Rodney stared at them remorse filling his eyes, "She's gone?"
"Aye, the Daedalus left three hours ago," Carson told him.
Rodney sighed, "Then I'm going back to sleep."
John clapped his shoulder, "Get some rest."
x
Rodney sat in his lab reading through the information on Ellis, he needed to know as much as possible about what had been in his head. Reading over the files made him shudder as he discovered what had been done to Cadman.
He was angry that he hadn't had a chance to say anything to her, to apologise for what he'd done…what Ellis had done but he'd probably never get the chance.
Rodney knew he also had to talk to Radek and apologise for what had happened to him, Radek was now out of the infirmary but confined to very light duties until Carson said otherwise. Rodney had avoided him though he planned to talk to him later that day.
With a final sigh Rodney switched the computer off and headed to his room to get some rest.
"Lieutenant," General Landry greeted her when he entered the briefing room, "Welcome home."
"Thank you sir," Cadman replied wondering why she'd been called to this meeting.
"You're here," Landry said as if reading her mind, "Because since your tour of Atlantis has ended I wanted to know what you were hoping to do next."
Cadman blinked a little amazed by this conversation, she'd never really been asked where she wanted to go, "I'm not sure sir."
"Well your record is excellent," Landry told her, "And the reports from Atlantis show you to have worked well with the people there."
"It was a wonderful experience," Cadman smiled softly as she thought back.
"I'm glad you feel that way," Landry smiled, "Because both Dr Weir and Colonel Sheppard have requested that you be given a permanent post in the city."
Cadman stared at him in amazement, "I…I don't know what to say sir."
"You have until the end of your leave to decide," Landry told her, "Enjoy your two months Lieutenant."
"Thank you sir," she nodded and leaving as fast as possible.
Cadman headed quickly through the corridors, stopping off to collect her bags before heading to the surface.
"Lieutenant," a voice called just as she came to the exit of the mountain.
"Colonel?" she asked confused as Colonel Caldwell jogged over to her, "Is something wrong sir?"
"Walk with me," he told her motioning her forward.
Cadman nodded walking with him.
"I was speaking with Dr's Weir and Beckett before returning," Caldwell explained to her, "I know what happened."
"Oh," Cadman licked her lips nervously.
"Dr Beckett mentioned that you refused to speak to Dr Heightmeyer," Caldwell continued, "I understand you feel that you have dealt with this in your own way and if you have that's fine. However if you feel that you do need to speak with someone," he handed her a card, "They have security clearance for the Stargate and Atlantis and are totally confidential. Dr Beckett also asked me to give you this," he handed her an envelope, "So if you do talk to them you'll have all the information you'll need. This however is sensitive…"
"I'll keep it safe," Cadman replied, "Thank you sir."
"I hope to see you on the return journey Lieutenant," he smiled at her before heading back into the mountain.
x
Cadman settled back in her seat relaxing as the plane levelled off, the flight to California hopefully would last less time than her last trip but eighteen days stuck in a tin can travelling from one galaxy to another was something very few people could claim to have done.
She pulled out her book and tried to read but couldn't concentrate so she closed her eyes and tried to sleep a little.
You should change, a wedding can only take place when the bride looks like the queen she is about to become.
Cadman jumped awake gasping, she saw the steward looking down at her. The woman's hair seemed to be moulded into the bun on top of her head.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Fine," Cadman answered quickly, "I'm just fine."
"Are you wanting dinner?" the steward asked.
"Yes," Cadman shook herself, "Thank you."
As she ate Cadman decided that sleep at the moment was not a good idea, she hadn't had any trouble while on the Daedalus. She sighed, all she needed to do was work this out and she'd be fine.
She hoped.
x
"Laura!"
Cadman sighed at the sound of her name and braced herself as her sister came flying towards her.
"Hi Fi," Cadman greeted her elder sister with a hug, "It's great to see you."
"I was so worried you wouldn't make it," Fiona Cadman told her a smile plastered across her face, "But you made it."
"Okay," Cadman grimaced, "You're going to have to stop with the insane grinning before I get back on the plane."
"Oh Laura don't be such a killjoy," Fiona laughed wrapping her arm around Cadman's shoulders, "Come on Kenny's waiting in the car."
"Ah the surf dude," Cadman rolled her eyes, "Only you could marry a surfing millionaire."
