Touched By An Ancient

By Ann3

Writer's Note: Sorry, victoria, for being such a tease ! Okay, to put you out of your misery, here's the chapter where we find out what our favourite wee doctor is up to. Thanks as always for the review, and I hope you enjoy !

Chapter Twenty Three

"No…! No…! No way…! Absolutely not…!"

It was a protest she'd heard an immeasurable number of times. Just never from this particular doctor. And while she understood the reason for its vehemence, Elizabeth Weir knew something else too. That protest, however well intended, however protectively concerned, hadn't been his to give.

"Rodney… please…"

Waiting for him to acknowledge her, albeit grudgingly, Elizabeth then turned back to Carson – silently hoping that the plan he'd just put so confidently forward hadn't just been blown out of the water.

"And you're sure about this, Carson…? You're sure you want to do this…?"

Blue eyes that, just moments before, had blinked in startled dismay now regained their resolve. Carson's voice, too, although still as soft as ever, also held no room for further debate.

"Yes, Elizabeth. Yes, I'm sure. I've never been more certain of anything in my entire life…"

She was already smiling back at him, nodding her approval. So was John Sheppard. So was Teyla. Yet however crucial their approval was to him, the backing of another valued friend meant even more. And it was obvious, from his further vexed protests, that Rodney McKay was still far from convinced

"But – But it means linking you to the Chair's interface, Carson, for – for God knows how long...! I – I know what it feels like now… what it does to you, and the pain it causes you, and… and…"

"Yes, Rodney, I know you do…" Carson cut in softly, smiling across at him with the same gentleness. "And the courage it took for you to put yourself through that is something I'll never forget…"

As he'd hoped, any further argument that may have been planned fell into stutters of flattered disbelief

"It – It is…? I – I mean, you won't…?"

"No, Rodney, I won't… I know what you went through. I was there too, remember…?"

Their eyes met and held this time, carrying the new understanding that had been forged between them. Within that bond, forgiveness was sought for a still stricken conscience – and given just as freely.

"Yes, you were…" Rodney conceded at last, his next words combining relief with peeved indignation. "You… called me a daft bugger…"

"Wouldn't be the first time…" John Sheppard chipped in, with just a tad too much of a helpful smile – one that grew into a deliciously wicked smirk at the speed, and rueful certainty, of Carson's response.

"Aye, lad, and I doubt that it'll be the last…"

Elizabeth was grinning too, finding it impossible not to laugh at this truly wonderful exchange. Just days before, she'd feared she'd never enjoy such exchanges again. And beyond that priceless pout, she knew that Rodney, for his own reasons, would feel the same way.

All brotherly bickering and sulking scientists aside, though, Carson's plan still had to be addressed – the calm authority of a natural leader gently steering them back to its delayed conclusion.

"It's an excellent plan, Carson, but it's going to take a lot out of you… an awful lot…"

"Aye, lass, I know…" Carson agreed softly, the eyes that met hers now set in complete determination. "But I know I can handle it. And it's the best chance yet of giving the Wraith one hell of a fight…"

Amid nods of agreement, McKay's hesitant voice still raised the inevitable, still lingering concerns.

"And – And you're sure it's not going to do anything… I – I mean, that it won't…?"

"Hurt me…?" Carson cut in softly, a squeeze on McKay's shoulder as gently inspiring as his smile. "No, Rodney, it won't… trust me, it won't…"

Just the slightest emphasis on a single word had been enough to convince a fretfully anxious friend. As with every other major decision on Atlantis, though, the final word lay with Elizabeth Weir. So in the true spirit of family, all eyes now turned expectantly towards her, awaiting her decision.

She'd heard some outlandish ideas in her time, of course. This one from her CMO was no exception. Medical brilliance had already enabled him to give the Ancient gene to hundreds of others on her team. That alone had swung the odds of their survival against the Wraith more healthily in their favour, giving so many others the ability to use the Ancients' unique technology..

Now he'd made this incredible proposal, to harness and then share as yet untapped powers within him.

The determination in Carson's eyes had given Elizabeth her answer, though, long before she gave it herself.

"Okay, Carson… as soon as you're fit enough, you have a go…"