Aftermath

By Ann3

Writer's Note: Well, we're about halfway through the story now, and for those who love their whumpage - yep, there's more to come ! But this will be the last update for a wee while, since I'm off on my holidays next week - no prizes for guessing where !

Luckily the story is finished now, so I'll finish posting it once I get back. If I can, I'll squeeze in another chapter between now and Wednesday, because... well, I'd never be so mean as to leave you on a cliffie !

Now, back to the plot... and Beckett's about to go bye-byes... awwwwww...!

Chapter Eight

Paving The Way

His last memory had been two smiling faces, their comforting familiarity sustaining him through still restless dreams. They were still there, gently lending him the same strength, when Carson woke the next morning.

That was comforting enough, but to find Laura there with him now, to be held in such loving gentleness…? Well, that was a bonus which, in turn, brought out another vital breakthrough in his recovery. For the first time in five fraught, emotionally draining days, Carson Beckett had smiled. He'd really smiled.

The usual suspects were there with him too now, all of them trying, with varying degrees of success, to disguise the same nervous tension. Teyla. Rodney, and… dear God, had Kate overdone his meds…? Ronon too…?

Speaking of his second in command… well, there were two Kates now, gently checking him over. And next to Kate Heightmeyer was a trolley-load of food that would keep a small army fed for a week.

Or one Rodney McKay – a shang-hai'd slice of toast now penalized in typical, inimitable style.

"Ow…!"

Still rubbing his head, McKay glared useless daggers at an equally unrepentant John Sheppard.

"Why do you always do that…?"

"Because you always deserve it…" John shot back, casting a sleepily watching Carson a playful wink. Rewarded with a weak, still so welcome grin, he then perched himself on the edge of Carson's bed – completely serious now as he re-met his friend's eyes, lending him strength for the trauma to come.

"Looks like we're good to go on this, Carson… are you okay…? Ready…?"

"As ready as I'll ever be…" Carson admitted, not quite able to keep the nervousness out of his voice. "I – I jus' hope this works…"

"You'll do just fine…" Kate Heightmeyer assured him, settling herself carefully at his other side. "Now before we start to take you under, Carson, I'm going to give you some idea of what to expect… okay…?"

Waiting for a nod that wasn't so uncertain as the first, she placed a small pocket-watch in his hand – knowing that familiarisation to the unknown was a lot more productive than fearful dread of it.

"My father gave me this when I graduated from medical school. I'll be using it to take you under…"

"It's beautiful, lass…" Carson murmured, pensively fingering the delicate intricacy of its case. To the amused relief of those around him, every millimetre of it, both inside and out, was studiously inspected. By the time he handed it back to her, the smile was slightly easier – the nervousness in his eyes almost gone

Smiling back at him, Kate then turned her attentions to another vital part of this journey into his mind.

"Laura's going to be your gateway. She'll be your link back to the safe place I'll be taking you to…"

That link was already in place – every one of Laura's slender fingers, wrapped gently around his hand. Smiling up at her, giving those fingers a mutually heartening squeeze, Carson then nodded once more.

"And that…?" he asked softly, indicating the trolley which Kate now drew up to his bedside.

"Another link to remind you that what you'll experience isn't really happening…" Kate explained – smiling too as she watched her patient hungrily studying a plateful of still fragrantly sweet shortbread. Turning more serious, just as John Sheppard had done moments before, she then patted Carson's hand.

"All you knew in that tent, Carson, was the horror of what Michael did to you… its terror and its pain. Your mind is about to take you back to it. But here in reality, you'll find nothing but love and safety. You'll know it each time Laura squeezes your hand, or when she gives you something to eat or drink. That's something you must understand, Carson. Nothing of what you'll remember during this is real. I'm going to take you somewhere safe in your mind, and Laura's going to keep you there, okay…? All you need to do is relax, Carson, let yourself go to sleep… just listen to the sound of my voice…"

Another nod, the reassuringly strongest yet, answered her as Carson took a deep, steadying breath – guessing from a tug on his IV line, Kate Buchanan's gentle smile, that the explanations were over.

This was it. There was no turning back now.

As the sedative started to tug him away from her, Carson turned already leaden eyes towards Laura – offering her the same courage he needed himself, before they were caught by the lure of spinning gold.

Captivated by its glinting movement, he felt his senses begin to slide, unresisted, away from him – his last, coherent memory that of a soft voice ghosting through a mind that was no longer his own.

"Give him hell, Kilt-Boy…"