"I'm sure he has friends you could hook up with," Fiona smirked.
Cadman frowned, "Don't even think about it, I'm swearing off men."
"Has something happened?" Fiona asked concerned by the look of regret in her little sister's eyes.
"It's nothing," Cadman assured her, "I'm just glad to be here and getting to be at your wedding."
"Come on," Fiona led her out of the airport and to the car waiting for them.
x
Cadman lay trying to sleep for about an hour or two before she gave up and opened the window so she could hear the waves. She'd missed the sound all the way back to Earth but thankfully they were staying in a house near the ocean. She smiled as she could hear the waves crashing before sighing, this wasn't right yet. Looking around the room she saw a fan and set it up so that it was facing the wall, but it meant she could hear and feel the thrum. Lying back down she smiled, this felt more like Atlantis.
"You know we have to choose a colour for your dress," Fiona reminded Cadman as they headed towards the shop that was making the bridal clothes.
"Anything is fine by me," Cadman shrugged.
"Yeah right," Fiona laughed, "The moment I choose something you'll look at it and tell me it doesn't suit you. So you're choosing and getting it fitted properly to you."
"Sure," Cadman muttered.
"By the way what's with the open window and fan in your room?" Fiona asked as they entered the shop.
"I'm just used to a certain sound during the night;" Cadman explained softly, "I kinda can't sleep without it now."
"Probably not the same but I can't really sleep without Kenny's breathing," Fiona told her before stopping in front of one of the dresses, "What do you think?"
Cadman smiled, "It's gorgeous."
"It's the one I wanted originally," Fiona explained, "But Kenny's mother insisted I get one made specially. Wait till you see it, Laura it's even more amazing."
Cadman couldn't help but smile at her sister's enthusiasm, this was Fiona's second engagement, the first one had been to a guy who put her in hospital. Cadman had almost then put him in hospital, stopped only by a few of the other marines with her that day. Kenny on the other hand had come across simply as a surfer and nothing more but his father owned a chain of the hotels around America with Kenny running all the Californian ones. Kenny doted on Fiona and got along with the rest of the family as well.
"Laura," Fiona called her over, "We have a selection of dresses so let's see what suits you best."
"How long is this going to take?" Cadman asked bored already.
Fiona frowned at her, "As long as it takes. Laura this is my wedding I'll do it for you someday."
Cadman closed her eyes forcing away the thoughts of Rodney that flooded her mind, "Alright, sorry Fi."
"You're just not a girl's girl," Fiona laughed, "Come on, we have the first few for you to try."
x
Cadman stood in front of the mirror as the woman held dress after dress in front of her for Fiona to see. She was paying absolutely no attention to either the dresses or the women.
"Try that one again," Cadman heard Fiona say, deciding she was going to have to make some sort of input she looked at the dress being held up.
She found the dress that he wanted her to wear, it was deep dark blue and she slid her fingers over the smooth fabric quickly undressing and sliding into the dress…He led her to the bed gently drawing his fingers down her sides along the silken cloth as he pulled her into another kiss.
"No," Cadman said sharply pulling herself back to the present, "Not dark blue."
"Laura?" Fiona asked worried.
"I don't want to wear dark blue," she repeated, "It's just not my colour."
"I think it suits you," the woman from the shop told her.
"Not dark blue," Cadman said sharply, "That's final."
"We'll try the red one," Fiona moved them along smoothly.
x
"What's wrong?" Fiona asked as they sat on the porch watching the ocean later that day.
"Nothing," Cadman sighed.
"You nearly jumped down that woman's throat in the shop," Fiona reminded her, "This isn't like you Laura."
"I've just…" Cadman hesitated, "The last few days where I was a few things happened that…they were out of my control and I don't like being out of control."
"I noticed," Fiona smiled.
"I'm just out of sorts but its good being home with you guys," Cadman told her leaning against her sister's shoulder.
Fiona hugged her tightly, "It's good to have you back."
Cadman smiled back resting at her sister's side; slipping her hand into her pocket she felt a small card.
"I'll be back," Cadman moved away from her sister, "I have something to do."
Once inside Cadman grabbed the phone and dialled, she waited until the person on the other end went through their greeting.
"My name is Lieutenant Laura Cadman," she told the woman, "I'd like to make an appointment to see Dr McKenzie."