Touched By An Ancient
By Ann3
Writer's note - another quick trip into the mind of our favourite wee doctor. Oh, and before I forget, there's another original character joining him there... I hope you enjoy !
Chapter Seven
Sunset. Or was it sunrise…? Spellbound by its beauty, Carson really didn't care one way or the other. On this incredible journey of wonders and miracles, such trivial matters lacked all sense of importance.
Not even the voices that now tugged so gently at his mind could break this peaceful, idyllic calm – though in the case of a certain, nervously babbling scientist, it wasn't for the want of trying.
"…and I'll promise you something else, Carson, the first thing I'm gonna do when you wake up…? I'm going to make all this up to you by… um… oh yeah, I know…! Dinner…! For your birthday…! Yes, that's it, I'm going to treat you to the biggest dinner that bottomless pit of yours can handle…"
It was a touchingly genuine peace offering – yet it still caused Carson to visibly cringe.
"The last dinner you treated me to, Rodney, gave me bloody food poisoning…!"
Chuckling at a certain colonel's gentle digs over pots and black kettles, he then turned to Melia – seriousness returning to his eyes as he realised that meal was still an immeasurable distance away.
Until he understood, and accepted, his remarkable destiny… well, Carson knew he was going nowhere His only comfort, gratefully welcomed, was the understanding in Melia's eyes as she re-took his hand.
You have almost reached the end of your journey, Carson. You will return to them soon…
That won her another of those charming smiles as Carson nodded before adding a rueful afterthought.
"Trust me, lass, where one of Rodney's dinners is concerned, I'm much safer staying here…"
A far more serious gesture of friendship then caused his smile to fade, his voice to fill with regret.
"I – I just can't believe he went through all that pain, Melia… that – that it was all for nothing…"
He had to learn and grow from that lesson of his volition… Melia explained with a gentle smile. Dr McKay had to accept his true destiny, Carson. Just as you must learn to accept yours…
Carson had no idea where the surge of anger that now overwhelmed him came from. But come it did.
"Aye, the same bloody destiny that killed my father…!"
To his surprise, Melia seemed relieved by his outburst. Grateful, almost, for its release of emotion.
You have every right to be angry, Carson. Every right to fear and resent these powers within you. That is why you are here to confront that fear and anger, so that you can defeat them…
The shy smile which answered her was still awkward and strained, but it still charmed her nonetheless. So did the hesitant, thankfully calmer attempt at a question which followed it a few moments later.
"Did they…? I – I mean, my father had these powers too, and… well, I – I mean…did he… um…?"
Fear and resent them too…? Melia concluded for him, still smiling as she thought out her reply.
I was not bonded to him, Carson, as I am to you. I did not assist in his journey… she said at last – favouring him, Carson suspected, with as close to a mischievous grin as an Ancient could get. From the accounts of my Elders, though, it was a challenging and… interesting… experience…
"Aye, that sounds like my da'…" Carson chuckled, glancing wistfully around the now sun-lit Glen. "He – He loved his life, though, lass, and… well, not a day goes past that I don't think of him…"
Lost in memories once more, he didn't notice the anticipatory smile which now graced Melia's face. Nor did he notice a telltale, mirror–like shimmer form an image of light behind him, until…
Aye, laddie, I know…. I know you do…
Spinning on his heel, Carson Beckett stared in total and utter shock, into eyes he'd know anywhere. As brilliant a blue as his own, they twinkled back at him, in wry amusement at his stunned expression. And the voice that now gently admonished him...
Close your mouth, son, or you'll be swallowin' a sheep…
Complying, albeit in a trance of pure disbelief, Carson still looked dangerously close to collapse. His voice, when he finally found it, barely had the strength to climb past the mountain in his throat.
"Da'…?"
Slipping a fatherly supportive arm around his son's shoulders, Alex Beckett smiled once more – in gentle seriousness this time as he drew Carson into a hug that broke all possible realms of reality.
Aye, laddie… aye, your old da's come back to haunt ye… he chuckled, lovingly ruffling his hair – pulling away a little, just enough for him to proudly re-meet his son's still wide, helplessly tear-flooded eyes. Well now, wee Carsie… haven't ye grown...?