Disclaimers: I do not own these characters; this is written for fun, I make no money etc.

A/N: Bagpipes for Vecturist, the rest for whump-lovers everywhere…. (evil cackle)
Apologies to the character of Cadman, who I actually like…


Chapter Five: The Stuff of Nightmares

Laura patted the space on the couch beside her, doing her best to look seductive. It wasn't easy in a BDU. If she'd known she was going to fall for a Hot Scot she would have brought her red dress.

"Come here, Carson. I'm getting lonely."

The man was dithering about with glasses and drinks, but eventually made it to the couch, and gingerly sat down, doing his utmost to avoid physical contact.

"So, Carson…" Laura ran her finger around the rim of her glass, "tell me all about yourself…" She leaned forward a little and batted her eyelids.

Carson's gulped hard. "Well…" That kind of came out at the wrong octave, so he tried again. "Well, I enjoy reading comic books. Specifically, The Broons and Oor Wullie…"

She didn't have the faintest idea what he was talking about, but she smiled sweetly, and blinked more than necessary for full effect, as he nervously twittered on. When she began wondering if she needed to call a linguist for translation, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

She put her glass down and slipped along the couch, putting her arms on either side of Carson so that he was effectively caged at the end of the couch.

"That sounds fascinating, Carson. Maybe you could show me. I love learning all about you." As she leaned closer and closer, she was so close she heard him whimper.

It was all too much for Carson, and he burst free from her, leaping to his feet. He began pacing the floor.

"Well, aye, this is all very nice, Cadma… Laura. But maybes we're moving a wee bit fast. Em… I'm sure you'd like to get to know me better before we… er…I havnae even wooed you yet, lass…" He froze, and he raised a pointed finger in the air. "Aha!" He dashed into the corner and began raking through the closet.

Puzzled, Laura watched as he found what he was looking for. She couldn't believe her eyes. She was sure she knew what they were…

"My bagpipes!" Carson called triumphantly. "Jist the thing for wooing a lassie!"

What the hell was he talking about? Wooing? Wasn't that what they did in the olden days? And what the hell was he doing with bagpipes? She shrugged inside. Oh, well, maybe it would be fun. She smiled.

"Lovely, Carson!"

Ten minutes later she crawled to her quarters, feigning a headache, leaving Carson with a concerned, oblivious, but happy smile on his red face.

0o0o0

As she entered the mess hall for an early breakfast, Laura spied Rodney McKay huddled at a far table. The guy looked like crap. Once she'd filled her tray, she figured she'd sit with McKay. Sure, the two of them had their differences, but… they had an undeniable connection.

"Morning, Rodney. You look like crap."

The Canadian took his head off his arms and looked up, his mouth almost a snarl. "Why, thank you, Cadman. I appreciate your comment so much."

She sipped her tea and studied the Chief of Science. "You're up early."

McKay rolled his eyes. "Are you just going to state the obvious? Because if so, you can leave now." He put his head back down on his folded arms.

She frowned. He had her worried now. She reached out and touched his arm, speaking softly. "What's up, Rodney? Are you OK?"

Bleary eyes came up to meet hers after a long moment. The lost puppy look almost melted her, but she drew upon all her military training to survive.

His quiet, broken voice hit her hard. "I had a nightmare."

She pursed her lips. "I thought you old guys had them all the time?"

He closed his eyes for a moment and swallowed. "By old guys, I assume you mean original team members, and no, we do not all have Wraith nightmares every night, I can assure you. That's just a vicious rumour to scare off any no-hopers." He sighed. "I've never had a nightmare before. Well, not in this galaxy. But last night… Oh God…" He squeezed his eyes shut.

Laura wondered why they didn't teach you about helpless scientists at the academy. She squeezed his arm. "It's OK, Rodney. Tell me what happened."

His eyes were wide, his mouth quivering. "I dreamt a Wraith was feeding on my cat. It was horrible, Cadman. My poor cat, screaming and howling in pain…" he made a kind of whimper that made Laura gulp.

Looking into McKay's eyes, she saw a fear that reminded her of Carson. Then it struck her.

"When was this, Rodney? Just now?"

"No, no. It was late last night. I haven't slept at all." He sighed.

She managed not to smile. Well, Carson's bagpipes were useful for something. Much as it disturbed her to see McKay in this state, it was kind of amusing, if you thought about it. Carson's bagpipes inducing cat-torture nightmares. She had to muster all her strength to keep the lid on the guffaw. It was only justice after all. The way Carson told it, this man in front of her had caused her beloved Scot a whole bunch of distress. From enforced Chair sitting, to non-cooperation with medical direction. So her sympathy was pretty limited, actually. But solving McKay's problem would also benefit her… so…

"Rodney, that sounds awful, really. But it was just a bad dream. Now you've talked about it, I'm sure you won't have any more… or many more, anyway…"

"Oh, thanks. Cheer up the tormented scientist, why don't you?"

She leaned forward and patted his arm. "It'll get better, Rodney. Trust me."

0o0o0

Laura pushed the piece of cotton wool a little further into her ear, and knocked on the door. For crying out loud, you'd think a city like this would have doorbells.

"Cadma… Laura, come away in." Carson grinned happily.

"Hello Carson." She batted shy eyelids at him. Man, this was easy.

"Can I get you anything? Drink? Snack?" he led the way into his quarters.

"Sweetheart…?" She put her arm through his. "I'd like you to play your bagpipes for me… please?" She put just enough beg into it to make sure.

"Really?" He was clearly pleased.

"Oh, yes. They really… get me in the mood." Just one or two blinks.

Carson gulped. "Aye, OK, then."

Five minutes later her jaw muscles hurt from smiling so much, and she managed to get near enough to ply him from the contraption.

"Carson, I think that's enough. I mean, when you're playing, you look so… homesick. It reminds you of home, doesn't it? I don't want to upset you. Maybe you should put them away. I love you playing, but I'd rather not make you sad…" She kissed his cheek.

Carson sighed happily. "Aye, you're right, lass. It does make me a wee bit homesick. Maybe your right, I need to make do with what's right here, in front of me."

He carefully put the bagpipes down on the couch, and wrapped his arms around Laura in a solid grip. He placed his lips over hers, and kissed her soundly.

Laura gasped as he released her from the passionate clinch. "Wow." She said. "Where…?"

He gave her a sly grin. "Good lungs, me."

0o0o0

"Rodney?" She stood next to him in the mess hall the next day, before she headed for the serving hatch.

"Huh? Oh, Cadman, it's you."

"Any better last night?"

"No, not really. Do you think I'm being punished for leaving my cat behind?"

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "No, Rodney, I don't. I think you just need to relax more, and if you don't want to be grounded, you'd better be nicer to Carson…"

"Oh. Right. Good point. So…um… you think maybe I've worked it out of my system now?"

"Sure. I bet you won't have any more nightmares. Trust me."

As Laura gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek, she decided that everything had turned out just perfectly for everyone.


A/N: Sorry about that. Couldn't help it...